Domestic Auto Industry

[FangKC]

Yeah. That.

[FangKC]

The new hybrid Chevrolet Malibu is manufactured locally by Kansas Citians in the GM Fairfax Plant.

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http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sed ... et_malibu/

First Look: 2008 Chevrolet Malibu

Why it's the most important new Chevy sedan in decades

Meet the poster-child for the age-old automotive truth that good design doesn't cost any more than bad design. While we're still trying to get over how much Saturn's styling has improved, Chevrolet replaces the Malibu with a car that makes segment-leader Camry and the just-launched Accord look decidedly lumpen.

The 2008 Malibu sweeps out all those ungainly 2007 Malibus and Maxxes in November with a car on the Maxx's longer, 112.3-inch-wheelbase, a mild-hybrid version, and more emphasis placed on the four-cylinder engine-a 164-horsepower, 2.4-liter Ecotec. This is the latest iteration of the Epsilon platform and also of GM's interior design and quality improvement program. The preproduction interiors don't quite match the "wow" factor of the Detroit show Malibu concept's interior, but final judgment should be reserved for a full production drive.

The top-shelf LTZ (others are LS and LT) shown had the two-tone dash and leather seats of the concept, but its combo of thin chrome accents, brushed-chrome center stack accent, and woodgrain is a bit much, especially in a brown-and-beige two-tone. Other color combos might work better, and chrome accents with no woodgrain actually looks clean, if stark.

Interior door panels are designed as the reverse of the Toyota Camry's (GM thoughtfully provided examples of our 2007 Car of the Year for comparison), with the upper part of the door panels thinly padded in the Malibu, and the lower part, where you put your elbow, in thin, hard plastic. The flocked, padded lower panels in the Camry look and feel richer. But the Malibu is good enough, and expressive enough inside and out (we're restricted by embargo from talking about dynamics), to be a credible competitor for the Camry.

You can drive a Saturn Aura today, though, and have a good idea of what the handsome new Malibu is like. Differences? The four-banger Malibu launches with a four-speed automatic, but graduates to a six-speed auto (as in the V-6) when production ramps up early next year. But the Aura will get this and other improvements -- the Ecotec four, for one -- for 2008, too. The biggest difference is that the Malibu is tuned for a slightly less-stiff ride, making the Chevy more mainstream, like non-SE Camrys, while the Aura retains its sport-sedan pretensions.

More important than anything is what Malibu can do for the Impala. Chevy sold 290,000 front-drive Impalas and 164,000 Malibus last year. If it can reverse those numbers, there's a better business case for a RWD Impala.

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2008 Chevrolet Malibu 
Base Price  $20,000 (est) 
Drivetrain  Front engine, FWD 
Engines  2.4L/164-hp/159-lb-ft DOHC I-4; same I-4 plus 5-hp elec motor; 3.6L/252-hp/251-lb-ft DOHC V-6 
Transmissions  4-speed auto; 6-speed auto 
Curb Weight  3450-3650 lb 
Wheelbase  112.3 in 
Length x Width x Height  191.8 x 70.3 x 57.1 in 
EPA City/HWY Econ  17-24/26-32 mpg 
CO2 Emissions  0.72-0.96 LB/MI 

[anniewarbucks]

Sharp. Really sharp.

[KC0KEK]

Uninspired, me-too design, inside and out.

[Tosspot]

Uninspired, me-too design, inside and out.

As are all Chevy passenger cars.

I like their trucks and SUVs though.

[FangKC]

Well, that said, it's a much better looking Malibu than it has been in the past.  Motor Trend was reflecting mostly on the vast improvements made over former models, and the significant thing is they believe it can compete with Honda and Toyota models.

Besides, the new Camry is nothing to get giddy over either.

[KC0KEK]

As are all Chevy passenger cars.

Exactly. A few years ago, some reviewer described the front end of their cars as a "surprised salamander" look.

Does it really cost that much more to come up with designs such as, say, the Infiniti G35?

[KC0KEK]

Besides, the new Camry is nothing to get giddy over either.

Which is why this is a missed opportunity for Chevy (or Ford or Chrysler) to crank out a gotta-have-it design.

[FangKC]

According to Motor Trend, it apparently doesn't cost more to come up with a good design.

The problem with General Motor's design for a long time has been their conservative nature and only designing  bland cars that don't put anyone off. Problem is, a lot of people want a stylish car.

