Northstar

Here's my entry: Mod's include wheels, lowering, removing roof rails, making it a quad coupe, getting rid of the little spoiler thing that messed up the roofline a little bit (IMO), made the taillight red, gave the headlight some color, and of course coloring it black. If anyone wants to see more colors I think I'll start a thread in the Member's showcase with a bunch of colors, I can whip them up pretty quick since I already have all the work done for coloring.

What does everyone think about the Tahoe for CC6? Usually I try not to do SUVs two comps in a row, but I think the Tahoe would be a great comp.

As fuel_sipping said, if you resized your chop to the correct width you got 1 bonus point. I spend quite a bit of time resizing chops to get them ready for the contest when there are a lot of chops that aren't sized as specified.

I count 6 entries so far. mygraphix is no longer working, so I'll have to wait until he re-submits his entry to start voting. I have one coming so that makes 7, but there's only about 9 hours left in the competition, so it doens't look like we'll get 15 entries.

I don't think many people cared to look through the huge press releases when the Tahoe debuted, but there is some interesting info on the Escalade: The iconic design cues that made the Escalade a cultural phenomenon are enhanced with the 2007 model – cues that established a new design language for all Cadillac vehicles. The ’07 model also incorporates elements introduced on the landmark Sixteen concept vehicle. These elements include vertical headlamp housing with HID tri-segment lighting elements and new, stylish front fender vents. Escalade features a more prominent Cadillac wreath-and-crest emblem in the center of the traditional shield-shaped grille. It is confidently scaled to the proportions of the bold front end styling. The grille surface is predominantly chrome, with painted elements that add texture and visual depth. It is inset with compartmentalized groups of jewel-like vents and a detailed chrome-trim liner that has a textured screen with bright edges and black sides. The overall look is more detailed, enhancing Escalade’s luxury aura. Escalade’s new, larger HID headlamps further the vertical-design theme established by the previous-generation model, but are more prominent and feature three distinct elements. The lamps’ interior parabolas are highly reflective and contribute to the jeweled looked when viewed through the crystal-clear lenses. The Cadillac logo is etched into the bulb shields, which contain new HID lighting elements. The Escalade has a unique, wraparound front fascia that creates a seamless appearance. The lower portion of the fascia incorporates recessed, integrated tow hooks, owing to the Escalade’s primary mission as a capable full-size SUV. In true Escalade fashion, the tow hook openings make a stylish design statement. The new front fascia flows smoothly into the front fenders, which are distinguished with Escalade-exclusive front fender vents. The vents, located at the top-rear corner of the fenders deliver a detailed appearance, with three sections set off by a chrome top bar and chrome surround trim. The vents add visual distinction to the Escalade lineup and are sure to become signature hallmarks, like the vertical headlamps and prominent wreath-and-crest grille emblem. As with the front end, Escalade models have a specific wraparound rear fascia. The license plate holder is integrated into the liftgate and a prominent wreath-and-crest emblem is mounted above it. The fascia also incorporates sensors for the standard Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist feature, as well as the standard trailer hitch platform. The platform is covered to maintain Escalade’s tailored appearance, but is easily removable. Escalade’s vertical lighting theme also is carried to the rear of the vehicle, with two arrays of elegant LED-lit taillamps. The lamps feature indirect optics and numerous sources of illumination per unit, which provides a broader, more even lighting display and eliminates the “pinpoints of light” normally associated with LEDs. As part of its bold, powerful appearance, Escalade offers optional 22-inch wheels and tires – the largest factory-installed wheels in the full-size segment. All Escalade models – including those equipped with the standard 18-inch wheels and tires – feature a unique seven-spoke wheel design.

It was a preproduction, so that's probably why the glovebox is out of whack. The guy I talked to said it cost $250 thousand to make it (hand built) and the driver that took it to the dealership locked it and took the key just in case the dealership tried to drive it. I touched the very upper part of the door panel, and it was really hard, but I didn't touch the lower area that looks softer. I may go back tomorrow and try to touch it, but you weren't supposed to touch anything and there were quite a few dealership people around.

