hyperv6

I will wait to judge too much. I hated the new small Buick and the Stingray show car till I saw them last weekend. Both are much better in person than any photo can relate.

I too am hoping they do more than just a grill change on this one like they did ont the Full Size GMC. Just please no oversized cheap plastic grills.

Thanks for the heads up! I kind of thought the one photo was a Montana or a Monatana replacment based on the size and the bed on it. It was clear is was very small.

Here are some of the photos that have been floating around. It should give those who have not seen them what to expect. There will be some changes from market to market. It does look tall and like they are really trying to give it more of a truck or SUV look vs a car look vs the last gen S10. http://news.oxerjen.com/2012-chevrolet-colorado-gmi700-rendering/ Here is a photo that has a driver so you can judge the size. I looks to be Colorado sized. http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2010/07/spied-again-nextgen-overseas-chevrolet-colorado.html Now do not confuse this truck with the Colorado replacment. I am not sure what this is but it looks like a good replacment for the small Ute in South America as it is very small. http://gmauthority.com/blog/2010/07/spied-another-gm-pickup-caught-testing-montana-will-it-come-to-the-us/

I am ok so far with the look but the cab to bed transition is one part I worry about. How do the two mesh? But as always it is not good to ever judge any car on spy photos or little half teaser shots.

I really don't expect this truck to really get anything specail engine wise that is not already offered else where. I also don't expect a V8 as if it is small enought it does not really needs one. I never understood the V8 in the Colorado as it needed so many other things like a interior much worse. The I5 was good enough as it shamed my old 4.3 in power. The fact is this is not a pulling truck and will be only light duty so MPG will be more of a factor vs torque. What trailers you see S10's pulled were generally all small boats or trailers. I would have never wanted to pull a car or horse trailer with one. We have large trucks to do the heavier work and that is what they are there for. When towing I would not want a small truck in front of 5,000 pound of trailer and load. GM only needs to target the old Ranger and S10 buyers as that is where the money is. They sold a hell of a lot of them and few people make trucks in this class anymore.

It truly is a balancing act in this class. I think the Ford Ranger is proof of a good balance od Price MPG and usefulness. Even as out dated as it was it sold in good numbers for years. Imagine if Ford had advanced the truck better. This class towing is not a factor nor is heavy hauling. Make it so it can haul OSB, 2x4's and a small utillity trailer and you will find the ranger market.

Then there is the real price you pay. My father inlaws 2009 1500 Silverodo LT2 extended cab with the trailering package [i think he even has the 6.0 engine] is a good case example. The Truck stickered at $33K With discounts rebated and hard nose negotiations he got the price to $21K. They then gave him $4K for a very worn out 2001 Silverodo to bring the truck down to $17K including tax. Need a large truck or not it is hard to spend that much or more on a Colorado when you can get a Chevy full size truck for that kind of a price in the fall Chevy truck sale. I had considered buying one too but I just don't need a truck that large all the time and if I do I take his. The bottom line is the Silverodo can be bought at very low prices and is one of the best bargins out there. It makes it hard to sell a small truck that is nearly the same price. In the case of the Colorado it was no choice as it was not anywhere near the quality truck as the present full size truck. Guys I work with are the same and have gotten similar deals on the full size trucks and just can not pass up the low price for a well optioned full size V8 truck.

Reports are that it has a good shot of coming here a year or so after the Colorado goes away. I do not know if it has been approved but they have really been looking at it. I think from the spy photos I have seen it is still larger than the S10 truck and still mid sized. GM has an open market here so it may be worth the chance if they can price it less than the full sized truck. The real issue is once they discount the full size trucks the mid size trucks value shrinks. Why pay as much money and get the smaller truck. I have been hoping they would shrink the truck to the size of the S10 or old Ranger. I think they could price this well and attract people that really don't want the larger trucks. If gas prices ever remain high who ever owns this class will win big since it has so few players.

Having now spent time in a Cruze have a better idea on the car. It was a lot nicer than I expected. The head room in this car is amazing. The leg room in the back is limited at best if you have the seats back. The interior is a major win in this class I have never seen the this quality or quiet in cars this size or price. The thing that caught me off guard was the sister Buick. It look much better in person than I expected. I could not get in it to really check it out. If it that much better than the Cruze it should do well if priced right. Ford would not be able to compete with it.

Looks like a Chevy to me. A lot of Bu and Nox in the nose. Looks pretty much like the spy photos from last fall. I do see 4 doors on this one.

You think that she can get them to build Lutz a new fighter and offer it to him to comeback?

It will take a clear advantage to make a lot of people to change their minds. The MFG need to come up ways to create demand for these cars as few people will be willing to change to them unless there is a great advantage in their eyes. I think that is the challange they find and don't know how to attack it. While we may try to sell a car that is global we are still not a one world market in all respects. Building the efficent diesel car is the easy part convicing people to buy it in great numbers in NA is are great challange.

