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How The 35 mpg Law By 2020 Will Affect The Cars We Will Drive - READ ONLY

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#494 of 543 Re: : How The 35 mpg Law By 2020 Will Affect The Cars We Will Drive (andys1 by fezo

May 30, 2008 (12:30 pm)

Replying to: british_rover (May 30, 2008 12:17 pm)
Pardon me - I was reading the wrong line. Been taht kind of day.
 
No, that's not bad at all.

#495 of 543 Re: : How The 35 mpg Law By 2020 Will Affect The Cars We Will Drive (andys1 by british_rover

May 30, 2008 (12:49 pm)

Replying to: fezo (May 30, 2008 12:30 pm)
No, it isn't that bad and that is one of the things that drives me crazy right now. There isn't any mid-sized to full sized vehicle on the market that can seat seven adults and get over 30 mpg highway. The LR3 with the TDv6 can do that and it is available right now if California would get its head out of its ass in regards to diesel emissions.
 
The Mazda5 comes close but it only seats six and doesn't have the all around capability that the LR3 does.
 
I don't know if the TDV6 would do very well in the US market as 0-60 comes along in a leisurely 12.8 seconds with the automatic.
 
Still the TDV8 from the Range Rover only gives up a couple of mpg to the TDV6 and is just as fast as the V8 petrol motor.
 
http://www.landrover.co.uk/gb/en/Vehicles/Range_Rover_Sport/Specifications/Engin- es%20and%20performance.htm

#496 of 543 Re: : How The 35 mpg Law By 2020 Will Affect The Cars We Will Drive (andys1 by fezo

May 30, 2008 (1:13 pm)

Replying to: british_rover (May 30, 2008 12:49 pm)
Don't be trying to sell me an LR3 now..... I can't think of where the nearest Land Rover is...
 
If I ever do manage to move myself back into the hills I could have a lot of fun in one of those.

#497 of 543 looks like by nippononly

Jun 02, 2008 (6:36 pm)

GM is taking the whole thing seriously: they are going to power their next compact models with a turbo 1.4, and may even make that engine standard in their midsize cars too:
 
http://www.autonews.com/article/20080602/ANA02/847106937/1176/emailblast02&refse- ct=emailblast02
 
Sounds like the Cobalt as we know it will be going away after 2010. They expect 40 mpg from the new powertrain, and 120-140 hp.
 
They are also apparently reconsidering bringing the Beat to the U.S.
 
In a separate piece of news today, it looks like Ford is already expanding the Fiesta lineup before it has even gone on sale, by adding 3- and 5-door hatches to the proposed launch in two years.
 
Two automakers taking the new mandate seriously and making early strides to meet its goals...

#498 of 543 Re: looks like (nippononly) by hpmctorque

Jun 02, 2008 (9:13 pm)

It all looks very interesting, and I'm rooting for the success of these efforts, and a fair market return for the risks associated with these enhancements, but I wonder about the durability of a highly stressed turbo engine.

#499 of 543 Re: looks like [nippononly] by bpizzuti

Jun 03, 2008 (5:42 am)

Replying to: nippononly (Jun 02, 2008 6:36 pm)
That link requires registration. Any more info about that new model? Sounds mildly interesting....I wonder if there will be a hatch version...

#500 of 543 Re: looks like [bpizzuti] by nippononly

Jun 03, 2008 (6:52 am)

Replying to: bpizzuti (Jun 03, 2008 5:42 am)
Sorry about that, here is the text as it pertains to the new car:
 
"DETROIT -- General Motors will unveil a Chevrolet compact car at an auto show this fall, with production slated to begin early next year, say sources familiar with GM's product program.
 
The vehicle will be built on the Delta compact car architecture at GM's plant in Lordstown, Ohio.
 
The car will use a new 1.4-liter global engine that GM developed and recently announced in Europe. The turbocharged four-cylinder engine will be used in several GM vehicles worldwide.
 
The Chevrolet compact will not be called the Cobalt, says one source familiar with the plans. GM will produce the current-generation Cobalt through June 2010 as a 2009 model. It was unclear from sources whether GM will continue to build the Cobalt after that.
 
