Autoshow Season - GM shows GMC Yukon XL and Chevrolet Suburban
It should come as no surprise that the new Suburban and Yukon XL are essentially the same Yukon and Tahoe as shown late in 2005 only with a longer cargo area.But, in the sake of completeness, here are some pictures.
The only question these bring to mind is why-oh-why does GM still insist on putting the XM/OnStar antenna in the most conspicuous location (right above the windshield) instead of back in front of the hatch where it would be less in-your-face? Oh, yeah, that's right - so they can save the 10 cents per vehicle that the extra wiring would cost to put it back there.Note to GM - you will not win the battle to make the best vehicles on the road when you still don't have the will to make the best vs. cheapest choice.
Maybe next time.
Autoshow Season - Volvo C30 concept
Volvo is making one thing very clear...this is a production car that will go on sale worldwide starting at the end of 2006 - even to the point of pre-announcing that the production version will bow at the Paris autoshow in September 06.Based on the same C1 chassis that underpins the S40 sedan, the C30 is 9 inches shorter, has a rear hatch vs. the more standard trunk on the S40 (resulting in a coupe/wagon hybrid look), and is aimed squarely at active lifestyle types that wouldn't be caught dead in a sedan.
The concept, powered by a 260hp turbo inline 5-cylinder (significantly more powerful than the 218hp that this engine produces in the S40), packs seating for 4, a swoopy interior with the now Volvo-trademark thin, freestanding center console.The lower number in the name does suggest that the C30 will be priced below the S40, so expect a turbo version similar to the S40 T5 to be priced somewhat lower. Volvo may make turbo power standard in order to prevent having to go into the low 20k pricerange for base C30's, but a fully optioned out model should top out significantly under 30k.
This should be a nice addition to the Volvo stable.
Autoshow Season: VW GX3 'Motorcycle' concept debuts
I have always been a big fan of odd sporting machines. When I was in high school, I bought plans for a build-it-at-home 3-wheeled motorcycle. It was from a now defunct company called Dolphin Vehicles and was called the Vortex. It was built using marine grade plywood and took an old Triumph Spitfire front suspension. The body was built up using foam covered in fiberglass mat.I never go around to building it, but I spent many an hour figuring out exactly how I was going to go about it.
Now, VW has shown a concept that has shown how cool a similar car/trike/motorcycle can be when built to OEM specs.
With a 1.6l engine powering the rear wheel, seating for 2, 0-62mph in about 5 and a half seconds all with 46mpg and an estimated sale price of $17k...this would make a great fair-weather commuter car.
Too bad, they'll never build it.
Hmmm, where did I put those Vortex plans?...
The problem with Saab
Saab (from Wikipedia - SAAB (originally an acronym for "Svenska Aeroplan AB," where "AB" stands for "aktiebolaget" ("corporation")) AB was founded as a Swedish aircraft concern in 1937 in the city of Linköping, in Sweden...Saab produced its first automobile on June 10, 1947.) is a wholly owned division of General Motors.
They are, historically, considered a 'quirky' automobile company with a strong technology focus (they have a long history of pioneering safety, much like Volvo, as well as research into powertrains).
However, they have had a hard time reaching the sorts of sales numbers that GM has wanted for them. So, what exactly is wrong with Saab?
First, I think we should deal with what Saab is and isn't and how that relates to GM's goals for the brand.
Saab is, as I mentioned before a quirky brand. It's buyers like the way Saab does things (ignition between the front seats, aircraft inspired interior features like the night-panel that blacks out all but the essential readouts until a function needs your attention, engines that are as small as possible yet still plenty powerful - no matter what the luxury poseurs might _think_ they need (like a V-6 when a turbo 4 is both more flexible, more efficient, and just as reliable).
GM saw Saab as a way to easily enter the Euro-luxury fray when Cadillac was nothing but a Lincoln competitor. They saw the small form factor, technological image, etc. as a way to tap this buyer base that Cadillac didn't/couldn't/wouldn't address.
