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Automotive News & Views Can GM make Cadillac the standard of the world Again?
6098 messages, Last post on Aug 14, 2009 at 4:43 PM
You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires
As gas prices reach all time high, its only natural for cadi to shelf the v12, heck I even doubt they'll have all-new v8 anytime soon.
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Replying to: m4d_cow (Aug 23, 2008 10:16 pm) |
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be quite some time before cars run on something other than petroleum, especially with the diesel/gasoline infrastructure set up nationwide like it is... We should obviously move forward with alternative fuel research, but I believe the first place it will show up will be outside the auto industry... It would be easier, if easier is the word, to alter how we power our homes and buildings first...we need to update the power grid, but how that power is derived can change, because it is the same power over the same lines, whereas the auto needs a complete network of alternative sources...the power company can convert to nuclear, or wind, or solar, or hydro, and the users would never know, as long as power ran thru the wires to their home or office... If we ccan reduce the petroleum aspect of power generation by 50%, we could free up that much more oil for the cars while alternative sources are researched for the cars...with 200 million cars out there, eliminating oil/gas as a fuel source will take time, whereas an entire city or region could stop using oil/gas for power generation with, say, a nuke plant ot wind power... Just thinking out loud... |
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Too bad the government currently cant afford the budget. Wasted all of them on wars. Problem is, people ramble about the use of clean diesels in the US, how its much more efficient to buy one, due to its staggering mileage. Then we recount the costs, and found them not so economical, considering the much higher initial cost (read: MSRP) over its gas powered sibling, and also diesel fuel's costs. Then we talk about how it can at least relieve us and the US from its oil dependency. But the real question remains: just how many of us actually CARE about oil dependency as long as gas is still affordable???? Also consider thse conditions in US, compared to Europe: Unlike Europe, theres no real emissions tax in the US, the best they came up with is the gas guzzler tax, which is so insignificant. Diesel cars in Europe cost the same, or lower than its gasoline powered counterparts once you count in the taxes (lead and co2 emissions tax, gas guzzler, etc) Europeans have low sulfur diesel fuel, which improves fuel economy and durability, also environment friendly. US has no such thing available. I dont see how Americans will convert to diesel fuel unless the costs on fuel get lower, or mileage or diesel engines get much much higher than it is now. Another way is to offer federal incentives on taxes to cover the losses on overall ownership costs, but given the current state of the economy, I seriously doubt it'll happen. Until then, I guess we gotta rely on hybrids.
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Replying to: m4d_cow (Aug 24, 2008 10:43 pm)
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Replying to: nortsr1 (Aug 25, 2008 6:21 am) |
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Replying to: m4d_cow (Aug 23, 2008 10:16 pm) |
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I havent ehard of the recent studies, judging from the statements I guess hybrids may prove more dangerous to the enviro than diesels Thats not my point though. The point is US still make no effort to increase the use of diesel, instead pushing factories to build hybrids and fuel cell cars. How can diesel vehicles make progress this way???
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Replying to: m4d_cow (Aug 25, 2008 11:10 pm) |
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I hope this upcoming car isn't just a BLS modified for NA...as from what I have read of it in the British/Euro press, it isn't exactly a butt-kicker. Some people forget the discussion we had here months ago? At that time the story was that a RWD vehicle smaller than the then zeta, but based on the zeta + Kappa platforms, would be called the Alpha platform. RWD and smaller. Now it's being reporting that there will be a new mid-sized RWD platform code-named Alpha. Alpha would apparently take pieces from the other platforms and be used for future Pontiacs and Cadillacs. The next generation G6 may use this architecture instead of the front wheel drive Epsilon II. For Cadillac, the new car would slot in below the CTS and also replace the much derided BLS in Europe. If it's done right, such a Cadillac would give the brand a real competitor for the BMW 3-Series and Audi A4/S4, as long as consumers aren't hounded by the memory of other entry-level Cadillacs like the Cimarron. A smaller, rear-drive sedan and/or coupe would fit in much better with Cadillac's current lineup, however, and further help to lower the average age of the brands' customers. http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/22/kappa-zeta-alpha-another-gm-rwd-platform-comi- ng/ My concern is that this new platform died because of the financial difficulties even though a smaller vehicle fits the times, but it is RWD and would not get the mpg of a FWD compact/midsize. However the new turbo 1.4L sure does seem to offer a good alternative. I think the issue would be development and tooling cost. The low volume "BLS" probably would not cover that cost but IF the next G6 was shared it would make a great program and Pontiac would have a great line up. |
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