thegriffon

Don't pay for a franchise, or you'll be sorry. They don't meet US safety or emissions regs, and the M1 is not even sold in the Chinese market anymore. It has been superseded by a newer model designed by Pininfarina on the same platform. Brilliance's 1.8 Turbo meets the less rigorous Euro4 regulations, but the Mitsubishi engines that seem to be specified are only Euro 2 and Euro3 capable. The JV's building them are not upgrading them further, despite claims by importers, but offering different engines instead (not the latest Mitsubishi/Hyundai/Chrysler engines, but newer than the standard fare offered by Chinese automakers). Most of these cars can't even be sold in Beijing. The real killer, European prices were actually higher than competing European and Korean models, which offer 4- and 5-star safety, much more power, much better economy and actual, not imaginary emission compliance. Prices are high and the manufacturers lose money because well, they are operating a plant as large as any of GM's at a production rate of maybe 10,000 vehicles a year. Many only build vehicles if they get an order from the local government, otherwise a very expensive plant sits idle for months or years. Even with off-the-shelf bodies, frames and engines (designed over 20+ years ago by Isuzu, Mazda and Toyota—we're talking pushrod 8V 4-cylinders upgraded to fuel injection here) from suppliers (of which there are fewer every year, because even they don't have the scale to survive), you can't make any money that way, and you certainly can't make a real investment in product development.

Ehh, the Cobalt gets all-new powertrains this year—a Dual-VVT 2.2 L and the 2.0 DI Turbo. That's almost as much as the Corolla got.

Yeah, I know, it would have been more consistent to use for the new small crossover as I had assumed they were. They probably found it had positive associations with Woodward, cruise ships, holidays, relaxing, fun etc.

Don't expect GM to discontinue a brand again—it simply costs too much. Instead look for them to examine selling any brands, and the dealer network, of any division they decide not to commit funding to. Of course the easiest to dispose of are thus Saab, Hummer and Saturn.

Ok Wayland

It's official, the new compact will be called "Cruze", a name recently used an a subcompact crossover designed by Holden and built by Suzuki. The Chevrolet model will debut in Paris in early October, shortly after the near-identical Daewoo Lacetti is unveiled in Korea. European sales will begin in spring 2009, followed by other markets as production expands.

GM is denying any brand is under review except for Hummer.

Consider that in the current climate the Lambda's are probably too big, and I don't think it signifies anything.

The company is no longer a subsidiary of BAe Systems, but has since been sold.

The Beat is also much smaller than the Aveo. I don't think there has been a smaller 4-seat vehicle in the US at least since the original mini, while the next Aveo will be both longer and wider than many compacts were in 2001. 1960s era Austin Mini 3.054 m long c2009 Chevrolet Beat 3.5 m (current mini is a little under 3.7 m, a Euro/JDM-spec Yaris a little under 3.8 m) c2010 Chevrolat Aveo 4.050 m (consistent with the Corsa, 207, Mito, Grand Punto, Ibiza etc.). The Aveo is likely to feature a range of 1.2–1.6 L engines (both Daewoo B-series and GM Family 1), the Beat 0.8–1.2 L Daewoo B-series engines. 1.0, 1.25 and 1.5 L diesels are also likely, the 1.0 in the Beat and the others in the Aveo (at least for Europe).

GM press releases say of the last two cars only that they use a "new and unique" design under the skin, and are not only longer and taller, but also wider than the production DTS.

Or buy low and not sell at all. Take this in context—Goldman Sachs is down as well.

Idiots. $4 a gallon gas makes beating the targets more achievable, as people voluntarily buy smaller, more efficient vehicles. There is no need to change the proposed rules. GM is talking about a 46 mpg compact, a vehicle which would blow past the target, and in the current climate need a second plant.

Seems odd, as they do sell Opels in China, but they do have three Buick sedans to replace.

Well it's either a freak accident in which everyone lost their feet, or a mad psycho serial killer.

Because you've never seen anything like them. Think 138" long and 61–64" wide—a Mini is closer to 144" and 66" wide, a modern compact supermini like the Corsa and Mito 159" long and 68" wide. You might recall the Chevy Metro, but that was longer and narrower than the Mini. The dimensions of the Chevy triplets are dictated by regulatory requirements in the Korean market (which Daewoo dominates). Unrestricted European rivals such as the Fiat Panda, Fiat 500 and Renault Twingo are a little bigger. The equivalent Japanese segment is restricted even further in size and engine capacity, dominated by Suzuki, followed by Daihatsu, a semi-independent company supplying Honda, and a few Mitsubishis and Subarus (Nissan and Mazda sell rebadged Suzukis and Mitsubishis).

It's a car for iPhone buyers. They'll sell every one at a premium over MSRP.

And these aren't even subcompacts, but minicompacts even smaller than the Mini.

Ok here are the European results: The biggest response was from the Turks and Germans, who overwhelmingly favored the Groove, along with most other markets. The french favored the Beat, with a much closer outcome among all three. The final tally: 321,898 votes Beat: 20.1% Groove: 48% Trax: 31.9% The North American vote (which includes responses from markets such as the UK and Australia) was 1,906,610 votes, enough to overwhelm the more critical European response for a final tally of: 2,228,508 votes Beat: 42.6% Groove: 40.3% Trax: 17.1%

The European vote varies, but the Groove does better in some markets. http://www.vote4chevrolet.eu/ http://www.vote4chevrolet.com/ (you need to select a market, but not a concept and then clock vote to see the results.)

At the moment it says Beat 46.4%, Groove 39%, TRax, ehhh, what's left (a meager 14.6%) out of nearly 2 million responses.

I expect it will further supplant Insignia volumes in most markets, especially with the new sedan version. Just as the Vectra superceded the old Omega, so the Astra will eventually displace the Insignia.

GM confirms the compact car to be built in Russelsheim is the Astra. Trollhattan was supposed to build the unnamed Saab hatch and 3-door Astras.

The Mito is only an indirect Mini competitor. It's much bigger, even more than the Mini Clubman, and is closely related to the new Opel Corsa and Fiat Grand Punto. Opel's next Astra looks much like a 5-door Brera.

Production models: http://www.toyota.co.jp/en/news/08/0512.html http://toyota.jp/vellfire/index.html http://toyota.jp/alphard/index.html