thegriffon

You think the Democrats won't ask for a bigger increase in fuel economy? They're already saying Bush's proposal doesn't go far enough. Some of them would ban (everyone else's) cars altogether if they thought people would stand for it. Limiting power (and by proxy, size) is something they hope will be accepted. It's just a question of what backing they can get for the limit they want. This isn't like the voluntary limit on advertized hp formerly adhered to by Japanese manufacturers. Sure there's a little posturong, but only to sound out other Democrats to see how far those who are driving this can go. Will there be a 30% increase in CAFE? A 300 hp limit on engine output? 200 hp? GM is unlikely to be the only one taking a step back and waiting. What will happen to the Tundra now if hp is limited, or fuel-economny demands for fullsize trucks are increased. They also have to evalkuate what options consumers will accept and pay for. Will they need to offer a stop-n-go BAS on every model? Will people pay for a 260 hp Turbo 4 instead of a V6? (Experience with Saab says no).

Hyundai's effectively gets a pass because it's imported, as is the G8, so it's balanced by the Accent. The G8 is balanced by the Aveo, but a NAFTA-built G6, Impala or Lucerne wouldn't get that benefit.GM is waiting to see which way the wind blows, but it could spell the end of anything larger than a lwb Epsilon (maybe 2.9 m wb for the next gen), except as a low-volume niche product (4000 a month or less for all of GM), with a lot of very expensive technology to aid economy and CO2 emmisions, which could restrict it to Cadillacs, and a very expensive LaCrosse.

Don't be so sure. These guys have only just been elected, and they're confident of being there for a long time to come, with a president in the near futue who is unlikely to oppose them. Bush may be open to large cars running on ethanol, but his term is nearly up, and the Democrats believe they have carte blanche to do whatever they damn well want, with no chance of a backlash as long as they can blame staying in Iraq in the Republicans. On the plus side they may increase funding to public transport options, but that is unlikely to have much of an impact on the percieved problems of automobile fuel economy and CO2.

There are more photos: 19 in all, if you can find them, plus three more photos of the WTCC Ultra on the track not previously posted by GM Europe.

Yes there is. The full press release (not just the excerpt on Carblogger) from the 4th is now available and posted on AutoReport:GM Daewoo's Premium Sedan, Roadster and Race Car to Highlight Seoul Motor Show Korean sales start in late summer. For the moment the L4X is a "show car" though, like the S3X (Winstorm/Captiva) T2X, and the previous apperance of the G2X.

This from the people who refuse to fund Amtrak? That will not fund any "new" mass transit routes, only improvements to existing routes? Well, now's the time to do something, like form a grassroots organization to elect people who will make these commitments. You have 18 months or so to change the future.

So how big does this look? Perhaps it's a metter of familiarity. I see cars this size (Daihatsus, Suzukis and Daewoos) every week, and know exactly how big they are compared to toer small hatches. To me the Trax especially looks just like a Matiz with an off-road kit. I can easily see these cars being 59-60" wide and 58-64" tall (Beat to Trax).

With nearly 270,000 responses: Beat 37.7% 101477 Groove 47.3% 127106 Trax 15.0% 40318 Valid Responses 268901 This is approaching the normally expected outcome in a static, multi-product market (the broader auto market is no longer so simple, but the midsize and compact sedan segments are heading in this direction).

Since there seems so much confusion as to comparitive sizes: Sorry about the small font size, it was reduced a lot by Photobucket. I've ignored US versions with extended bumpers added as an afterthought, since as far as real size goes, you may as well cover a Cobalt with a styrofoam shell and say its the same size as the Towncar. Although I cut out a lot of models you may have never heard of you can clearly see the steps between the different segments, and the odd anomaly such as the SX4 with its enormous overhangs and semi-wagon profile, and the Euro-Focus which is more fastback than standard Golf-type hatch. There are also no 5-seat MPVs here, which eliminates the Agila, Note, A-Class, Meriva, Ractis, PT Cruiser, new xB etc. FYI Tiida=Versa in the US and Canada. Although no dimensions have been given, GM says explicitly that the music concepts (Trax with Groove and Beat, like I'm listening to now) are Matiz-sized, much shorter in length than the Aveo.

