Eric77TA

Since the Commodore program is already paying for the development, it's not like it adds a whole lot of expense to add a Chevy to the program. In fact, it probably spreads the cost out further than selling the Holden branded version alone. I know Holden were really counting on G8 volume to make the Commodore profitable and were left a bit in the lurch when Pontiac went bye bye.

FT, Chevy showed the Volt MPV5 concept at Beijing last year. So we've known a larger Volt of some kind was coming for nearly a year:

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/22/beijing-2010-chevrolet-volt-mpv5-crossover-revealed/

Chainsaw,

The ECO isn't "more expensive than other Cruzes," it's the same price as a 1LT. So it is "more expensive than an LS" but not more expensive than a 2LT or LTZ.

The beauty of the Cruze vs. the Leaf is that you don't have to worry what the range is when it is 0 degrees out. Even if your range is cut in half due to freezing temperatures you can still go as far as your gas will take you.

Elmo, the Patriot and Compass are almost identical in size. They're only a couple of tenths of an inch different in any direction and share the same wheelbase. Styling is really the only main differentiator.

Different markets? Kind of (at least intended to be), but they are essentially the same car with different styling.

They very well may.

The Autoblog story simplifies what was sent to the dealers.

If you go look at the original story on GMI, the letter that went to dealers said, more or less "If the cars were equipped like this, would you order them?" It wasn't an announcement of trim levels, but rather research as to what dealers thought they could sell.

It's entirely possible that some of these trims may not see production. I think they could (and probably should) cut them in half.

According to Autoblog, the Volt is ready, but the window stickers aren't...

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/17/chevy-volts-ready-to-ship-just-need-official-epa-mileage-sticke/

"Destination will cost you another $850."

that's not what the press release says...

"...priced from $30,000 MSRP (including $850 destination)."

My father sold Buicks from 1970-2002 and the dealership he worked at always used Black Book. I always remember it coming in the mail. I believe it was a monthly. It was about the size of a pad of Post-It® notes, but a little taller - bound on top and the paper was phone book thin so the whole thing was probably only about 1/4 inch thick.

It always came wrapped like a pack of baseball cards.

I'm not sure if Black Book even publishes the print version anymore. I know that they have an online service now.

Undoubtedly it will. There's been word of a Buick Gamma II crossover for months now. There have been several articles right here on Autoblog:

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/04/report-buick-to-build-new-compact-crossover-in-michigan/

The press (including Autoblog, I think) have already seen it. I believe it to be the crossover that's in the "New GM" ad with Ed Welburn. He walks past the clay of it.

I don't view it as a movie about NASCAR (or an approximation thereof) so much as a love letter to Route 66 and a time of American motoring that has passed. I love the sequence with James Taylor's "Our Town." Makes the whole movie for me.

I have a little bias, however as Cars was the first movie we took our son to see in the theater. Nonetheless, while it doesn't have the depth of some of the other Pixar films, I think it's entertaining and will forever be the last character performance by the great Paul Newman.