Northstar

My dealer had a G6 coupe when I swung by a few minutes ago. I think I might go take a few pics later tonight.

I'm not sure Buick should got into the $50,000 mark. You can get a loaded STS V6 or a base STS V8 with a couple options for that price. I think they should stick the 3.6 in the Lucerne, give it 270HP or so, and get rid of the Northstar (and therefore make the top price about 3-4k less). Then I would put a Sigma Lite sedan with the 3.6 from about $30-37k and make a V8 optional (maybe detuned LS2 or RWD Northstar) and make that about $37-42k. I think most people who have the choice between a $50k Buick or a $50k Cadillac would probably pick the Cadillac 9 times out of 10, but that's just me. On the old board Hogans Heros (an insider) posted a detailed list of the future Thetas. He had Buick getting a premium Theta I believe.

I've never heard of hail cannons before, interesting. You would think that they could put them undercover somewhere, but I guess the plant must not be big enough to store them all.

This is just a reminder that entries are due by 12:01 AM EST on Sunday, August 28th; so basically you need to have your entry in tomorrow, as I won't be extending the deadline.

MARK PHELAN: New Chevy HHR hits home run August 25, 2005 BY MARK PHELAN FREE PRESS COLUMNIST http://www.freep.com/money/autoreviews/phe...825.htm#graphic The 2006 Chevrolet HHR is what the future used to look like, an artist's rendering that blends memory and imagination. From its optional chrome roof rack to the sculpted metal housings for its round afterburner taillights, the HHR reminds me of 1940s and '50s drawings of spaceships and cars of the future. Some skeptics have already dismissed the throwback look of the HHR as Chevy's belated answer to Chrysler's retro-styled PT Cruiser, but the compact wagon is more than that. Both cars use their brands' heritage effectively, but while the HHR -- which stands for Heritage High Roof -- borrows key styling cues from models such as the 1949 Chevy Suburban, it's not just a slavish exercise in playing the oldies. The HHR has been on the auto-show circuit as a concept for a while, and it just went on sale with remarkably little fanfare for a car that signals a seismic shift in how America's best-selling brand thinks of small cars. It took a generation, but Chevrolet might have finally figured out that small cars deserve as much thought and attention as big ones. The HHR's interior space and road presence give it the feel of a larger car, but the wagon is actually about 4 inches shorter than the Chevrolet Cobalt compact. That's one of the keys to attracting young buyers to showrooms, and Chevrolet executives think the HHR's looks, price and features give them an answer to youth magnets like the Honda Element and Scion xB. The compact station wagon is full of safety features, thoughtful little touches that make it clear Chevy has stopped dismissing anything smaller than an Impala as econoboxes. That's not to say the HHR isn't economical. Base prices start at $15,425 and the very well equipped model I tested cost $21,425. All prices exclude destination charges. In addition, the 172-horsepower HHR LT got a very good 26.2 m.p.g. over 279 miles of mixed city and highway driving, meaning it should be inexpensive to own as well as to buy. While I like the HHR's looks and frugality, the little wagon's carefully thought-out interior impressed me most. The list begins with a high seating position that provides an unusually commanding view of traffic for a small vehicle. While the HHR hopes to win over young folks who didn't even notice earlier small Chevys, the easy-entry seats and wide-opening doors should also make it attractive to older buyers and people with limited mobility. The interior also features a simple and attractive instrument panel. The chrome-rimmed gauges featured lighted pointers, and the raised tachometer overlaps the speedometer slightly, adding an unusual feeling of depth to the instrument panel. The HHR also has a standard driver information center, which provides a variety of data including trip odometers, fuel economy and average speed. Other standard equipment on even the base model includes power locks and mirrors, air conditioning, and a CD stereo with a jack for iPods and other auxiliary inputs. The climate and audio controls are all large and logically arranged. Antilock brakes and curtain air bags are optional on the base model, an unfortunate omission for a car that aims to appeal to young people and parents shopping for their kids' first car. While I'd like to see those features standard, the two of them add only $795 to the car's price. I suspect the vast majority of buyers will get them both. The interior's many useful features include an extremely well-designed storage compartment in the dashboard and a handy little iPod-size cubby below the audio controls. The cupholders are rather poorly placed, very low and farther aft in the center console than feels natural. Back-seat legroom is good, however, and the rear cargo compartment is extremely useful, with a standard cargo net and a multi-position shelf that provides two levels of storage and a cover to keep your gear out of view. Drivers over 6 feet tall may find headroom somewhat limited in HHRs with the optional power sunroof, however. The interior materials are generally good. The inside of the doors have a bit more hard plastic than I'd like, but they are impressed with a grained surface that makes them palatable in a low-priced car. The HHR shares its basic structure and major systems with the Chevrolet Cobalt, and they all perform very well. The brakes are firm and progressive; the steering is responsive and provides good feedback. I tested an HHR with the optional 172-horsepower 2.4-liter engine. Acceleration was fine, although I found myself working the manual Getrag gearbox a lot to get the performance I wanted. Thanks to its variable valve timing, the 2.4-liter has the same EPA fuel economy rating as the base 2.2-liter 140-horsepower engine. The larger engine is a $650 option, and I'd call that money well spent. The HHR I tested was one of the first saleable models to roll out of the factory, but I didn't find any loose parts, squeaks or rattles. The HHR was quiet and comfortable on surface streets and highways. With its looks, thoughtful features and affordability, the HHR should be what the future of Chevrolet looks like.

