Karl on Cars

good info Karl and thanks for sharing!

"I still sigh when I see an e36 M3 or an RX-7 or an MR2 Turbo. Nothing made in 2007 for under 50k causes me to react that way. " -
blueguydotcom
 
Not even a ( base 430 HP & 3200# ) Corvette???

The no desiels in cars is sort of a surprise, Is it an enginering and emissions problem. If Honda brings dediels to the US and does well, That will speak volumes about GM. Also, when you turn away from a technology, it would be great to get a why.

Ray, if it's a pre-68 Vette, sure. Any Vette made from 68 on is not my kinda Vette.

We all know BDC doesnt like modern cars so I don't see why Brett or anyone else would try to debate him on the merits of the 3 series or any other vehicle with ABS, airbags, sound deadening, cruise control, power seats, wheels larger than 15", steel safety cages, etc. Come on people, you should know better by now. If it weighs more than 2700lbs its crap tp BDC- period.

Why in all hell is the Chevy/GM consortium investing in so many alternative fuel technologies?? My perspective is this: If GM and other big car manufacturers continue to play between the lines here, that is, spend some money in hydrogen, some in all electric, this, that and another thing, these separate devisions will run out of money whilst the focused crew (Tesla Motors) runs them over.
  
My view of the future includes combustion-powered cars and electric-powered cars only. While there may be room currently for hybrid drivetrains, when the choice to adopt a full electric car becomes available the market will polarize into the philosophers and the purists and at no point in between.
  
Then there are different ways of garnering electricity: hydrogen and batteries. While I would love to live in a hydrogen economy, the momentum it would take to move an industry like that into play and push the petroleum industry out of play is much too staggering for us to handle any time soon. Batteries, on the other hand, have backing from the electronics industry, which we all know is ever-bullish.
  
My point is; GM and the rest of the US's automotive industry stands to ride a powerful wave of change, and these guys just need to dedicate themselfs!! Perhaps they could pull together a masterpiece right in time for Tesla's BlueStar project and strike some competition into the marketplace. This indecisive spending however, will get them nowhere.
  
Thoughts, comments??

Like many folks, I don't think there is a singlular answer. No silver bullet, but rather a bunch of high-quality copper bullets.
 
I do think gasoline (including diesel!) and electricity will be the primary solutions simply because of the infrastructure issues, but E85 and even hydrogen will likely play some role, even if it's just in mass transit and/or freight usage.
 
That said, GM would probably be better served by focusing on one or two items...though having "Five Solutions" to boast about is great for sound bites and a "green" image...
 
Regardless, they better make sure the Volt happens on time, and works as promised.

I think the Volt will happen in some form, but who knows what its capabilities will be when it comes out. Naturally the media will crucify GM and ignore any other fuel saving tech they have if the car is delayed or doesnt perform exactly as advertised at its introduction. GM is putting a lot of money into this so I think they will be the most disappointed if it doesn't work out. It's either do what they are doing or take the Toyota approach and downplay anything other than your signature fuel saving technology.
 
Investing in E85 is cheap so I don't GM is really pouring many resources into that at all. Unless we find a way to make it substantially cheaper than gas I don't see it working out too well. Pursuing fuel economy across the board (item #1) is something they have to do anyway and really isn't an extra R&D expense. They already have hybrid systems in production so that's not a future thing. Really they are pursuing only two technologies that are unproven- plug ins/electric cars and fuel cells.

I have to agree with 1487 here- it seems people want the Volt to fail just to say GM blew another oppurtunity while Toyota's one trick pony Synergy Drive system peacefully ages as a handicapped hybrid solution. What kills me is Toyota's arrogance in dismissing any design from their competition- despite the fact the consortium's two-mode systems promise to be COMPLETE solutions to the hybrid question. There's always a price to paid for being first out the gate with a game changing technology. Perhaps Toyota should adopt one of Audi's taglines: "Never rest on your laurels..."
  
Forget GM, all commercial vehicles need to become "greener." I don't even think tractor trailers had to meet the stringent emission standards of passenger vehicles' until recently. I'm sure someone influential lobbied someone else infulential to keep the eye off their polluting ways. If more trucks and buses had two-mode hybrid systems, this would save countless amounts of fuel compared to the puny amounts we commuters consume. Recently produced freight locomotives are already pretty clean and much more efficient in transporting cargo compared to 18-wheelers. Here in Philly, we just ordered more GM designed hybrid transit buses to compliment the small fleet procured 3 years ago

My gut feeling tells me that once the Tesla Roadster is released (If that does indeed happen anytime soon...) it will capture the imagination of powerful people everywhere and public interest/publicity will skyrocket to heights we can't even fathom.
  