Shared among five nameplates
 
The car's engine will be capable of developing between 120 and 140 hp. Sources say mileage could easily exceed 40 mpg.
 
"It's a pretty incredible engine; it's direct-injected with great power," the source says. "The small-displacement turbos make it possible to get great power so that GM might put it in the mid-sized products, too. It's an extremely important engine and a very capable powertrain."
 
The new engine will be shared among five nameplates: Chevrolet, Pontiac, Saturn, Opel and Daewoo, sources say. That means the Lordstown plant could build cars for export.
 
The engine continues the trend that GM started with such cars as the Pontiac Solstice GXP and Saturn Sky Red Line. Those cars use smaller engines and high-technology devices such as direct fuel injection and turbochargers to boost fuel economy and performance."
 
So the news is mainly powertrain-related, it doesn't talk about body styles. As for durability concerns, the turbo in the Sky/Solstice has a very high specific output, and it hasn't become known for problems so far. I expect that one of the very common techniques for meeting the new CAFE targets will be small engines with turbos...

#501 of 543 Re: looks like (nippononly) [hpmctorque] by bumpy

Jun 03, 2008 (7:39 am)

Replying to: hpmctorque (Jun 02, 2008 9:13 pm)
Given the engine size and horsepower numbers I've seen floating about, it sounds like they're going to be low-boost turbos, maybe in the 5-7 pound range which isn't very much these days. Saab has been doing that with some of its cars the last few years.

#502 of 543 and there go the gas guzzlers... by nippononly

Jun 03, 2008 (8:06 am)

GM cuts truck production, considers selling Hummer brand
"General Motors said today that it is shuttering production at four of its plants that build full-sized pickups and SUVs and it is considering "all options" with its Hummer brand -- including a possible sale.
 
The moves are the result of high gas prices, which GM now views as a permanent market condition, CEO Rick Wagoner said.
 
The automaker also announced it will add a third shift to its small-car plant in Lordstown, Ohio, Wagoner confirmed.
 
GM will be building an all-new Chevrolet compact car at the Lordstown plant, as first reported by Automotive News on Monday.
 
Finally, GM's board of directors has approved the production funding for the gasoline-electric car, the Chevrolet Volt, Wagoner says.
 
"In other words, the Chevy Volt is a go" Wagoner said in a teleconference before the company's annual meeting today in Wilmington, Del.
 
Wagoner said GM still intends to put the Volt for sale at the end of 2010 and to build it at its plant in Hamtramck, Mich.
 
PRODUCTION CUTS
 
GM is reacting to $4-a-gallon gasoline prices by making major cuts in its full-sized pickup and SUV production.
 
The automaker said it will cease production at its Oshawa, Ontario, truck assembly operations in Canada, which builds the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, likely in 2009.
 
GM said its plant in Moraine, Ohio, which builds the Chevrolet TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy and Saab 9-7x, will end production at the end of the 2010 model run, or sooner, if demand dictates.
 
Janesville, Wisc., will cease production of medium-duty trucks by the end of 2009, and of the Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon in 2010, or sooner, if market demand dictates."
 
"WILMINGTON, Del. - GM today announced a range of strategic initiatives to aggressively respond to growing demand for fuel-efficient vehicles and to economic and market challenges in North America. Rick Wagoner, GM chairman and CEO, made the announcements here as part of the GM annual meeting of stockholders.
 
Major initiatives announced by Wagoner include:
 
• A new global compact car program for Chevrolet, a next generation for the popular Chevy Aveo, and a high efficiency engine module for the U.S. market.
 
• Funding for production of the Chevy Volt extended-range electric vehicle.
 
• Addition of third shifts to Lordstown and Orion, which build hot-selling Chevy and Pontiac cars.
 
• Cessation of production at four plants that build pickups, SUVs and medium-duty trucks.
 
• A strategic review of the Hummer brand.
 
"From the start of our North American turnaround plan in 2005, I've said that our goal is not just to return GM to profitability, but to structure GM globally for sustained profitability and growth," said Wagoner.
 
