Saturn to Import Opel Astra to replace ION - and soon
The good folks over at All Cars, All the Time are reporting on an Automotive News piece about Saturn. Aparently, rather than waiting for the next generation Delta chassis (Chevy Cobalt, Saturn ION) to replace the current, lack-luster ION, they will do something fairly drastic.
They will take the current Opel Astra (also built on the Delta chassis) sometime next year, and import it to the US with Saturn badging and likely a different name.
Why they can't just build the Astra in the current Cobalt/ION plant is not known.
This will have the unfortunate side-effect of raising the Saturn small-car's price into the 16k range. Quite a jump for folks used to the ION's current $12490 starting price.
I'm with the guys at ACAtT in crossing my fingers that the Astra with the panoramic windshield (that wraps well into the roof over the driver and front passenger - and would be a great sight-seeing car) will make the trip over as well.
Read ACAtT's coverage at:
Saturn to import Astra
They will take the current Opel Astra (also built on the Delta chassis) sometime next year, and import it to the US with Saturn badging and likely a different name.
Why they can't just build the Astra in the current Cobalt/ION plant is not known.
This will have the unfortunate side-effect of raising the Saturn small-car's price into the 16k range. Quite a jump for folks used to the ION's current $12490 starting price.
I'm with the guys at ACAtT in crossing my fingers that the Astra with the panoramic windshield (that wraps well into the roof over the driver and front passenger - and would be a great sight-seeing car) will make the trip over as well.
Read ACAtT's coverage at:
Saturn to import Astra
Woo hoo - Alfa Romeo return to the US is official
As reported over at ItaliaSpeed, Alfa could be back on sale in the US as early as the end of 2007.Alfa has been putting out some stunning product of late, and would make a great entry-level addition to the exotic-only Italian line-ups Americans have become used to (Lamborghini, Ferrari, Maserati).
Read all about it here:
http://www.italiaspeed.com/2006/cars/alfa_romeo/05/usa/0405.html
Cadillac's playing us all
Something hasn't seemed right to me since the spy photos surfaced a few days ago of the next CTS undergoing testing. Now I think I know why.
Is this not the next CTS? No, definitely not. Is Cadillac going the wrong direction stylistically - I don't think so. What had me puzzled was the fact that the camo does absolutely nothing to actually disguise the car. Come on, camo that leaves the entire grill, headlights, and fog lights easily identifiable? I don't think so.
My guess? This is a play by Cadillac, in the same vein as Audi plays the spy photographers, to generate buzz for their products. I think they are putting a lightly disguised car out with the express purpose of getting the photos taken and published.
Take a look at the pics over at ACAtT and let me know what you think.
All Cars, All the Time
Is this not the next CTS? No, definitely not. Is Cadillac going the wrong direction stylistically - I don't think so. What had me puzzled was the fact that the camo does absolutely nothing to actually disguise the car. Come on, camo that leaves the entire grill, headlights, and fog lights easily identifiable? I don't think so.
My guess? This is a play by Cadillac, in the same vein as Audi plays the spy photographers, to generate buzz for their products. I think they are putting a lightly disguised car out with the express purpose of getting the photos taken and published.
Take a look at the pics over at ACAtT and let me know what you think.
All Cars, All the Time
2008 Cadillac CTS spy shots
The Car Connection is showing spy photos that confirm that the mock-up Bob Lutz previewed on CBS' 60 Minutes is actually the new CTS. Through this modest disguise, you can see many of the cues that were clearly shown on 60 Minutes.
It is obvious that this is not the exact car shown in the rear-views in the Cadillac styling studio - further suggesting that that car may have been a rumored coupe version of the CTS.
With more in-your-face styling than the current CTS it should be a worthy successor.
Read about it:
Spy Shots: 2008 Cadillac CTS - The Car Connection
It is obvious that this is not the exact car shown in the rear-views in the Cadillac styling studio - further suggesting that that car may have been a rumored coupe version of the CTS.
With more in-your-face styling than the current CTS it should be a worthy successor.
Read about it:
Spy Shots: 2008 Cadillac CTS - The Car Connection
Autoshow Season - Mazdaspeed 3
Well, the waiting is almost over for the highly anticipated high-performance version of the popular Mazda 3 small car.Coming to your local Mazda dealer later this year, the Mazdaspeed 3 (available in the 5-door hatchback body style only) packs the Mazdaspeed 6's turbo, direct-injection 2.3l 4-cylinder with over 250hp (final numbers haven't been released), routed through the Mazdaspeed 6's 6-speed manual transmission to the front wheels (250+ hp, under 3000lb car, front wheels only?...that could be fun, I guess). Helping get the power to the ground is a limited-slip differential as well as electronic torque control that works in the lower 3 gears to help balance turbo boost with the car's ability to use that torque.
Safety equipment includes standard ABS, Electronic Brake-force Distribution, and Dynamic Stability Control.
Inside, the Mazdaspeed 3 has aggressively bolstered seats with Mazdaspeed stitched into the seatbacks. Also expect a high level of standard equipment in keeping with the 'Mazdaspeed as flagship' positioning.2007 marks a mid-cycle refresh for the entire Mazda 3 line and brings chassis stiffening to the beast of a 3 (in addition to wider bodywork, 18" wheels, and suitably high-performance tires).
Even without AWD, the Mazdaspeed 3 looks to be an interesting addition to the performance small-car segment. It will be interesting to see how they choose to price this car (hopefully it will be significantly below the high-20's where the Evo and STi's play).
Sky Redline - the search begins
It's really a shame what a little greed does to a good idea.
Right now, I am in the shopping phase for a Saturn dealer that will basically do what most would consider to be the bare minimum for any Saturn dealer - charge sticker price for a Sky Red Line. It seems that most of the dealers, at least locally, are putting questionable 'packages' on all of their Sky's (in stock, ordered, it doesn't seem to matter) and then charging exorbitant prices for them...for instance, almost $4000 for a clear bra and some undetermined 'performance' upgrades at Saturn of Highlands Ranch, CO.
No dealers appear to be taking employee discount, but that is certainly their prerogative. But the high-profit packages, that they require you take are just evil.
That's why I have started putting together a list of dealers and their policies on the Sky over at one of my other web sites:
http://caddyedge.com/sky-msrp-dealer-list/
Here, you'll see that my current options are looking like Saturn of Fort Collins or maybe one of the dealers in Indianapolis (though they already have 60+ Skys on order and are expecting any new orders to be delivered in early 2007).
Congrats to them, though for doing things the 'Saturn Way'.
Right now, I am in the shopping phase for a Saturn dealer that will basically do what most would consider to be the bare minimum for any Saturn dealer - charge sticker price for a Sky Red Line. It seems that most of the dealers, at least locally, are putting questionable 'packages' on all of their Sky's (in stock, ordered, it doesn't seem to matter) and then charging exorbitant prices for them...for instance, almost $4000 for a clear bra and some undetermined 'performance' upgrades at Saturn of Highlands Ranch, CO.
No dealers appear to be taking employee discount, but that is certainly their prerogative. But the high-profit packages, that they require you take are just evil.
That's why I have started putting together a list of dealers and their policies on the Sky over at one of my other web sites:
http://caddyedge.com/sky-msrp-dealer-list/
Here, you'll see that my current options are looking like Saturn of Fort Collins or maybe one of the dealers in Indianapolis (though they already have 60+ Skys on order and are expecting any new orders to be delivered in early 2007).
Congrats to them, though for doing things the 'Saturn Way'.
Keeping them honest - Sky MSRP list
Saturn is a great concept as most people understand it...set a fair price for the car and people don't have to fight the dealer to not get screwed. The dealer makes fair money and people can be less stressed by the buying experience.
You'd think that by adding great product to that mix, that you'd have the best of all worlds...well, that assumes that the Saturn dealers don't get greedy and try to circumvent the 'Saturn Way' in order to make a quick buck (at the cost of their and their brand's reputation).
The Sky roadster is the first example of Saturn dealers trying to do an end-run to pad their bottom line (at the expense of the consumers who might be, after years of being told this by GM and Saturn, lulled into a sense that Saturn plays fair).
Well, one consumer rarely can change this sort of corruption - but one can try to shine a spotlight on the dealers who are playing by the rules.
Over at one of my other sites, the Caddy Edge, we have a Saturn Sky MSRP list (with links to any other known Sky MSRP lists that already exist).
If you know what the policy of your local Saturn dealer is with regard to purchasing a Sky (MSRP?, required add-ons?, accepting employee pricing plan?, etc) then go to the Sky MSRP list at the Caddy Edge and let the world know.
You'd think that by adding great product to that mix, that you'd have the best of all worlds...well, that assumes that the Saturn dealers don't get greedy and try to circumvent the 'Saturn Way' in order to make a quick buck (at the cost of their and their brand's reputation).
The Sky roadster is the first example of Saturn dealers trying to do an end-run to pad their bottom line (at the expense of the consumers who might be, after years of being told this by GM and Saturn, lulled into a sense that Saturn plays fair).
Well, one consumer rarely can change this sort of corruption - but one can try to shine a spotlight on the dealers who are playing by the rules.
Over at one of my other sites, the Caddy Edge, we have a Saturn Sky MSRP list (with links to any other known Sky MSRP lists that already exist).
If you know what the policy of your local Saturn dealer is with regard to purchasing a Sky (MSRP?, required add-ons?, accepting employee pricing plan?, etc) then go to the Sky MSRP list at the Caddy Edge and let the world know.
Autoshow Season - Suzuki SX4
Been waiting for years for Fiat to make a return to the US? Well, soon you'll be able to pick up your little piece of Italy at the local Suzuki dealer in the form of the SX4.Co-developed with Fiat and sold on the Continent as the Sedici, the SX4 is a little tall-wagon available exclusively with an all-wheel drive system (making this little Suzuki the least expensive AWD car on the road - starting price is expected in the 15's). The system is controlled through a 3-mode switch on the dash that allows you to select front-drive only, automatic all-wheel drive (which routes up to 50% of the power rearward on demand), or a 'locked' mode that forces the system into sending power to all 4 wheels for demanding situations like mud or snow.
Powered by a 2.0l 4-cylinder with 143hp and 136lb*ft of torque routed through a standard 5-speed manual or 4-speed auto, makes this 2800-2900lb car not the speediest around, but most buyers likely won't care.
With standard equipment like seating for 5, decent cargo room behind the rear seat (9.5 cubic feet), standard 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS (available traction and stability control), 16" alloy wheels, and 24 mpg city/29 mpg highway (30 with the automatic)...this could easily become Suzuki's most popular vehicle in snow states (I'm expecting a lot of them out here in Colorado).
More pics below:
