thegriffon

No, that's in the 4-cylinder Malibu, the Epica an the 4-cylinder LaCrosse (China).

Isn't LA the first time you get to see the Vibe in the flesh?

Why use fresh water? You don't need to use water at all. Most hydrogen is produced as a byproduct of other industrial processes, but you can also extract it from landfill gas, natural gas etc.

http://www.winkelhock.de/ http://www.joachim-winkelhock.de/

Ask for the sedan:

Will North American Chevrolets share the same designs as models sold in other regions, or will GM continue to offer multiple products in the same segment? (e.g. Cobalt/Optra, Epica/Malibu, Captiva/Equinox) Given the success of Kia's compact Rondo MPV (outselling the Sedona), would GM consider offering the next Chevrolet MPV in NA as well as export markets? Do the packaging/fuel economy advantages for families of small MPVs improve their prospects as fuel prices and CAFE demands increase? Given that the most popular compacts in North America offer smaller engines with less power but better fuel economy than Cobalt, and given escalating CAFE proposals, will GM finally consider offering its new generation Family 1 engines in NA-built compacts? Will the CTS get a mid-range V8 model to better align it with the 5-series and other vehicles in it's size class? Given healthy sales of the Uplander to commercial fleets, would GM consider offering a European-style midvan like the Fiat/PSA LCVs in North America when the time comes to replace it, perhaps as an expansion of the LCV partnership with Renault-Nissan? Given increased CAFE proposals again, what are the prospects for a smaller, more economical C/D-segment sedan like the Chinese Excelle or the late Grand Am for the BPG channel? With record fuel prices (especially with a falling dollar) and escalating CAFE demands reducing the appeal of larger rwd sedans such as the G8 (especially in Australia where fuel prices are higher than the US [wait, you're paying nearly $4 a gallon in some places? We're only at $US5 and half of that is tax]), does GM see demand for smaller 4-cylinder rwd sedans in the C/D-segment as people trade down, or will rwd be available only to luxury buyers? With Chrysler killing off the Magnum, does GM see increased demand for Holden's upcoming Sportwagon as a G8 variant? Does GM see any opportunity in establishing a minicar-class in the US and/or Canada—favored-treatment from state and federal agencies for vehicles of restricted size and engine capacity such as the three Chevrolet concepts shown by GM? Despite buyers flocking to smaller crossovers such as the CRV, true midsize crossovers such as the Highlander and Pilot are still selling twice as well as the Acadia and Enclave. Will GM offer a true 7-seat midsize crossover (a longer, wider Captiva?) to directly compete with the Japanese models, or will we see another Equinox—too big to compete in the compact segment, too cheap to compete in the midsize segment?

Bob

The Vibe and Corolla are the same as the models before them, the Altima just looks like it is. The previous Corolla was the E12, the Vibe and Matrix introduced a wide-track version dubbed E13. The new Corollas are E14s, retaining most of the E12 design, with updated styling and engines. The 5-seat MPV (xB aka Corolla Rumion succeeding the Corolla Spacio) and the hatchbacks (The Auris succeeding the Runx/Allex and the new Toyopet Blade version) switch from the standard to the wide-track E15, and the longer 6-window semi-wagon Matrix and Vibe get updated styling on a wide-track body virtually unchanged from the E13 (dimensions are almost identical with an increase in cargo room at the expense of passenger space).E12 A—E14 A (JDM Corolla Axio [sedan], Fielder [wagon] and former Runx [hatch]) E12 B—E15 B (Allex to Auris hatch [succeeding Corolla Runx in export markets]) new—E15 C (Blade [premium 2.4 L hatch for Toyopet and Toyota channels]) E12 F—E15 F 5-seat MPV (Corolla Spacio to Corolla Rumion/xB) E12 G—E14 G (cosmetically longer Asian/NA sedan [replaces both E12 A and E12 G outside Japan]) E13 A—E15 D? (Corolla Matrix) E13 B—E15 E? (Vibe) E13 C? (lwb Corolla Verso 7-seat MPV) The switch to separate standard and wide-body model codes has caused no end of confusion, with many people assuming the E12 G is an E13, or that the E14 is the E13 etc.

All the staff are buying them "It's mine, you can't have it."

If the CD had risen more slowly, then maybe prices would be closer to the US, but with such a dramatic change you won't see much difference. The impact on people who bought vehicles a few months ago would be too great. How would you like to lose half your car's value in 6 months instead of three years? You'll have everyone walking into a dealership looking to upgrade, but finding out they're so far upside down on their loan payments they have to borrow $25K to buy a $20K vehicle. What will that do to your sales?

belly-dancer

First video up (Vibe), more coming (Vibe awd; Vibe GT; monologue by Craig Bierley, Pontiac Director of Marketing) http://www.youtube.com/user/autoreport1

Uploading running footage now.

