GM was doing good...

Mosca said:
Chevrolet's first shot will be the Cobalt. Look for it to be every bit as good as the Civic and Corolla.





Tom
Click to expand...



It is very good. As good as the Civic and Corolla? You bet. I enjoyed my short test drive. It was a fun little car.



I don't know if I would buy one, though. Resale value isn't going to be anything great with these smaller cars, but the Cobalt will probably be the worst of the three.



My point with the V8 statement is this: GM has done a bad job at mimicking other companies. Almost every minivan has been revamped in the 3 years. Honda redid their van that wasn't even slowing in sales. Chrysler redid their minivan to be more in line with the Honda and gave it some very good firsts. Toyota and Nissan redid their minivans which, although the Nissan is one ugly car, are a ton better then the models they replace. GM and Ford meet this new competition by doing cheap revamps and giving them new names. All this to products that weren't even competitive in the market before all the others upped the ante.



And that story seems to be holding true for the Impala. Chrysler introduces new big cars. NEW big cars. New big cars that make buyers happy to own. GM makes a car that promises to be just as good as the previous version, but adds a v8 because the Chrysler has a V8 option. I don't know anybody that owns a current Impala and is proud to own one. It's just a car to them.



Even Ford has shown that their once beloved Taurus wasn't going to work for them anymore. Inside and out the Five Hundred is a very good vehicle and it doesn't need a big engine to be good. I look forward to the day when Ford and Chrysler rival any other brand in the world, and I can't say that for GM because they seem to be stodgy with their ambition.



It's disappointing since GM has introduced some very good products in the past few years (in no order):

CTS

STS

SRX

XLR

Equinox

Malibu/Malibu Maxx

Cobalt

G6

Canyon/Colorado

C6



But they have a very long way to go. :nixweiss
 
its just disheartening to even ponder....



I do think the cobalt supercharged ss will be hot. An excellent use of fwd/power/economy.
 
But why buy the supercharged Cobalt when you could have a GTO for $22,000! At least that's what was in the paper.



They really need to make cars desireable at the original MSRP.



And I do believe the Cobalt SS should have been turbocharged but that's just me :)
 
How about saving up a couple of grand more and getting a 2-3 year old 350Z off lease!



The Cobalt SS will probably be a good car but by then, Mazda will probably have the Mazda 3 speed out. Couple that with the Dodge and you have a very fiercely competitive market with the Mazda and Dodge probably winning out.



Too little too late for GM. Strange because they used to be very good at beating the competition to the punch.
 
I'm not even going to comment on the Neon replacement and upcoming Civic. I have high hopes for the Neon replacement.



The Civic replacement well, blegh. I don't care. haha
 
paco said:
Too little too late for GM. Strange because they used to be very good at beating the competition to the punch.
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Yes, it seems that GM has become a follower, not a leader, except for Cadillac. Having said that, I love the CTS, but even I have trouble telling a CTS from an STS when I pass one on the road. Having family traits in each division is one thing, but when you can't tell the models apart...maybe Lutz will help (and they *are* coming out with that retractable hardtop G6).



PS Before you Chevy guys jump all over me, I am a GM guy, have owned nothing but GM for the last 20+ years (er...except for that addition that's in the garage...but I'm holding that for a friend :rolleyes:, and besides, it would have been a GM if they still made any hatchbacks).
 
Setec Astronomy said:
I am a GM guy, have owned nothing but GM for the last 20+ years
Click to expand...



So have I, but I love cars#1, excellent design #2, and then GM. GM used to excel in those areas. Sadly, that isn't the case today. And.... I feel that it is ALL of GM.
 
Corey Bit Spank said:
But why buy the supercharged Cobalt when you could have a GTO for $22,000! At least that's what was in the paper.
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yeah i heard the GTOs weren't selling so well, you might be able to talk a sales person to giving it to you for cheap.



and GM is so way behind! :D well, there is no perfect car company that can give a whole line up of cars that everybody will love, and that is more true when the company is trying to appeal to the mass market.
 
