Variance

It's nice to feel appreciated.

-Blue C5 Z06 -Mercedes R350 (it's smaller and lower than I thought it'd be in real life)

GM Wins Big as China Passenger-Vehicle Sales Jump 19 Percent in 2005 Date posted: 03-16-2006 SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — General Motors is the top manufacturer in China and the Hyundai Elantra is the top 2005 model, according to a new report by the statistical research firm R.L. Polk. Polk, which measures new-vehicle registrations, found that passenger-vehicle sales in China reached almost 3.8 million vehicles last year, up 19 percent from 2004. General Motors leads the automakers with a 14.2-percent share of the Chinese auto market, followed by Volkswagen at 13.3 percent. Polk said Nissan's passenger cars grew a whopping 58 percent to move into 8th place in the China market with a 4.1-percent market share. Hatchbacks accounted for the strongest growth of all segments in the Chinese market, increasing by 36 percent in 2005, with segment leader Chery QQ accounting for 84,700 new vehicle registrations, an increase of 110 percent from 2004. What this means to you: Widely respected Polk is providing some of the more accurate stats on the China market — more trustworthy than the typical ones generated by the Chinese government. Link: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=109651

So, Scion's going to be unveiling a new concept called the Fuse in NY: Edmunds: Scion Fuse To Break Cover in New York

Opel Astra Heads Towards One Million Mark Text & photos courtesy Adam Opel GmbH 03-16-2006 -Sales up 25 percent in 2005 -Number one compact car in eight European countries in 2005 -Most popular compact station wagon in Europe -Market launch of Astra TwinTop cabrio Two years after its market launch, the Opel Astra continues to enjoy great popularity throughout Europe. New registrations of the best-selling Astra, winner of numerous comparison tests in the highly-competitive compact class, rose from around 400,000 to 515,000 in 2005. This plus of approximately 110,000 units compared to 2004 represents an increase of 25 percent, and brings the current Astra generation close to the one million sales mark. Every tenth newly-registered compact car in Europe is an Opel, and the Astra was the number one compact in the registration figures of eight European countries in 2005. In February 2006, it was the second best-selling compact car in Germany and Europe. In addition to the five-door sedan and dynamic GTC, the station wagon is particularly attractive to new car buyers. This spacious, versatile, and elegant model confidently asserts its position as the most popular compact station wagon in Germany and Europe. From May, the Astra model family is extended with the addition of a fourth member, the Astra TwinTop. The “coupé among cabrios” features four fully-fledged seats, ample luggage compartment space and luxurious equipment, with prices starting at 23,650 euro. Stylish design language In order to better pinpoint factors contributing to the Astra’s success, Opel market researchers identified the main reasons for buying an Astra, and the result was no surprise: the design. The Astra’s exciting, progressive look sets it apart from its competitors, and makes a bold statement in the compact segment. The strongest interpretation of these dynamic proportions is displayed by the GTC and the GTC-based, high-performance sporty OPC model. The design clearly shows what a key role the popular car plays for Opel. “The third-generation Astra face has helped to give the brand a new look, and will have an effect on the style of all subsequent models and model ranges. The elegant, athletic Astra TwinTop, the coupé among cabrios, is also instantly recognizable as an Astra family member. And the new Opel GT, a purebred sports car, also features Astra traits in its design,” says Alain Visser, Executive Director European Marketing Opel/Vauxhall. High-tech forerunner Other distinctive characteristics of the Astra include a range of modern engines with seven gasoline and four diesel engines producing 90 to 240 hp, and high driving dynamics in keeping with the car’s sporty image. The basis for this is the IDS (Interactive Driving System) chassis with McPherson front axle and patented torsion-beam rear axle. A new dimension of balance between driving comfort and active safety is provided by the optional adaptive IDSPlus chassis with electronic Continuous Damping Control (CDC). This integrated chassis control system, in which the control units and sensors of ESPPlus, ABS and CDC exchange data constantly, ensures optimal split-second fine-tuning of the chassis in every driving situation. This type of chassis control is usually found only in luxury models and exclusive sports cars. Adaptive Forward Lighting (AFL) with dynamic curve light was also first introduced into the compact segment in the Astra. Safety, comfort, versatility, ergonomics, reliability, quality and efficiency are further features that the Astra showcases. It is no surprise the ADAC readers’ choice “Car of the Year 2005” is number one in numerous comparison tests conducted by international automotive journals. Link: http://www.worldcarfans.com/news.cfm/count...ne-million-mark

We can't stop them if they want to do business here. But hey, look at it this way: If they really are crap products, they'll fail and be out of business in relatively no time. Remember Yugo? Exactly.

