Nodnarb

Interior Pics and Genesis in red.

And a spy shot of the back seat.

A three-ton, $54,000 mullet.

BY DAVE VANDERWERP, PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFFREY G. RUSSELL

November 2006

Who would have predicted that this gratuitous union of a Chevy Avalanche with a Cadillac Escalade would have survived long enough to see a redesign?

Certainly not us. When we first drove Cadillac’s pickup truck, we thought it made about as much sense as “an office desk that converts into a Hovercraft” or “mint-flavored Drano.”

That was no skin off Cadillac’s nose, which found more than 40,000 takers from 2002 through 2005, apparently a sufficient number to justify a makeover similar to that of the Escalade SUV for 2007. This includes the 6.2-liter V-8 and six-speed automatic, flashier sheetmetal, an all-new interior, and a stiffer structure.

When we look at the EXT, we think “Cadillac’s mullet.” Why? Well, the common description of the short-on-top, long-everywhere-else hairstyle is “business in front, party in back.” That fits the EXT perfectly, only in reverse. This truck’s party of chrome is up front, and the cargo-hauling pickup bed, the business end, is out back.

Of course, if you are seriously looking for utility, check out a $33,180 Chevy Avalanche that can outtow the EXT by 400 pounds. But Cadillac buyers probably aren’t, since these behemoth EXTs are usually seen in metropolitan areas hogging valuable parking spaces.

The new $54,430 EXT has 403 horsepower (58 more), ­accelerates quicker (0-to-60 mph in 7.1 seconds versus 7.9), feels much more composed over the road, and has far superior brake and steering feel. Fact is, it’s better in almost every way. But compared with the already-hard-to-justify Escalade SUV, the EXT provides less passenger space, worse maneuverability, and a heftier curb weight (so heavy, in fact, that it is no longer required to bear EPA fuel-economy ratings). So, despite the improved dynamics, we think it remains one of the most ridiculous vehicles on the market.

Vehicle type: front-engine, 4-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 5-door pickup

Price as tested: $61,740 (base price: $54,430)

Engine type: pushrod 16-valve V-8, aluminum block and heads, port fuel injection

Displacement: 376 cu in, 6162cc

Power (SAE net): 403 bhp @ 5700 rpm

Torque (SAE net): 417 lb-ft @ 4300 rpm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic with manumatic shifting

Wheelbase: 130.0 in

Length/width/height: 222.0/79.1/74.5 in

Curb weight: 6013 lb

Zero to 60 mph: 7.1 sec

Zero to 100 mph: 19.7 sec

Street start, 5–60 mph: 7.3 sec

Standing ¼-mile: 15.6 sec @ 91 mph

Top speed (governor limited): 107 mph

Braking, 70–0 mph: 204 ft

Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.73 g

EPA fuel economy, city driving (C/D est): 13 mpg

C/D-observed fuel economy: 12 mpg

LS460 article

Bias anyone?

http://www.businessweek.com/autos/content/...0601_836628.htm

Some mighty fine reporting there.

Apparently Lexus is giving the owners free iPod nanos when they bring their car in for the recall work. It doesn't make the situation any better, but it does help keep good relations with the owner. And as long as they keep doing things like this, they will stay in a positive light with the owners in spite of recalls.

My main question is did they really need to kiss their own ass so much in the press release? Reading the pricing release for the Suburban and reading this one back to back made the difference quite noticeable. The one for the Suburban got straight to the relevant information rather than give the reader all kinds of rediculous quotes from high-ups about what a great car the Suburban has been and this one will be.

I'm with you Decka. Please bring the 3-door. I really want a hatchback, but neither the Mazda3 or Golf are quite my cup of tea. Since they sometimes pay attention to this site, perhaps if enough people show interest they will do it.

Well, you can judge for yourself. Here is a gallery of the production model.

Yeah. They're out there on other forums, but are being removed. Sorry for the false alarm.

Well, to top it all off, the Oklahoma City plant is going to be the first to close, with the shut down coming in February. It is the plant that makes the Envoy XL and TrailBlazer EXT.

Reuters Story.

By Rick Kranz and Jamie LaReau
Automotive News / December 05, 2005
DETROIT -- General Motors has canceled an extensive re-engineering of the Chevrolet TrailBlazer and GMC Envoy for mid-2007.

The automaker will change the exterior and interior styling and probably push back the restyled vehicles' introduction to January 2008, say sources familiar with the vehicle program.

GM's decision reflects the sales nosedive of truck-based SUVs, the automaker's financial plight and the expectation that many SUV owners will shift to crossover vehicles that offer better fuel economy.

