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Originally Posted by grumbles
You know what, you're right.
Toyota would do away with all of GM's ancient technology, and rightfully so, which is why I'd love to see a GM/Toyota alliance.
I love this, I absolutely love it. You are somehow convined that GM's current pushrod powerplants and their current platforms are somehow superior to those of Toyota, and you compare them to powerplants and platforms that haven't even been released or reviewed yet. The V8 in the LS460/LS600hL/IS500/whatever else is brand new, we have virtually no info on it, yet it is all of a sudden inferoir to the LS7 or whatever else.
Why is this? Why is it inferior? How do you know? Where did you get your information? Did a Toyota engineer confess to you how awesomely incredible GM's powerplants are, and how inferior Toyotas are?
What about the platforms? Did you somehow attain specs of the new Lexus LF-A's (the high-revving v10 supercar that's been tearing around the nurburgerking, for those who dont know) platform, and figure out that it was superior to the Corvette, leaf springs and all?
GM stands to gain a whole hell of a lot, as there's a lot of things they clearly aren't capable of, that Toyota is.
First, building a fuel-efficient 4cyl powerplant for it's lower-end vehicles. The ecotec is easily the least efficient engine in it's class, hell, the Vibe gets better mileage than almost any other GM vehicle.
Second, building a fuel-efficient high-tech 6cyl ohc for everything else. The 3.5 V6 Toyota has had in the IS350, Avalon, Camry, and a few other vehicles for a few years tops the brand new GM V6 going into the Aura and other vehicles, not only in hp/tq ratings, but in fuel efficiency also.
Third, hybrid systems. Toyota is undoubtedly the leader here, with more hybrid vehicles now and in the future than anyone else, and GM could stand to benefit greatly from Toyota in this area.
GM stands to gain a whole hell of a lot, and lose almost nothing with any sort of material worth.
What can GM do alone? They can be second, third, fourth, fifth best, but they will never be at the top again without some sort of help.
(Edit by Ming - See my reply, and watch the cursing)
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