I agree in full earnest - I want to see the realization of the Volt evolve into something we can droll over for a while! The very concept of an electric car is something we can all appreciate. Yet if the release of the Volt is just right following that of the Tesla Roadster, the wake of electric car enthusiasm could spark a runaway fad in the country leading to the kind of success Apple saw with the iPod, for example.
  
I don't mean to sound desperate - after all we manufacture some great cars in this country (Z06, G8, even the Ford Mondeo if they brought it over here) - but we need this!

lets just remember that GM is only predicting 60k sales of the Volt in its first full year. People can clamor for it all they want but its going to relatively small volume, at least initially. GM has to pursue better fuel economy across the board to really make an impact and improve their image. By the time 2010 rolls around GM should be solidly planted as the leader or 2nd place manufacturer when it comes to hybrids and in the end that will have more impact than 60k Volts even though the Volt will be a coup for PR and advertising.

xg, how can you call a Mondeo or G8 great when they aren't even available here? It's not like we have anyone on US soil who has day-to-day experience with those cars in US conditions.

Blue - you're right, none of us have ever driven these cars. However with the enthusiasm expressed from the Mondeo and like G8 platforms from a wide range of editorials, I consider them to be above par. A car doesn't become great if you or I alone considers it to be - that is just one opinion - it's when many opinions concur that it's a great car. This is why I cite these cars as examples.
  
1487 - While I wouldn't go so far as to call the Volt a 'halo car', the low numbers I think will only help it satisfy a "rarity factor" that will excite demand for it. Though 60k cars is quite a few; we'll certainly be seeing more Volts than Roadsters!

For car guys and gals, no electrical car can ever be as exciting as an ICE one for one simple reason that's recurrent in all FTD debates here: engine sound.
 
I'm worried everyone is going towards the electrical direction and forgetting about this major factor.

xgc, fwiw, I do very much want to test the G8. My wife gets special pricing through GM/Ford so at sub 30k with a few features the G8 offers an incredible value - RWD, V8, LSD.

BDC,
 
I dont see how you would like the G8. It weighs about two tons and thus will be no fun to drive. I would save yourself the aggravation.

xgc, fwiw, I do very much want to test the G8. My wife gets special pricing through GM/Ford so at sub 30k with a few features the G8 offers an incredible value - RWD, V8, LSD. - blueguydotcom
 
 = = =
 
Even without any “special pricing”, I expect that the G8 V8 will sell very well. (If actual driving dynamics of production examples, fit & finish & materials inside & out, etc. are essentially as described in various reviews of the Holden version. )
 
It appears that a G8 GT \ V8 with all 3 options \ packages available at start-up (at invoice of just under $30.7K + $49, and no “doc fees”, etc - at the dealer where I bought my Grand Prix ) will be something between a ‘good value’ and a ‘screaming bargain’ – it the basic attributes offered ( as you said, V8, RWD, LSD, etc. ) are on your ‘must have’ list . . .
 
Eventually.
 
- Ray
Still trying to be patient –
but waiting for reviews of actual, production G8s . . .

they claim only 40k G8s will be sent here so I cant see the car not selling out at prices close to MSRP. 40k is not a lot of cars at all. Fully loaded at $34k or so is a deal considering the performance of this car. All it needs is navigation and an 8 way pwr seat with memory. You are getting M45 performance for $20k less.

GM News -
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/11/15/gm-confirms-theres-a-possibility-lithium-ion-batteries-will-be/
  
Hooraay!! Let's hope GM heads down in the right direction and carries it out!
  
ESPECIALLY just as the Tesla Roadster VP10 is being driven by the press (http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/19/exclusive-autobloggreen-experiences-the-tesla-roadster-in-its-n/) and Karl, who is no doubt jumping in his seat at the prospect of driving or even (for the time being) just riding in one, this is a good time for GM to invest some time in the same technology and showcase it alongside the wonder of the ensuing Tesla. Free kudos for them just for playing along!
  
These electric cars are real tough to build due simply to the new fields of engineering the automotive industry is now being exposed to. And yes it will be a (real) challenge for automakers, but we're at the heels of change this early 21st century. My hesitation still keeps me from committing hope on the matter but it is good to see GM tagging along with us, lets hope they play this gracefully!

1487 - gotta keep an open mind. I won't know until i try it.