"Since the first of this year, however, U.S. economic and market conditions have become significantly more difficult," he said. "Higher gasoline prices are changing consumer behavior, and they are significantly affecting the U.S. auto industry sales mix."
 
In North America, GM has been moving rapidly and successfully to revitalize its car lineup and grow its crossover business. New GM cars and crossovers, including the Cadillac CTS, Chevy Malibu, Pontiac Vibe and Buick Enclave, have been selling strongly, and GM intends to build on this success. In fact, 18 of the next 19 new GM products for the U.S. will be cars or crossovers.
 
Additional operational and strategic actions will be required to position GM for sustainable profitability and growth. These initiatives fall into three broad areas: product and technology, manufacturing facilities and capacity, and the Hummer brand.
 
New Chevrolet models and a high-efficiency engine module approved
 
To further strengthen GM's lineup of fuel-efficient cars, the GM board has approved a next-generation compact Chevy for the U.S. and global markets, a next generation of the popular Chevy Aveo, and a U.S. production module of GM's 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
 
The new Chevy compact will be better equipped than today's compact cars, and will be designed to set quality and safety benchmarks for the compact class. Production will begin in mid-2010 at GM's Lordstown, Ohio, plant, subject to final negotiations with state and local authorities.
 
"This car will represent the first U.S. application of our global architecture strategy," said Wagoner. "This strategy will pay major dividends as we leverage our extensive car product development capability in Europe, Korea, and other locations to accelerate the shift in our U.S. product portfolio."
 
The next-generation compact will be pure Chevrolet in design, and will feature the 1.4-liter turbocharged version of GM's global four-cylinder engine. With this engine and a manual transmission, the new Chevy is expected to achieve a 9 mpg improvement over Chevy's current entry in this segment. The engine will be produced in Flint, Michigan, again subject to final negotiations with state and local authorities.
 
Also recently approved was a next generation of the popular Chevy Aveo. Based on a global architecture, the Aveo is also expected to have segment-leading fuel economy when it goes on sale in the U.S. market in the second half of 2010.
 
These new Chevy models will help build on GM's leadership in fuel efficient vehicles. For example, GM continues to offer more vehicles with a 30-mpg or better highway fuel economy rating than any competitor."
 
http://www.autonews.com/article/20080603/ANA02/455137809/1176/emailblast02&refse- ct=emailblast02

#503 of 543 the King has been dethroned by nippononly

Jun 03, 2008 (1:31 pm)

"Ford F series loses title as top-selling vehicle in May
 
Honda Civic sets new record of 53,299 sales
 
The Ford F-150 pickup truck has been dethroned as America's favorite vehicle for the first time since 1991 -- by four sedans.
 
According to preliminary sales figures released by automakers, Ford Motor Co. sold 42,973 F-series trucks in May, while Toyota Motor Corp. sold 52,826 Corollas and 51,291 Camrys.
 
The Honda Civic beat all vehicles with sales of 53,299 vehicles -- an all-time record for any month -- while the Honda Accord raked in another 43,728 in sales, according to American Honda Motor Co.
 
The last time a car outsold the F series was October 1991.
 
Ford CEO Alan Mulally said the fact that cars are outselling trucks is further evidence that the industry is undergoing a change in consumer preference.
 
"We really believe we are seeing a structural shift with the fuel prices going through the $3.40-to-$3.60" range. It's interesting that a lot of others are saying the same thing now," Mulally told reporters Monday, June 2, at a dinner in Washington.
 
"So I think we're seeing a structural shift where, with the prices being high in the United States, we're seeing exactly what happened in Europe a number of years ago, where the customers are going to make economic decisions, and they're going to move toward smaller and medium-sized vehicles.""
 
http://www.autonews.com/article/20080603/ANA05/959951360/1078/emailblast02&refse- ct=emailblast02
 
Looks like gas prices are going to accomplish what the Congress never could, using CAFE: a shift to fuel-efficient vehicles in the U.S. The thing about consumer preference, of course, is that it is fickle, so I'm glad that there is added pressure on automakers to improve fuel efficiency, even if it comes from a relatively weak tool in the form of CAFE 2020.

Messages Page 51 of 55

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