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SEMA Preview: GM Performance Parts 638-hp LS9 Crate engine
Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Coupes, Chevrolet, GM 
Click above for a high-res gallery of the LS9
General Motors has announced that the blown beastie that lives under the hood of the Corvette ZR1 will be available as a crate motor next fall and our head is spinning with the swap possibilities.
With 639 hp and 604 lb.-ft. of twist available from the 6.2-liter supercharged V8, and dimensions shared by the LS3, any number of vehicles could make a happy home for the LS9. According to GM, the engine comes fully dressed, with an ignition system, exhaust manifolds and supercharger, and only needs an external oil tank and coolant tank (for the charge cooler), an ECU and wiring harness.
So, the question is: what would you fit the LS9 into? We've put together a poll after the jump, but feel free to add your own suggestions in the comments.
[Source: GM via MotiveMag]Continue reading SEMA Preview: GM Performance Parts 638-hp LS9 Crate engine  SEMA Preview: GM Performance Parts 638-hp LS9 Crate engine originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Corvette ZR-1 knocks four seconds off 'Ring time
Filed under: Coupes, Sports/GTs, Supercars, Chevrolet 
Click above for our high-res ZR-1 burnout gallery
Back at the Nürburgring, the hot Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 has just ripped four seconds off its claimed 7:26 lap. The new time, with Jan Magnussen at the wheel, is a claimed 7:22.4 for the full 12.93-mile loop. While the number is pretty bloody fast, it is still .3 seconds off the time earned by the Dodge Viper ACR (ouch, those three tenths really have to hurt!). We take these lap times with a grain of salt, as we've yet to see everyone on the 73-turn course under the same conditions, and with officially certified timing equipment. Again, so you don't have to Google the competition's best-claimed Ring times yourself, here they are: Porsche GT2 - 7:32, Nissan GT-R - 7:29, Corvette ZR1 - 7:22.4 and the Dodge Viper ACR - 7:22.1. Thanks for the tip, Xeyad!
[Source: Motor Gears]Corvette ZR-1 knocks four seconds off 'Ring time originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Officially Official: GM debuts Chevy GPiX Concept in Sao Paulo
Filed under: Concept Cars, Crossovers/CUVs, Chevrolet, Misc. Auto Shows 
Click above for high-res gallery of the Chevy GPiX Concept
General Motors officially debuted the GPiX Concept, which we previewed for you last week, at the Sao Paulo Auto Show in Brazil yesterday. It was designed entirely by GM Design in Brazil but retains those corporate styling cues that make it instantly recognizable as a modern Chevy around the world. This two-door crossover has a bit of ground clearance for what GM calls "the types of roads and conditions found in emerging markets." We think that means no roads and poor conditions. There's no mention of what powers the GPiX concept, though we assume it's either A) not a runner, B) has a fictional super efficient prototype powertrain underhood or C) uses a four-cylinder gas motor capable of running on E100 ethanol. GM also says that the GPiX could be a potential new segment for the automaker in South America, but in these tough times we doubt it's really interested in developing a solo vehicle for a single market. You can check out more high-res pics of the GPiX concept in the gallery below and read GM's official press release after the jump.
[Source: GM]Continue reading Officially Official: GM debuts Chevy GPiX Concept in Sao Paulo Officially Official: GM debuts Chevy GPiX Concept in Sao Paulo originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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New round of Aston Martin One-77 shots
Filed under: Supercars, Aston Martin 
Click above for a gallery of the Aston Martin One-77
Despite Aston Martin's efforts to keep the One-77 supercar under wraps, four images have leaked out and we expect more to follow in the coming days.
Viewed in profile, the One-77's silhouette is pure Aston, taking all the right cues from its predecessors and forming them into a slightly elongated and exaggerated form. The massive grille is an obvious nod to the Astons of yore, but the hood delves deeper than its DB9 and Vantage counterparts and benefits from four contoured strakes terminating into a set of air extractors. The creases that bisect the blacked-out headlamps and front fenders are pure aggression, and the vents aft of the front wheels ensure that the 700 hp V12 is kept cool at speed.
Out back, Aston's signature rump is present and accounted for, but a new taillight design that evolves the automaker's current offerings, a rear diffuser and a center-exit exhaust are all elements that we expect to see on future models.
Check the gallery below for all the details. Thanks for the tip, Alexander!