The Caddy really does not fit the NHRA images but the car fits the rules and the chassis unlike the Camaro. They just need something to promote and the teams need to move to a new car if they want to keep racing GM powerplants. I would not think of the CTS coupe dying but more as a move to the smaller lighter Alpha. The truth being on the Alpha it may prove to be a much better car. The worst thing about the present car is it is very heavy. A smaller car in RWD and with the same or similar updated engine could just be down right outragous. Lets get a look at the ATS coupe be for we all get too weepy.

Wow, I never realized the HHR sold that many. I see them everywhere, sure, but Chevy dealers around me never seemed to have more than 5 in-stock at a time (now I know why, because of large sales #'s). I think if the Granite is to be the HHR replacement, and the public AND current HHR owners are receptive to it, the Granite will sell (funny thing is that I've already mentioned the wife doesn't like the HHR but she is receptive to the Granite). On the VW Bulli, I think it is nice but I think the 2001 concept was a better interpretation of the original hippie '60s/'70s VW Microbus/van: The VW Bulli looks like a late entry copy of the Scion x D, which the same argument can be made about the Granite too ( ). So, the market may have this: ...and this: ...to compete with the Scion x D, Honda Element (until it goes away), Nissan Cube, and Kia Soul. At least GM might get into this market soon, and offer a pickup too (which could beat Scion's plans). The Granite is is either hate or love with most HHR owners. It is a 50/50 split. IF GM could keep 50% they would pull in what I feel will be conquest sales from out side GM. This is the kind of vehicle that could do that. The VW looks to similar sized but I think it is a little shorter and narrower. That would be in fitting with a Euro car. All their small people movers tend to be narrower. Still VW can still seat people 3 wide in it. I supect the price would be on the high end price of a Scion.

Got an ERROR 404 message when I clicked on the link. I found it by searching the site, but when I tried to fix it, it did't work? Anyway, let's see if this works: http://www.thedetroitbureau.com/2010/11/gmc-granite-concept-%e2%80%93-a-compact-pickup-for-millennials/ Thanks for posting the article. I think the Granite pickup would sell, as long as 100k units is not the goal (unless that number is a combination of CUV and Pickup models). As been mentioned many times, this lower cost, fuel efficient option could work out for a lot of people and I for one would be interested in looking at buying one for myself. I think the 100K units combined would not be an issues if priced close to the HHR. If you look at Chevys numbers the HHR has been one of their better selling vehicles. Here are some ball park numbers they sold. Calendar Year U.S. sales 2005[14] 41,011 2006[15] 101,298 2007 105,175 2008[16] 96,053 2009[17] 70,842 2010[18] 75,401 The VW is cute but I wonder where they will price it?

Did a little digging and the report on the bed is this. It is a 4 foot bed closed and just over 6 foot open. The GM design staff in California said the bed will carry and support a sheet of 4 x 8 plywood with out any extra hardware other than supplied with the truck. The rack can support surboards, ladders, bikes or any other items you may need or think to carry per GM.

Truckguy here is a good story on the Granite pick up I found back in Dec. Enjoy! http://www.thedetroitbureau.com/2010/11/gmc-granite-concept-%e2%80%93-a-compact-pickup-for-millennials/

At the feast of Ego's everyone leaves hungry. I expect you are damn hungry by now! FYI: I stopped at "people with surf boards" in your second parts. So you can stop. Ok, you're right it is a 3 foot bed. Feel better? Take a deep breath and let it go.

Caddy will have a coupe just not a CTS. Reports have been the CTS when moved to the expanded Alpha would lose the coupe and just go back to the original sedan. I assume they will rely more on the ATS coupe for a V series. Note too the ATS sounds to also take the wagon. But this could all change by the time they get there. But a Supercharged V8 in a smaller lighter coupe could be a lot of fun.

Ok let try this, "The Sky I Blue"........... What no It's Pail Blue paraphrased contradiction? LOL! There is no need for you to be a Pelican. It is what it is just as are my comments that never stated it was production. If you note all the words I make it clear to make production there would be things that would need to be worked out. I also have seen the real concept Granite in person. I know the size of even the shortest full size boards and the drawing is accpetable for scale of the vehicle GM has shown. Have you even seen the Granite outside of photo's? I think I even have pictures of the bed with people in them to help you. But then you would just claim they are little people and just make the GMC look more like a Terex. LOL! As for those who have not left on this topic yet I can assume their uninpaired judgment of their own can draw thier own ideas from the evidence presented. time to move on as this is getting no where other than good first attempts at photo shop. Good start TruckGuy. I would assume there would be things like this if it ever made market. They found ways to cap even the Avalanche.

