RangerVT

Wow, I hadn't realized that until you said it. USB port right in the center console, fantastic!

If this is the same 3.6L they're using for the Malibu/Aura, how did they get 300hp out of that baby? Also, no word in Estimated Fuel Economy yet. Wonder if it'll get anywhere near high-20's on the highway? Possibly using the Active Fuel Management (ie: Impala 3.9 and all truck engines) they could have the first 300hp/30mpg engine! That would be nice.

Love it in Silver! I would be smiling if I were sitting in it too! Great photos. Can't wait til Sunday to see it in person. Liking the design cues to Caddy's past. (sidenote: what happened to the clear/smoked tail lights we saw in past concepts/spy shots? guess it'll be for the new STS?)

I really don't know why we have so many haters on this blog. I think it's a fine-looking design for a concept. I'm sure there's going to be some tweaks, but that's the whole purpose of a "concept"! Think about it, a hybrid with that kind of fuel economy and STYLE?!?!?!?! What's not to love about that? I think GM and Chevrolet are on the right track with those cues to be the future of the line-up. I'd say build it sooner, but I don't want a rush to production and have a flop for quality. To paraphase Vince Vaughan from Mr. and Mrs. Smith.... GM "I like where your head's at". :AH-HA_wink:

craziness

Can't wait.... Already have my hotel booked at the Rennaissance Center in the heart of the Motor City! I'll be there the 14th! Woohoo!

Looks like that 2 in the Tach is for Gear selection. Check out the center LCD display which also has a "2" highlighted! All in all I have to say I'm impressed with the touches to this interior. The Heritage-like buckles are a nice touch of nostalgia. And did I read those specs correctly? 21's on the front and 22's on the rear?!?!?!?!? Holy crap! I know it's still in concept mode so those probably won't make it to production, but still..... VERY NICE!

Can't wait to see this car in Detroit. It should steal the show once again!

I'll be there on the 14th more than likely, because I have to work on Saturday the 13th and will definitely take lots of pictures! 2GB Memory Card for my camera and back-up 1GB card with additional Lithium Ion back-up batteries... haha! Hope to catch some of you there.

Fantastic! Thanks for the affirmation!

Courtesy of Automotive News! Camaro convertible will debut in Detroit Jamie LaReau | | Automotive News / January 4, 2007 - 11:37 am DETROIT -- General Motors will introduce the Camaro convertible concept on the eve of the Detroit auto show at the GM Style event. GM says it will begin selling the convertible in late 2009. The car will debut Saturday, Jan. 6, amid a fashion-type show combining celebrities, couture and cars. The show opens to the media Sunday, Jan. 7. The Camaro convertible will be in Hugger Orange pearl tri-coat paint with twin gunmetal gray sport stripes. The color is an update of one offered in 1969. The convertible is based on the original Camaro concept revealed at last year's Detroit show, with some minor body changes to accommodate ragtop styling. The hardtop Camaro will go on sale in 2009. "The best follow-up to last year's award-winning Camaro concept is a Camaro convertible," said Ed Welburn, GM vice president of global design, in press release. The convertible will have a V-8 engine. It will be rear-wheel drive with a manual transmission and a four-wheel independent suspension system with four-wheel disc brakes. Welburn said: "It's a car that begs to be driven." You may e-mail Jamie LaReau at [email protected] Here's yet another pic of the Camaro Concept. Can't really speak to the validity of this pic compared to others, but at least it's an official press release. :AH-HA_wink:

I highly doubt that the Camaro will have those "rice-y" dual exhaust pipes. American muscle goes for V8 growl, not "angry bumblebee" whine!

In a car like the Camaro, especially when it first hits, the customers don't really care about gas prices. The big anticipation build-up and extended waiting period, that's the bigger story. That's where your "Camaro too late?" question carries more weight. Happens all the time, people see a car and fall in love with it, but by the time it's available the flame has diminished to a flicker. Gotta strike when the iron's hot for a passionate car following like this one, and I think the delay will hurt some conquest sales.

