Drew Dowdell

For someone who needs the ultimate in towing/hauling, Chevy keeping at the top of the heap is a good thing.

The problem with ethanol is that engines have to get smaller and compressions higher just to equal the fuel economy of gasoline. That ethanol has lower specific energy than gasoline is true, but its combustion properties allow for a more efficient combustion process to extract a greater amount of that energy to bring the efficiency per gallon close to equal of gasoline. If they could do cellulosic butanol, that would be the holy grail.

they actually do surprisingly well on fuel economy considering its size.

180k miles? It's just getting broken in.

I can't read that name without seeing

Because not all vehicles in the brand need to be RWD or RWD based to fulfill their mission. Nissan clearly understands that the target market for a luxury 3-row crossover/luxury electric vehicle/luxury hatchback is not concerned about apexing corners and is likely more concerned with interior room. It is simply about picking the right tool for the job.... and in certain applications, FWD just makes more sense.

Chevrolet Sonic aims to be the top small car in safety August 29th, 2011 - Drew Dowdell - CheersandGears.com Small cars aren't typically known for their crash worthiness. For 2012, Chevrolet hopes to change that perception with their new Sonic. The main component of the safety design is its exceptionally strong body structure and safety cage. Welded tubular steel members are used to support the the door frame openings while additional steel bracing reinforces the doors. About 60% of the unit body structure is high strength steel while ultra-high-strength steel forms the forward rocker panels. In the event of a frontal or frontal offset crash, the Sonic's engine cradle and engine compartment rails absorb and distribute the impact energy around the passenger compartment. The A and B pillars are additionally reinforced and the Sonic is capable of withstanding more than 4 times its own weight if overturned. Keeping the passenger compartment intact in a crash is important but so is cushioning the impact on the passengers inside the car. For that the Sonic employes 10 airbags; Dual stage airbags for the front driver and passenger, Roof-rail mounted head curtain airbags that stay inflated longer, seat mounted side impact airbags and a segment exclusive driver knee airbag. <iframe frameborder='0' scrolling='no' align='middle' SRC='http://mediasuite.multicastmedia.com/player.php?v=top3gg29' height='215' width='279' allowtransparency='true'></iframe> <iframe frameborder='0' scrolling='no' align='middle' SRC='http://mediasuite.multicastmedia.com/player.php?v=zd0zja65' height='215' width='279' allowtransparency='true'></iframe>

Jag's already been there w/ the X-type.. I know, but it's not currently in production (I think)

buy that man an Econoline!

as soon as the i-series comes out, there won't be a single major brand that is purely RWD. No SMK, Jaguar doesn't count.

Chevrolet Silverado updates for 2012 August 29, 2011 - Drew Dowdell - CheersandGears.com Chevrolet updates the entire Silverado lineup for 2012. The revised design includes a chrome mesh grill with chrome surround on the LS and LT models and a body color surround on the LTZ. Five new exterior colors appear, Silver Ice metalic, Mocha Steel Metallic, Carbon Flash Metallic, and Graystone. On the LT and LTZ models, White Diamond tricoat is now available as part of a package that includes chrome mirror caps, chrome door handles, and bodyside moldings with The LTZ also gaining the Z60 suspension package with 20 inch chrome wheels, exhaust tips, and tow hooks, touring tires. The interior gets two new color combos with Dark Titanium/Light Titanium and Dark Cashmere/Light Cashmere. On the hardware side, all Silverado 1500s now include Trailer Sway Control and Hill Start Assist as part of the Stabilitrack system. Cruise Control and spare tire lock are now standard on all models. The available navigation system now uses a hard drive instead of DVDs to store map information and also includes an updated display. The updated 6-speed transmission is now programmed to downshift during deceleration to use the engine to slow the truck there by reducing brake wear. This feature works either in or out of Tow/Haul mode on all models equipped with either the 5.3 or 6.0 liter engines. As we mentioned earlier, the entire Silverado lineup has been updated and that includes the HD models as well. The Silverado HD has increased its towing capacity again to a best-in-class 18,000 lbs. fifth wheel capacity is now a best-in-class 23,000 lbs, and payload capacity is a best-in-class 7,215 lbs. From the Chevrolet press release: Silverado HD’s greater capability for 2012 comes from strategic enhancements incorporated into the chassis. Updates to the trailer hitch receiver (available in the fourth quarter), for example, enable the increase in conventional towing to 18,000 pounds from 17,000 pounds for 2011.For greater fifth-wheel towing capacity, engineers strengthened the pickup box sills and other box structures along with the rear springs, U-bolts, and box mounts. The also revised the shock tuning, all of which contributed to the Silverado 3500 HD best-in-class tow rating of 23,000 pounds, up from 21,700 pounds in 2011. Coming off their 2011 Motor Trend Truck of the Year win, Chevrolet is not standing still with these upgrades.

aw man, I wish. We can heat the whole house with just the one fireplace.

Infiniti Bringing Back Front Wheel Drive Models August, 29, 2011 - Drew Dowdell - CheersandGears.com Infiniti's last front wheel drive model, the I35 (pictured above) died at the end of the 2004 model year. In what was essentially a Nissan Maxima Brougham, the 255 horsepower sedan didn't fit in with the all rear wheel drive sport sedan image that Infiniti was aiming for. However, at this year's Pebble Beach, Infiniti unveiled the JX series 3 row crossover due to go on sale in April 2012 in both front wheel drive and all wheel drive configurations. Following the JX will be an Infiniti electric vehicle based on the front wheel drive Nissan Leaf but with completely different styling and purpose. Also rumored is a small front wheel drive compact hatchback that Infiniti hopes to compete against the BMW 1-series and Audi A3. Infiniti says that by going with a front wheel drive platform, they can increase interior room without increasing overall size of the car. This move makes BMW the last of the big luxury marques to hold to the "all rear wheel drive" claim, something that not even BMW will hold soon as the new i-series rolls out.

The interior looks very promising.

just a different form of the same word. i.e. Death, dead, die, dying....

Can there be a much more pointless crossover? Just make a 1-series wagon for the U.S.

Does money get less green as the holder gets older?

Jealous!

1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Coupe - 23,240 miles

We'd both like an Equinox, but equipped the way we want it is far too much money.

Actually not an LNF. I don't know what they did between the LNF and the LHU (The Regal Turbo), but whatever it was it didn't improve NHV.

I'm not disagreeing that the next fuel economy race is in entry to mid lux. It's already on in family midsize now. I just don't have a problem with a revamped LNF being part of GM's solution.

In German, the word "tote" means "dead"

I"m not sure what that would be. The LNF was tame enough in a Cobalt or Solstice it seems. Perhaps the way it runs?