This is kind of nice, actually...

5.jpg


http://www.maximum-cars.com/Cars/Car.php?carnumber=715









Click for more Pictures











Click to Read More





Saturn Aura Showcases Styling Direction for Future Saturn Vehicles



DETROIT â€â€œ With its European-influenced exterior and fun-to-drive character, the Saturn Aura concept provides a clear preview of how the Saturn design element can be applied to a sporty medium sedan.



âہ“The Aura is a sneak peak at a new generation of emotionally compelling Saturn vehicles,â€Â� said Jill Lajdziak, Saturn general manager. âہ“It's the kind of vehicle that perfectly supports Saturn's firm commitment to provide great customer service combined with equally outstanding vehicles.â€Â�



The new face of Saturn



The exterior styling of the Saturn Aura is fluid, muscular and powerful, with European design cues and a sense of technical harmony.



âہ“As is the case with the Saturn Sky, Aura features sculpted surfaces and flowing horizontal lines, creating a dynamic feel â€â€œ a sense of power about to be unleashed,â€Â� said Clay Dean, GM director of vehicle design.



Up front, the sedan features bold p rojector-beam trapezoidal headlamps flanked by a new rendition of the Saturn chrome bar, which features the division's logo displayed more prominently. The front fascia has a distinctive mesh grille and circular fog lamps. Horizontal hood extractors punctuate the concept's styling up front, while also helping to cool the engine compartment.



The Saturn Aura's profile is also muscular and powerful, with 19-inch, polished alloy wheels pushed to the corners, resulting in short overhangs. Accenting the wheels and low-profile Z-rated tires are muscular wheel flares, along with side rockers with rearward-swept feature lines and a high belt line. Side markers reflect the vehicle's European influence.



At the rear of the vehicle, the jewel-like LED taillamps contribute to the vehicle's four-corner lighting design. Other key styling elements include the rear fascia, with a trapezoidal central exhaust, chrome bar and rear spoiler.



âہ“The Saturn Aura epitomizes GM's global design approach to brand revitalization. Seven GM Design studios from around the world used technology that allowed them to contribute to product designs that will make up Saturn's new portfolio. The result is seamless connectivity between the exterior and interior,â€Â� Dean added.



Inviting, comfortable and spacious interior



âہ“The interior of the Saturn Aura reflects our vision of future Saturn vehicles, combining sophisticated elegance with plenty of passenger comfort. The highly refined details in this concept convey a sense of craftsmanship and affluence,â€Â� said Dave Rand, GM executive director of interiors.



The Saturn Aura features a long wheelbase that â€â€œ in addition to providing a comfortable, smooth ride â€â€œ delivers a great deal of passenger room, especially in the rear seat. The vehicle's interior roominess is heightened by the large windshield â€â€œ a result of the steeply raked A-pillar â€â€œ and the p anoramic roof, which features four sliding glass panels to create a convertible-style open-air driving experience.



Rustica leather seats provide firm and supportive comfort and are designed to resemble expensive furniture. To further accentuate its upscale character and enhance tactile feel, the door insert, seat insert, shift knob and steering wheel are all suffused in the same Rustica leather.



The Saturn logo medallion on the steering wheel, the instrument cluster, the center vent and the window and door switches are all backlit. This concept vehicle also features theater dimming, ambient overhead lighting and illuminated door handles.



Metal to the pedals



âہ“The Saturn Aura is a modern interpretation of luxury,â€Â� Rand said. âہ“For the interior, we made extensive use of metallic accents that complement the leather to enhance the upscale feel of the environment.â€Â�



Chrome sill plates with the Saturn logo, light titanium-finished knobs and buttons for the heating and cooling system, radio and on the door panels convey a sense of luxurious precision. A metallic overlay is also incorporated into the brake and accelerator pedals.



Further accentuating this vehicle's modern character is the instrument panel center stack, which features an o range cluster ring that encircles all three gauges.



