thegriffon

Not Gamma-based, but based on an updated Fiat Stilo platform shared with the Stilo replacement, the new Fiat Bravo. The Grande Punto and new Corsa use a cut-down version of this platform.

You could not purchase the EV-1 at all, only lease it. Like Honda's FCX the main reason was the initial cost. Those who used them and wanted to keep them had no idea how much GM was subsidizing them. With not enough buyers to make it feasible takers it was no longer worth GM's effort to keep supporting them. This is like the story that the oil companies and GM shut down light rail in LA and other cities. Not true. What killed light rail was fixed capital and maintenance costs v. declining ridership. GM killed light rail by building cheap and economical buses which allowed more flexible operation—equipment and routes could easily be switched to other routes to match demand—just as the electric utilites which had previously owned and subsidized trolleys were forced to divest operations after an Enron-like stock scandal. The conspiracy was to keep other bus manufacturers out of the business, not to shut down rail and force people to buy cars and petrol. GM got out of the bus business long before they stopped supplying commuter rail equipment. Even today GM's former EMD business is the only supplier of powertrains for diesel-electric commuter service in the US (most also built on EMD frames and trucks as well), and a major supplier in Europe. Rail equipment is still far more expensive than buses, but is expanding due to increased traffic and population densities, and the lower cost of rail v expanded freeways, despite the much heavier federal subsidy of highway construction from fuel taxes.

Toyota is making further efforts to differentiate some of the brands, particularly Netz, which gets its own badge on newer models. Previously individual models often had their own badges.

More or less. Some models have been shared across dealerships, and quite often there have been different versions of the same product for different networks, e.g. Sprinter for Vista, and Corolla for Corolla, Camry for Corolla, and (Camry) Vista for, Vista of course. At one time there were at least three different versions of the midsize sport sedan (Mark II, Cresta and Chaser) for different channels.At the moment there is: Lexus IS, GS, SC, LS Toyota Century Crown (Majesta, Athlete, Royal, Estate and Hybrid) Brevis Allion (formerly Carina) Caldina (shared with Toyopet—replaced both Corona and Carina wagons) Porte (shared with Toyopet) Isis Estima T (for Toyota—replaced Master Ace[Previa]) Estima Hybrid (shared with Corolla) Prius Suceed (shared with Toyopet) Land Cruiser (Prado, Cygnus [LX470] and 100) Hilux Surf (4Runner) Hilux Toyopet (first brand sold in the US) Mark II Blit (wagon) Mark X Progres (sister car to Brevis) Premio (formerly Corona—sister car to Allion) Ractis (shared with Corolla) Porte (shared with Toyota) ist (Scion xA—shared with Netz) Belta (Yaris sedan—shared with Corolla) Ipsum (shared with Netz) Alphard G Alphard Hybrid (shared with Netz) Succeed (shared with Toyota) Hiace Harrier (RX350) Rush (sister to Daihatsu Be-Go SUV) Corolla Corolla Axio (new sedan) Corolla Fielder (wagon) Windom (ES350) Camry Celica Ractis (shared with Toyopet) Sienta (shared with Netz) Belta (shared with Toyopet) Passo (sister car to Daihatsu Boon [sirion]) Noah (former Town Ace Noah) Estima L (identical to Estima T) Estima Hybrid (shared with Toyota) Town Ace Probox (sister car to Succeed) Kluger L (Highlander) Rav4L Netz Auris Wish Raum Avensis (replaced Vista) Avensis Wagon MR-S bB (sister to Daihatsu Coo) Sienta (shared with Corolla) ist (shared with Toyopet) Vitz (Yaris hatch) Ipsum (shard with Toyopet) Voxy (former Lite Ace Noah) Lite Ace Alphard V (for Vista) Alphard Hybrid Regius Ace (sister van to Hiace) Kluger V Rav4J The there is Daihatsu, primarily Keijidosha, and subcompacts also sold by Toyota, and the Altis, Daihatsu's version of the Camy.

In that respect it also resembles the new Camry, a deliberate styling choice by Toyota. the overall design though is an evolution of the current Corolla 5-door hatch—just longer and wider.

karate

Yeah, they didn't do a lot to make them unique.

