Based on the structure and running gear of the Ferrari F430 Challenge Cup car, this remake is believed to have been funded by a car enthusiast industrialist for his sole use, although it's possible that it could be produced in very small numbers for other customers.The original Stratos was a beast of a machine with a Ferrari Dino V6 engine in it that dominated Group 4 Rallying.
The answer is simple: this is a Daewoo. My direct, repeated questions to GM personnel regarding the Cruze's Korean ancestry were answered honestly but with perhaps too-scrupulous attention to detail. I was repeatedly told that "the architecture was engineered in Germany", and I was repeatedly told about the "global nature" of the engineering, but the plain fact of the matter is that the Daewoo Lacetti was largely engineered, styled, and developed by Daewoo in Korea. It was then modified in some detail to become the Chevrolet Cruze. It's a Korean car, and if it isn't quite a Korean-market transplant like the Aveo, it's very far from being a European design like the Ford Focus or VW Jetta. The issue of American engineering for the Cruze hardly came up. In the modern era, GM seems to source its electronics in China, its major systems in Europe, and its brainpower in Korea. It's smart business -- TTAC readers know about China's market and the limitless potential there -- but for those of us who wanted an all-American small car to draw a line in the sand, there's only disappointment.The reality is that engineering skills are now a global enterprise and nationalism is no longer a guiding directive for the achievement of quality of good engineering. Whether the car was engineered in Korea, Germany, California, Australia or what, the engineering outcome these days is of increasing quality. The days of Detroit being the leaders in automotive technology are gone. And the nationalistic price that is placed on cars is also long gone. Half of the Holden is a Chevy V8 and drivetrain. When the Pontiac GTO was shipped to America it had 50% American parts in it. The Chevrolet Camaro is on an Australian designed platform. The nature of automotive engineering due to its high costs and skill sets is a global enterprise. Holding on to the nationalistic or nativist part of it is a waste. It is of a time that has gone. Governments encourage it too by subsidizing manufacturing which in many instances would be better done overseas. The building of the Cruze in Australia is a good example of that. It is a leading seller with the cars being imported from Korea. There is little need to build them in Australia as well.
One of the most amusing things is watching people in the passenger seat when stuck in a car with a skilled racing driver. The British car shows have it all over the stuff being produced in other parts of the world.
Cadillac fans will be thrilled to hear that Ed Whitacre himself has instructed the brand to build a true, full-size flagship above both the CTS and the upcoming XTS. The car has not been clearly defined yet. The Zeta platform (Holden Commodore, Chevrolet Camaro, etc.) is heavy and dated, and therefore the flagship is more likely be built on a stretched version of the CTS's Sigma platform.It also included that a smaller Cadillac based on the Sigma platform (CTS) will be produced as well. I seriously doubt both of them really. Cadillac doesn't sell that much and the Sigma platform is unique to Cadillac only and was built in competition to Holden's Zeta platform. They both do the same thing, they are large car rear wheel drive platforms. The quote says that Zeta is too old and heavy. That can't be true, it has newer and more flexible engineering than the Sigma platform. For instance the Zeta platform supports Holden's Commodore and Statesmen, as well as Chevrolet's Camaro.
175,129 FordFord and Chevrolet are way ahead of everyone else, only Toyota comes close. Ford is probably in the best position as they have been dumping brands while everyone else is picking them up. Scion which is part of Toyota for instance doesn't sell much. It is still a perplexing decision as to why GM kept GMC, Buick and maybe even Cadillac around.
167,023 Chevrolet
136,485 Toyota
105,407 Honda
75,673 Nissan
61,172 Dodge
49,045 Hyundai
31,431 Kia
29,960 GMC
23,667 Suburu
23,543 Volkswagon
22,948 Jeep
22,605 Mazda
22,216 Lexus
20,699 Chrysler
19,876 Mercedes
17,859 BMW
12,582 Buick
12,328 Cadillac
11,766 Acura
9,205 Audi
9,128 Mercury
8,091 Infiniti
7,755 Lincoln
4,737 Mitsubishi
4,659 Volvo
4,233 Mini
4,112 Scion
2,700 Land Rover
1,903 Suzuki
1,873 Porsche
174 Saab
The truth about cars has an interesting break down of last months sales amongst the luxury car brands:
22,216 LexusSome interesting things from that list. No wonder Ford dumped Jaguar and Volvo. Also no suprise that GM dumped Saab; however they held on to both Buick and Cadillac. Supposedly they held on to Buick because of booming sales in China. It looks like Buick and Cadillac are competing for the same buyers in the luxury market in the US though. It is interesting to see that Ford is killing Mercury and adopting the two brand strategy of Toyota/Lexus in the US market with Lincoln being the upscale brand. Not sure how well that will work as Lincolns are no names really. Ford can probably survive as just Ford and make more expensive cars within its line up.
18,992 Mercedes
17,859 BMW
12,582 Buick
12,328 Cadillac
11,766 Acura
9,205 Audi
9,128 Mercury
8,091 Infiniti
7,755 Lincoln
4,559 Volvo
4,233 Mini
2,700 Land Rover
960 Jaguar
174 Saab
ranomatic : Interesting. I didn't know my MINI was a luxury car. I also didn't understand a comment from GM about how Saab cost the company more money than Saturn (until now).