[Source: 925.nl]New round of Aston Martin One-77 shots originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Ford Venezuela website publishes boob (with nipple) for a good cause
Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Ford 
Be forewarned, this post does have nudity. But because the bare chest in question is being used to promote breast cancer awareness in a nation less stuffy about the naked female form than our own, we don't feel creepy for posting about it. Everybody wins! The image you see above can be found on Ford's Venezuelan website where it's being used to promote a joint breast cancer awareness and prevention campaign between the automaker and coincidentally named Ford Models. The two have teamed up to get their message out to both women and men, hence the vivacious Venezuelan model in her birthday suit to get and keep the latter's attention.
Together the two companies have offered free mammograms to all female Ford employees and any working within the automaker's dealer network in Venezuela. They're also holding a sweepstakes in which people can enter via texting to win a Ford Explorer and other prizes. Money earned from the texting charges will go to charities associated with breast cancer awareness and research. We of course support raising money and awareness for this great cause (in the U.S. we like Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the National Breast Cancer Foundation, and you can also find a list of rated breast cancer-related charities here), but we find it Twilight Zone strange to see that much bare skin on one of Ford's official websites. Thanks for the tip, catgirlshyla!
[Source: Ford]Ford Venezuela website publishes boob (with nipple) for a good cause originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Chrysler/Nissan partnership bears fruit in South America: the Dodge Trazo C1.8
Filed under: Economy, Sedans/Saloons, Chrysler, LLC., Dodge, Nissan, Misc. Auto Shows 
Click above for high-res gallery of the Dodge Trazo C1.8
 Early this year Chrysler and Nissan formed a partnership to share products. The big news at the time was that Nissan would be replacing its Titan pickup with a version of the Dodge Ram. But before that deal went down, the two automakers from different continents had already agreed on a partnership that would see the Nissan Versa sold in some South American markets as a Dodge. Today Dodge unveiled that vehicle at the Sao Paulo Auto Show in Brazil as the Trazo C1.8 sedan. It is a direct port of the Nissan Versa we know in the U.S. and the Tiida sold in Japan, though will only be offered as a sedan in South America and not as a five-door hatchback. As far as we can tell, not a body panel or interior appointment has been changed, save for new Trazo badging and slightly different black plastic grille. We couldn't even find a Dodge logo on the car's exterior. The Trazo's engine also appears to be the same 1.8L four-cylinder used in the Versa that's been made E100 ethanol-capable for South American markets. Reading the press release from Dodge after the jump is a bit trippy, as we've never heard one automaker speak so flowery about another automaker's product. If Chrysler thinks the Trazo is so good, should we buy the Versa instead of the Caliber in the U.S.?
[Source: Dodge]Continue reading Chrysler/Nissan partnership bears fruit in South America: the Dodge Trazo C1.8 Chrysler/Nissan partnership bears fruit in South America: the Dodge Trazo C1.8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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F430 Replacement: lightweight with turbo V8
Filed under: Green, Supercars, Ferrari, Rumormill 
Ferrari has promised to make its future products lighter and more mindful of the environment, and the first example of the Italian automaker's new direction will likely be the F430 replacement. This new Ferrari, code-named F142, is rumored to arrive towards the end of 2009 or early 2010. The vehicle will start out by weighing less than the F430, even the extra lightweight Scuderia model that tips the scales at 1250 kg. The Italian exotic could share technology and styling cues with the eco-friendly Mille Chili concept (above)from a year ago, which utilized lightweight and active aerodynamics to help reduce its CO2 emissions.
The F430's venerable 4.3L V8 is also rumored to be shrinking, but since it will still don the prancing horse, we're pretty sure it won't lose much in the way of power. CAR Magazine believes that Ferrari has turned to direct injection and turbocharging to make up for any loss in the new engine's displacement. The F142 also won't have a soft-top Spyder option, instead for a psuedo-convertible setup with hard panels. New Ferrari models don't typically decrease in price, and with all this added technology the price of the F142 is expected to easily exceed that of the F430. Ferrari wants to reduce emissions by 40% by 2012, and with lighter materials and a smaller engine, the F142 could be the Italian supercar the Sierra Club has been waiting for.
