Drew Dowdell

You said it yourself... the big hold up on the Volt is the batteries. In reality, other than the powertrain, the Volt will also just be another unibody car. GM already knows how to do the electric motors..even if all they do is apply modern technology to the EV-1 motor design. They've had a fairly decent success rate at the internal combustion engine since about 1908. They've been arranging larger versions of this powertrain configuration since about 1930 <EMD>. And those batteries.... oh yeah... they're entering the final R&D phase. I'm not sure how the 2-mode hybrid enters into any of your doubts.. it's just a parallel technology. Despite the PR, the Volt really isn't that ground breaking. A Prius hybrid is 10 parts ICE and 4 parts EV... a Volt is just looking to change the ratio to 4 parts ICE and 10 parts EV. The Volt also looks better doing it.

based on......?

I posted the thread about it ;-)

I'm going to have to disagree with you <and other ICE supporters> here. ICE is not nearly as thermally efficient as Fuel Cell technology. A fuel cell is basically a battery replacement. In the electric motor there are two bearings.... that's it. How many bearings are there in a V8.... including valve train....including piston rings <basically bearing that run in a different direction>? Those are all friction points that the energy generation process must overcome. So... pre transmission, the number of friction points are: Fuel Cell powertrain: 2 V8 ICE powertrain: 8 piston rings, 4 main journals, 8 rod bearing, 4 cam bearings <pushrod>.... etc etc etc. So.... I'll see your V8 rumble and raise you 300ft/lbs of torque at 0 rpm.

I used to maintain this same point as the only way to generate hydrogen consumed as much energy as it produced. However, a recent discovery, of which Camino posted an article about, found a way to produce hydrogen using bacteria and only consuming a small fraction of the amount of power generated by the resulting hydrogen.

sorry... I have a cold and I'm popping sudafed like they're M&Ms. take my list..... make it the opposite... that's my list for the thread

no.... Genesis I presume....

Because Suzy McMansion got a 110% LTV second mortgage to pay off her maxed out Vicky Secrets/Pottery Barn/Macy's/Express credit cards.... which she promptly maxed out again.

Long hood, short deck, two-door, full sized V8, ethanol or diesel, FWD power... preferably LT1 based Fibreoptic fender indicator lamps large, comfortable, plush, luxury car interior... NOT European inspired. Quiet tuning. ability to tow 3,000 lbs digital dash heated seats

I've never had a complaint about the CTS's transmission in either situation. In the mountains the transmission doesn't hunt... but I think this is more a factor of the 3.6 having a good powerband. Snow mode works decently.... the traction control gets a little spastic, but I programed one of the buttons on the dash to be a traction control disable. In snowy weather, I can't get out of my driveway <for which I can sell lift tickets> with the TCS on... but the same was true of my Cutlass... so it's not a RWD/FWD issue. I use Dunlop Wintersport tires in the snowy months and the car feels almost AWDish.

Falling housing market means fewer BMWs.

This gives me one extra warm fuzzy about the Traverse.

Acura 9-RL-5?

I don't see it as bland at all. It looks exactly as it should sitting next to the new Malibu in the showroom.

point is.... very liberal use of the phrase "All New" almost Toyota like....

uhm,..... Acura...

When BMW uses the Lambdas as it's base for their US Sport Utility King Sedan, then get back to me. Or when VW buys Chrysler.... hey... &#036;h&#33;tier things have happened.

That is the 2005 interior...... how is this all new when you look at the 2009 interior?

same as the omni/rabbit then....

Take a look at the interior.... is this a game of "Spot the All New"? 2005 RL 2009 RL

I think they're using the term "all new" very loosely. looks like the previous RL that went through a south florida Eldorado classic suncoast executive edition treatment. it's just missing the faux top, vouges, and continental kit.

Aura is L-series sized and more or less directly replaced it with a short absence in between... though I'm sure there are still some L-series on a lot somewhere out there. the Astra directly replaces the Ion and will be getting a sedan version in the future.

There are idiotguards in place in the Enclave for when Junior takes mommy's Enclave out to the movies and tries to drive the whole way in 1st gear. I don't blame GM for not wanting to have the warranty headaches. but as has already been hashed out in this thread... the existence of the switch in the Enclave is not to make the 4800lb. SUV into a freeway ramp burner but to replace the 1,2,3,4,5 notches on the shift gate. Why do we still need a big lever to select gears that are electronically activated anyway. When they start autocrossing the Enclave on the Nürgburgring... then maybe you have an argument. I've been arguing for the return of pushbutton transmission selectors for a while.... especially so after the remarkably stupid shifter placement in the new ChryslerBus vans.

while I'm sure there are people out there that love the new Scions, the sales numbers and reviews are telling the real story. The xB lost it's edge and now is just a Corolla Van.. in fact it might even sell better if it had a name like Corolla Transporter or something. The xD is as ugly as the xA ever was. The TC is a good little car for it's segment but is really just a rehash of the original Celica formula and could easily be folded into Toyota.

CR rated the Plymouth Volare and Dodge Dart as best picks..... 'nough said.