hyperv6

The few people I know that have a Prius have taught me a thing or two about their cars. They complained as they did not get the higher milage they were promised till they were taught to drive it like you have an egg on the gas pedal. They were disapointed to get in the 30+ MPG range when they drive it like a regular car. While it is not bad milage I can do that in just a regular gas car. They also are not happy as they have had to make many trips to the dealer for problems they have had. I have learned If they had bought a VW Desiel they would have saved money, been able to drive the hell out of it and still get near or better milage than a Pruis. No need to learn a whole new way of driving. The hybrids for the most part are political statments and the true impact is very small. If you wanted to make a greater impact Toyota could have made all the new Tundras hybrids and made their most ineffecent vehicle more efficent. My thinking is improve the poor mileage getter vs the cars that already get good milage. The bottom line is I don't hate this car [Though I do not like the styling]. But I do not see the big gains by adding a few MPG to a car that gets pretty good milage and requires you to change all your driving habits or life style to get the full impact. I know the industy is working toward a car that will meet everyones needs and not make them have to change their life style or habits. This is where the Pruis has failed. I know in time it will improve and these restrictions will go away. When I mean half baked I mean this is a Idea that is not fully developed to where it needs to be. The day a Hybrid will serve all your present needs and not restrict your life in any way compared to your present vehicle it then has been perfected. For general public acceptance this goal needs to be reached. With the way development is going that day may not be far off but it just is not here yet. By the way the V6 Civic Hybrid I though was a much better concept adding economy to a normal looking car that has enough power to serve all your needs. I think because it looked too normal it just never caught on with the folks wanting to make a statment.

The last I heard a while back [Pre 35 MPG CAFE] GM was looking at two V6 engines. One in the 260 HP range and one I was quoted at 320 HP. Seing that the CTS already has a 305 HP engine a 320HP would not be a too hard to believe. Also the 320 HP V6 was not Turbo or Supercharged. This info was from someone who would know but with the passage of time and fuel milage requirment could have changed by now. He has not given me anyupdates The base V8 will be base on the 430 HP LS engine we already have. The top Z28 will feature over 500 HP. I was told it was supercharged but not the ZR-1 engine. Well look no farther than the CTSV as the new car has a 6.2 Supercharged V8 at 550 HP. I have a feeling this may be the top Camaro engine about a year and a half after intro. Either way the V6 is the most important model for the Camaro as it will accout for the majority of the sales. As for the B pillar!!!! It is there and it is not going anywhere. GM did it for a reason and it has been perfectly made clear why. I wish I could flap my arms and fly but it ain't gonna happen either!!!!! So get over it or seek professional help . Dr Phil is available from what I have read. God I am so friken sick and tired of that rant and I am far from the only one!

Also, if the technology works as predicted and the car does not look like a angry toaster it will be a step forward. The critics will have to contend with it even if it is a few months late. Something has to be up as BMW and Chrysler also made anouncements about their products based on the same technology. Contrary to what much of the publc thinks GM is not that far behind on electric technology. They just wanted to wait till better technology arrived and the Hybrid cars were a little more practical or cheaper to build [profitable]. But Toyota has already proven the public is willing to accept half bakes hybrids at this point. In the past GM could have done a Prius but the public would have never accepted the short comings in the car from GM as they have Toyota. If GM did that car first it would have been called a bust but because of Toyotas precieved technology leadership. With the New GM cars just out and the new ones still to come the Volt can be a fearther in the cap. GM though even in low volume will have to get it right and work with the first owners to make sure they are taken care of. No way can they pull the carpet out from under these owners as they did on the leased EV-1 drivers. While pulling that car was not a big deal it was a public relations mess due to our lothesom idiot Michael Moore.

Anyone else that is dealing with reality notice the uncamo car has a lower cowling on the speedo and tach on the dash? Both do not stick up hardly at all. I think this best shows how we have far from seen the finished product yet. I think Scott said this was only like 60% fo the final car and that is counting the Door panels. Note too the seat is just out of a Holden.

Sorry! The pictures I saw were of a Mugen Honda Inspire and it was a Accord with a well overdone body kit that did to an Accord what Pontiac did to the Grand Am GT in the 90's. To say the least it was not an improvment.

Inspire?? I saw a photo and it looked as if Honda has built their own over done 1992 Grand Am GT.

If you want a image of what Voit taste like Toyota has done it. The companies in Japan seldom have original designs so now they are stealing from each other now. They need to lear to let the Itallians do all their design work. This is just a Ridgline rip off with Toyota's own mechanical bits under the shell. As for fitting the 8 foot plywood in, I betting it has a fold down front seat and you sit on it. :AH-HA_wink: This I am sure will find it's niche market like the Ridgline but for real truck users [not just the red necks] it is just another car.

