siegen

My point isn't that the Ecoboost engine doesn't achieve a great power/FE ratio, because it does, it's that this isn't an "Eco-friendly" engine as the name would apply. I personally like the TwinForce name, as it describes exactly what this engine is. The "Ecoboost" name is a marketing gimmick and if Toyota did that the criticism would be relentless from everyone here, myself included. If Ford were to put it into a vehicle that normally gets 18mpg~ and has a V8, like the Explorer, and managed 20mpg+ without changing the driving dynamics, then that would be a great application of the new engine as an eco-friendly engine. And I'm not saying they won't do that cause they probably will. We all know turbocharged FE is heavily dependent on driving conditions and driver habits, moreso than a naturally aspirated engine. I bet real world mileage will level the field more. Plus, doesn't the Flex compete with a smaller GM vehicle than the Tahoe? I know seating-wise they are comparable, but what are the curb weight differences?

Wow. This car does not look like a luxury car at all. And it's pretty ugly to boot. The marketing department is going to have its work cut out for it. Definitely looks like a Ford grille to me.

Here is Ford trying to pass off a turbocharged V6 as an environmentally-friendly engine.

A RWD platform and S2000 replacement were never announced or alluded to in any way by Honda. They started out as rumors propagated by automotive magazines and "insiders", and are nothing more. In fact, the only piece of real evidence that has ever surfaced to support the RWD platform are spyshots of a TSX mule that appeared to have been chopped up to have RWD proportions. No shots of the mechanicals or anything to indicate RWD, just nicer proportions than current Acura sedans (in most people's opinions). Now there is speculation running around about a letter from the VP of Acura that refutes the article and confirms 'tier 1' plans are still on track. That is also speculation/rumor though. Tiburon replacement = Genesis Coupe. It shares the Genesis name only, and really has nothing in common with the Gensis sedan. Same marketing BS Toyota pulls with the Camry and "Camry Solara".

Toyota and Honda had FAR fewer incentives during December than GM and Ford. That could account for the sales numbers. Edmunds

The Genesis coupe is like the Camry Solara. Their similarities with the sedans lie in the model name only, and it is purely done for marketing reasons, so the sales can be combined.

There's no need now that gas is cheap. The only hybrids that could sell in this market are super-cheap hybrids. Gas will go back up but most people can barely see past one foot over the other, let alone a year from now. The new Insight has the potential to take the sales lead over the Prius, unless the new Prius does something. Lol, I do remember that news item. Shouldn't be hard now.

This topic has garnered a lot of reactions at Honda sites as you guys can imagine. But what it comes down to is this, these "cancellations" that are reported by Autoblog are cancellations of vehicles that were never announced or talked about officially by Honda. They were speculation to begin with, and now their cancellation is speculation upon speculation. And all I have to say to that is roflcakes. Assuming they did exist and Honda is now ditching or delaying a V8, RWD platform, and convertible CR-Z, that is fine by me. Honda has always been about making fun to drive economical cars. These tough times are forcing Honda to ditch some of their more fringe projects and get back to their core business. Since when have supercars, convertibles and V8/10's been a part of what makes a Honda a Honda? If there is one vehicle that defines Honda, in my opinion it is the Civic. Not having an S2000 replacement is a bit of a downer, but there has only ever been complete speculation on that part. Honda has never spoken a word about an S2000 replacement, nor has any mule or credible information ever surfaced. Rumors tend to start at one autorag and start picking up speed as each autorag reports on the others. Somehow the more autorags that report on it the more credible it is. Then an artist releases a sketch and its like adding a 60mph wind to a forest fire. Suddenly Honda is building it and everyone starts speculating on the release date and before you know it you have full specifications on the vehicle and a release date, and the vehicle may not even exist at all! lol

Apparently the current CEO of Hyundai used to be a submarine captain.

According to this article it is a 2.0L, which makes a lot more sense. Not exactly a sporting engine, but sufficient. Edit: With premium fuel, it is rated to 223hp.

Yep, all the people east of the mountains are red necks. Or so I hear.... Only been over there once. Got chased out by a mob wielding torches and pitch forks. Apparently they don't take kindly to intellectuals. Lol.

Yes! Woohoo! Yeah guys! Awesome! We did it!! Yes we can!! YEAH! Come on guys! Woooohoo!! Alright!! Freaken awesome!! TOYota 4 LYF! Toyota FTW!! This is just SUPER neat guys! Ah! So awesome. I'm lovin' it! Everything is gonna to be A-O.K. now that Toyota is at the top! YES! No more polluting the environment!! Everyone is going to get like 50mpg!! Swweeet! You guys can now go buy full-size Tundras and don't have to feel guilty! It's just so great! I can finally buy that truck I've always wanted and not have to worry about destroying our planet!! I'm just so.... happy. Omgosh!!

I thought the end was pretty funny. And very.... very stupid. Does the camera guy say 'Bro' enough? Dude bro OMG bro sheeeeit bro! I wonder if he shops at A&F. heh heh.

