thegriffon

Aside from the M3 and AMG models etc., maybe not. After all the 5-series is built with 2.0 L engines, the 7-series with a 3.0 L engine, and Mercedes will even start offering a 4-cylinder S-Class. Welcome to the future. Anyway, there will be a DOHC gasoline V8 available, just not a high-volume engine.

Alright, that means GM can count BPG as one total-outselling both Dodge and Nissan.

BTW, first victim of the higher CAFE standards—no replacement for the Northstar V8. DT7, Lucerne/Park Avenue, XLR etc will make do with the DOHC V6s (2.8, 2.8 Turbo, 3.6 DI). The only V8 offered in a passenger car or crossover will be a version of the Gen V small block for the Corvette and Camaro and hand-built GMPD engines for the G8, CT5, XLR etc.; and on the outside chance, a version of the 4.5 L diesel.

Wouldn't work. without higher fuel prices or other incentives, there is no reason people will buy more fuel-efficient vehicles. There are plenty of measures that could have been taken to reduce fuel consumption (proper finance for Amtrak for starters), but setting CAFE standards seems like a good idea that politicians can point to as direct action. It just doesn't work. Face it—countries where people do drive smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles don't have any fuel economy standards. What they have are higher taxes on larger vehicles, perks for drivers of the smallest classes of vehicles, and much higher fuel prices. CAFE doesn't work. Raising it won't make it work any better.

Like the Camaro the wagon has only been shown in concept form—production models won't appear for 6-9 moths or more.

Video is now up on Youtube:

GM Asks The World: "What's Next?" DETROIT - What should power the world's vehicles in 20 years? How can personal transportation become more sustainable in an age of increasing global competition for resources? What role will the automotive industry play in developing markets? Decisions on issues like these will largely shape transportation in the 21st century. To speed the process, GM will mark its 100th anniversary by launching a global dialogue through an initiative called GMnext. "We're starting our second century at a time of fundamental change in the auto industry," said GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner. "We'll use GMnext to introduce some of our ideas for addressing critical issues concerning energy, the environment and globalization. In the process, we also hope to spark a broader, global discussion on these important topics." To initiate that dialogue, GMnext will spotlight GM's introduction of next-generation vehicles and technologies, including new applications of the E-Flex drive system and continued work on GM's line of Plug-In and Two-Mode hybrids. The medium for the dialogue will be a dedicated Web site, GMnext.com. The site is designed to encourage feedback and interaction among participants. In addition to GM news, positions and commentary, it will feature opinions and insights from the general public, from industry observers outside GM, and from the global media, both traditional and social. A series of GMnext-themed activities will be held, beginning in January, and capped by GMnext Days, a week-long global celebration in September of 2008 that will reflect on the company's first century and highlight plans and products that will begin to define its second century. Plans for GMnext Days will be announced in the near future.

Get a job as a civilian contractor. Just your luck the Hummers they test will be classified as national security matter by the army and you'll end up in G't'mo if you try and photograph them.

Peugeot Announce The New Peugeot Partner and Partner Tepee Automobiles Peugeot Launched in 1996, the Peugeot Partner has been extremely successful in both its small van and MPV versions, with regular year on year increases in global sales over the past eleven years. Capitalizing on the success of the first generation Peugeot Partner, Peugeot will launch a new version of the Partner in the second part of 2008. With the launch of the new Partner, the first generation Partner model will, however, continue to be sold in certain countries with a reduced range of models and will be known as the Partner Origin. Full release and preview photos at AutoReport New Citroën Berlingo Automobiles Citroën With the Berlingo, Citroën created the leisure activity vehicle segment and launched a new concept in compact vans. Its innovative qualities appealed to private and professional customers alike, making it a huge commercial success. It has been the clear leader in the leisure activity vehicle segment in Europe (17 countries) since 2003. Worldwide, Citroën has sold more than 1,760,000 Berlingos (cars and LCVs) since launch in 1996. The New Berlingo will go on sale in second-half 2008. It will be sold alongside the current Berlingo model, which will be available in some countries as an entry-level offering called “Berlingo First”. This strategy will enable the Marque to better meet the highly diverse needs of its customers. Full release and preview photos at AutoReport P.S. This is the type of vehicle I think GM should evolve the HHR toward, complementing the more conventional Gamma-based compact crossovers.

You keep posting that but it contains a number of critical errors. True, an engine optimized or E85 or E100 will run more efficiently than one that must adapt to any fuel mixture from E10 up. However that will not improve mileage significantly. Engines get less miles out of a gallon of ethanol, not because they are not optimized for ethanol fuel, but mostly because ethanol simply contains less energy than gasoline. Partly because ethanol is already oxygenated, partly because there are far fewer hydrocarbon links than in liquid fossil fuels (of course this also limits CO2 produced). No amount of increased engine efficiency will change that. Corn-based ethanol does not replace food production, and does not lead to higher grain prices. Why? Because it is based on feed-corn, not corn for human consumption; and because the major by-product of corn distillation is "distillers grains" a high-protein animal feed, replacing most of the lost feed. Further, there are massive surpluses of agricultural capacity in much of the western world. Farmers in the US are paid to not produce grain. What about Africa and its regular famines? Africa has a vast capacity for grain production that is currently unrealized (even desert Egypt was once the bread basket of Europe). Despite the availability of food in Africa to alleviate regional shortages caused by drought, conflict and poverty, surplus western grain has been dumped instead (US policy is changing in this regard, experimentally), eroding the market for African produce, impoverishing farmers and limiting agricultural development. It will be decades before corn-based ethanol production makes much of a dent in grain surpluses, if ever (given the rise of other, potentially cheaper, ethanol and alternative fuel sources). Zero-waste systems can increase the energy and economic efficiency of grain-based ethanol production as well (e.g. incorporating a feedlot or dairy on-site—grain and corn stalks in one end, ethanol and meat/milk out the other—distillation waste feeds the livestock, livestock waste fuels distillation.)

