[kjmclark]

The total emissions error is a problem, but there is an even bigger error. At least three of the comments on the original article point it out. Emissions testing tests for CO, not CO2. CO is a criteria pollutant and is one of the main gasses for which emissions tests check. No emissions test checks for CO2. It's much easier, and just as accurate, to just measure the fuel used. So the reporter saw CO and thought that was CO2.

[emersonbiggins]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('evilmonkeyspanker', 'S')top posting using iframes. Provide a damn link. The site you referenced caused two pop up windows to pull up on my computer annoying the hell out of me

[coyote]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('buffy', 'O')k, I just gave away my Ford Explorer to a relative and got an old Honda civic(1990, hey, it was really cheap!) My husband needs to downsize now. He has to have a truck for work reasons but we want a small truck, less than 5 years old (preferably less than 3). What do y'all think would be the best investment as far as gas mileage, quality, ect.?

[Denny]

I don't know who is to blame for the state of the auto biz, the buyers or the car makers, but I was taken by surprise last week at an old car show, at the size of the old Fiat 500, built from 1955 to 1975. Just 21 HP, with a two cylinder air cooled motor. I think the owner said he got 43 mpg around town.

The anti-SUV:



Cute or what?

Time to dig out the old tooling for our modern problems.

[dukey]

the problem is very simple
large vehicles require more energy to move than smaller ones
Lots of old cars like the Citroen 2CV did something like 50mpg ..

Americans like to drive around in armoured tanks or suvs, it's no wonder they do sub 20 mpg.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'B')y 1982, now with 602 cc and 29 horsepower, it could reach 108 km/h (67 mph), and still deliver more than 50 mpg.

[Denny]

Well, it seems the present day energy realities have stung General Motors really hard, so now its looking directly in the rear view mirror to survive the future, and making a $740 million bet on that:

$740 million to be invested for 2008 Camaro in Oshawa

Oshawa, Ontario (Monday, August 21, 2006) - General Motors of Canada Limited President Arturo Elias announced today that the Oshawa car plant has been selected to manufacture one of GM’s most celebrated new vehicles - the Chevrolet Camaro. The Oshawa plant will build the new Camaro, with early production versions at the end of 2008, with start of sales in the first quarter of 2009. This new product program and conversion of the Oshawa plant to a state of the art flexible manufacturing facility represents a C$740 million investment, with preparatory work beginning immediately.

The new Camaro is a thoroughly modern interpretation of the 1969 icon. GM has indicated that the production version of the Camaro is going to look almost identical to the “Best in Show” concept vehicle first featured at the Detroit Auto Show earlier this year.

“This important new investment for Oshawa would not have been possible without the strong partnership with the CAW and federal, provincial and local governments” said Mr. Elias. “Oshawa’s selection to build the new Camaro is a tribute to our employees’ reputation for the industry’s best quality and productivity and further evidence of the exciting comeback happening at GM today.”

CAW president Buzz Hargrove said “Earning the mandate for the new Camaro is a huge accomplishment and is due in part to the reputation of our members for producing great quality vehicles. CAW local 222 has really stepped up with an innovative local agreement that contributed to building a viable business case for the Camaro.”

“Today’s announcement is great news for all GM stakeholders in the Durham Region” said Federal Finance Minister and Member of Parliament for Whitby-Oshawa the Honourable Jim Flaherty. “It builds on GM’s broader integrated innovation investment that includes research partnerships with educational institutes across Quebec and Ontario, including the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT).”

“GM’s investment in the Camaro program here in Oshawa proves once again that when government and industry work together, the result is a stronger economy and even more opportunity for Ontario families,” said Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty. “Our province’s strength continues to be our highly skilled workforce and our culture of innovation -- and this new investment proves that.” Ontario Minister of Economic Development and Trade Joe Cordiano continued, saying “This announcement is a vote of confidence in this plant, the skill of its workers and Ontario as a place to invest. It shows we can accomplish great things when we all work together.”

