Bimmer325

Unless plans have recently changed, the Outlook and Acadia are set to begin production in October, with the Enclave following later on.

I'll be there on multiple occasions to cover it for C&G. I'm not sure exactly which days yet.

Referring back to my earlier post, I'm now of the opinion that the Aztek looks good in comparison. It really doesn't get much worse than this, Jeep.

No, you don't. The BLS isn't competitive with the 3-Series and A4, and bringing it here would seriously hinder the favorable image Cadillac has worked to achieve throughout the past five years. In fact, it'd only hinder any credibility future Cadillacs would seek to hold in that class. Rather than shoving an incompetent model down our throats just to shut critics up, Cadillac should work on developing a model that builds on the brand's rennaissance. In terms of design, drivetrain, performance, and downright authenticity, the BLS is not that model.

Good times.

Notice how I stated the Compass' front-fascia is arguably worse. I never made mention of the interior. And I firmly stand by my statement. Bash the Aztek all you want, but when it comes to design, I fail to see what makes this: Any worse than this: The Compass is every bit the bastard the Aztek was, the only difference being that Jeep should've learned from Pontiac's mistake. When it comes to a cohesive design (your words, not mine), the Aztek actually has the Compass beat. The Aztek's front-fascia has design elements that actually work together, whereas the Compass' is a mess of awkward angles and droopy, mis-matched styling cues. Is it that wonderful Jeep grille that gives the Compass the edge? Becuase otherwise I'm at a complete loss.

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Everything in the above images is photoshopped in. Here are the originals.

I'm with Nextel so I guess my input is useless. But...if you're planning on switching carriers and/or are interested in the PTT feature, Motorola's Nextel phones are bulletproof. My i850 has been submerged in water, dropped countless times, and baked in my car yet still works flawlessly.

The Audi-like grille surround wasn't featured on earlier renderings if I remember correctly.

Yep, that's the interior. :AH-HA_wink:

Beats the hell out of the tired Led Zepplin theme we've got going now. Was that quick shot of the CTS a sneak-peak?

The Compass is a flop waiting to happen. No, not because it's without the "Trail Rated" badge, but because it's among the most hideous vehicles to ever debut. Period. Comparisons to the Aztek are spot-on. In fact, I'd venture to say that the Compass' front-fascia is worse than the Aztek. Consumers in the market for a car-based SUV don't know nor care what "Trail Rated" means. Unfortunately for Jeep, they are well aware of how downright ugly the Compass is. I wouldn't be surprised if the Patriot takes it's place within a few years.

The rendering inaccurately depicts it as a hatchback.

Chevy Mulling 4-Cylinder 'Vette April 1, 2006 | CheersandGears.com In an attempt to lure environmentally-conscious consumers to the Corvette line, Chevy will unveil a 4-cylinder variant of it's iconic sportscar. Debuting at the New York International Auto Show this month, the entry-level 'Vette will feature a 1.6-liter inline-four producing the same 103 horsepower and 107 lb-ft of torque as in the Aveo. Arriving on the heels of the foolishly inefficient Z06, 4-cylinder models will achieve EPA ratings in the mid thirties. Likely dubbed Corvette LS, buyers will choose from either a standard 4-speed automatic or a sportier 5-speed manual. While pricing has yet to be released, expect LS models (outfitted in cloth upholstery and featuring 15" aluminum wheels) to MSRP in the mid teens. Bottom Line: Chevy finally makes fuel-economy a priority with the latest addition to the Corvette lineup. Prius buyers seeking a more-engaging alternative? Look no further.

I thought we'd been hacked again when I saw that front page. Utter chaos. Good stuff, but seriously...think we took it a bit far this year?

Why is it that Vince Burlapp spy shots always look like they were shot in an enclosed space from the same exact angle?

No Febreze for me. I hate the smell and regardless of what they claim, it only seems to mask odors with an even less-appealing scent. The air-vent clip-on fresheners look even worse than the pine trees in my opinion, the only advantage being that obviously you can't see them from outside. I prefer to actually just clean my interior so it's genuinely clean rather than just smelling clean. I use Sonus cockpit detailer on the dash, Armor All on rubber, and 303 Carpet and Upholstery cleaner on rugs and seats. When all else fails...yes, there's a mini pine tree hanging from my mirror. Preferably orange, strawberry, or coconut.

Unless the agenda has recently changed, yes.

The accuracy of the above rendering is questionable. The overall size and shape of the model in the authentic shots reveals more substantial, upright and SUV-like attributes than the computer-generated images would suggest.

