Spike

They did, it is called the Mini.

If you try to build a car on Edmunds, you are required to select a color. I am willing to bet that data is already being tracked.

People will buy a Camry, just because it is a Camry. Very few will buy an Aura just because it is an Aura. Most will buy an Aura because of it's content/price ratio.

Whatever staffing agency GM will be using also gets paid. Typically the client, GM, will be charged 1.5 times what the employee makes. This amounts to roughly the same rate per hour. The savings comes not only in benefits, as mentioned, but also overhead costs such as payroll, HR staff, workers comp insurance, etc....

Interesting article.... http://www.carlist.com/autonews/2005/autonews_94.html Why do we need a Nickel Metal Hydride Battery (NiMH) in a Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV)? By Lou Ann Hammond Hybrid sales are phenomenal. Every vehicle that is a hybrid is selling out virtually before it hits the store lot. Lexus PR folks have said that there will be 24,000 Lexus RX 400hs produced this year and that 11,000 are already pre-sold. It doesn’t make sense that with hybrids so hot that the Manufacturers would dole out hybrids so sparingly, not really letting the public see the full demand of the hybrid. Is there a demand for hybrids or is the hype for the 100,000 or so hybrids brought about because there are so few hybrids. We know the demand for vehicles was over 16,000,000 last year because there were over 16,000,0000 produced and over 16,000,0000 sold. In fact, production outweighed sales. Production of hybrids have never outweighed sales of hybrids. Why aren’t more hybrids being produced? There are four major suppliers of automotive Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries; Japan’s Panasonic and Sanyo, China’s GP Industries (Goldpeak), U.S. based Johnson Controls and Cobasys. Cobasys has a joint venture with Energy Conversion Devices (ECD) and Chevron Texaco on their NiMH batteries. Goldpeak supplies buses in Asia and Europe. Ford uses Sanyo’s batteries, Toyota uses Panasonics. Honda uses both. Johnson Controls is just starting a pilot operation at their Hanover, Germany facility The one company that has been quoted as saying there is a shortage of batteries is Ford Motor Company. Ford uses Sanyo for their Ford Escape hybrid batteries. Ford is expected to build 20,000 Escape hybrids in 2005, but would like to build more, save for the lack of batteries. Ford is in talks with Sanyo to boost production. Ford cannot just go to another battery maker and buy these batteries off the shelf like one would do if they needed a lead acid battery. The Nickel Metal Hydride battery powers everything from cellular phones to hybrid electric vehicles. According to Cobasys, the first use of a NiMH battery was in the form of a Nickel hydrogen battery used in aerospace applications. A NiMH is the configuration of a battery using metal hydride hydrogen storage materials as one of the battery electrodes. You see NiMH batteries in solid state format in the batteries you use today in cameras, blackberrys, PDAs and palm pilots and a slue of other gadgetry. Making a NiMH for automotive use requires cranking amps that are not needed in the gadgetry. NiMH is a rechargeable battery technology that has approximately 30-50% more charge per pound than nickel cadmium (NiCD). Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal that can leach into the water supply if the case breaks and harm people and animals that ingest it. Introduced in the early 1990s, NiMH uses nickel and metal hydride plates with potassium hydroxide as the electrolyte. NiMH batteries do not suffer quite as much from the "memory effect" as do nickel cadmium batteries, but still require complete discharges in order to obtain the most efficiency and longest life. Nickel Metal Hydride batteries have pretty much eclipsed the nickel cadmium battery in solid state use and are not even considered for automotive use. NiMH and lithium-ion (Li-ion) and even newer lithium-polymer batteries, lithium-based formulations, pose less of a threat to the public than NiCd. Johnson Controls is the latest company to start producing automotive NiMH batteries. The NiMH cell was developed using technologies from its Varta Battery Automotive Business in Europe. "HEVs represent a small but rapidly growing part of the modern-day automotive market," said Lou Senunas, vice president of advanced battery and hybrid technology for Johnson Controls. "With our technological strengths, long-term experience, and manufacturing capacity, we are well-positioned to charge forward as a key supplier of battery technology and products to the emerging HEV segment." A hybrid vehicle is a standard vehicle with electric power assist. A hybrid is different from an electric vehicle in that it doesn’t need to be plugged in for the battery to work. It has what we call regenerative braking. The hybrid can be a mild or full hybrid, but the definition of a hybrid is that it is able to run on its own for a short time. All hybrids still have lead acid batteries, but most - not all - hybrids have Nickel Metal hydridge batteries to assist in fuel savings and lower emissions. Let’s start with a mild hybrid, such as a General Motors (GM) pickup. According to Joe LoGrasso, Engineering Manager of Electrical Power and Advanced Systems for GM Global Electrical Engineering Center, GM uses a mild hybrid system that employs three 12 volt batteries and a fly-wheel alternator starter for a twelve-fifteen percent savings in fuel. This doesn’t seem like much and could probably be achieved just as easily if you took some of the weight out of the vehicle. There are some very simple