The M35 and M45 do have nice interiors, but the rest of Nissan/Infiniti interiors are generally shoddy. The leather is paper thin in the FX and QX, when I went to the auto show both had rips in the leather, and were the only vehicles that had rips in the leather.

Well, I stopped by the Saturn dealer today since there was a big trailer outside with the Sky on the side. The Sky was inside, so it was hard to get the pics to look great, but I think they're pretty good despite the odd lighting. The salesman I talked to was very knowledgeable and said they already had gotten four orders since the Sky had arrived. I asked him about a Redline and he said that he talked with a Pontiac rep and they said the Solstice was going to be a supercharger. However, we've seen spy pics of a turbo Solstice, so we'll see how everything pans out. Anyways, here are the pics of the green Sky. I don't recall seeing any green Sky pics, so these may be the first on the 'net. Enjoy!

Sorry I didn't get this posted earlier, but I was rather busy with other things. Anyways, here are the results: The winner, with 20 points, was BuddyP: In second place, with 15 points, was mygraphix: In third place, with 11 points, was LS1powered_Z28: Congrats to everyone who entered and especially the winners!

The Tahoe has been added to the future vehicles section on Chevy.com The pics are pretty small, but you can see the 8-passenger seating (middle bench seat), and there are a couple interior pics without NAV. The wood also appears to be of a different color.

The Lucerne might not be any better, but it's a lot heavier than the CTS, and the CTS also has a 5 speed vs. the Lucerne's 4-speed. What does the 3600 get in the LaCrosse? It would surely get worse in the Lucerne.

It won't have the 6.1 in the R/T. They only put that in the SRT-8s. So this must have the 5.7. As for the truck, they made the Dakota, which wasn't horrible but wasn't pretty either, look worse. The hood scoop is executed horribly, and the wheels suck ass. They need to lower it a bit too, IMO.

I haven't really decided when I'm going to close it. Who else still needs more time?

I didn't even notice the mileage. If it really did have 0 miles on it then wouldn't it get better results after being broken in?

Sorry I haven't gotten the results posted yet; I've been rather busy with school and basketball along with other stuff lately. I'll try to get it done tomorrow.

Wouldn't the fact that it already has more orders than the Miata normally sells in a year say something about it already being the new darling of America's sun worshippers? :rolleyes: Okay, sure... Didn't some mag think the Solstice was more fun?

That torque curve is pretty damn flat. Looks like the power really starts coming on at about 4500RPM.

Yeah, you can do two entries if you want.

What Holden concept are you talking about? Quite obviously it's not just a chop of it.

What are you talking about? The gaps looks fine, and considering they still have two years until production, they'll be even tighter on the production version.

Yeah, as many as you want.

I think the 3800 is getting replaced by the 3900 or 3.6L HF V6 for 2006. Anyways, the pricing is pretty good, although I think another grand lower for the base model would be better. :lol: I can't believe they said it somehow competes with those two. Maybe the engine can compete with the engines in those two, but there's no way the Lucerne does.

I don't understand what you want them to do... This is a VERY high volume vehicle and a VERY high volume platform... the highest volume of any platform by far. Do you want them to totally revolutionize it? What happens if they try to be super different and design something really cool and futuristic like say, the Quest, and it flops because no one wants that look right now? GM would be F'd. As for the interior compared to the other ones: It's not all about the layout and whatnot, the fit and finish and tight panel gaps are important. Little details like the chrome rings around the knobs and between the buttons add a touch of class that the others don't have. The Tahoe has by far the best fit and finish. The Armada has big gaps everywhere, the Durango is a brick with an ugly radio and climate control, the Expedition has the cheezy inset Ford radio and climate control, and the Sequoia looks like something Ford put out in '97.

The exterior looks sweet. Looks like a combination of the Aura and Insignia. I'm not in love with the interior, but it's still pretty good and hopefully it looks better in different colors.

I don't think the Sequoia's going to be any better than the Tahoe. It'll be good, but I doubt it will surpass the Tahoe if the Tahoe is as good as it sounds. BTW I think the Everest interior looks like crap. It's a big boring block with no design inspiration and the ugly Ford corporate radio.