GM's 2008 Product Information Guide lists curb weights as 2780 for the LS sedan and 2730 for the LS coupe, unchanged from 2006. LT's are also unchanged, and the new Sport is the same as the old SS. Why the Dealer Order Guide lists much higher weights I don't know. The original 2005 MY product information does list weights much higher (not quite as high as the order guide), but there have were substantial revisions to the lineup and equipment for 2006.

2013-14 is too far out. If there were any plans they could be changed well before then. At the moment though, despite declining sales, Pontiac-GMC's retail sales probably rival Ford's. GM's main concern seems to be how to improve fuel economy and focus Pontiac on performance models at the same time. It will require substantial downsizing, but as the Grand Am was more popular then the larger G6, that may work in their favor.

The Rabbits might come from Mexico like the Jetta, not Belgium. The next-gen Astra comes from Poland, which will be cheaper.

Of course this is a company that for years quoted Japanese standard metric horsepower as SAE standard hp.

Miscommunication? Toyota neglects to say whether the quoted figures are for the 5-speed manual (which would be worse) or the 4-speed auto (which would be better—26/35 for the old 126 hp engine).

Sshh!! It's a secret.

The great thing is that there is little or no added weight or complexity except in the programming. The new transmissions add ratios without adding gears by using a different strategy for routing power through the transmission (that's an oversimplification I know, but unless we have a planetary transmission engineer here it will have to do). Dwightlooi inadvertantly highlights why 6-speed automatics can achieve better fuel economy than a manual or CVT—unlike a normal manual transmission there is almost no interruption to the power transfer during a shift. The transmission can "preselect" a new ratio, and shift much faster than even the best human, so little power or fuel is wasted. As in the city stage of fuel economy tests where most shifting occurs, a 6-speed auto can often beat a manual, and come close enough in highway driving for an overall better performance (the precise ratios of each transmission are also a factor).

Ask the sheeple.

That's because it was GM's idea to create this Corolla derivative. The shorter (no sixth-window), more conventional Auris and even the more outrageously-styled Blade are more coherent.

Toyota to Display Sustainability Concepts at Tokyo Show Tokyo — TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) announced today that it plans to exhibit eight concept and 13 other vehicles at the 40th Tokyo Motor Show under the theme: “Harmonious Drive—a New Tomorrow for People and the Planet”. In keeping with its tradition of highlighting new, automotive possibilities at the Tokyo Motor Show in the form of a wide variety of concept vehicles and groundbreaking technologies, TMC's exhibit, this time as well, is meant to provide new proposals for the automobile. Planned highlights include a vehicle that completely redefines what it means to be environmentally considerate and one that rewrites the rules of auto design with a proposal for ultra-efficient vehicle packaging. Through the exhibit, TMC aims to showcase its pursuit of the essential emotional appeal of cars—being fun to drive and a pleasure to use — and to indicate its approach toward making sustainable mobility a reality so that people can coexist in harmony with the environment. Toyota concept vehicles at the 40th Tokyo Motor Show: 1. 1/X — a redefinition of “environmentally considerate” /li> 2. RiN — a new focus on promoting well-being 3. i-REAL — a new personal mobility vehicle 4. iQ CONCEPT — ultra-efficient packaging like no other 5. Hi-CT (“hi ride city truck”) — an edgy, urban vehicle 6. FT-MV (“future Toyota minivan”) — a first-class, new-generation minivan 7. CROWN HYBRID CONCEPT — a hybrid luxury sedan 8. FT-HS (“future Toyota hybrid sports”) — a next-generation hybrid sports car Go to full release at AutoReport You have most of these already, but it seems you missed the most important one (and not because of the NG hybrid powertrain). :AH-HA_wink:

I'm waiting for the magazine cover that says "2009 Corolla—worst compact you can buy".

Oh it is. They may be behind GM in Dual-VVT 4-cylinders, but you have to remember they have more models around the world to pay for (getting close to 30 MPVs of different sizes), and lots of engines and product you don't see here. Toyota spent all their money on CVTs for subcompacts and compacts, so they don't have a 5-/6-speed for this class of car, and apparently TMS doesn't have Nissan's faith in the American buyer's willingness to adapt to a transmission that doesn't shift when you expect it to.