Drew Dowdell

Oh really? The folks at Holden do RWD right, I have zero faith that any other part of GM could take that over effectively. RWD development should stay there. Case in point: The lowly Opel Omega. GM gave it to Holden and to Cadillac (GMNA). GMNA created the much maligned, and unreliable Cadillac Catera - and nothing else. Meanwhile, Holden took that same platform and created an entire line of sedans, coupes, wagons, and Utes. They developed AWD versions, won races, and exported the cars globally. All on a relative shoestring. Then they created Zeta, and the Camaro. I rest my case. The Camaro development was done mostly by GMNA using the Aussie platform. The Catera's downfall was NOT it's handling (in fact they handle very very well, it was the engine that they were given that was the letdown). Cadillac had no budget and was consigned to taking Germany's leftovers while Australia was able to build there own cars there. GMNA also came up with this: Furthermore, Zeta was developed in Australia when Mark Reuss was in charge of things down there. Notice where he lives these days. Not true on the Camaro - the on the ground development was done in Australia by Holden. Holden also got the sow's ear leftover from Opel, but didn't build a turd like the Catera. Sigma is great and all, but is Cadillac exclusive and barely sells outside of North America. Ruess is certainly a reason for hope, but yanking RWD development from Holden is entirely a foolish idea. (and I'd bet he agrees). The Opel Omega is pretty well respected as far as handling goes. The primary issues with the car are the weirdo, underpowered, and troublesome 54 degree 3.0 V6, and some unreliable interior electronics (power windows/locks, windshield wipers). Both of which are relatively easily fixed. In the case of the 3.2 V6, Holden did the smartest thing and pitched it completely in favor of various 3800s and small blocks. Holden could do such a thing because they were actually manufacturing the car.Cadillac did not really have the option of a 3800 because their version was built in the EU and there were no plants making that engine over there. Cadillac had to literally take Opel's leftover scraps. They had no budget for the Catera. It was a total badge job with nothing done to the hardware of the car other than very minor suspension tuning to make it a bit softer for American tastes. My point is: Don't use the Catera to judge the capabilities of GMNA's RWD abilities.

3864 lbs?!? That's Buick Lacrosse Territory!

GM started rolling out Direct Injection in.. what, 2004? Start-Stop (generation 1 eAssist) in 2008? Cylinder deactivation first in 1980 and then again in 2004.

I'm trying to figure out which network is playing them. I keep getting ads for treating heart disease.....

<ol> <li>Yes</li> <li>probably about 6 to 9 total. Banners typically come in &quot;styles sets&quot; where you have multiple sizes of the same basic banner design. The sizes are</li> <li>728x90, 120x600, 300x250, 468x60 - in any combination</li> <li>We will <em>not</em> be using &quot;GM&#39;s biggest fans and harshest critics&quot;. I have some of the base graphics that can be modified as needed.&nbsp;</li> <li>All over/Yet to be determined.</li> </ol> <p>You can use any non-media image from <em>my</em> or BV&#39;s galleries, but you cannot use photography found randomly in a google image search.&nbsp; If it looks like a picture that BV or I took, then it is fair game.&nbsp; Some of the ads can be brand or model specific.&nbsp; For example &quot;Come discuss the hot new Cadillac XTS here&quot; with a picture of the XTS concept or something.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>No snark.</p>

have a link to that thread?

saying the volt battery never discharges below 30% is untrue. that capacity is there for reserve in high load conditions.

Good to see Honda finally catching up with Chrysler in engine technology.

The heartbeat of America indeed!

Pages is now our front page. We are experiencing an unrelated issue today with regards to the ad-server we use that has apparently crapped the bed.

aren't we starting to get rather liberal with the use of the word "recent"?

You didn't run it with no CAT at all even being empty?

ahem, I think you have something to add Ocn?

We just got a coupon for $200 in free advertising, but we don't have any banners to set up. Anyone care to help design some ads for the site?

I don't know that it will actually be called NSX

I think the biggest key here is that GM is being very pro-active on the situation and offering owners the option of a loaner car is a low cost/high reward move. Low cost because they can offer them a CPO Cruze (I think I know of one in Eastern PA) and I have the feeling very very very few people will actually take them up on the offer. But the payout for GM is HUGE in the amount of goodwill felt by the Volt buyers. Someone at GM did their PR homework.

The low end trucks usually end up going to people who don't care about the looks and just need something to haul auto parts in.

Happy Birthday.

Sweet! Add it to the garage above!

I want to see the interior.... but I could drive this. I'm getting to that age where it is time for a mid-life crisis car.

I don't believe for a second that "VW could bring the Polo here tomorrow" yet they haven't. VW has HUGE ambitions for their sales numbers and they won't leave a model on the shelf that would pass U.S. regs.

add it to the garage!

A couple of days ago, Toyota unveiled pictures of the production Toyota 86 ahead of the Tokyo Auto Show. Today, a bunch of Toyota 86 test drive videos have surfaced. This car will be sold in Japan as the Toyota 86, in Europe as the Toyota GT-86, and in the US as the Scion FRS. Subaru will get a version called the BRZ that will be Subaru's first car offered without AWD in over a decade. The JDM Toyota 86 features a new 2.0 litre flat four producing 197 horsepower and 151 ft-lb of torque while running premium gas. The very low center of gravity, 53:47 weight distribution, and limited slip rear differential should make for an excellent handling little 2+2. But lets head over to Fuji speedway to see what we can see. http://youtu.be/0Jr-iYAtpWM View full article