HarleyEarl

It's the Brilliance from China.

Chevy's 2007 Tahoe Biggest launch ever? GM says its 2007 full size trucks are critical to the company’s success WES RAYNAL Posted Date: 9/20/05 PHOTOS: 2007 CHEVROLET TAHOE GALLERY General Motors Corp. introduced its all-new, 2007 full-size SUVs and while GM officials insist the trucks won’t make or break the company, if they fail…well, according to GM that’s just not an option. The trucks have new all-new sheetmetal, new engines, new chassis and suspension, and new interiors. GM says the new trucks will offer more power and better fuel economy than the vehicles they replace. The Chevy Tahoe (pictured), GMC Yukon/Yukon Denali and Cadillac Escalade will be on sale early in the first quarter of 2006. Extended-wheelbase versions, including Chevy Suburban and Avalanche, GMC Yukon XL and Yukon XL Denali, and Cadillac Escalade ESV and Escalade EXT will be introduced in ’06’s second quarter. Prices will be announced closer to the trucks arriving in dealers, GM said. The SUVs will come in two wheelbase lengths – 116 inches and 130 inches – three bodystyles and 12 different models, including light- and heavy-duty versions. Production of the new SUVs is shared among three plants: Arlington, Texas; Janesville, Wisconsin and Silao, Mexico . The new range of V8 engines: >> 4.8-liter, 290 hp >> Two 5.3-liters (one aluminum block and one iron block), with Displacement On Demand, 320 hp >> 6.0 liter heavy-duty with variable valve timing, 350 hp >> 6.0-liter with Displacement On Demand and variable valve timing, 355 hp >> 6.2-liter with variable valve timing, 380 and 400 hp GM officials used the word “refinement” often during the trucks’ introduction, whether they were referring to the interior or the exterior. The trucks look slightly smaller than the ones they replacement but they aren’t and the look isn’t radically different from the old trucks, but they do look cleaner. “Everything’s new,” said GM vice chairman Bob Lutz, “but they are still instantly recognizable as our trucks.” A great deal of attention was spent on the details, Lutz said, and the aim was for taut lines and tight and consistent body panel gaps. “We want you to focus on these details,” Lutz said. “A few years ago we were glad you didn’t but now we want you to.” GM claims a 0.363 drag coefficient, the best among SUVs. GM also claims that because of the good aero, fuel economy is up to a combined 20.5 mpg for the 2 wheel-drive models and 20.1 mpg for the 4 wheel drive models. The front suspension is coil-over-shock and the rear is a five-link setup. Four-wheel disc brakes and an all-new ABS system from Bosch use larger front and rear rotors, 50-percent stiffer dual-piston calipers, and longer-life brake pads. The ABS system works with the standard Stabilitrak stability control system. Lutz said these newest GMs “work like trucks but drive like a really nice passenger car.” Indeed, GM has a lot riding on these full-size utes. It will be interesting to watch how they perform once they hit the showrooms.