Sean Connery rules.

Harmer hopes to start U.S. sales of Geely in 2008 Goal is for sticker price of $7,500 Charles Child Automotive News / March 15, 2006 - 10:28 am DETROIT -- Chinese automaker Geely wants to start selling cars in the United States by fall 2008, Geely USA Inc. COO John Harmer said Wednesday. Harmer said his goal is for the car to have a sticker price of $7,500. In an earlier interview, Harmer said his sales goal for the first year is about 5,000 vehicles. "It will be a basic, functional auto," Harmer said at a meeting of the Society of Automotive Analysts here. But he noted that the vehicle would be equipped with power windows, air conditioning and a single-disc CD player. Harmer said Geely is working to have its vehicles meet U.S. safety and emissions standards. He also said Geely USA plans to sell vehicles through existing dealers. That strategy is different from entrepreneur Malcolm Bricklin's plan. Bricklin, who is working to import vehicles from Chinese automaker Chery Automobile Co., is asking dealers who sign up with him to build large stores at the edge of large urban areas. Link: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti...9/1117&refsect=

Man Charged With Hacking Into GM Database By TOM KRISHER, Associated Press Writer Tue Mar 14, 9:25 PM ET A former security guard at General Motors Corp.'s Warren technical center is accused of taking employee Social Security numbers and using them to hack into the company's employee vehicle database. James S. Green II, 35, of Washington Township, found out what company cars the employees drove and sent them bogus e-mails asking them their thoughts on the vehicles, Macomb County sheriff's Capt. Anthony Wickersham said Tuesday. Green was arraigned Monday on eight counts of obtaining, possessing or transferring personal identity information, one count of using a computer to commit a crime and one count of stalking that was unrelated to the GM cases. He was released after posting 10 percent of a $50,000 bond. Wickersham said Green obtained the Social Security numbers of about 100 GM employees from the Detroit area and sent them e-mails posing as a representative of GM's company vehicle evaluation program. "It's frightening to know that this individual had all this personal information on a lot of people," Wickersham said. There was no telephone listing for Green. Employees became suspicious because the e-mails came from a Yahoo address. They notified a GM security firm, which in turn told Macomb County deputies, GM spokeswoman Geri Lama said. The security firm identified Green as a suspect, but deputies couldn't find him at his home, Wickersham said. They determined that the e-mails were sent from a library in Washington Township and found Green there, at a computer with the employee information, Wickersham said. Green apparently got the Social Security numbers while working for a private security firm at the tech center, although officials weren't sure exactly how. All affected workers have been notified. Although there's no evidence Green did anything else with the information, Wickersham said employees should check their credit reports and notify credit card companies to monitor for fraud. He said officials don't know why Green sent the e-mails. Link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060315/ap_on_...wN5bnN1YmNhdA--

