Drew Dowdell

Actually, the Lacrosse Super does have a much larger engine over the lesser versions and is the fastest Buick ever built. Handling is also said to be top notch for a large FWD V8. Sadly, the Lacrosse Super ends up having more claim to "all new" than this RL.

again with the stupid stupid stupid gear shift location. Hey Chrysler, you brought the Hemi back from the dead. Reach back into your history and bring back pushbutton transmissions for your mini-vans!

The tesla motor weighs 70 pounds the batteries weigh 900lbs. How much does an HF3.6 + 6speed weigh? Why would you want to limit choice for those of us who would like to see that technology advance?

I guess I shouldn't have assumed this was a diesel.

1. In the Tesla video test I saw, they did 90 miles of hard driving while out accelerating an Audi R8 and still had 30% battery left using the 1-speed transmission. That works out to be about 130 mile range... again with a 1-speed... while outpacing an R8. It's not hard to see how the Tesla could get 200+ miles per charge when it's not driven like it's stolen. 2. The Volt will weigh more. However, not so much more that 40 mile range without using the ICE is implausible. 3. Why do you keep insisting that the 2-mode and E-flex are mutually exclusive? This is E-flex version 1.0. I expect the 2-mode will consist of the bulk of GM's fuel saving technology for the foreseeable future. Prius versions 1.0 and 2.0 were test beds for Toyota's technology. It wasn't until late in Prius 3.0's life that Toyota expanded the technology into other platforms like the Camry and Highlander. 4. It's mere months away. It's done. 5. The 4-speeds are only in platforms that are due to die very soon <G-body, W-Body, current Delta>. Any of the more modern platforms with a 4-speed also have a 6-speed available <Malibu, G6, Aura>.

1. Batteries are already getting 220 mile range in the Tesla today.... and that is geared towards performance. In the video of the road test it was out scooting an Audi R8. 2. Volt's expectations are that it do 40 miles before the ICE kicks in... the Volt can't be THAT much heavier and THAT much faster than the Tesla 3. Why can't 2-mode and E-Flex co-exist? It's not like E-flex is ready or will be ready to be release company wide in 2 years. While an E-flex Tahoe might be nice... it's not gonna be here in 2011. 4. 2-mode is here today... which means development started at least 3 years ago. 5. The release of the Volt is not going to automatically switch over all other platforms to this new technology. When the BAS or 2-Mode were released, did we see an immediate deployment to all cars on all platforms? Of course not. The Lucerne and DTS are still using 4-speeds!

SMK doesn't count products over seas unless they support his argument. <V6 S-Classes, etc>. I'm doing the same. if you want to include overseas products... then yes, Cadillac does in fact have a smaller 4-cylinder car in the BLS.

fixed

Infiniti - no hybrid, no diesel, no 4-cylinder Acura - no hybrid, no diesel, one 4-cylinder Lexus - 3 hybrids, no diesel, no 4-cylinder BMW - no hybrid, no diesel <here>, no 4-cylinder Audi - no hybrid, no diesel, two Turbo-4 that gets craptastic gas mileage due to weight and Quattro Jaguar - no hybrid, no diesel, no 4-cylinder Saab - no hybrid, no diesel, two turbo 4-cylinders Mercedes - no hybrid, 2 diesels, no 4-cylinders Volvo - no hybrid, no diesel, no 4-cylinders I just would like to point out, that the most fuel efficient car in this list is GM's Saab 9-3 Turbo.

You said it yourself... the big hold up on the Volt is the batteries. In reality, other than the powertrain, the Volt will also just be another unibody car. GM already knows how to do the electric motors..even if all they do is apply modern technology to the EV-1 motor design. They've had a fairly decent success rate at the internal combustion engine since about 1908. They've been arranging larger versions of this powertrain configuration since about 1930 <EMD>. And those batteries.... oh yeah... they're entering the final R&D phase. I'm not sure how the 2-mode hybrid enters into any of your doubts.. it's just a parallel technology. Despite the PR, the Volt really isn't that ground breaking. A Prius hybrid is 10 parts ICE and 4 parts EV... a Volt is just looking to change the ratio to 4 parts ICE and 10 parts EV. The Volt also looks better doing it.

based on......?

I posted the thread about it ;-)

I'm going to have to disagree with you <and other ICE supporters> here. ICE is not nearly as thermally efficient as Fuel Cell technology. A fuel cell is basically a battery replacement. In the electric motor there are two bearings.... that's it. How many bearings are there in a V8.... including valve train....including piston rings <basically bearing that run in a different direction>? Those are all friction points that the energy generation process must overcome. So... pre transmission, the number of friction points are: Fuel Cell powertrain: 2 V8 ICE powertrain: 8 piston rings, 4 main journals, 8 rod bearing, 4 cam bearings <pushrod>.... etc etc etc. So.... I'll see your V8 rumble and raise you 300ft/lbs of torque at 0 rpm.

I used to maintain this same point as the only way to generate hydrogen consumed as much energy as it produced. However, a recent discovery, of which Camino posted an article about, found a way to produce hydrogen using bacteria and only consuming a small fraction of the amount of power generated by the resulting hydrogen.

sorry... I have a cold and I'm popping sudafed like they're M&Ms. take my list..... make it the opposite... that's my list for the thread

no.... Genesis I presume....

Because Suzy McMansion got a 110% LTV second mortgage to pay off her maxed out Vicky Secrets/Pottery Barn/Macy's/Express credit cards.... which she promptly maxed out again.

Long hood, short deck, two-door, full sized V8, ethanol or diesel, FWD power... preferably LT1 based Fibreoptic fender indicator lamps large, comfortable, plush, luxury car interior... NOT European inspired. Quiet tuning. ability to tow 3,000 lbs digital dash heated seats

I've never had a complaint about the CTS's transmission in either situation. In the mountains the transmission doesn't hunt... but I think this is more a factor of the 3.6 having a good powerband. Snow mode works decently.... the traction control gets a little spastic, but I programed one of the buttons on the dash to be a traction control disable. In snowy weather, I can't get out of my driveway <for which I can sell lift tickets> with the TCS on... but the same was true of my Cutlass... so it's not a RWD/FWD issue. I use Dunlop Wintersport tires in the snowy months and the car feels almost AWDish.

Falling housing market means fewer BMWs.

This gives me one extra warm fuzzy about the Traverse.

Acura 9-RL-5?

I don't see it as bland at all. It looks exactly as it should sitting next to the new Malibu in the showroom.

point is.... very liberal use of the phrase "All New" almost Toyota like....

uhm,..... Acura...