hyperv6

This is true. GM after chapter 11 can not afford any mistakes as the media and critics of the loans would be all over it. Ford is right now the media darling taking the title from Toyota. The media as we have seen can make or break a company even on unproven issues like the did with Audi. The trials overseas are a smart thing as it will save a lot of bad press. If anything does go wrong in China who will ever know here?

Every car GM will make will have taylored drivetrains, suspension and options for each and every market. The main systems and styling will be nearly the same as to save cost.

The truth is the public as a whole has become global. Today people no longer see products as American, European or Asian. No matter if it is a TV, Radio, Car, Airplane, Computer etc. To many Honda and Toyota are as American as Ford and Chevy. The truth is no matter what is built right now it is what the average buyer wants. The keys are Affordable [how much per month], Good MPG, Reliable, Warranty and easy to drive. The sad fact is for most part people have a solid love affair with technology and their cell phones and no longer have a major love affair with their cars. At one time it was status to have the latest and greatest car on the market and for many anymore it is to have the fastest and advanced cell phone. We here the car enthusiast are a dying breed.

This is very true. It is something they have been wanting to do for years but just never they could never get many of the companies on the same world wide page. The other thing we will see in the future with the rising cost of developing cars is joint efforts bettween companies on developing parts of the car. We have already seen GM work with Honda, Ford and BMW in recent years. We will see more of this in the future. Smaller companies like BMW and Honda will need to sell, co develope or buy from the outside vendors things like transmission and engines and other technology. Companys as large as Toyota, VW, GM and Ford will want to share the cost while the smaller companies will have to share the cost or sell out to the larger companies. This is also why we see companies like Porsche Engineering and Lotus share technology, product and even car platforms to make it in todays marker. The Tesla is based on a Lotus because Lotus needs the money. As it was stated a few years back almost everyone will need a dance partner in the future to either share cost or just to survive.

Wagons are like standard shift. There are some people who want them and a lot of people who don't. Change the market wants and they will build it. If there was money in Wagons we would have 72 types of wagons. But the brutal truth is that it is a limited market with limited return. That is why only the more expensive wagons are profitable as they can charge enought to cover the cost to build them in limited numbers. I suspect we will see the smaller truck at some point. GM has one and they need more MPG the key will be to price it low enough to make it appeal to those who can not afford the larger trucks. It is hard to sell the small trucks with the large ones discounted down to the price of the small ones.

You would think with as well as the Malibu Maxx sold even on a really crummy car they would see that a 5 door hatch would do wonders on the Cruze. With the loss of the HHR it would also fill a need.

Wow! How can people that are normally well informed be so far off on the Bu and it's roots? As the cars move more to the future there is not going to be a Korean car, German car or American car. They will be GM cars with help from the many division around the world. They will work much like many companies work like Airbus. As for market cars, you have already seen where the Cruze is a world car but it is still tuned and appointed to each market. While the basic car is the same it is not identical. As for boring Malibus they always have been boring accept for the the limited numbers of SS from 40 years ago. Trust me I know as we have had 67-68-69-70-72-73 and 08 Bu's in the family. We also had a 68 SS and 72 Sprint SP these being the only non boring ones. The Malibu is a high value family car and always has been. Most even in the RWD days were 307 and 305 engined and 4 doors. Like it or not the Malibu is a Family car not a Audi killer. If the new car has 4 doors, present good quality and value it has hit it's target. This is not a we need to see AWD and a V8 in to be what the market wants. GM is not trying to copy what Toyota wants but what the public at large wants. I think too many get confused on the boring car and that the fact is Toyota and Honda are building what they average car buyer wants. God knows they have sold a crap load of them and no one held a gun on anyone to buy them. Again lets see what this car is and at least sit in it let alone drive it to see if GM has hit the taget market it is ment for. Just note the comments of a few here that have driven a Cruze and found while they may not buy one found a car that was better than they ever imagined.

I would not worry too much with Scott as he has a lot of people who know knows him and know his value. He always seems to keep coming back for more. Lets face it he survived the loss of the F body and even helped bring it back. As long as his health remains good he will fight to be relivent at GM.

Last I heard he is not fully sure. It sounded like he was a lot of politics with new people at GM that are not crazy with him. At least he is stll connected to the Camaro team for now.

I read this a little bit ago. While the guy got a little expressive it was a nice story. It was good to see a story by someone that is just a regular Yuppie American car hating snob. It was nice to fine that what he found he can be wrong about his preconceived impressions and ideas. The story also shows that GM may have really hit a note with electric/gas combo. The writer with out prompting really shows that he likes the idea that the car has unlimited range with the gas as even a simple 100 mile trip limits his ability. I hope this will reflect many more non car people as these are the real people GM needs to buy these cars. His impression of the Leaf was the same as GM was hopping to find. The fact of limite range and long charging times are just not up to what is acceptable to the average driver year. Some may be willing to work with it but most would find it a pain in the A$$.

Yes Scott is a great guy and very helpful in many areas where he can help. I just wisht GM used him better as he is a great ambassador for Chevy. The man has given his all for Chevy and the Camaro. At time even effecting his health. I hope you had a good time with him. GM has been giving him a run around of late.

For this may be true young Skywalker. You do know he is our Chevy guy from Mars. Mars PA that is.

