Z-06

And there are some Duramaxes and Caterpillars which are worth mentioning too.

Pikeville area?

325 bhp in Opel Insignia VXR, i.e. 116 bhp per liter.

I can vouch for the Blazer. It is in great shape, barring clutch pedal noise that can be removed with WD40.

Great time guys. More than cockroaches - there were critters, roaches, and bugs but no bumblebees.

That is sad DF. Bank of America

One of my brother's pen friend was killed during the actual fall. One of the most heartfelt moment in German history.

And the corporation fixes it soon enough rather than waiting for 30 years on its historical laurels.

[source: Wall Street Journal] Windows 7 Is Strong, But PC Lift Unclear By NICK WINGFIELD Consumers snapped up copies of Microsoft Corp.'s new Windows 7 operating system during its first week on store shelves, though it's too soon to tell to what extent the software will ignite sales of new personal computers. Sales of Windows 7 have been "fantastic" since the launch, Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer said at a press event in Tokyo Thursday, without providing details. The first glimpse into demand for Windows 7 came from NPD Group, a research firm that tracks retail sales. NPD said unit sales of boxed copies of Windows 7 in U.S. stores were 234% higher during the software's first few days than they were for Windows Vista, the prior version that debuted in 2007. NPD didn't provide underlying sales figures. NPD's figures don't reflect Windows 7 sales to businesses, an important audience for the Microsoft software. Michael Van Cleave, a technical analyst at CDW Corp., a technology reseller that caters to business, education and government customers, said the company has seen a "strong uptick" in demand for PCs and Windows 7 since the product became available for those markets. The success of Windows 7 will ultimately be measured by the impact it has on sales of new PCs that come with the operating system already installed on it, which is how most people will come to use it. On that count, Windows 7 performed well, though less so than Vista. Between Oct. 18 and 24—a period that included sales immediately before and after the launch of Windows 7 on Oct. 22—unit sales of Windows PCs were up 49% over the same period a year ago and 95% compared with the preceding week, NPD said. Windows Vista initially gave a bigger lift to the broader PC industry in early 2007, helping PC sales jump 68% during Vista's first week compared with the previous year and 170% over the week prior to the launch. Windows PC sales, however, were 6% lower during Windows 7's first week compared with PC sales during Vista's first week, NPD said. "I think it's mixed," said Stephen Baker, an analyst at NPD. "We would have liked to see a stronger jump on the hardware side." The data were too preliminary to indicate how well Windows 7 will ultimately do. October is one of the weakest months of the year for consumer PC sales, coming too late to capture back-to-school shoppers and too early to tap into holiday demand. Windows Vista had the advantage of coming out in January, during which PC sales are typically stronger than in October, Mr. Baker said. A Microsoft spokeswoman said the company is still waiting to get sales data from its partners in the hardware and retail businesses, but she said the NPD figures are "in line with the anecdotal stories we've heard about excitement people have for Windows 7." Sales of new PCs will likely see an uptick in November, when some retailers begin aggressive holiday promotions. One upcoming deal generating buzz among bloggers is a Wal-Mart Stores Inc. offer for a $298 Hewlett-Packard Co. laptop with a 15.6-inch screen running Windows 7 Home Premium, a version that normally comes with more expensive PCs. Advertisements promoting the laptop say it'll be available Saturday in Wal-Mart stores. A Wal-Mart spokeswoman said the retailer has been "very pleased" with the interest from its customers in Windows 7. "Our expectations were already pretty great, but it exceeded our expectations," she said of Windows 7 sales.