What they didn't realize is that the Saab-ness of the brand also kept it from being a high-volume brand like the BMW, Mercedes, and Audi's of the world. All the so-called 'problems' with Saab have stemmed from this single difference in understanding.
No amount of rebadging Opels and Chevrolets, turning the 9-3 from it hatchback roots into a sedan and wagon, and introducing SUV's (like the 9-7x shown here) is going to 'save' a company that really didn't need saving. It was doing just fine being Saab before. Now, we have a muddled brand image (oh, how GM) to go with marginally higher sales and talk of jettisoning the brand that has absorbed so much money.
Let's hope that whoever ultimately owns Saab doesn't buy into the hype that Saab is a broken brand. All they really need at this point is an owner that understands what Saab is and isn't and can refocus the product mix to re-appeal to the Saab core. If the products are true to this brand image and good, the Saab faithful will stay and the folks looking for something just a little different will buy as well. I'm not confident that GM is that company.
They are, historically, considered a 'quirky' automobile company with a strong technology focus (they have a long history of pioneering safety, much like Volvo, as well as research into powertrains).
However, they have had a hard time reaching the sorts of sales numbers that GM has wanted for them. So, what exactly is wrong with Saab?
First, I think we should deal with what Saab is and isn't and how that relates to GM's goals for the brand.
Saab is, as I mentioned before a quirky brand. It's buyers like the way Saab does things (ignition between the front seats, aircraft inspired interior features like the night-panel that blacks out all but the essential readouts until a function needs your attention, engines that are as small as possible yet still plenty powerful - no matter what the luxury poseurs might _think_ they need (like a V-6 when a turbo 4 is both more flexible, more efficient, and just as reliable).
GM saw Saab as a way to easily enter the Euro-luxury fray when Cadillac was nothing but a Lincoln competitor. They saw the small form factor, technological image, etc. as a way to tap this buyer base that Cadillac didn't/couldn't/wouldn't address.
What they didn't realize is that the Saab-ness of the brand also kept it from being a high-volume brand like the BMW, Mercedes, and Audi's of the world. All the so-called 'problems' with Saab have stemmed from this single difference in understanding.
No amount of rebadging Opels and Chevrolets, turning the 9-3 from it hatchback roots into a sedan and wagon, and introducing SUV's (like the 9-7x shown here) is going to 'save' a company that really didn't need saving. It was doing just fine being Saab before. Now, we have a muddled brand image (oh, how GM) to go with marginally higher sales and talk of jettisoning the brand that has absorbed so much money.Let's hope that whoever ultimately owns Saab doesn't buy into the hype that Saab is a broken brand. All they really need at this point is an owner that understands what Saab is and isn't and can refocus the product mix to re-appeal to the Saab core. If the products are true to this brand image and good, the Saab faithful will stay and the folks looking for something just a little different will buy as well. I'm not confident that GM is that company.
Chrysler Imperial Concept
Looking like a Chrysler 300C that has spent the last couple years training for the Mr. Universe competition - the Chrysler Imperial concept, to be shown at this year's NAIAS is an attempt to see what kind of headroom Chrysler might have in the marketplace.Previous attempts to move Chrysler up-market have centered on halo sports cars like the Crossfire and the Firepower concept. This time, they try to leverage the goodwill surrounding the all-american look of the 300C.
Of course, since we are only a couple model-years from the next 300, this could also be a thinly veiled glimpse at the styling of the next version (the LY chassis).
More GM Kappa News - SKY Pricing and a Solstice Wagon?
Today, Saturn announced pricing of the 2007 Saturn SKY roadster. With standard OnStar, ABS, Power Windows/Locks/Mirrors, Remote Keyless Entry as well as the air conditioning that Pontiac saw fit to make optional on the Solstice. MSRP for a 5-speed manual SKY will start at $23690 with the automatic equipped version (also a 5-speed) at $24540. Both prices include destination.