Lack of '05 inventory expected to take toll on GM sales By Greg Migliore Automotive News / August 25, 2005 http://www.autonews.com/news.cms?newsId=13151 DETROIT -- A summer of offering employee discounts to the public has cleared out plenty of 2005 models for the Big 3 -- a fact that will likely dent General Motors' sales for August, analysts say. Analysts expect Ford Motor Co. and the Chrysler group to post sales gains for August, as both automakers kept their employee discount programs for a second month. But August was the third month of the sales program for GM, which the automaker applied to most of its 2005 models. And with the number of '05 models left on dealership lots dwindling, analysts predict GM will post a sales decline for August. Morgan Stanley's Jonathan Steinmetz and Edmunds.com's Jesse Toprak forecast that GM's August sales will be down about 5 percent. Burnham Securities analyst David Healy, who has been consistently critical of employee pricing, foresees GM's sales will decline about 18 percent for the month. Automakers report August sales on Sept. 1. GM tweaked its strategy on Thursday, extending the Employee Discount for Everyone campaign until Sept. 30 but also making some 2006-model full-sized pickups and SUVs eligible for the discount. With GM's move to include some 2006 trucks, Edmunds.com's Toprak expects Ford and Chrysler to follow suit. "This is a clever way for GM to draw consumers' attention back to its brand and particularly to its less fuel-efficient vehicles," he said. Toprak expects big gains for Ford in August, forecasting a 28 percent gain from August 2004. Healy expects Ford's sales to rise about 7 percent, while Steinmetz sees a 2.8 percent increase for the month. Chrysler's August sales could rise 20 percent for August, Toprak says. Other analysts see smaller gains -- Healy predicts 4 percent, and Steinmetz expects 1 percent. Toyota also is expected to post significant gains for the month. Toprak says the automaker could see gains of 33 percent for August, while Healy expects a gain of as much as 15 percent. Toprak also forecasts big gains for Honda, 28 percent, and Nissan, 33 percent. He foresees overall vehicle sales for August to rise 14.8 percent to more than 1.63 million units. Analysts see August's seasonally adjusted annualized sales rate to be 17.2 million to 17.3 million vehicles.

By James B. Treece Automotive News / August 26, 2005 http://www.autonews.com/news.cms?newsId=13156 TOKYO -- Mazda Motor Corp. is predicting that Europe will replace North America as the largest market for the redesigned 2006 MX-5 Miata. It blames the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky roadsters. With fewer competitors to contend with, the Miata sold more strongly in North America, says Daniel Morris, Mazda's senior managing executive officer in charge of marketing, sales and customer service. That is no longer true. Now the MX-5 will have to take on General Motors' new roadsters. The 2006 Solstice went on sale this month. The Sky follows in the spring. The redesigned MX-5 has been trickling into showrooms in the United States for weeks. Morris says a marketing push will begin next month. Mazda predicts that about 45 percent of MX-5 sales will be in Europe, or roughly 18,000 a year. North America will sell about 40 percent, or about 16,000. Sales in Japan will come to about 10 percent, or 4,000. The remainder will be sold elsewhere, mostly in Asia. Last year, Mazda sold 9,356 Miatas in the United States. GM is planning to sell 20,000 Solstices and 20,000 Skys in the United States. The MX-5's base sticker price is $20,995. The Solstice starts at $19,995. Both prices include shipping. Europe is the only market that will sell an MX-5 powered by a 1.8-liter engine. That is to meet tax incentives in markets for cars with engines smaller than 2.0 liters. Everywhere else, the MX-5 will come only with a 2.0-liter engine. Mazda plans to use the same MX-5 TV commercial around the globe "with just minor tweaks," Morris says. The global commercial is possible because the car fits Mazda's global image. The Miata, says Morris, "was zoom-zoom before we knew we were zoom-zoom."

