Walter J Keegan Jr. - Autoblog

The press was all over GM during the rough times the past couple of months and now that GM has given analysts and certain members of the press a preview of 18 new models coming in the next 30 months. It's weird to hear journalists "gush" over GM's designs, but the new Malibu and CTS are getting a great reaction, as well as the next Escalade. There was mixed reviews for the new line of sport wagons, some loving the new Buick and others not too impressed. Interiors have also received a huge

It seems like Toyota wants to have it both ways. They tout that Scion is its own brand and sold differently than the Toyota brand, but in their final numbers (and in the monthly numbers where the Scion brand adds huge to the Toyota brand) Scion sales get lumped in with the Toyota brand, almost adding 100,000 units to Toyota's bottom line. Problem is Toyota and Chevy both broadcast commercials proclaiming that they sold the most cars in 2004. Toyota is if they add Scion. Chevy is if they d

A piece of history went up in smoke yesterday as the Piquette Avenue Plant in Detroit burnt to the ground. A once mighty plant that was home to Ford's historic Model T and Studebaker's plant before they moved to their South Bend home in 1928. The fire was more devastating for the few businesses that were located in the big brick warehouse including a local family meat wholesaler. Detroit is in the midst of trying to preserve the remnants of "The Motor City" and this is one more

A six car race at the U.S. Grand Prix does not win fans over, especially when spectators were fleeing for the exits after 10 laps and demanding their money back. The 14 teams that were on Michelin tires boycotted the race after the tire manufacturer informed the teams that the tires were not safe in the final banked corner of IMS. Teams asked the FIA to either change tires or to place a chicane in the final turn. When the requests were refused, 14 teams parked their cars leaving only 6 dr

Spring Hill is the Woodstock for Saturn fans. It was the revolutionary (and expensive) auto plant for GM's Saturn brand. But as Saturn looks for a new voice that does not include plastic body panels and GM looks to shutter a few more North American plants, word is the completely redesigned 2007 Saturn ION will move production to the Lordstown plant where the Chevy Cobalt and Pontiac Pursuit/G4 (Canada/Mexico) are assembled. That leaves Spring Hill with the VUE, which could easily be

Maybe I know too much about cars and history. Maybe Dodge Aspen rolls off the tongue better than Chrysler Aspen. Maybe when I hear the name Aspen, I think like a down-to-earth car guy and first envision this monstrosity on the right, then a tree, then Lloyd Christmas, then the trendy, rich town. Yes, I'm not the target demographic of Chrysler's first SUV, a be-dazzeled Durango with a big winged logo, but Aspen sits about as well with me as last night's chalupa. I'll repeat it like a mantr

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For almost $1 million, you can have your own 727 limo built off a Mercedes bus. It's a virtual love-nest with 2 living rooms, a bar, a heart-shaped bed and a bathroom. The sound system has it's own fog machine and laser light show so you can have your own portable rave for 30 to 50 people. It is legal for road use. That's a hell of a vehicle that would appear closer than it really is in your rear-view mirror. Thanks to John for the tip.

As you may—or may not—know, the blog you are now reading belongs to the Weblogs, Inc. Network (WIN).

The UK publication Autocar has confirmed that Land Rover is working on a car-based model for the future. They also hint that the model may appear as a concept in the near future. Due to the amount of engineering needed for this new model, it is unlikely to launch anytime before late 2007. The platform would be based from the C1 small car architecture that underpins the European Focus and Volvo S40. With Jaguar getting a

GM has been battling the big rebate bug since "Keep America Rolling" in 2001. Big rebates create price hikes to ensure profitability is still there. Biggest problem: More and more people are shopping on internet sites via sticker prices and are not getting the rebates factored in, which prices some GM offerings out of the running. Dealers that have been briefed on GM's strategy for 2006 models say the prices have been lowered to become more competitive on the internet and hopefully kill s