I am very much not a FWD guy. I have driven RWD most of my life and only have a FWD sedan for the wife. I now want to replace a RWD Sonoma ZQ8 but have littel to chose from. I hate the present small trucks as the interiors are crap. I have been waiting for the Camaro or G8 ST as a choice. I have also considered a Sky. At this point if I had to move to a FWD for myself I would consider a HHR SS. It is different and has now been given the parts to make it a pleasure to drive vs just getting there. The bottom line is I would never consider a Cobalt as I have no use for a small coupe like it nor would you ever find me in a traditional wagon. I would love to have a RWD Nomad in the Mini type tradition where it is useful and sporty but Chevy has never moved in that direction. I have been around HHR's and have found them not perfect but for the money a stylish usefull vehicle. They to this point have lacked the performance to make them a fun car to drive. I expect once I get my first drive in a SS it will be a enjoyable drive. With cars getting smaller, gas prices going up small utility vehicles like a HHR will become valued use vehicles in the market. If they can make one like the HHR that does not look like a appliance all the better. If it looks like a Minivan I would never buy it even if it ran like a ZR-1. This is the Calibre's down fall. As for the Cancel on the Malibu cruise is it not like the many on the new GM cars where it just need pulled toward you and the wheel to cancel? My GP cruise says nothing about cancel but it is there. I can even cancel it with my knee.

I was thinking just a new set up on the Alpha which is part of the future Kappa. But for now we know too little of what we would have to work with. Yet.

My point is it is a Corvette and is not a Bugatti of Ferrari. Is there a need for as $150,000-300,000 Chevy? If I was going to spend that kind of money I would spend it on the real thing and get a new or used low milage 360 or 599 Ferrari. I love Vettes but if I had that kind of money it gives me so many better options. Imagine Spending that much and taking your car to the local Chevy dealer. Some guy drops what he is doing on a old Astro van to work on you car while you drive away in a Aveo. That was the Ford GT's problem it was a cool car but not as exotic as the compitition. The present ZR-1 I feel is at the top end limit for the Vette as a Chevy. By the way all Lotus were not mid Engined. You forgot about the 50 and 60 when they built some of the lightest front engined race cars and street cars available.

Your splitting hairs on drivetrain loss of power. If this was a 90 HP car it might make a differance. As for lighter we are not talking about the current car we are speaking of the C7. You make lighter by making it smaller. Less mass better performanc in all areas. Starting and stopping with better handling. Look to what lotus has done with car similar in size to the Vette. I would love to see a Vette offered under 3,000 pounds even if it is a special order car less GPS, Cup holders and anything else that does not make it go. A mid engine can be take more to the limit due to things like lower center of gravity but those limits are far beyond most drivers. Good example is the many Enzo and other exotic car crashes. Many do not understand drop throttle oversteer unless they have owned a 911 or Corvair. When the back kicks out as they let off the gas and are reluctant to hit the gas to pull it in. Even the brain of many good drivers just will not react that way as most nomal car will want more brake. I know they can better control this with stablility control today. The bottom line is unless they are doing this for Caddy there is no need for the mid engine Vette. The money spent on this could do a lot more good elsewhere. Just look at how much Ford pissed away on GT. They could use that cash on some real improvments like a Focus that is worth a crap. I did think the GT was cool but you have to pay the bills firs before you play. And if you play make sure you can get better publicicty [they never raced it till it was out of production] and they only built it for a couple years till the laws killed it. GM could do better spending this money to continue the improvemts already started on the Malibu and Bring us a Cobalt that will sell better and make money. Toyota is not beating GM with sports car but with lame Camrys. There is a time to play and a time to work GM still has some more work to do and already has a great sports car.

Your on the money here. I jsut don't see that much gained by going to Mid Engine. With car 50/50 blalanced there is only some aero thing you can pick up with a lower seating. On the other hand you will pick up more expense in repair and in most cases poorer visability. I own a Mid Engine car now and driven many others and find other than the cool factor it is more highly over rated in a street car. Now if your going to Indy the package works wll. I say just keep the Vette like it is. The Ford GT left little of a mark on the industry and cost Ford a lot of money for very little gain. I know they could have marketed better. One thing to always remember is most Corvette owners carry the front engine as a badge of honor by being different. I would rather see them make the car lighter as more performance is gained this way in all areas.

This might add up as I just read that Chevy is looking into going into the prototype class in ALMS. With the Daewoo Chevys in Europe, Chevy of Brazil and Holden Chevys in The middle east it would give them a reason to go big time racing.

What a waste of a good Trans Am.

George Barris is a fraud. Geroge claims to be a car customizer when he is nothing but a front man. His brother George was the customizer before he passed away years ago. George on the other hand employed some of the best customizers to build most fo the car he claims are his. On this car I don't think anyonw will fight him for his claim to have been behind this one. It is as tacky as the gold coat he wears. If you want to know the truth about cars like the Monkee Mobile read up on Dean Jefferies as he was the guy behind this and many of the better cars George claims. Jefferies also worked with Shelby and Dean Moon to build the first Cobra. Heck most of the Batmobile is Lincoln Futura Show car with new paint and just a few fender changes. Guys like Von Dutch and Jeffries all workd for Barris at one time. It may have been good George stole others work if he was behind this one.