[source: Wall Street Journal] GM's Lutz to Oversee Opel To be Installed as Head of Opel GmbH Supervisory Board By JOHN STOLL And VANESSA FUHRMANS NOVEMBER 6, 2009, 12:44 P.M. ET General Motors Co.'s marketing chief, Robert A. Lutz, will be installed to head the Opel GmbH supervisory board as the auto maker looks to implement a new restructuring plan and find a new leader for the European after its board of directors decided earlier this week to retain control of it, according to two people familiar with the matter. Mr. Lutz's role isn't expected to be a direct management post as much as it is an oversight role. The supervisory board's next meeting is slated for the middle of November. Several top GM executives are slated to travel to Germany Sunday to begin fine-tuning a restructuring plan for Opel. After the plan is firm, the company will present it to several European governments in hopes of winning financial support for the restructuring. Mr. Lutz likely will hold the role atop the Opel supervisory board at least until a new chief executive for Opel is found. The current head of GM's European operations, Carl-Peter Forster, plans to leave the company after the U.S. car maker's surprise decision to abandon the sale of its Opel unit, a person close to the company said. GM is in the process of paying off the €900 million balance of a €1.5 billion bridge loan it received from the German government this year. Once the loan is paid off, GM will be able to dissolve a trust board that was installed by Germany as the custodian of a 65% stake in Opel. Earlier in the week, GM's board ditched a plan to sell 55% of Opel to Magna International Inc. and Russian partner Sberbank The German government had demanded the sale of control of Opel as a condition for financing a bailout of the unit. Mr. Lutz, 77 years old, has a long history in the auto industry on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, including a stint running Ford Motor Co.'s European operation. Mr. Lutz began a product overhaul at GM in 2001, and moved over to marketing following GM's exit from bankruptcy in July. Mr. Forster's expected departure would be the first exit of a top-level manager after GM's sudden change of plans for Opel. Mr. Forster, a former BMW executive lured to GM in 2001 to turn around Opel, was increasingly at odds with executives in Detroit as he became an unusually outspoken advocate for the sale of Opel to Canadian-Austrian auto supplier Magna. GM may appoint Nick Reilly, head of the U.S. car maker's international operations, at least as an interim head, people close to the matter said. GM Chief Executive Frederick "Fritz" Henderson said Thursday that the U.S. car maker would select a new management team for Opel within "weeks or days." He and Mr. Reilly are expected in Germany early next week for talks with Opel managers as part of GM's plans to restructure the money-losing European car maker. GM is also under pressure to mend fences with German lawmakers and labor leaders after backing out of the Magna sale after months of wrangling with unions and the German government. A person close to the company said GM and Mr. Forster are still negotiating his departure but that is likely to be of mutual understanding.

Bob there is a difference in those two meats and their taste. Whan you say Lamb meat in Indian or Arabic food it usually means Goat meat. It is usually lean compared to sheep meat which has more fat. In Indian food - sheep meat is considered inferior compared to the goat meat because extra fat it ruins the flavor.

:rotflmao:

CAR and DRIVER review of 2005 Equinox from April 2004. Somehow it got lost in translation of being a truly under developed and thrashed vehicle in 2009 to a point of being a whipping kid of Journalists, Enthusiasts, GM fans you name it.

I guess 68 will come dancing naked if it comes without B-pillar.

Come on Borger, it was a no brainer to keep Opel. If Forster thought otherwise he was really smoking some high quality stuff. Hey did you guys play grandmaster chess to get rid of him too?

Crying over spilled milk?

It is not a generalization. Sorry if I made it feel that way. I know people who do care are the people who will bring this country back - the rest need to be educated the right way to support the people who care.

Umm when most of plasma and LCD TV's came none of them were in smaller scale. The battle was for bigger size most were sizes 45"+. As pixel density increased smaller LCD screens came into picture. So as for your example it is wrong too. Put it this way the manufacturers of plasma and LCD TV's knew that it would be futile to compete against the well established and cheap CRT from the bottom so their approach was from the top. Technology rarely starts cheap and becomes mass market overnight. I guess if you were in 1960's you would have expected in 1965 to have PC with a 4 quad core processors and 128GB ram sitting on your lap for a price of $300. As for your "Deadweight" of battery. There is always a factor of safety for engineering most of the designs. A factor of safety of 2 which GM is using for battery life is not a bad thing. It is better to play safe than sorry. Most engineered things which can be very precise still have a factor of safety of 1.3 - 1.5 because you cannot control everything. The only thing which does not follow the rule is the space shuttle, which is usually designed for a factor of safety of 1.05 because if it is overdesigned it will never take off. The main thing people arguing against Volt showing its price as a hindrance forget is that it is the idea behind it which is important. It gives US a chance to be energy independent. Cars like those give chance to build new infrastructure for charging and help in jumping the economy. If oil production is reduced by 50% by the Arabs - 70% people will still go to work by charging the Volts. Prius owners will still go to work more than Silverado owners do but after a while what will fill their tanks with? A$ Gas? Americans want freedom and but they fail to recognize that freedom has no price tag. The other manufacturers from other countries have grasped the exact same idea. And no you cannot be incremental in such things, you have to be radical because you never know when oil will run out. One of my import loving friend from India put it this way. It is better to pay $ more for freedom than pay less and spend money away to the world's most unstable region. He believes that Volt is a great step from GM and he HATES GM just like you do. I will give you his phone number if you want to talk to him about it. Sad part is foreigners see it Americans born here do not.

