Northstar

Well one estimate was by Edmunds and the other was by Deutsche Bank. I'm not sure who to trust but Edmunds isn't always the most reliable source. I also find it hard to believe that Toyota has sold more cars this month than DCX, but I suppose it's possible.

I thought GM was going to be getting the hybrid first in the Tahoe, and that Dodge would get it a year later?

Done and done :D

Please do not post the link if it's the same one's we've already seen; it will have to be taken down as we do not want to get in trouble with GM.

I actually kind of like the new nose here, it looks much better than on the B9.

The STS-V has 469HP under the new standard, but the XLR-V has 443HP. GM says the reason is that less air gets to the engine in the XLR-V than the STS-V. Here is the press release.

It would appear to me that Honda has overstated their outputs in Acuras. The RL is down to 290 from 300; the TL is down to 254 from 270, and the MDX is down as well (don't remember how much). It will be interesting to see if the LS2 goes up at all and other American engines.

Looks good. Did you get it for your son? Does it have the auto or 5-speed? I moved the topic to Readers' Rides for you.

Is the screen standard even if you don't get NAV? It's going to have a lot of blank space if it's not. The other pic of the interior I saw was tan, black, silver, and dark gray, which looked really bad. It also had a horrible two-spoke steering wheel which was far worse than the one pictured (which is pretty fugly).

The Tahoe will be at the State Fair of Texas. Whether it debuts there or not I'm not certain, but it will be there (Sept. 30). I'm almost 100% certain they'll have 6-speed transmissions.

The host we were using shut us down without warning, so we had to find a new host. See Josh's post in Site News for more info.

Who's here? I was looking through the new list of members and didn't recognize some of the user names. I remember last time we re-did the site many members decided to change their user names. So, if you changed your user name, tell us here!

Z06 doing a (fake) burnout

I must say the changes make it look much better, even if it's still not the most attractive car ever. The new interior colors are better I think, and the chrome rings around the radio controls are a good touch. I don't much care for the steering wheel however. Exterior pics: Interior:

Swedish Hauler: Saab gets sporty with 9-3 SportCombi Roger Hart Published Date: 8/8/05 http://autoweek.com/article.cms?articleId=102880 2006 SAAB 9-3 SPORTCOMBI AERO ON SALE: November BASE PRICE: $32,900 POWERTRAIN: 2.8-liter, 250-hp, 258-lb-ft turbocharged V6; fwd, six-speed manual CURB WEIGHT: 3718 lbs 0 TO 62 MPH: 6.9 seconds (mfr.) Minivans and sport/utes might have been the death knell for station wagons in the United States, but the European manufacturers are thankfully keeping the wagon alive. While many baby boomers recoil at the thought of spending time in a wagon—visions of their parents’ fake wood-clad behemoths of the ’60s and ’70s forever seared into their brains—these Euro versions barely resemble what we remember wagons looking and acting like. Sporty wagons are being churned out by nearly every automaker on the continent from Audi to Volvo, and now Saab has a fun-to-drive wagon entry, too. And the Swedes—along with the Americans who help manage Saab from Detroit—hope the 9-3 SportCombi will work to change a few Americans’ attitudes about