Northstar

I'm not sure the possibility is any better. The Camaro is a ~$20-30k vehicle and the Velite would be price over $40k and well into the $50k range, so I'm not sure a Camaro makes the business case for the Velite any better, especially considering they're still trying to finish the Camaro's business case.

Looks like a 2-door S-Class to me. I'll take the current CL.

Have you heard anything about 002 suggesting it's still on?

You mean that the NG G6 isn't scheduled to arrive until after MY2009, correct? LaCrosse is GMX353? And I am assuming the Grand Prix is not Epsilon II since the G6 will be, so that means it's probably a new code that's different from the Zeta one (which was GMX285?).

Did you get any good pics of it CD/BP, or was it camo'd well enough that you couldn't get any shots with a lot of details? Were you able to zoom in on the interior at all?

The LS7 didn't qualify because the vehicle the engine was in had to be under $52k MSRP (I should have noted that in the original post). But I agree about the three you listed and I also question the Mazda engine. I think the LS2 and LS4 (for DOD) could have both been chosen over the Hemi and Ford V8.

If there's no GTO then it's fine to have a Monte and Camaro (both RWD). If there's a GTO then there's no need for the Monte.

I think the C6-R is around 650, but that's not really what matters. The Blue Devil should be much lighter. The current Viper weighs almost 3400lbs vs. 3132 for the Z06, and the Blue Devil will be lighter than the Z06 most likely. Of course the new Viper could use exotic materials and such, but I'm guessing the Blue Devil will still be lighter.

It does look like it has a bed, but it could just be the Avalanche, and we've already seen plenty of pics of it. I changed your pic to a link because we aren't allowed to post copyrighted pics.

I would have thought the Viper would stick around longer than that, didn't the current model come out for 2002 or 2003? If this comes in at the same price as the current Viper that will be insane, though I'm guessing it will be quite a bit more. It shall be interesting to see what the Corvette team does to counter this, or if the Blue Devil will be able to beat it (which I'm guessing it will since it's basically going to be a C6-R).

SOUTHFIELD, MI – The winners of Ward’s 10 Best Engines awards for 2006 demonstrate U.S. auto consumers still can have it all: Many of the winning engines highlight sophisticated new technology that generates exhilarating performance – but also improves fuel economy. The 2006 list marks the 12th year for the Ward’s 10 Best Engines program, the auto industry’s highly anticipated annual barometer of powertrain prowess. This year’s winners, as well as the vehicles tested, include: Audi AG: 2L FSI turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Audi A3) Audi AG: 4.2L DOHC V-8 (Audi S4) BMW AG: 3L DOHC I-6 (330i) DaimlerChrysler AG:5.7L Hemi Magnum OHV V-8 (Dodge Charger R/T) Ford Motor Co.: 4.6L SOHC V-8 (Mustang GT) General Motors Corp.: 2L supercharged DOHC I-4 (Chevrolet Cobalt SS) General Motors Corp.: 2.8L turbocharged DOHC V-6 (Saab 9-3 Aero) Mazda Motor Corp.: 2.3L DISI turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Mazdaspeed 6) Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.: 3.5L DOHC V-6 (Infiniti G35 6MT) Toyota Motor Corp.: 3.5L DOHC V-6 (Lexus IS 350)

I agree the Spyder looks like it will turn out better than the coupe. Just on a side note: I wish GM would give us sketches like they used to; we haven't had any in a while.

