Recent Comments:
Now it's (quasi) official: Chevy Beat to U.S. {Autoblog}
Jul 3rd 2008 8:54PM As it says in the article you posted, the Tc was developed from existing platforms, not an all-new platform. That's a lot of time saved.
Add in an all-new platform and an additional 12 months or so of development work isn't unexpected.
Take for instance the Pontiac G8. That was developed to be left-hand drive from the get-go and it's time to market was significantly quicker. I don't know the exact timeframe, but a quick search revealed the car first being announced at auto shows in early 2007 and a year later, here it is.
Regardless of your opinion, GM (or any other automaker) is not dragging their feet to get new products to market. They want them as bad as the consumers do.
GM stock drops below $10 per share {Autoblog}
Jul 3rd 2008 7:53PM Read additionally here, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bankruptcy#In_the_United_States
Also, some well-known, national companies which have seeked Bankruptcy protection in the past(or currently) include Worldcom(MCI), Polaroid, US Airways, Delta Airlines, UAL(parent company of United Air Lines), Owens-Corning, Circuit City, Bed, Bath, and Beyond etc. The majority of those are still around though some may end up being bought out. Very few just dissolve completely though.
GM stock drops below $10 per share {Autoblog}
Jul 3rd 2008 7:38PM If it goes BK, it doesn't mean it will suddenly disappear. Don't get confused.
Not that I think it would be a good thing, but there are many, many companies around which have gone BK and are still around. BK is just a way for a company to restructure their debt or even forgive some of it and allow them to get back on their feet.
Might also make for a good time for them to dump a large majority of the Union jobs remaining and become competitive with the imports again. Woud at least give them a more even-footing, rather than working uphill.
Safety concerns cause NHRA to limit races to 1,000 feet {Autoblog}
Jul 3rd 2008 7:10PM I pretty much agree with the extra 300' statement. I don't know enough of Englishtown to talk about its safety or lack thereof.
The extra 300' wasn't going to do anything to stop Scott. At the speeds they travel, they'd be better off with an extra 1/4 to 1/2 mile runoff. Maybe start converting old runways to 1/4 mile tracks? Yes, they can still hit side walls and explosions will occur, but not having a concrete wall at the end of the track goes a long way towards making sure that something like this won't happen again.
An auto cut-off system, kind of like those used in monster truck racing at arenas would not be a bad idea either as was mentioned by other posters. Something to cut off the fuel and engine(and even deploy the chutes) in case the driver happens to be unconscious.
That said, this would make a good year to go up to the Mile High Nationals. It would be sort of a history-making event, even if it's not the best kind. I don't live far from Denver and I've been wanting to go one of these years, maybe this year will be it.
Now it's (quasi) official: Chevy Beat to U.S. {Autoblog}
Jul 3rd 2008 6:42PM The primary reason for taking 2-3yrs to bring a car to market is due to meeting safety regulations. Not to mention all of the additional time needed for design, engineering etc. that goes into creating a new model.
Even with a vehicle already for sale in other countries, they often aren't US-spec and still require some redesign to meet our specs.
Additionally, finding and/or building new factories to build them in, lining up suppliers and numerous other things have to be done as well.
It's not an overnight type thing no matter what anyone says. Other manufacturers have the same issues.
GM is becoming more global though and is designing many new models to be "Global" cars so that they can be built for any country fairly easily. But again, that still takes time.
Also, regarding Ford devolping the new Focus, which is really just a refresh, Chevy also has the new Cobalt just around the corner as well http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/spy-shots-2010-chevy-cobalt/
So, expect to see that around this time next year. The Cobalt came out as a 2005 model, so a new one in 2010 is about right. I believe the previous Focus came it in '04 or so, so they seem to be following similar model life-cycles.
Lumma releases teaser of CLR X650 BMW X6 {Autoblog}
Jul 3rd 2008 6:20PM I don't really care for the X6 in it's normal stance, but this one looks pretty good actually. Even with the green paint. I agree it looks a bit like a hot hatch, kind of similar to an SRT-4 Caliber.
If I owned one, I'd like it to look like this, but in a different color. Then again, it would defeat the purpose of it's SUV-like qualities, so I'd likely just opt for a 5-series with the same motor. Makes the X6 look 100% better though IMO.
Saudi Arabia to begin pumping on Khurais oil field shortly {Autoblog Green}
Jul 1st 2008 8:13PM @ GoodCheer:
The US happens to be one of those countries that happens to have the oil. We just aren't allowed to get it. It's true that much of it is not as easy(read: cheap) to extract as the oil fields in Saudi Arabia, but at the current prices, it's become economically viable.
Your extrapolation of the amount of oil in the Khurais fields is meaningless. You are making the assumption that it's the only field out there. This is the very reason for continuing to find and develop new oil fields.
Regarding you comment about the field only covering 10% of our imports. So what? If we drilled our own oil, it would be even less than 10%. Wouldn't that make you happier? We'd be less dependent on foreign oil after all.
Tanner Foust sheds light on Top Gear USA in blog interview {Autoblog}
Jul 1st 2008 7:56PM Me either, and I use T9 as well.
Next Volkswagen Polo could get the Scirocco treatment {Autoblog}
Jul 1st 2008 7:40PM @ Xcountryflyer:
They do, and the Polo is actually built in Brazil currently. Being that the Rabbit and Jetta keep getting larger with each iteration, a Polo would slot in nicely under the current MkV Rabbit.
Bring me the Polo GTI and the Polo TDI!
VW 1-liter eco-friendly car set to make a return {Autoblog}
Jul 1st 2008 7:21PM At a time when people are already not buying many cars as it is, I really don't see them going out and buying a 2-seater car that's only good for comuting to work. It's just not a very practical or economical decision. This will be a niche vehicle at best in the US, much like the Honda Insight(also a 2-seater).
Plus, 1L/100km is the optimum mileage(with the 1cyl gas engine as well), except to average worse during a daily commute with a larger engine. Even with the light weight, a 2cyl diesel doesn't sound the most inspiring. Get used to 20sec 0-60 times and being passed by bicyclists.
Likely, peaople will do what they've been doing. They'll keep their current cars and when they decide to buy a new car, they'll go for something a bit more efficient but that can still hold 4-5 people.
That said, the technology in this car will likely trickle down to VW's other offerings making them more fuel-efficient as well. VW is already a leader in Diesel technology and they have the TSI motors which offer diesel-like mileage in a gas-engined package that is cheaper than a diesel engine. The weight-savings and other efficiency techniques and such used here may eventually find their way to your Passat, Jetta, or Rabbit.