[Source: CAR Magazine]F430 Replacement: lightweight with turbo V8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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6,000 Camaros ordered so far, 84% with V8
Filed under: Car Buying, Coupes, Sports/GTs, Plants/Manufacturing, Chevrolet 
Click above for high-res gallery of the 2010 Chevy Camaro
Chevrolet has reportedly taken more than 6,000 orders for its new Camaro so far, and why not? The car is great looking, excitement is high, and fuel prices have eased up a bit. You'd think that the prior spike in the cost of fuel would still be fresh on everyone's mind, thus making the V6 a popular choice. Wrongo. While the V6 has similar lip-smackingly great styling, and won't be a slowpoke, it seems that everyone wants that small block rhythm thumping away under the hood of their neo-ponycar. 84% of orders have been for V8-powered SS models so far, which may mean a longer wait for delivery since GM is likely building a very different ratio of V8 to V6 models. Thanks for the tip, Doug!
[Source: Camaro5]6,000 Camaros ordered so far, 84% with V8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 10:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Ferrari may leave F1 if standard engine approved
Filed under: Motorsports, Ferrari 
Could one unthinkable action be followed by another? It may be, if Formula 1 heads get their wish for a standard engine for the racing series. Both Toyota, a team near the bottom of the standings, and Ferrari, which is up near the top as it usually is, have expressed their concerns about such a plan, with both entities threatening to pull out of the racing series if such a path were taken. A Formula 1 world without Ferrari is practically unfathomable, as is seeing a Prancing Horse powered by a McLaren/Mercedes powerplant.
Does one knee-jerk reaction deserve another? Probably not. Our guess is that cooler heads will prevail and the FIA will come up with another alternative to lower the costs of competing in F1. This is, after all, the path that the FIA often takes when it comes to making major rules changes. Thanks for the tip, everyone!
[Source: F1-Live, Photo by Vladimir Rys/Bongarts/Getty]Ferrari may leave F1 if standard engine approved originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Honda rolls out low financing rates for best-selling Civic
Filed under: Coupes, Economy, Sedans/Saloons, Honda 
The Civic has been a pillar of the Honda lineup for decades, and high gas prices have made it even more important to the Japanese automaker's success here in the U.S. Back in May and June, Honda couldn't make enough Civics, but with the auto industry here in the States imploding, even Honda's little money maker needs incentives. Right now, buyers with good credit can pick up a brand new 2008 or 2009 Civic with 1.9% financing for 36 months or 3.9% APR for up to 60 months. All models except the GX are included in the offer, even the Civic Hybrid.
If you're not looking to buy a Civic, you can lease one for $1,999 down and $189 a month for 36 months. That's $1,100 cheaper than the previous offer of $2,799 down and $199 a month. Honda says the incentive offers are necessary in part because of lowering gas prices, and the Japanese automaker wants to continue to see Civics fly off dealer lots to keep its new Indiana factory humming. Honda dealers are also happy about the Civic deals in light of Toyota's 0% financing program on 11 vehicles, but they would like to see even more. Between 0% financing at Toyota and hefty discounts on 2009 Civics, we have all the evidence we need that U.S. auto market is completely screwed right now.
[Source: Nick Sells Hondas]Honda rolls out low financing rates for best-selling Civic originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 09:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Spy Shots: Panamera mule close-ups... still looks... hmmm...
Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedans/Saloons, Sports/GTs, Porsche  At last count, there were 13 Porsche Panameras winding their way up and down San Francisco streets. We don't know what could be so challenging in the city by the bay that Porsche would take a huge mule fleet to a crowded city center, but needless to say there have been a lot of pictures taken. This particular lensman was even able to spend enough close up time with a curbside model that he got tire sizes (F: 255/40 R20, R: 285/40 R20), a description of the dash, and pictures of the ceramic brakes. We won't even say anything about how the car looks. Have a look at the 15 shots for yourself and see if you feel any differently about it. Thanks to everyone who sent in tips!
[Source: Roadfly]Spy Shots: Panamera mule close-ups... still looks... hmmm... originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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How quickly we forget: Cheaper gas = higher pickup and SUV sales
Filed under: Car Buying, SUVs, Trucks/Pickups 
Pickup and SUV sales plummeted when gas hit $4 per gallon, and many thought these gas-guzzling segments would never fully recover. That may be true, but for now Americans are once again getting more comfortable with trucks and SUVs. Truck sales fell below 10% of overall vehicle sales back in May and June, but the price of gas falling from an average of $4.11 per gallon to $2.78 has helped the share of trucks rise to 14.1% of the overall market for September. Depending on how buyers react to the financial crisis, October could be even better as gas prices have continued to go down. SUVs have seen a smaller but still significant jump in overall share, going from 1.9% in May to 2.5% in September - a big improvement for a shrinking segment.