Combined U.S. sales of the TrailBlazer and Envoy this year through November were 319,591 units, down 16.4 percent from the year-ago period.

Other vehicles on the mid-sized SUV architecture are the Buick Rainier, which is scheduled to die after the 2007 model year; the Saab 9-7X; and the Isuzu Ascender.

Still to be decided is whether GM will continue to offer both standard and stretched versions of the TrailBlazer and Envoy, sources say.

The stretched versions are made primarily in the Oklahoma City plant, which GM plans to close next year.

https://www.autonews.com/buyArchives.cms?articleId=55632

I think that this was pretty well established, but this confirms it.

They always claim their main factor is significance in the segment. Granted the Civic is very significant in the segment it competes in, the IS is significant in its class, probably more so than the Civic. While it likely would not have been my pick, it certainly isn't a bad call, at least I don't think it is.

Maybe it's just me, but I really don't like the gauges. They look to much like dressed up versions of what are in the Colorado/Canyon twins. I think the gauges in the Denali look classier.

Well police departments have been using FWD Chevy Impalas with the 3800 motor for a couple of years now. That car only has 200 HP. If the Impala can be a police interceptor I can't see why the 268 HP Avalon can't. It actually produces more Hp than the Crown Vic Police Interceptor which I believe only produces 239 HP from its rather antiquated V8 engine.

I'm not sure about the Impala, but I know the Crown Vic's the police use have much stronger engines than standard Crown Vic's. IIRC, it is a derivative of the Mustang's V8.

New, very revealing pics from Edmunds.

I've seen everything now.

Recall of 1.27 Million Cars Mars Toyota's Reputation
The Wall Street Journal 10/18/05
author: Jathon Sapsford
(Copyright © 2005, Dow Jones & Company, Inc.)
TOKYO -- Toyota Motor Corp.'s stellar reputation for quality took a drubbing with the announcement of a major recall of 1.27 million vehicles because of a faulty light switch on the steering column.

Coming on the eve of the Tokyo Motor Show, an event dominated by Toyota, the recall will affect 16 different models, including the Corolla sedan and the RAV4 sport-utility vehicle. Most of the recall will affect customers in Japan, but will also affect 137,000 vehicles exported to markets including Singapore, Australia and Thailand. Toyota said the recall will cost the company 14.7 billion yen, or roughly $128 million.

Toyota, Japan's largest car maker by sales, has long had a reputation as one of the world's most quality-conscious companies, consistently winning top accolades from such arbiters as J.D. Power & Associates for its ability to make cars that run longer with fewer problems. But the company has been rushing to answer surging demand for its products in markets at home and abroad by building a slew of new factories all over the world.

Toyota's senior managers have repeatedly expressed concern over how the company will keep a handle on quality as the company produces everything from mini-cars in Eastern Europe to minivans in Thailand to large pickup trucks in Texas.

Because of our bigger size, so-called big-company disease has become insipient at our company, said Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe at a conference in Tokyo, before the recall was announced. We are not immune to those problems.

Toyota said it would recall cars manufactured between 2000 and 2002. The problem is with the light switch on the steering column of some right-hand drive cars, most of them sold exclusively in the Japanese market. Company officials said that with time, the switch would grow faulty and the headlights would begin to flicker, and in some cases no longer work.

Toyota said the move isn't likely to have a major impact on its earnings. But the move is a second blow to its reputation, coming only a few days after the company said that it would recall 160,000 of its popular Prius sedan, a low-emission, fuel-efficient gasoline-electric hybrid that is growing in popularity along with the rise in energy costs.

The most recent recall, filed with Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, was the biggest on record for a Japanese auto maker. The previous record was held by Nissan Motor Co. which in 1996 recalled 1.04 million cars due to a defect related to car radios.

So while not in the US, still the biggest recall Japan has ever seen.

In all this excitement, I've just got to say, I wish I knew what searches to run to find out all this information as you continue to do time and time again. I've just got to say kudos to Josh and whoever else (if anyone) was involved for finding this and sharing with the rest of us.

There's one on ebay and it is actually very impressive looking. The color combinations and photography are what GM needed when showing this vehicle.

Ebay Auction

I don't know that I would pay $27,900 for it, but a nice looking vehicle none the less.

Wow...I just noticed those nasty rims on that particular Civic in Viper's post.  It's probably the hybrid but why the disgusting rims?

Allegedly those rims are more aerodynamic, helping reduce drag along the side of the car as the air goes over the rims. AKA, we designed a crappy rim, but want to use it and justify it in a way that will get us even more praise for "attention to detail."

I've got to say that POD isn't terrible. As well as Jars of Clay as was mentioned.