Again you're missing the point. Unless you are talking to another BMW owner, you never say "I have a 330", you say "I have a BMW" or "… BMW 330i". It should be enough to say "BMW", or "Mercedes", or "Cadillac" for people to know you have a sweet ride. Car companies don't value the names you mention because they know they were systematically (and unintentionally) devalued by discount pricing, design, material and construction over many decades. Many have negative value. Even now GM can't sell a Grand Prix for as much as a comparable G6. Eventually people will forget the bad cars and the old name may have a chance of being revived with the advancing years casting a rosy glow (after all even crappy Toyopet Crowns are making a comeback). Already there are some names that could make a successful comeback: Chevelle Nova (both thanks mostly to the SS models) Ventura Tempest Falcon Fairlane Supra Electra Monza Nomad Riviera Tell people you have a Continental and they'll think you have a Bentley (sweet). Tell them it's a Lincoln and most will say "Oh, ahh, ok (Gee, that's too bad)." (Oh, I'm sure you know people who like Lincoln Continentals, but unfortunately outside your circle of friends there aren't many who would touch one for fear the doors will fall off. Silly perhaps but that's how it goes.) In a few years, and with a successful, expensive DT7 to persuade people that Cadillac is a true luxury (rather than merely premium) sedan, the Eldorado may even make a comeback (at '50s rather than '90s prices [adjusted for inflation]). I think that even now they could make a success of personalized Fleetwood-Cadillacs, a la Mulliner Bentleys (but not a Cadillac Fleetwood).

Less than you think. Tell people you have an '89 Cutlass Supreme and 95% would not know it was an Oldsmobile etc.. Most would think "I've never heard of a Cutlass car company." As far as they're concerned you don't have to. All they want people to hear is that "I have an '89 Mercedes/Lexus/Infiniti, and it's a beautiful car." What do they care if anybody remembers the ES300, the I30 or the 300E or not? It's no help at all because with few exceptions even if the name is the same it's not the same car. They want people to remember Mercedes is a great luxury car company, not that the 500 SL was a great car. After all, they're not selling used cars (at least not that old). The models change, the company remains the same.

Technically the US government was more fascist prior to the end of WWII, when among other measures (primarily relating to war efforts), the federal government went so far as to dictate the what locomotive manufacturers would build and what railroads it would be assigned to. Private enterprise becomes an extension of government, with major expenditures and business decisions approved by the government in order to further government policy, particularly with regard to employment and economic growth. This is what many of the anti-corporate, anti-globalization protesters being courted by Edwards are demanding. Congress is now in a mood to dictate what prices companies can charge for products and services if there are complaints about lack of competition. Imagine GM having to co before a Commerce board for approval to set a certain price for the Suburban, or to get approval to build a diesel C1500.

Ah, so you want a CAFE that is measured in passenger-miles per gallon?

Umm, that's why you use alphanumerics—so people use the brand name rather than the model name they can't remember.

Capitalism is not the same as a free market economy, in fact the two are quite different. Although there are a few capitalists out there (especially in growth economies), by and large we are in a post-capitalist global economy. We have not done away with Capital, but it is no longer primarily controlled by "capitalists", but rather various investment vehicles which consolidate the savings of millions of regular people from all levels of society. We are more of a mix between a "retail economy" (production and investment controlled by retailers—economic "gatekeepers" who control what will be sold) and a true market economy (production and investment controlled purely by consumer demand—the market).

No, these are Really Odd: http://www.mitsuoka-motor.com/ The vans Blow converts aren't made by Honda, but by Yachiyo Kogyo K.K., a long-term supplier which became a Honda subsidiary last year.

They got the name wrong, the company is not Blow Dream Factory, but Dream Factory Blow

Oh I see, you mean this article: Little Japanese Vans, Big American Style

No see, it has the same A-pillar/front quarter-window design and two wheels on each side.

Butthead

Where has it been reported that Carl-Peter Forster wants to kill Pontiac and Buick? The man is a manufacturing guy like Cowger with a long history at BMW. What cars get built in NA is the joint decision of a group of people in the NA Strategy board, not just Lutz, his eventual replacement as "car guru", or the head of GMNA (which is a more likely a post for Forster).

What consumers? The majority of Impala sales are to commercial fleets. GM could call it the Big Sedan and sell almost as many. The retail market is very quickly moving away from such large sedans.By the time the next Impala comes around it could have 70% of the market for large (5 m+) sedans under $30K, and most of the rest would be Crown Vics. Chevy has no business selling a large luxury sedan, so GM really needs to target the Impala at its strengths—fleet sales. As I see it the two major markets are law enforcement and taxi service. For both you want a high-roof sedan with a large easy-access trunk, with room for a solid partition, low maintenance costs, and good mileage, especially in stop-and-go city driving. Some cities (NY to start with) will require hybrid propulsion, so a version of the two-mode system (whether f- or rwd) is mandatory. Since running costs are far more important to fleet buyers than initial purchase price, the 2.9 L diesel should be offered, even if it requires a $5K premium. The dash will need to accommodate custom electronics systems (emergency services radios, taximeters etc.). An off-road package for police pursuit vehicles (why the Tahoe is so popular).

Or you could have just read the earlier NAIAS release and found "The 2009 Forester offers naturally aspirated and turbocharged/intercooled 2.5-liter Boxer engines, both revised to provide better low-end and mid-range torque for more responsive everyday performance."