eemo_crash

Lotus goes off the deep end with a rant against the media and Caterham I think its good that Lotus is giving it to the media. Trying a different approach. The media had the same approach towards Saab in the last few years and Saab took it lying down and now look at them, bankrupt. Whilst I don't believe that Saab should have been put through such a fate, I firmly believe that the should have fought back. Good on Lotus for fighting back, I hope they don't suffer a similar fate to Saab.

Mahindra & Mahindra wants Saab - report @PAA, they didn't bother bringing out new cars? Erm, they actually had a new 9-5 ready to go in 2006, GM put the brakes on it instead opting for a(nother) facelift. Saab also had the 9-3x ready for production in 2006 when GM decided that the epsilon platform wouldn't get AWD, only to backflip in 2009 when the 9-3x was finally launched. You can't blame Saab for it's lack of models. GM had the final say in all of Saabs operations. @ebarsy I'm afraid that you look to be the fool at the moment. Saab borrowed technology from GM? No Saab designed and developed technology for GM. Remember the GM ECOTEC engines? Most of the design and development work was done by Saab, in fact GM used Saab as one of its main R&D centres. So Saab may have "borrowed" technology from GM but Saab was the one to develop the technology in the first place.

Opel Insignia Sport Tourer CrossFour images leaked From front to rear, this car is just a whole bunch of UGLY!

Renault R-Link multimedia tablet announced [video] Looks a lot like Saab's Android based iQon system that is/was? set to debut in the 2012 Saab 9-3.

Opel strategy a failure says GM Vice Chairman @marshall-mills etc. Holden? Profitable? Hahaha. Holden only build one thats 1 car, the rest are all Korean imports. Holden is only kept "profitable" by government subsidies and taxes that make other car makers outside of Australia pay higher taxes, so to gain back their taxes they must sell cars at higher prices. Holden doesn't have to pay these taxes as it is subsidised by the Federal Government which means Holden can sell their cars at lower prices then imports. In a recent interview the Managing Director of Holden basically said that if these taxes were to be abolished (as the government was considering) then Holden would become uncompetitive and go bankrupt in next to no time at all.

Opel strategy a failure says GM Vice Chairman You are talking about the US. The article is saying that Opel is a failure in Europe. VW isn't profitable in Europe because they sell commercial vehicles. It's profitable because people actually buy their products, because they have a good stigma attached to them. GM products don't and never have had good stigma attached to them especially in Europe. Opel doesn't even reach VW's level of quality and reliability and GM has plans to move it upmarket? I thought they tried that with Saab, look how that turned out. GM was supposed to have changed, as far as I can tell they are still doing the same thing over and over. Honestly what is it now, 34, 35 brands that GM has driven into the ground? 4 or 5 in the past 5 years. VW has only ever lost 5 brands in its history, most under Audi's control...

2012 Jaguar XF Sportbrake first spy photos "all luxury cars deserves an auto box" I disagree, I like driving a luxury car as much as anyone, but I like the added economy, power and reduced CO2 emissions that come from a manual gearbox, I also like the fact that a manual gearbox constantly engages you in driving even if you are just taking a lazy Sunday drive. If you drive an automatic you need not take a Sunday drive at all. Just sit at home and watch driver POV videos on youtube, it is basically the same thing. I learnt to drive in an automatic and vowed that I would never drive a manual. However after learning a manual I discovered that it is a completely different experience and now I don't think I will ever own another automatic again..

Cadillac admits need for diesels to compete against Germans Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon? I will concede that the interior looks rather nice, but the exterior? Nobody outside of America would be seen driving it. I'm not sure how it would drive, but if it is like anything else that GM builds and sells to us (the rest of the world) it'll no doubt be rubbish. I will also concede that the Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 looks like a nice piece of machinery and at least it isn't made out of plastic. But for those of us who live in the real world (and outside of America) such a car is not really an option.

Opel strategy a failure says GM Vice Chairman Ok so GM needs to become more like VW. Well then the answer is simple. First, stop building crap cars that nobody wants. Second, build up a reputation for good build quality and reliability (that means not more plastic cars). Third, stop rebadging Korean and American cars and trying to pass them off as European, see first and second points. GM has a long way to go in Europe, a long long way. How many people have you heard say "Saab 9-5, thats nothing more then an Opel Insignia in different clothes"? Way to many to mention. Now how many people have you heard say "Audi A3, thats nothing more then a Skoda Octavia in different clothes"? I haven't heard anybody say that. Why? Why doesn't it matter that VW shares its platforms ? Because all of VW's models have quality and reliability built in and have done for years, and don't forget that any badge from the VW group has some kind of desirability. Why does it matter that GM shares it's platforms? Because GM's models have failure built in and only Americans, Australians (think Holden), or Europeans who don't care about what kind of car they drive actually buy them.

2012 Jaguar XF Sportbrake first spy photos Oh I've been looking forward to this car. It's just a shame they probably won't offer it in a manual :(