smk4565

The XF platform was from the S-type but upgraded, and the suspension came from the XK. The next XF will be an all aluminum chassis. Zeta's problem is it is too heavy. And does anyone think the CTS-V would be a better car if it was on the Zeta platform? A Zeta Cadillac would have to go against the aluminum/magnesium XJ, an all new 7-series that has 8 gears and a twin turbo V12, and the S-class which also has a twin turbo V12 and 45 years of rock solid reputation. The hardware to build an S-class like sedan doesn't exist within GM. I wish it did, but it doesn't. Therefore the XTS will be a FWD/AWD Epsilon car with a 290 hp V6. We already have a FWD DTS with 290 hp, how is that working out? Acura had an AWD only, 300 hp V6 car in 04 or 05, and look at what a dud the RL has been, Cadillac doing the same thing six years later isn't going to work out any better. If you want to go after the 5-series, E-class or higher, you better send power to the rear wheels.

Zeta would be fine for Chevy but not Cadillac. Sigma (which will need upgraded/replaced soon) has midsize covered, so Zeta would be only be useful for a large car. Cadillac will need more than the Camaro platform to go up against the big German sedans and the XJ. I think of it like this, the G8 and Camaro are below the CTS, why pay $20-30,000 more than a CTS for a car on a lesser platform. Currently, Cadillac lacks the resources and knowledge to challenge the ultra sedans, that is why I am not at all excited about the XTS.

While I always look forward to NAIAS to see the new models and concepts, I am not going to get my hopes up for the XTS. I'm expecting a Lincoln MKS with vertical headlamps. Unless power is sent to the rear wheels, the XTS will be no more interesting than the Volvo S80 or Acura RL.

They may not be taken seriously as a luxury maker but look at what sales of the Elantra, Sonata, and Santa Fe have done since the Genesis went on sale. People don't see their entry-level or mid-level cars as jokes any more. The Equus and Genesis can be seen as engineering exercises and good publicity for the time being, and maybe one day they'll get their own brand. I agree that Hyundai is moving faster than Toyota did with Lexus, in 20 years, they might be what Toyota is today.

I'm just saying that the Equus has some nice materials like the Alcantara headliner. Details make the car, a Rolls-Royce is a great car because of the endless attention to detail. Cars like the Impala, Cobalt, Grand Prix, etc don't pay attention to little details, and consumers notice. That is why a Corolla or Civic can sell outsell the Cobatl 3 to 1. Build quality, panel gaps, trim pieces all matter.

Because aggressive, in-your-face designs that have a lot of chrome or gimmicks tend to age quickly, while conservatively designed cars don't. Chrysler 300's looked great at first, now they look dated, same was the case with the PT Cruiser and to some extent the Charger. Also, the Cadillac STS and DTS look dated, and the CTS looks similar, so that could be part of the problem. Although I don't think the CTS looks dated yet, in a few years it will, where as Mercedes and Audi use really gradual styling changes and the cars seem to age better.

But what becomes of the 9-5 now? Are they just going to scrap it and never sell it, because it seems that Saab production will end in 2010 before they ever get a chance to produce one. Equus should be interesting, I read on Edmunds Insideline that it will be $50-58,000 and uses the same headliner as the S65 AMG. But they said the metal trim on the dash isn't real aluminum, it's plastic. I hope they don't hold back on that car, if they are going to challenge the big boys they should go all out. And hopefully the 5 liter V8 makes its debut also.

James May is driving the Insignia VXR on Top Gear tomorrow.

For the same reason Saab is still in production, or the Land Cruiser, or DTS. Poor management that hangs on to dated models because they have nothing else to sell, and want to keep the factory running.

The Camry outsold the Cobalt, Malibu and Impala combined. Most of their products are lousy, but they know how to sell mass market sedans.

It is going to be interesting to see where they are in 10 years. Hyundai is going to pass a lot of other brands up, they could be as big as Honda is today, perhaps bigger.

The 4 core brands went up, but GM overall was down 2%. It seems many of the former Saturn, Pontiac, Saab, Hummer shoppers switched over to the 4 surviving brands. GM can get the same market share and sales out of 4 brands as they did with 8. Although can they turn a profit at 150k units a month.

I figured this was coming, but I thought it would be in 2010. GM needs new leadership anyway.

I like the overall look, and like the front except for the plastic fog light covers. I don't like the black antenna sticking up, and the tail lights look a little like a Kia, so I not sold on those. But overall the exterior is good. Interior looks good, finally GM has a class competitive to class leading interior. Although they better have plans for a touch screen navigation system, because young people will like that, and younger people are going to be buying this car. They need to offer something close to Sync. Big props to making it 6-speed auto standard, 100% of GM products should have a 6-speed standard so this is a good step. Engine is weak though, 138 hp on the optional engine isn't anything to write home about.

