ZL-1

freudian slip

I wonder if and why Porsche sanctioned this.

happy birthday!

:rotflmao:

I wouldn't make this comment to the person sitting next to me on an airplane.

insurance company

It's their best chance yet of winning on the perception front. It needs to be shown and advertised as much as possible, though. Different strokes for different folks, I guess. I like the SRX, but still I'd like to see how it would have looked with a Vizon-inspired front end! I don't think there's a 'European market': the French will mainly buy French cars even if they're as odd-looking as a Citröen C6, the Germans will gravitate around Audi/BMW/MB, in Sweden the best selling car is the Volvo V70. IMO the biggest commonality across European countries is the purchase of small cars because of space constraints (small roads and sometimes ridiculously small parking spaces) and economic reasons (essentially due to higher fuel prices - high taxation).

A small provocation: wouldn't that make a 300C an overpriced Dodge with Chrysler sheetmetal and interior styling, then? Where exactly is the line on differentiation drawn? Could it be subjective? I didn't know that. I'm assuming that V6 would be a RWD application of the V6 used in the Opel Vectra. IMO, distinctive styling helps as long as the line between bold and hideous isn't crossed. I remeber seeing two SRX in Lisbon (one dark blue, one silver) and they look very different from anything else that is sold here!Re the new CTS, I believe it will do well in comparison with the current one: the VM diesel will help broaden the appeal to people who want distinctive looks but still have to consider mileage/cost/depreciation issues. Actually, at 235hp/500Nm it will kill the 2.8L V6 in power and torque. Add an advantage in mileage and there may be an interesting car there :AH-HA_wink: Aside from the 'Jeremy Clarkson & Co' funny comments, that's exactly the stuff I've heard/read regarding the BLS. It is lacking the driving dynamics of the segment's standars which is the BMW 3-Series, and that will only change if and when GM moves the car to a RWD platform.

rebellion

You take Top Gear way too seriously :AH-HA_wink:@ evok - don't you think that Cadillac/Corvette/Hummer Europe, even with the small dealer network, could have been more ambitious if GM had offered a diesel V6 for the CTS/SRX/STS trio?

cold Association to 'shiver'

Renault deserves loads of respect for doing the Logan.GM do Brasil has both the Chevrolet Celta and the Chevrolet Classic (which I believe is a previous-gen 3 body Corsa) right now. Will the successors to those two be sold globally?

VE are the SWB versions (Commodore/Berlina/Calais) and WM are the LWB versions (Statesman and Caprice). I don't know if NA Zeta matches the Holdens exactly or not.

I think it is mostly perception, but also a lack understanding about the 'diesel wave'. I remeber reading in L'Automobile magazine that diesel penetration in France is around 60% and I don't think it is much less than that in Continental Europe as a whole, where diesel is generally taxed less than gasoline. Another thing that I think may be hurting Cadillac/Corvette/Hummer is giving so much weight to Kroymans. With all the brands in their portfolio, all of which are established names in Europe, I think the effort they'll put into GMNA brands will always be marginal. GM should be running the show. EDIT @ Dodgefan - BLS is not laughed at. It is simply ignored.

Hey, Cadillac finally woke up!

Iron Maiden

Why not use Calais tail lights? They look kinda Grand Prix-ish (providing some styling continuity) and it wouldn't be that expensive to redesign the rear bumper to the SS-look, would it?

I think Cadillac will go after the S and the 7, but I also think they will do it in size and content before price. A vehicle priced too high might (I don't want to use the word 'would') be a flop, because Cadillac doesn't have the pricing power MB and BMW have. It would also divert development money from a NG STS/DTS that can (and hopefully will) have the positive impact the '08 CTS has created so far.

In a way, yes: offer the most basic car for the money. It's like Renault and the Logan.

Inquisition

I agree, with the exception of the two large car platforms. I think we'll only see the DTS/STS merge into a single vehicle line, maybe in a 'Sigma 2' that can accomodate larger vehicles.

I think it's because of certification issues. VW is introducing a Bluetec Jetta diesel in the US, though, so one wonders...

QFT

LOLAnswer to thread: spicy (as in Indian food)

Especially when one stops to think that is is a small car, so any good torque or power rating makes it fun! It's all about the fun!