First let me say I am simply speculating and posting my thoughts on the issue, and that I have no inside info confirming this, just info/rumors that I have read. By now I'm sure most of us who have followed the 'GMX386' thread know that the NG Malibu has been cancelled and we won't have a new Malibu until Epsilon II is ready. I've been thinking about GM globalizing over the next few years and what that means to future product plans in general, and more importantly for this thread, what that means to the future of Chevrolet cars. First, let's consider the platforms that GM will have at its disposal upon which to base cars on by 2010: Note that all of these platforms, or at least most of the components used in them, will be used globally. Delta II Epsilon II Zeta (Holden) Sigma Lite (proposed North American version of Zeta) Now, it is rather obvious that the NG Malibu/replacement will be based on Epsilon II, but also notice that there is no W-Body left on which to put a NG Impala. I highly doubt that Chi has made it through any sort of cost cutting as no other parts of the world demand a large FWD platform, and thus it would not fit in with GM's globalization. Now, let's go back to something evok posted in the 'GMX386' thread: "Mama, take this badge off of me I can't use it anymore." Someone pointed out that maybe that simply meant the NG Malibu wouldn't be called 'Malibu,' and I tend to agree. With the current Impala needing a replacement close to 2010 and the Malibu obviously needing one by then, maybe the NG Malibu will simply be called "Impala" and replace both the Impala and Malibu. We know that Epsilon II is supposed to move up in size, and with the interior space inefficiency of the current Impala, I see no reason why GM would keep the Impala around, except for a bigger trunk. Now, here's the other piece to the puzzle: By 2010 GM will have the RWD cars ready (whether they choose "Sigma Lite" or "Zeta" with Zeta being the Holden platform), and then Chevy could get a new range-topping RWD/AWD flagship above the new "Impala" as we have heard news of previously. By basically combining the Malibu and Impala into one model, Chevy can concentrate all of it's CamCord-fighting efforts into one vehicle, and then work on a more traditional American RWD sedan above it, without having to worry about having too many sedans (if GM simply added a RWD sedan to Chevy's current lineup, I think that's one too many). Whether I'm correct on the naming or not, I don't see Chevy having a FWD sedan above their future Epsilon II sedan as they do now. I think it would be quite possible that the Malibu just gets renamed and the Impala name goes to the RWD sedan eventually, but let's not dwell on the names too much right now. The important part is that there's no FWD platform bigger than Epsilon II on the way, and thus there won't be a future FWD Impala unless that's what the Epsilon II sedan is named. So, just to recap, I think this is what Chevy's future sedan lineup will look like (circa 2010): Aveo Cobalt - Delta II Epsilon II sedan RWD sedan

Maybe that's referring to the SKY?

They need to take this to a Barret-Jackson auction or similar auction, not sell it on eBay.

Won't the next Vectra and Signum both ride on Epsilon II? I'm thinking that's simply mentioning the vehicles that will share platforms with Saturns rather than hint at what vehicles will come here, but I'm just guessing. Thanks for posting that.

Ghost Dog - can you post this article or is it in German? I don't think GM would cancel/delay any Lambdas as it's not waiting for any sort of global platform to arise and they're going to be big money makers.

GM has asked that all of the leaked Camaro pics be removed. I went into the threads and removed all of them I saw, but if posted any pics that I missed, I would ask that you please remove them. If you see the pics posted on C&G but did not post them yourself (meaning you can't remove them then) then please use the "report post to a moderator" feature to alert us so that we can remove them. Thanks, Northstar.

How can the Aura be scaled back? It's supposed to come out in like 7-8 months (Summer 06). If GM has no competitive cars, then they're screwed. I could care less about trucks, because I doubt I'll ever buy an SUV/pickup/crossover unless I really need the functionality. I just like cars a lot better.

And the most useless thread of the year award goes to...

Is it just me, or does the Camry's front remind anyone else a little bit of the pre-06 Civic's? The interior isn't nearly as impressive without NAV, and there is a ton of blank space (and people thought the STS had a lot of empty space). It's not bad, but I'm not wowing over it like I was with the NAV-equipped one. The guages do look very nice however. Does anyone else get a Mazda vibe from both the interior and to some degree the exterior (though the exterior is more blocky than Mazdas)?

Epsilon II hasn't been cancelled. I think the EPII LaCrosse will still be on track, it's just that the 2008 Malibu was supposed to be on EPI and now they're delaying it until it can go on EPII. I think the same thing is happening with the ION... it would be on Delta I but they're waiting until the new Astra is ready to go to put both on Delta II. As for the "Super" and GXP that someone mentioned: I see no reason why they wouldn't go ahead with those as they're just versions of current vehicles that are going to live on for a little while anyways.

I don't think that's going to happen... If the Aura doesn't sell then why would they make the Malibu a rebadged Aura? That'd be like commiting suicide. The Aura is Epsilon I and the next Malibu (because GMX386 got cancelled) is Epsilon II, so I don't think they're going to be rebadges.

Agreed about the dealer network. But, compared to Chevy and Pontiac, Toyota and Honda don't have a very big dealer network either. I don't expect the Aura to outsell the Accord or Camry, but I do expect it to at least match the Malibu and G6 in retail sales. As for the G6 not selling better than the Malibu: well, 49% of the Malibus sales are to fleets, and only 16% of G6s go to fleets. If you take that into account, the G6 has had nearly as many retail sales as the Malibu for the year (96545 vs 94250). And you should also take into account that at the beginning of the year the G6 was just barely selling (4k sales in Jan and 7k in Feb).

Ok, then it would seem halfway possible that GM has cancelled GMX386 on Epsilon I, and has sped up the Epsilon II Malibu (don't know the code) a year from 2010MY to 2009MY?