When FlyBrian and I were at the Miami Autoshow in 2007, Brian Nesbitt had personally shown it to us and talked about it. I think one of us even snapped a photo. Gotta check and see.

Great news to cap an already good day. LOL

I thought FOG was invited and was planning to go. You might as well talk to him.

Satty might be one of the 227 considering his love for the vehicle.

I want names of those 227 people who bought the G3.

+1. There is an embargo.

[source: General Motors] Camaro Extravaganza: Chevrolet Hits the SEMA Show With Five Inspired Concepts Of The Red-Hot Sports Coupe Desert-ready Silverado Vision Concept and Accessorized Corvette Grand Sport Also on Display November 03, 2009 LAS VEGAS – Chevrolet unveiled five dramatic Camaro concepts at the annual automotive aftermarket extravaganza known as the SEMA Convention, each representing a different vision of style, personalization and performance. The Camaro concept vehicles include: A race-ready, twin-turbocharged V-6 concept built for talk show host and auto enthusiast Jay Leno The Camaro Synergy concept that reveals a new, limited-production exterior color for spring 2010 and is accented with a number of production accessories and custom touches The Camaro Chroma, an SS-based concept with a number of future accessories The Camaro Dusk, which incorporates current and proposed accessories to create a contemporary tuner aesthetic Camaro Graphics, highlighting six proposed accessory graphics packages, with online voting by the public to gauge interest in potential future production of one or more of the packages. "During the annual SEMA Convention, the popularity of a new car can be easily judged by the number of 'tuner' versions used by various companies to showcase their latest products; and the Camaro is our runaway hit this year, with countless examples displaying everything from mild styling accessories to wild performance modifications," said Brent Dewar, vice president, Global Chevrolet Brand. "We're thrilled by all the creative ideas, but especially proud of the cars we developed in-house. They represent modern interpretations of the Camaro that could easily be created by owners using the accessories offered by Chevrolet." Many of the Camaro accessories can be ordered through Chevy dealers for installation at the time of the vehicle's purchase. This allows customers to personalize their cars to their exact wishes, with installation handled by the dealer and the cost rolled into the monthly payments. In addition to the Camaro contingent, Chevrolet is also showing the Silverado ZR2 concept and an accessorized Corvette Grand Sport at SEMA. Here's a closer look at each of the concepts: The Jay Leno Camaro Powered by a twin-turbocharged version of the 3.6L direct injected V-6 that is standard in Camaro LS and LT models, Leno's Camaro blends high performance with surprising efficiency in a racing-ready package. A pair of Turbonetics T-3 turbochargers blows through a custom air-to-air intercooler, force-feeding the engine about seven pounds of boost and lifting its horsepower level to about 425. That's about 40 percent greater than stock and in normal driving (when the turbochargers aren't making boost), there's virtually no penalty in fuel economy over the non-turbocharged 3.6L engine. "Jay's Camaro offers style, performance and efficiency in a big way," said Dewar. "It delivers the power of a Camaro SS on demand, but with the fuel economy of a V-6." Supporting upgrades for the turbo system include a larger-capacity Be-Kool radiator and a custom exhaust system, as well as a Centerforce-supplied clutch and pressure plate for the six-speed manual transmission. The tubing for the turbo system is powder-coated blue. The powertrain was designed to deliver consistent, controllable power for both the street and race track. In fact, road racing was a primary mission for the car during its development. Additional vehicle also support its racing intent: Brembo six-piston brake package Pedders coil-over lowering kit New front fascia with custom fog lamps and integral brake cooling vents Air extractor-style hood The exterior styling of Leno's car is the most radical of all the Camaro concepts at SEMA. The front fascia and hood are one-off creations, as are the unique upper and lower grilles and the ground effects package (including a rear diffuser). The heritage-inspired vent styling in front of the rear wheels has been replaced with functional brake cooling ducts. Camaro Synergy The Camaro Synergy concept previews a new Synergy Green production exterior color that will be offered on a special-edition Camaro in the first half of 2010. It also features a host of the latest Camaro accessories offered through Chevy dealers. They dramatically enhance the