Drew Dowdell

If the Volt transmission was manufactured in New Orleans in 2005, there would be a problem as well. What's your point? My point is that the system is highly distributed so a disaster in one locale only slightly affects global supply, not a catastrophic loss. Which is actually proving to be false. Mazda just halted new vehicle orders from dealers. Lines all over the world are shutting down. There are two issues at hand: Globalism - which does not specifically address disaster recovery though it can if set up right. and Geo-Diverse Production - which is set up specifically to mitigate the effects of something like the Japan earthquakes. You can have globalism without geo-diversity, as is being proven with the Colorado and Volt You have have geo-diversity without globalism - an example would be GM plants of yore where multiple plants produced multiple versions of the same car. They are two very different issues.

Two Buick drivers with an inflated sense of their vehicles' abilities. First, a Buick Regal LS with all of the Regal scripts removed (but the LS badge remains), and "Police Interceptor" badges from the Crown Vic glued in place Second, a Buick Roadmaster Estatewagon with a power bulge hood not unlike this: However, it was clearly a '92 and therefore not even LT-1 powered from the factory. There were no other outwards indicators of performance modifications, it even had the original wire spokes. It could have something under the hood... but I doubt it. The new hood was painted properly and done well though.

What CSpec is about to tell you is that globalization invites geographic diversity to production, and while that CAN be true in his 7th grade economics textbook, in the real world it is less so. Even a part that shares a vast commonality among models like... say.. an electronically controlled gas pedal is still only manufactured in a few places. In that particular example, I believe there was production in North America and production in Japan, but when NA production was found to be faulty, Japanese production had trouble making up the difference which is why so many models went into "Sales Hold". Something so model specific and specialized as the Volt transmission has little chance of being produced with geo-diversity.

This Just In: 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible Well the monster CTS-V Coupe went back to Cadillac. This week we are testing a 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible. It's going to be in the high 30s this week in Pittsburgh, so bring your sweater...and gloves... and earmuffs. Interactive Review 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible

Interactive Review: 2011 Chevrolet Camaro LT Convertible RS It's still a bit cold to take our top off, but joining us this week is a 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible LT RS. Being a V6, it's a step down in power from last week's Cadillac CTS-V Coupe, but not many 4-seat cars below the CTS's price range can match it's power output anyway. Two of my first impressions are these: 1. You can feel the weight gain over the standard coupe. 2. This car needs a reverse parking camera more than the CTS Coupe does mostly due to the undersized mirrors that are a styling necessity on this car. Media Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible

I'm not sure what an electric parking brake is, but I assume they would use a hand brake because it's cheap. On GM's upper models like the Lacrosse and CTS, instead of a hand or foot parking brake, there is a toggle switch on the center console that will set the rear brakes electronically. It's rather convenient AND space saving.

NHV = Noise, Harshness, Vibration

I like my men like I like my coffee: ground up and in the freezer.

The oil change on our CR-V is frustratingly difficult and messy, so it's probably wise of you to leave that to the shop. Don't try and do your own fan belt change either, you need a special wrench and it is likely equally frustrating on the Civic if not more so than the CR-V

You're not doing too bad on that Corolla. 4 years in the North east and I would have thought it would be a pile of dust right now.

I'm not sure if you realize that you are agreeing with me.... My point is that very few of the A6es in the EU are equipped like people on here think they are. Cadillac is making a mistake by not offering a diesel in the CTS as a low road base model. However, when you start getting into Audi's equipped like SMK and Croc seem to think is prevalent in the EU (~300hp V6, AWD, 19speed automatic, high end leather, every electronic gizmo ever), all of those taxes even out with Cadillac, yet the price of the Audi/MB/BMW skyrockets. It is Cadillac's fault for not offering stripped down models and 2 liter diesels. They could at least undercut the competition if they did. They are undercutting Audi on a feature for feature comparison, but only on cars with equipment that few in the EU buy anyway. While I wouldn't take an Impala LTZ over an A6 FWD 2.0 TDI, I would certainly take a nicely equipped Lacrosse with a Euro tune to it's suspension. The difference in NHV alone would be worth it.

Remember guys, there are a bunch of new engines slated to arrive from GM in the next 8 to 18 months. Revised 4-cylinder turbos, revised 3.0 and 3.6 liter V6es - some with turbos, a new 2.5 liter, more eAssist. We've already heard a rumor that the Enclave is going to go down to a 3.0 litre..... so I'm sure some changes are in store.

Denali has always been the Lux GMC, less to do with performance (over a standard GMC) and more to do with amenities.

Exactly, which is why nothing but an all-out, guns-blazing attempt would have even a remote possibility of resonating. Some lame half-hearted attempt with a rebadged flagship Buick has no business being brought to term--abort that $h!. waste of money.

The point that I've been trying to make and has apparently been lost is this: To the Europeans, the country of origin of the badge is far more important than which wheels drive the car, Ford being the notable exception to that rule only because they have a strong R&D and manufacturing base there.

The Citroen C6 is a cushy 235hp V6 FWD car that handles like a whale (because that's it's heritage) that bases where the 300hp CTS AWD 3.6 does.

Those Audis are world-class vehicles far more advanced than any glorified 9-5 or LaCrosse. Audi may offer a FWD A6, but it's aluminum intensive, drives damn well in spite of its drive wheels, and shares nothing with a cheaper VW. The A6 I had 8 months ago was nothing special at all. Even the current Lacrosse could compete with a typically equipped A6 in actual highway performance and the Lacrosse gives up nothing to the A6 in terms of interior comfort. Yet again I'm accused of Kool-Aid pissing, but how many here can actually say they've spend time in a typical car in this class in Germany on the AutoBahn.... not the A6 that is an S6 in all but engine.... but the much more typical silver Chevrolet Impala equivalent they actually drive over there. Many of you seem to have this really glorified idea of what the automotive experience in the EU is. It is NOT all loaded 5-series/A6/E-classes with V8s. It is much more frequently 2 liter diesels, cloth seats, and in the case of my A6, no CD player. We don't know XTS pricing in the U.S. much less the EU... but consider this. The lowest price A6 that isn't a 2.0 diesel with 6-speed is 42,050€.... or about $60,000. That gets you a FWD, 200hp V6 gasser with such amenities as: 16" wheels Your choice of Gray or Black cloth interior No Bluetooth No CD No Sat Radio No USB No Sunroof Now, I'm not saying the Germans will buy an XTS, because they are rather stubborn about brands.... but... and I'm going out on a limb here, Cadillac could easily provide a car with more amenities, more power, and more comfort for $60,000.... seeing as they already do that with the Lacrosse. Let's compare price with something more akin to what the XTS would ship with: Audi A6, 3.0 V6 Quattro 295hp 18" Wheels Basic leather interior Acoustic blocking glass (a 1900€ option) Adaptive headlights We'll leave off the sunroof Wood trim interior (a 470€ option) Automatic multi-zone climate control (a 650€ option) Heated and cooled seats Bluetooth USB and you come out to a total of 67,090€ or $94,751, you think Cadillac cannot provide an AWD XTS for less than that? Now... again, the Germans still won't buy the Cadillac equally equipped, and here is where I illustrate that: The CTS 3.6 AWD and all of that equipment; currently priced at 55,000€ The Germans are known for being frugal.... but their love of home team brands trumps that.

Does the A8 not belong in the European market? The A7? The A4? How about the Citroen C6?

Caught Naked: 2012 GMC Terrain Denali SPIED: 2012 GMC Terrain Denali