Northstar

The Aura is/was supposed to be getting the same hybrid system as the VUE (2.4 Ecotec + BAS) in March of '07 According to a Powerpoint I found about 6 months ago. It didn't say anything about a manual transmission (or automatic, for that matter), but the VUE GL doesn't have one. However, I don't see any reason why Saturn couldn't offer the same 5-speed that's on the 4-cyl VUE on a non-hybrid 4-cyl Aura. GM shouldn't let the Malibu and G6 take on the 4-cyl competition because they aren't really good enough to do so. The Aura is a big step up from either and actually has the goods to go against the Accord/Camry. If GM offers a 4-cyl in the Aura, those buyers who want 4-cyl Accords and Camrys would actually have a reason to look into GM; if not, then it's probably not very likely that they'll look at a G6 or Malibu.

About the side moldings: while they aren't as big as they were on the concept, it appears they're still there (but smaller) and you just can't see them because of the silver color and poor quality of the picture. However, I agree the sides are much worse now that they don't have as big of moldings, and would like to see it return to concept-form.

The more I look at it, the more I like it. It's obviously not as good as the concept, but still it looks very nice. I also just noticed a couple minutes ago that the wheels are HUGE. Look like 18s to me, maybe even 19s. It looks like it actually has good-looking mirrors too, unlike the Malibu and G6. Look at the production version and don't take into account what the concept looked like, and it looks pretty damn good for your average family sedan. Probably the best out there.

I agree they made the chrome bar take up too much space. I'll wait until we get lots of pics to see, but it looks like they may have toned it down too much.

This is rather pointless. We'll have big pictures of them at 12:01 AM EST on the 11th anyways. Maybe if it was like a week before they debuted, but this doesn't make much sense to me.

The Aura looks good, though not as good as it did. I assume the 248HP must be from the 3.6 because I don't think the 3.5 could make that.

It's interesting they didn't test a Cobalt SS SC or an ION RL, or even the new SRT4. They would all be better performers, but all would also have worse interiors.

I don't think so... He says the Aura is getting the 3.9? A GM press release dated the 11th of April says it's getting the 3.6. Also: So they're going to build a new plant for the Camaro and GTO when they have EXCESS capacity at many plants?

Buickman: Thank you for ruining another perfectly fine f@#king thread. I propose you show yourself the door before we do.

Croc: I assume you are referring to the FWD transmission thread? Anyways, we know they are capable of housing a V8, but the UV8 (which was supposed to go in them) got pushed back or cancelled, so we won't see it at launch. However, if the V6 is making 280+ I don't see a big need for a V8 at 320hp (the max for the tranny) except for the added torque (towing).

The one problem with the current Aveo is that for it's size it doesn't get very good gas mileage. However, it still is the best seller in its probably based on entry price. If the new Aveo gets comparable mileage to the Yaris and Fit, I see no reason for it not to sell even better.

I don't see many rentals around here, but Enterprise usually has either Nissans, Hyundias, or Pontiacs in the lot (but only like 10 cars). Anyways, my Calculus teacher doesn't own a car but rather rents them for like a month. His friend is a manager or something at a car rental place and I guess he gets a really good price on them, making it cheaper than buying a car. He usually either has a G6, Grand Prix, or Maxx and says he likes the GP best.

I don't see why they needed both the CX-7 and CX-9. Unless this actually has a real 3rd row (which I doubt it will) they should have just made something in between the two with a kiddie 3rd row.

The side profile looks much more trucky and SUV-like than the curvy Enclave; a good thing since they'll be sold in the same showroom.

Meh, it looks more like the Aspen now and blander (even if it's better). That, and the Tahoe still destroys it.

He never said any 2 door car with a stick was a muscle car, he said all muscle cars had 2 doors and a stick, there's a difference. If my dad would have let me get a GTO with a stick, it'd have one, but I'm still happy it has the sleek look that you get with 2 doors. If musclecars aren't supposed to be two doors, why did the Charger community get crazy mad that the new Charger was a 4-door?

Well that sucks, sorry to hear about it.

I don't think so. Unless you're sitting at the stoplight equally as much as you are driving down the road, you would never be able to get 10MPG unless you are revving it up all the time while you're cruising. I could probably get about 10MPG in the GTO if I floored it from every stop, but that's not the point. If Edmunds drove the car like the rest of the people around them, there's no way they can do as poorly as a GTO. Maybe Edmunds liked that throaty exhaust note in the Lucerne a bit more than the V6s in the Avalon and Azera and were a bit more loosy goosy in it? :AH-HA_wink:

The fuel economy is BS. Maybe they liked the remote start so much they let it sit there and run to warm up for their lazy asses. There is no way it got less than 14MPG. I get 14MPG in my GTO and it has a gas-loving performance camshaft in it, not to mention being driven rather aggressively and weighing quite a bit.

Yes, I believe so. I suppose some could be GM Company vehicles (like something they would use to transport execs to and from meetings maybe) but that probably means that about 9% of the new Tahoes are going to rentral car companies or government agencies, etc. For comparison, the old Tahoe had about 8% going to fleet on average, so 9% is about the norm.

315HP and 300lb-ft is more than enough for almost any FWD application. Even though the UV8 was supposed to go into the Lambdas, I don't know if there's really a need if the 3.6L is going to make 280-290HP.

So you're saying you'd rather have short term success but fail with long term goals? Sounds like a GREAT plan to me

Well, that's good news. If Saturn's have interiors that are all good as Opels in materials, they will kick ass. Also, I'd like to applaud Lutz for not letting Autoweek get away with just a rediculous comment. I don't see what the problem is; BMW, MB, Audi, and many other companies sell exact copies of their cars in other countries too, and Autoweek would never complain about that.

07 Tahoe today at the rim shop.

The RL is actually doing worse than last year The Civic seems to be doing alright, but the Accord apparantly is taking a hit from the new Camry, even though I'd take an Accord over a Camry.