Colin Carrie, Member of Parliament for Oshawa and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry, said "Canada offers the essential elements for a vibrant auto industry: strategic location as a gateway to the North American market, and an ideal climate for continued investment. Today's announcement reflects that confidence in our country and our auto industry."

Oshawa Mayor John Gray said “creating a positive investment climate in Oshawa and Durham Region has helped attract important new opportunities like the Camaro program.” Durham Regional Chair Roger Anderson noted “working together to create a competitive local investment environment is the right thing to do for industry.”

The C$740 million investment completes GM Canada’s Beacon project announcement in March 2005 and adds the new Camaro product mandate for Oshawa. This announcement brings GM Canada’s total investment since March 2005 to more than $3 billion.


Note all the references to government support in various ways, and all those levls of government represented. I'd rather see that public money used to fund alternative energy solutions, not a resurrection of a car that drifted out of favor over time and was eliminated.

[eastbay]

And so now GM has flushed another 750 million down the drain.

[strider3700]

Gm appears to be suffering from small penis syndrome. SUV's aren't selling so they decide to build a modern muscle car.

In the meantime Toyota stopped production of it's powerhouse supra years ago(the celica really doesn't count) is honda making anything ultra powerful? the s2000 maybe counts but it's still nowhere near a big block in power.

You never know, people may decide that a muscle car is still a car and have the illusion of better mileage by picking one up. Really the car should be better thanks to aerodynamics and shear weight reduction

[Denny]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('strider3700', 'Y')ou never know, people may decide that a muscle car is still a car and have the illusion of better mileage by picking one up. Really the car should be better thanks to aerodynamics and shear weight reduction

[drew]

Of course Honda and Toyota are making big horsepower cars, Strider. You are just looking at the wrong marque. Acura rl- 290 ponies. Lexus 300, and 420? 4.3 litre v8. Oodles of power.

The smaller more gutless models are left to us plebs- that's to say, Hondas, and Toyotas.

Pleb!

Drew

[Cabrone]

Looking at the pathetic efficiency of so many US cars shouldn't the likes of Ford and GM quote their cars in Gallons per Mile rather than Miles per Gallon?

[gg3]

Heard on the radio today: An advert for an "eco-friendly luxury SUV" from Volvo.

Now they've created a multiple-oxymoron, somewhat akin to "child-friendly well-mannered kidnapper."

[crossthread]

I noticed yesterday 2004/05 SUV's on a used car lot here in my town were ALL under 5000.00 with less than say 100K on the odie... Some milage less than 50,,, about 6000.00 for that SUV, a 2005 GMC yukon if I remember correctly...

While smaller better gas milage cars were, <cough~cough> quite high.... ie: 6000.00 plus..

[Novus]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('crossthread', 'I') noticed yesterday 2004/05 SUV's on a used car lot here in my town were ALL under 5000.00 with less than say 100K on the odie... Some milage less than 50,,, about 6000.00 for that SUV, a 2005 GMC yukon if I remember correctly...

While smaller better gas milage cars were, <cough~cough> quite high.... ie: 6000.00 plus..

[Grimnir]

A real man drives one of these:
Gurkha
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'W')hyte says the first 40 have been built this year for delivery to the Canadian and the American military in the Middle East. The first civilian delivery is for a "well-known personality" in California that will take place next month, Whyte says. The customer, who is a friend of California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, intends to use it as daily transport, Whyte says. "It's a very California mentality to have the biggest and the best."

[emersonbiggins]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I')t can stop a bullet from an AK-47, shrug off a roadside bomb, and it makes a Hummer look like a chick car.

[Dreamtwister]

Armor plating? HA! Hotwire a bulldozer and push the sucker off a pier!

Enjoy those 8-ton coffins.

[mekrob]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I')s it possible to get some of these to Iraq?

[rockdoc123]

Hey I want one of those....some tarted up skank flipped me the bird yesterday because I was travelling the speed limit along one of our major highways.....If'n I had me a Gurkha I coulda just runned her over and turned that nice shinny cadillac into a mess of scrap metal!!