2007 Yukon is a leap forward in styling and content By Paul & Anita Lienert The redesigned 2007 GMC Yukon got plenty of advance publicity months before it went on sale in February, as much for General Motors' questionable timing as for the full-size utility vehicle's extensive makeover. Critics have questioned why GM focused so much of its development budget on big trucks and SUVs at a time of stratospheric fuel prices and increasing foreign competition in passenger cars. But the Yukon and its siblings, the Chevrolet Tahoe and Cadillac Escalade, were pretty long in the tooth and desperately in need of a major overhaul. In any context, the '07 Yukon is a huge step forward in terms of style and content. Too bad GM couldn't do a better job of improving the big SUV's gas mileage. We drove a well-equipped Yukon SLT 4WD with $6,645 in options and a bottom line of $45,885. SHE: I know that many people who buy SUVs like the Yukon never take them offroad. But I couldn't resist a Sunday drive in rural Webster Township outside Ann Arbor, along a "natural beauty road" that was a springtime mess. It was a good little test because two of the Yukon's wheels were on an icy strip that hadn't melted and the other two were in a rutted, muddy track. I have to say it performed beautifully. The wide track and low center of gravity make the Yukon feel stable, and I love the way the '07 model looks. It exudes confidence in an American kind of way. HE: No question about the Yukon's Detroit roots. I don't think any Japanese manufacturer -- or European, Korean or Chinese, for that matter -- would have come up with a design that looks quite like this. I agree with you on the Yukon's good looks. The outside is clean and fresh, and a dramatic improvement over the old one. But I'm even more impressed with the cabin, which is really beautiful. If you had just stepped out of an '06 Yukon and into the '07 model, you'd be hard-pressed to tell they came from the same manufacturer. The design is contemporary and eye-appealing, in keeping with the premium image that GMC wants to project, and the materials are high quality. I'm still puzzled, however, by the little ways that GM cut corners here and there, especially on a $46,000 truck. SHE: I know what you mean. Why does the driver's seat come with a power fore-aft adjustment, but you have to adjust the seatback rake manually? And why can you only get the new six-speed automatic on the more expensive Denali edition, but not on the standard Yukon? And why does GMC offer a power folding second-row seat, but no such option for the third row where you really need it? HE: Questions, questions, questions. What I'd like to know is why General Motors spent all that money to completely overhaul its full-size sport-utility vehicles, adding a very expensive cylinder-cutoff system to the 5.3-liter V-8 engine to save fuel -- but the gas mileage is still lousy. Last year's Yukon 4WD was rated by the EPA at 15 mpg in city driving and 20 on the highway; this year's model has an EPA rating of 15/21. Over a week's worth of driving, the fuel-economy gauge in our test vehicle said we averaged only 14.3 mpg -- pretty dreadful by any measure, especially considering that we were running on only four cylinders for much of the time. On the plus side, with 320 horsepower at your disposal, the V-8 is plenty powerful for towing and everyday driving. SHE: I really want to talk about the steering wheel. I think it symbolizes the changes at the General. The steering wheel on the Yukon is gorgeous and sets the tone for the whole interior. Our SLT model had a wheel that was done up in cocoa leather, matte metal and attractively grained plastic. It's one of your first impressions when you slide into the driver's seat. And it's really positive. Another positive is the huge center console that's so big, it looks like it could hold hanging files. HE: The new Yukon has plenty to recommend it. In most respects, it is vastly superior to its predecessor, and much more civilized and attractive than such full-size Japanese competitors as the Toyota Sequoia and the Nissan Armada. You got tons of headroom, comfy seats, loads of amenities and lots of cargo space. If you can live with the lousy fuel economy and the fact that this is still a big truck that's not easy to park, the Yukon should be high on your shopping list. 2007 GMC Yukon SLT Type: Front-engine, four-wheel drive, five-passenger utility vehicle. Price: Base, $39,240 (inc. $875 destination charge); as tested, $45,885. Engine: 5.3-liter V-8; 320-hp; 340 lb-ft torque. EPA fuel economy: 15 mpg city/21 mpg highway. Where built: Janesville, Wis. Estimated 12-month insurance cost, according to AAA Michigan: $1,490. Anita: Likes: Good assembly quality inside and out, with few gaps. Better differentiation between GMC and Chevy, from hood to wheels. Better visibility than predecessor. Nav system is easy to use. Displacement on demand with digital readout. Dislikes: Side curtain air bags cost extra. Wind noise at highway speeds. Power fore-aft adjustment on driver's seat, but manual seatback rake. No optional power folding third-row seat. Paul: Likes: Cleaner, fresher exterior styling. Beautiful cabin, with high-quality materials. Strong engine. Lots of headroom. Plenty of cargo space. Dislikes: Lousy fuel economy, even with cylinder-cutoff system. No five- or six-speed automatic. Power steering feels vague, disconnected from road. Bulky and difficult to park in tight spaces. Link: http://info.detnews.com/autosconsumer/auto...ex.cfm?id=22397

No...that ad came out way before this past Super Bowl. It was first shown in late summer or early fall of 2005.

