thegriffon

GM will use the VM 2.8 L in medium trucks, just as Jeep does, not the 2.9 L V6. Whether you see it in the US will depend on economics—adding a few thousand to the price of a Colorado might not seem feasible. If they can use a NOx catalyst wth the 4-cylinder it might work, but the V6 would require Urea-based SCR. The next Blazer will get an MWM International 2.8 L 4-cylinder for the Brazilian market as well.

You might quite accurately christen this segment of the US market "Executive sedans". Drivers may receive a car as part of a salary package, they travel business class rather than economy and may be able to swing a more expensive rental at their destination. They need a family car, but want something more upscale than the ubiquitous Camry and Accord. Since they will be using it for business as well an SUV or minivan is not appropriate. Realtors, business account managers, mid-level bureaucrats, auditors, small accountants etc.

The Maxima is also fleeted more heavily than the LaCrosse. For the segment the LaCrosse has the lowest fleet rate. It's partly a function of the segment itself—these more expensive midsize sedans are preferred by people who are not paying for them themselves, but can't persuade those who are to spend much more.

Even if he wanted to manufacture in the US he probably couldn't get finance to do so. Vietnam, India, yes, the US or Europe, no.

Companies do not "exchange registration numbers" as you put it. They may "exchange names", for various reasons; common during acquisitions, mergers or bankruptcy to preserve the fiction of continuity. This happened to the original companies that formed the Rover group. They exchanged names with purely administrative entities in the group (property companies and the like) around the time of the BMW acquisition and were later deregistered (the functions and assets of all the companies involved having been transferred to the parent company long beforehand). The surviving Wolseley Motors etc. are the mere namesakes of the historic manufacturers, and were founded much later. I have to assume the new management had no idea of the heritage value of the disguised companies. The former Vauxhall Motors Ltd. has been renamed General Motors UK Ltd.. The company's assets and intellectual property have not been swapped—what was owned by Vauxhall Motors remains the property of company under the new name of General Motors UK Ltd.. Legally General Motors UK Ltd. is the company formerly known as Vauxhall Motors Ltd.. As for the other companies you mention I can give more info once the office re-opens. in a few hours. It is possible that a former GM UK was merged with Vauxhall Motors, the latter then assuming the name of the former holding company.

Except for this bit. The 1.4 L is a lower capacity version of the new GM Family 1 block. In this size it is unique to GM Daewoo/Chevrolet—GM Europe uses a smaller 1.4 L based on the Family 0 block (the new 1.4 turbo is a larger engine also based on the Family 0 block). The new 1.2 L is another unique GM Daewoo engine also built by SGMW in China. It has no relation to the GM Powertrain Europe 1.2 L, which is another version of the Family 0 engine. The B-series GM Daewoo 1.2 L is instead based on the Suzuki F-series block, but with an all-new design (presumably the bore centers are the same but bore, stroke and all the hardware is new). A new B-series 1.0 L engine is to follow. So neither engine is borrowed from Vauxhall. The current GM Daewoo 1.8 L Family 1 engine is borrowed from GM Powertrain Europe (probably using the tooling and parts from GM Powertrain Hungary), and the new Ecotec III 1.6 and 1.8 L Dual-VVT family 1 engines are also essentially the same, except for tuning, as the versions previously introduced by GM Europe. The 1.6 L is used in the 2009 American Aveo, while the new 1.8 liter will be the standard engine in the Cruze prior to US production.

I never gave a timeline for the founding of General Motors UK Ltd. Vauxhall was renamed General Motors UK Ltd earlier this year. Fact. That is easily verifiable with the appropriate authority, and I can assure Aatbloke that I did so before posting. I don't know what he is thinking of. New dealers in your country can and do sell new vehicles without the support of their main franchisor. Vauxhall has in fact sometimes been kind enough to publicize the odd vehicle sold by a dealer, if it is based on one of their models, without actually providing warranty or support themselves. Any "Factory" support is provided by the dealer or their supplier, not the original manufacturer. A Chevrolet imported by a third party and sold by an Isuzu or Vauxhall dealer does not have nor does it require factory support by General Motors UK, Isuzu, nor Chevrolet UK, but by the third party importing them from Latin America or Thailand. Neither GM nor Isuzu is going to provide factory support for vehicles they do not sell themselves through their own dealers (and that means Chevrolets through Chevrolet dealers and advertised by Chevrolet UK), no matter what another dealer may imply. As I have said time and again, a vehicle imported and marketed by GM is what I consider official, not some enterprising third-party import with perhaps suspect type approval (the latter opinion is based in the sometimes gross discrepancy between what the original manufacturer considers EU capable, and what entrepreneurial importers claim is EU certified). You seem to mean something entirely different by "officially imported", so why argue about it? I have had and continue to have dealings with various European automotive media, and I respect their ability to get insider information. But their sources and analysis are not always correct, especially when it comes to vehicle names. Those working on a program, especially at suppliers, who leak like sieves, are the last people to know what a vehicle will be called. Code names, nick-names, familiar old names like Nubira, random trademark filings, all are gist for the rumor mill. I have the experience and expertise, and the background work to support my assessments. Automotive journalists simply do not have the time or the desire to do as thorough a job. Some with more integrity rely on me to find better information. A name, any name will do to flesh out an article. It doesn't have to be the right name. After all that could change before the vehicle debuts, and sometimes after. That it has already changed or was never right when it was published in a vehicle forecast article is all too common. I am perfectly willing to give kudos when they get it right (I could only confirm Passat CC after spy photos were published under that name).

