Blake Noble

ergonomics

tomb

Ed Welburn, Chris Bangle, Walter de Silva ... I can name more than that if you really want me to.

This should do for the XFE moniker what a handful of certain vehicles have done for the SS moniker.

DETROIT — General Motors will produce for the 2009 model year special fuel economy models of four of its biggest, thirstiest trucks, the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups and the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon SUVs. Grouped under the moniker XFE, which Chevrolet has already used on a high-mpg version of the Cobalt small car, the trucks will return 15 mpg in the city and 21 on the highway. That represents a single mile-per-gallon improvement for both city and highway, compared to non-XFE versions with the same 5.3-liter V8 engine. Unlike the two-mode hybrid versions of the company's big trucks, the XFE models use totally conventional means to achieve their improvements. All XFEs will use six-speed transmissions and a 3.08 axle ratio, and the Silverado and Sierra XFEs get aluminum lower control arms for the front suspension, and an aluminum spare wheel and aluminum 17-inch wheels wearing low-rolling-resistance tires (with higher recommended tire pressure). To improve aerodynamics, the pickups' suspension has been lowered and the XFEs carry deeper front airdams and soft tonneau covers. The SUVs get the same mechanical changes as the pickups. The XFE suite of equipment is offered only on two-wheel-drive versions of the trucks and SUVs and only in pickups in the crew-cab body style. GM has not announced pricing on the models. They will be in dealership showrooms in the fourth quarter of this year.

GM has already released a photo of a pre-production Equinox. So, well, what was the whole purpose of making that photoshop again?

+1

I think it cheapens the interior, IMHO. Not good. I honestly fear for GM anymore. This reminds me of the "old school" GM.

I can guarantee that this decision will not be met with any acceptance whatsoever by the press.

GM, you do know that you could have easily given us analog gauges, right?

*Whistles.*

A second-generation GMC Syclone. Hmmm ...

Hidden Valley

Let's put it this way: GM is Vauxhall's parent company, correct? Well, let's just say that one day GM decides that the Vauxhall Company will be closing its doors to cut costs and Opel cars will be sold in the UK in their place. Does Vauxhall's status as a company mean anything here? No, it does not. Honestly, Vauxhall is nothing more than another brand at GM. I know it might technically be a company, but don't let that fool you. Vauxhall's status as a company will do nothing in the way of saving it from being closed down like, say, GMC if GM ever sees fit to close that brand down. Vauxhall's status as a company does not mean that they could fight GM if management wanted to totally shut the remains of Vauxhall down and remain in business. GM has total control over Vauxhall. GM is Vauxhall, Vauxhall is GM. In the end, I think PCS is ultimately correct here. That's all I'm going to say regarding this for quite some time. I have no desire to further argue about this. It's just a back and forth battle between the reality of a situation and a few tactical facts.

Beyond the Camaro and the Volt, there seems to be very little to be excited about in the future anymore regarding GM. When you sit down and look at all of the facts and rumors, well, it does look quite depressing over at GM. The Insignia will not be coming to North America unchanged from its Opel form (even though it has been stated that Saturn and Opel will become one and the same); the Beat will not be coming to North America either, only the Trax, despite the concept's popularity here; there has been no back-up plan for Zeta; the W-Body Impala and Cobalt will live on past the end of the decade; Alpha has been delayed six months; future product plans for Pontiac are beyond undesirable; the Cruze has been delayed. And could we please do something about the compact pickups, please? It's all a little off-putting. And even though you cannot place the blame squarely on one individual's shoulders in this case, I am starting to single out a few people who I feel should have done more in their positions, and that does include Bob Lutz since he is the Vice President of Global Product Development after all. Someone needs to walk into GM and turn the company over on its head. And keep it there. However, I know it's not all gloom and doom. GM has been making huge strides in the feel and fit and finish of their cars and the Design Department has been placed in a rightful position of power. However, considering all of the information out there regarding what GM is cooking up, and perhaps I have been getting quite lazy in my snooping lately, but I have to wonder, where's the beef?

No, perhaps not in styling, but I don't think that it's too far fetched to say that they were similar in basic concept.

No, no, this is Euro Trash:

Hmmm ... good point! Glad to hear you are having a good trip, PCS. I would love to take a cross-country trip sometime in the future myself; I've always wanted to visit Oregon. Sorry to hear about the laptop, though.

... The more tempting it becomes.

I have been wondering why it has been so quiet around here ...

Yes it was. I wonder, if you can consider the Capri as the European Mustang, could you also consider the Manta as the European Camaro?

QUOTE(Satty) Please, that ones even easier than your mom, its below me, just like your mom. Your mom. With my mom also comes my condolences.

Okay, so I moved the slider on one question under Auto Usage, hit submit, then went to Recommendations and still GOT NOTHING. The directions aren't the problem here, wildpaws.

QUOTE(66Stang) B-J Syndrome.... How I would love to have Satty's wit right now.