There have been some exceptions like the HHR small truck/van crossover, the new Camaro, and the Saturn Aura.  The new Pontiac G8 looks pretty nice too.  The Cadillac XLR, Pontiac Solstice, and Saturn Sky are the best looking GM  products in years.

http://forum.kcrag.com/index.php/topic, ... #msg274386

The Impala looks better now than it has in many years.  Especially since those horrible ones from the early 1990s.

The worst has to have been the Pontiac Aztec.  Horrible.

[FangKC]

Scoop! Return of the Chevrolet Sting Ray!
Chevrolet considers a V-6 Kappa and its name might be Sting Ray

http://www.motortrend.com/future/concep ... sting_ray/

By Todd Lassa
Art By Mark Stehrenberger
Motor Trend

GM is seriously considering building a V-6 version of its Kappa sports car (aka Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky). But the scuttlebutt around Motown is that this version would get an all-new body, a Chevy badge, and one of the most iconic names in the GM sports-car pantheon--Sting Ray. It would be positioned as a muscular, entry-level Chevy sports car priced under the current Corvette range, but above the higher-end Pontiac and Saturn models. Given the enduring success of the Corvette, the Sting Ray plan seems plausible--and profitable.



Insiders report V-6-powered Kappa mules wearing Pontiac Solstice sheetmetal are already running around GM test facilities, even though the Sting Ray program has yet to be given official approval from GM brass. The V-6s Chevy is playing with are the 3.9-liter pushrod motor used in the Malibu SS and the high-feature 3.6-liter in the Cadillac CTS. The 3.9 is rated at 240 horses, a number that equals the expected horsepower under the hoods of the coming 2.2-liter turbo 2007 Solstice and Sky, but with much better low-end torque. The 3.6 is rated at 255 horses in the CTS and would seem the right engine to beat the BMW Z4's 225-horse inline-six. The twin overhead cams in the high-feature engine would require a bulge in the Sting Ray's hood.

Compete with BMW? Yes, like the Corvette, the Sting Ray would transcend GM's old divisional order. If it gets the green light, it'll be a well-equipped, high-spec model, priced far above the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky. Both those cars will remain four-cylinder only, although the 2008 Pontiac Solstice coupe also will come with a V-6, which helps the Chevy's business case, as it means some development and certification costs can be shared.

The Sting Ray mule comes along just as GM has confirmed a third sports car off the Kappa, a 2007 Opel/Vauxhall GT to be imported from the U.S. to Europe. That car launches only after the debut of the Saturn Sky late this spring and shares its styling. The Opel GT will probably get just one of the two engines to be offered in Solstice/ Sky--either the 170-horse, 2.4-liter Ecotec four or the 240-horse, 2.2-liter turbo, but not both.

The Sting Ray makes sense. Adding a division (or changing divisions) for a platform certainly is more novel than offering special-edition packages with leather-covered shift knobs.

The unique Sting Ray styling, a V-6 engine, and high content also could come along just as everyone who wants a Solstice or Sky has already bought one. Throw in 1950s-1960s Corvette styling cues and an attitude that doesn't try to hide the fact that this is an American-style sports car, and it could be a winner. One other factor in the Sting Ray's favor: GM's new Corvette chief, Tom Wallace, also is in charge of the Kappa cars.

[FangKC]

Saturn Aura


2008 Pontiac G8



Chevy HHR



Chevy Camaro





Possible designs for the 2009-10 Chevrolet Impala

[shinatoo]

Exactly. A few years ago, some reviewer described the front end of their cars as a "surprised salamander" look.

Does it really cost that much more to come up with designs such as, say, the Infiniti G35?

good that you asked that question of Infiniti, since they, and all the other Asia sedans and sports cars are rip offs offs German designs. I don't know how many time people have told me my Porsche 928 looks like a Nissan 300 ZX when it's really the other way around.

[KC0KEK]

Maybe U.S. automakers should try ripping off Japanese or German designs.

The Chevy HHR looks like a rip-off of the PT Cruiser.

[FangKC]

The Ad Campaign You Can't Ignore: Chevy Malibu

* Marketing Effort Will Prove All-New Malibu Competes With Accord, Camry;
* Features Biggest One-Day Digital Takeover Ever by a Marketer

DETROIT - When the all-new 2008 Chevrolet Malibu begins rolling into dealer showrooms on Nov. 1, Americans should already be aware that Chevy is back in the car business with a serious competitor in the mid-size segment, thanks to a massive advertising and promotional campaign that kicks off Oct. 17.