Much of the increased interest in trucks and SUVs can easily be attributed to huge incentives on the hoods of these hefty haulers, but gas prices are a big factor, as well. And while most analysts feel the truck market won't recover until construction picks back up, we're sure automakers are happy to see an increase in sales for their most profitable vehicles, even if it takes a pile of cash on the hood to get them moving.
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd, Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty ]How quickly we forget: Cheaper gas = higher pickup and SUV sales originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Pontiac: G8 and Solstice not being canceled
Filed under: Convertibles, Coupes, Sedans/Saloons, Pontiac, Rumormill 
Click above for hi-res gallery of the Pontiac G8 GXP
Pontiac hopes to clear things up with a post on Pontiac blog regarding the future of its current products, namely the G8 and Solstice. It was just the other day that rumors of the brand's two rear-wheel drive vehicles possible being canceled hit the interwebs, and we dutifully reported on the story as we always do. According to Pontiac, though, those rumors are nothing more than speculation and should not be taken as gospel unless you hear it from the horse's (or Mr. Lutz's) mouth, which we have not. Still, the rumor in question indicates that the G8 will live on at least another five years, assuming it continues to sell that long, but would not be replaced after that. This could still be the case. Likewise, the Solstice has not been canceled, but it's replacement in GM's lineup still seems unlikely given the low volume of sales the vehicle attracts. In short, nobody can predict the future, but sometimes the handwriting on the wall isn't that tough to read.
[Source: Pontiac Underground]Pontiac: G8 and Solstice not being canceled originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Porsche and Piech families bury the hatchet, will probably be dug up again...
Filed under: Porsche, Volkswagen 
Dr. Wolfgang Porsche, the head of Porsche Holding, and Porsche's group works council chairman Uwe Huck took time to answer Porsche staff questions about the impending takeover of VW. It appeared to go well enough: Wolfgang said the Porsche and Piech families met, and Ferdinand Piech, the head of VW, "clearly stated that he unreservedly supports the course of Porsche Automobil Holding SE in all points and is fully and entirely behind the chairmen." It was also said that Piech did not support the committee formed to approve Porsche and Audi cooperation, that the co-detemination agreement between Porsche and VW would remain fair to the larger and smaller company, and that the VW Law would be struck down.
The only thing missing from the love fest was... Ferdinand Piech. The VW chief and supposed cause of much of Porsche's troubles didn't attend -- his sentiments were conveyed by Dr. Porsche with peculiar phrasing. For instance, even though Porsche said Piech didn't approve of the technology sharing committee, Piech purposely didn't attend the meeting that cast the votes. It all sounded good, but until Piech is forced to sit down in public and decide one way or another, we'll wait for the next turn in the soap opera before we assume everything is safe. You can check out the details of this latest turn in the press release after the jump.
[Source: Porsche]Continue reading Porsche and Piech families bury the hatchet, will probably be dug up again... Porsche and Piech families bury the hatchet, will probably be dug up again... originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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AutoblogGreen for 10.28.08
Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green 
AutoblogGreen got passed some confirmation that the tiny Toyota iQ will come to the U.S. as the Scion iQ, the brand's highest-mpg model. It won't arrive until 2010, but it looks like it's coming. As for vehicles that are available now, we spent some time in the Audi A5 3.0 TDI 6MT. And is it the end of the Tahoe/Yukon hybrids? Signs point to yes.
AutoblogGreen for 10.28.08 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 06:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Battle Royale: If GM and Chrysler merge, which models survive?
Filed under: Chrysler, LLC., GM 
Click above for the Battle Royale between GM and Chrysler models
At first we thought the idea of a merger between General Motors and Chrysler LLC was laughable. We still do, but persistent reports to the contrary have us fearing that this marriage just might happen. Combining these two automakers would be a messy job, as many models on both sides of the fence compete directly with on another in the marketplace. If the merger does happen, someone may have to sit down and decide which models stay and which go. We decided to play arm chair auto executive quarterback and hold a Battle Royale. We've pitted model against model in 12 segments in which GM and Chrysler compete directly. In this thought experiment, only one model in each segment will survive to see the New World Order. Get to clickin' below to find out which ones make it.
