Mule Bakersdozen LS

I was about to say....C-Class in those spy shots looked duller than the current model (which is nice, but not at all groundbreaking), though that CGI shows promise.

Except for being too tall and ugly, I think it should definitely come here! In other words, it'll fit right in with the Honda Fit, Nissan Versa, and the less-ugly Toyota Yaris (in other words, its small but really not that small). I'm not wild about it, mostly the styling and the probably-cheap Opel/Vauxhall standard-fare interior, but GM should send it here as say, the Saturn Signal?

Is rear seat room and possible storage room behind the rear seat a bad thing? I can just picture banging my head against the rear window in this thing, being kinda cramped there too-but seeing it in person would be nice. I like the Mega Cab-even though Dodge hasn't made a crew cab pickup since 1985 (before this; and no, the Quad Cab doesn't count-its just an extended cab modified to have full-looking conventional doors-check the GM vs. Dodge dimensions).

Black bumpers only belong on Jeeps, base cargo vans, and base pickup trucks. THAT'S IT. They should have unveiled this at New York under the name PreYawn concept. This looks nothing like the PreVUE/Antara GTC concept cars-those were stylish, this is just plain boring. The only Opel I've been impressed with stylistically (other than the Antara GTC and Insignia concepts, and Vauxhall VX Lightning concepts) is the Astra SportCoupe. Otherwise, everything else is just pedestrian, boring, and breaks no new ground when compared to Renault, Citroen, Peugeot, or maybe a couple others I can't think of. Even Mitsubishi and Suzuki feature more groundbreaking styling than Opel/Vauxhall! Bring on the PostYawn concept! Or rather, a REAL productionized version of the Anata GTC/Prevue concepts!

The Toyota Cavalier's been dead for years...the G3 I think has a slightly better grille than the Aveo, but that says little at all seeing as how it is an ugly design in the first place as a whole. Did Acura Canada just start calling its Civic clone the CSX? I always knew it as the EL....I'll have to check it out-still sedan only, right?

I'm not impressed-they look too small, too undifferentiated, not even remotely daring. The cabs look small compared to say, Dodge Ram Mega Cab.

Great post! Yeah, as far as the middle/luxury brands go, I see exactly what you mean. Back around 1930, Buick sprouted off the Marquette series; Oldsmobile, the Viking, and Cadillac, the LaSalle. The Viking and Marquette, junior versions of their respective divisions' main cars, died after only a couple years, though LaSalle wasn't dropped until after the 1940 model year, replaced by a smaller/less-expensive Cadillac. If it means anything, that's just a way of saying history repeats itself, so don't be surprised if it happens again-unfortunately, it happened with Oldsmobile, and if Buick loses its grip, that might well happen. There is nothing at all compelling about Pontiac right now-the G6 coupe styling looks okay, but there's really nothing else positive I have to say about that car. Torrent is somewhat popular, but other than Solstice and G6, all the other Pontiacs are needless and doomed rebadges not worth the minor styling changes and slightly higher prices than a Chevrolet. And ever since the expansion of the 1986 Caprice lineup (after Olds Delta 88/Buick LeSabre switched to front-drive and Impala was retitled the base Caprice), Chevy has been moving upscale in a sense ever since, IMO.

Thing is they had one of those already: it was called the CL! It was nice, but it didn't last-would it work now? Why don't they just put the RSX at Honda? Nice, but it and Integra never fit in with the Acura lineup.

Sorry-my styling like isn't the same as yours-that Vectra is as boring as the Aura's-they're nicely styled, but they're not daring, same problem with almost every single vehicle coming out now (sound familiar?)

Suddenly on the powertrain point, the Malibu and G6 no longer look like pitiful excuses...saw a couple Fusions today-looks like S and SE models are starting to increase...

There is no comparison-this one is still miles ahead of Malibu and G6!