The more and more I think about it, the more I really don't mind that the V10 SH-AWD NSX was canceled. What I really want, and what most NSX fans want, is the HSC still. Mid-engined, RWD, lightweight, true successor to the NSX. The only component missing is a new high-performance V6, which I'm sure is being cooked up considering how old the current j-series V6 is (and even older c-series in the first NSX). Hell, if I had the money I'd pay Honda to build me one of these as is (in black of course):

Suzuki says that Japan's auto industry consists of over 10 companies. I'm sure several of them are very small and we have likely never heard of them. I'm just going off what he said, cause I don't really know. I don't see anything that says the Japanese automakers are in discussion or thinking about banding together. At least based on this article, it is only the CEO of Suzuki saying he thinks the companies may consolidate into a 'Big Three'. What does that mean? Well it doesn't mean anything, at least until multiple representatives from the various automakers are quoted as saying specifically that they will be cooperating with each other. If there will be any consolidation, you can bet it will be in the form of the larger companies buying out the smaller brands whose stock prices have plummeted and are vulnerable.

I guess they would seem untouchable for the people who thought our automakers were super-efficient business models by comparison.

I hate driving in Seattle in good weather conditions. The hills, cramped parking, and poorly constructed/designed roadways would make it a nightmare to drive in with low traction. As far as Seattle's DOT goes, the methods they employ probably work fine under normal circumstances. It doesn't snow a whole lot here, it mostly just rains. The snow storm caught everyone off guard I think. Usually we get a few inches of snow spread out over January, February, and March. Ice usually doesn't form. But in the last 2 weeks we've had something like a foot of snow, and temperatures from 10-20°F. Very unusual. It seems as those Seattle's DOT was caught with their pants down and simply don't know what to do. They could use salt, but I doubt they are equipped or prepared to do so on such short notice, and there would be the political backlash. Thankfully I don't live in Seattle. From the comments, they seem to think that is video footage from a city in Oregon.

All 10 of the Japanese automakers are going to join under one banner, and with their new found power they will crush the American auto industry! At least that's the scenario that's running through your head, am I right? The CEO of Suzuki believes that some of the smaller automakers will get purchased by the larger ones, as sales fall further next year. This is concerning only the Japanese domestic market. Their market is far more competitive than here, as there are 10 different companies vying for a much smaller market share, and most of the market share is in one segment of vehicles, minicars. They are not working together any more than GM was when it purchased the various brands it owns.

There has to be a better way to get fat people off of soda and to drink something more healthy. Incentives are better than penalties for creating change. So perhaps the government should work with Pepsi and other big soft drink companies to develop a more healthy beverage that people will want to drink. All it needs is a celebrity-endorsed marketing campaign, kind of like Milk has. Although no drink can even come close to the amount of marketing the major soda beverages get, which is why the government needs to get those companies on board with something more healthy.

Toyota values their employees so much that the employees would rather die while working in the plant than peacefully at home. Such loyalty! Toyota is about to post its first fiscal-year loss ever.

30mpg highway is excellent for a vehicle like the Equinox. Although with a 2.4L it's going to be on the slow side (it weighs a few hundred lbs more than the CR-V). The 3.0L seems like a great engine too, and should be the standard engine IMHO.

It really sucks. But it does make business sense. A super expensive luxo-GT car isn't exactly Honda's core business, and if they did bring it out they likely wouldn't make their money back from R&D, at least for several years. What's more upsetting to me is that they delayed the CR-Z another year.

I think some of you are making quite a stretch to think these ads have anything to do with the current turmoil of the America auto companies. It sounds, from the descriptions given, like completely ordinary advertisements to me. Is there by chance a YouTube of these or similar so I can see for myself these vile overtones? :AH-HA_wink: If that is a direct quote, and there are no images of Fits driving over Tahoes and Escalades in monster truck fashion in the video, then I will say that is a huge stretch to think that they're implying that from the ad. That could have been their intent, we don't know, but it is not apparent from that. Perhaps they're targeting Toyota with the ad. "You just keep buying those pig-nosed vehicles, and we'll build cars for the cool people".

Unions allow inefficient workers to perform sub par work and get paid exuberantly high for it. Unions are punishment for companies that have poorly managed and treated their employees in the past. Damn right wages would fall. Employees would be paid based on their work and not based on seniority and politics. It wouldn't be "ever-descending", that's just FUD and politics. Wages would normalize. Imagine how much more efficient GM would run if its employees knew the work they did was directly related to their position at the company. Hard working employee's wages wouldn't fall, conversely those employees would have more opportunities for advancement than they do now. Slow and inefficient worker's wages would fall though. That being said, I don't think it's ok to let the American auto industry fall apart. If the government could support the companies through this, and somehow eliminate the union, that would be ideal I think. Of course that won't happen.

Just out of curiosity, what are the state subsidies that GM, Ford, and Chrysler have received for plants in the past?