Sporty character



Backing up the sporty appearance of this vehicle is a 250-horsepower 3.6L DOHC V-6 engine with variable valve timing. It's mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with manual tap up/tap down shift controls. Safety performance is provided by roof rail-mounted head curtain side-impact air bags, side-impact thorax air bags, four-wheel ABS with traction control and StabiliTrak, GM's electronic stability control system.



The Aura also features OnStar's Gen 6.1 system. With 3 million subscribers, OnStar is the nation's leading provider of in-vehicle safety, security and information services using the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite network and wireless technologies. With Gen 6.1, GM OnStar subscribers can interact with OnStar's voice recognition system in Spanish, French or English. With the push of a button an OnStar advisor can change the system to allow the subscriber to interact with the system in their preferred language. Other core OnStar services are stolen vehicle location assistance, remote door unlock, roadside assistance, emergency services and automatic crash notification.



GM is the only automotive manufacturer committed to offering a full range of vehicles with safety protection before, during and after a collision. All OnStar-equipped vehicles come with Automatic Crash Notification. If air bags deploy, the system sends a signal to a highly trained OnStar Emergency Advisor, who contacts the vehicle to see if help is needed, and can contact an emergency responder to send for help. In many cases the occupants are severely injured and cannot speak for themselves. OnStar's GPS unit allows Advisors to tell emergency responders the vehicle's location. OnStar responds to at least one air bag deployment in the US or Canada every hour.



Additionally, the Aura features the GM-exclusive Advanced Automatic Crash Notification system. The AACN system detects collisions, even rollovers, regardless of whether air bags deploy. AACN also transmits other crash data, such as the direction of impact force, the number of and which air bags deployed and the maximum change of impact velocity, so that emergency responders are more prepared with this critical information before they arrive at the accident scene.



âہ“From their introduction, Saturn vehicles have garnered a reputation for being fun to drive, as well as being safe to drive,â€Â� said Lajdziak. âہ“The Saturn Aura takes the qualities Saturn is known for up a few notches and combines them in a sophisticated, great-looking package.â€Â�

Link





Well we'll see about that, but the interior looks very nice.
 
http://www.maximum-cars.com/Cars/Car.php?carnumber=714









Click for more Pictures





Click to Read More



Saturn Unveils Sky Roadster



DETROIT â€â€œ With its dynamic design and quick and agile performance, the Sky roadster delivers a bold message about the next generation of vehicles from Saturn.



The Sky, introduced at the North American International Auto Show and slated for production in 2006, is the first vehicle to feature a new look that will influence Saturn's entire future product lineup. The roadster will be followed by a new midsize sedan and a large crossover SUV as Saturn's product portfolio doubles during the next 24 months.



âہ“Building on its accomplishments in customer sales and service satisfaction, Saturn is introducing a bold new product design to our vehicles,â€Â� said Saturn General Manager Jill Lajdziak. âہ“For Saturn, the Sky is not the limit. It's only the beginning.â€Â�



Starting price for the Sky is expected to be less than $25,000. It will be built at GM's Wilmington , Del. , assembly facility.



Technical harmony



The Sky roadster was inspired by the Vauxhall VX Lightning Concept â€â€œ created at GM's Advanced Design Studio in Birmingham , England â€â€œ signaling the adoption of an international design language for Saturn.



âہ“The Sky's exterior conveys a sense of technical harmony, combining taut, controlled lines with fluid surfaces to create a dynamic feeling,â€Â� said Ed Welburn, vice president of Design for GM North America . âہ“The vehicle's strong front end is the new face of Saturn, with a pronounced fender peak and a bold, chrome bar that carries an integrated Saturn badge.â€Â�



The Sky's design also features a wide stance with short overhangs and 18-inch wheels pushed to the corners. The convertible top folds completely into the rear compartment and the clamshell hood provides excellent accessibility and reinforces the sports car aura. Projector halogen low beams and reflector optic halogen high beam headlamps extend the exterior's sophisticated look.