Buick Skyhawk all the way! Woo! Seriously, base a new Skylark off the Camaro's Zeta VE rear-drive architecture and base a Skyhawk off the next Global compact front or all-wheel-drive architecture, similar to the Chevrolet Cobalt. Offer 2-door notchback coupe, 4-door notchback sedan, and 5-door station wagon body styles in Reserve, Super, and GS trims, with 2.4-liter DOHC ECOTEC 175hp I-4 (Reserve), 2.8-liter DOHC High Feature 215hp V-6 (Super), and 3.2-liter DOHC HF 230hp V-6 (GS) engines, with 5-speed (6-speed-GS) OD manual or 5-speed OD electronic automatic (TAPShift for GS) transmissions. Skyhawk and Skylark-a less expensive, more stylish and spacious alternative to the Acura TSX and Volvo S40/V50 and BMW 3-Series respectively! But absolutely, yes, GM needs to get on Premium Compact cars now!

Guess they're going to further be swept by as the latest Toyota RAV4 and 2008 Saturn VUE steal CR-V's thunder-and deservedly so-the rear side window makes it look like the global Chevrolet Captiva (aka S3X).

I'm totally with you on this one! I'd like to see something styled and named after the 2000 Piranha concept-still wild and daring today, something Pontiac needs so bad.

Seen these CGI's on AutoScoops-they look boring to me, little groundbreaking whatsoever. Isn't the Daewoo Global Small Car architecture for cars like Opel/Vauxhall Agila and Chevrolet Spark? Or is that the Aveo/Corsa architecture?

I agree-the Blue Granite (aka Stealth Grey/Slatestone) Cobalt's are plentiful around here-I don't think I've seen a Majestic Amethyst around here-I'd love to see one though. I miss Glacier Blue and Sport Red Metallic-two of my favorites-the Maroon (Bordeaux Red) is okay, but I don't like it as much. And why is Chevy insistant on replacing aluminum wheels with plastic-steel on the midlevel (LT-the former LS) Cobalt and Malibu levels? Its plain stupid!

Nice steering wheel, headlamps, dashboard, and grille! Lousy rest of car if its the 2002-vintage European model I'm thinking of, though.

You also forgot all Mercury's, the Pontiac Montana and Torrent, etc. The wheel covers look nice; the other wheels don't, and isn't it stupid and a quantum leap far backward that ABS is not standard or optional, but not even available on Base models? The Base G5, BTW is equal to Cobalt LT (2005 LS) and GT equals Cobalt non-supercharged SS. Expected, but still absolutely pitiful.

Go to the Saturn Aura Ordering Guide thread for links.

Just kill this piece of crap already! The only thing it has going for it are the colors, so obviously, that doesn't say much. Certify Opel/Vauxhall's "Galaxy", send it here, and give it the Relay badge whenever its ready. There's no reason for a Relay 1 trim level to surface either-leave the cheap stuff to Chevy, and Uplander LS needs an upgrade at that.

I have even better suggestions: Ford Fusion, Hyundai Sonata, Toyota Camry, etc.. Pretty much all G6's I've seen are just as shameful as the Malibu-add the dated engines and subpar passenger and cargo volume, equipment spec, etc. (For both Malibu and G6 I mean.)

The revised engines and new colors are nice, but these class-lagging trucks were dated when they were unveiled at the Auto Show three years ago. And what's with 15" wheels? Its just not 1990 anymore....

Is that Wave Blue the same as the Chevy Aveo Spring Edition's Maui Blue? Either way, looks great-and I thought Lava was dropped for 2006, not this year...hmm....

I'm with you there-its compelling in a stylistic sense (and the new colors), but amidst say, the Dodge Charger, even though it is front-drive with still-decent power-it just isn't as compelling. The W-Body needs to go, and the next big Pontiac needs more rear seat room, i.e. with a rear window that is not directly sloping overhead of the back seats.

Other than a supposed "price advantage" (they're all more expensive than they were just a few years ago), what is the point of a V-6/I-6 large pickup? I don't see one-I mean who wants a slow engine in their giant truck these days? And who ever did in the first place?