reasons that make a mild hybrid important. The fly wheel is a motor generator. It helps store energy in a 42 volt system. There is also the difference, according to Tom Dougherty, Director of Advanced Battery and Advanced Systems for Johnson Controls, in the cold start. The first is that it reduces cranking time. A regular internal combustion engine vehicle take 3/4 to 1.5 seconds of pumping gas to start. This passes gas through the engine, unused and causes the most amount of Nitrous Oxide (NOX) and hydrocarbons. These are called pollutants which are not good to breath. GMs mild hybrid cold start is 1/3 the time of just an ordinary internal combustion engine. Another advantage is in the platform. The engine doesn’t have to be retooled to include the lead acid batteries (LAB). GM only had to find four inches more space to include the batteries and they did so. Retooling a platform and including advanced technology can be very expensive. Using the same design and adding three lead acid batteries will add some cost, but not the $4,000-$6,000 ticket that we are seeing on NiMH batteries. The Nickel Metal Hydride battery has a greater sensitivity to elevated temperatures which is why it is not under the hood like the LAB, but in the trunk or under a seat instead. There are Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV) that include a thermistor in the battery pack which monitors the battery temperature and cuts off charging if the temperature becomes too high. The other advantage is in the lead acid batteries themselves. There may not be a shortage of NiMH batteries, but you won’t see the cost going down anytime soon. According to Dougherty that is because there is no low cost, Or cost effective, recycling available for NiMH batteries available. "Lead Acid batteries are 97.6% recyled. They are the highest recycled product in the world, far more than for any other consumer product including aluminum beverage cans (55 percent), newspapers (45 percent), glass bottles (26 percent), and tires (26 percent). Lead-acid batteries now have a closed-loop life cycle. In the United States, the typical new Johnson Controls battery can contain 70 to 80 percent recycled lead and plastic. When a spent battery is collected, it is sent to a permitted recycler where, under strict environmental regulations, the lead and plastic are reclaimed and sent to a new-battery manufacturer. The recycling cycle goes on indefinitely, which means the battery materials in a given car, truck, boat or motorcycle have been recycled many times and will continue to be recycled." There is no mass marketing to the general public planned of NiMH batteries to bring the cost down like there is in lead acid batteries. NiMH batteries are different from lead acid batteries in that they are an advanced chemistry that if left on the shelf too long degradation will occur. A lead acid battery will have to be recharged if left on the shelf for 6-8 months while a NiMH battery will have to be recharged every three months. Right now there is no circle of life for the Nickel Metal Hydride battery. Recycler Toxco, a Canadian company, is in research and development phase of recycling NiMH batteries. According to Todd Coy, Vice President Battery Division Kinsbursky Corporation, the parent company of Toxco, "Kinsbursky is obtaining a larger melting unit that would get a cleaner more refined nickel." According to Coy, "It is our responsibility to be in a state of preparedness. The economics may not be there in the beginning, but in order to be the leader in recycling batteries you have to be on the forefront. We can partner with Manufacturers and recycle the batteries and return the raw product to producers." This does not explain why General Motors is only producing 1,500-2,500 hybrid pickups when they sell 900,000. If GM were to build all 900,000 pickups as just mild hybrids the United States would save 80,000,000 gallons of gas. But for maximum effect you want a full hybrid which uses a Nickel Metal Hydride battery. There are two types of NiMH batteries; cylindrical and prismatic. The chemistry is the same in both, the difference is preferential to the Manufacturers platform. NiMH batteries weigh about 30 percent less than a LAB. The NiMH battery is more "power specific" than a lead acid battery. Power Specific refers to the power by weight; it weighs less for the same amount of power. The NiMH energy throughput lasts 8-10 years whereas the lead acid battery is only warrantied for 2-3 years. On the full hybrid the engine size is reduced because the motor generator supplies the extra horsepower not normally needed in the engine. For example, you don’t need all your horsepower to go 65 mph down a flat street that you do need if you want to go 65 mph up a hill. But upon ascent, the motor generator, powered by the NiMH battery, kicks in and provides the extra horsepower. The 2005 Lexus RX 400h internal combustion engine has a horsepower of 205. When you combine that with the three motor generators the combined horsepower is 268. This does not explain why Toyota/Lexus is only producing 48,000 hybrid SUVs when they sell 300,000. If Toyota/Lexus were to build all 300,000 as hybrids the United States would save 30,000,000 gallons of gas. If they were to make all their Camrys (the most similar car to the Prius)hybrids it would save us 106,000,000 gallons of gas a year. The Nickel Metal Hydride Battery (NiMH) is an integral part of a hybrid. The Lithium Ion battery has the potential of eclipsing the NiMH battery but it is not ready for primetime yet. The Lithium Ion hasn’t met the abuse tolerance test; it has to be able to overcharge in a vehicle without catastrophic incidence to the vehicle.

