Checking in on Peter De Lorenzo over at AutoExtremist.com, and as usual, he has some interesting if not thought-provoking ideas. This time it's a "What if" scenario for a future GM, and this of course, is in a perfect world. By that I mean if franchise laws, etc., could be resolved to make this work.

Here's the short story version: The only divisions that would exist here would be Chevrolet, Cadillac and Hummer. Buick would only be sold outside the USA. GMC, Pontiac, Saturn would disappear altogether. Saab? It would be sold off or disappear. As usual, De Lorenzo makes a strong case supporting his ideas.

So, do you agree with him or not?

For the details check it out here.

NHTSA have launched a probe into Saturn Sky and Pontiac Solstice brakes, as there have been 40 complaints, one involving a crash. It should be noted the vehicles in question are the turbocharged Solstice GXP and Sky Red Line. There have been no complaints on non-turbo models from either brand.

This is not good news, especially since Consumer Reports has just recently given the Solstice and Sky only a so-so rating. It's a real shame as these vehicles offered so much promise.

Full story here.

This is a working prototype of Panasonic's new 16-inch in-car video screen. It can split and play two video sources or play one source in a variety of aspect ratios. This demo vehicle is a Saturn Outlook but look for it to show up in other all-new vehicles Panasonic already provides video screens for -- Chevrolet, Nissan, Honda, Lexus and Toyota. In fact, the Nissan Quest will soon be getting an entertainment system branded as Panasonic.

A recent owner satisfaction survey showed that Panasonic entertainment systems took 7 of the top 10 spots. As for the 16-inch screen, Panasonic isn't talking but my money is on the new Honda Pilot.

Once the official Panasonic business was wrapped up, The English Beat took the stage to promote Panasonic and Fender's ongoing development of a new in-car audio system.

 Panasonic stereos, English Beat Concert, I'm confused, what year is it? -- Brian Moody, Road Test Editor

"Saturn is a green brand for General Motors and we use the Green Line brand to promote that," Troy Clark, Saturn division president, told the sweaty crowd packed around GM's main stage at Cobo Hall. "I think 2008 will be the year when we double down and raise the bidding."



The 2009 Saturn Vue Green Line Two-Mode Hybrid constitutes the majority of the company's chips in this game of chance (that presumably involves only Toyota and Ford). It's a major enhancement upon the standard Vue Green Line Hybrid, which has a four-cylinder engine and a very small electric motor that provides minimal motive force. Instead, the two-mode starts out with a direct-injected version of GM's 3.6-liter V6 and combines that with a pair of 55-kilowatt electric motors housed in its automatic transmission (presumably some type of CVT).

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Saturn has been quite open about its plans to repackage various Opel products for American consumption. However, you may not have realized that commitment extended to rebadging concept cars. Accordingly, the Saturn Flextreme is a dead ringer for the Opel Flextreme concept shown in Frankfurt, right down to its snazzy wheels.



Fortunately, it's an attractive car so we didn't mind seeing it again. It looks like a futuristic rendering of a five-door Astra, and it's the only car we know of with gullwing cargo doors.

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Saturn's sporty new hatchback comes to us via Germany. It has a 1.8-liter inline-4 capable of 138 horsepower and a 5-speed manual transmission.

It brings a stylish and peppy little player to the entry-level hatchback class.

Are you a fan of hatchbacks?

Read the Saturn Astra Full Test on Inside Line.

Donna DeRosa, Managing Editor

In computer-speak, what you see here is the Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid v.2.0. GM, however, prefers the label of Saturn Vue Green Line 2-Mode Hybrid. Whatever.

This new CUV will debut at the Detroit Auto Show next week in FWD guise. No word yet if/when an AWD version will be available. Unlike the current Saturn Vue mild-hybrid, this is a true, full-fledge hybrid, using their new 2-Mode hybrid technology. It's expected to have a driving range of more than 500 miles.

Saturn claims an acceleration time from 0-60 to be a bit over 7 seconds, and (unlike the Escape hybrid) can tow 3,500 pounds. This is not surprising since it uses the excellent GM 3.6 direct-injection gas engine in combination with two electric motors that now generate 60 kW. Both are powered by a 1.8 kWh, 300V nickel-metal hydride battery that are located under the rear seat.

It's also surprising to learn that this new 2-mode hybrid will not replace the current Saturn Vue hybrid. Rather the older version will remain as a lower cost alternative to those cost-conscious customers out there. The new 2-mode hybrid is expected to arrive in dealer showrooms in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Latest word is that the successor to the GM Northstar V8 engine has been killed, and that the Northstar may be replaced by GM's excellent 3.6L V6. That engine, the direct-injection DOHC 3.6, puts out 302 horsepower, which is uncomfortably close to the 320 horespower that the 4.6L Northstar puts out. The 3.6 also gets two mpg better gas mileage than Northstar V8.

This raises question about the Lambda platforn CUVs (GMC Acadia, Buick Enclave and Saturn Outlook), as a version of the Northstar was slated for those vehicles. The Northstar is scheduled to be built until 2010, but not after that.

Me thinks that the future (higher) corporate gas mileage requirements played a big role in this decision—and that this won't be the last surprise engine killing by some major automaker.

Full story here at Winding Road.

Here's Inside Line's take: GM Drops Plans for New DOHC V8 Engine in 2009

Inside Line tested the 257-horsepower 2008 Saturn Vue Red Line, the sportier version of the much-improved second-generation Vue.
 
Read the Vue Red Line road test on Inside Line.

Donna DeRosa, Managing Editor

"It's a substantially improved world, and I would say our situation product-wise, reputation-wise, labor-cost-wise is probably the best it's been in 20 years," GM's Bob Lutz said in an interview at a media event in Memphis to promote the launch of the refreshed Chevrolet Malibu. "I would say all of the stars are aligning very nicely. ... But are the worries over? No.

"The labor cost gap to the Japanese transplants have been narrowed, but they have not been closed," by the new UAW contract, Lutz said. "It's closer than it ever was before. That's good for a five-minute celebration, but then you say, 'Well, now what?' The big fear now, Lutz said, is "ill-conceived" government-imposed fuel economy standards at the state or federal level.

So Lutz is feeling good about GM's new found position in the automotive world, thanks primarily to the new UAW contract and a really good looking product portfolio. I would agree. I don't know about anyone else here, but I've been seeing a whole lot of GMC Acadias and its cousin the Saturn Outlook on the road, and that bodes well for GM's bottom line. I suspect the new Malibu will also do well based on what I've seen and read so far.

Full story here.

In a couple of side notes here is news that GM has confirmed the Hummer H3T SUT is a go, and that they may be dropping their slow selling mid-sized pickups, raising more speculation about a possible Ridgeline-like replacement.

Confirmed: 2009 Hummer H3T