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Typical. One step forward, three steps back. LaNeve wanted to trim the P/B/GMC into a single channel with unique products...and they ended up giving in... Why not spend the money on putting some cushier interior materials into the Cobalt?

Sadly, I like it. It's got some toughness to it, some muscle, and it's not ugly and oddly-proportioned like the Titan. And that's one hell of an interior...you guys can't deny that. The overall construction of the dash, console, door panels et al looks incredibly solid. One gripe, though, is the plastiluminum covering the drivers side...won't it get all scratched up near the key fob? Toyota did a very good job on this truck. It may not be the truck for most here, but if its priced right, this baby will sell, sell, sell.

The fact is, the next stable of products are not out-of-the-ballpark hits, like the 300C. Don't get me wrong, they're good, but not great. All suffer from cheap interiors, poor styling execution, and some underpowered engines. A few hits will surely be the 4.0L Nitro, Wrangler, and Patriot. The Compass is nearly guaranteed to fail...it's hideous and lacks power. The next Sebring looks like an engineering jumble with a cost-cut interior...not good in a fiercely competitive midsize market. I'd really like to see Chrysler's momentum continue, but I am not sure that these new products have what it takes.

I'm a Stones fan, so I liked it. Wasn't a huge fan of the set, would've preferred Brown Sugar or Paint it Black (favorite) to Start Me Up...but good seeing them. One of my friends made a funny but true comment about the halftime show...how they've had old, safe guys for the past two years...talk about minimizing risk. While nostalgia's great I'd like to see something more modern next year...nothing as ADD as the MTV-produced bunch though...

I immediately noticed the commercial because of the earlier press release. Great cinematography, really original look. However, I think they spent too much time on the "buildup." They should have shown the interior as well...that's really the kicker on this baby...

Well, I like it. The Nitro does away with alot of the gawdiness and poor execution of the recent DCX crop, but it does have a few issues that make it less than perfect. 1.) It looks too much like a Jeep. Sure, the styling is different, and hey, it looks like it does not share any sheetmetal with the Liberty. But the overall DESIGN just screams Jeep. Some other styling faults include the headlights, Cherokee-era rear with undifferentiated taillights (rectangles). Overuse of chrome outline at back of headlights, and as usual, the front bumper has too much emphasis. 2.) The interior continues the DCX plasti-util trend. DCX interiors have become terribly basic, lacking design, and chock full of plastic. Cost-cutting at its finest... 3.) Its based on the Liberty. The Liberty isn't really known for its great ride & drive. It's also ridiculously heavy...the 3.7L is going to be dying in this jumbo-Liberty...will the new 4.0L be able to keep pace with competitors? However, with all these quirks, this is a nice design. Its got a great stance, nice simple body, prominent grill, and a unique (outside of DCX) appearance. If the 4.0L is priced right, this will sell well.

CR is a useful magazine for buying cars, as it gives a consumer an IDEA of how reliable a car is. However, the magazine should not be seen as the gospel by its readers and writers. Consumer Reports' methods and perspective for testing cars pales in comparison to other automotive magazines. They also need to start reporting how many replies they got from owners...

Boy, I sure do! And what kind of designer would continue rocker panels like that to the rear fender? You get an F. :-)

While I like some themes found in this design, its overall lack of cohesiveness exemplifies Ford's new vision of the Lincoln brand: rebadges and platform compromises. Design misteps include: confused character line, tumor-ridden hood in rear 3/4 shot, unneccesary definition lines in overly large rear bumper, overly thick chrome hiding thick c-pillar, akward rise in greenhouse from character line, afterthought rear taillights, and on and on. Some things they got right were parts of the front end...everything else looks like a jumbled design melted together in order to imitate cohesiveness. It is disappointing that Horbury and crew could not conjure a better design theme, one that is a statement and not a compromise. But then again, thanks to clever Ford management, look at what they had to work with...

Unattractive it may be, but my first impression was "holy S**t!" It's bold, supersized, and very innovative for Ford. Great interior too. This design might not hold up well, but I like it!

Very sad indeed. The man really deserved this one, though. He's made the show a great tradition since way before my time...

Jeez, leave this type of thing to the dealers. GM's development & marketing dollars are better spent elsewhere...

99% sure we'll see new trim packages! Of course, an H2 with an interior/drivetrain upgrade as well as a more powerful H3 would be better...

What sometimes works for me is staying up all night and "resetting" my clock. Worked perfect on my flight back from London. Staying up is tough, but it usually works and helps your body get back on track. Plus, you'd be surprised how much you can get accomplished with more hours to your day ;-)

Wow, this and the Kings are doing terrible. When things looked so bright reality crashed back in...Dark times indeed... The next Malibu, in my mind, was GM's last real chance to prove itself and "save the company." Big thanks to Hogans Heroes et al for keeping us posted....wish the news was better though!

And I was really hoping they wouldn't go through with this... First, DCX is creating major product overlap...this really eats into the GC's market. Secondly, they've got horrible timing...gas prices, big truck stigma etc etc. Design-wise, we can all clearly see the design of the upcoming truck. I've gotta commend them on fixing the Durango's mismatched front-end. The Aspen's looks to capitalize on the success of the 300's design (unfortunately the Sebring was not so lucky), and it appears to fit the vehicle. If Chrysler is serious about attracting the "bling" crowd ala Escalade, they'll need to follow suit ala '07 Escalade...meaning upgraded/unique interior, unique options, more power etc. Even then, I don't see this being a big success. Will the Aspen name continue to be a curse to Chrysler? I'm looking forward to finding out...

