Supremus

Could it be true?

http://blogs.motortrend.com/6254556/car-ne...ller/index.html

Here it is. Stunning, inside and out.

Peek-a-boo:

http://www.chinacartimes.com/wp-content/new-regal.jpg

Isn't the Quest being replaced by something derived from the Forum concept?

Here:

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic...317/1149/AUTO01

Can you say, "OUCH"?

Now that we know that the Zeta Lucerne comes only in 2011, is there any news on an MCE for the current car? An "Enclavisation", maybe?

I don't see the problem with this, really. First, the current Aveo hatch is dorkiness on wheels, and this new one at least is agressive and won't be mistaken for a Yaris (the little blob on wheels). Second, the sedan will not get this face (the current one is new for 2007), so there's more differentiation between hatch and sedan, IMHO a good thing.

I think its a bad idea - originally they said they weren't going to and I don't know why they changed their mind. This could take away Malibu sales and why would anyone want to buy an Aura HYBRID that gets just 2 more MPG than the four cylinder? I think GM's midsize cars should go like this:

Chevy Malibu - Value for the money, fuel efficiency, 4 cylinder and 6 cylinder

Saturn Aura - attractive european styling, decent power/fuel efficiency, 2 V6s

Pontiac G6 - bold & aggresive styling, powerful and exciting, V6 and a V8!

There could potentially be a V8 Malibu SS but I'm against it, midsize Saab sedan should also have V6s standard

I don't see the problem, since most Saturn buyers wouldn't touch a Chevrolet. If the Aura is going aftter Camry/Accord/Altima, it needs a 4-cilinder, period.

Picture me sceptical, but I believe it's too soon to call this car an Aura.

I'm feeling Sonata and Saturn L-Series vibes... anyway, it's the new definition of boring on wheels.

This all seems possible but there are certainly some parts that are not correct. Also, I don't see how anyone, Bob Lutz included, knows what's happening for sure past 2011-12. All of that is still in the debating process. This guy claims they already have the 2nd gen BRX figured out. Well, the first gen BRX doesn't come out for quite a while.

Yes, but remember we are already in the 2008 MY, so the 2010's are being locked right now. It's pretty safe to assume the plans for 2012-13 are already in motion.

I'd have a fourth vote but some of the pictures aren't loading for me on this page. :/

Ditto.

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Those are some BIG leaps to make. Lets remember Chevy already has the larger EPII FWD Malibu, which looks to be the hit that GM has been searching for in this segment for decades. The RWD Impala will be a LARGE car bringing in a higher price, even if at a lower volume. Between the two there should be no loss of RETAIL sales. Chi doesn't exist, it never did and EPII isn't getting much larger than Malibu. Also the Volt was a compact car. It may appear larger but it is Cobalt size, and should it reach production it will be a compact/subcompact car.

You said it: the new Malibu LOOKS to be the hit, it ISN'T YET the hit the current Impala already is. It also is a BIG leap to assume people will simply jump from FDW Impala to new Malibu, specially considering the "ugly fleet queen" image the Malibu name has today. There's no guarantee of that. The Chi platform already exists, only it's called "Lambda", and it would be relatively easy for GM to spawn a sedan from it. Also, when I said "Volticized", I meant transferring styling cues from Volt concept to a new FWD Impala, not put the Volt as is to replace the Impala. I know the Volt is a compact.

Yes, that's a RWD Impala. Camaro-like body, Volt front (only more upright). Motor Trend got the details right, but not the proportions.

Now the question is... will it see the light of day? The current FDW Impala is too much of a hit for GM to tinker with it.

My prediction is:

- 2010 Impala will be "Volticized" in a FDW platform (Epsilon II, Chi)

- This Chevy Zeta will be launched as Bel Air, Caprice, or not be lauched at all (wich also makes sense, since the Zeta Lucerne will cover that spot, too).

Really, what's the point? As somebody already said, RWD or FWD doesn't make difference in fuel consumption. So this means GM is abandoning the full-size car segment, be it RWD or FWD?

Too little, too late.

Your presentation is very sharp.

But your design... I dunno, seems similar to what Ford made with the 2008 Focus: it's different from the previous one, but you still can see the old car in some areas. And this is supposed to be a new generation. But it would be a great MCE.

Don't forget the Opel Sintra...it's the very reason that the 1997+ minivans were European sized (and thus so wrong for the U.S.). Oh yeah, there was also the Buick GL8 (China).

And the new Chinese LaCrosse.

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Here:

http://www.motortrend.com/features/auto_ne...re_chevy_impala

My main problem is that the front looks too much like the BMW 6 Series, a car I find hard to love. And the taillights are just plain wrong, IMHO.

I really, really hope that GM is simply calling this project by other name than "minivan", instead of abandoning it, because abandoning this segment would be quite stupid. There's the new DCX vans coming, the Ford Fairlane (with a Lincoln version, BTW), and surely Honda and Toyota will have new Siennas and Odysseys before 2010. That's too much market to ignore.

- Chevy Sequel Production Version

- RWD Impala Concept

- RWD Chevelle Concept

- NG GTO

- 08 Malibu

- Chevy Lambda

- NG Minivan Concept

- Saturn Astra

- Epsilon II Buick LaCrosse (w/convertible)

- RWD Grand Prix/G8

- MCE Chevy Cobalt

- MCE Pontiac G6

- NG Saab 9-5 Concept

- Hummer H4 Production Version

Now, if GM were smart, it would put a nice MCE'd Cobalt on the market in 2007.