Since GM hasn't made a good small car in, well forever, I doubt the Spark will be any good. The Ford Fiesta is going to dominate the compact segment when it gets here anyway.

So Saab is dead now too I assume, unless a buyer magically appears from no where. I wonder what will happen with the 9-5, they can't really move it to Buick because the LaCrosse/Regal are already Epsilon2 cars. So will they use it as a Cadillac, but then it will be sized and priced against the CTS which is somewhat pointless. Perhaps it won't got on sale at all.

How come the press release for this brags about integrated spoiler, LED tail lights and sculpted XM radio antenna, while the 5-series press release has stuff like 5-link suspension, rear steering, self parking, top view cameras, regenerative braking, aluminum body panels, and 8-speed transmission in it. I like the CTS Sedan more, the coupe looks too much like a wedge of cheese from the side.

I agree, which is why it should be on the F-150. 350 lb-ft at low rpm is more than enough for most pickup drivers, and they have the Coyote V8 for an upgrade. The V6 could be used in the Econoline, then Ford would have a gas mileage advantage in pickups and vans, which would help when selling to utility companies, fleets, businesses, etc. Getting back to the Corvette, a 2004 Corvette had 350 hp and 360 lb-ft, the ecoboost makes that, a turbo V6 Corvette would still be quick. And the GT-R proves what a turbo V6 can do. The ZR-1 and Audi R8 V10 were on Top Gear tonight, and both were slower around the track than the GT-R.

4.6L V8: 292 hp @ 5,700 rpm 320 lb-ft @ 4,400 rpm 5.4L V8: 310 hp @ 5,000 rpm 390 lb-ft @ 3,500 rpm 3.5L V6: 365 hp @ 5,550 rpm 350 lb-ft @ 1,500 rpm The V6 can definitely replace those 2 V8s, and the new 5.0L V8 can be used as the top end engine and for heavy duty applications.

Agreed. DOHC will eventually take over completely. The F150 has SOHC cam now, 5.4 liter with 315 hp, but is going to a DOHC 5.0 liter with 400 hp. I can't believe Ford hasn't announced Ecoboost V6's for the F150 yet. I can see full size pickups offering more V6s in the future to meet CAFE, especially at Ford since the Ecoboost V6 is around 350-360 hp and lb-ft.

GM cars always get heavier though, and the Vette is around 3300 pounds now, even if they hold it to 3300, I thought the V6 could be a way to keep weight down around 3200-3300 lbs. But I was thinking twin turbo V6 with more like 380 hp, and turbo engines can make peak torque around 1800 rpm so off the line it could be quite good. I'd rather have a V8, I am just saying the twin turbo V6 is an option to be explored. Low weight makes for good sports cars.

Another possible scenario is making the Corvette a twin turbo V6. The GT-R matches a Z06 in a straight line and beats iton the Nurburgring, and the GT-R is heavier and has a back seat. If they want to keep the Vette light and meet CAFE/emissions regs, the V6 may become the standard engine. And if they want to grow sales abroad, that could be a good idea as some countries tax displacement. Although personally, I'd want a V8.

Because the DOHC V8 could be used for Cadillac (as well as any full size trucks) in addition to the Corvette. Plus the technology derived from that DOHC V8 can trickle down to 4 and 6 cylinders. Hyundai spent a few hundred million on the Tau V8, they didn't do that just to put it in the Genesis and not carry anything over to other models. Ford has a new DOHC V8 coming for the Mustang, F150 and possibly an Ecoboost V8 with over 500 hp for the Shelby GT500. Everyone else (except Chrysler) is spending on R&D, GM has to keep up. Otherwise this will be like 2000-2005 when GM had the 3800 V6/4-speed auto and the imports had more advanced engines/transmissions and stole a lot of market share.

So they spent 20% more in ads, but sales went down 39% so far this year. That's not good.

GM around 2004 had a lot of pushrod V6s (about 75%) and DOHC V6's also. They could have put money into the pushrods, but they didn't, they put the money into the high feature engines. If the pushrod V6 had such potential, they would have invested in it, rather than going to all DOHC on Chevy and Buick sedans/SUVs (save for the Impala, Lucerne, GMT900s). GM chose DOHC V6 over pushrod V6 (just as all the imports, Ford and Chrysler did) I am aware that a DOHC engine takes up more physical space than a pushrod, but in many cases a 4-4.6 liter DOHC can do what a 6 liter pushrod can do. So they wouldn't need a 6.2 liter DOHC V8, a 4.4 liter could get the job done. Mercedes gets a V12 DOHC under the hood of the SL600, that car is no bigger than a Vette. They could figure a way to get a DOHC V8 under the C7's hood. The reason GM has the LS engines is because of cost plain and simple. They are cheaper to build than a Northstar (or similar) engine, and it is cheaper to develop the LS series some more than to spend $300 million on a new DOHC V8.