HUMMER, GM Foundation Mark American Red Cross Month With Thanks, Vehicle Donations DETROIT – In recognition of March as American Red Cross Month and the partnership with the American Red Cross, HUMMER and the GM Foundation announce the delivery of 10 more HUMMERs to Red Cross chapters across the U.S. Red Cross chapters in Atlanta ; Detroit ; Los Angeles ; New York ; Norfolk , Va. ; Philadelphia ; San Diego ; San Francisco ; and Washington , D.C. will receive a combination of H1, H2 and H3 vehicles to strengthen their emergency preparation and disaster response capability. These vehicles are part of a committed 72 vehicle fleet that will include a combination of H1, H2 and H3 models. The first trucks were delivered last December to Red Cross chapters in areas hardest hit by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. In addition to the vehicles, the GM Foundation is making cash contributions of $100,000 annually for six years. “It is with admiration that we thank the millions of Americans who selflessly give their time, effort and money to support the work of the American Red Cross in communities nationwide,” said Rod Gillum, GM vice president Corporate Responsibility and Diversity and Chairman, GM Foundation. “We believe that these capable HUMMER vehicles will give Red Cross employees and community volunteers better mobility when and where they need it.” “Since Clara Barton established the Red Cross in America more than 125 years ago, the Red Cross has led the effort to help communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to disasters and other emergencies ,” said Kathleen Loehr, interim senior vice president of Development , American Red Cross. “The Red Cross would like to thank HUMMER and the GM Foundation for their generous support of this mission. These donations will assist our neighbors in communities all across the country in times when they need it most.” To help make communication and navigation easier for Red Cross volunteers, each donated H2 and H3 will be equipped with complimentary OnStar services, including hands-free calling minutes and OnStar’s “Directions and Connections” plan. It provides drivers with driving directions, and help finding hotels, gas, and other destinations. It also includes air bag deployment notification to OnStar advisors, remote vehicle diagnostics, remote door unlock and other emergency help. The donated vehicles will also include GM’s Major Guard Protection extended service coverage. The American Red Cross is where people mobilize to help their neighbors—across the street, across the country and across the world—in emergencies. Each year, in communities large and small, victims of some 70,000 disasters turn to neighbors familiar and new—the nearly 1 million volunteers and 35,000 employees of the Red Cross. Through more than 800 locally supported chapters, more than 15 million people gain the skills they need to prepare for and respond to emergencies in their homes, communities and world. Some 4 million people give blood—the gift of life—through the Red Cross, making it the largest supplier of blood and blood products in the United States . The Red Cross helps thousands of U.S. service members separated from their families by military duty stay connected. As part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, a global network of 183 national societies, the Red Cross helps restore hope and dignity to the world's most vulnerable people. An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work. HUMMER is a division of General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world’s largest vehicle manufacturer, which employs about 325,000 people globally. The HUMMER product line-up consists of three models, the H1, based on the military HUMVEE, the H2 and the H3. The H2 SUV went on sale in July 2002 and the H2 SUT was first available in the summer of 2004. The all-new midsize H3 began arriving in dealer showrooms in May 2005. The GM Foundation was established in 1976 to support the philanthropic interests and business priorities of General Motors Corporation. GM Foundation programs and initiatives are focused on bringing better mobility to people and communities worldwide. Link: http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet...n=2&docid=24218