The Granite is not in the same class as the SSR other than they both had beds. I agree the price was a major issue with the SSR. The were not cheap for a truck you really could not use for much. The SSR was more like a Lincoln Blackwood. The other issue with the SSR was the fact it was a ergonomic mess. Try to adjust the seat witht door shut etc. The GM rep I know pointed out many of the many flaws. Also having driven one in anger and autocrossed one I found it is a mess for driving on anything not smooth. The chassis flex is horrid. You would think the heavy frame had some support but the truck should have been called the Chevy Flex. A solid roof would not have helped. My Sonoma ZQ8 had flex but the SSR was 3 times worse. The problems with the SSR is they took a show car and tried not to change it to the production car. While this is ok for some things on the car or truck it also makes for issues. Also it was built with many shared parts that while appart are fine but together were less than refined. I would expect the changes needed will be done to the Granite. Some will sneer because the wheels are only 19" and they may raise the roof 2" or the seat are made sitable. But in the end it will be a car you will not have to comprimise comfort or driving ease. The great unknown is Price. I know where it should be but will they be able to put it there? Time will tell. Quick note on Surf Board lenghts. Most average boards are around 6.2' up to 11'. The one in the Photo I would peg to represent between 6' to 7' long. In relation to the bed it look like it is around 4' closed and 7" extended. The rack bar flips over and can either be left up or down depending on the needs. The only question is what they have planned for the open end of the bed. Some kind of cargo net?

It is not that everyone get treated better than the Americans it is the fact that not enough Americans want what many get overseas. If GM really thought they could sell them they would be here. The hatchback I think you get away with but imagine the resale on a 4 cylinder Diesel 6 speed Manual? If GM imported 10,000 here they would be sitting on most of them. I would have no issue with them being here as I like the combo. I just fear there just will be too little interest witht he general public. People pining for them on web sites just can't buy enough of them to justify bring them here. There just needs to be a good marketing program now with the Cruze Sedan Diesel and get people to see what they really are like and then expand it from there. For what is worth I like EcoMax.

Hmm.... I think someone is getting cabin fever. I am not here to pick a fight Think what you want. The PT was sold in Europe by Chysler did ok but it was far from what it could have done. At least the Ford styling was understood since they did get a good number of older Fords in Europe pre WWII. As for the HHR I will agree will never know for sure at this point. My only point was the auto press over there just made fun of it like we do some of the odd cars they like that we don't get. That is not a good way to into a car. First off you had better get more info on the Granite Pick up before you look foolish. The bed closed is at lest a modest 4' bed and I agree it is not worth much. But if they can perfect the extending bed as shown it could open the door. They need to make sure it is useful and easy to extend while not adding cost to the vehicle. Lets face it the Avalanche would also be a waste without the opening cab system. GM made it into a very versital vehicle with a little advanced design. Since you sound to have not seen the bed in action here is the GM image. Use the surf board as a good judge of size. Note it is a little more than your claimed 3 feet. The sides are doors that open or close. Here is the full size concept with the bed extended. Note the side doors are close here and do not have to be open when the bed is extended. While not a full size bed in anyway it is at least the size of a extend cab S 10 size bed. I would not want to see it any smaller. But again to make it workable and affordable are the two main keys to make the possible. That is only something GM can figure out. IF we see it in production I expect that will tell us they solved it. The main key it not to turn this into another bloddy GMS Envoy sliding roof deal. That was a nice idea but the weight and cost just got way out of hand. GMC would have better doing a Envoy version of a mid size Avalanche with the versa cab. Here is a image of the pick up for anyone who has not seen it. Just keep in mind when looking at the photos that this is not Mini Cooper size. Many people think this is a very small vehicle. It is small but not that small. I would say it is neat the size of the old S10 Blazer in length and may be a little wider. It is a compact car with a large foot print.

A lot of talk on web sites have been coming up that the CTS V coupe may make it's way into NHRA Pro Stock with or with out GM's help. The G6 GXP coupes are good till 2013 but many teams are already looking got a new car to move to. Most still want the GM power but have little to chose from for a Coupe body. Reports have the Camaro as a problem for the series as the roof line c pillar will not work with the tubs and needs to be relocated. NHRA is not willing to let them reshape the roof. The cars are not stock but they would like to keep them at least close in the green house area. This is where the CTS V comes in. The C pillar and roof line works well to adapt to the needs of the chassie. Adding fuel to the speculation fire Jason Line who won this week at Pomona stated his GXP drove like a Cadillac. There is some time to work out a new car yet but they need to start now as it takes time. Out of 16 teams in the race this weekend 10 were Pontiac's. Ford has tried to make inroads but few teams want to give up on their GM power plants that they have a lot of time and money invested. I wonder since the CTC coupe will go away around the time a new 6th gen Camaro arrives that they may be right and the CTS could be a bridge till GM gets a Chevy they can use again. Might be fun to see a Cadillac at the strip. Granted The NHRA is not the best place to push a Caddy but why promote a G6 anymore? Unless they change the rules or come to a agreement on a Camaro restyle for the race car there are few options. We will have to watch and see how this all works out. Anyone else have any ideas for a coupe to run?