the sportwagon. The 9-3 SportCombi that debuted at this year’s Geneva show (March 7) is a five-door version of the 9-3 sedan, with the same track and wheelbase. Where you’d expect to find the trunk you instead find the expanded cargo area and a tailgate. Saab designers succeeded in giving the car a sporty look, due in part to a steeply raked windshield, short overhangs, small windows behind the C-pillars, and no roof rails. A lowered suspension adds to the aggressive look. The aluminum tailgate with integrated spoiler is also steeply raked, lowering the car’s roofline. The interior is identical to the 9-3 sedan. With its sleek, aerodynamic shape, Saab engineers say the 9-3 SportCombi, which has a Cd of 0.33, experiences zero lift front and rear at high speeds. While we didn’t really get to do much high-speed driving while testing the car in Sweden, we can say at speeds greater than would be legal on U.S. freeways, the car felt stable and fast. That speed was due to a new aluminum 2.8-liter turbo V6 that makes 250 hp and 258 lb-ft. Available in the top-of-the-line Aero model, the engine is based on the same displacement powerplant first seen in the 2005 Cadillac CTS; it comes from GM’s European Powertrain unit. With Saab’s experience turbocharging, the Swedes had considerable input into developing the engine. Built by Holden in Australia, it will see duty in a variety of GM vehicles. There are plenty of hi-po parts in the engine, including a forged crank and connecting rods and piston-cooling oil squirters. GM has been cranking out great engines lately, from the 2.0-liter Ecotec found in the Cobalt to the 6.0-liter V8 in the new Vette, and this Saab motor joins that list. Despite being a wagon, there is enough sport coming from the engine coupled to a six-speed manual gearbox to keep the driver’s attention. The twin-scroll, water-cooled Mitsubishi turbo with intercooling helps alleviate any sort of power lag. It uses two separate inlets, one for each cylinder bank, to improve efficiency and reduce energy loss. Another plus: There is nary a wiggle of torque steer. The wide powerband, near peak from 2000 to 4500 rpm, makes passing old Volvos on a two-lane road in the Swedish countryside a piece of cake. For long stretches of time we left the car in third or fourth gear, passing other cars at will. The SportCombi is equipped with a four-channel ABS system and mechanical brake assist. Four-wheel discs are standard, with 11.88-inch ventilated rotors in front, 10.9-inch in the rear. Traction control and electronic stability control are also standard. Saab expects to bring only about 2500 SportCombis to the United States beginning this fall. While European buyers can choose among eight different engines—six gas and two diesel—just two engine choices will be available here: the above-mentioned 2.8-liter V6 in the Aero ($32,900), and a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo making 210 hp and 221 lb-ft in the 2.0T that stickers for $26,900. Saab officials say the car’s main competitor in the States is the Audi A4 Avant, and with the 3.2 FSI quattro model stickering at $36,400 and the 2.0 turbo at $30,450, the SportCombi is priced thousands of dollars less than comparable Audis. Another direct competitor, the Volvo V50 T5 with a 2.5-liter 218-hp turbo, lists for $28,535. Wagons might never replace minivans and SUVs in American garages, but they can be a lot more fun to drive. Especially with 250 hp.

