Drew Dowdell

Even more interesting.... Toyota has know about this since February....

The current CTS-V already runs with <but doesn't beat> the M5 in handling, they're so close it's down to driver skill.

It seems to me that Mazda could be in a unique position in the world of hybrids. Some points to consider: 1. It's entirely plausible to have a car who's only means of propulsion is via electric motors; Tesla and the Electric Mini have proven that. 2. Generators work their best at a consistent, generally high, RPM. 3. Rotary engines are their most efficient at a high rpm. 4. Rotary engines are very smooth running. What I'm suggesting here is mating a small displacement rotary engine, probably less than 1 litre, to a generator to charge the batteries. Batteries in turn run the electric motors <in the wheels like with the Electric Mini> of moderate power. The rotary/generator only fires up and runs when the batteries need to be topped off. Throw in a plug in feature for when the car is parked and the lithium ion battery technology from Tesla, and I see the potential for a good performing vehicle that can get 50+ mpg with a very unobtrusive, compact, power train. Now, I've never driven a rotary powered car, I don't know how they'd react to being started and stopped like they would be in a hybrid situation. What do you guys think?

http://money.cnn.com/2007/05/29/autos/bc.t...sion=2007052915

The news has now been picked up by Reuters and USA Today and CNN

No Aurora?

With GM, the mullet comes standard.

yes

it won't be the velite as we know it.....at best you'll get the name

from the thread Fly posted

I like Oldsmobile... I really do. That is one of the ugliest 88s I've ever seen.

What about an Intrigue with the 3.8?

then why not wait....? I'd be all over either of those 98s.

Very few vehicles are completely error free at launch... even super important ones like the Lambdas and Tundra. Still though, catastrophic engine failure? GM hasn't had an issue like that since the 8-6-4.

GM needs to have Lambda hybrids in the wings......

Good to hear about the wheel hop issue. I can get the rear wheel hop in just the V6 if I'm on less than perfect pavement <i.e. all of western Pennsylvania> and that puts me into the traction control fairly quickly. I can't imagine what driving a CTS-V is like here at any speed above "brisk".

Faulty airbag switch != major engine failure

That's got to be some metallurgical defect for the camshaft to snap before the timing belt does.

The 307 isn't unreliable, it's just not fast. Slow and steady is the name of the game here.

BV will do it with anything that's got a pulse.... and when that 4-cylinder is runnin.... well....

Probably got an awesome deal on it.

is it any wonder that those GSXRs sound like RC cars?

I usually just say, "I'm just here waiting for my car to be serviced" and they leave me alone

This is one instance where I'm siding with the UAW.