Before you start thinking that Saturn is crazy to ask over 3500 more for the SKY than the Solstice need to take a deep breath, head on over to the Pontiac web site, and price a Solstice with the same equipment. The SKY's premium is actually only about $370. More than made up for by the richer interior that the SKY gets vs. the basic interior of the Solstice.
Also in Kappa news - is this odd contraption that should show up in the next couple weeks at the NAIAS. EDAG, a German engineering firm, came up with this variation on the Solstice to both counter the 'not enough cargo space' crowd as well as to evoke, in their words the 'Pontiac Safari' wagons of the 1950's and 1960's. Read about it here.
Looks oddly cool to me.
Before you start thinking that Saturn is crazy to ask over 3500 more for the SKY than the Solstice need to take a deep breath, head on over to the Pontiac web site, and price a Solstice with the same equipment. The SKY's premium is actually only about $370. More than made up for by the richer interior that the SKY gets vs. the basic interior of the Solstice.
Also in Kappa news - is this odd contraption that should show up in the next couple weeks at the NAIAS. EDAG, a German engineering firm, came up with this variation on the Solstice to both counter the 'not enough cargo space' crowd as well as to evoke, in their words the 'Pontiac Safari' wagons of the 1950's and 1960's. Read about it here.Looks oddly cool to me.
Pontiac Solstice GXP details
2.0l Ecotec 4-cylinder w/ direct injection and 260hp and 260lb*ft of torqueThere, fine, that's what everyone wanted to know anyway.
Now we can get into some more details.
Unique front and rear bumpers, dual exhaust, StabiliTrak standard, 3.73 axle ratio, unique GXP gauge cluster, and if the photos are any indication - yellow will be a new available color...but they'll likely call it something odd like all the other colors on the Solstice (for instance - Black = Mysterious, Aggressive = Red, and so on).
Apparently, the sport suspension on this model will be the same as the available sport suspension already available on the base Solstice.
ABS, limited slip diff, power windows/locks/mirrors, remote keyless entry, cruise control, leather wrapped steering wheel w/ steering wheel mounted controls for the stereo and cruise control, driver info center, and 18-inch polished wheels are all standard on this model as well.
So, you can get basically the same equipment from this model on the standard Solstice, but the GXP brings the kick-butt 2.0l Ecotec. 130hp/liter. Torque is 260lb*ft from 2000 through 5300 rpm - yummy!
Pricing is not yet known - but figure it to be at least $3k more than the same Solstice with all the options listed. So, we'd be looking at something like $27000. Still a nice performance bargain if the 5.5 second 0-60 that GM is claiming is legit.
This should be the same as the Saturn SKY Redline - and still sitting at the top of my shopping list for my next car.
Lincoln to go Alpha for model names
According to this post at Autoblog.com - Lincoln will not be calling the new Lincoln Aviator the Lincoln Aviator. (?!)
It appears that Ford has decided that the real reason Cadillac is kicking Lincoln's butt right now is the abandonment of names for alpha strings (think how Catera became CTS, Seville became STS, etc.) I'm sure it had nothing to do with billions of investment, brand new chassis and powertrains, and really targeting the standard of BMW, Mercedes, and Audi with their cars rather than chasing Lincoln.
The Aviator will actually be badged the Lincoln MKX (hmm, looks quite a bit like Mark X, don't it?).
We'll see how this goes for them - but ultimately, I think great product is the only answer - not new names.
It appears that Ford has decided that the real reason Cadillac is kicking Lincoln's butt right now is the abandonment of names for alpha strings (think how Catera became CTS, Seville became STS, etc.) I'm sure it had nothing to do with billions of investment, brand new chassis and powertrains, and really targeting the standard of BMW, Mercedes, and Audi with their cars rather than chasing Lincoln.
The Aviator will actually be badged the Lincoln MKX (hmm, looks quite a bit like Mark X, don't it?).
We'll see how this goes for them - but ultimately, I think great product is the only answer - not new names.