thegriffon

Not in the US. There are a few in other markets—the Fiat Multipla and the Honda FR-V for example.

Umm the HHR is a 4-cyl CUV, the best selling in its small segment (earlier entries having moved up a size). GM is planning more, but that will help Saturn and GMC more than Chevrolet. Of course if it was my decision GM would replace the Equinox with the 7-seat Captiva (and 2.4 Dual-VVT to target the CR-V), and pitch the lwb TE at the Edge and Highlander.

The space and employees will switch to expanded pickup production—no change in employment and a more efficient use of the space. It will affect local upfitters more than GM employees.

Not all markets will get all variants. It will depend on the volumes and the feasability of either local assembly or import. However if you build a hatchback in Mexico for the local market it would be easy enough to ship a few North, even if the volume doesn't justify assembly in the US.

It's only potential news and would not affect employment.

It's photoshopped because the rear wheel arches are the wrong size, the rear shoulder is the wrong size, the rear door is the wrong shape, the tail lights are the wrong shape, the rear bumper (esp. around the lights) is the wrong shape, it looks like it was badly drawn, not photographed etc.

Mines go where the minerals are, commodity prices are more critical than labor costs. Here is something to consider—rising fuel costs will eventually make shipping low-value goods across the Pacific uneconomical, and demand for agricultural products in China already outstrips supply. I'm surprised China even allows food exports.

Three or four bodystyles at least.

It's photoshopped, and not particulary accurately.

They mean the GM Daewoo designed model based on the next European compact architecture—the Cobalt/Nubira/Optra/Lacetti replacement.

Why give up your #1 position in medium trucks to re-sell products from an also-ran? I think Isuzu will have something to say about International building their trucks instead of GM. Of course, IMHO Isuzu, International ad Iveco should merge anyway. There are great synergies to be had (engine and chassis development), no major product overlap (each specializes in different style or weight-class trucks) and size advantages in combining.

That li'l 4-banger Isuzu truck is the world's most popular medium truck.

Including the LCF that competes with the W- and T-series.

International already makes Ford's medium-duty trucks.

Coming this week: PETA files wrongful death suit against BV: "He was driving a Mazda, he should have zoom-soomed around the poor defenseless racoon."

Yes virginia, you can have your cake and eat it too.

It is probably something like the GTC Coupe Concept, if anything with an even more pronounced taper.

The lights are not production, just cobbled-together for functionality. What you can see at the rear is a box sitting on top of the rear deck lid to hid the real shape. You can't make any judgments as to what it really looks like just yet.

Truck line may be for sale International may buy GM's medium-duties FLINT THE FLINT JOURNAL FIRST EDITION Sunday, May 13, 2007 By Todd Seibt [email protected] • 810.766.6315 FLINT - General Motors is considering selling its medium-duty truck line, which employs about 500 people at the Flint Truck Assembly Plant, but there is no firm deal yet, sources said. And right now, the UAW, wrapped in thorny national contract negotiations with GM and Delphi Corp., doesn't see a good reason to approve any such move. "We are aware of these ongoing talks between the parties," said Cal Rapson of Clayton Township, vice president of the UAW's GM and Delphi departments. While nothing formal has been presented to the UAW yet, "at this time, we see no reason to approve it," said Rapson, who declined to comment further. To keep the peace with the UAW, it is expected that GM would at least seek informal approval for changes to the medium-duty line. About 480 workers represented by UAW Local 598 are at Flint Truck. According to parties familiar with the discussions, GM has been in an on-again, off-again discussion with International Truck and Engine to sell the medium duty line and eventually move it to an International facility in the Midwest. … Go to Full article from The Flint Journal

twelve

Altima??? That's cladding, not a bangle butt.

IRS is still rare in the compact class. Corolla, Sentra, Megane, Civic hatch, Golf, Jetta etc. all have torsion beam. Ford, Mazda and the Civic sedan are the main sellers offering IRS (Toyota has a pair of compact sedans with IRS, but only sold in Japan [for less than a Corolla]). Even the new Auris only offers IRS as an option on the top performance model.

Don't you mean Corsa? The Agila is the next model down, a minicompact (although it would offer would more room than that).

More than last year, but Corolla sales will crash because the hatches (the main sales driver in many markets) are now called Auris.