SoCalCTS

If he was so concerned then he shouldn't have invested his money OR he should have bought a controlling stake and implemented his plan. He's just a greedy S.O.B. looking to make a quick buck as usual. He is exactly what is wrong with American society today.

I think the DTS should be renamed DeVille so that people know that it is not part of what the new Cadillac aims to be. The DTS(DeVille) should be a heritage car with a super soft suspension that absorbs every single bump in the road. It should have a plush interior by American standards and everything (even those cheesy landau tops) that its buyers want. This is the kind of car that people dream about retiring in. Why does the DeVille have to go head to head with a BMW 7-series? The upcoming ULS can be the world class car and DeVille can stay true to its American roots and forget about competing globally or winning a Motor Trend comparison test.

Can they stretch Kappa like the Holden concept we saw last year? except do a 2 door 2+2 coupe?

The Pinto has been reborn! That car has too much junk in the trunk.

I hate to disagree with some very compelling arguements but I think Buick does need the minivan. If GMC/Buick/Pontiac are to be operated essentially as the same brand then I can't see a GMC professional grade minivan with mass appeal to soccer moms or a performance oriented Pontiac minivan. Buick is the only place that a minivan would fit in. It would have to be a serious competitor with fold flat seats and should be trimmed like a Chrysler Town & Country minivan.

So you are saying that Cadillac should ditch CTS, STS, SRX, BLS and DTS????? CTS starts at $29,990; STS at $41,740; SRX at $36,990; DTS $41,990 So a Cadillac Kappa coupe (NOT CONVERTIBLE) priced around $45K would be a "poor man's Cadillac"? Its obviously, been awile since you ventured into a Cadillac dealership. There needs to be another sporty coupe other than the $78,295 XLR.

My only problem with Infiniti is that they are built for short drivers. The current G35 coupe is one of those cars that you feel like you have to lean forward to get an unubstructed view out the windshield. I'm only a hair taller than 6ft and it was really annoying when I test drove one.

Cadillac needs a sporty car other than the XLR. They need one around the $45k mark and kappa would fit the bill. It does NOT have to be a convertible. This should be codeveloped with the Saab Kappa sports car just like the BLS and 9-3.

Hey Cadillac! Where is our G35 competitor Cadillac coupe???? We have 3 lame flavors of Escalade but no CTS coupe! GM needs to compete or current Caddy owners like myself WILL be moving on to better offerings. Why should I have to settle for a sedan just because of loyalty? My loyalty only goes so far.

Well if the CTS will be replaced in 2007, when will we see it?

I'm sick of political correctness. If you want to call someone a fascist, nazi, or bible thumping bigot you should be able to do it! Political correctness is the worst kind of bland centrist politics. The age of the political independent is coming to an end. Liberals and conservatives will rise again. :AH-HA_wink:

What are those radio-active logos on the dash? is that the new camaro symbol or does it represent some kind of function? The rear shot is hot! A for exterior styling , F for insturmentation and B for the rest of the interior.

Worst interior on a concept ever! We waited so long for this? No wonder they hid the pictures!!!! I have seen reflector bulbs on a Christmas tree that had more "no-nonsense functionality" than these silly guages. Also, what is up with the radio and those weird lights behind the shifter? I do like the seats and overall flow of the dash but come on! There isn't a thing on the dash that I hope makes it into the production model. Can you imagine that dash in cheap chevy plastic with spray on orange metallic paint, and tach & speedodometer glaring in your face?

Its about time they get an automatic. The Solstice/Sky was doomed to failure as a stick only model. Now the other 93% of buyers might take a look at these cars.

It's not bad looking. Actually, its better than what they are doing over at Dodge. This is probably part of DCX's plan to move Chrysler upscale towards Cadillac territory.

I voted suburban because I always considered everything from LA to San Diego to be one big suburb looking for a city.

Here's another great Toyota interior innovation. Now your passenger can store his super-sized soft- drinks in front of your side mirror. :P

Designed in La Jolla, CA. -- nice! I like it. Is this a Solstice competitor? How much horsepower will it have?

This Volvo S40 be a good design direction for Saturn. Its simple and stylish. Plus if you hid the NAV system in the dash, it makes the center dash look a lot cleaner when you don't spring for the NAV system.

Is Velite pronounced veh-LEET, vuh-LEET or VAY-light?

Just think of all the other cars that did not win Fleet car of the year. Including, Toyota Corolla, Kia Amati, Chrysler Sebring, Mazda 3 and Ford Taurus. It's not easy being a fleet car but I would imagine that a car needs to be very durable.

Here's another pic from Autodeadline of the Mazda CX-7.

Obviously, its for girls only...