Are todays people are so lame that they can not function with out GPS? I really do think the effect of Helmet laws Seatbelt laws and Air Bags has dumb down the public that they just can find there way out of a dark corner anymore. Lack of helmets, seatbelts and airbags use to thin the heard for us now we save all these people to buy GPS units and take up space. Can you imagine if we had to depend on this todays people to make it to California in the 1840'S? My Great Great Great Grandfather made it from Ohio to California and back in 1849 and 1851 with nary a wrong turn. If we start to let our cars tell us where to go it will not be long till they just take us where we are going and we lose the ability to drive ourselves. You then may well also be charged by the mile a goverment tax on how far you have gone. Both of these are being looked at now. Not being a alarmest but who would ever though people would be paying for TV and Radio years ago? It is just time to put down the DVD, Phone and GPS and just drive the damn car. The life you save might just be your own.

Checke out the new High Performance Pontiac Magazine. The cover shot is done by some guy neamed Brad May from GM for a new book on the design center. THey did a photo shoot fo 3 judges infront of Cony Island on Woodward. The photo came out great and the book by GM is due this coming year. I know the guy with the blue GTO and it is a great car. Jeff has helped me on some Pontiac prototype parts I have and got me intouch with the right people at the design center to help. Anyway this Brad is a GM photg and I hope they let him do more main line shots in the future. I wonder if he did these.

The only thing CAFE will do is give us smaller more efficent engines in much lighter cars that will cost a butt load more money to pay for the more expensive lighter materials they will need to use to build them. This may usher in the affordable mass produced carbon fiber car era. Performance will not die it will just be more expensive. Hell I can bulid one heck of a fast Electric RC car with tighter wound electric motors and better battery packs. It thats what it will take on future hybrids then so be it. We will still be fast just we will have to do it in new ways. Besides I expect this bill to get watered down over the next few years. This was more a show for the politicians in a election year trying to show they care about conservation and the eviroment. Claifornia was to have a great percentage of electric cars too but ithe law was recended when it could not be met.

Jake is my leader and hero. He stands for the team moto "Take No Prisoners" for the Pratt & Miller C6-R Racing team. He was first seen back in 2005 at Lemans and has grown with the team and now it looks like Chevy has embraced him offically. Before when I wore my Jake hat people looked at me like an old Goth, now they will really know what it means. I say Jake for president in 08.

Everyday I see truck load after truck load on Interstate 76 in Ohio. Even the people at work are talking about them and are shock at how well they look.

Bluetooth is a must have for the future as so many products are going to incorperate it. It would be a mistake not to offer it.

I was a little short after shopping so I just poped for a new Bad Boys hat. THis is one cool site that I keep an eye on. they have some cool things they post. Jake is one marketing image GM should embrace and use as the "Take No Prisoners" moto would serve GM well. I would like to see Bad Boys adopt the Camaro in the future!

To quote what John Schinella of GM design and Trans AM fame. "Chevy sells more cars than Pontiac so Chevy get more say than Pontiac". The truth is Chevy is a profit center and make most of the money for GM NA. They have to take care of them since they pay most of the bills. GM even as large as they are have to budget themselves and can't afford to do everything. It is not that they hate Pontiac but it is busniess. You run a company mostly with ypur head and not mostly your heart. Lutz has a plan in place and it will just take more time. Pontiac will play to it's strength and not try to just be a fancy Chevy. Pontiac's Future is going to performanc but many have to lose some of the old past as many in to days market do not care about the Bird and other old names and cars. While I hate the number names I do agree they need new names. Pontiac's market is made up of mostly import buyers today and they are not interested in a Trans Am or other old name. Even the Pontiac Oakland Club is not as strong as it once was. The key is to get some great product out and it will sell no matter what yopu call it. We have had too many years of Aztec, sunfire like cars and this image type needs to be over come. Too few buyer know, remember or care about the 60's and 70's since they were not alive 40 years ago.

First off I would love to see where it said it was production ready as in all I have read seen and the GM people I have spoken too none have ever said this. The Concept was not approved for anything and was used as a tool to sell GM brass on letting them go forward. Then Chevy had to wait for Zeta after several delays to have a RWD platform to use. Chevy then had to budget it in as the trucks and Malibu were in the works and both will sell in numbers far higher than the Camaro. You have to have your priorities taken care of first to pay the bills. Finally they need to have the plant available as the change over is still in the works. When it comes to building a car Chevy wishes it was as easy to get it into production as many think. It take time money and availablity. I don't think your going to find one person at GM that wishes they did not have this car a few years ago. Now if Zeta was around the new trucks were out as was the Malibu the Camaro may havbe been sooner. But that is history now and it will all work out in the end anyway.