thegriffon

GM do Brasil had responsibily for developing the new Astra sedan (A3310), but since they needed a replacement for the Chevrolet Vectra that would be cheaper than the new European model they used the extended wheelbase of the of the new Astra wagon and Zafira MPV to create a sedan that would be larger than the European Vectra in almost every dimension (the next Opel Vectra currently in development is longer and wider), if not as sophisticated. Since the new A3300 Astra uses the same platform as the old T3000 Astra already built in Brasil the addition of the new sedan would be much cheaper than the Epsilon sedan. Additional photos of the European Astra sedan (incuding the revised interior of the 2007 Astra), as well as larger photos of the Chevrolet Vectra posted above can be found on my AutoReport site (no hotlinking though).

It's larger than the new Vue, with an extra row of seats, and different sheetmetal all over. As a Korean-built model it will also have different powertrain options-a different 2.4 L and a smaller 3.2 L V6, while the Vue will get the new, smaller Dual VVT 2.4 L and the upgraded 3.6 L.

FYI this is the first Dual VVT 1.6 L to be produced in a mass-market vehicle. The only other two are the BMW 1.6 in the 116i, and the new BMW 1.6 based on the Tritec (Chrysler) design that has just become available in the new Mini. Toyota will not offer a new Dual-VVT 1.6 till sometime next year in the European Auris. As of next year GM will be producing six 4-cylinder engines with dual-VVT (1.6, 1.8, 1.9 DI, 2.0 DI Turbo, 2.2 DI, 2.4), compared to BMW's four (1.6 Mini, 1.6 BMW, 2.0, 2.0 DI), and Toyota's eventual two (1.6 and 1.8 L).

# New engines developed with future emissions standards in mind # More powerful and over 13 percent more economical # Successful exterior design refined, piano lacquer in interior Rüsselsheim — Featuring fresh design accents and new engines that are more compact, powerful and economical, the new edition of the Opel Astra will be available at dealerships from February 2007. With more than 1.2 million units sold since its debut in March 2004, the third-generation Astra plays a leading role in European sales statistics. The new Astra will make its world premiere at the Bologna Motor Show (December 7–17, 2006) and can be ordered from November 20. In future, Astra customers will have a choice of eleven different engines from 90 to 240 PS. …more

Cadillac Aerodynamic Coupe

While Japan gets a boring facelift based on the old model, the longer Asian Corolla also built in the US has been replaced by a new wide-body model sharing styling cues with the Camry. http://auto.sina.com.cn/photo/cpublish/154916.shtml

There is another minivan, something other than the Meriva, Zafira and the upcoming GMC and Chevy fullsize vans.

Why would GM sell?

whitewash

Honda's is an extension of the VTEC system. Instead of switching to another cam profile, it switches to a cylinder shutdown mode. GM Powertrain has detailed potential cylinder deactivation technology for OHC engines in industry conferences. Since this is supplier-sourced technology it's no secret.

Only in quattro form. The fwd (yes fwd) version has reasonable trunk volume, you just can't get it in NA.

As it stands most European manufacturers don't specify hip room at all, and Mercedes-Benz USA's numbers are suspect. It's quite common instead to specify shoulder and elbow room, although it's not always clear which is which.

If you consider the STS as a competitor to the LS430 it stacks up quite well in size, price and volume (although the STS has the benefit of a cheaper V6). Compared to the more expensive European entries and the new LS460, it is too narrow and consequently cramped. Not too much of a problem since it is priced closer to the 5-Series, M-Series and A6 to which it matches more closely in terms of size, inside and out. IMHO Toyota f—d up by not making the new GS large enough to attract LS430 buyers priced out of a larger and more expensive LS460. Those more expensive grosser limousines priced above the mittelklasse (unlike the LS430) are primarily lwb models not only wider, but another 100 mm longer than the SLS. The Statesman and Lucerne are at the bottom end of this class size wise, larger than only the LS 460L, but in most measures at least match typical interior room for the class (unlike the LS 460 L which lacks the required shoulder and hip room front and rear to be truly competitive).

Japanese media with a good memory have suggested the deal involves Isuzu asking GM to sell back the diesel assets Toyota is looking at here. After all everything Toyota is after here is only partly owned by Isuzu—the majority interest is held by GM and if you look up the light diesel companies that are online you'll see quite clearly "A GM Company". Isuzu talks a good game but they've already sold all this stuff to GM, and it's GM developing all the new engines. It's GMI Diesel Engineering, not Isuzu-GM, DMax and Isuzu Motors Polska are owned by GM, not Isuzu, European development center Isuzu Motors Germany is "A GM Company" etc.

Given the nuymber of recalls for Toyotas in that period perhaps that's a good reason not to buy a Toyota.

Istanbul is just a mangled form of Constantinopolis, just as Qandahar is a mangled form of Alexander, center of an originally Greek bhuddist kingdom also known as Gandhara, not in modern India, but Pakistan and Afghanistan. Such was its influence on Bhuddist thought that the Greek chiton is the standard habit of monks and sadhus throughout Asia. In western Asia and Africa "Alexander" was altered to fit Arabic expectations, re-analyzed into "Al Iskandar". Thus Alexandria becomes Al Iskandariyah, and Alexander in Turkey becomes Iskenderun.

"exhibiting fawning attentiveness". It refers to one who "follows after" a superior, implicitly a yes-man or toadie.

You just did

They're getting Chery's new engines, because Chery has spent a lot of government money on brand-new state-of the art engines engineered in Europe, and Fiat doesn't have the time or money to do so. Having left gasoline engine development to GM for several years they now find themselves short. GM's new engines in this size bracket have been introduced since the partnership dissolved, so Fiat isn't getting them.

Some Topics have no posts, not even the original one (just the title/description). Y'all were hacked again.

This time last year GM was running out of vehicles to sell. Compared to Oct. 2004 sales have fallen 6.8% p.a. Compared to Oct 2004: Hummer has gained 47.6% p.a. (entirely H3 sales) Saturn is up 13.3% p.a. (Aura and Sky) GMC was down but Yukon and Sierra were up. At Chevy, Uplander, Avalanche and Silverado are up, as was Corvette. At Cadillac the highlight was the Escalade. All variants were up: 4.7% p.a. for the EXT, 9.8 for the standard model and 14.4% for the ESV. At Buick W-body sales are up 18.7% p.a. from Oct 2004.

They mean the original 1908 building.

I think we've done this when it came up before Westfalia is DCX's in-house conversion company, but they do more than just Mercedes Van conversions. http://www.westfalia-van.de/

Fiat Auto and Chery Automobiles today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). According to this agreement, Chery Automobile will supply 1.6 and 1.8 L gasoline engines for application in Fiat cars to be produced in China and outside China. The two companies expect an annual supply exceeding 100,000 engines and are engaged to sign the definitive supply agreement before year end. In a statement, Mr. Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Fiat and Fiat Auto, said, “The agreement with Chery will give us the opportunity to further increase the competitiveness of our product range on the international markets. … more

The 5-door Bravo goes on sale in Feb, the Linea sedan built in Turkey from mid 2007. FYI the project codes are: 198 Bravo 199 Grande Punto 200 Linea