CSpec

Opel Insignia: Double Premiere at London Motor Show • Choice between equally elegant and dynamic notchback and hatchback • Sleek, aerodynamic body has class-leading Cd value of 0.27 • The New Opel Insignia notchback and hatchback on sale before the end of the year Rüsselsheim/London. Opel will showcase to the public for the first time at the British International Motor Show (July 23 – August 3) both the four-door notchback and five-door hatchback versions of its new flagship car, the Insignia. The new Opel Insignia highlights breathtaking design: Both body styles boast a flowing, muscular yet elegant silhouette with a coupé roofline. Designers of the new car deliberately created similar versions to retain the beauty of Opel’s latest mid-sized car. The length of both the notch and hatchback, at 4,830 mm, and the wheelbase of 2,737 mm remain the same. The Insignia’s fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and driving dynamics benefit from the aerodynamic efficiency that was perfected during more than 650 hours in the wind tunnel. The result: A class-leading drag coefficient of 0.27. Offering both the notchback and hatchback from the start is particularly important for markets such as the U.K. and France, where 5-door sedans traditionally enjoy a high market share of the mid-size class segment. German and Spanish customers, on the other hand, generally prefer notchback sedans. Prices for the U.K., Ireland, Germany, Austria and Switzerland will be announced July 22 in London and cars will hit German dealerships before the end of the year. Opel expects both models to sell in about equal numbers. From the beginning, the Insignia will be launched with a broad line-up of motors. Seven engines will be available; all meet Euro 5 emissions standards and come coupled with six-speed transmissions. The four gasoline engines range from a four-cylinder 115 hp unit to a V6 with 260 hp. Three new direct-injection turbo-diesels exclusively developed for the Insignia feature a displacement of 2.0 liters and power outputs spanning from 110 to 160 hp. The newly developed chassis can be enhanced with the innovative, integrated FlexRide mechatronic system, as well as the sophisticated Adaptive 4x4. Its lightning-fast distribution of torque over the four wheels ensures top stability and traction while improving dynamic handling performance.

Why isn't it a percentage?

Looks fine. Much better than the Challenger with its pickup interior. Hopefully GM didn't waste too much cash on it.

I think we might be very impressed with the Invicta's level of luxury. Also, the packaging should be much much better than the Lucerne or Lacrosse, so I don't think size will be a big issue.

Cruze looks good, but it's still so far away!

Huh? Is this not the BRX?

I've been getting ~29 mpg on my 2001 Saab 9-5 Aero 5-sp. The warmer weather AC usage has cut it down from the low 30s I was getting on my highway commute in late May.

Yes Autoblog is wrong--FWD with AWD available, maybe standard. I liked Bob's comments about reducing redundant product across brands, and eliminating internal company competition.

I missed the first half hour--what did they say about Cruze, Equinox, and other new products?

What do people think of this article: http://www.economist.com/business/displayS...e=features_box3

Are you listening online or did you dial in?