Tahoe puts rush on GM's SUVs March 15, 2006 BY MICHAEL ELLIS FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER Some declared the SUV market dead when gas prices topped $3 a gallon last year, and said General Motors Corp. was foolish to invest billions in a lineup of new large SUVs. But sales of the new Chevrolet Tahoe are so strong that GM is now trying to speed up the launch of several other SUVs and ship them to dealerships two to four weeks ahead of schedule, Mary Sipes, GM's vehicle line director for large trucks, said Tuesday. The Tahoe -- with better fuel economy and added features -- has been on sale only since early January, but sales are up 49.8% from January and February last year. And the surprising surge comes without a cent of incentives on the new model, which is selling for more than the vehicle it replaced. GM is offering incentives of as much as $7,500 on the older Tahoe. The strong early sales of the Tahoe and GM's confidence in its upcoming SUVs show that there is life left in the SUV market, even with sales of most other SUVs down in 2006. If Tahoe's success is any indication, the key seems to be bringing in new models. Ford Motor Co. and the Chrysler Group also plan new SUVs this year. GM's highly profitable SUVs also give hope to the struggling automaker. Dealers can't get enough of the new Tahoe, Sipes said. "I've had people find that I have the only white one in the area, and they drive quite a few miles to get it," said Steve Cook, owner of Cook Chevrolet-Pontiac-Buick in Vassar, a town 20 miles east of Saginaw. "Everybody really likes the look." Even Donald Trump has taken notice. In Monday's "The Apprentice" on NBC, the Tahoe took a starring role as aspiring Trump assistants were challenged to create a training event for Chevrolet dealers and marketing executives. GM has moved ahead production of its large SUVs twice before. But because of the Tahoe's success, GM is asking its automotive suppliers to ship parts ahead of schedule, so it can begin building new versions of SUVs like the Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon XL faster, Sipes said. GM begins production next week of the new Chevrolet Suburban at a plant in Silao, Mexico, and is hoping to move up production of more large SUVs at plants in Janesville, Wis., and Arlington, Texas. GM builds the Tahoe, GMC Yukon and GMC Yukon XL in Arlington and the Tahoe and the Yukon in Janesville. Both plants are capable of building the Suburban, Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV if demand grows. All the models in the sprawling family offer both better fuel economy and more powerful engines. New features include power tailgates, power flip-and-fold middle-row seats, power retractable running boards and a more powerful version of GM's famous small-block V8 engine. The new SUVs are crucial to GM's attempts to rebound from last year's $8.6 billion in losses. GM has nearly bet the company on the success or failure of the new large SUVs, and they could add billions of dollars in profits if they do well this year, said David Healy, an automotive analyst with Burnham Securities. "I do think that GM's results are going to get a hell of a lot better as the new SUVs sell better, with better pricing, and a lot of their cost cuts coming in," said Healy, who estimated GM earns $10,000 or more in profit on every full-size SUV sold. Also boding well: Consumers paid nearly $7,000 more for the new 2007 model year Tahoe in February than for the 2006 model, said Tom Libby, senior director of industry analysis at J.D. Power's Power Information Network. Buyers of the new model paid an average of $41,233 for the new Tahoe in February versus $34,546 for the 2006 Tahoe, Libby said. "That's impressive," Libby said. "They need more of this." SUV sales plunged late last summer when hurricanes drove gas prices above $3 a gallon briefly. With gas prices now hovering between $2.30 and $2.50 a gallon, news reports of SUV rollovers in crashes and roomy crossover vehicles coming to market, GM admits that the U.S. market for large SUVs won't hit 1 million vehicles this year like it did a few years ago. Sales most likely will ease to about 750,000 annually, but GM intends to hold its dominant market share at around 62%, Sipes said. Other automakers are bringing out new SUVs. Ford will bring out the new models of the Expedition and Lincoln Navigator this fall. The Chrysler Aspen, a version of Chrysler's Dodge Durango, also comes out this year. For consumers worried about high gas prices, GM is quick to point out that its new SUVs have better fuel economy than any competitors' models. The new two-wheel-drive Tahoe gets 22 miles per gallon on the highway and 16 m.p.g. in the city. The four-wheel-drive gets 1 m.p.g. less in city and highway driving. That's as good or better than the two- and four-wheel drive versions of the much small Kia Sorento midsize SUV. "This is a bright spot for General Motors," Sipes said. "A lot of people are taking potshots at us, but this is absolutely one of the brightest things we have going." Link: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article.../603150331/1014

I've seen a whihte one in a parking lot. I have to say, at least the front end doesn't look like it has a fat lip like the Dakota.