This integrated marketing push -- the latest in Chevrolet's "American Revolution" campaign -- will launch with an unprecedented one-day digital takeover of the leading online portals and automotive, sports and lifestyle Web sites. Malibu advertising will dominate broadcast and online coverage of the Major League Baseball 2007 League Championships and World Series, as well as other programming on primetime network and cable television. It will also feature prominently in out-of-home and print media, including USA Today and automotive enthusiast magazines.

"We are introducing the all-new Malibu to America with a 'no stone left unturned' marketing effort. We want the entire country to know that this car, which is designed to be the best in the mid-size segment, is coming, and that it has bulletproof quality, coupled with beautiful interior and exterior design," said Ed Peper, Chevrolet General Manager. " Malibu has the look, feel and content of a $40,000 car but it costs less than half that amount. It truly will be the car you can't ignore."

The Malibu campaign will launch in three sequential phases. The first phase will involve an intense, unavoidable burst of activity aimed to get the all-new Malibu on consumers' radar screens and begin to open their minds to the fact that the Malibu is a true contender. The second phase will take a methodical approach to build credibility about the Malibu's competitiveness using third-party endorsements. The third phase will emotionally engage consumers and deliver the proof of why Malibu is the car Americans can't ignore.

"The Malibu campaign is not a one-day wonder. It will be a sustained, disciplined marketing effort to tell America about the all-new Malibu," said Kim Kosak, general director, Chevrolet advertising and sales promotion. "We know we face a big challenge because Malibu is going up against strong competitors like Accord and Camry. But we know we have a great product, a strong media plan, and a creative advertising and promotional campaign to tell our story. We're confident we can get the new Malibu on people's shopping lists."

Kosak noted that although the marketing campaign for the all-new Malibu is massive, it's not a mass-market approach. She also revealed that there will be specific efforts to communicate with women, Hispanics and African Americans about the all-new Malibu, as well as to consumers in targeted geographic markets around the country.

"The all-new Malibu is the most-researched car in Chevy's history, and our marketing campaign is also the most-researched plan we've ever developed," Kosak said. "We know who the Malibu's target buyers are, and we have designed customized media plans for all of them to connect with them in a targeted way."

Created by Campbell-Ewald, the campaign will include messages about the Malibu's quality, reliability and durability; the highly designed interior and exterior; its quietness and safety features; and the hybrid version, which will be the most-affordable in the midsize segment.

"The Malibu target audience is deeply entrenched in their beliefs. They are highly skeptical of anyone's ability to compete with Camry and Accord," said Bill Ludwig, vice chairman, chief creative officer at Campbell-Ewald. "This campaign is designed to shock their systems, attack their beliefs and debunk myths. We want them to start out skeptical and end up wowed. The great thing is, we have the product to do that."

About Chevrolet

Chevrolet, a division of General Motors Corp. (NYSE:GM), is one of America's best-known and best-selling automotive brands. With the largest dealer network in the United States, Chevy is the leader in full-size trucks and the leader in sales of vehicles priced $35,000 and above. Chevy delivers expressive design, spirited performance and great value with standard features usually found only on more expensive vehicles. For more information please visit www.chevrolet.com.

[KCAppraiser]

I really like that Impala design.  Make it rear wheel drive coupled with one of the newer DI engines and they could really have something.  GM has been doing better in design lately and the new cars that are scheduled to come out are even better.  I do think that they have a great opportunity to take away some sales from the Camry and Accord.  The Camry is completely anonymous and the new supersized Accord was completely phoned in (except fot the coupe) and more expensive.  And with the 5yr 100000 mile transferrable warranty GM is showing some signs of life.  Now if they would just build something that I would drive.

[FangKC]

Posted on Tue, Oct. 16, 2007

U.S. automakers renew small car efforts
By TOM KRISHER
AP Auto Writer

U.S. automakers pretty much ceded the small car market to the Japanese during the past decade. Now, with consumers shifting toward more gas-thrifty models and the realization that a strong compact brings buyers to their brand, Detroit is trying to make yet another comeback.

The revamped Ford Focus is now making its way to showrooms. Early next year, General Motors Corp. will show a glimpse into its future small cars when it sends the Saturn Astra to dealerships, and more compacts are on the way.



Industry analysts say the improved offerings are much better than the chintzy small cars of the past, but Detroit still has a long way to go to unseat the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic, which together control almost 30 percent of the small car market. Foreign nameplates have 76 percent of the U.S. small car market.

