Robert Hall

Interesting..>I saw somewhere else that Hyundai/Kia may overtake Toyota in NA this year in total sales...

Audi is a premium AWD brand in NA..not low/common FWD. The A8 doesn't share a platform with the mainstream transverse FWD VW platforms. I guess that means my '81 Toronado, Dodgefan's Intrepid, my Ex's Passat, or that Ghetto cruiser Eagle Premier I see around all the time are "premium" FWD platforms? I was distinguishing between mainstream and premium brands..i.e. Chevy/Buick vs. Cadillac, Ford vs Lincoln, Toyota vs Lexus, VW vs Audi, etc. Though one can argue that north/south engine w/FWD is superior to the vile common transverse engine/FWD, but RWD of course trumps both...

The new A6 is due out soon, basically the sedan version of the A7.

Audi is a premium AWD brand in NA..not low/common FWD. The A8 doesn't share a platform with the mainstream transverse FWD VW platforms.

I'm not obsessed about it and don't really track it, but the car computer shows an average of 16-18mpg...been that way since Aug '00.

I know their disgusting actions/etc all are protected by the freedom of speech and freedom of religion, but I'd have no problem w/ the FBI or DHS showing up at their place at night in black Suburbans and dissapearing them permanently.

Saw the '66 Buick Wildcat sedan again today and realized it's a '65. D'oh..

Cool...anyone heard anything about an on-sale date for the PPV (I know it's fleet only, just curious when they will be on the streets)..

The Car isn't even out yet. You haven't seen any specs or anything other than the concept. Basically sit down and shut up until Cadillac releases some firm information. If Cadillac were to stay true to the concept's powertrain, that gives it a 350hp two-mode hybrid with AWD. That puts it squarely up against the A8 and S-class base powertrains in the U.S. I'm not saying that it will be able to climb into S600 territory, but it could easily counter the LS460 and base Germans. It is Epsilon II, though, isn't it? A mainstream FWD platform can't compete w/ the serious RWD Germans or the LS... Anyway, the XTS should be a nice competitor for the MKs and Lexus ES, which follow the same formula--premium brand model using a mainstream FWD platform...fine for volume, not good for anything prestigious or luxurious.

These truly are strange days and harsh times.

In a restaurant lot tonight I saw a silver Lincoln Town Car and a silver Smart FourTwo parked side by side, interesting contrast in size and design... In the parking lot I use for work there was a gray (wasn't sure if it was faded light gray or primer) '66 Buick Wildcat 4dr sedan today, in solid shape, good chrome. At the airport last night, I saw a dorked-out Maserati Gran Turismo coupe in matte black w/ huge tacky bling wheels and a dorky hat-backward kid driving it. Saw the aftermath of a 3 car accident at an intersection--a silver CTS coupe had collided into a Prius whilst turning, a black C6 Corvette Z06 had rear-ended the CTS, with the CTS's giant rear end resting halfway up the Vette's hood...

I'm just looking forward to October...June thru Sept will have mostly sunny, dry triple digit days..the only relief will be cold A/C, cold beer, my pool and a few weekends in cooler places.

Too funny...that's where I was this past weekend, too. I went for the Indy 500...had a lot of fun..

I get about 16 in mixed city/suburban driving

I've got sunburn and was exhausted sat from a delayed red eye flight and all the walking

Was hot and humid in Indianapolis this weekend...looking fwd to getting back to dry phx

I'd like to see what they could do w/ a V8 version of this engine, maybe around 5.0L..

Probably ok to post them now.

About the only car in the C-segment I like is the Golf..has a nicer interior than the Jetta and the practicality of a hatchback....hard choice would be a diesel or a GTI, both have appealing aspects.

Saw a silver '12 Focus sedan...first one I've seen out and about...ok...the taillights and front fascia are still overwrought, IMO.

Cool...

The side view has a strong Nissan/Infiniti feel to it...wouldn't translate well to FWD, I think.

Nothing special this morning, but saw my WTF? moment of the week...sitting at a busy intersection of two 6 lane streets...light goes green on the cross street, and some dbag smokes/spins his tires all the way across the intersection....in a Nissan Titan.

That's what I thought...part of what has made it so confusing is that GM showed a 2013 model at a car show early in 2011.

Is that backwards? Do they mean the new 2013 Malibu and 2012 Impala? 2011 is the last year for the current Malibu. 2012 is the last year for the current Impala (it's getting the 300hp V6 for 2012 remember?) 2012 is the first model year of the new Malibu going into production very very soon. Odd...then why do all these pics and articles about the new Malibu say 2013...I thought it was going on sale in CY 2012 as a 2013 MY model (for NA at least). I thought the 2012 Malibu was going to still be the current model.