El Kabong

Show of hands for anyone who thinks that nobody will consider a $55K Conti, after realizing the $50K SHO is no longer available. ...which is precisely my point, really. Lincoln: hyping Taurus replacements because we STILL DON'T GET IT.

Would love to see this car up against the corvette or camero to compare the various stages of HP / Torque at certain speeds such as: 0 to 30 0 to 60 0 to 90 0 to 120 then 30 to 60 30 to 90 30 to 120 then 60 to 90 60 to 120 I think this will show how Torque and HP work to move the auto even faster. Auto mags and web sites need to do comparisons like this to show just how well OHV versus DOHC engines would perform and deliver. I question the added weight issues of DOHC over OHV engines and where it all ends up at. Then take this to the next level with Turbo versions of the OHV versus DOHC to really see what is best. Right now more Marketing Fluff than real facts from the OEM's. Packaging advantages and location of your centre of gravity are the bigger advantages for modern OHV engines as opposed to sheer mass. In either case it is critical to keep the development going steady. For instance, who cares if your engine is OHC when it doesn't offer DI?

I think the most troubling thing I've read about this car so far was over in the Taurus thread where someone suggested that killing the Taurus would actually send sales to this thing. That would indicate to me that someone has NO IDEA how luxury car buyers think. Hopefully, they have no sway in how Ford goes about trying to market this car.

Bit late to get on it now. GM's already got it in the bag.

I used to think the Stingray spoiler was kinda dumb. Then I saw one on the road the other day without one. Hmmmmm. Tastes change, is what I'm saying.

I believe you mean (effective use of aluminum) CT6, but that's just a quibble.

For me it mostly boils down to execution. And as I mentioned already, the smallblock has only had one major revision in sixty years. While I have no particular beef with Ford's recent OHC V8 engines, their early attempts were largely boat anchors, and their lack of confidence in their current offerings is troubling.

Chevy Camaro. I want to see what the hi-po version is like.

The Chevy Smallblock is perhaps the best thought-out engine layout in history. Seriously. Even the Germans couldn't do something like this. Imagine, for instance, if someone told you that Benz was going to bring back a boosted version of the '57 Gullwing inline-six for an AMG version of the E-Class. You'd throw them in a room that had rubber wallpaper. The LT4, on the other hand? Makes perfect sense. Nobody else on the planet could match that. Ever.

Rocker panel chrome needs to have perfect fitment, otherwise it has weird reflections, rippling, that kinda thing.

The Avenir certainly has a more contemporary look. And underpinnings. GM should build it. It likely won't hurt Cadillac sales.

It is an engine that has had only one significant architectural overhaul since it debuted back in 1955. Incredible.

It is an near-exact replay of the LFA in terms of product planning. It's like the Japanese still think it's 1990 and the competition is still asleep at the wheel. Which makes it even more fun that they're doing it. I do not see this ending well for Honda.

GM keeps on building them, I guess.

I heard they found a middle-aged man pouring metal shavings into the oil reservoirs and mumbling about countering negative PR against his employer. Yeesh

It's not much of an argument, certainly. The Z06 can polish off nearly all OHC competition.

...anyhow, onward: I was going to propose the question "are modern pushrod engines of less than eight cylinders a viable idea, much less a good one?" Then I remembered these guys. Some good fodder for discussion, perhaps: http://thekneeslider.com/is-the-motus-v4-baby-block-crate-engine-the-future-of-old-school-hot-rodding/

Good stuff. ...so what have you heard, if anything, about the timeline for the new Verano?

Getting the dealers on board will be the hardest part. They're the ones who will be asked to shell out to upgrade showrooms for a product and sales vision they may not support.

Every little bit detracts from the Regal though. It would appear they have all but given up on the car, at least until the next, more-differentiated Verano debuts.

As far as PR crap goes: I don't mind it in magazines, or on TV or the interwebs. But when you have human spambots spraying it around a forum worse than a Tiajuana toilet it gets old REALLY fast. As far as a sporty Verano goes: a good idea, maybe. But it won't help the Regal any.

Well... if you're anal-retentive enough to do all THAT for your engine break-in you could make the argument that the early oil change would be a given. I got the oil changed in the TRUCK after less than 3,000 miles for the exact same reason.

Why? Composite leaf springs are more durable than steel, they never rust, and they're "programmable" when they're built. I would prefer a composite spring in a truck. In some cases composites are vulnerable to structural failure due to seemingly superficial nicks and that kinda thing (ask any hockey fan whose seen a stick blow up during a slapshot attempt). Don't think it would happen here, but truck leafs are more exposed than a Corvette's. composite leaf springs are famously used in the Corvette, but GM used them in a fairly substantial number of main stream cars too with no issues. All of the first generation W-Body coupes had them (Lumina, Grand Prix, Cutlass, Regal) and a few of the H-Body 2-doors (Lesabre, 88) ... not sure about the 98, Electra, and Coupe Deville. The composite spring is literally the only thing that won't go wrong in these cars. I don't remember the source, but I do remember reading that Corvette composite leafs were the first item GM manufactured that was so durable that their Product Liability lawyers told them to stop trying to make them fail. I believe the originals were rated for over three MILLION full compression/rebound cycles before everyone just gave up and went home.

The Toronto Blue Jays are no longer the Most Boring Team in Baseball.