carman21

Awesome!

As you may have already have heard VW will be getting minivans from Chrysler or DCX as some may say. Well, I have heard a rumor that VW will try to increase its revenue in NA by outsourcing its platform to Chrysler Group. This is very interesting news if true. Remember that the Ford 500 is based on the Volvo S80 and the Ford Fusion is based off the Volvo S60. Also, remember that the Saab 9-3 & Opel is the basis from which the Epsilon came from. So, if the Jetta & Passat platforms are leased out to DCX for Chrysler Group. The Jetta may form the basis for the next gen Stratus/Sebring after the Galant based one is replaced. The Passat could be transformed into a Ford 500-like car for Dodge & Chrysler. Ironically, the Passat could be the basis for the next DCX minivans and ultimately cycle back to VW. VW could make good on this. Think about it the platforms can be modified for CUVs & Vans. So, VW could make a killing. DCX benefits too.

The timing for this couldn't be better. As gas prices continue to return to normal levels. The new GMT-900s are increasing in production just as demand returns to normal levels. Go GM! The only bad news is that Toyota will also benefit from this return to normalcy.

I love this Buick even more.

R.I.P. GTO

LOL!!!!

remember old people are soon going to move to Chevys as Buicks move out of their price range.

Is Saturn trying to be more like Honda or Toyota or is it trying to be more like VW or Acura? I think Saturn should be selling VW or Acura sophistication at Toyota prices.

I think that there is a market for such a vehicle. The RX would likely get upgraded to the $40k plus range and include a 4.6L V-8 option. The new CUV would be likely to have a 2.5L 204hp V-6 & a 3.5L 268hp V-6. Prices would be around $30k-40k. I wouldn't suggest it for Caddy just yet but, let Lexus take the risk. The worst that happens is that they discontinue it.

Ok, why I need to even point this out I don't know. Modern Pony cars are compact RWD coupes with a choice of usually two engines a powerful I-4 and a powerful V-6. Say a 2.4L 180hp I-4 and a 3.6L 270hp V-6 Modern Muscle Cars are midsize RWD coupes with a choice usually of either a powerful V-6 or a powerful V-8. Say a 3.6L 270hp V-6 & a 4.8L 360hp V-8. The numbers matter little just the engines. The V-8 hp rating may be closer to 400hp. Toyota will never do this anytime in the next decade. The Camaro doesn't target the youth market as much as it targets the former owners of 1960s and 1970s muscle & pony cars. Remember that even in the 60s. Dads bought the GTO sons bought the Firebird. A new youth oriented pony car should be swamped with demand by 16-24 year old guys and girls. Despite the absence of a V-8 these cars would sell like hotcakes and they could be Zeta-based.GM would be wise to build pony cars. The 64 & 1/2 mustang was popular for a reason. Nobody gets it yet. I do & I hope u do too.

Saab could be BMW's Volkswagen

Story Front Angle Rear Angle Side Angle Looks as if the Optima will actually be nicer than the Sonata for once. I'd rather get a Chevy Epica though, Front Angle Rear Angle Side Angle Well, Kia is apparantly on its way I suppose.

Ok, here's my idea on the new Pontiac. give it a std 2.2L 150hp I-4 for the SE,SE only with 5spd MTor 4spd auto the GT engine is the 2.4L 167hp I-4 with either a 5spd auto or a 6-spd MT The GTP would have a 2.0L 205hp I-4 and would be availible with a 5spd auto or a 6spd manual. The GXP would come with a turbo 2.4L 300hp I-4 w/ AWD. Pontiac's WRX at last. The G4/G5 would sell like hotcakes and to a whole different group of buyers from the Cobalt. Cobalt=Value with some sport G4/G5=Sport so good its a value Pontiac should try getting some modern street cred in the performance world. The G4/G5 will do that very well.

Lincoln MKZ=Lexus ES Lincoln MKS=Cadillac DTS This makes far more sense. The MKS is FWD based, underpowered and way too big to seriously comptete with a 5-series. I think this means Lincoln wants to shed their geriatric image prior to releasing a RWD sedans. This also means that the Town Car is dead by 2010 my. Goodbye panther platform. There are three types of upscale vehicles luxury/sports cars-BMW 3/5/7,MB C/E/S, Lexus IS/GS/LS,etc sporty/luxury cars-Lexus ES, Cadillac DTS & BLS, Lincoln MKZ/MKS, etc ultraluxury cars-Bentley Conti GT/Flying spur, Maybach 57/62, etc Of course sports car ethuisiasts will prefer the RWD based luxosports cars over the FWD based sporty-luxo cars Lincoln is going the back-door route to build its own CTS or STS. Entice old costumers back from the ES and DTS to the MKZ & MKS and then get new costumers with RWD sports sedans. The best part of a FWD luxo sedan is that it usually is more profitable than a equally priced RWD sedan. I like the alphanumeric Lincolns. its a much better direction for the brand than death.

kill this thread moderator thanx, I just was a little half-baked

Ok, I stick to what's realistic to talk about. Toyota is begining to bring in some european influences. GM & Ford both beat them to focusin on Europe.

