Northstar

Just a somewhat random comment: It seems crossovers are starting to look more like station wagons now. Perhaps this is to improve MPG, I'm not sure. Regardless, I think it would be smarter for manufacturers to make crossovers look like SUVs. I think the sales charts tell the story, as it seems the more SUV-like the looks, the better the vehicle sells. This is basically a tall wagon instead of a short SUV.

Why? I would rather Pontiac was killed than sell boring FWD sedans and stupid minivans and SUVs like they have for the past 10 years with the exception of the Firebird, GTO, Solstice, and now G8. There's no point to have a Pontiac lineup consisting of FWD sedans and coupes and the Solstice and G8. Sky already is a better Solstice and the G8 could go to Buick or Chevy.

Are you kidding? The Lambdas are all much better inside than the Pilot or Ridgeline. I sat in a Pilot and wondered why so many people bought such a pile. Then I realized it had a big H on the front and back.

I'm not sure how I feel about a smaller Buick. I'd rather see a TE-based Buick than a Delta-based Buick. I think it would light up the sales charts (think how well the Enclave would sell if it was priced from $26-36k instead of $33k-43k), though I guess GMC is going to have the Theta SUV. I'd rather see GMC get something more truck-like (GMT355 based?) and let Buick have the crossover vehicle. Even if the GMC was Theta-based still, the Buick would be more upscale on TE and the GMC could still pretend to be more rugged, a la the Patriot or Nitro. As for the Pontiac, if the small car is not Alpha-based, might as well just kill the brand, I say.

What a dumb idea.

I see some Cien in this concept. It looks great. If I have the money, that will be my next car.

Already posted: http://www.cheersandgears.com/forums/index...c=21979&hl=

I don't think the Lambdas have much to worry about...

This thing is badass. I love it.

I think the exterior will look fine in person. Some of the pictures make it look awkward, but GM photographers suck. The interior is gorgeous.

I already wrote him and told him my stance (if there is to be an Impala, it should be RWD, a FWD EPII model is too similar to a Malibu) and his reply was something like, "You should be on product planning."

Do give more of a hint than that. Surely some random internet poster did not give you such power. BTW, I think I would retract most of my previous statements in the post you quoted, but too late. I was upset about more than just that issue and probably shouldn't have been posting but needed to let out steam...

How about V-Series or a 6er/7er fighter (assuming they get a non-V-Series V8)?

As griffon said in the other thread, Cadillac will probably get the DOHC 6.2L.

It doesn't seem like it would be all that hard to raise MPG by 7.5 over 12 years. Cut 200lbs off each vehicle (200lbs less = 1 more MPG on average), add more hybrids (the Volt should raise GM's CAFE by at least 1 MPG by itself, I would think), more diesels in the trucks (if 1/4 of the T900 trucks and SUVs were diesels, this would have a huge impact), and adding the smaller cars we are expecting to get will also raise GM's CAFE significantly. I can see an easy 5 MPG increase in GM's CAFE just from cutting 200lbs from each vehicle (aluminum hoods on every vehicle and aluminum trunks/liftgates alone will give you a good amount), the Volt, diesels in the trucks, and the small cars (forget their names right now). And all of those vehicles/engines should be here by 2012 at the latest - GM has until 2020 to figure out how to get 2.5 MPG, then. The weight reduction would have to come over time, obviously. Improving cd would also raise MPG significantly. There are a lot of ways that GM can improve their CAFE. The increase seems drastic and unneeded, but it's not as hard to do as GM apparently thinks it is, IMO. Lutz says they could have that right now if I remember correctly, but it is too expensive. By 2020, I don't think it will be too expensive to do...

I suppose that is why you have them in your sig, then? Right in the middle of the other divisions, no less.

Think globally. GME has no use for Zeta. GMNA would like to have some Zeta cars. Holden would like Zeta cars (obviously). China uses Zeta cars. GME does not. I highly doubt that GMNA, Holden, and China were pushing for Zeta's demise, since they all use or had plans to use Zeta a lot. GME had no such plans it would seem, and therefore would be the only part of GM that wouldn't want to see development money put into Zeta. Perhaps I went a bit overboard in my post, but my general feeling right now is GME is the only part of GM that wouldn't want Zeta, and it seems a lot of things are starting to fall GME's way. CPF would be to blame, it would seem.

Agreed on all points, except the engine. There's no way that an improved Northstar can be better than the UV8 would have been. The UV8 was most likely new from the ground up. With today's technology that wasn't around when the Northstar was made, I would have to think that the UV8 would be better than any Northstar that isn't at least 95% new, which is basically just a new engine anyways. I could really care less about GM if all of this that sounds like it will happen happens. GME can go suck on Toyota's balls. Note to GME: We don't give a rat's ass about mainstream European cars (see VW). I want to offer an early congratulations to Carl Peter Forster for turning away many people who thought they'd buy GM for life. I also want to thank him for the future demise of a company that was returning to greatness. Now, GM will be nothing more than a combination of Hyundais and VWs. We have no one else to thank but him. When I go to buy a new car, I have a bad feeling it won't be a GM. I might not even have a GM on my list if the time is too far down the road. All of this makes me wonder if the Corvette is even safe. What a bunch of idiots that run GME. They may have an idea of how to run a company in Europe, but they obviously have no idea how to run a company in the US or around the globe. If Carl Peter Forster does indeed get the control he wants, it could be a sad day for a lot of us. *Note that I am not intending to say that those running GME don't know what they're doing in Europe, but I don't think making the American market like the European market (which it appears may be what they're going for) is a good idea.

From Toyota's press release today: Looks like they're three brands to me, Toyota.

Scions are marketed as Toyotas, aren't included in Toyota's average buyer age, and aren't ever mentioned with Toyota in the same phrase by Toyota except in sales figures.

No, they'll just make more Malibus and less Auras, so there won't be a shortage.

The Northstar hasn't been updated since 2003.

I'm not sure I care too much for the interior. Retro interiors aren't my thing. Those are P-Zeros, quite possibly one of the best tires in the world. They're on the F430, Gallardo, R8, and many other supercars. Those aren't the same as the ones you had on your Cobalt. As for the other news in this topic, looks like GME will take GM's global operations down with them. No V8 for future Cadillacs? Are you kidding me? The ONLY other luxury make that doesn't have a V8 is Acura. Infiniti, BMW, MB, Lexus, Lincoln, Volvo, Jaguar, and Audi all have V8s or higher. WTF? GME blows huge chunks.

I think the Charger and 300 are plenty different from the Avenger and Sebring in almost every way. Size, powertrains, MPG, you name it and it's probably quite a bit different. The Sebring and Avenger are small compacts, and the Charger and 300 are quite big. I assume you mean would an Intrepid do better than the Charger? In this case, it might, but only because the Avenger is so crappy and small. I think the Avenger is smaller than what a lot of people are looking for in a midsize. If the Avenger was sized properly then a FWD Intrepid wouldn't see as many sales as it would with the current Avenger. Most Malibu buyers probably wouldn't go for a better Charger, which is fine. If they really want something bigger, perhaps a stretched Malibu could work. I know my dad (who has a Malibu) would most certainly be interested in a better Charger, however. The thing here is that I don't see that many midsize buyers moving up to the bigger car. You say some Camry buyers might move up to the Avalon, which is probably true, but they obviously do so in quite small numbers. (Camry sales are what, ~6 times more than the Avalon's, if memory serves?)

Perhaps a totally gross color could make someone not purchase it, but burgundy is not a totally gross color. (Nor is red or gray).