Drew Dowdell

... owned by the Chinese.

Why the assumption that boost gauges on a Vette mean it has a turbo? The CTS-V has boost gauges right now too and nary a turbo in sight.

There is a blue circle behind the gear that will be the basis of our new logo

Had DF make some more updates last night

I imagine you see a lot of older stuff that we in the northeast no longer spot

I think the 8-speed Cadillac is getting now is just a hold over until a GM designed/built 8-speed is done.

The Mk4 Jetta.... where'd they all go!?

I'm ready to go.

Unlikely... just additional friction. A 1 liter V2 would be about the smallest they could go I imagine.

It may not be as bad as you think. Sporty versions of big sedans do not really have to be ultra athletic. They just need to be refined and brawny -- think S63 AMG -- big, heavy, fast, stately, but not exactly an autocross contender. The XTS can use a V8 (the 6.2 LT1 will fit where the 3.6TT fits). I won't call it a V though, just the top rung XTS model -- XTS 6.2. How would that FWD biased AWD system in the XTS cope with the torque of the 6.2L or even the TT3.6L? Will GM change the axel bias to a RWD one to better handle that power? I still think the XTS was a mistake built as is and should have been built on a luxed up version of the ZETA LWB platform! Then the optional power would not be a problem! The AWD system in the XTS can send plenty of torque to the rear wheels. I have the snow burnout videos to prove it.

Wish I could get out there to go skiing

well, that's a lawnmower engine... it may not have enough power to run the generator at highway speeds in regen mode.

How come they mostly don't make taller top gears for highway cruising.... especially when mated to these torquey engines? Edit: The 300C Hemi + 8-speed should be a whole new level of good.....

Bring back TBI?

Is the ZF 8-speed setup the same in the Chryslers?

Who needs a Transit Connect when you can ride in Cadillac Cadillac Cadillac style?!

The 2.0T isn't slated for the XTS for the US.... officially.... yet....

I use an App called aCar to track everything about the Toronado including fuel economy.

Still better than the Audi's weight distribution for AWD models.

The XTS AWD is a firmer ride and an equal handler to the E-class, so no reason it can't get this engine.... though I expect it to be downrated for FWD duty. You know what might be hot though? SRX-V anyone?

The old one wasn't either... but that one was almost always wrong. This one gets it right sometimes, but a lot of it you can blame on the manufacturers playing games.

BTW, diesel cars tend to do way better than their EPA rating putting them at a marketing disadvantage in the real world against hybrids. I'm not sure why the EPA test screws with diesel cars so much..... when I had the diesel Passat and drove to Ann Arbor, I was doing arrest worthy speeds that cannot be mentioned public forum yet I still blew through the EPA rating on the way up there. I took it easy on the trip back and did even better. consumer reports is not neutral. More neutral than anything the automakers put out in their advertising. not so... CR has their own agenda and they don't provide crosstabs of the information they collect. I would trust something like Fuelly way more.

consumer reports is not neutral.

Part of me wonders how much playing of the system goes on out there. I wouldn't be surprised to hear that GM and Chrysler are underrating their engines on purpose. It would also not surprise me to hear that Honda, Toyota, Kia, and Hyundai play to the test specifically at the expense of real world numbers. Ford tried this with their hybrids to out hybrid Toyota and got their fingers burned. All Ford/Lincoln commercials now state very clearly "Your mileage may vary with driving style and conditions" VW is a mixed bag, but their DSG allows them to squeeze more efficiency out of otherwise mediocre performing engines (gas specifically). Ditto Nissan + CVT. I don't know that any one manufacturer has a specific advantage or disadvantage as it is more specific to the engine/transmission combo. However, the only cars that have consistently beaten their EPA numbers for me regardless of Engine/Transmission combo are the Chrysler LX cars and the Jeep GC/Dodge Durango.

It seems to be inconsistent. Some EPA numbers are pessimistic (Pentastar V6/Hemi/ VW 2.0T) , some are optimistic (Ford Hybrids, Kia/Hyundai, Honda), some are right on (GM 2.0T, GM 3.6DI, Ford 3.7)