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Z-06

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Everything posted by Z-06

  1. Saw them. Shot yesterday?
  2. Which means the Cadillac Spark-based model isn't far behind! Actually, the NG A-class is more Sonic-sized, I think... Very soon you will have MB lose a comparo against Chevrolet Spark.
  3. Again, I am not denying the present. Future is what I am worried about BMW. BMW lacks a volume brand to subsidize its investment and give economy of scale. BMW is currently avoiding it by filling niches and raising pricing. Somewhere down the lane, people will not pay $60k+ for a tarted up Civic sized non M3 vehicle. Porsche was perceived as a successful manufacturer rolling in cash and its management a visionary until its takeover of VW and you know the rest.
  4. Ability to be flexible is what GM is seeking. The points that Olds, Camino and I are trying to make are that none of the manufacturing and design capabilities of ANY significant GM branches on foreign lands should be severed, pared not severed. Like it or not Holden has best RWD R&D team and no one really knows how much input it provided in Alpha and Omega. No matter how you cut the slice, Alpha's origins can be traced to Torana, at least in some form. And even if it is trying to prove a point, GM cannot build the cars you mentioned here and profitably import them at current volumes to other parts of the world, just like Victorian plant can from Australia. Most of the markets served by Australia are within days of shipment away from Australia, with supply and logistics already established. After many years of trying GM is now making profits from small cars build here to sell here. It is not easy and fast to create the supply chain and management to turn a platform out and start making profits on shipments.
  5. No, I will not call the platform large and archaic given the fact it was size of a 5er, extremely flexible and lighter compared to the recent 5er being churned out. GM never let the platform blossom to its full capacity. Camino, I will not make Alpha and Zeta and future Omega mutually exclusive just because the nomenclatures are different. Knowledge from Zeta is being definitely used in the other two. Actually Z06, Zeta was was the polar opposite: it wasn't flexible, ir was heavy, and it was expensive. Which is where Alpha comes in. A flexible platform is one that can have multitudes of wheelbases, powertrains and ability to scale. Zeta can be had in three different wheelbases, can carry multitude of engines and powertrains, was/is basis of design of a bigger platform which may/may not be Omega, was base of wider and longer GMC Denali concept with capability to carry heavy loads. That is flexibility to me. Put it simply this way, it is/was an Epsilon of RWD. Just because Zeta could not go smaller does not mean it is inflexible. EP II does not go smaller either hence Delta II and Delta II does not go smaller hence Gamma II, does that make those two platforms inflexible? Alpha was always on the horizon after Zeta and hence the Torana concept was shown. Speaking of inflexible it is the Solstice platform.
  6. Where are all those SAAB fans protesting now? I am sure those people can buy one each and even rights for the museum.
  7. No, as it is a very solid company in many ways (financial; management) but needs to make an effort in retaining focus I disagree somewhat. Financials NOW may be strong, but future of BMW is not.
  8. ^ Yes, BMW will cease existence soon, if the status quo stays.
  9. I see truth to this. Frankly, I think, it is GM playing brinkmanship with Australian government to get concessions. Australia is strategically important for import into markets like ASEAN, South Asia, Middle East, South Africa. I do not think it would be prudent for GM to abandon the Australian manufacturing capacity.
  10. No, I will not call the platform large and archaic given the fact it was size of a 5er, extremely flexible and lighter compared to the recent 5er being churned out. GM never let the platform blossom to its full capacity. Camino, I will not make Alpha and Zeta and future Omega mutually exclusive just because the nomenclatures are different. Knowledge from Zeta is being definitely used in the other two.
  11. No, I don't as I stated in an earlier post. Addressing the problem doesn't equal solving it. Look at it this way, if all of the recent Opel-derived products sold here had been kept as Opel property built in Europe and shipped here, just how well do you think they would have sold at the increased sticker that would require? Opel needs to back away from production in a large way. Do you mean Opel German production? I think it should, but not the vehicle make itself. The fact I did not like was GM pushing Russelsheim Regals in US prior to ramping up Oshawa. Yes the limited run did end up being either more expensive or losing money for GM. No that is GM management's excuse of not bringing Holden over. AU$ was never to a point of $1.5 USD like the Euro is/was. The peak it went was ~$.9 USD. Besides, Victoria was capacity constrained when the Commodore was selling well in ASEAN, China, Mid-east along with Australia. When GM went bankrupt and when Fritz brought the Caprice here is when both worked favorably, but the damage was done.
  12. I think Olds and Camino are looking at different sides of the situation. The fact that Opel is GM's FWD design Mecca does not mean that it is not a drain to GM like Camino is stating and just because it is a money pit does not mean GM should abandon its technical expertise in Opel. The fact is GM missed the boat of hard labor negotiations thanks to Angela Merkel's relection bid and hard handling of German government. And it is a fact that Opel is subsidizing GM's platforms. As far as the prevention of Opel's draining, I think GM is already on to that. Since German unions seem to be hard to handle, GM seems to be moving outside and spread its wings. Chevy seems to be hedging bet for GM if German unions go on strike and prevent Opel from producing vehicles. Some of Opel's production is also being shifted to Poland and other areas. Let the union starve rather than attack directly like the strategy was played here and the results will come but not overnight.
  13. Another 5 years and Corvette can collect Medicare and Social Security.
  14. More than financial.
  15. Other than the usual minor quibble issues with the 360's the vehicle is pretty much bullet proof.
  16. Alpha is scalable either side of ATS size.
  17. I hope BMW ends up being fifth GM brand, now you are there.
  18. HB
  19. Yes it is an AWD ready platform - look at the ATS. One of the ATS on floor was a AWD.
  20. Just talked with Mr. Baker, the lead behind 130r. He confirmed it is an alpha, and both concepts were designed in LA.
  21. Hold your judgement till you see some on the floor photographs. But overall it is a good design effort for both concepts.
  22. Yes - all trims and all engines will have manual transmissions, unlike some media are reporting.
  23. Back seat is not bad. We will take some shots tomorrow with someone in back.
  24. Not a car for my taste. But a big car with great fuel economy, smooth ride and semi-taut suspension - it would be a perfect car for eating miles.
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