The new Lambda vehicles may be a suitable replacement for these trucks. However, I feel there is still a market (albeit currently shrinking) for body-on-frame trucks. If GM were to "restyle" these vehicles and keep them on the market for a few more years, I'd expect a few things. Most important solving the truck's poor reliability and resulting damage to brand image. While I have no first hand observations, I've read in numerous publications that these trucks have very poor reliability. For GM's sake of improving quality and shortening the "perception gap," these vehicles must be "fixed." A second issue is build quality, specifically pertaining to fit, finish and consistency. I expect the large gaps, poor interior quality etc to already be taken care of given GM's consistent improvements in product. Lastly is transmission...I remember from driving an Envoy that I thought it could use an extra gear and a little quicker response. I think GM should definitely phase out the TB/Envoy IF Lambda vehicles are a suitable replacement. As you know, less models=more focus, more money...

Straight Shot. Right to the Babymaker. It's great to see DCX doing well...although I wouldn't pop open the champagne bottles yet. Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep have a slew of products coming to market...some that don't seem like surefire hits (ie underpowered Nitro, ugly-as-sin Compass), and the next Sebring is a crucial product that doesn't have the pizzaz of the 300...in other words they're definitely not out of the bunker yet. Check back next year...

For the environment, use the PESTL system as a sort of checklist...Political, Economic, Sociocultural, Technology, and Legal. Remember the 4P's! Also, look into Merc's segmentation strategy... Performing a SWOTT Analysis is crucial in formatting your paper. Due this before hand on excel or whatever you're most comfortable with. It's a great way to get all of your thoughts organized. Some people don't use that last T (trends) but I like to. Remember to tie in all sections of your paper. Keep in mind, how does this affect Mercury's marketing strategy? As for finding additional sources, see if your University's library has Mintel in its database. Mintel is a research firm that performs analytical reports on most major companies, by brand. There are also many articles over the years describing Mercury's target markets and their "design language." While I don't remember specific articles, the target is trendsetters & women...check out articles when Elena Ford was on board. Good luck, you'll find that these papers are easy as hell once you get used to them. Make sure to go into office hours as much as possible to get this checked out...

Kings is by far the best drinking game IMO. Remember to incorporate the following rules: never have I ever, busta rhyme, thumbmaster, grenade/alligator (down on the ground/off the ground), rulemaster, and everybody's favorite: waterfall. Beer pong is a great game...also known as Beirut (west coasters call it beer pong, even though paddles are not involved). Try adding a rule such as overthrow/drink one to make the game go faster. Flippy cup is another great game...more social than beer pong & another great party-starter. Also try out drinking jenga...you can write on the blocks your own rules...takes time but its worth it. Personal favorite: Quagmire's "Drink the Beer"

Thanks for that info via Edmunds, evok. Interesting to hear about this vehicle's development and confirmed some suspicions about Lutz... However, this new Escalade is AWESOME. And I'm very critical, but c'mon guys...this is a Cadillac. Famous Cadillacs were always overdone and overdetailed...and that's what this new 'Slade is all about. I love the headlight treatment, the overdone grill, and overall execution. This car flows 100x better than the previous Escalade. Yes, the body isn't edgy, but it fits better than the humpbacked predecessors. The interior is a knockout...great flowing dash (finally!) great switchgear, small gaps. One question, the passenger side has a large piece (airbag area) which looks a little like an afterthought...what material is that? GM finally has the perfect product after a series of "almost, buts." Its got the style, quality, interior, and power...hopefully this is a taste to of what's to come. Keep up the good work GM and way to fight "sez who" on keeping Cadillac bold & ballsy.

The Aurora was a great design...really revolutionary for its time. I'm not sure why it failed, as I've never driven one nor do I remember the ads. Sad GM could not follow up this design properly...

I'm a firm believer that Red Bull (or Kick) and Vodka is the essential "going out" drink. Call me old school, but I'm a big fan Vodka/Gin Tonics. As for beer, Stella Artois is a great "light color" beer - it's about as clear as a Bud but has loads of flavor. For those looking to get drunk it also has a higher alcohol content than most beers. Newcastle Brown Ale is another favorite...as is Gordon Biersch Marzen.

Great price. This is such a niche product that price needed to be a major factor in the SRT8's sales strategy. Especially in today's increasingly conservative consumer climate, pricing of products such as this Jeep need to be kept low. The real question is: how well will this sell (and what are the sales targets?). Even with a low price, I do not see much demand for such a vehicle... Those are some serious performance #'s though! Cheers to DCX again. Now start juicing up your weak V6 line!

According to this article, some Lambda's will come equipped with a 4-Cylinder engine. From the looks of these vehicles, I doubt the current stable of 4's will be able to get these seven-seaters moving...not good! Can't say I'm enthusiastic about the "Enclave" name, but it sure beats Lucerne (safeway milk).