thegriffon

The Korean version will debut this year with the 6A and Dual-VVT 1.8.

It's Japanese name is actually Free-do, which explains why they say it is a compound of Free+Do.

The GL is now selling better than the comparable Escalade. Only the extended wheelbase and SUT versions have an advantage.

Find the product "library" at Honda's Japanese site for the details. They make it pretty clear the original longitudinal-engine "Accord" differed from the transverse-engine version only from the firewall forward. Even then only what was needed for the new engine orientation was changed. I don't recall the year or the model, but it's all there.

Ah, so what they are saying is, that the gap between the wheel well and the door indicates that the engine is mounted longitudinally, just as it always has been the in the Legend/RL, and in the Accord Vigor (the original was an Accord with an extended front section behind the front wheel to accommodate a longitudinal engine and transmission) that developed into the TL. So what they are doing then, is not changing a damn thing.

It doesn't arrive in NA till Q3 2009, but will be unveiled as a Daewoo a year earlier. GME is in charge of platform development, GM Daewoo is developing the first vehicle basedon it, this global Daewoo/Chevrolet.

Fall 2008 in Korea, Fall 2009 in the US, somewhere in between for Europe (including assembly in Russia from kits).

That applies to any stock, at any time.

The plants are being redeveloped instead in some cases. In others, no-one wants them because they come with the UAW. This has been perceived badly. GM is making no major changes at all. Almost every thing announced is no more than that—announced. It's been part of the long-term plan for at least 12 months, and in the case of the new products, years. You don't release a brand new product you've just decided to build in only a few months.

IIRC Cobasys is in one of the Lithium-ion partnerships as well. It's not so much a fight over ownership, but funding commitments.

Not also "a 9 mpg imporvement over Chevrolet's current entry ion this segment". Let's see, Chevy Cobalt, 36 mpg manual, + 9 mpg is a 45 mpg Cobalt. Booyah.

A brand spanking new SS.

Width depends on wheel-arch extensions used on 4x4 versions etc.—the basic body width and track etc. are exactly the same. Thai-built models come in different wheelbases dependent on market. Since the wheelbase varies between Thai, US, and various export markets, the body panels will also vary slightly, but the basic design was exactly the same. BTW Where on earh is there a "Euro-spec" Chevy Colorado? The European market seems to be exclusively Isuzu Rodeos so far. There are numerous Chinese copies based on ancient Isuzu, Mazda and Toyota chassis and bodies.

Spy shots of the new Astra (rendering shown previously obviously way off), including video: http://www.autobild.de/artikel/erlkoenig-o...tra_708115.html Photo gallery only: http://www.autobild.de/mmg/mm_bildergalerie_708165.html

Wheelbases vary, even between Thai and export versions. GVW and payload varies (Thai trucks are typically 1-tonners). Powertrain is also different, an old Family II 2.4 L, a low-power HFV6 and Isuzu diesels. Otherwise it is the same truck, with a recent MCE. The Brazilian Colorado doesn't arrive for a few years yet, and GM will probably build it in Thailand for Asian, European and Pacific markets. The Colorado is assembled in other Latin American plants (sometimes as the Chevy LUV), but Brazil still builds the S10 with a Brazilian diesel from Navistar and a Flexfuel version of the 2.4 L engine used in the Thai-built trucks.

Less if the right-of way and track already exists (it usually does even if the station buildings and service have been long abandoned.) Service and routes are about abysmal funding, not access. There are rail lines and right of way everywhere. Local governments in the US know the cost advantages, which is why so many are rehabilitating and installing rail and buying trainsets for commuter and light rail service. Most even offer free or very low cost fares because they know it saves them $$$$ and attracts investment. Developers love having an active local station, it adds $$$ to property values, and with gas prices climbing, and property in crisis, that only increases. They will even pay a good portion of station construction or renovation. Many states even own, fund, or subsidize freight services because it attracts higher-paying industries and reduces highway traffic (one train can replace 200 trucks). The rail industry was deregulated after Rock Island was abandoned (most routes were taken up by other railroads). Freight is booming. Railroads are required by law to prioritize Amtrak trains, but they often don't and the gov. takes little action to enforce it, beyond complaints by Amtrak. Lawmakers in Washington have been hostile or disinterested to support for anything beyond the NY-DC service (surprise surprise).

A single lane of highway costs about 10 times a mile of track.

The Hyundai is G8/LaCrosse-sized, not a direct Impala/Lucerne competitor.

Ahh, Vauxhall is a company, even if it's run as divisions of GM Manufacturing and GM Europe. I wouldn't rule out Buick still existing as a company either, but perhaps Hudson knows if it and other entities were actually de-registered, or are just dormant, pieces of paper in a file somewhere.

North American niche models only (e.g. Camaro, HHR, Colorado …).

Too bad it was published in the National Post then.

The Astra is built as standard with a panorama roof instead on 3-door models. A sunroof becomes fairly redundant. Alas no panorama roof for NA models, but as a result no sunroof is available either.

The updated engines in the Aveo give much better mileage. The new 1.4 would be a good choice, a little less power than the new 1.6, and even better economy. Most markets get a new 1.2 as well.

aatbloke, then they've been lucky, and often they're not. As for the "it doesn't have to be true" bit, that's what I was told by one of their editors, so take what they print with a grain of salt.

:rotflmao: At most this is a mule for the forthcoming Gamma crossovers. Even AutoExpress thinks the Chevy version will be more like the T2X concept, so why not the Opel as well? AutoExpress is a tabloid car mag—it doesn't have to be true, it just has to be plausible.