Z-06

How did MB lose? 2011, 2012, 2013 Mercedes set a company record for annual sales and net profit, and they have been in business for 125 years, pretty good to have the top 3 years since 1886 in this decade. Daimler's mistake was in buying Chrysler, but it goes to show what a mess Chrysler is and how far beyond saving they are. If Daimler couldn't save them, I don't think Fiat has any chance in doing it.

Keep drinking Chevroletdes Benz Kool Aid. Daimler bought ChryCo with only intent to use its coffers and become #3 in the world. Juergen Schrempp's "Merger of Equals" was a good spin for pillage of the Germans. His intentions were to make Chrysler a "mere" subsidiary of Daimler. Chrylser's products were stymied, the management was left in disarray and yet, with the fear of "American Bravado" Germans were scared of completely taking control per Schrempp's plan to make anything decent.

Schremp's promise of a "merger of equals" had been fiction, and he even admits as much. He told the Financial Times that if he had been honest with the Americans about German dominance before the merger, they never would have made a deal.

I am trying to understand the logic behind this car. It is sexy that is what people call it, it is fun at least with reservations, it makes horsepower at least more than a Miata, or Su-Toy twins. But it excels in nothing and is not a competent all-rounder.

Cayman and Miata are more engaging, M4 and Corvette are more powerful and have higher limits. Mustang is more beautiful than this. Lotuses have much more fun factor. There are so many competitors that are better, yet the sum of parts of this car is no better than those competitors. The only thing going for this is the emotions of the journalists who call it a hit.

Fiat should downgrade Maserati to compete with Germans and kill Alpha.

It's a given the top of the line car will be above $100,000 as C6 Z06 LZ3 with Z07 package rang $103,000.

Maybe the Corvette and Camaro should move to FWD too. I mean if FWD is good enough for Cadillac (GM's most exclusive and highest end brand) then obviously it is good enough for the Camaro.

There is a reason SRX exists, even if it is a FWD and per your standards - SALES - it has to prove it.

And GM makes FWD better than RWD saviors of the world a.k.a. GMW, Chevroletdes Benz who in turn are going FWD. In your lifetime you will see a FWD S-Class.

ATS should move to Delta, CTS should move to the Malibu's epsilon platform. XTS stays on stretched Epsilon. Then Cadillac would have the same mechanical bit as the Cruze-Malibu-Impala, think of the economies of scale! ATS could get the 140 hp turbo 4 as the base engine, the Verano's turbo as the optional. CTS would get the Malibu 2.5 liter base, 2.0T for the v-sport and the CTS-V would lose the 556 hp V8 in favor of a 410 hp turbo V6. XTS continues as is. FWD equals sales and the Camry proves it, so that is what Cadillac should do.

Hey if Benz, BMW and Porsche can make FWD pigs dance with lipstick, so can GM. GM fans are used to getting FWD cars. But will the fan-boys of the halo German brands be used to getting a FWD V-12 S-Class, or a 911 turbo?

Since you and all Germans look for sales to be successful, your formula and wish of FWD Germans are not too far off.

Maybe the Corvette and Camaro should move to FWD too. I mean if FWD is good enough for Cadillac (GM's most exclusive and highest end brand) then obviously it is good enough for the Camaro.

There is a reason SRX exists, even if it is a FWD and per your standards - SALES - it has to prove it.

And GM makes FWD better than RWD saviors of the world a.k.a. GMW, Chevroletdes Benz who in turn are going FWD. In your lifetime you will see a FWD S-Class.

XTS has over 400hp and it handles fantastic

Does it handle better than a CTS V-sport or 535i?

And how would a 420 hp SRX handle or ride compared to a SRT Cherokee or X5 or M-class. And what if they need 500 hp since that is what BMW and Mercedes offer? You can't go against those vehicles with a front wheel drive Chevy chassis.

Given your extensive knowledge in cars, you know that one SUV called Porsche Macan is based on VW MLP platform, which is FWD biased and handles 400 hp right?

And speaking of FWD Chevy chassis, a lowly Delta Cobalt SS turbocharged was fastest on the Ring, before it was killed. It was faster than 135i, IS-F, R-Spec Genesis, even faster than an EVO in Car and Driver's Lightning Lap. That is such a minnow company to beat.