Here is the Wall Street Journal: Slammed by a deep decline in auto sales, General Motors Corp. Tuesday said it will cut salaried job costs, speed factory closings and suspend its dividend to weather the downturn. The company said it also plans to add $15 billion in liquidity through 2009, even as it said that it has "ample liquidity" to meet its 2008 funding requirements. The additions to liquidity will be achieved through cost cuts, as well as asset sales and capital market activities. Cost-cutting steps include cutting more salaried positions and eliminating health-care coverage for U.S. salaried retirees over 65 at the start of next year. "We are responding aggressively to the challenges of today's U.S. auto market," GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner said in a prepared statement. "We will continue to take the steps necessary to align our business structure with the lower vehicle sales volumes and shifts in sales mix. We remain committed to bringing to market great products that target changing consumer preferences for more fuel-efficient vehicles." The announcements followed weeks of rising uncertainty for the No. 1 U.S. auto maker by vehicle sales. The company's stock price has plunged to lows last seen a half-century ago. GM's market capitalization has dwindled to $5.31 billion, about 60% lower than the value of the company at the beginning of the year. GM and other auto makers have been hurt by a big drop in U.S. vehicle sales this year and a shift in consumer preferences away from trucks and sport-utility vehicles to small cars and other more fuel-efficient models. GM is moving to reduce the company's heavy reliance on trucks for most of its sales in North America, and ramp up production of cars and other fuel-efficient vehicles as quickly as possible. GM was expected to announce it is eliminating thousands of salaried jobs; a large number could hit the groups that develop pickup trucks and SUVs. Mr. Wagoner in June announced a plan to close four truck and SUV plants by 2010. In recent weeks, executives and the board discussed possible further steps, such as closing or downsizing engine, transmission and stamping plants that provided parts for trucks, people familiar with the matter said. To raise more cash, the board has discussed issuing more equity and selling off the remaining 49% stake GM owns in GMAC LLC, these people said. GM could even consider separating its foreign subsidiaries into an isolated unit, and using that as collateral for additional financing or as a way to sell more equity, David Cole, president of the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Mich., said last week. Mr. Cole is known to have close ties to GM. GM had $24 billion as of March 31, but analysts expect that sum fell by as much as $5 billion in the second quarter alone. Mr. Wagoner has assured investors the company isn't interested in bankruptcy protection, and said the company has enough liquidity to operate for the next six months. GM is approaching the market with "very conservative" estimates for its market share and industry sales, one person said. GM had 21.3% of the U.S. market in June, and sees total U.S. vehicle sales falling to about 15 million this year. GM entered the year expecting a 16-million-vehicle market, but demand hasn't been as strong as initially thought. Mr. Wagoner has been working in recent years on expanding the company's presence in emerging markets and beefing up its technology arsenal to better battle Toyota Motor Corp. for industry leadership. The 55-year-old chief executive has won the backing of GM's board of directors, despite posting three consecutive years of massive financial losses and a considerable slide in U.S. market share. Three years ago, he installed a plan under which the company could save $9 billion in annual structural costs by curtailing the company's manufacturing base. He coupled that plan with a restructured United Auto Workers deal that should cut another $4 billion to $5 billion in costs. People close to Mr. Wagoner say his latest revisions could allow GM to stay on track to meet an internal profit target set for 2010.

Just happened again...

Well, one difference is that the Fed won't suddenly clamp down the money supply like they did in the 30s, which made things much worse.

Economists talk about what should be done when it is not currently done. Any issue of The Economist is full of commentary on stupid government policy, such as the worrying trends towards protectionism. I have no idea what they teach at West Point, but my Econometrics textbook was written by a civilian instructor there and it was easily the worst text I have ever used.

I have a 9-5 Aero and 87 works fine. 93 isn't that much of a premium though, so I usually just use premium.

This was a good deal for all parties. Anheuser-Busch was ripe for cost-cutting by all accounts, InBev will have a big presence in the US, AB shareholders got a big premium. What's not to like?

Here is the precall news: DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Corp (NYSE:GM - News) said on Tuesday it would cut salaried employment costs by 20 percent, sell up to $4 billion of assets and borrow at least $2 billion in a bid to bolster its liquidity by $15 billion through 2009. GM also said it would suspend its common stock dividend in a restructuring driven by high fuel prices, a shift away from trucks and SUVs, and the lowest U.S. industrywide auto sales in a decade.

QUOTE(siegen @ Jul 14 2008, 01:23 PM) [snapback]411653[/snapback]I'm 12. I look forward to my first car. My parents said I can get one when I'm 16. I'm gonna get one of the cars from Fast and the Furious, CAUSE THEY'RE AWESOME ! 4 FAST 4 FURIOUS

The subsidies are being phased out? I thought China just increased the pegged price by 17% or something. OK I agree that costs are changing, but companies will respond. The piece you quoted sounded like the author wanted some sort of planned economy because corporations are inherently inefficient, which is not even remotely true.

Oops. Jeremy tested the old CTS-V and liked it well enough; his biggest complaints were the price, steering wheel location, and annoying bongs and beeps if I remember right.

Well they still do subsidise fuel to a large degree--but even still why would companies deliberately not minimize their costs?

If it was cheaper to build stuff closer to the source of the materials it would be done! People seem to really believe that markets are just grossly inefficient.

Thanks for the analysis. I think the car market has definitely over-corrected for the gas price increases. The American psyche got a shock and freaked out.

Balthazar, have you noticed the new XK and XF? Very modern cars. The XF interior is really cool.