2009 GM Vehicles Post MPG Increase; Saab Aero 4Cyl Pkg; Malibu Hybrid Gets Big Boost

[Talonderiel]

Originally Posted by 63GrandSport001

I believe its because the 2.8L is to be replaced by a 3.0L direct injected motor that makes 260BHP NA and 420BHP turbo.

Really? Any idea when this is gonna' happen? Hopefully, the same time they roll out the way over-due next gen 9-5 (supposedly MY09.5).

[Snafu_SS]

Originally Posted by ronald mcretard

One thing I have wondered about low rolling resistance tires: do they increase stopping distance? I'll look it up now.

EDIT: It seems they do increase stopping distance by at least a few percent, although there are some that dispute that.

Aren't they essentially just hard compound tires?

I've heard one person saying that they changed out the tires and rims on their Civic Hybrid for larger wheels and tires and saw a huge drop in mpg...guess the weight and less resistance can add up.

[Snafu_SS]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

Wait... WHAT????

A 2.0T Aero model? What's the HP rating on this so-called Aero engine? Is it also 280HP???

If I understand this correctly, All Saab did was add an Aero "effects package" onto the Arc/Linear model and call it a day. It's an Aero... but not really. That's like saying... Here's an M3, but we didn't drop in the engine, but gave you everything else and called it an M3 anyways.

I like the idea personally..it's like the Fusion with the sport appearance package. Looks awesome but you can still get an I4 and manual trans

[packardlust]

Originally Posted by Greg Burr

It's probably not price competitive with a 2-mode. 4 MPG in the city is a great improvement. The 2-mode will be cool, though.

BAS+ will be available w/ 6 speed auto. The 1.4 DI Turbo, with BAS+, 6 speed auto, and HCCI will be a combo no other manufacturer will have in 2010. Great mileage, greater power, smooth drivability, and unbeatable engineering solutions at a lower cost than lower power Toyota Synergy drive. I believe that these systems that GM is introducing in 2010 will over the next decade define what hybrid means in the eyes of the consumer. It will be the other auto manufacturers that will be following GM's lead in hybrid technology.

[63GrandSport001]

Originally Posted by Talonderiel

Really? Any idea when this is gonna' happen? Hopefully, the same time they roll out the way over-due next gen 9-5 (supposedly MY09.5).

Information on the 3.0L 260 motor was seen on a brochure for the CTS Wagon so Im guessing around that time the 3.0L motor will come out.

They should use the 3.0L motor in the Malibu to boost bother horsepower and fuel economy and give use a diesel option in it and call it a day.

[RSW]

Originally Posted by vdoh182

5.3 liter silverado with 6 speed gets 14/20, compared to 14/19 in the regular 4x4 model, the 6 speed doesnt seem to have helped much.

http://media.gm.com/us/chevrolet/en/...o/09index.html

It'd be hard to get much more highway mileage out of an enormous, tall brick (i.e, truck) even with 8 speeds.

[mgescuro]

Originally Posted by ChevyRules

BMW does similar things. Has an optional M appearance package I believe on some vehicles. This can be seen on the 135i. It has a M appearance package already on it since there isn't supposed to be a M version of the car.

But you're not calling it an M3 or an M1 or an M whatever. It's a whatever-series with a sport package.

9-3 Aero. That's what it is apparently called.... and it isn't.

[DemonKnightDK]

well, technically, if thats what GM is calling it, then by rights, it is seeing as how they own the rights, and names to do what they want with the model and all that

[igotzzoom]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

Okay...the Malibu Hybrid gets 1 MPG Highway better than the regular Malibu...and only 4 MPG city better.
Christ. Just make it Two-Mode for God's sake and give it near 40 MPG.

I was gonna say, that's not a very big difference between the 4-cyl LTZ and the Hybrid. How much more is the Hybrid?

[motorman]

Originally Posted by dindak

It would be nice if they could get the 3.6L Malibus up to 30 mpg highway also!

the antique 3.8 impalas get 30+ on the highway at legal speeds

[63GrandSport001]

Originally Posted by igotzzoom

I was gonna say, that's not a very big difference between the 4-cyl LTZ and the Hybrid. How much more is the Hybrid?

The hybrid I believe starts at $24,000 and the LT starts at $21,500 so for less money you can get almost the same MPG..........

This is why I say that hybrids make little to no sense at all as they are not a money saver and they are not better on the environment.

[Gm786]

Originally Posted by dindak

It would be nice if they could get the 3.6L Malibus up to 30 mpg highway also!

If GM adds direct injection to the Malibu's 3.6L engine than I can see it achieving 30 mpg or more highway along with city mpg getting a good boost too.

[flobeelicious]

Originally Posted by Snafu_SS

Aren't they essentially just hard compound tires?

I've heard one person saying that they changed out the tires and rims on their Civic Hybrid for larger wheels and tires and saw a huge drop in mpg...guess the weight and less resistance can add up.

not doubting that the tires may make some difference - but if the tires/rims weren't a +1,+2 etc, that would be the bigger factor. if the overall circumference of the tire was larger, the speedometer/odometer would read lower than it should, and hence apparent mileage would drop.

[blkwrxsti]

Originally Posted by TJ95GAGT

Because GM is saving the US more fuel by giving big SUV's the true hybrids first, duh.

( sarcasm should be noted)

The true genius of this plan is even more subtle than that - Even the trucks without the hybrid system are saving gas. Everytime you see a hundred of them on a dealership lot, think of how much gas they're NOT using...

You get smarter and smarter, and one day people just call you a madman . Speaking of madmen - whoever came up with the idea of pretending that "the Saab Aero" just gained 3 mpg needs to be locked up for a very long time...

[jorgesalazar521@msn.com]

wait 6-12 months for gm to say "we missed the boat again hybrids should have gone in our small vehicles firts. The hybryd suv's are not selling and we are losing 3-5% market share, in hindsight, next time, blaa blaa blaa.......