SimonDavid

Dumb question : Is there an "industry standard" for the recharging infrastructure?? Toyota is installing 100 recharging points in London in a JV with EDF - will the be able to recharge GM's cars as well? someone better check up on this sharpish

Toyota already working on EV recharging infrastructure in Europe..... http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/8b163e1c-7f8c-11...0077b07658.html

The first Lotus Cortina was 1964 wasn't it? 16 valves 4 cylinder Personally Id love to see Triumph come back but not sure what's in it for BMW - how would it stretch their range? Who would buy a TR who wouldnt buy a "Z2"?

Could be useful in Europe Over here the RX hybrid is something like half of Lexus's total volume - that's what has really driven there development, expanded their dealer network

Really dumb question What about all us people (like 90% of people here in Europe) who live in an apartment or terrace house with no allocated parking and end up parking down the street wherever they can find space? Very Long extension cord needed....

And in Europe everyone thought that Ford Mondeo sales would suffer because it's French slang for "my deoderant"

So No Delta 2 production in North America (except for the Volt) - makes sense if theyre building them in Korea + Mexico + 4 plants in europe No GMT355 in NA - Thailand? Mexico? No obvious sign of Pontiac post 2013 Large Chevy built in Kansas in 2010 - stretched Epsilon FWD Impala replacement?

I think SAAB after the next generation of models will be the Audi to Opel/Saturn's VW 9/3 and 9/5 share ep2 with the Opel Insignia and a future 9/1 shares with Astra plus 9-4x and you have a neat lineup.

In Europe diesels more than retain their value premium in the resale market. In some European markets it's got to the point where a second hand petrol car is difficult to sell. So that 1000 dollars is not costing you anything in reality, and the fuel savings start on day 1.

The 5 grand is only a penalty if you don't get it back at resale time, which in Europe at least you do. Anyway what's wrong with simply building it to demand, if youre selling it in europe anyway? Let the market decide

with a diesel engine, that car will definitely sell in Europe

Its not that much of a joke Ford sell quite a few Rangers here in London The wide boys south of the river pimp 'em out and get the whole post-mad max urban warrior look happening

I agree GM shouldnt buy Chrysler outright. But if they can do some joint product development and get a new minivan and maybe a Colorado replacement quickly and cheaply, then how can it hurt? Maybe this is a downpayment on a broader alliance with DCX - they are already partners in hybrids, which will be very important in a few years time

I think Phaeton, Q7, Toureg, and Cayenne are on the same platform, all built in the same factory in Leipzig. It's not all aluminium, in fact it's very heavy. The Bentley Continental GT & Flying Spur also share this structure but their final assembly is in England. However the basic unpainted body structure arrives in the British plant on a truck from Leipzig. The all aluminium Audi A8 structure is completely different - VW group inter divisional politics

Is it just me or is that one thick c-pillar?

Im not suggesting Europeans are poor - far from it. But there is simply no great market here for an expensive product without a premium badge. Even in the mid market the 3 series outsells the Mondeo 2 to 1. The only attempt in recent history was the Phaeton and that was a disaster. But at least it shared its structure and plant with the Toureg and Porsche Cayenne so VW probably got their money back. I just think that if Opel wants a Zeta to top their range they should import from Holden - there's not enough volume to gear up local production and in any case what is the point when Holden has spare capacity.

Getting back to the "new Omega" topic.. the market for non-premium badged large cars in Europe is pretty much non existant. There is no Ford larger than a Mondeo (Contour/Mystique) sold here. The Peugeot 607 sells a few thousand to Paris taxi fleets. There is no large Fiat. The VW Passat is a Mondeo / Vectra competitor. Think small roads, small families, high fuel prices. The boom is in the premium segment and the new small premium (1 series ) segment, preferaby with deisel engines. If Opel does want a Zeta I guess it would be simpler to import from Holden on a low volume basis.

I totally agree anyway if they really are so hard up for cash why not just import this : Sure it's based on the old Venture, but it's a nice evolution. and future development of it will probably be paid for by profits generated within China. So then you have Aveo, Astra, RWD Pontiac and a minivan as imported niche products

Looks like GMT900 has staved off bankruptcy, but they are really dying in the car market 8000 Malibus? 5000 LaX's? 6600 Ions. Only 10,000 Cobalts. Toyota selling almost as many cars as the whole of GM They need the new Malibu to be a major hit, and some Zetas asap

a couple of questions -Where is GM going to get the money for a 3 series size rwd sedan on a brand new platform that shares nothing with zeta or kappa? - Pontiac is not a global brand, so who else is going to use the platform to share the costs? SAAB is fwd. Cadillac?

Interesting - Korea's getting expensive, so Aveo size cars come from India and China in future. Sounds like a great plan. But they have to be very careful on the quality of the Opels - that size car in europe is NOT a basic product - it's the second biggest market segment and for many Europeans their main family transport.

so basically the driveline of a WW2 Uboat or diesel electric locomotive am I missing something? what's so new about this?

so basically the driveline of a Uboat or diesel electric locomotive am I missing something? what's so new about this?

This is brilliant news They must have made it federal - proof when they were developing it because it's only just gone on sale in Australia Im guessing it will be more of a niche product than the future Impala Also, Australians do like conservative styling on their big cars, I wonder how well that will fly in the US

Im not surprised - it pulls well in a heavy Commodore in Australia. Nice sound too. Though it is a bit revvy - after youve been used to the old 3800 OHV with its stump pulling torque right off the line the new engine is a very different type of performer.