vrazzhledazzle

Perfect.

I love the idea. Fuel economy should be great & if they look good and are priced right there is no reason for the Smart to come to the US. Not crazy about this design, but I'll stay optimistic for the other two.

It is starting to seem less likely GM will be buying Chrysler. I still think there is a strong possibility that GM will be in some way involved with Chrysler Group though and I wouldn't be surprised if they make a bid.

Yea stop with the ideal Caddy lineup thing. Killing STS would be just dumb, leaves a huge gap between CTS (few face of Caddy targeting MB&BMW buyers) and the DTS (all school all american luxury). Anyway, the Cadillac Sixteen (or anything that looks remotely like it) would be the greatest car ever in my opinion because the concept was....beyond 'the best' design ever.

The first pic is great for comparison. The chrome around the taillights, fortunately, look good compared to the chrome glasses on the 9-5.

Vibe is not gonna be there, H4 im not sure about. But either way.. SEVEN? oh baby

Saturn Aura Green Line becomes lowest priced hybrid General Motors today announced the 2007 Aura Green Line hybrid will start at $22,695 (including destination charge), making it the lowest-priced hybrid on the market for 2007. What's more, the IRS has certified that Aura Green Line buyers will qualify for a tax credit of $1,300. “The Aura Green Line is a great value among the hybrids in the mid-size car segment,” said Saturn General Manager Jill Lajdziak. “With a starting sticker price over $2,000 less than any mid-sized hybrid sedan and a $1,300 tax credit, it makes true hybrid fuel savings available to more people than ever before.” The Aura Green Line’s EPA fuel economy rating of 28 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway represents up to a 30 percent improvement in EPA combined fuel economy compared to the non-hybrid Aura XE model (depending on driving conditions). The Aura is assembled at the General Motors Fairfax Plant in Kansas City , Kan. , and Green Line hybrid models are beginning to arrive at Saturn retail facilities. The hybrid system in the Aura combines sophisticated controls with a precise electric motor/generator mated to a 2.4-liter engine. The system delivers fuel economy gains by providing electric power assist during acceleration, through early fuel cut-off during deceleration with torque smoothing and by shutting the engine off at idle. The system also captures electrical energy through regenerative braking. The vehicle’s hybrid powertrain produces 164 horsepower (122 kW) at 6400 rpm and 159 lb.-ft. (215 Nm) of peak torque at 5000 rpm. The reaction seems to be good... even on the import humper car sites

Actually, its confirmed that the next gen Matrix is supposed to go directly directly after the Mazda 3, just like the new Turda after the F-150, Silverado, and Ram. Toyota has realized that some of their vehicles are actually very uncompetitive in their segments so their "but, it's a Toyota!!" bull$h! won't sell them anymore...so now they're redesigning them. I hope the Astra kills whatever Auris $h! they try to $h! out on the US.

And all four that Fly mentioned are Hybrids. So that either leaves the Vibe as the only non-hybrid to get more than 30 in the city (along with the Matrix??) OR, with the new ratings, the Vibe is no longer rated at 30 in the city.

What about changing the name to the G# I don't know if I like the GM name schemes lately...I mean, instead of DeVille, they have the DTS (DeVille Touring Sedan)??? If Pontiac brings back another take on the GTO, it better be called GTO, not G7 or something.

Maybe its one of those ambient lighting that changes colors to help soothe you and all that $h! (like in those bathtubs where the water can change color) ...whatever it is, its gay.

UPDATE: Pontiac has told us that the new Vibe will be appearing at the Los Angeles Auto Show in the fall instead of the New York show. The word on the web is that GM won't be taking the Pontiac Vibe behind the tool shed just yet. The Vibe nameplate, however, may be gone in favor of a "G" designation to follow with Pontiac's current naming scheme. While there is no official confirmation, the second-generation Vibe is expected to continue to be a joint product between GM and Toyota. The Matrix, Toyota's version of the car, is set to be replaced next spring by a car designed after the Mazda3 and similar to the European-market Auris.

Exec Shuffle: Nissan Attempts To Strengthen Management in Major Shakeup TOKYO — Nissan announced on Friday that Carlos Ghosn, its iconoclastic chief executive, will be pulled out of his role overseeing the company's U.S. operations as part of a major shakeup to bolster management at the Japanese automaker. Instead, Ghosn will be charged with directing the overall strategy of Nissan and its alliance partner Renault. Hiroto Saikawa, Nissan executive vice president for Europe and a purchasing wizard, will replace Ghosn for the Americas. The changes are effective April 1. "The priority for our new management team is to act decisively on the multiple challenges facing Nissan and to boost our overall performance in 2007," Ghosn said in a statement. At the same time, the Japanese automaker announced that it was slashing production at two factories in Japan because of slow sales. Nissan said a month ago it was on course for its first annual decline in profits since Ghosn was sent in to lead a revival in 1999. Ghosn, nicknamed "The Icebreaker," for his skill at ignoring local business practices that interfere with making money, is widely credited with turning Nissan around. In February, Nissan cut its annual profit forecast after a 22 percent decline in earnings in the fourth quarter. At the time, Ghosn described the situation as a "performance crisis." http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=120014

Looks great - obviously I'd rather see cops stopping me in this thing rather than Crown Vics and last-gen Impalas, but I don't want the Charger's image to be like that of the Crown Vic. Maybe keep this generation as a cop car and speed up its redesign.

Well people who know cars know its a Pontiac. Now as for people that don't - they saw my background, a G8 with badges and all, and thought it was a BMW

I'm not familiar with GMAC, but wasn't that thing GM's cash cow? I mean they sold it for quick cash...but wasn't that thing making them billions year after year.

"This is why Toyota lost so much money in 2005. They are gonna go bankrupt soon if they don't stop building and relying on gas-guzzling SUVs".

Hmm...so why does a Motor Trend blog headline say "GM reports $2 billion dollar loss"?

I know the article doesn't say Hyundai is planning a new brand. That was just MY forecast of what might happen considering how Hyundai has been trying to push further and further upmarket with the Azera and now the Genesis (which will be produced). I mean, even today, when I see the Hyundai badge, I think of cheap-0 cars like the Accent and Kia Rio (which is also build by Hyundai). In other words, I wouldn't pay more than 35,000 even for an ultra-lux Hyundai.

I read somewhere that they expected a $2.5 billion profit..that was exaggerated - or maybe it was the estimate for 2007.

I meant they have that trying-to-be-aggressive, but really its just bland.

1. Whatever, I was typin fast 2 - 3. I mean Asian. I know perfectly well that Hyundai-Kia is South Korean, I just though that the sketch looked influenced by Jap carmakers like Toyota and Mitsubishi (yea, I don;t know how to spell that either). 4. Agree

An articles from yesterday... There is Acura, Lexus, Infiniti, and now Genesis?? Personally, I think its very possible. I think Hyundai is testing the waters by moving up to more and more premium sedans. But why do all Asian cars look the same?? I'm getting a Camry feel from this sketch...

I'm not even a little biased when I say that this should happen. It is only fair since 80% of autoworkers (domestics of course) are unionized so Toy AND all other foreign automakers should not be exempted.

Then call them Global for all I care... why would they call them Asian-America. And what is this 'toyota is less foreign than other foreign companies' bull$h!. They are just a bigger company. Tax money stays in the US? Toyota gets a $400 million dollar tax break from state government to build their plants in their state!! Japan is the one who gets 90% of the benefits..US/Europe get like 10%....and Toyota is worth 189 billion to Japan's economy.