Northstar

I think I actually like the back 1/2 of that one better than the concept. It's not as aggressive, and the rear overhang might be a tad bit too long, but I think it has slightly better lines. The front though, can be forgotten.

If I remember correctly, the autoshow rep at Chicago last year kept saying there was either .8 or 1.8 cu ft of trunk space. So yes, it is pretty much 0.

Wow, cool pic Josh. Could you sit in it at the public show? I am hoping you can at Chicago since it should be on sale by then. I doubt many will be made that don't have NAV, so I don't think it's that big of a deal. Besides, if it costs $2k, what's the difference between $57k and $59k to someone who can afford a car that expensive? Even if you finance it for 4 years, that's about $40 a month.

So they aren't going to give us a hatch version of the next ION? I was hoping for a 3-door. Thanks for the info, thegriffon, and I'm glad to here there may be no delay at all.

Just because it's faster and has a more powerful engine doesn't mean it really outperforms the 330i in the real world. Sure, it might be able to beat it around a racetrack, but give the 330i 280hp or so and it would smoke the IS through the corners like its nobody's business. It isn't all about how fast it is on a track, it's about how much of a driver's car it is in the real world, where you'd actually drive it on a day-to-day basis.

Used '04 GTO. BTW, my car didn't break down (and I don't mean to hijack the thread), but I'm picking up an '04 GTO on Friday B)

I was expecting $55k, so $57k isn't any big deal. If you can afford an Escalade, a few thousand isn't going to hurt you too much.

I'm guessing that GME got the lead for the next global small-car platform and the next Astra is on it, and the ION will be just a clone for the most part I'm guessing. I don't think that GMX002 would still be on the same timeframe, as I think the next Astra is a 2010 model (or 2009?). As for the poll: Astra, hands down. Of the American entries, probably HHR.

I think it's a nice feature, but I can do without one if it's $2k.

I got a Durango to $43764 and I didn't select all of the options (maybe you didn't get the entertainment system and I didn't get something you got). Anyways, a similar Tahoe would probably be a 3LT 4WD with NAV, entertainment system, sunroof, and a split third row. Pricing came to $47485, which is less than $4k more than (IMO) the far inferior Durango. If I added some more options that the Durango doesn't seem to offer, then it would have gotten rather expensive, but I don't see that many people even opting for NAV, which would bring the price to less than $45.5k. I didn't check the Dodge, but the price over invoice on the Tahoe I priced was over $4500, so you definetly have some room to deal once the dealers get a big supply of them.

You can get a nicely optioned one for under $45k. My dealer has a 2007 Tahoe 3LT with basically everything including NAV and the review camera for $48k. Take off those two options that many people won't opt for, and you are no longer in the upper 40s. The 900s offer a lot more money for a $$ than the 800s did. The upper-level models may seem expensive, but they have quite a few more features than the old ones.

There are some pretty damn good deals available on all the leftover '05s (currently $6k incentives + $2k from the new GM card deal + whatever you can get the dealer to take off). If the price would have started at $35k to begin with maybe it would have done okay. I'd like an El Camino on Kappa.

Agreed. Keep it Europe-only or sell it. Who gives a $h! if GM would lose 32k sales a year. They could easily sell 10 times that amount in sales by using the money to make a kickass Malibu.

The Opel GT will just be a Sky basically. Kind of like how Saturn is getting Opels, Opel is getting a Saturn.

I don't see how the Tahoe is overpriced. Sure, you can still get it over $50k, but the old one could get over $50k and didn't have near the features of the new one, especially things like NAV and the rear view camera. You can get a pretty nice new Tahoe for around $44k, which isn't too far from where the old one with the same features would have ended up.

Camaro only had 71% "build it," I was expecting 90 or more, but the Challenger was only 64% "build it," so maybe it's not that bad. 60% bagged the Imperial, and 99% built the Aston Martin (funny, it only had "Build it" as a choice).