Well, it will certainly be a shortened edition due to the downtime of the site, but I thought we should have one anyways. I haven't seen much new stuff recently, but I did see a Subaru B9 Tribeca yesterday. The local dealer also got in a Colorado Xtreme which looked pretty cool.

With 425-horsepower HEMI® and 420 lb.-ft. of torque, “Charger on Steroids” is the Ultimate Modern American Muscle Sedan. All-new 2006 Dodge Charger SRT8 priced at $35,995 Zero to 60 mph in low 5 seconds, quarter-mile in under 14 seconds, 0-100-0 mph in under 17 seconds Horsepower-per-liter rating exceeds that of the legendary 1966 Street HEMIAdding a new level of Dodge DNA to the SRT formula of benchmark performance at the lowest price, the all-new 2006 Dodge Charger SRT8 is available for $35,995, which includes $675 for destination. Dodge Charger SRT8 arrives in Dodge showrooms in November. “With a 425-horsepower SRT-engineered HEMI, the all-new 2006 Dodge Charger SRT8 is the quickest sedan in the Dodge lineup,” said Darryl Jackson, Vice President - Dodge Marketing, Chrysler Group. “It combines SRT performance of zero to 60 mph in about 5 seconds and 0-100-0 in under 17 seconds, with the bold, in-your-face attitude that’s all Dodge. “Add it all up for $35,995 – and the all-new 2006 Dodge Charger SRT8 offers incredible bang for the buck,” added Jackson. The all-new 2006 Dodge Charger SRT8 is powered by a 6.1-liter HEMI V-8 engine producing 425 horsepower and 420 lb.-ft. of torque, and is equipped with a host of performance upgrades and premium amenities. Even More HEMI Power The heart of the 2006 Dodge Charger SRT8 is its SRT-engineered 6.1-liter HEMI V-8 engine, which generates 85 more horsepower than the 5.7-liter version with more cubic inches, higher compression ratio, faster engine speed and better engine breathing through special cylinder heads and manifolds. The 6.1-liter HEMI V-8 engine was strengthened with components including a reinforced engine block, forged steel crankshaft and high-strength connecting rods. The result is an engine capable of 425 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque - the highest specific-output V-8 engine ever offered by the Chrysler Group - with a horsepower-per-liter rating that exceeds even that of the legendary 1966 Street HEMI. 2006 Dodge Charger SRT8 Features The all-new 2006 Dodge Charger SRT8 is loaded with SRT-tuned performance upgrades, including large-diameter anti-sway bars, specially tailored spring rates, Bilstein dampers, Brembo four-piston disc brakes at the front and rear, and 20-inch forged aluminum wheels shod with Goodyear F1 Supercar three-season tires. 2006 Dodge Charger SRT8 standard features include power-adjustable, deeply sculpted and aggressively bolstered front seats trimmed with performance suede inserts that secure occupants during spirited driving. Other features include “carbon fiber” leather trim on the steering wheel, and special satin silver finish on the center stack. Full instrumentation includes a 180 mph speedometer, tachometer and temperature gauges. The interior is offered in Dark/Light Slate Gray. Available options include a power sun roof (MSRP $950) and a trio of SRT packages: Package 1 includes heated front seats, dual-zone air conditioning, air filtration system, automatic headlamps and one-touch up/down power front windows (MSRP $675) Package 2 includes a security system, 11-speaker Kicker® audio system with AM/FM radio and six-disc CD changer and MP3 (MSRP $1,245) Package 3 includes a DVD-based navigation system, SIRIUS Satellite Radio, which offers hundreds of commercial-free channels, and a UConnect™ hands-free communications system with Bluetooth™ technology (MSRP $2,550) Also available are supplemental side air bags (MSRP $390) and all-season tires (no extra charge). Functional SRT Exterior Design Cues The 2006 Dodge Charger SRT8’s exterior styling begins with an all-new front fascia with integrated ducts that help direct air to cool the brakes and a front air dam that reduces lift. The hood incorporates a scoop to funnel cool air to the engine compartment. In the rear, there are integrated strakes to direct air flow and aggressive cutouts to accommodate dual 3.5-inch exhaust tips. A deck lid spoiler set on dual stanchions increases downforce for better handling and traction. Dodge Charger SRT8 styling is also unique with a heritage-style SRT badge set into the blacked-out grille. Body-color exterior mirrors fold inward for convenience. Available exterior colors for the 2006 Dodge Charger SRT8 include Bright Silver, Brilliant Black and Inferno Red Crystal Pearlcoat. Street and Racing Technology (SRT) Formed in 2002, SRT is the industry’s leading in-house automotive performance group. SRT creates some of the Chrysler Group’s boldest, most distinctive products that deliver benchmark performance at the lowest price. SRT boasts 10 SRT-badged Chrysler and Dodge performance vehicles, all of which will be in dealer showrooms by year’s end: Dodge Viper SRT10 Convertible and Coupe, Dodge SRT4, Dodge Ram SRT10 regular cab and Quad Cab™, Dodge Magnum SRT8, Dodge Charger SRT8, Chrysler Crossfire SRT6 Coupe and Roadster and Chrysler 300C SRT8. The 11th SRT vehicle, the all-new 2006 Jeep® Grand Cherokee SRT8, will arrive in dealerships early next year.

http://www.allpar.com/cars/dodge/caliber.html It is certainly better than I was expecting, but I'm still not sure how much I like the interior.

The Lucerne ordering guide has finally been posted. There's some interesting stuff such as a blue interior option. Linky

Welcome to the first Choppin' Competition on the new forums! Your task is to chop the photo provided below in any way you want. Change the wheels, background, etc. Please resize your chop to 768 x 511 pixels. The deadline for entries is Sunday, August 28th at 12:01 AM EST. Here is the picture to chop (click thumbnail for larger image):

Welcome to the first Sketch Competition on the new forums! For this competition artists are to design a muscle car from any make they wish. Artists' entries should consist of at least two the following: 3/4 front view, 3/4 view rear view, and interior view. The deadline for entries is Sunday, September 18th at 12:01 AM EST.