It's the photos, or they way you look at them. They are actually very different in size and proportions. Even the Vue and Captiva are significantly different in size (the latter is substantially longer to accommodate the third row), and they are the closest related of the family. With dimensions of the new crossovers it is hard to to be sure, but the "Terrain", if it carries that name, and Equinox replacement should be on the longer wheelbase, making them much bigger than the others (the XL7 will probably still be the longest), as they are now. If they don't look it, perhaps they are finally wider as well. It's hard to imagine them being downsized to the Captiva's swb if they are to gain a third row like the XL7, as is rumored.

That's what the Mini Clubman is for—the extra length makes it a proper B-segment hatch like the Aveo and Fit, not as big as the Accent or Corsa, but way bigger than the Yaris 5-door. New Chevrolet subcompacts are closer than you may think. Certainly by the time the Fiesta arrives in the US there won't be much of a wait if any for a new Chevy. Unlike the Cruze, you will not have to wait 18 months after the rest of the world to see them.

I have an inkling what the Delta MPV will be called, and I'm not happy, but nothing confirmed.

You local Isuzu or Vauxhall dealer can stock what they like, and they are the best choice to provide support, but it does not make them an "official" import with factory support.

A very few LHD cars are in Australia, but grey-market American cars are usually converted to RHD before being sold here. These are usually new vehicles, with Australian compliance plates, not imports of questionable used cars. At the same time there is no factory warranty and no support from either GM and Isuzu. Your Chevy LUVS and Colorados would not have either. It would be up to the grey-market importer to provide warranty and support, for whatever that is worth, and UK and European certification (which by the way seems incredibly lax for these entrepreneurial importers). I would not call these "official" imports. They are termed grey-market because they are not illegal, non-compliant vehicles (black-market), but they have no factory support and are not officially imported by the manufacturer or licensed distributor.

The OED lists both spellings. Apparently the word break/brake referred to a carriage frame used for breaking horses. It was then applied to a large wagon, and finally to the enclosed wagon we recognize today. A shooting break/brake, is then a variant sold for shooting game, or at least, a way of selling a commercial vehicle to the leisure class. Peugeot tends to use "break" for it's station wagons, with the SW originally used on a passenger version with an optional third row of seating and panoramic roof, as opposed to the standard Break with two rows of seats and steel roof.

I don't see the similarities between the Cadillac and the Vue/Captiva. At most it is the general D/E-segment crossover form, shared with every other model from every other manufacturer. It no more looks like the Vue than it does the Koleos, Q5 or XC60.

And rumor gets it so wrong, so often, especially when it comes to vehicle names. I have to laugh, because almost always I have better information beforehand on vehicle names. There was absolutely no foundation to this rumor, it was just journalists and bloggers displaying their vast ignorance. The only evidence, was for first Cobalt, and later Cruze. Nubira was never in the frame. Tacuma and Rezzo were both Daewoo names. The Chevrolet version was Vivant, although few markets adopted it. Odd definition of "official". This sounds to me like legal, but unofficial grey-market imports by-passing both Isuzu and GM. It's not uncommon but not a major part of the market in most countries. By your standard you can already get official imports of Chevrolet Corvettes, Tahoes, Silverados etc. in Australia. Or that various odd European and Latin-American cars are officially available in the US. There are loopholes that make very small numbers available, but by no means are they officially imported. EcoBoost? yes they are due to be used. GM's 1.6, 2.0 and 2.8 Turbos are already here, and by the time EcoBoost units actually appear, there will be even more. My point again is only that GM is better prepared than most people think. Most people (despite your own claimed foreknowledge) are under the impression that thse new programs have only just been initiated, a last minute reaction to the current situation. They are not. The preparation has been going on for years.