GM expects a $1,000 decline in its incentives per vehicle March 14, 2006 BY MICHAEL ELLIS FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER General Motors Corp. expects the amount it spends on sales incentives to fall by an average of $1,000 or more per vehicle this month, despite the launch this week of its March Madness sale. GM told dealers on Monday that from March 16 to April 4, it will offer a cash bonus of $500 or $1,000 on vehicles that have been sitting on dealer lots for 120 days or more. In addition to current incentives, consumers will get another $500 cash back on all cars and $1,000 back on Cadillacs, pickups, minivans and SUVs that arrived in dealer showrooms before Nov. 17. "We're still continuing to bring the incentive spending down," GM spokeswoman Deborah Silverman said Monday. GM's incentives fell by an average of $1,000 per vehicle in January and February, Silverman said. In an effort to break its feast-or-famine cycle of huge incentives, GM slashed the sticker price of most vehicles by an average of $1,300 in January. The March Madness incentives, launched in tandem with the NCAA basketball tournaments, will help dealers clear out some poor-selling models. The Hummer H1 SUV and the new 2007 models are excluded from the new incentives. Link: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article.../603140333/1014

Mitsubishi Cuts Production of Slow-Selling Raider Truck Date posted: 03-14-2006 CYPRESS, California — Mitsubishi, the ailing Japanese automaker, has asked former partner Chrysler to curtail production of its slow-selling Raider pickup, at least temporarily, while the company tries to clear dealer lots of unsold inventory with rebates of up to $3,000. The 2006 Raider was introduced last fall. It shares major underbody components, including driveline and chassis, with the Dodge Dakota. According to the trade weekly Automotive News, Mitsubishi dealers sold only 492 Raiders in February and had more than a six-month supply of unsold units in stock on March 1. Mitsubishi's fortunes continue to slide in the United States. Sales for the first two months of 2006 were down nearly 22 percent from the previous year. Mitsubishi had contracted to purchase 20,000 Raiders from Chrysler in the first year, but rumors are building among dealers that the truck may be canceled, the paper said. What this means to you: If buying a soon-to-be-cancelled truck seems like a good idea to you, now is as good a time as any. Link: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=109618 --- I'm utterly shocked.

Well, the Freelander had problems beyond pricing...

Gives a whole new meaning to "bad Attitude". It's already a bad enough name for any car but then they go and pair it with a car that has about the least "attitude" to it.

Ohhhh yeah, that reminds me. I saw my first 2007 Tahoe today as well. I always forget one. And a 2007 Yukon on its way to a dealer.