I know it has a live rear axle and I know for sure you really don't need it. My point is how smart is it to add more weight and price to a car that is already neat the limit for it's class for such little gain. The numbers in the Cobalt SS are almost as good with less HP and a lot less price. AWD is better for a car in the 30K range like the Regal. Once you get over $30K you start to get so many more better choices in cars. My point is how smart is it to even consider a car at this price range in a Cruze. The Cruze is a Chevy tha that is to provide economy and value first and performace second. I see often the folks on the HHR site cry for AWD and how it really needs it but then if you tell them how much it would cost they say are you crazy I would never pay that much. Even the people who love the car would never pay the price for such a system. The point is there are some limits to the price of this car and AWD passes the limits live rear axle or not. GM has much better homes for such a system like the GS. I see AWD as a system that needs to be in a car priced to where it is a good system and not just some econ set up. It has to be right all the way around witht he engine too as the added weight and the power it takes to run it make it critical. When you do a lot of number it is interesting but you also need to keep the marketing end of this in mind to keep it real. Would many here pay over $30K for such a car? Depending what we get for a Bu it may be a better choice too but I would have to see what kind of car it is first to see if anyone would pay the price.

Might see what all his new job is as he has been moved. He is still working with the Camaro but has been moved in the shuffle and has not been real happy as he is was not sure even who his boss was for a while. Might pump Scott some on the Malibu. He has given some hints on the new car in the past and was positive on it. I am not sure what his feeling are today on it or what all he will say. Also see if he is will to do any Scott talk on the new SS sedan. Just make sure to carefully ask the questions in a way he may be able to comment. He is more able to say what is not happening vs what is.

I can tell you what he will say on this one. He will say What Z28? Even while he is looking at the prototype. This is what he has been stating leading many to think the new supercharged car will not be a Z/28. Could we end up with a ZL1 etc? With Scott it is not so much what he says but what he does not say that often leads to the answer. He is kind of like the Camaro Yoda.

AWD For $29K? I really don't see that happening unless it is comprimised in quality. But then again even if it was a Haldex system Who would pay that much for a Cruze? Save the AWD for the Regal and put it on the better car.

With that said now you know why they changed the name. It is not the same car.

This car is to make money and get MPG and that is all it is to do at least to this point. That is all the Accord and Camry were too and they made a hell of a lot of money. The fact is the general boring cars are bought by the many generally boaring people. There were reports a month or two ago we had posted here that the BU was a ways off yet so this is not anything new. We will have other cars for the rest in the future. Just never expect each and every car to appeal to all people anymore. Each one has a target market and on this site the Bu is not targeted at most of us.

Your reaction is really why GM needs to get butts brhind the wheel that have been in Honda's and Toyotas. If a GM fan is suprised imagine what a Import fan will find.

I hope this story helps shame GM into keeping this program. The best critic is one in house as they can correct the mistake before you waste the money putting out a bad product. This is why even with the few warts Bob had he was one of the best things for GM. He made them look in the mirror and see their flaws. It may have made him not in favor with some but that ment he was doing his job.

The handling and performance were never the issue. The real issue was it was a car for male buyers and little appeal to most female buyers. When they are half the market it really hurts overal sales.

The truth is most cars will turn good highway MPG as over driven as they are. The real thing is everyday driving and no being easy on them. The MPG's drop fast. The simple fact is if the V8 got so much better all around MPG. we would not see so many 4 and 6 cylinders on the market and companies scrambling to make the V8's better. The LS does very good for what it is but it is not going to be enough. This is why they are working on the new engine now. Also note GM stated the RWD sport sedan would be sold in limited because numbers they can't afford the MPG hit. The 1 to 2 MPG means a lot anymore to the MFG.

The terms Pony car and Muscle car is dead. These cars today are now performance coupes and are far removed from their humble simple beginings. They should also be treated and marketed as such. Time to stop living on the dream of the past and market for todays buyers.

Looks good on paper but if driven as it normally is it is not even close. It still is good for a V8 but daily driven as it normally would be 20 MPG is even difficult. Well that is for the people I know that drive em daily. We said that but GM had not filed chapter 11 and only had the Zeta to work with. This has since changed and they now have the Alpha.

Thank you for the honest and pure statment here. I know much of what you stated here rings true with many many people in the market that are not blinded by the Camaro badge. I know what you mean on the SS. It feels like you are inside it vs the Mustang that with it's size makes you feel more like you are wearing it. I note this is a feeling I have had on other good car like the Vette. I do not mean that is is small and tight but it feels like a part of you and you can feel the car in how it is acting and performing. The best way to state it you feel more one with the car. Like it or not many are going to have to accpet the Camaro is going to have to make some major changes. In doing so they will have to get it right. When they do this car they need to no comprimise with things like just unsing the only chassie that they have available even if it was too large or heavy. I think that the Alpha will take care of much of this. The funding should be good since it is sharing with Cadillac here so I hope this will stop them from cutting corners. This needs to be a car people want to buy badly regardless if it has a V8 or even the name Camaro on it. This need to be a got to have car that appeals to not just the Camaro fan but to anyone who loves great cars. In the future we all will need to be more open to change as it is coming and if you want performance you will need to be more open minded. If not you may miss some damn good cars. No matter what Chevy does someone will be upset. THe key is just to get the car right and it will sell itself and create a new heritage to carry it into the future.