thegriffon

Latest spy photos from Lehmann Photo Syndication and Photographe Ewans-Kelly reveal almost all details of the near-to-production X4400 Corsa. Abandoning the Opel Junior-inspired design of the last two generations, the new Corsa looks very much like a smaller Astra in both 3- and 5-door forms, and shares much of its under-skin components and systems with the popular Fiat Grande Punto. Go to spyshots of the 5-door at German Car Fans Go to spyshots of the 3-door at cars-prototypes

Korean

Yet they're still too embarassed to give a complete breakdown by model, as even Isuzu does.

The E85 capable LZE is still available, but the LZ4 is now added for the US. If you get a car with standard federal emissions the LZE is the base engine. For CA and the Northeast emission requirements the LZ4 is standard but the LZE remains an option.

There is still a limited core of American cars that have a global brand equity. not much, and beside the Corvette and Mustang, almost no current models. Charger has a little, Camaro, Chevelle and Nova more. Pontiac, well GTO and maybe Tempest. Certainly no Mercurys, no other Dodges, no Chryslers, no Lincolns and no Cadillac other than perhaps an early El Dorado (barely). Firebird? Most people think it's called a Trans Am if they can remember it at all. The rest have either no equity or worse, negative equity (baggage). Which is not to say there isn't a history there which can be mined if you do it right. The brands themselves are a different matter. Everbody knows what a Jeep is, even if it's a generic SUV. Chevy and Ford have a lot, as do Cadillac and to a lesser extent even Lincoln, Buick and finally Dodge (if only trucks). With he right product and marketing GM has a lot of potential to build up their brands, but that requires a lot more revenue per vehicle than they get at the moment. The commonly voiced solution is to cut the number of models and brands, but that only cuts the total revenue as well, and doesn't solve the problem. GM's globalisation drive, selling the same model worldwide is a big part of the solution, but it only works for Chevy, Cadillac, Saab, Hummer and to a lesser extent Saturn/Opel and Buick. Pontiac is left out in the cold, the only answer to cust costs and boost transaction prices and hope that one doesn't work too much against the other. I'll give credit too them , they're certainly trying, with a lot more money being spent on development, but it will be a tough call for every program, and you folks will have to stop baulking at prices that get closer to what Toyota and Honda and for God's sake even Hyundai charge for a similar product. With each new, better model prices will have to rise, a lot, or GM will never be able to match Toyota in develoipment and marketing and just fade away.

eligible?credible? But legible? "Yes I can see what it is, the letters on tha back say ASTRA"

Well, the J does stand for Jeep (F was the engine series, replacing B).

Legible?

Dynacam is a reference to the modular inline family's exhaust VVT system, and is used to distinguish them from the small-block Vortec engines, although you'll find it mostly on the older info.

Nope, that's the 3.6 as used in the Holden Rodeo pickup. Like the base 230 hp Alloytec engine it only uses VVT on the intake cam.

GM's engine lineup is more 2.4 L I4-2.8 L V6 and up, whereas Lexus, BMW and Mercedes have smaller 6s. Of course there's always the 2.5 L Daewoo XK25, but that would need the I4's Dual-CVVT to boost power to the required 175-200 hp minimum. On the positive side it would still be cheaper than the 2.8 L. A strong 2.4 L would fit well in a base Century/Skylark, offering a good mix of economy and performance. A good design would be a more conservative counterpart to the TSX or Saab 9-3, on either the Global Compact or Global Midsize platform with a wheelbase at least 2700 mm and overall length about 4600 mm. The latter would be more sophisticated and have much in common with the larger LaCrosse, the former would be cheaper. Either could also replace the Excelle (and Regal) and make room for the Optra in the Chinese market.

I'm finding it very difficult to say anything nice about Jerry Flint as a journalist beside "veteran". He has for a few years now been showing his age, and should have retired years ago. "Where's the press info on the Pontiac Solstice, can't you guys get this new platform right" "Jerry it debuted last year, it's been on sale for six months. Didn't you tell me your neighbour has one?"