Prius = nickel metal hydride

This is the best route for GM to take. If they say that they are not interested in a R-N alliance and let it die, it can be perceived by wall street that GM does not sense the urgency of their current state or is arrogant in receiving help. If GM says they are very interested in forming the alliance then it can be perceived that they are desperate in their current situation. Continuing to state that their priority is to turn GM to profitability, the company allows themselves the opportunity to build a case as to why or why not this is a sound decision. This is definitely a smart move. I wonder though what the dynamic is like among the BOD. They must resent York for meeting with Ghosn prior to discussing it with the other members. I think that this is analogues with a jury in a criminal trial. With one juror making their intentions clear about the defendant, while the others try to objectively make a decision.

Ahhh, good ol' Dort... That jusy maybe where his supplemental income comes from.

A trunk that is much eaiser to open! Carrying a bunch of stuff while trying to open the truck is something I never look forwerd to.

Would you also have the ignition rewired to the steering column?? The 9-3's key recharges it's self while the car is running. I would much rather have that scenario than replace the battery every few year, but hey, to each their own. If the battery does die, there is still a conventional key within the fob. Word of mouth is a very cost effective way to sell products. Believe it or not, the uniqueness of the 9-3 attracted attention. When I'd start the car at night, the auto leveling Xenon lights would go up and down. Passers by would then pay attention to the car. As for the interior, did you drive the car? The materials are of very high quality and everything is ergonomically laid out...

I previously had a 2003 9-3. The key would get a lot of attention when I would get ready to leave. Many people would ask about what kind of car I had. I think that is reason enough to make an integrated key.

Nav with Bluetooth integration Rear park assist

http://today.reuters.com/stocks/QuoteCompa...-Jul-2006+RTRS; "Discussions will follow if GM supports the proposal for the alliance made by its shareholders, Nissan said in a statement."

I drove a 2005 G35x and the engine was not nearly as refined as the 3.6 in my CTS. I would say that the engine felt rough compared to GM's. Apparently the 280 hp version of the VQ will run on regular, while the 298 hp version requires premium. The 2006 280 hp version is EPA estimated at 19/26. My owner's manual says the 3.6 should be run on 87. The 2006 CTS 3.6 is EPA rated at 18/27. Then again, we all know how accurate the EPA estimates are.... I think there is more to an engine than just final output.