Click here for Match 1: Chevy Cobalt vs. Dodge Caliber
Battle Royale: If GM and Chrysler merge, which models survive? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Oct 2008 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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KTM taking orders on X-Bow 'Race' for ?82,900
Filed under: Motorsports 
Click above for a high-res gallery of the KTM X-Bow "Race"
KTM and its four-wheeled racer, the X-Bow, had an incredibly successful season, dominating the GT4 Sports Light class in its inaugural year. With a serious campaign under its belt, KTM is finally making its "Race" version of the X-Bow available to consumers, and the bike-manufacturer-turned-automaker has big plans for the future.
Over 30 modifications were made to the standard X-Bow - ranging from semi-slick tires to an adjustable brake balance controller - to bring it up to GT4-spec, and if the €82,900 cost of entry isn't enough, KTM is offering a variety of optional "PowerParts" to take the X-Bow to the next level. Adjustable front and rear anti-roll bars, central-locking wheels, an airjack system, Kevlar front panels, a carbon fiber tonneau cover and a revised rear bumper are available for track addicts abroad. But that's not all.
KTM is launching a new program billed the "Customer Racing Concept" which allows owners of the X-Bow "Race" to campaign in a number of events throughout Europe with full support provided by the KTM crew. For around €3,000 per race, CRS will take care of all the logistics on race day, including transport, race service, spare parts, hospitality, tires, fuel, driver and team equipment, making it easy - if not cheap - to campaign an X-Bow in a number of European series.
In 2009, KTM will launch the X-Bow Super Sport Cup, with two separate competitions. The SSC North will cover Germany, the UK, Belgium and the Netherlands, while SSC South covers France, Spain and Italy. A number of races are planned throughout the year, and there's talk of extending the program to the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Dubai, Bahrain and Qatar, and even the possibility of bringing it to the States.
Hit the jump for all the details in KTM's lengthy release.
Continue reading KTM taking orders on X-Bow 'Race' for ?82,900 KTM taking orders on X-Bow 'Race' for ?82,900 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Oct 2008 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Superformance teams up with Roush for special edition MKIII-R roadster
Filed under: Time Warp, Convertibles, ROUSH 
Click above for a high resolution gallery of the Special Edition MKIII-R
Sometimes good things come in small packages. Other times, they come with a Roush 427 IR crate motor pumping out 576 horsepower. Superformance, the only Shelby-licensed producer of Cobra kit cars, has teamed up with Roush for a special edition version of their MKIII replicar that features the aforementioned 427ci V8 as well as several other Roush components. In addition to standard features like TIG welded ladder frame chassis, independent front and rear suspension, fiberglass body, and Wilwood brakes, the MKIII-R gets custom Cobra seats with four-point harnesses, black chrome trim, Roush floor mats and short throw shifter, custom Roush-engraved wind wings, and a unique Monza Red paint scheme with silver stripes and black pin stripes. The package is now on sale and will be sold as an upgrade for the standard MKIII chassis. Full details in the press release after the jump.
[Source: Superformance] Continue reading Superformance teams up with Roush for special edition MKIII-R roadster Superformance teams up with Roush for special edition MKIII-R roadster originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tahoe, Yukon and Escalade not being replaced
Filed under: SUVs, Plants/Manufacturing, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GM, GMC 
The full-size SUV's future is on shaky legs and now, reports have surfaced that General Motors has killed the next generation Tahoe and Yukon 'utes, just weeks after announcing it would shutter its SUV plant in Janesville, Wisconsin. Of course, if that pair is buried, the Suburban and the Cadillac Escalade that use the same platform must also come to an end, at least in their current form.
Past reports indicate that the ultra-lux ride from Caddy will move to the Lambda platform for its next generation. The Tahukon pair had been slated for a redesign in 2011, and since that's reportedly not going to happen, the duo's future is definitely in question. GM will probably keep churning out the current version until it's no longer profitable to do so.
These days, any story about the General would be incomplete without some mention of Chrysler, and this one's no different. America's number three automaker just announced just last week that it would be phasing out its full-sized 'utes as well. Therefore, any possible merger of the two companies would carry on without a new large SUV platform at all. How the times have changed.
[Source: The New York Times via Inside Line]Tahoe, Yukon and Escalade not being replaced originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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