It was, although the name might not have been Cruze until recently—Cobalt was considered the as the new global name for some time. As for the Nubira, last time I checked they stopped selling the J200 as the Nubira even in the UK. It's everywhere as a Chevrolet either Optra or Lacetti. But what would I expect from someone who thinks GM sells the Colorado and LUV in the UK. If they're there, they are coming in the back door. For God sakes why on earth would GM sell both. Did I mention plants at all though? The product is in the pipeline and has been for years. All of a sudden there is a fuel crisis again, and oh look, we just happen to have new 6-speed autos before most of our competitors; oh look we have a new 1.4 Turbo all of a sudden, oh look, we have a new 1.0 L turbo we can use as an APU in an electric car. Where did that come from?" They've been there, in development all along. Ramping up production is relatively easy. GM is no worse prepared than anyone else in this regard. Better because as luck would have it, their large and midsize trucks are older than Ford's or Toyota's, so it shouldn't hurt as much to wind down production. They've sold a lot of their trucks, and what, Kia, and Toyota are bringing theirs to market now? Talk about bad timing and lack of preparation. Hell if you have a big truck program, and you can see demand crashing in five years, why wouldn't you rush the introduction so you can sell as many as you can before the crash comes. Serendipitously, that's what GM has done. The Cadillac crossover was always going to Mexico, alongside the Vue. Cobalt, we believe was going to Mexico to make way for a new sedan, and some years later, the Alpha sedans. The only question was whether the new sedan would be the J300 Cruze, or the T300 Aveo (the information described the Cruze, but with the Aveo's platform, clearly there was some confusion). The Chevy MPV is going to Hamtramck with the Volt and some Epsilon models. As for the Beat/Groove/Trax, one of them is coming to America, but in a larger form. A 4-cylinder for the new midsize crossovers? Apparently, done. A 1.6 Turbo that can be slotted into the midsize sedans (starting with the Insignia)? Ready and waiting. A nice 2.0 L turbo in both transverse and longitudinal formats for mid-large sedans? Hey look we have one right here! Only VW can offer something similar; and Ford, despite their talk (EcoBoost is a great name though), is still working on their alternative. The execution remains to be seen, but they are prepared.

There is another option—source the Astra from South Africa, as Ford and Toyota and BMW and Mercedes do for their Australian small cars.

They may be announcing this now, but it has been in the pipeline for years. You don't just unveil a new vehicle and a new engines a few months after you decide to build them. GM is better prepared for this shift in demand than many people seem to realize.

"Estate" is a fancy way of saying "farm wagon", which this is most certainly not. "Shooting Break" is a wagon for carrying guns and game. Not sure I'd want to put a brace of pheasants or a deer carcass in the back either, nor will most buyers. Bith are strictly British, not European terms, although Break is common in France. The standard European term is some variation on Combi—a vehicle for hauling both people and cargo—a Carryall that can do the duty of a Station Wagon. Of course the Germans go in for all kinds of weird terms that have no direct reference to the vehicle's function at all—Opel's Caravan, Ford's Turnier (Tournament), VW's Variant, Audi's Avant, BMW's Touring—many with a similar theme to Pontiac's Safari, implying the cargo room makes them perfect for touring, traveling or going on safari.

Talk your local Saturn dealer, but bear in mind the European versions will be expensive.

The Town Car is on it's way out. Sales are really volatile, as much or more so than GM's medium duty commercial trucks, the Topkick and Kodiak. It can vary from as few as a couple of hundred to a few thousand a month, depending on the volume of fleet orders. That makes production volume very hard to manage, and profitability low as a result. The MKT (T for Town Car) effectively replaces it in the retail lineup, pitching it against high-end minivans such as the Town and Country and Chinese Buick GL8 Firstland as well as the Enclave.

The Lucerne has really had no direct competition, and sales while still strong, have been consistently declining. Indirectly it competes at the bottom end with smaller premium sedans such as the ES350, Maxima, Avalon, while the V8 models are now competing against the MKS. At the very least in needs a powertrain upgrade, and preferably a major facelift as well, to be competitive against the new Lincoln. I would dump the 3.9 L in favor of the LNF and 6-speed (the 220 PS version if not the full 260 hp engine), and jack up the price at the same time (min $33-35K), and dump the Northstar for the 3.6 DI + 6-speed combo. At the very earliest possible I would also add the future 2.8 DI Turbo if it can offer similar or better power and economy than the future DI Turbo Ford V6. I would be willing to sacrifice sales for higher margins, higher take-up of more expensive options, and more prestige (2-3K a month in the US). And I would make no mention of the ES350 and Avalon in any competitor list, but only the MKS and the Phaeton if it returns without being downsized too much.

You haven't seen a CR-V lately then.

Opel Insignia Sports Tourer — The New Wagon in Elegant Sportswear * Insignia's third body variant to debut at Paris Motor Show * Introducing two additional engines, available for entire Insignia family Rüsselsheim — Due to be unveiled at Paris Motor Show (October 4–19), Opel's new station wagon offers leading technologies wrapped in a sporty, premium body and reflects this in its name: Insignia Sports Tourer. The Insignia Sports Tourer, available in European markets in spring 2009, boasts the same athletic, powerful and elegant design as its sedan counterparts. “However,” says Mark Adams, Vice President of GM Europe Design, “this is a stand-alone model and not simply a wagon version of the sedan. In fact, all the bodywork aft of the B-pillar is unique to the Sports Tourer. We've also ensured that its design combines the sculptural artistry and technical precision found in the notch- and hatchback models.” … Full release and photos at AutoReport

Honda claims the twist beam in the back of the European Civic hatch was chosen for it's handling benefits.