You still forgot the Echo.Versa is C-segment, after all it's much bigger than a Golf/Rabbit, and about as big a the Astra, it's just cheap. In most markets it replaces the Sentra at a similar price. In Eastern Europe it will also replace the C/D-segment Primera.

Look at the dates—"2010 or 2011 at the earliest". The new PA effectively debuted in Australia in 2006. Give it a standard five years and you have 2011. Given the introduction date of the Lucerne and a normal 5-year run and it will be about right.

The G2X and L4X are still concepts at this stage, there may be different names for the production models.

Hyundai Azera? Pushing close to that $25K mark I know, but the big Sonata is a relative bargain in the US (it's priced closer to the ES350 elsewhere, and they complain sales are too low ).

It had been posted, but no, the upcoming Park Avenue will not be the Lucerne replacement, rather one vehicle will replace them both.

ehaase posted it, I'm just spoofing. You may need to register, but not subscribe.

Car manufacturers have been pushing the NHTSA to do this. ESC is lightweight, relatively cheap and increases safety without requiring expensive new platforms and increased weight. While it can't eliminate accidents (it can't keep your eyes on the road, or brake before you enter a corner), it can reduce them, and will reduce the need for increased rollover protection.

Spyshots of a heavily disguised Agila reveal not a single inch of sheetmetal, but exposed headlights and the overall shape of the new model reveal a Panda rival that abandons the WagonR+'s boxy proportions for a morte wedge-shaped profile with a strong resemblance to the new Corsa. Like the Panda, however, the new Agila maximizes space with a tall, upright greenhouse and near-vertical tailgate. While GM Daewoo is working on a new microcar architecture, the new Agila remains a joint project with Suzuki, assembled by GM Manufacturing Poland with Opel powertrains but based on Suzuki's flexible A-segment platform shared with the Swift and SX4. Go to spyshots from Automedia/Autobild

Estate Wagon is not a name, it's a description, an alternate name for a Station Wagon, Shooting Break, Combi etc. As such it's a generic term and anyone can use it. It is likely only to be called an Estate Wagon in the UK. Elsewhere it will be the i30 Break, i30 Combi etc., depending on the local convention for this type of vehicle. In most markets "wagon/wagen/vagn" etc. refers to any wheeled vehicle (it is in fact the germanic equivalent to the latin-sourced "vehicle"), the standard English contraction of Estate Wagon and Station Wagon to simply Wagon, is not specific enough.

Shhh, it's really a Toyota (Perodua is an indirect subsidiary of Toyota, through their small car subsidiary Daihatsu).

At latest count (162,759 votes), the Groove is creeping toward 50%. Groove 44.6% Beat 34.2% Trax 21.3%

Colorado is still the #2 compact truck, but less than half the volume of the Tacoma lately. GM do Brasil is working on the next-gen model, as the S10 is still #1 in Latin America.

Hyundai Unveils Trio of New Vehicles at 2007 Seoul Motor Show Veloster sporty coupe concept targets Y-Gen New H-1 reinvigorates Hyundai's competitiveness in vans FD estate wagon expands C-segment offering Press Release Seoul, Korea — In a demonstration of its growing design and engineering capabilities, Hyundai Motor Co. unveiled three brand-new models at the 2007 Seoul Motor Show which opened at KINTEX today. Leading the trio was the Veloster, a sporty coupe which caters to the unique requirements of the Y-generation. Joining the sporty concept car were two production models: the TQ van, a thoroughly fresh interpretation of Hyundai's hugely successful H-1 van and the FD estate wagon, styled at the company's European Design Center in Rüsselsheim which marks Hyundai's long-awaited return to this popular segment. … Go to full release and photos at AutoReport

They are obviously very narrow, like the Matiz. It can be very hard to eyeball the difference in length unless the vehicles are parked side-by-side, and the Fit gains a good 6" or so (nearly half the difference) just to make US-compliance.

crazy dance