Asians oversell horsepower Toyota, Honda inflated claims of engine muscle; new tests force automakers to come clean with buyers. By Jeff Plungis / Detroit News Washington Bureau Sealing the deal When you’re trying to decide between two similar vehicles, what factor is most likely to sway your opinion? WASHINGTON -- After years of touting ever higher horsepower numbers to win new customers, Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co. and possibly other automakers are now backtracking on some of those claims. Strict new tests developed by the industry's top engineering group are prompting the carmakers to roll back horsepower estimates on several key vehicles, including the Toyota Camry, America's best-selling car, and Honda's luxurious Acura RL. For the 2006 model year, Toyota says its Camry equipped with a 3-liter V-6 engine generates 190 horsepower. In 2005, Toyota said the same car with the same engine had 210 horsepower. The revised ratings comply with new Society of Automotive Engineers standards designed to eliminate subjective interpretation in establishing horsepower claims. While Toyota and Honda are retesting their entire vehicle lineups, other automakers generally are retesting only cars and trucks with updated powertrains. Over time, most automakers are expected to comply with the new guidelines, and horsepower ratings for other vehicles could be revised. Detroit's automakers say they have been conservative in calculating horsepower and don't expect to have to reduce horsepower ratings on many vehicles. In fact, after retesting, the Big Three have revised horsepower ratings upward on several vehicles. The changes are likely to raise questions among customers. "Horsepower is a big draw," said Jim Sanfilippo, an automotive marketing expert at AMCI Inc. "This is at best difficult to explain," he added. "Toyota and the other companies better have a good answer when customers ask questions about what happened." The Camry has been a best-seller for years and a linchpin in Toyota's strategy to increase sales in North America. Honda is reducing horsepower ratings across its Acura brand. The flagship RL sedan will lose 10 horsepower, to 290 from 300. The popular MDX SUV will fall from a rating of 265 to 253. Less powerful models such as the Honda Civic will see smaller reductions. "From what we've seen so far, this is going to affect the Japanese and the Europeans a lot more than the domestic manufacturers," said Mark Brueggemann, senior market analyst for Kelley Blue Book. Brueggemann said engines have not changed, so car shoppers won't notice any drop-off in performance during test drives. But consumers look at horsepower when they're deciding which models to test drive and buy. For example, the 190-horsepower Camry will compete against a new Hyundai Sonata that advertises 235 horses under the hood. "This could have a possible effect of eliminating a car from consideration," he said. The changes are already having an impact among die-hards who prowl Internet chat rooms like AutoWeek's Combustion Chamber, Edmunds Town Hall and GM Insidenews. In a recent posting on AutoWeek's site under the heading, "Acura hurt by new SAE hp standard -- numbers were inflated," one chatter said: "Bottom line is if you sell me a car with the promise of say 300 hp, I want my 300 hp!" Toyota had to advertise based on the new SAE testing procedures because of a California state law, said company spokesman Bill Kwong. The company then decided to use one set of ratings for all of its U.S. ads. "We hope it won't be confusing," Kwong said. "If you drive a 2006 or 2005, it drives the same. It's the same car. Customers are not getting anything less or anything more." Honda spokesman Mike Spencer predicted it would take a few years for customers to understand the changes, but eventually all manufacturers will be using the new SAE tests. "We've been using SAE procedures all along, it's just that SAE changed their procedures," he said. The news is better for General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. Some models such as the Chevrolet Corvette and the Ford Fusion sedan are faring better under the new testing procedures, which could give them a much-needed edge in the marketplace. The Cadillac XLR roadster with a Northstar engine saw its horsepower rating go from 440 to 469. "We have confidence that our customers will get the power they pay for," said GM spokesman Thomas Read. "It's going to give the consumer a better rating for their engine." As the new testing procedure is phased in, it may be tricky for consumers. For example, the Ford Five Hundred sedan is rated at 203 horsepower for 2006, the same as the 2005 model. But the 2006 rating does not reflect the new SAE testing procedure, because Ford is not going to the expense of retesting its existing engines, said company spokesman Nick Twork. The company will use the new SAE test only when it overhauls a powertrain, as it did for next year's Explorer, Twork said. But Twork said Ford does not expect significant drop-offs in horsepower as the new test is phased in. When Ford unveiled its midsize Fusion sedan in January, it projected 210 horsepower. When it was tested under SAE's official protocol, the engine received a 221 horsepower rating, Twork said. "We typically like to underpromise and overdeliver," Twork said. "We feel we've been pretty conservative, and we don't anticipate any major changes." DaimlerChrysler is using the new SAE procedures on any model with changes in its powertrain, said spokesman Cole Quinnell. He said the company expects new ratings to be within 3 percent of the old ratings, with some going up and some going down. DaimlerChrysler is making a special effort to test high-performance models, like the Dodge Viper V-10. The Viper now tests at 510 horsepower, up from 500 in 2005. "We've wholeheartedly embraced the new procedures," Quinnell said. "We hope it shows our credibility." When an engine doesn't measure up to its advertised performance, it can hurt. Mazda Motor Corp. reintroduced the rotary engine with its RX-8 sports coupe a few years ago. It had a high horsepower rating. But when drivers got inside, they discovered weak low-end torque, meaning that the rocket-like acceleration they'd expected was missing. Ford pulled its high-performance Mustang Cobra from the market a few years ago when enthusiasts complained the engine did not live up to its billing. Ford tweaked the engine before selling it again. SAE says it tightened its horsepower rules when engineers noticed some elements in the old test were prone to interpretation. "We tried to tighten language that was open to interpretation," said Dave Lancaster, a technical fellow at General Motors Corp. who chaired the SAE committee that wrote the new requirements. Under the old testing procedures, there were small factors that required a judgment call: how much oil was in the crankcase, how the engine controls were calibrated and whether a vehicle was tested with premium fuel. In some cases, the little adjustments added up to a big change in horsepower ratings. The new SAE procedures allow less wiggle room. John Di Pietro, road test editor at Edmunds.com, said the drop in horsepower ratings for '06 models they have tested are not especially dramatic. For vehicles such as a midsize family sedan, the reputation of the manufacturer will likely be more important, Di Pietro said. "It will be up to the salesman to ensure they understand the engine hasn't actually lost any power," he said.

