ZL-1

A flexible enough platform would provide for a full line of small RWD 'G4' cars: sedan, coupe, roadster, maybe even a wagon. A larger RWD 'G6' range could be based on the same platform, so it wouldn't be just two variants: the examples I gave were examples of how GM could leverage resources to achieve volume instead of going for a product that will have limited impact in GM's bottom line.

I do agree that Kappa was an exercise by Lutz to show what GM talent can build when properly motivated. However, the key point in this discussion is that GM could have made an investment that would allow them to refocus the Pontiac brand as a whole, possibly giving Cadillac a 3-series sized RWD car, and still have the Solstice/Sky/GT. What some people criticize is not the image boost that these cars give, its how GM once again seemed to look at a partial solution when they could have gone much further.

What exactly are "bean counters true intentions" in your opinion?

That's what's been rumoured.

My point was that a spoiler doesn't belong in a Buick. Ever.

Why the f*ck would a spoiler be offered in a Buick?

That taillight design is becoming popular, it seems, but the rear on the 3-series coupe reminds me more of the 7-series (post-redesign).

So it seems. I think it's good though, because it appears that GM's cars aren't really that competitive right now, so trucks have to carry the torch. I only posted those figures to show that it isn's enough for GM execs to say "we're scaling back the fleet business". Looking at GM from the outside, I think they'll have to rely on that side of the business for quite some time, even if the next generation of products sets the standard instead of chasing it.

That front end is hilarious!

Boring questions, hence the boring answers.

From www.gm.com: I suspect the GMT 900s deserve credit for this. EDIT: Weight of fleet sales increased to 30.0%, up from 26.9% in Q1 2005: a rise from 39.5% to 41.6% in Cars and a rise from 18.1% to 22.4% in Trucks.

That's an important step, and if GM can keep its average transaction prices on the upside as they renew their product portfolio, things will be easier for them. However it immediately comes to mind that if oil hits $100/barrel as some have predicted, SUV sales will suffer and GM's results are extremely sensitive to shifts in consumer demand.

Because the markets were expecting a bigger loss.

Astons are beautiful!

That's going to be the hard part. If GM people divert their attention from commmenting on the media/analysts and focus in promoting GM's strong points, then it may become a little easier.

So it appears. Says a lot about the decision making inside GM, doesn't it?

Sometimes I get the feeling that GM and Ford need the kind of "shock treatment" GE got when Jack Welch became CEO.

I'm guessing it fell because of development budgets being restructured. I think the next-gen Opel Astra is a strong contender, and as disucssed in another website there are alternatives for a quick fix, notably the Brazilian Chevrolet Vectra which is Astra-based.

I finally got to see the show in Portuguese TV yesterday. There are 2 different interiors in there. The one pictured in this thread and identified as the next-generation CTS, and one that appears to have wood on the passenger's side. This other interior appears between 0:50 and 0:55 in the preview mp4 file. Could that be the new SRX (hopefully shared with the '08 refreshed STS) interior?

I'm sorry but I don't feel any romanic appeal looking at the G6 or any other current Pontiacs, with the exception of the Solstice.

I hope they remove the fake wood from the interior. An 'excitement' division should have brushed aluminum or carbon fiber effects on the inside, and not wood effects.

Neat!

Finally some good Aura pictures! I like the exterior: toned down from the concept, but far from watered down. The Redline should be closer to the concept. As for the interior, the styling is kind of boring, but materials seem good from those pics. It doesn't seem well assembled though: look at the alignment of the wood on the doors versus the wood on the dash...

Looks a bit weird: I was expecting more of an "Opel" look. That said, I like the fact that it doesn't look like a Saturn nose gratfed into a Enclave body. GM did a great job differentiating the 2 and I'm having a good feeling about the Acadia looking different from both the Enclave and the Outlook.

So... when will the 1st official shots be released? Anyone knows?