Drew Dowdell

I think division specific tunes of "base" GM engines is a great idea!

No, I don't think it was a mechanical failure, I think a safety or defensive system got tripped.... basically it got activated when it shouldn't have.

GM has really nailed down electric power steering in terms of feel.

If BMW is disappointed with the 5-series GT sales, imagine what Acura is thinking. The ZDX is the worst selling model in production of all mainstream luxury nameplates. Even some out of production luxury nameplates are outselling it! (STS, Town Car)

How much?

You guys are right, that's not Obama's normal "Limo 1", that must be the travel one. That's the one built for George W. Bush. Limo 1 built for Obama Limo 1 built for George W. Bush.

If a collision is unavoidable, you want to hit the other vehicle with the beefiest parts... the bumpers, not relatively flimsy sheetmetal above it, regardless of the armor added. Typically going high works better, assuming you are trying to avoid flipping it. Going low suffers risking the other vehicle hitting the cage directly and also having some crush damage... could the attacked vehicle continue driving if the attacking vehicle was parked on top of it? In any case, crouching while driving would cause the vehicle to drag on the ground, risking losing control. Crouching would not stop a forklift or bulldozer from getting under the vehicle, as the seal would never be complete. I imagine plenty of things could still be thrown under a crouched car... it is simply better to drive away from threats like that. Which brings my to the first rule of car security: keep moving... crouching is not moving. A vehicle stopped will eventually be compromised regardless of armor. My final point about crouching is that it is hardly a good security feature if it can't be immediately uncrouched... but that's just my armchair quarterback's opinion of the situation. I'm going to stop there before the black helicopters are dispatched. It's not a forktruck that Limo 1 is concerned about., it can outrun even the fastest of fork trucks. It's propelled explosives getting under there that they want to avoid. Crouch, survive rocket attack, un-crouch, run. The car can withstand a rocket attack, but I'm sure that it's underbelly it it's weakest point and is also a way for an explosive to flip the car (then it really can't run). I doubt it uses air shocks... too vulnerable to failure. Most likely it's hydraulics. It can be raised or lowered in either direction, and fairly quickly at that.

Crouching is to prevent something from getting under it from the side or the front. Also provides better safety (because of the cage around the occupants) if someone is intent on ramming it and a collision is unavoidable.

Failing air suspensions don't "suck" wheels up.

I watched that second video again and I think it was actually a security mechanism that accidentally went off and the limo went into crouch mode at exactly the wrong time. It looks like it dived onto the concrete rather then getting high centered.

If you're really OCD about it, you can disassemble the hubcap completely (give it a good cleaning when you do) fill the hollow area around the lock bolt with that expanding insulation foam, allow to dry, use a flexible hacksaw blade to cut off any excess, gently drill a hole for the lock bolt to pass through, reassemble. 99.9% of the creaking will be gone.

Another View:

Mazda 3, Scion TC, Ford Focus, Mini-Cooper, even Dodge Caliber as crappy as it is.....

I'm shocked. SHOCKED.

So I guess I get to keep this R/C Escalade? It arrived on Friday.

I guess we don't have one of these really. Those of us with Project cars post to that. I fixed the hubcaps of mine that were creaky and clicking ever since the new tires got installed. They didn't tighten the wheel cover locks down enough. Also took the Toronado to an "All Oldsmobile" car cruise. Got there a little late, but I was the only Toronado there of any year. Lots of well preserved 88s and 98s from the 70's and 80's. Will upload pictures tonight.

I would guess that Cadillac gets 25% of GM's R&D dollars if they are lucky. And 50% probably goes to trucks and the rest of the car brands and lines have to squeak by on the remaining 25% Acording to Daimler's annual report, Mercedes passenger cars got $9.1 billion in R&D spending in 2009-2010. Mercedes trucks another $3.7 billion over 2 years, and Vans/Buses another $1.6 billion. Total of $14.4 billion over two years for Daimler, but Mercedes cars does enjoy 63% of Daimler's big budget. Anyone think GM will give Cadillac $9 billion in 2 years? But that budget also includes things like the A-Class, B-Class, and R-Class which Cadillac isn't and shouldn't compete with. And Mercedes does mix-n-match their platforms, engines and transmissions around.

Welcome Bill and Riviera74. Hope you'll add your rides to the C&G Garage

If their using aluminium on a "lowly" Holden.. makes you wonder what might get used on a Cadillac ATS.

SMK, Mercedes doesn't spend 6-billion all at once, it's over a series of 5 to 6 years with staggered rollouts for each one. There is a larger RWD Caddy coming. There is another crossover coming, the CTS refresh should be along soon.

I don't doubt that we will see a TTV6. Chevy almost has to do it in response to an EcoBoost Mustang. Doesn't mean it would be the top engine though. The Chevy can hit the weight I mentioned above, and LNF with the turbo revisions would do nicely for a base engine.

All of my numbers were "worst case" to reflect any additional hardware each engine might need. The LS and TTV6 engines might weigh the same, but the LS almost certainly is capable of more torque that the chassis needs to handle. BMW did it. The 5-series is a cut down 7-series.

Halo Riviera - we've already been given the wink and a nod that a Riviera was coming.* When I stated that I thought it should be FWD like the Riviera was for most of it's life as a model (not a trim), they asked my why it shouldn't be RWD. The rest of the conversation we had didn't shine a light anywhere, but the question they asked me I believe was a hint. *When asked about why they chose the name "Regal" for the current car and not something new, GM replied that Regal got the second highest positive response in their customer focus groups regarding nameplate image. Later when asked if Buick would ever bring the Riviera back, the reply was "Well there was only one name that got a higher score than Regal." For what brand? Camaro would certainly get a convertible.

BTW, Sigma cost $1 billion to develop and they got, what 4 cars out of it? 6 if you count the coupe and wagon variants separately? ATS will get sedan, coupe, and convertible. Camaro will be on it CTS will move to it (along with at least one of it's non-sedan body styles) Holden will get a copy or 3, Opel might if there is a wagon. Buick will get at least one 6 with a possible 6 more vehicles worldwide.