Press Release: -------------------- BOLD NEW SATURN VEHICLES DEBUT AT NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW NEW YORK – General Motors will unveil a dramatically revitalized Saturn lineup with production versions of the all-new 2007 Saturn Aura midsize sedan, Saturn Sky Red Line performance roadster and Saturn Outlook crossover vehicle at the 2006 New York International Auto Show. “Saturn’s new products demonstrate GM’s commitment to raising the bar on product execution as part of our North American turnaround plan,” said Mark LaNeve, GM North America vice president, Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing. “Saturn’s dramatic new cars and crossovers, combined with an industry-leading positive retail experience, are a winning combination.” The Saturn vehicles making their world debut in New York include: The Saturn Aura, which goes on sale this summer, brings the new design of Saturn into a fun-to-drive sport sedan, with bold exterior styling and high levels of interior refinement. The Saturn Sky Red Line, arriving at Saturn retailers this fall, adds extra power and performance to Saturn’s new signature roadster with a 260-horsepower 2.0L direct-injection turbo. The Saturn Outlook is an eight-passenger crossover vehicle that strikes an ideal balance of style, size and capability. Outlook, which goes into production later this year, is built on GM’s new crossover vehicle platform. A Saturn concept vehicle that will provide an indication of how the brand’s new design cues will continue on future vehicles. Continue Reading

Pontiac drops 2 Vibe models after '06 model year Jamie LaReau | Automotive News / March 30, 2006 DETROIT -- Pontiac will discontinue the GT and all-wheel-drive versions of the Vibe wagon after the 2006 model year due to sluggish sales of those models and changes in U.S. emissions standards that would have made them costly to redesign. Pontiac will continue to offer the base-model Vibe for the 2007 model year. It may bring back the GT and awd versions with the next-generation Vibe, a spokesman says. In a bulletin to Pontiac dealers Thursday morning, Buick-Pontiac-GMC General Manager John Larson told dealers they had until April and May to put in their last requests for the GT and AWD versions. Larson cited changes to U.S. regulatory standards as the reason. "These changes would affect key structural components," Larson wrote. "The cost of redesign is prohibitive." U.S. regulatory policy for 2007 has an ultralow emissions standard that the GT and awd versions did not meet. The base does meet the standard, says a Pontiac spokesman. Sales also factored into the decision. Pontiac sold 64,271 units of the Vibe last year. That was up 9.1 percent from 2004. But dealers say the base model has accounted for the bulk of those sales. "The GT and awd are very low-penetrating models right now," says Pontiac spokesman Jim Hopson. "There's still a very good possibility we'll resurrect both of those as we look at the next generation of the Vibe over the next couple of years." The Vibe is a joint project that GM builds with Toyota Motor Corp. at the New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. plant in Fremont, Calif. Toyota builds the engine. Sources close to Pontiac say the NUMMI arrangement is profitable and the killing of these versions does not indicate that the relationship will end. Pontiac will produce about 45,000 Vibes for 2006 model year, Hopson says. In July, Pontiac starts production on the 2007 base Vibe. The base Vibe price starts at $16,990, the awd starts at $19,990 and the GT is $20,665. All prices include shipping. Link: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti.../1003&refsect=#

I'll be renting when I'm down in Florida in two weeks. Should be interesting to see what I get.