performance appearance of the car, demonstrating the personalization possibilities open to Camaro owners. Designers took liberties with the accessories, creating a totally unique package. Details include: 21-inch wheels, with a black center finish and polished rim Ground effects kit Cyber Grey Rally hood stripes High wing rear spoiler (future accessory) Performance air intake The ground effects include pronounced rocker moldings, a rear diffuser-type styling piece and a front spoiler. They, along with the rear wing spoiler and rally stripes, are finished in the production Cyber Grey color, although the ground effects and spoiler can be painted to match the exterior of the car. The Rally stripes are adhesive-backed and are offered in grey, black or white. They're part of a broader range of heritage-inspired graphics that also include "hockey stick" stripes for the front fenders. Chevy designers further enhanced the concept with a Pedders coil-over lowering kit and a set of large, Brembo brakes, as well as color-coordinating the Jet Black interior with Synergy Green accent stitching, piping and other accents. The lowering kit, brakes and interior accents are not among the accessories offered for the Camaro, but represent common and popular aftermarket upgrades. Chevrolet will gauge public interest in the features for possible inclusion in future accessory offerings. Camaro Chroma It looks like the custom creation of a tuner shop, but the Camaro Chroma simply demonstrates how carefully selected accessories available through Chevy dealers can create a look like nothing else. The Camaro Chroma is based on an SS/RS model in Summit White and uses a combination of current and not-yet-released components, including: A new silver stripe package 21-inch wheels (future product, with silver-painted spoke centers and a Victory Red stripe) "Blade" rear spoiler (future product) Summit White ground effects package Rear fender vent graphics Accessory front grille with body-color outer frame (future accessory) "With its silver graphics on the Summit White paint, this car has a tailored, tone-on-tone appearance that is simultaneously racy and subdued," said Todd Parker, design manager, GM Accessory Studio. "It is a sophisticated-looking car that is easily duplicated by any customer, because all of the parts are available to build it." From a performance standpoint, the Camaro Chroma's standard LS3 V-8 engine is equipped with current accessories, including a performance intake, shorty headers and performance exhaust system. There's also a Victory Red engine cover and a Hurst short-throw shifter for the six-speed manual transmission, as well as red-painted Brembo brake calipers. Inside, the black-and-grey leather seats feature red accent stitching, as do the shifter boot, floor mats and door trim. Accessory inserts for the dashboard and door panels (in silver) are also included as available accessories. "What's great about the Camaro Chroma is it speaks to the almost unlimited possibilities that the accessories offer," said Parker. "You can build your Camaro mild or wild, but build it your way." Camaro Dusk Inspired by the style of young, urban professionals, the Camaro Dusk concept rolls with a contemporary tuner aesthetic. It is understatedly aggressive looking, with a lowered ride height, new 21-inch wheels, the rear spoiler from an SS model and a custom ground effects package. "This is a car with an international flair, bringing the Camaro to a place it hasn't traditionally been," said Parker. "It is a very tailored look that is stylish and sophisticated, but with a distinct American accent." The ground effects package includes a racing-inspired front splitter, rocker extensions and a rear diffuser. They are prototype parts that may enter production as dealer-available accessories at a later date; the same goes for the 21-inch wheels from BBS. Many of the details, such as the taillamp and fog lamp bezels, match the finish of the wheels, lending a more premium look to the car. The Camaro Dusk's body is painted Berlin Blue, while the ground effects are painted a contrasting color. Additional performance items include the exhaust system and Brembo brakes from a Camaro SS (with painted calipers). The interior is trimmed in stylish Jet Black and Sedona, with complementing features including footwell lighting, premium door sill plates and other details. Today's young professionals expect advanced technology and premium audio options and this concept delivers with a crisp, well-tuned Boston Acoustics sound system, WiFi connectivity and a convenient cradle for an iPhone. Camaro Graphics Camaro designers dreamed up half a dozen proposals for accessory graphics packages, with the intent of soliciting feedback from Camaro enthusiasts