Chevy Camaro Concept Slated for '06 Detroit Show, '09 Debut Date Posted 08-04-2005 DETROIT — Chevrolet plans to take the wraps off a concept Camaro at the 2006 Detroit auto show in January. Also, Inside Line has learned the automaker is evaluating proposals to revive the classic performance-car nameplate in 2009-2010 on a new low-cost rear-wheel-drive platform. Among the scenarios under discussion inside General Motors is the development of a lower-cost version of the Sigma rear-drive platform that underpins the Cadillac CTS and STS sedans. Another proposal would take the new rear-drive platform that's being developed in Australia for the next-generation Holden Commodore sedan and spin off a low-cost variant for North America. GM planners are said to have targeted several body styles for the Chevy and Pontiac brands on a new rear-drive platform, including a sport sedan, a sporty coupe and a convertible. The Camaro and GTO badges could be used on those vehicles, according to company sources. Across town, Chrysler is said to be preparing a concept Dodge Challenger for the '06 Detroit show, to test the market for a proposed two-door performance car it wants to introduce around 2008-2009 as a potential competitor to the Ford Mustang. What this means to you: Guess it was just a matter of time and environmental awareness — the original definition of muscle cars doesn't fit well with new perceptions of what's best for the world...could there be a "green" muscle car in our future? http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=106732

Saturn Announces New "Outlook" for Future Portfolio Brand also confirms "Aura" name for production midsize sedan TRAVERSE CITY , Mich. – Saturn announced today that the all-new midsize crossover utility slated to debut in late 2006 will be named “Outlook.” It will be the third of three new vehicles to join the Saturn lineup for the 2007 model year, doubling the brand’s portfolio from three offerings to six. “The Outlook will be a key vehicle in our strategy to grow the Saturn brand,” said Jill Lajdziak, Saturn general manager. “It will get us into the expanding midsize crossover segment with a vehicle that features dynamic design and a refined, sophisticated interior.” With the announcement, Lajdziak also confirmed that Saturn’s 2007 midsize sedan, scheduled to enter production during summer 2006, will carry the name “Aura.” The new sedan takes its name from the acclaimed concept car that also heavily influenced its interior and exterior design. Lajdziak confirmed that the Aura sedan will be powered by a standard 3.5L V6 engine with variable valve timing, with an optional, sophisticated DOHC 3.6L V6 VVT that produces an estimated 250 horsepower. The 3.6L will be mated to GM’s new, advanced 6-speed FWD automatic transmission. “Reaction to the Aura name was very positive on the concept car, so we decided to keep it for production,” Lajdziak said. “It will be a very important vehicle to Saturn as we re-enter the competitive midsize car category.” The 2007 Saturn Aura and Outlook will showcase the new design direction of the brand, first exhibited on the 2007 Sky roadster and Aura concept at the 2005 North American International Auto Show. In coming years, new Saturns will all feature dynamic, European-influenced exterior styling and warm interiors that utilize premium materials for a sophisticated look and feel. The 2007 Sky roadster will be available in early 2006. These three new vehicles join the Ion small car, Vue compact SUV and Relay crossover sport van.