With all the talk about the American Family Association and Ford, I thought I would post this review from a gay mens magazine called Instinct. GM has been getting some good reviews lately in the gay press. Mazda MX-5 vs. Pontiac Solstice Miatas and Homos have been Married for Years, but a Muscly New Roadster from GM will be inspiring Lots of Infidelity The Price is... Right? Mazda - $24,995 base price (just over $27K with a premium package). Pontiac - $19,995 base price (about $24,700 fully decked out). Advantage: Pontiac Solstice Major props to the General for keeping his promise to keep the Solstice under $20,000. AND you get a decked-out roadster for less than the base MX-5. He's Got the Look Mazda - Even with the new exterior design, the Mx-5 still looks like your typical Japanese 2 seater, which are more known for performance than looks. Pontiac - The Solstice like a typical American just screams, "Look at me!" And people do. Advantage: Pontiac Solstice Superficially speaking, the Solstice looks a lot more expensive than its price tag lets on. We Need a Top Mazda - Manual drop top that can be operated from inside the car. Pontiac - You need to get out of the car to shed the top. Advantage: Mazda MX-5 Neither is a power top (stop snickering), but the MX-5 carries on the tradition of being able to toss the ragtop back over your head, which lends itself more to a sense of impulsiveness. Its Whats Inside that Counts Mazda - An upgrade on the previous model's interior, but still slick, even if there are too many cup holders. Pontiac - For the price, and considering it's the first generation, the interior is pleasant to look at -- even if some of the knobs and vents feel cheap. Advantage: Draw It would be too easy to hand this round to the MX-5. The Mazda's interior looks more modern, but the Pontiac's looks more classic. Which fits a roadster better depends on your taste. Pressure to Perform Mazda - It's light on its wheels, making it speedier, but it doesn't feel as firmly planted on the ground. Pontiac - It may be slower, but the Solstice's handling and shifting making it a true cruising roadster. Advantage: Pontiac Solstice - Those who want speed should wait for the rumored turbocharged Solstice coming out next year. Man Magnet Factor Out of 10 Mazda - 7 Pontiac - 9 Advantage: Pontiac Solstice - Based on looks alone, the new kid on the block is getting all the attention. We even got an Aston Martin owner to check us out (but he was obviously to shy to ask us out). Favorite Detail Mazda - Cool keyless ignition option with the premium package. Pontiac - Well-placed pockets in the front of both seats. Advantage: Pontiac Solstice - Pockets are in this season. And the Winner Is... The Pontiac Solstice. Mazda can change the name, but the new Miata, while a nice update, can't take away from the Solstice's fresh factor.

Chrysler crashes limo market Stretch 300 takes on Lincoln Town Car, extended Cadillac DTS Josee Valcourt / Detroit News story Think the interior of the Chrysler 300 is cavernous? A stretched version of the sedan -- about six inches longer -- is in the works as the automaker prepares to venture into the limousine business. DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group is in final talks with Lima, Ohio-based Accubuilt Inc. to produce mini-stretched 300 sedans similar to an elongated version Accubuilt created for display last month at the Specialty Equipment Market Association Show, a performance and custom vehicle event held annually in Las Vegas. The stretch 300 will be aimed at the limousine industry and compete against Ford Motor Co.'s Lincoln Town Car and General Motors Corp.'s extended Cadillac DTS. Lincoln and Cadillac have long dominated the limo and livery market. Chrysler spokesman Rick Deneau declined comment. The automaker will put the longer wheelbase vehicle on the LX rear-wheel drive platform on which the current 300, Dodge Charger sedans and Magnum station wagon are built, according to Accubuilt officials. About 1,000 LX platforms -- equipped with touring and hemi-engine packages -- will be shipped to Accubuilt from Chrysler's Brampton, Ontario, plant. Accubuilt, which also manufactures the stretched Cadillac DeVille, now replaced by the Cadillac DTS, will saw the 300 in half and add the inches to the middle, said Ken Earnest, Accubuilt's vice president of marketing. The vehicles will be delivered to Chrysler dealers. "When you hear six inches, it doesn't sound like a lot but when you're sitting in the back of a car, another six inches is substantial," Earnest said. For local companies such as Metro Car that offer executive livery services, a more spacious 300 providing corporate clientele with more wiggle room is a plus for business. "The core of our business is the back seat of the vehicle and when you can provide more room in the back, it's an added value," said Kevin Dunbar, vice president for Romulus-based Metro Car, which already has 10 Chrysler 300s in its 100-plus fleet. The company uses mainly Town Cars and Cadillacs to transport passengers. "It was very refreshing to have Chrysler come out with the 300 to begin with," Dunbar said. The 2-year-old 300 already has proven a hit for Chrysler. Sales of the car are up 41 percent through November compared to its debut year. Production of the stretched 300 could begin in July, said Dennis Schlueter, program director for Accubuilt. Output will depend on demand, Earnest said. Accubuilt produces roughly 4,000 specialty vehicles annually, including several hundred Cadillac DTS models. "Chrysler's anticipation is much larger because they are very excited about this," Earnest said. Stretching the 300 will help Chrysler maximize use of its LX platform that is the underpinning of Charger and Magnum. The Challenger concept muscle car to be unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit will use the same underpinning if it goes into production. "From a manufacturing cost-savings standpoint, that's a smart way to go," Catherine Madden, a production analyst with Global Insight Inc., a Waltham, Mass.-based economic forecasting firm. "It's seems to me like it's a perfect fit," Madden said. "It fills a slot. It's below a Mercedes product but above the 300." Accubilt Chrysler 300C Limo website Not bad but it looks like they should have dusted under the seats before they took the publicity photos.