Should the competition be worried?.....the Brilliance: Tuesday, September 20, 2005 World automakers assess what threat Chinese cars pose By Christine Tierney / The Detroit News FRANKFURT, Germany -- Visitors to the Frankfurt car show seemed more impressed by the brightly painted Beijing opera performers and entertainers dressed up as monkeys than by the smattering of Chinese vehicles on display. Crowded in a hall reserved for second-tier nameplates, Brilliance Auto, BMW's venture partner in China, exhibited sedans conceived with the help of European designers, the private Geely Group showed off a five-model lineup, and Jiangling Motors exhibited its Landwind sport utility vehicle. Many viewers chuckled, but the prospect of Chinese imports flooding the market loomed large at Europe's biggest car show, as it does in Detroit. At this stage, however, the Chinese threat is reflected mainly in the heightened urgency European executives feel to slash costs. "These guys are aggressive. After the Japanese and Koreans, this is the third wave of Asian manufacturers that'll sweep around the world," said Wolfgang Bernhard, former chief operating officer at the Chrysler Group and now head of Volkswagen AG's VW division. "They're going to go global the way the Korean automakers went global. There's no way to stop them. We've got to be prepared," said Bernhard, who is drafting a restructuring plan for the large VW division. He expects Chinese manufacturers will be serious competitors in five to 10 years. Currently, they don't look like much of a threat -- but neither did the Korean brands at their outset, and they're now among the fastest-growing nameplates in several European countries. At the Landwind stand, a receptionist handed out brochures listing German dealers who have agreed to sell the Chinese SUV. But a salesman at the Herlmetz dealership in Bitterfeld, one of the firms listed, said he didn't have any Landwinds and didn't know when they would arrive. He didn't have a price list or specifications yet. But the interest is out there. "I had four calls today alone," said Fabian Hirl, who also sells Kia, Opel and Alfa Romeo models. China's auto industry will undoubtedly boost global competition by several notches, says Carlos Ghosn, CEO of both alliance partners Renault SA and Nissan Motor Co. But the most formidable competitors may not be the Chinese companies now rushing to be the first to export vehicles. "What they can do, we can do, because we are now in China," Ghosn said, referring to the ventures formed by Chinese companies and global automakers. The ventures have the dual advantage of low Chinese wages and the technological and production know-how of the world's best auto companies. Honda Motor Co. has already begun exporting a Chinese-built compact, the Jazz, to Europe. "Global automakers established in China are going to be more efficient and they're going to be competing against each other in other markets," Ghosn said. If China's carmakers can copy technology fast enough and grab market share by making appealing and reliable vehicles, "well," said Ghosn, "then welcome to the club."

Here is the ZIL 111, a '61 prototype and the actual car produced. There is some Cadillac influence.

Very nice conversion:

No, FlyBrian is being inventive with the 'Le Sabreski'...quite funny. It's actually the ZIS '512', 1951 prototype. It does not seem like the type of car the Russian communists would make. Was surprised when I learned of it.

This is a great Seville for 'pickups'.

That Colorado looks very choice, rkm....nice.

Monteverdi.

Damn....never thought anyone had heard of this beast lol.....FlyBrian of course is right.

This is big favorite of mine. The Chevy Cheyenne pickup concept. I tell you here now, if Chevy made this pickup exactly as it is here, they would take over the truck market almost completely. Very butch.

I can't for the life of me, remember the name of this Corvette concept. It's the first time I have seen a photo of it in years. Anyone know?

LMAO, bluuuuuuuuuuuuuu. That is hilarious.

Great thread Blu lol. Here's another ewww story. I'm at the office and everyone is scurrying around getting ready for a board meeting. We file in, get seated. Seated beside me this stunning women who is my collegue....very Paris couture style. I am startled by an unpleasant oder. It is stunningly awful. A smell of shit. I thought, what the hell is that?!! Some are beginning to notice the stench. The unpleasant oder seemed too close in...I got paranoid...you never know, something could have smeared.:). So I start checking, not obvious, but just to be sure. I check my shoes....very stealthlike, check the bottoms. Horror of horrors!!!......dog crap was all stuck in the sole of my shoe....and they were really grippy types....lots of crevices to cling to. Probably the mose embarassing moment in my life.

EWWW..Blu....never thought of that....slug juice broccoli.

My experience was in the light of day, sort of. I made supper, dished up and sat down. It was one of those, I made a little more effort. Chicken breasts, salad, vegetables. One of those veggies was broccoli. I ate some...mmm very crisp, nice. Forked some more and as I was bringing up to my mouth, I glanced down...don't always do that. Crappppppp....there in branches of the broccoi was a big fat slug all steamed to death. I almost barfed....so close! Honestly, to this day I search every little crevice on broccoli now.

I wonder if a 4' sheet of plywood would fit? Otherwise a fun 'Tonka' truck. Big toys for Big boys. Good color.

ya lol.....and it reportedly is 3 car-lengths long.

Hint: It was inspired by the Harley Earl Buick Le Sabre concept car by an unexpected car maker.

Me too razor. I think generally American cars all got painted with the same brush and many have locked into foreign brands.

http://autoweek.com/article.cms?articleId=103202

What concept is this?

1. Best Looking: Chevrolet Corvette 2. Worst Looking: Saturn Ion 3. Blandest: Chevrolet Cobalt Sedan