for possible production. Chevrolet then launched the graphics campaign in mid-October, asking Camaro fans on Facebook to pick their favorite design. The top four designs were produced and brought to the SEMA Convention, where a Silver Ice Metallic Camaro will wear each contender on a different day. At the conclusion of the convention, after thousands of enthusiasts see the graphics on the car in person and on Facebook, another round of voting will occur. The top vote-getter will be considered for future production. "Camaro has thousands of fans on the various social media sites and this is a great way to demonstrate that Chevrolet is connected to our customers," said Dewar. "With so many great designs to choose from, we're sure the voting will be close, but whatever the outcome, the real winners will be the customers who personalize their Camaro with the winning graphics package." The Camaro Graphics display vehicle will be located prominently in the GM display during the SEMA Convention, starting on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009. At the close of the convention each day, the graphics package will be changed. All of the proposed graphics packages can be viewed and voted on by logging onto Camaro's Facebook page: www.facebook.com/chevycamaro. Silverado ZR2 concept At a glance, it's clear the Silverado ZR2 concept wasn't designed to haul flowers back from the nursery. With its widened body, tall stance and powerful LS supercharged engine, it is ready to hit the berms, dry washes and gullies of the Baja Peninsula. The Silverado ZR2 is based on an extended cab/short box body. The custom bodywork includes carbon fiber fender flares that stretch outward to cover the 35-inch-tall Goodyear Wrangler off-road tires and widened stance. Much of the truck's body is made of carbon fiber, including the front fenders, extractor-style hood, rocker extensions and tailgate, which features large, debossed CHEVROLET lettering as a nod to Chevy trucks of the past. The pickup box, which is protected with a spray-on liner, features a unique locking storage system mounted to the extruded aluminum Cargo Management System rails from Chevy Accessories. Many of the carbon fiber parts, including the hood, are clear-coated, rather than painted, to show off the intricate weave pattern of the high-tech, lightweight material. The parts that aren't clear carbon fiber are painted Dune Metallic, a color that blends with the desert terrain. A large, more prominent grille is also part of the package and is a vision of what designers would like to see in a production or accessory part. It is very functional, feeding cool air to the 550-horsepower LS supercharged crate engine from GM Performance Parts. The combination of 20-inch BBS RD wheels – reminiscent of historic Chevy truck wheel – and aggressive Goodyear Wrangler MT/R tires connect to the chassis via BDS shocks and a four-inch lift kit to help negotiate those desert trails. The new front fascia dramatically improves approach angle and skid plates protect the chassis. The interior features more carbon fiber details on the dash, along with black leather and suede-trimmed seats with contrasting stitching to those trail runs more comfortable. "There's more to this concept than meets the eye," said Dewar. "Some of the components are being explored for possible inclusion in upcoming models." Accessorized Corvette Grand Sport with Heritage Package Earlier this year, Chevrolet announced the return of the Corvette Grand Sport model. It's a track-oriented Corvette with wider wheels and tires, special suspension tuning and unique exterior details. The Corvette Grand Sport achieves a 0-60 time of less than four seconds, pulls 1.0 g on the skid pad and still boasts an EPA-rated highway fuel economy 26 mpg. The version displayed at SEMA introduces a host of Grand Sport accessories that will be offered in 2010. It is a standard Grand Sport convertible equipped with the Heritage Package, but in a new Cyber Grey exterior color, with forthcoming accessories that include: Mesh inserts for the front fender vents ZR1-style front splitter and rear spoiler (painted satin black) ZR1-style rocker extensions and wheel spats (painted satin black) Body-color door handles and license plate frame Tinted dark chrome fender badges "Tech" pattern engine cover with red lettering inserts Grand Sport-logo hood blanket Grand Sport-logo floor mats and leather console cover Red stitched shifter knob/boot and red parking brake boot "Tech" pattern interior trim kit PAL iPod connector Convertible wind screen Racing-style pedal covers Interior storage pouches The Grand Sport accessories are expected to go on sale in early 2010. They're available through any Chevrolet or other authorized GM dealer.