It's a truck engine Nick, it's really all about low-end grunt. There really isn't a better truck engine out there. In fact there aren't that many modern gasoline-fueled truck engines out there at all.Excluding the V8s there's the: Ford 4.0 L (207 hp) (SOHC) GM Family II 2.4 L 126 hp (SOHC) GM Vortec Dynacam 2.9 L 185 hp 3.7 L 242 hp 4.2 L 291 hp GM Global V6 3.6 L 210 hp Nissan VQ 4.0 L 265 hp Toyota TR 2.0 L 131 hp 2.7 L 159 hp Toyota GR 4.0 L 236 hp All the rest are from Chinese and Russian companies building Euro2 engines you've never heard of and aren't likely to ever see.

hp/Liter is very close to the Nissan 4.0 L V6, and far better than Toyota's 236 hp 4.0 L. If you really want power, just wait for the V8.

Delta is dead. There will be no more Deltas. Not for Saturn, not for Chevrolet, Not for Saab. The Delta quip is a red herring. There will probably be a compact Saab based on the new Global Compact architecture, just as there is an A3 base same platform as the Golf, a C30 on the same platform as the Focus, and an Alfa on the same platform as the Fiat Stilo replacement. I doubt it or anything else, will be called the 9-1.

What has that to do with a premium 4-cylinder?

Bush doesn't have to worry about his approval rating, it's not as if he can be re-elected, and other Republicans can be as critical as they like and boost their own standing.

You could even justify a 4-seat Cabrio version—Century sedan, shorter Skylark Cabrio (a more expensive sibling to the Astra TwinTop).

Buick is selling truckloads of Excelles. Design a decent new version on the lwb Global Compact architecture and it will sell well in the US, especially with no compact BPG sedan like the old Skylark or Grand Am. BTW, the Chevrolet Vectra is probably bigger than the Opel Vectra, inside and out, it just has a cheaper platform (torsion beam rather than multilink IRS). A Global Midsize version may be better, but it would be more feasible based on the Chinese-market car.

It's still the top engine in the Convertible, with 10 hp more than the 3.5.

At current Impala pricing there will be no architecture-formerly-known-as-Zeta Impala. At the minimum it will be a V6 at a mid-level 300 (Touring) price, if not higher. After all, An Azera SE starts at over $24K.

But the only way to be truly competitive in most segments. It's a matter of recognizing what the benchmark should be. In some cases sure, you can redefine a segment as Opel did with the Zafira (not an original product as Mitsubishi and Nissan had products in that segment over 20 years ago, but the right product at the right time), but usually you won't reach the full potential by offering something "different". There are numerous examples of which fail to meet the segment benchmark and suffer as a result:Toyota Echo/Yaris A2 RAV4 (Corrected by A3 RAV4 which doubled sales) X1 and X2 Avalon (Corrected by X3 Avalon) E11 and E12 Corolla Spacio (Corrected by E13 Corolla Verso) Chevrolet Equinox/Pontiac Torrent (the Value proposition doesn't work, it just costs money. The XL7, with 7 seats and a much higher price, should be an embarrassly successful product for such a small brand) The Vue was ahead of its time, ironically it's now perfectly positioned and sales are growing as it ages instead of declining as a result. The GMT 960s? Perfectly positioned against the fullsize CX-9, Pacifica and Freestyle, but sales will never match the midsize bencharks (so bye-bye Freestyle, hello Edge). Lexus IS300—sporty and cheap, but way too small, corrected with the IS350, which is flying of the lots as a result. STS—cheaper and larger than a 5-series or E-Class, but struggling for sales. Neither fish nor fowl it's closest to an LS430, which goes away so the LS460L can chase the money upscale. Original M45—too cramped for the segment, no V6. New M35/M45? Perfect. Shot down the GS last month, now gunning for the E-Class. CTS—too big to win against the nimble 3-series, too small and cheap to win against the new 5-Series. Thus we have the BLS for Europeans, and cheap versions of the CTS may go bye-bye. Acura RL—a V6 with the power and price of a V8? Unfortunately competitors offer a V6 with the power of a V8 at the price of a V6. Try again. Saab 9-2, Volvo V50, Audi A3—apparently there is a compact luxury segment after all. Unfortunately in the US it's only for sedans, not wagons.

Sorry, other spy shots show it is rounded like that.

This type of thing rarely goes anywhere. The definition of "prematurely" is too subjective. In addition companies are taking a much harder line against tort lawyers over the abuses and outright fraud that are endemic to class actions, standing their ground and demanding disbarment and criminal charges.

Having checked my thermodynamics textbook, there is only a minor difference in gas properties. Air, carbon monoxide and nitrogen (N2) have similar critical temperatures and pressures, and similar gas constants. The difference in tire performance is more likely to be influenced by the amount of gas used than the type.