New Cadillac Escalade shines By Anita Lienert WASHINGTON, D.C. -- One of the most critical moments in the redesign of the Cadillac Escalade happened three years ago when the General Motors premium brand rented a Hollywood film studio for an evening, set up a full bar and invited A-list celebrities, athletes and rappers to preview an early version of the 2007 model. Oscar winner Adrien Brody -- who will soon take delivery of a 2007 Escalade EXT -- and the rest of the glittering crowd said they loved the new Escalade's added chrome and the exterior details borrowed from the legendary Cadillac Sixteen show car. But they also had a warning: The 20-inch wheels, the biggest size you could get on the old Escalade, didn't cut it. The tastemakers demanded showy 22-inchers that filled up the wheel wells. Some likened the dramatic wheels and tires to designer shoes. And Cadillac listened. Company insiders say they built the '07 Escalade around those optional $2,995 22-inch wheels and tires, which meant engineers had to add bigger brakes and a revised suspension. Those optional wheels also set the Escalade apart from such mighty competitors as the 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, which skips the larger wheels and tires and only offers optional 19- and 20-inch packages. It may seem like a small detail, but such attentiveness to the desires of celebrity and hip-hop customers is what gives the '07 Escalade a powerful dose of street credibility. The redesigned Escalade, sibling of the 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon, stands out as the sexiest full-size SUV on the market, an awesome Detroit offering that hits a bull's-eye in such important areas as horsepower and cabin design. Fuel economy is another matter. The six- to eight-passenger Escalade gets a larger, 6.2-liter V-8 engine. Oddly, it does not offer the variable-displacement system available on the lesser Tahoe that shuts down four of the cylinders under part throttle to save on gas. The new Escalade returns 13 mpg in city driving and 19 mpg on the highway, which may seem only marginally better than the outgoing model, which had the same city number, but got only 17 mpg on the highway. Considering the '07 Escalade gets a whopping boost in horsepower, however, those fuel economy numbers are fairly remarkable. The all-wheel-drive Escalade is on sale now starting at $57,280, including an $875 destination charge. The redesigned 2007 Escalade EXT and ESV models will hit the market in May and a two-wheel-drive Escalade will debut in August. It was a memorable moment to see a line of fully loaded '07 Escalades -- all with 22-inch wheels -- parked in front of the luxurious Mandarin Oriental hotel at the media launch of the big Cadillac sport-utility. Most of the standard-wheelbase Escalades on this drive topped out at $66,000, with extras such as navigation radio, a rearview camera system and a heated steering wheel. Cadillac designers used the Sixteen as inspiration for such Escalade exterior features as the grille, side "ventiports" and lighting. And they turned to high-end kitchen design for a new color, antique bronze, which is similar to the color of trendy and expensive oiled bronze appliances. The new Escalade is immediately identifiable on the street with such details as triple-stack HID headlamps and mammoth Cadillac wreath-and-crest logos fore and aft. The wreath-and-crest are even etched into those headlamps, another example of the exacting attention to the smallest detail. And this Escalade is notable because it is decked out in what designers refer to as "seven layers of chrome," from the luggage rack to the running boards. It's the most amount of chrome ever on Escalade. While the new Escalade is anything but dainty, it reminded me of the trendsetting work of fashion designer Oleg Cassini, who created Jackie Kennedy's signature A-line dresses. Like those dresses, the Escalade succeeds because its chiseled features are easily read from a distance with lots of clarity of line. My test Escalade was outfitted with cocoa-colored leather, with cocoa gauges adorned with striking blue needles. The cabin is beautifully put together with a mix of matte metal, leather and faux wood, with no noticeable gaps and virtually no exposed hardware. The second-row seats, which have an optional $425 power feature that folds them forward with a touch of a button, are completely covered on the underside, leaving nothing on which to snag your clothes or get your hands dirty. It would have been awesome to have a third row with a power folding feature, too. But the third row in the Escalade is folded manually, and with some difficulty, which is bound to be annoying to wealthy customers with big expectations. The 2006 Lincoln Navigator has a standard power-folding third-row seat, although the second row seats are flipped manually. One other minor disappointment on Escalade: No power tilt/telescoping steering column. But I don't expect anyone to argue with the Escalade's new powertrain. The 2006 model was equipped with a 6.0-liter V-8. The new Escalade gets an impressive 58-horsepower boost for 2007, thanks to a new aluminum-block 6.2-liter V-8 that churns out 403 horsepower and 417 pounds-feet of torque. It is mated to a new six-speed automatic transmission with a manual-shift mode. On the highways in nearby Virginia, the Escalade's big V-8 performed beautifully, with plenty of power for passing and merging. As mentioned, the brakes are bigger, thanks to those larger wheels and tires, and it's something you notice almost immediately -- with gratitude. The Escalade's wider track -- three inches in the front and one inch in the rear --give it a greater feeling of stability on the road. The ride is stiff without being hard and, thankfully, doesn't feel like a truck. The Escalade is equipped with GM's standard AutoRide, which almost constantly adjusts the suspension to help absorb bumps. The only moment of anxiety came when I pulled into a strip mall in Fairfax and had to make two tries at angle parking the Escalade into a tight space. It's still bulky, with a 5,818-pound curb weight, and requires a little extra care in some situations. Safety features are top-drawer on Escalade and include standard electronic stability control, standard side curtain air bags that protect outboard passengers in all three rows and front safety-belt pretensioners that activate in rear impacts -- an unusual feature that helps to position the front occupants in the event of a crash. The Escalade also does a good job of making the driver feel secure with such features as standard OnStar, an onboard communications system -- which I used for directions -- as well as remote start and perimeter lighting. Because the average Escalade owner has a $160,000-a-year household income, there are plenty of upscale goodies you can add. You can get a $1,295 rear-seat DVD entertainment system, with a screen that flips down out of the headliner, or a fancier dealer-installed entertainment system for $2,165 that has two screens built in the backs of front headrests, decorated with the wreath-and-crest logo. You can watch two different movies on this top-of-the-line entertainment system or play a video game on one while you're watching a movie on the other. This, of course, is nearly as important as those big wheels. The celebrities may have demanded those, but Cadillac dealers say the average customer comes into the showroom and says, "I'll take an Escalade -- with a TV." Link: http://info.detnews.com/autosconsumer/auto...ex.cfm?id=22446

Introducing the all-new Saab 9-8x. Born from Je-...actually it's another rebadge of the Chevrolet Uplander. Starting at $35,240.