thegriffon

BTW both this and the Solstice turbo are sure bets for world's-best engine awards in their classes.

This is very much similar to the Solstice Turbo, which does uses an aluminum block, direct injection and turbo charging. The BMW though is larger and more complicated with the added turbo, so almost certainly weighs more. As for GM's cast-iron blocks, most have been on a weight-reduction diet for some time. Cost is a big advantage, but there is also added stiffness and noise reduction with cast-iron (hence it's popularity for diesel engines).

So they're saying that "it's not a better deal, it was cheaper whenit was on sale"? Well duh. How is that any different to any other manufacturer or product? Would they complain that Coke isn't offering genuine value if they cut everyday prices 10% because it's cheaper when it's on sale? There is a special place in hell reserved for these people and their tort-lawyer backers.

What can governments do to lower housing prices? Exactly the opposite of what has been done. Instead of making it easier to borrow more money over a longer term, make it harder. Limit the amount people can borrow and how reduce the time they have to pay it off for everyone and watch housing prices plummet. Just not a popular move with people who have already spent a lot on a home and may wind up "upside-down" if prices fall, but will have no real effect on anyone "trading-up" or moving. Home-owners (a large propportion of voters) tend to get very unhappy if governments (local state or federal) were to do anything to lower housing prices. People are very protective of their "property values". The other solution is to go into investment properties, where the tenant pays of your mortgage for you, and you can leverage that into more and more property. This of course is a limited market—not everyone can be a landlord to even one other person, let alone several. If too many people get into "the game", it all falls down.

Housing "costs" have not tripled, what has ballooned is what people are willing to pay, and expect to get when they sell. If you believe stories like this which say "first-time home buyers cannot afford current prices" then what you should be anticipating is a big crash in housing prices in future. Don't think it will happen? Then obviously they can afford it.

Salt

It uses less fuel to do it.

connection

Serengetti

Safari

delorean

Customers have not responded well to either the CVT (disconcerted by the absence of shifting) or Toyota affiliate Aisin AW's 5-speed auto which GM has used previously (not as smooth as the 4-speed). The latter works better with larger V6 engines as in the Equinox and Torrent, while the 5-speed in the Vue is a Honda unit that comes as a package with the V6 (just as GM's 5-speed auto was paired with a BMW diesel in the Range Rover).

A V6 model is more expensive to start with, so can more easily absorb the cost of a more expensive hybrid system. Engine start-stop systems are much simpler than even this, but can have a big impact on fuel economy not reflected in EPA ratings. With advanced thermal monitoring GM's former Electro-Motive Division (now Electro-Motive Diesel) now offers engine-start-stop systems on it's diesel-electric hybrids (starting such a cold diesel this size (too big for a block heater) in sub-zero conditions is a big headache). Volswagen used to offer a start-stop system supplemented by an extra-large flywheel, and Peugeot-Citroen now offers a start-stop system on some models using an alternator-starter.

keyboard

GM already produces several small hatches, some bigger than the Hornet, some smaller, some boxy, some more aerodynamic. Azero segment: Matiz (G2) A-segment MPV: Agila entry B-segment: C2, Celta B-segment: Corsa, Kalos (Aveo) (same segment as Hornet) entry B-segment wagon: Sail, Corsa Classic B-segment MPV: Meriva Not to mention a number of A- and B-segment vans produced by Wuling. All will eventually switch to either the new Global Small Car architecture being developed by GM Daewoo, or Suzuki's so-called A-segment platform (spanning the B-segment as well). DCX has the smart forfour (Colt-based B-segment hatch smaller than the Hornet) and Mercedes Benz A-Class (a small but expensive B-MPV). If GM built a concept like the Hornet it would be a sure bet to preview the next-gen of one its many small cars and be out within 2-3 years at most.

yellow

Not a snowballs chance in H—. Both the Blackhawk and Efijy werre tributes to custom-car culture. The Blackhawk even was a custom, crafted from existing Buicks, not a concept such as those traditionally built for the major autoshows.

wax Sorry wildcat, an earlier post stalled

Last time I checked the GTO was neither a Firebird nor a ponycar. Nothing in that article has any bearing on the GTO.

Thumper (the rabbit)

wights

What I get from this is that the scores aren't high enough to have any meaning at all.

hemp

Blue

The xB and former bB are built by Toyota on the Echo's old NBC platform (P-body, succeeding the former P-body Starlet). The new bB is a totally unrelated, smaller car, built by Daihatsu on a new Daihatsu/Toyota small-car platform first used for the Passo/Boon/Sirion/Myvi (C-body). The new xB is more likely based on the latest-generation P-body, like the Japanese-market Sienta. C-body wheelbases 2440-2540 mm P-body wheelbases (new-generation) 2460-2550-2600-2700 mm