Zetshe's interesting perspective... AUBURN HILLS, Mich., June 30 (Reuters) - DaimlerChrysler AG (DCXGn.DE: Quote, Profile, Research) Chief Executive Dieter Zetsche on Friday said it was uncertain that the proposed tie-up between General Motors Corp (GM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) Nissan Motor Co. (7201.T: Quote, Profile, Research) and Renault SA would happen. Zetsche, speaking to reporters at Chrysler's headquarters, questioned the motive of billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian in making the proposal public, which triggered a sharp rise in GM shares on Friday. "Sometimes the news in itself is already the purpose not necessarily leading to a result," Zetsche said. "Consolidation is one theme in mature industries. I would stay put and listen for further developments." http://today.reuters.com/stocks/QuoteCompa...-Jun-2006+RTRS;

I think that a reason the Renault and Nissan relationship works is before they really do not compete too much in the marketplace. Nissan sells vehicles mainly in North America, Japan, and “others” markets. While Renault sells their cars basically in Europe. Nissan sold just fewer than 16% of their total sales in Europe in their last fiscal year, while Renault sold over 80% of their total volume in Europe. General Motors sells vehicles worldwide. I think that there would be too much brand overlap between Renault/Nissan and GM in especially North American and Europe. How effective are the added efficiencies if very similar products are sold from different brands. For this relationship to be successful all parties would need to drastically cut and differentiate their product offerings. GM’s China inroads would be great for Renault/Nissan. http://www.renault.com/renault_com/en/imag...1120-353236.pdf http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/DOCUMENT/P.../ar2004e_36.pdf

Are the GMT-900s structurally designed to accept the 4.2 I6? I seem to remember that it is harder to deign a vehicle with a long engine in terms of packaging, crash worthiness, etc.

I thought that the Grand Cherokee was allways unibody.

As long as it has two DVD readers, one that can use the navigation disc and one for a movie. I'd think that when someone would want to watch a movie is also when the nav would be used for navigation purposes on long trips. This would prohibit the driver from listening to CDs, but leave the door open for DVD audio, like the STS. Having a rear setupgiving front controls to the rear player would be nice. In the current SRX setup you can play a movie from the nav to the rear screen while drive by entering a diagnostic code.

Right. Both of my parents have '05 V8 AWD 1SC SRXs. There is a rear DVD player. You can either play a DVD through the rear player, or the nav system. While using the rear player the movie cannot be controlled by the front nav system. If you are playing the DVD through the front nav system you can control the movie. The the rear screen in the SRX can display DVD video from both the nav system and it's own rear player. In that picture, see the slot right above the controls??? If you don't believe me, check it for yourself!

It serioulsy is not setup that way! There is a rear player. The video source of the rear screen can be from the Nav system or the rear DVD player.......

The rear DVD system in the SRX does in fact have it's own player. The source of the screen can be either the rear DVD player or the front DVD navigation.

Wo! I don't know how you are driving, but with my CTS I am able to achieve much better. I have a 3.6 and I can easily get 22 around town and my pure highway averages about 27. Coming from an '03 9-3 before my CTS I think I might be able to shed some light on the differences. In terms of fuel economy - the 9-3 wins in conservative driving, hands down. Start driving the 9-3 hard and they are actually about the same. Remember with a Turbo, as with all engines, more air means more fuel. Coming from the 9-3, the CTS feels much more prenium. Everything in the CTS feels completely solid. I know it is not too descriptive, but if you drive them both back to back you will see what I mean. For me the increased mileage was negligible compared to the advantages of the CTS.

From the views we can see here. It looks very differentiated from the Enclave... Engine block heater.

Hudson is right. GM would have to prove that GNC has a "likelihood of confusion" with GMC. I do not see this as the case at all. Flybrian and Satty joked about it, but who really in the market for a new truck goes to the Vietnam store at the mall looking for their new purchase? Here is a lot more info for those interested... http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/metaschool/fi...domain/tm.htm#7