Chicagoland

Impala is a 'large car', according to the EPA. A stretched W body, so it is not 'mid sized'. Just like the full sized Avalon is a stretched Camry. And b4 one goes 'well the only large car is the Ford Crown..." The interior space on those is smaller than some FWD large cars [Ford 500]. And is some say Impala is 'mid sized', what is the Malibu? Can argue all day with personal biases, but when ranking cars, one has to use an industry standard, and the EPA size classes are most commonly used. The Verona is DOA, so cross that one off, too. The 2007 Sebring is not 'German engineering". IT is a platform that was from Mitsubishi, and then Chrysler used it. It may be owned by a German company, but the car was designed by Mitsu and the US arm of DCX.

Yes, someone who knows the real car biz. No, the old GTO's did not have 'unique sheetmetal' as some expected with the 2004-06. Only the 1968-72 Goats had different front faces than the LeMans/Tempest/T-37. [Yes they used different names on the same body/paltfrom back then] No, Pontiac was not 'born a performance cars only division'. Some young kids think Pontiac's first car was the 64 GTO!! No, Pontiac as a name brand should NOT be phased out. Too much equity, even if they call products "the GMC Pontiac", the name still works. If anything the brand was in worse shape in 1953, and 1981.

One other thing to point out in W vs. LX is it shows that FWD is not 'dead'. Just that RWD is an alternative, not going to comeback as the 'good old days'.

Buick in the 80's was still a sedate brand, even with the GN and GNX. Back then, the dealers stocked up on vinyl topped Regals, Centurys, Park Aves, and LeSabres. The GN's were 'cult cars'. 97% of Regals sold were not turbos, and of that at least 75% had 110HP V6s. One has to look way way back to the 60's and 70's when the 2 door Skylarks, Centurys, and Regals sold well to younger [at that time] buyers along with bigger cars. That was when 2 doors ruled, but not today. And no, a RWD 1978-87 plain jane Regal is not a "muscle car". Too many who were not around before 1984 use the term incorrectly.

Look at GM's near 100 year history, many predictions and plans didn't come true due to reality. Buick is not ever going to be the same size as Chevy, as some divisional loyalists want. [hence we got all the clone cars]. And it never should be. And, anyone who thinks that business plans are set in stone better face reality. Plans can change overnight, and the "$3B plan" is most lilkely gone.

"I thought the Riv... was FWD always" Above shows that some Auto history is sadly getting mixed up. The 1st Riv pre-dated the Toro by 3 years, and was definintly NOT FWD. Best to know history and not 'think' it.

The "Holden GP" is the new "Loch Ness Monster car", just like the "all new 2005 Camaro" or the "V16 Caddy"

MT is rarely correct in 'Future Plans'. File it under '1977 mid engined Vette' and "1998 Ford T-Bird SVT"

"Interesting..if the Monte Carlo goes, what will be the Chevy in NASCAR? I guess they will change the decals to say 'Impala'. And if the MC goes, what will NASCAR fans stick their #3 decals on?" On their Chevy trucks or Asian cars. Also, the AN List is not meant to be 'complete'. They do this list every year based on supplier data. Plans change, and they can't list every single change, such as interiors or small engine parts.

News articles stated that Toyota's NASCAR cars will be called Camrys, and pictures of their 'stock car' showed no 'Solara' stickers. Solora is 'up in the air' for now. And no they do not 'need a 2 door'. NASCAR isn't stock bodies anymore.

So many 'gear heads', 'boy racers', and 'speed demons' forget that the Auto Industry is a business 1st and foremost. OK, bring back the GNX. ON what platform? What plant? What will it cost? How many would make $$? Sure sell 500, then what? So many forget that in order to make GTO's in the 60's, GM had to sell 10-20 times as many wagons, 4 doors and other 'plain cars'. If you want GM to only make 'muscle cars', then expect to pay Ferrari or Porsche prices to make up for the cost to make and sell a few. "But I know lots of guys who..." Yeah, and they end up buying a 'plain car' when reality hits them. The GNX was a beefy motor in a decades old car sold for $50K. How many 'regular car guys' have that $$ laying around?? Again, GM is a business not charity to feed fantasies.. BIG MAYBE: If they can afford to create a Buick version off the Camaro line then you will see a 'sporty Buick'.

Replace with a badge eng'd Torrent? Buick is a 'sub division' now, no more full line of chromed Chevys. Also, the old timers who thought of Buick as a separate car company are dying off.

Someone would have Buick still selling A body Centurys with the Iron Duke 4 and the Chevy Citation 2.8V6. "A Bargain". lol

I don't see this current Impala only having a 2 year run. Also, the 2008 CY production schedule is being locked in NOW. Hence all the announcments for the new Camaro, finally. Most of the time if someone here says 'its coming [sooner then reports]'. I remember all the posts in the past that claimed the new Camaro was to be sold right now [2007 MY]! The only clear error in the AN story is the Aveo is new for 2007, not 2008.

Oh well, what can they do when they only got 25% of the market. There are no real 'Buick Stores' that need all clones of Chevys. The days of look alike clone cars to please all the fat cat dealers are over. Now it is time to please buyers. The 'Rendvooo' is one of the Ron Zarella era "Crest Toothpaste" cars, an 'Azzz-tek' twin. Most of them are in rental lots. I will be glad to not see them at the Auto Shows sitting ignored, almost as 'modern' as the A body Century was in the 90's.

GM simply made the current TB/Envoy too large, thinking 'bigger is better'. They are too close to the Tahoe, and now they are getting canned. Look at the older Blazers, they were more sensible. But now the E'nox is same size.

In summer of '73, my family went to Niagra Falls and on the CDN side were tons of 60's-73 Pontiac Laurentans (sp?) and Parisiennes. In fact most were the 71-73 style.

Why is it that cars are 'dated' if they are over a year old? The Torrent is not dated at all, in fact it is right for these times. And Pontiacs should not be BMW wannabes, we got enough of those.

"Is GM trying to kill pontiac on purpose???? " Living near Canada one should know that Pontiac up there is not a 'performance brand'. Is is for some reason a clone of Chevy. Canadians can answer why

But lots of 'fraidy cats' [deathly afraid to not get a Honda] will buy it no matter what. Just like the Element.

Didn't Bob Lutz admit that unforseen financial losses at GM cut into the original plan?

Well, many CDN Chevr-ontiacs eventaully made it down here. Astra [Vega], T1000 [Chevette], Parisienne [Caprice], G5 [you know], .... Some never did: Firefly [Metro], Tempest [Corsica?], Beaumont [Chevelle], Laurentan [old Impala] and Acadian [Nova].

Welcome to near 1/2 a year ago. These have been posted before from a Mopar presentation.

Durangos already have Hemis duh! LOL It is a love child of Durango and 300.

The 'Analysts' are more to blame. Most of them are 'quote hos' that want to get in a story. Most often they say 'kill a brand', 'make Camry clones', and 'close more plants'