And speaking of FWD Chevy chassis, Cruze has won 3 WTCC championships, which features RWD cars also.

It is the most understated car. Now it will get even better with manual transmission coming in 2015.

Cadillac shouldn't be in every niche, BMW goes overboard trying to create body styles for the sake of creating body styles. I don't think the other auto makers do that so much. Cadillac does need 3 SUVs though, and they need a convertible and/or sports car. Can't survive just on sedans, especially when 2 of their 3 sedans have the same price.

I agree with SMK here. Cadillac needs another SUV between Escalade and SRX - a direct X5, Cayenne, A7 competitor. That vehicle should be possibly on Alpha/Omega with engines mirroring CTS. Given SRX is a bread and butter SUV and given the disastrous sales numbers of Gen 1, I do not think GM will move it on RWD platform. It seems with T/E getting smaller, SRX will become slightly smaller. This move in someways clears the room for the middle child SUV.

ATS coupe and convertible are a given. However, Cadillac really needs a GT halo car done right on Corvette platform. It should be sold exclusively using turbo and hybrid powertrains. So what if the two compete?

The ideal scenario for Cadillac is to create synergy within its own products while sharing remotely with other brands. Which means, diversifying the RWD platforms, if it is possible.

If I was GM I would not buy Tesla now. I possibly see MB or Toyota looking for that piece of electric furniture.

I hardly recognize the place - so much has changed.

It is looking like at least one of my projects will be back in gear very soon, and I can't do a project without updating the appropriate thread with a blow-by-blow of the work and lots of pics. So I will be around starting pretty soon.

It will not be right away, since I will have to switch-over to a new computer ( this one really doesn't function on C&G). Also, I need to get my camera back up and running first.

That said, look for me to be showing up here more often in the near future.

You finally came in the 21st century? Hey, get a soundcard and speakers too this time around.

Always look forward to your insightful builds.

Filled it up yesterday. 581.8 miles, 13.769 gallons. $4.00.9/gal. 42.25 MPG this round.

Nice! I haven't gotten that kind of mileage out of my Cruze yet but I think it is going on a trip to Virginia in a couple of weeks so it will be interesting to see how it does. Just out of curiosity, what would you say the city/hwy split was on that tank?

Cruze D should have ideally had a stick shift; diesel engine really benefits with that to hyper-mile the vehicle.

but is this on D2XX or a refresh of the current car?

Astra (IIRC coupe/hatch) has been out for approx. 5-6 years. My guess is it will move on D2XX soon after Cruze, just like Delta II schedule.

Sedan my just be a refresh to soldier it on.

Watching this one closely. Anyone hear if the Astra is getting AWD?

Yes, D2XX is supposed to have AWD.

GM did not even produce 2.7M total vehicles in 2014! It is all EP I cars. Correct please.

SMK only looks at paper reputation.

Sad part is that it is "premium" vehicle and sold at a rate of thousanth of what the W body did.

MB will probably change a couple of bulbs, headlights and make it "aerodynamic" and then will soldier on for the next 35 years.

LOL.

Subaru indeed is the envy of VW. With limited models it continues to embarrass the world's #1 manufacturer.

Only wished BRZ sold in little more quantities than that.

With all the goodwill and good products, blue oval should do better here. This where Mulally's two trick pony company is beginning to show its fallacy.

Good but not amazing. My main concerns are:

1. ATS and XTS. These guys should have double the volume. ATS-V and coupe cannot come soon enough.
2. Buick needs a foot traffic car. Something along either an Alpha coupe/convertible with performance package only.
3. Mid size trucks cannot come soon enough.
4. Chevrolet cars need some life. Camry outsells Malibu and Impala combined; not a good sign.
5. Volt needs a jolt in the right direction. And no ocnblu there is no need to be snarky here.
6. Trucks need some serious impetus. Old and heavy and incentivized Ford F150 is outselling better trucks and that is disastrous.

GM is about another 25,000 to 30,000 vehicles short of where it should be.

Unless something radical happens, Volvo's days may be numbered in USA.

Nothing compares to the Beast for safety.

They are both hideous.

Ugly and ungainly. I was being nice. Sure they are packaging kings and customers are not looking for the looks.