2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer SS In its own way, it’s subtler. by Conor Twomey (2006-03-13) If there's one thing the TrailBlazer wasn't crying out for it was more power. A new interior, maybe… but not more power! To my mind, the 300-hp, 5300 Vortec V-8 offers about as much performance as the TrailBlazer really needs for the daily school run, but that didn't stop Chevrolet from slotting the Corvette's LS2 V-8 into its engine bay and beefing up the looks and suspension to match. The resulting vehicle is called the TrailBlazer SS, although confusingly, it's sold as a package on LS or LT short-wheelbase models with 2WD or 4WD, rather than being a model it its own right. Go figure. So what, exactly, does the SS package get you for an additional five grand or so? Well, obviously there's the 6.0-liter, pushrod Corvette V-8, restricted to 391 hp and 395 lb-ft of torque in the SS due to space constraints in the TrailBlazer's engine bay and the fact there's only room for a single tailpipe. Even so, Chevrolet has specially tuned the exhaust system (complete with single storm-drain-sized tailpipe) to make all the right noises under acceleration while keeping its distinctive V-8 rumble impressively mute at highway speeds. Sadly, that fine engine is saddled with an awful transmission - an ancient four-speed automatic that offers no manual shifting and the electronic sophistication of a lightbulb. Kickdown is reasonably quick but it's anything but smooth and because it has been programmed to be as economical as possible, it's far to eager to jump back into top gear again making it impossible to enjoy the SS on any kind of a challenging road. That said, when it comes to straight-line butt-haulin', the TrailBlazer is tough to beat. For maximum performance you simply stomp on the gas pedal and wait for the horizon to come to you - 0-60 mph takes around than six seconds in the RWD model we drove and the quarter-mile is dispatched somewhere in the 14s - not bad for a 4552-lb SUV. If you lean on the brakes before building up revs, the TrailBlazer will break the rear wheels loose or cause the rather crude stability control system to slap you across the face if you forget to turn it off (or at least as "off" as GM's lawyers will let you) but the chassis really isn't set up for heroic powerslides or delicate drifts. The standard 20-inch wheels are wrapped in some impressively large and sticky Goodyear Eagle tires, which seem to contribute more to the TrailBlazer's ride and handling than you might expect. All blinged up In addition to the bling-bling wheels, the SS also gets special bumpers, mesh grilles, turn signals in the mirrors, and some special badging, which doesn't sound like a lot but it has the same effect as slipping off the dowdy glasses and letting down the school-mistress bun. The TrailBlazer SS oozes just the right amount of understated aggression to be handsome without being overwrought and cartoon-ish like the Grand Cherokee SRT-8. The SS also gets a slightly lower suspension with Bilstein shock absorbers, thicker front stabilizer bars, a quicker steering rack, a limited slip rear differential, bigger brakes with Corvette brake pads (steady now), self-leveling rear air suspension, and a Torsen center differential on 4WD models. The "sports" suspension is definitely firmer but not so stiff it'll rattle your teeth out. Indeed, the SS feels to me like every TrailBlazer should, offering a reasonable amount of information about the road surface beneath with none of the usual float or wallow. Unfortunately, while the suspension modifications do wonders for the TrailBlazer's overall ride and handling, they don't go far enough to actually make the SS a sporty drive. There's still a fair bit of roll in corners and too much unwanted body movements when braking, accelerating, or stumbling across mid-corner bumps. The tires grip well, though, and do an admirable job of keep the SS on line through the twisty stuff, while they also contribute significantly to the SS's impressive highway refinement. The brakes, too, feel strong and are more than capable of reining in the SS from big speeds, which is reassuring given how rapidly it can accelerate. The steering is probably the biggest difference between the SS and standard TrailBlazer. It's quick without being go-kartish and makes the TrailBlazer SS feel smaller and more agile than the regular TrailBlazer. What a shame, then, you have to steer with the same massive tiller you find in every Chevy truck, and I'm not even going to get started on the dashboard. All I'll say is that I can't remember the last time I saw sliders on a vehicle's HVAC controls and why can't Chevy please, please, please find some other plastic to make their interiors out of? That said, it is an extremely spacious machine and the extra bolstering on the SS emblazoned front seats holds you in place much better than the stock chairs. As with just about every other modification Chevrolet has made to the TrailBlazer SS, the seats are about as good as the stock items should be in the first place but, once again, fall short of actually being sporty in the traditional sense of the word. The Chevrolet TrailBlazer SS is, overall, a very likeable and enjoyable machine to tool around in provided you get it out of your head it's any kind of a performance machine. It steers, rides, grips, and goes with the kind of poise and involvement you would expect from a modern SUV, though you'd do well to forget that there's a Corvette engine under the hood and treat it like a rapid family conveyance rather than some kind of bargain Porsche Cayenne chaser. If you're thinking about a 5300 V-8 TrailBlazer then I would very strongly recommend you spend the extra $3000 on an LS-based SS because it really is a considerably better vehicle for not a lot of extra cash. Compared to the $40k, 415-hp Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8, the $31,180, 391-hp TrailBlazer SS seems like something of a steal but if ever there was a time to heed the old saying "You pays for what you gets," this is it. 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer SS Base Price: $31,180 Engine: 6.0-liter V-8, 391 hp/395 lb-ft Transmission: Four-speed automatic, rear- or four-wheel drive Length X width X height: 191.8 x 74.6 x 67.8 in Wheelbase: 113.0 in Curb weight: 4552 lb Fuel economy (EPA city/hwy): 15/19 mpg Safety equipment: Dual front airbags; anti-lock brakes, stability control Major standard equipment: Dual-zone climate control, sport seats, sport suspension; styling kit; 20-inch wheels Warranty: Three years/36,000 miles Link: http://www.thecarconnection.com/Vehicle_Re...181.A10139.html

I'm sorry, did you say "lifted"?