The design philosophy is carried through to the interior, which is driver-focused with integrated controls and displays. Creative use of piano black and chrome finishes combine with available leather seats and technical grains to emphasize richness and precision. Jewel-like detailing on the HVAC and lighting controls is executed with tight fits, highlighting the attention to detail.



Roadster performance



The Sky also has the hardware to back up its bold styling. It is equipped with a 2.4L, 170-horsepower Ecotec engine with variable valve timing and a five-speed Aisin manual transmission with a short throw shifter. A five-speed automatic will be optional.



âہ“The Sky's performance matches its impressive styling,â€Â� said Lori Queen, vehicle line executive for GM's small cars. âہ“Powertrain, suspension and handling components were carefully selected to provide quick and agile performance.â€Â�



Other technical highlights include: Four-wheel independent short/long arm suspension for optimal handling and stability



* Coil-over Bilstein monotube shocks for excellent wheel control and road isolation

* Hydraulically assisted rack- and-pinion power steering for quick, responsive vehicle control

* Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS for excellent stopping performance

* Wide track width for excellent stability and superior handling

* Near 50/50 weight distribution for balanced handling feel

* Structural tunnel design and hydroformed longitudinal rails for a stiff body that results in greater vehicle responsiveness and better overall feel

* Hydraulic engine mounts for a smoother engine feel



OnStar



With 3 million subscribers, OnStar is the nation's leading provider of in-vehicle safety, security and information services using the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite network and wireless technologies. The 2006 Sky will offer OnStar. Sky owners can interact with OnStar's voice recognition system in Spanish, French or English. With the push of a button an OnStar advisor can change the system to allow the subscriber to interact with the system in their preferred language. Other core OnStar services are stolen vehicle location assistance, remote door unlock, roadside assistance, emergency services and automatic crash notification.



GM is the only automotive manufacturer committed to offering a full range of vehicles with safety protection before, during and after a collision. All OnStar-equipped vehicles come with Automatic Crash Notification. If air bags deploy, the system sends a signal to a highly trained OnStar Emergency Advisor, who contacts the vehicle to see if help is needed, and can contact an emergency responder to send for help. In many cases the occupants are severely injured and cannot speak for themselves. OnStar's GPS unit allows Advisors to tell emergency responders the vehicle's location. OnStar responds to at least one air bag deployment in the US or Canada every hour.



Additionally, the Sky will offer the GM-exclusive Advanced Automatic Crash Notification system. The AACN system detects collisions, even rollovers, regardless of whether air bags deploy. AACN also transmits other crash data, such as the direction of impact force, the number of and which air bags deployed and the maximum change of impact velocity, so that emergency responders are more prepared with this critical information before they arrive at the accident scene.



Link



See, now, I don't know what GM is doing since this looks like a very promising car.
 
Why ruin the Corvette with a Saturn badge + different front end?



I must say I have seen a few Ion RedLines around here and I like the styling a lot. I've never driven one but I would like to...I bet it would be a fun car.
 
That's not a Corvette. That's a Solstice under there. And anybody that has seen the production version of that car knows it is uglier then the Saturn version, lol.



The Saturn version looks really good.
 
What is with GM designers? With the exception of Cadillacs, their sedans are cheap looking with equally cheap looking/feeling interiors. Why is it other manufacturers can implement simple elegance in design and use quality materials but GM can't?
 
I had eagerly awaited the G6, in the hopes of trading in my Pontiac on a somewhat smaller Pontiac, but the interior seemed cheap to me...not to mention the console stack is identical to the Malibu...except without the option of auto climate control the Malibu has...
 
Yeah, I really don't like any American cars. Can't think of any at the moment that are exciting, desireable, dream-car status. Those Saturns are a step up though...are they production vehicles? Vipers and Corvettes...OVERRATED!!!!!! Porsche 911...beautiful. Just my opinion,
 
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