Hyundai drops minivan plans Automaker will concentrate on SUV, sport wagon By Charles Child Automotive News / August 26, 2005 http://www.autonews.com/news.cms?newsId=13153 Hyundai Motor America has dropped plans to sell a traditional minivan next year. Instead, the company says it will add a seven-passenger SUV. Later, it will offer a six-passenger sport wagon. “We felt the best strategy was to leave the traditional minivan for others,” says CEO Robert Cosmai. Hyundai wants to “stay appropriately differentiated from other brands.” The unibody SUV, about the same size as a Honda Pilot, will go into production in late 2006. The minivan, dubbed the Entourage, was scheduled for spring 2006. The Entourage was to have shared a platform with the Kia Sedona. American consumers typically don’t embrace rebadged vehicles, says John Krafcik, vice president of product development and strategic planning. Hyundai is trying to carve out a separate identify from affiliate Kia. Moreover, the minivan segment is stagnant, he says. The SUV will not be based on the Sedona platform, Krafcik says. The vehicle will be powered by a 3.8-liter V-6 mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. It will offer electronic stability control and side curtain airbags. The sport wagon, due in 2008, will offer a flexible interior for passengers and cargo, the company said in a press release Friday. The vehicle will be similar to the Portico concept shown at the Chicago Auto Show in February.

Definetly Tomlinson, he's never actually led the league in rushing, but over the past four years he has the most rushing yards of anyone, plus he scores a lot of touchdowns. If you really need touchdowns though (Tomlinson will probably get like 20) then I'd go with Culpepper... He can make things happen by running (unlike Manning) and I think he threw for 39 TDs last year. Sure, he doesn't have Randy Moss anymore, but the Vikings have a couple new receivers that are supposed to be pretty good.

That actually looks pretty good, a big improvement on the Tribeca. The double lower grill is weird, but everything else looks pretty good. I never really minded the Tribeca rear, so I don't have any complaints there.

I thought we had confirmation from our insiders that Buick would be getting a Theta (based on the premium Theta or whatever the BRX is on)? If the Velite ever comes to life and GM gets RWD figured out, we could have 5 or even 6 (if there is a sedan version of the Velite) Buicks.

I was looking at the board stats today, and today was by far the busiest day to date on the new board. We have had over 1150 posts so far today, which nearly doubles the next best number of 599 yesterday. Keep up the happy posting! :CG_all:

That was pretty funny actually. On a more serious note, the Duramax should once again be King with the upgrades to 650 lb-ft for the '06 MY, plus the new 6-speed Allision. It's rumored the Duramax will grow a little in the 900's and be capable of 700 lb-ft.

Oh wow, the Solstice looks good in red in that pic. The other pics I had seen of it in red were less impressive.

I could be wrong, but I think Opel is getting a different version of the S3X... and if the S3X is a Chevy in Europe, that means the Opel will be even nicer, and the Opel will (I believe) become a Saturn here.

Couldn't have said it better myself, though I think Buick could use four or five products.

I think you can get a Lucerne with a black interior, Bluesman.

Buick will have at least four models that we know about: Lucerne, LaCrosse, Lambda X-Over and Theta X-Over. A RWD car would make five.

I think all base Pontiacs should be GTs. GT, GTP, GXP sounds good to me; plus, if Pontiac is supposed to be sporty and stuff, why would they need a base or SE?

Are you being serious? The Monte needs a complete do-over to be very attractive, IMO.

I think the Camaro will be built at Wilmington. It has an extra line that isn't in operation right now, and even if the Solstice + Sky combine for 50k units/year (which seems a little high except for the first year) then there's still 130k units of capacity for the Camaro.

AH-HA's been here, he just hasn't posted a ton.

On the old board we had a Corvette board too, but since the C6 and Z06 have both debuted there's not a ton of news about it anymore. On Snitz we had like Cobalt/HHR and another forum as well I think in the Chevy car forum. According to guionM over on CZ28, we'll start hearing some good news (about the Camaro) sometime in September.

I thinkt he Cobalt coupe looks so big because of the high beltline and trunk. The new Mustang looks big because of the same thing.

I miss thegriffon; haven't seen him post since we got back up. There's probably other people that I miss, but I can't think of anyone who hasn't re-joined yet. Oh, and I miss Walt being here.