In other news in Europe, Toyota's partner Peugeot will likely allow Toyota to use some of its platform such as the very Epsilon-like platform used by the 407 and the very Chi-like platform currently used by the 607. What does this mean? That the the next gen Yaris and Corolla will get handling and suspension help from the French. More interesting is the fact that these euro-platforms will lead to Toyota finally having a Camry and an Avalon that have good handling. The 2012 Camry,ES, & Rav4 will likely be on the 407-platform. The next Avalon, Highlander, Sienna, and possilbly the next Tacoma will likely be on the 607-platfrom. This will mean several things. GM must be more capable than Toyota to deliver great product accross the board. Toyota will have an Avalon that can match the Chi and P40 sedans from GM and Ford. By then a Toyota Avalon V-8 doesn't seem farfetched. No need to worry too much though because, GM is heading towards being the best automaker in the world by 2012. Not just the largest.

Lexus 2007, IS250 2.5L 204hp V-6 IS350 3.5L 306hp V-6 ES 350 3.5L 268hp V-6 GS350 3.5L 306hp V-6 GS460 4.6L 380hp V-8 LS460 4.6L 380hp V-8(upgrade to 408hp 2008 with V-12 on the way?)

Its a great car. I can't wait for it to get a 6spd auto with the 3.6L 270hp V-6 from the Enclave. Checkmate!

The car is shamelessly ugly. I'm sure the car is fine but, the whole front end badly needs some revamps. That front grill turns me off the Camry. The Camry is a car that despite its hurting on GM I once could live with If I bought it. This is the least attractive Camry since the 1st & 2nd gen.

It is a reasonable comparsion to make between Chevy and Kia. Of course Kia hopes to be like Chevy one day. Ford and Toyota want to. KIa is a real threat in the long term. GM would be wise to leverage Daewoo products against Kia/Hyundai products.

Toyota has been ahead of the curve with interiors so far but, GM & Ford will soon catch up and even be better.

Bush will help if he must. He will not want to until GM or Ford really need it. The big 3 must build great cars to survive. They will. The worst case scenario is that GM sells off some brands to another American owned automotive company, say Harley Davidson, etc.Honda once built only motorcycles. Say Buick, Pontiac,& GMC for example. I wouldn't like it but, GM surviving is better than going the Studebaker way. A GM with just Chevy, Saturn, & Cadillac would be healthy. GM could even surpass current volume levels with those three brands. However, GM should never need to worry about it.

I think that Saab & Opel should remain out of NA or get out until they become respectable brands like VW or Audi. Opel is not on par with VW and neither is Saab with Audi. Saab has even fallen behind its swedish rival Volvo. So, GM should rebuild its damaged Eurobrands before exporting them back to the US. Meanwhile, GM should concentrate on rebuilding Chevy, Pontiac, Saturn, Buick, & Cadillac. The Autoworld revolves around two poles Detroit and Japan. Europe has lost relevence. GM Europe is still important but, GM Daewoo is the future. GM Daewoo is responsible for a sales boom in Asia for GM. Globally 9 out of ten GM autos are soon going to be GM Daewoo in Origin in rapidly growing markets like China or India. The sooner GM looks to Asia the better. After all Toyota the biggest threat to GM is an Asian company.

Judging honestly by the Sienna, Camry, and Yaris. Toyota's styling deparments are run by 60 year olds on crack. They are boring yet also ugly. If GM and Ford use this turn off to their advantage they could make a killing in the market. The Tundra will be the ugliest Pick-up in a generation. The Nissan Titan will look beautiful by comparision to the Tundra. Toyota's biggest weakness is its lack of real competition, GM, Ford, and Chrysler have been sleeping for 30 years or more. Toyota must be fools to think that ugly cars will sell themselves in an era in which costumers will soon realize that GM & Ford build equal if not better cars with better styling. It is sad to see the smug gleam on Toyota's executives' faces because, in a decade there will be tears in those eyes. Toyota is flying to close to the sun and its wings are finally melting.