Both the Japanese-design E12A was intorduced in August 2000 and the Thai E12G was introduced in 2001. The E12G was unveiled in the US in January 2002. Orininally on aregular 4-year changeover, that blew out to 5 years with the introduction of the E12 A in late 2000. The Japanese market E14 has increased that even further, now a little over 6 years. BTW the new-generation E14A is slightly bigger than the original 1982 V1 Camry, and the E12G is already bigger than the 1986 V2 Camry. Note the product change cadence: E8 A - 1983 new fwd model (coupes stayed on the old rwd platform) E9 A - 1987 new body E10 A - 1991 full change E11 A - 1995 new body (last coupes, supplanted by smaller Celica) E12 A - 2000 full change (same platform as 1999 Celica) E13 A - 2002 Corolla Matrix (E13 B Pontiac Vibe) E14 A - 2006 new body E15 B - 2006 Auris

Dana Buchman is a clothes designer. The way some people are reacting you would think this was the 2007 SRX—it's not, it's just a one-off designer project for SEMA.

For 2006: GM 1. Potential leak of power steering fluid. 2. Substandard power steering hose. 3. Incorrect tire loading information. 4. No low fuel warning. 5. Electronic throttle control (no backup speed limitation in the event of an ECM failure). 6. Potential fuel leak 7. Brake lamps 8. Roof panel separation 9. Seat belt latching 10. seat belt anchorage mislocated 11. Wrong spare wheel size information. 12. Steering (Here's a hint—never buy replacement lights for a Chevrolet Denali) Toyota 1. Insufficient airbag deployment. 2. Seatbelts 3. Stuck accelerator pedal 4. loose carpet intering with accelerator 5. Wrong spare wheel size information. 6. Steering. 7. Wind deflector shattering 8. Tire bead damage

For the 2007 model year: GM 1. Incomplete labelling of wheel rim size. 2. Potential fuel system fire in crash testing. Toyota 1. Insufficient airbag deployment. 2. Tire bead damage.

Since Sept 24 there have been: 1 for BMW 2 for GM (AM General and GM Daewoo) 2 for Infiniti 2 for Chrysler Group 3 for Ford (Ford/Mercury and Volvo)

If you want recall stats go strraight to the source: the nhtsa has afull list of recalls by model year. Just be sure that individual recalls relate to the vehicle as manufactured and not aftermarket modifications and parts.

BMW, Jaguar, Range River, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Ferrari etc. have all used GM transmissions in the past and did so for many years. As best as I recall, GM automatic transmissions were one of the few things that were universally admired in the past as being the best in the industry. The only complaint is that in recent years GM has been slow to introduce 5-speed autos (even though everyone else still uses 4-speeds in many models).

Integrated is nice, but so is a decent branded audio system - not just Bose or Harmon Kardon speakers, but a branded interface, as Ford does with the new European Focus (Sony). Good brands that make people think "cool"— Sony, Bose, Bang and Olufsen, Carver etc., and which match the vehicle character.

So while the number of GM dealerships has gone down by one, the number of Buick dealerships remains unchanged. If things are so bad for Buick and Pontiac, why are other dealers buying these franchises?

A base Civic is only $500 or so more than a base Fit. Spend the money.

assets

L-Finesse

Autoblog's interior shots are the Brazilian Chevrolet Vectra. For powertrain reasons the Saturn version (if it comes to the US) will probably be sourced from Poland (interior shots at AutoReport). The delay in production (another 12 months) may even be to homologate European Astra sedans for the US market. The major visual change will be the center console, as the integrated audio controls are for the European RDS and telematics systems produced by Siemens.

Not in the US—the Landcruiser sells just a few hundred a month, even fewer than the LX470, and relentlessly falling. Even overseas the old J100 is just a minor part of the Toyota lineup. The smaller, cheaper J120 (GX470 in the US) has taken over. It doesn't help that the J100's old 4.2 L I6 turbodiesel is less efficient than GM's 4.8 L V8.

BMW UK screwed up, this was supposed to embargoed till later today.

There are more official shots of the Astra sedan, despite Autoblog only having two. http://auto-report.net/WordPress/?p=249

Perhaps this M6 convertible is more in your price range—only 289 Euro: https://shop.bmwgroup.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP....tegoryName=LIFE

Toyota Motor Corporation announced today the Japanese launch of the Auris*¹, a strategic compact passenger vehicle for both Japan and Europe. In Japan, the Auris is available through “Netz” dealers nationwide, replacing the Allex and Corolla RunX. The new Toyota Auris will be revealed in Europe at the Bologna Motor Show on December 5 and will go on sale in the UK from February 2007 and across Europe in spring 2007. Auris will join Yaris and Avensis as a new core model designed and built in Europe … more Originally considered only for Canada, it may now be offered in the US as well, although Toyota Motor Sales has not yet confirmed either market. Note the Japanese-market version has a Netz badge on the front, not a Toyota badge.