The General

jimpastorius · **Posted:** Tue Jan 08, 2008 8:38 pm

The new Cadillac CTS-V is out.

In all my years, I can not remember a car company introducing so many new models in such a short span of time. And these new models are very, very good cars. In past two years, the Solstice, Silverado, Enclave, CTS, Malibu, ZR1, two-mode and Flex fuel. And we are still waiting on the G8, Camaro and the Volt.

The General is back!

Karl Shultz · **Posted:** Tue Jan 08, 2008 9:41 pm

Alright Jim, I imagine you follow GM. So what gives? Why the sudden turnaround in product quality?

steve remchak · **Posted:** Tue Jan 08, 2008 11:08 pm

my guess would be job security. management appears to be pushing for better quality, the designers are striving for more saleable models that compete with the imports and add into to that the US's trend towards nationalism in politics and things tend to come together.

or not, hell i don't know.

i have read the plant manager in Bowling Green is a real ballbuster.

Arthur McDonald · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 1:54 am **Posts:** 2052

jimpastorius wrote:

And we are still waiting on the ... Camaro ...

Yes we are. How long have they been trotting out prototypes of that? 5 years? I'll believe it when I see one on the street. GM won't release it unless they are sure they can sell a bunch, and sustain sales for a number of years. CAFE goals were just increased, and I just paid $3.13/gallon for regular tonight. Not that any of those things could hinder the product launch

Ash Nelson · **Posted:** Tue Jan 08, 2008 11:56 pm

And here I thought this thread was going to be about the General Lei.

steve remchak · **Posted:** Wed Jan 09, 2008 12:27 am

Arthur McDonald wrote:

jimpastorius wrote:

And we are still waiting on the ... Camaro ...

Yes we are. How long have they been trotting out prototypes of that? 5 years? I'll believe it when I see one on the street. GM won't release it unless they are sure they can sell a bunch, and sustain sales for a number of years. CAFE goals were just increased, and I just paid $3.13/gallon for regular tonight. Not that any of those things could hinder the product launch

i hear some chick named Debby / Jennifer was really hoping they brought back the Camaro.

hey Art, seen the price of diesel these days?

steve remchak · **Posted:** Wed Jan 09, 2008 12:28 am

Ash Nelson wrote:

And here I thought this thread was going to be about the General Lei.

jimpastorius · **Posted:** Wed Jan 09, 2008 9:17 am

Karl Shultz wrote:

Alright Jim, I imagine you follow GM. So what gives? Why the sudden turnaround in product quality?

Desperation? I have always thought General Motors has/had the best engineering in the world. Something got lost between the engineering and the final product. Maybe they finally got smart and put car guys in charge. Hell, the last CEO was a Ray-Ban exec that ran that company into the ground. With Wagner's plan and Lutz's enthusiasm, there is hope.

As for the Camaro, I hope it comes to be. Most of the ones sold will be V6's any ways so the CAFE impact should be minimal. But that might not be too bad, since GM is rocking with their new V6's in the Caddies. Maybe it is a day late. That is still a trend with GM.

I know they have been talking to racers on what is needed to make the Camaro competitive right out of the box.

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Wed Jan 09, 2008 9:44 am

jimpastorius wrote:

I have always thought General Motors has/had the best engineering in the world.

You really have to give them credit on the LS7. For a two-valve head pushrod motor, that engine packs an incredible amount of power into a relatively light and compact package -- easily challenging and/or exceeding the world's best engine designs imo. Couple that with decent efficiency and of course meeting emissions requirements, and to this car guy who turned 16 in the middle of the pitiful (for any car except the Porsche 930) 70's, it is AMAZING.

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

jimpastorius wrote:

The new Cadillac CTS-V is out.

In all my years, I can not remember a car company introducing so many new models in such a short span of time. And these new models are very, very good cars. In past two years, the Solstice, Silverado, Enclave, CTS, Malibu, ZR1, two-mode and Flex fuel. And we are still waiting on the G8, Camaro and the Volt.

The General is back!

Well, after Michael Bay's Transformers movie/2.5 hour-long GM commercial, what did you expect?

David Spratte · **Posted:** Wed Jan 09, 2008 2:27 pm

Disclaimer: I like the CTS-V.

But damn, if there isn't something about this one that reminds me of body kits you see on Civics.

Ryan Storzbach · **Posted:** Wed Jan 09, 2008 9:20 pm

GM is kicking butt right now!

Matthew Fortner · **Joined:** Sun Mar 21, 2004 12:21 am **Posts:** 384

GM has momentum. You'll know they will have tuned a major corner when folks are seeking out their USED cars. I be tempted by a Solstice GXP in coupe form.

Matt McGrain · **Posted:** Thu Jan 10, 2008 9:08 am

Chuck Branscomb wrote:

jimpastorius wrote:

I have always thought General Motors has/had the best engineering in the world.

You really have to give them credit on the LS7. For a two-valve head pushrod motor, that engine packs an incredible amount of power into a relatively light and compact package -- easily challenging and/or exceeding the world's best engine designs imo. Couple that with decent efficiency and of course meeting emissions requirements, and to this car guy who turned 16 in the middle of the pitiful (for any car except the Porsche 930) 70's, it is AMAZING.

Don't forget the new "Blue Devil" LS9. Wow!

Fast Cool Cars 2008 - 2009 Corvette SS - Blue Devil - Stingray

The supercharged LS9 V8 will utilize an integrated intake manifold intercooler, and it’s expected to run 0-100 in under 3.5 seconds. The super-hot SS will weigh even less than the Z06, utilizing more carbon fiber in the body, as well as polycarbonate material. If the thought of the new 500-hp Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang hedging in on the 505-hp Corvette Z06's territory raises your blood pressure, don't despair: Corvette chief engineer Tom Wallace has a 650-hp trick up his sleeve. A new super Corvette will build on the Z06's 7.0-liter LS7 V-8 that was developed in sync with the Corvette C6.R Le Mans racer. For this limited-production Vette, which might be called the Z07, Chevy may increase the LS7's displacement and bolt on a supercharger to bump output by 145 hp. The Z07, due in 2008, will be further differentiated from the Z06 by the use of more carbon-fiber body panels and a huge hood vent aimed at killing front-end lift. In true Corvette style, Chevy will undercut competitors by pricing the Z07 at about $100,000. This Corvette has been known within GM as the Blue Devil, after the mascot of GM CEO Rick Wagoner's alma mater, Duke, and also as the Sting Ray, but we think they'll go with Z07, or maybe Z06.R.

Chuck Frank · **Posted:** Thu Jan 10, 2008 10:41 am

Mark my words: there's more to come!
I know I'm going to get flamed again, but you HAVE to be impressed with the engineering on the Ecotec 4, easy 260 HP 260ft# torque from 2.0 L with a 100K warantee. They already have a ECU upgrade available thru GMPP that brings it up to 300 HP without losing the warantee. Since NASCAR racecars have no connection to what is in the showrooms, GM has turned to SCCA for their win today sell tomorrow emphasis.

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