Personally, in this angle and color and with these wheels, I think it looks great. Otherwise, I think it looks too much like a fat ML.

Child safety advocates lobby for vehicle sensors March 10, 2006 BY JUSTIN HYDE FREE PRESS WASHINGTON BUREAU WASHINGTON -- Child safety advocates launched a blitz Thursday for bills in Congress that would require automakers to install safety devices aimed at protecting children. The Kansas-based Kids and Cars coalition, along with Consumers Union, say the bills -- one in the House and one in the Senate -- would sharply cut non-crash vehicle accidents that they estimate killed 213 children last year, with at least 1,000 deaths since 1999. Both bills would require automakers to install systems to improve visibility behind vehicles and design power windows that automatically reverse when they hit an obstruction. The Kids and Cars coalition says automakers could add three key safety devices for about $300 per vehicle. The coalition, along with the families of eight children who died in such accidents, will press their case to lawmakers. "I hope we can come together in a bipartisan manner to make these necessary changes," said Greg Gulbransen, a Long Island, N.Y., pediatrician who accidentally ran over his 2-year-old son Cameron in 2002. "The technology's out there. They could do it." Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., one of the cosponsors of the Senate bill, said the bill was comparable to what lawmakers have ordered in the past for garage doors, refrigerators and vehicle air bags to reduce the dangers posed to children. "We need to make the changes that this legislation calls for to make these accidents a thing of the past," she said. But automakers say the devices being touted would cost far more than the advocates suggest and do little to improve safety. Eron Shosteck, a spokesman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, said the reverse sensing systems touted by the safety advocates cost $300 alone and are not nearly sensitive enough to alert a driver to a small child. The only systems that do work are rearview video cameras, available on a few luxury vehicles. "For consumers who want tech such as backup cameras, automakers are pleased to make that available," Shosteck said. "But backup cameras can cost as much as $2,000, and we believe that consumers should be able to make the choice of whether they want to pay for that technology or not." In 2004, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ordered automakers to redesign power window switches to make it harder for children to accidentally operate them but rejected calls from safety advocates to mandate auto-reverse features, saying the redesign should stop most accidents. Link: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article.../603100352/1014

Toyota, Fuji to develop hybrid for Subaru cars: paper TOKYO (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp. and Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. have agreed to co-develop a gasoline-electric hybrid system to be mounted on Fuji Heavy's Subaru cars, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported on Saturday. Toyota, Japan's top auto maker and the world leader in hybrid technology and sales, had previously considered supplying its own hybrid system to Fuji Heavy. But that proved difficult given Subaru's unique symmetrical all-wheel-drive drivetrain system, the paper said. Officials at the companies were not immediately available for comment. Toyota and Fuji Heavy have been exploring ways to cooperate in the areas of development and production since Toyota became Fuji Heavy's top shareholder in October after Fuji Heavy dissolved its capital alliance with General Motors Corp. Toyota now holds an 8.7 percent stake in Fuji Heavy. The two firms in December agreed to make Toyota-brand cars at Subaru's factory in the U.S. state of Indiana, as the factory has been underused since the withdrawal of Fuji's former joint venture partner, Isuzu Motors Ltd. The Nihon Keizai also said Toyota plans to build its Camry sedan, the United States' best-selling car, at Fuji's Indiana plant, with annual production of around 100,000 units. The companies' presidents are scheduled to hold a joint press conference late Monday in Tokyo. Link: http://today.reuters.com/sponsoredby/amex/...A-FUJIHEAVY.xml

Days 1 and 2: 2006 Saab 9-5 Sedan: In the Autoblog Garage Day 1-2