Drew Dowdell

If you think the current Chevrolet Silverado has too much brightwork, the 2015 Silverado Custom Sport package might be for you. As a special edition package available on the LT and LTZ models, the Silverado Custom Sport package swaps out the chrome front and rear bumper, and grille surround for body colored versions. Chrome is added to the door handles and side mirrors. You can have any color of Custom Sport you like as long as it is white, black, or white diamond (LTZ only). The package also includes projector beam headlights, tow hooks, and heated mirrors. Chevy says this special edition pays homage to the 1967 Chevrolet Custom Sport that was available with bright trim and bucket seats. The Custom Sport package will cost between $1,950 - $2,950 with the higher number likely applying when selecting the white diamond tricoat paint. 2015 Silverado Custom Sport 2015 Silverado LTZ Z-71 Chevrolet Press Release on Page 2 Source: GM Media 2015 Silverado Offers Custom Sport Package Inspired by Chevy Custom Sport Trucks that helped launch personal-use pickups DETROIT – With the new 2015 Silverado Custom Sport special edition, Chevrolet pays homage to one of its most iconic pickups, adding a sophisticated monochromatic look to double- and crew-cab Silverados. The Custom Sport package features body-colored front and rear bumpers and a body-colored grille surround with a chrome-accented black grille. Other accents include 20-inch chrome wheels, chrome door handles and mirror caps, and chrome body-side moldings. The package also includes projector beam headlamps, tow hooks and heated power-adjusted mirrors. “The Custom Sport special edition was inspired by Chevy Custom Sport Trucks of the late 1960s,” said Sandor Piszar, Chevrolet Trucks marketing director. “Those CST models added a touch of elegance to a great all-around truck, just like the Custom Sport package for the new Silverado.” The redesigned 1967 Chevrolet pickup entered the market at a time when trucks were starting to move off the jobsites and into the driveways of cities and suburbs. The 1967 Custom Sport Truck, with its bright trim, plush carpet and bucket seats, helped launch a wave of personal use pickups that continues today. For the 2015 Silverado, the Custom Sport package will be available as LT and LTZ models, including Z71s. LT models will be available in black or white, while LTZs will come in black or White Diamond Tricoat. Package prices will vary from $1,950 to $2,950, depending on the model. Dealers can place orders starting this month. View full article

If I had an excellent condition '82-'85 Seville or Eldorado with a blown HT4100 or 350 diesel motor, and a winning lottery ticket I'd seriously consider it. Batteries up front and batteries in the trunk should give it a decent range. Put the plug in receptacle under the rear license plate where the case filler is.... I think as the prices for this equipment come down, we'll see more and more older cars brought back to life or having lives extended in this fashion.

Infiniti shared a full picture of the Q60 Concept due to be unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show next week. Shown here in coupe form, the Q60 concept takes the Q60 (née G37 coupe) down a more aggressive looking route. While this is labeled a concept, one look at the sister car Q50 sedan will tell you that there is no reason Infiniti would need to vary the look much once in production. If you imagine this car with production mirrors, wheels, and a simpler lower air intake area, you'll probably be pretty close to the real thing. Under the hood, expect the standard compliment of a 3.7 liter V6 with output in the 330 horsepower range and a choice of rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. While Infiniti does make a hybrid version of the Q50 sedan, we doubt that powertrain will make it into the coupe. The Infiniti Q60 Coupe Concept will be shown at an event on January 11th at 4pm and again during the Detroit Auto Show on January 13th at 8:05 am eastern. We will be on hand at the Sunday event to bring you more pictures and updates. You can sign up to follow all the stories from the Detroit Auto Show here, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ View full article

As a preview to the unveiling of the 2016 Nissan Titan on January 12th, Nissan released teaser images and video of the upcoming redesign of its full size truck. Sales of the Nissan Titan are typically in last place behind the Detroit-3 and the Toyota Tundra. Nissan is hoping to change that with the 2016 Titan. While still camouflaged in these pictures, we get a better view of the revised truck. In the video, we can see the new truck being put through various performance tests and if you look closely, you can get a hint of the new interior as well. Powertrains for the 2016 Titan will range from the familiar 317 horsepower 5.6 liter V8 to a new 5.0 liter Cummins turbo-diesel making around 300 horsepower and between 500 - 550 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy for the new turbo-diesel is rumored to reach 26 mpg combined, a figure that would beat the successful Ram 1500 V6 EcoDiesel's figure of 23 mpg combined while also producing a lot more power. The 2016 Nissan Titan press release is scheduled for January 12th, 2015 at 8:05 am. We will be on hand to bring you pictures and updates from the floor. You can sign up to follow all the stories from Detroit here, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ Source: Nissan Media View full article

Thank you for your review! I agree with you about the DSG... once you get moving it's great, but not so great in stop and go traffic.

XTS v CTS isn't "which car is better". They are both great cars, the question is "which car does each customer prefer?" I prefer the XTS but I wouldn't turn down a CTS at the right price. Given the same price for each, I would just choose the XTS is all.

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I think what Dfelt is inelegantly saying (sorry) is that Mercedes is making great inroads into Buick's market (GLA/CLA), Chevy's market (SMART) and GMC's market (Sprinter) but not so great at the core business that they're known for. Stated as such, I would be inclined to agree. Just for fun, taking out the sales of the GLA/CLA and Mercedes sees a modest 0.7% decline. Since I still believe the CLA probably stole a few sales from the C-Class, they'd probably be just about even for the year with relatively stagnant growth through the rest of the line-up. Still, that's better than Cadillac could manage and nearly 300k sales for year. But what is it if you drop smart and sprinter too? (I'd also argue against B-Class, but that is insignificant at this point). Mercedes Benz is competing outside their "box" so to speak. Cadillac is never going to get to the volume Mercedes does unless they fold Buick, the Spark, and the GMC commercial vans into the Cadillac lineup. Since that isn't going to happen ever, there is no point in comparing the overall numbers of Cadillac and Mercedes.

I think what Dfelt is inelegantly saying (sorry) is that Mercedes is making great inroads into Buick's market (GLA/CLA), Chevy's market (SMART) and GMC's market (Sprinter) but not so great at the core business that they're known for.

The CTS also dropped 2/3rds of it's bodystyles. The wagon was never a big seller, but the coupe was 30% of sales. So a $10k price increase, dropping a bodystyle with a 30% take rate, no V-series, and only a 3.8% drop in volume is actually really excellent for the CTS. Agreed on the ATS though.

You hit the nail on the head. The CTS V-Sport is 100lbs lighter than the GS-F, has 47 fewer horsepower, but has 41 lb-ft more torque.

I see a lot of this: