GM to limit Solstice production

Leftlane news has the following info about Solstice production from John Larson, General Manager of Buick, Pontiac and GMC...

Even though demand is expected, at least in the near term, to be for over 35k Solstices per year, GM will hold production to 17k 2006 Solstices and 20k 2007 Solstices (this includes the new 2007 Solstice GXP).

The goal, other than to preserve enough production capacity to build a sufficient number of Saturn Sky roadsters, Opel GT's, and Daewoo G2X's is to make sure that resale values stay high and no incentives are needed to move surplus Solstices from dealer lots.

Now, if they'd just build enough so that dealers don't feel justified to charge 'market adjustments' we'd all be happy.

Read the LLN article at:

Leftlane News - Confirmed: GM to limit Solstice, G6 convertible production

Undisguised 2008 Silverado spotted

Dubspeed Driven has some great, undisguised photos of the upcoming Silverado.

Surprises include more differentiation from the Tahoe than expected and, at least in this Z71, somewhat ungainly styling. I, for one, will wait to see it in person to judge for sure.

Take a look at larger shots, etc at:

Dubspeed Driven - 2008 Chevy Silverado Uncovered

Lotus announces cheaper Elise

In news that was both exciting and ultimately frustrating for my sports car loving self...Lotus today announced a new model of the Elise, the Elise S.

In place of the previous Elise's 190hp Toyota 1.8l 4-cylinder, the S gets a 134hp version. Before you muscle car fans scoff and lose interest...realize that the Elise weighs less than 2000lbs and this 134hp can push this mid-engine speed machine to 60mph in under 6 seconds.

On top of this, the S comes in about 15% cheaper than the standard Elise.

Okay, now the bad news...currently there is no plan to bring the S to the USA.

Take a trip over to Leftlane News to see a gallery of pics of this new addition:

Leftlane News - 2007 Lotus Elise S

2008 Dodge Caravan spy photos

The folks over at How Bourgeois have done it again. This time, we get a peak at the next Dodge Caravan.

These pictures seem to hold true to previous reports that the new Chrysler vans will be a bit more square in their styling (much like the rest of the lineup).

Oddly, in the profile pic, the interior does not seem to match the square roofline (I can see an interior trim panel through the rear quarter window that has a more curved contour than the square disguise suggests). Maybe a trick my eyes are playing on me - or maybe Dodge is the one playing tricks with their camo.

Expect the vans to officially debut in January at the Detroit autoshow.

See all the pics over at:

How Bourgeois: HB Ride Spotting: People Carriers Rejoice (2008 Dodge Caravan)

Spy shots - GMC Acadia crossover

The third of GM's 3 new lambda crossovers, the GMC Acadia, has made an appearance over at The Car Connection

Lambda, as you may recall, is the new large crossover platform that will underpin the Buick Enclave, the Saturn Outlook, and this GMC Acadia.

The lambdas are very close in size to the GMT900's (Chevy Tahoe, GMC Yukon, Cadillac Escalade) but are equipped, at least initially only with GM's 'high-feature' 3.6l VVT V-6. A small V-8 is expected later down the line in at least the GMC and Buick.

In the pictures at The Car Connection (see the link below) you can see that the GMC will carry some of the same clean, understated lines of the Saturn with significant differences to front styling (and, reports are, interior).

Read all about it at:

The Car Connection - Spy shots: 2008 GMC Acadia

Chevy HHR SS on the way

Winding Road is running spy shots of an obviously turbocharged HHR undergoing testing.

Expect a version of the 260hp turbo, direct-injection Ecotec that will power the Pontiac Solstice GXP and Saturn Sky Red Line.

This may force Chrysler to put the 300hp turbo 2.4l from the upcoming Caliber SRT-4 into the next PT.

Retro wagon horsepower war? Yummy!

See the spy shots at:

Winding Road - HHR SS Spy Photos

Chrysler Sebring convertible to be available in soft and hard-tops

...and no, that doesn't mean that there is going to be a removable hardtop that you'll be able to put on your Sebring. Rumor is that the Sebring will be available in not only a traditional soft-top, but also with retractable hard-top.

Expect the soft-top to be the lower-priced entry (and likely to be the only one you'll see at your local rental company) and the power hard-top will be in higher end models (and compete directly with the new Pontiac G6 hard-top convertible).

Read all about it at Leftlane News:

LLN - Chrysler to offer cloth and hardtop Sebring convertibles

The Car Connection - 2008 Malibu

The Car Connection is running spy photos of what they initially called the next Impala.

Ever since, many sources are correcting their id and claiming that this car is really the next Malibu.

Oddly, this Malibu appears to have a very Saturn Outlook-esque grill design.

I suppose we'll see soon enough.

Check it out at:

The Car Connection - Spy Shots 2008 Chevrolet Impala