I should clarify my point.

I agree with you. I was simply pissed at everyone slamming GM engineering saying it's shoddy when it really isn't.

As to the comment about GM not wanting to do more R&D, keep in mind R&D costs get passed along to the consumer and considering GM just got done dumping millions upon millions into the Zeta platform while trying to keep vehicles at a target price then having this dumped on them it will make life for them difficult. It's not like GM consumers are ready to absorb all that price increase. They'll go to Hyundai. GM is a tanker, they can't just change their corporate strategy on a dime.

 

FYI, that picture was bullshit. that damage was from things they produced many years ago.

 

The title of this thread cracks me up!

 

This news really concerns me. RWD cars are very import to some of GM's NA brands, and this new wrinkle must be corrected. Buick just released it's new Park Avenue flaship for the Chinese market, where the Marque has all of the luxury luster and prestige they once had here. This car is the size of the LS460/S/7/A8, and looks to be a viable competitor to them. The interior is goregous, and true luxury. The exterior wasn't change alot from the Holden Statesman from which it was based, but it's okay because there aren't any other versions in that market, making it totally unique to the Chinese consumer. This is a car that needs to come here and slot above the Lucerne; now, who knows? Again, this IS NOT a concept; it's a production Buick that just debuted in China.

 

In China, GM has done well earlier this decade and the Buick brand is attracting many young buyers (quite contrary to the situation in the U.S.) - that goes to show you it's not bad to start with a clean sheet at new place. (VW has been in China for decades and many taxis are based on VW cars, hence the image of the brand there isn't quite nice as in the U.S.)

Now the competition there is really fierce, Hyundai is making a killing, and local manufacturers make very affordable cars. Still, for GM the prospects looks better. I guess you really have to blame the contracts with the unions.

 

wow that buick up there is pretty hot

 

That is a damn nice buick.

CLpower, I'll retract my statement about the Nickel plant then, I didn't look it up to verify ... most of the bullshit threads on here are called out pretty quickly by the members so I assumed it was true. With that said, the Prius still isn't as green as it boasts and as I mentioned before it still not what the majority of the American public and especially not the enthusiasts are looking for...

http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2...mileage_1.html

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news0...idwatch01.html

So if a car like the Prius, light underpowered, boring, can barely hit the 34 mpg driving what chance does a car that we actually want to drive have. So I still stand by my comment that if I was Lutz, I would be pissed too.

 

Damn first build I would actually ever drive.

 

GM is bluffing...

 

I'm ready for Hi powered battery based vehicles. I've seen a few on some car shows that are really exciting to see in action.

 

Pure horse

My E350 does 25/30+

 

Whatever man, I'm just quoting the figures. Look it up online. Besides the government doesn't give a rats ass about the numbers one person in the whole country was able to obtain. They care about what is posted on the window sticker.

 

G8 is safe

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=120407

 

thank GOD.

 

Ditto

 

that sucks...

 

I wonder if, seeing this, Honda will decide not to make the next RL RWD.

At least the G8 is safe, that car will be badass from the enthusiast's standpoint.

 

can we change the title to "GM to kill GM" ?

 

I'm still trying to figure out how having a FWD car vs. a RWD car affects gas mileage...

If you put the same motor in 2 cars that weigh the same and the only difference is that one is FWD and the other is RWD I would think both should get about the same gas mileage...

Only difference I can see if that the driveshaft on a RWD car is longer and maybe there are more losses in a RWD rear end

Doesn't seem to me that it would make that much of a difference...

"Trouble is that rear-wheel-drive cars are bigger, heavier and thirstier than front-wheel-drive vehicles."

So don't make 'em bigger, heavier and thirstier... There's nothing wrong with the fuel economy of the S2K and it's RWD.

 

There is no difference. A RWD and FWD car lose the same amount of parasitic hp to the wheels.

Now if he is talking about packaging then I understand what he is saying. Like you mentioned, FWD packaging is more efficient and could lead to a smaller/lighter car.

 

Not GMs fault. As usual the gov mandated CAFEs are interferring with the free market.....first we cannot drill where we need to and then they force feed us CAFE driven cars nobody wants....please no oil companies hold the secrets to high mileage cars comments....at least the H/A fwd cars are a pretty good ride for fwd....