"It's a segment that we've been out of, so we need to have really good products in it," Ford Motor Co. Chief Executive Alan Mulally told The Associated Press in a recent interview.

Mulally, who just began his second year leading Ford after being hired away from aviation giant Boeing Co., said his five adult children are a perfect example of Ford's challenges in the compact market.

"We missed a whole generation of Ford products," he said. "We knew the trucks and the SUVs, No. 1 in the world, but they grew up with Civics and Accords."

His children, he said, love the new Ford vehicles, but the company has some huge challenges getting people to believe it's making quality cars again.

"The thing is consideration and awareness that we even have them," Mulally said.

Ford and GM research shows that small-car buyers will no longer tolerate flimsy seats, cheap plastic dashboards, noisy engines and bumpy rides. They also want sleek body styles and performance comparable to larger cars - all in a fuel-efficient package.



"People who go into a small car want expressive design and they want a level of refinement in the interior," said Jill Lajdziak, Saturn general manager. "We've got to make sure that our small cars are delivering what they want. They don't want to compromise."

The Focus, a refined version of the old car that debuted in 1999, is quieter, faster and more efficient than its predecessor. It and the Astra have interiors that rival larger luxury cars, and the Focus is the first car to get "Sync," a Microsoft Corp. system that allows people to control phones and personal music players with voice commands.

But the coming generation of Detroit's small cars still will have a tough time breaking into the market controlled by the Civic and Corolla.

The new Focus, while vastly improved, looks like the tired old model, said Erich Merkle, vice president of auto industry forecasting for consulting company IRN Inc. in Grand Rapids.

"There's a tremendous level of refinement in the new Focus," Merkle said. "I just don't think the sheet metal does it justice. It doesn't look different enough from the predecessor to get people to see that it's different from the other car."

The Astra, essentially the same car as Europe's successful Opel Astra, will come in three- and five-door models in the U.S. It probably will be priced as a premium small car and its volume will be limited here, so it won't cut into Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. sales that much, Merkle said.

While the domestics race to put out better compacts, Toyota isn't standing still. A new version of the top-selling Corolla is coming early next year.

Toyota won't comment on future products, but Ryan Miller, its small car product manager, said the company expects to keep its share of the market with the new Corolla by building on its heritage of quality and reliability.

The domestics' new offerings will have increased safety features such as six standard air bags, something that Toyota is watching, he said.

"There's always areas for improvement," Miller said. "We have reviewed that and will be addressing market needs, we hope, with the next generation Corolla."

Both Ford and GM see the small car market growing so much that they plan to have a wide array of cars and small crossover vehicles similar to what Toyota now offers. GM even has plans for a rear-wheel-drive small Cadillac to compete with BMW's 3-series.

Mulally said Ford likely will have a strategy similar to Toyota, which now has multiple small car entries including its funky Scion brand.

A separate brand may not be in the offing, but Ford intends to be a leader as many manufacturers bring successful small models to the U.S. from Europe and other countries.

"We have been really focusing on dynamite, stylish, neat, comfortable, well-crafted smaller cars," Mulally said. "With the fuel prices staying up in the United States and the changing tastes with global warming and energy security, then all of a sudden, I think we're going to start to come together. You're going to see all of the neatness of those smaller cars that are very fuel efficient. We're going to see that in the United States, and I want to be on the leading edge of that."

[LenexatoKCMO]

Posted on Tue, Oct. 16, 2007

U.S. automakers renew small car efforts
Ford and GM research shows that small-car buyers will no longer tolerate flimsy seats, cheap plastic dashboards, noisy engines and bumpy rides. They also want sleek body styles and performance comparable to larger cars - all in a fuel-efficient package.

Nice that it took them thirty years and "research" to figure out what european automakers have always known. 

[KC0KEK]

From what I remember of the '70s, the economy was in the shitter. So maybe automakers cut a lot of corners on their small cars in order to get the price down to a mass-market point.

[kard]

while i appreciate ford's recent quality improvements (and i believe them), they've still got a lot of work to do with the focus.  get the european model here NOW.  and for heaven's sake, WHY did they drop the hatch model?

[FangKC]

The European Focus is much better looking than the present US model.  But I think most European versions of US models are better looking. I just don't know why they wait so long to bring them over here, or just don't go ahead an introduce them here at the same time.

The same is true with a lot of GM's Holden models in Australia.  They are generally better looking versions of the same models, but under different names.