Great review! Can't wait to see and try one out for myself. With this addition and an upcoming small car replacement for the ION, Saturn seems to have hit its turnaround stride.

Try looking for a Canon PowerShot. Those take much better photos as they have a glass lens rather than a plastic one as the Kodak's do. Plus you can adjust the resolution much easier than with Kodak. The only resolution settings you get for the Kodak is picture quality. One star up to 4 stars I do believe. That adjusts everything in one fell swoop. Not very customizable for simplicity's sake. Kodak's are the most user friendly, but are limited in their adjustments for the same reason.

Good ideas for limited production HHRs! The "Fall Edition" was a nice little package too. I just wish they'd do a little better with the naming as well. For example, that all black Fall Edition would have been better suited by a name like "Stealth" or "Black Pearl" rather than "Fall Edition". Maybe it could've been marketed better to show it's limited production-ness(?). HAHA. Seriously though, the HHR was the most customized vehicle at SEMA upon it's introduction, GM should really piggy-back off those ideas for their future limited production runs. Anybody else wanna see a "Woody" HHR?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHANow that I got that out of my system.... the Viper is an amazing car for Dodge to produce. The fact that they can make this car is incredible. However, what super car do you need "BURN" warning signs on the door sills so you don't fry your leg on the side exhaust pipes? Don't get me wrong, I think more horsepower is awesome and this car has plenty of it. However, what good is all that power if it can't be controlled? The suspension packaging on the Viper has been its major downfall. It can only drive in a straight line if you can get the tires to hook up off the line in the first place. It's like an angry teenager looking for acceptance from the upper classman in high school. It's trying so hard, but continues to get left out of the Super Car agrument year after year, because the total package is laughable. Dodge is trying the "stuff all the horsepower you can" routine and it just doesn't work like that anymore. For any vehicle to be considered, it needs to compete in all areas.

Awww.... the 6000 LE with the vinyl top didn't make the cut? haha. This is quite a moment.

While this is a vast improvement over the current Malibu's design, I have to say I'm disappointed with the back-end. I seem to agree with the editors of Inside Line on this one, it appears to be the old backends of discarded Mitsubishi Diamantes. From all the spy shots, I was hoping to see projector-like headlight treatments and circular tail lights. Once again, if you're going to be all-new, you've gotta really Wow people. This Malibu gets close, but it seems like they toned it down for the masses a little too much. HIDs/LEDs and a sportier back-end would have been the way to go. I don't mind the tri-bar steering wheel, because it is WORLD'S better than the quad-pointed "missing tooth" look of the current steering wheel (and more sporty). The new powertrain & tranny were much needed. Can't wait to try out that new 3.6 with the 6-speed "paddle-shifting" automatic! Overall assessment: VAST IMPROVEMENT, just fell a little short of the Wow factor.

Highly unlikely that this vehicle is anything like what the Impala will look like. If you take a look at the new 2008 Malibu it is supposed to be the "new look for Chevrolet" for the next few years.

That has to be HAND'S DOWN the best gift to receive for a car nut. Being able to go early and not have to fight the crowds would be awesome!

Glad that I'll be able to see that WTCC in person! When Chevrolet announced that vehicle I was very skeptical to see how the vehicle would differ from the early sketches, but thankfully they kept that design true to sketch. I wouldn't mind seeing that Concept become a reality for production with some minor tweaks. The overall aggressive look is a bold step forward for GM's Design Studio.

Point well taken. However, I am surprised that the Aveo scored so poorly, since it did much better in last year's tests before the redesign. Gotta wonder what GM was thinking with this year's model.

Yeah, that's what I was trying to get at with all my rambling. Glad you could summarize for me! haha. :AH-HA_wink:

Doesn't it just put a sour taste in your mouth to know that these "...... of the Year" Awards always seem to default to imports? Domestics can score out just as well or better than their competition, but simply receive honorable mention. For the record, my hopes are on the Aura and Silverado. Oh and can you say 2008 Malibu as "Car of the Year"?