Reuters Automotive News / January 17, 2006 - 9:00 am FRANKFURT -- General Motors' premium brand Saab lost more than $300 million in 2005, a German newspaper reported on Tuesday, heaping pressure on GM given calls from investor Tracinda to sell Saab and other loss-making units. The Handelsblatt daily cited company sources saying Saab's loss widened from nearly $200 million in 2004, but a GM Europe spokesman said the company does not break out earnings for individual brands and would not comment further on earnings before its quarterly report on Jan. 26. The spokesman said Saab had its best ever fourth-quarter sales at the close of last year and its highest annual sales in Europe in 2005. "Having its best year ever from a volume standpoint, having the 9-3 Sport Combi for a full year, having the new 9-5 and the 20th anniversary of convertibles for the 9-3 in 2006 should bode well for the Saab brand and we expect that we will continue to gain momentum," the spokesman said. "There is no question that the company has got a commitment to Saab," he added, citing its progress in cutting costs and in launching a new model offensive at the brand. GM Europe President Carl-Peter Forster said at the Detroit auto show last week that if orders continued at the pace of late last year, Saab could boost volume by between 10,000 and 15,000 units. It sold 82,100 in Europe plus more than 38,000 in the United States in 2005. "I think (for) Saab there is potential for a step up in the cycle of performance," Forster said. GM Europe is in the process of cutting its workforce by around one fifth in a drive to restore profits. It last made an annual profit in Europe in 1999. In a separate interview, Forster said he wants productivity at core brand Opel to rise by 3-5 percent a year. "That means 3 to 5 percent more cars with the same number of workers or 3 to 5 percent fewer workers for the same car production," he told German magazine Auto Motor und Sport. When its main Ruesselsheim plant in Germany is properly utilized, it will be able to turn out cars in 19-20 hours versus 26 hours now for an Opel Vectra, he said. By comparison, the magazine added, Volkswagen needs around 50 hours to make a Golf and 54 hours to build a Passat in Germany, while its premium arm Audi takes just under 40 hours to make an A4 model. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti...ct=newsletter06

Yeah, it definetly is possible for the Theta to have a tiny third row, but I think it would be smart for Buick not to offer a third row. I think some buyers with small children would see both and go for the less expensive Theta model because they don't need a real back seat anyways. If the Theta didn't have a 3rd row they'd opt for the more expensive Enclave and it'd mean more profit for Buick. That's how I look at it, but I could be totally wrong with my assumption.

Are we sure that's the production Aura? It looks the same to me on saturn.com and it says "Aura Concept Vehicle Shown."

Nice pics. Since there's so many people around it I've decided I'll try to take some pics right at the end of the day at Chicago. Last year I got some good pics because I had plenty of room to not worry about people getting in front of me. The pic of just the front (level with the front) is interesting.

I think he means the LaCrosse Super.

I'd say that the Enclave replaces all three, and the Theta (if and when it comes) would really just be a new addition to the lineup since I highly doubt it would offer three row seating.

Well that really sucks. Maybe they did work on it and just used a show car that didn't have the fix? I hope so.

Let's see: Sprite (Lunch) Gatorade (after basketball practice) Gatorade (basketball practice) Milk (breakfast) Chocolate milk (dinner last night)

Jamie LaReau Automotive News / January 16, 2006 http://autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?...B/60113035/1115 DETROIT - The Buick Enclave crossover concept vehicle shown at the Detroit auto show is "99 percent" similar to the production version, says Robert Lutz, GM's vice chairman and global product chief. One difference: The concept version seats six; the production version will seat seven. Ed Welburn, GM's vice president of global design, says the Enclave's new interior style, called "Heritage Forward," uses wood and leather and has adjustable individual seats. Like Buick's new Lucerne sedan, the Enclave has the brand's signature portholes in the front fenders. The production Enclave replaces the Rendezvous and Rainier. It is expected to go on sale in early 2007. It is being developed on the Lambda vehicle architecture. Shannon wouldn't discuss pricing but said competitors likely will include the Lexus RX 330 and Acura MDX. The RX 330 retails at $38,465, and the MDX is priced at $37,740. Both prices include shipping.