You are hereGM
GM
CNBC: Koenigsegg deal to buy Saab crumbles
UPDATE
Apparently GM still has hopes of finding a buyer for Saab.
"I talked to GM last night and my impression is that they have not given up hope," Joran Hagglund, state secretary at Sweden's Industry Ministry.
On Tuesday, the Swedish government ruled out offering any bailout cash to Saab. Time will tell but referring to my tweet yesterday, I think we may be seeing the end of Saab.
BREAKING NEWS
CNBC is reporting this morning that the deal that has been in the works since June for Koenigsegg to buy Saab has failed.
Koenigsegg decided to pull out of the deal which, of course, brings into question Saab's viability. Saab vehicle sales have dropped 61.5 percent this year with only 7,400 cars sold in the United States.
When this deal was announced, I thought this was an unlikely pair. Why would a small, boutique manufacturer like Koenigsegg take over a much larger company like Saab? Other than they are both Swedish-based, it didn't make any sense. I think most enthusiasts would agree that Koenigsegg should stick with what they know best and that's making high-performance exotics. Maybe Koenigsegg's management thought the same.
Do you think this is the end for Saab? It doesn't seem likely that GM will do anything to keep the make afloat. They have enough problems of their own to worry about.
Which brand should General Motors keep?
Survey says...Pontiac!
Unfortunately, General Motors may be making a big mistake. According to Advertising Age, a survey recently completed by CarGurus asked potential car buyers which GM brand they would like to see survive the cuts. They chose Pontiac.
The survey had almost 1,700 respondents, with 44% naming Pontiac, 27% choosing Hummer, 20% selecting Saab and only 9% picking Saturn. Now the respondents picking Pontiac really isn't a stretch. Pontiac is known as GM's performance brand, dating back to the birth of the muscle car era in the '60s.
Now the rest of the survey results are a bit confusing. Second after Pontiac is Hummer. Maybe Sichuan Tengzhong, the Chinese company negotiating to purchase Hummer, knows something we don't. The goal, of course, is for GM to get rid of a brand that just isn't profitable anymore. The Chinese company sounds willing to put up the cash to keep Hummer afloat. This should be interesting.
Road Test: Pontiac G8 GT
G8 GT: Quiet cruiser
As I mentioned in my First Impressions of the G8 GT, this car is a true American sports sedan. After a mix of city and freeway driving, the G8 proved itself to be not only a great family car but terrific fun for a car guy like me.
Yes, for the enthusiasts out there, you can convince your significant other that the G8 will be a safe and reliable family hauler, knowing full well that during alone time behind the wheel, you'll have the performance you crave.
I've mentioned a few times now how quiet the G8 can be, both around town and highway driving. I think I was expecting this car to be "louder", but not in a bad way. The G8 GT has a 6-liter V8 with 361 horsepower. At idle, you barely hear it. I drove this car a lot but took a moment to just sit in it while the engine was running. The sound was barely perceptible. The only thing tipping you off was the subtle shake to the car as the big V8 loped along at a mere 500rpm.
The only quibble I have is the G8's interior was so serene that I noticed a slight driveline hum. Splitting hairs? Probably. Annoying? Not at all. But again, I'm a nut. And it may not be common across the model line.
G8 GT: Powerful sports sedan
So great, the G8 is quiet. You don't need to worry about any outside intrusions spoiling your favorite satellite radio station. But what about the car's performance?
It goes without saying the 6-liter is powerful, but it's muscle is truly realized with the stump-pulling 385 lb-ft of torque. The six-speed automatic has no problem putting the power down as you are being pushed back in your seat.
If you're like me, you're hankering for a six-speed manual. Patience will reward you once the G8 GXP goes on sale in 2009. Enthusiasts will also be thrilled with the GXP's 6.2-liter V8 and 400-plus horsepower.
The G8 GT's transmission, like many of today's slush-boxes, has a manual function, allowing you to shift up or down with a push or pull on the center console lever. No flappy-paddle gear boxes here. But because it's an automatic at heart, your still relying on hydraulic fluids and computers to make the gear changes for you. For enthusiasts it is, of course, lacking a little. Manual shifts take too long to complete and can be abrupt at times. But given the option, I'll take a manumatic transmission over a standard automatic any time. I drove in manual-mode most of the time, with the upside being able to hold a gear and listen to the unmistakable sound of a big American V8.
We can't get around talking about gas mileage though. The G8 GT is thirsty, getting an EPA estimated 15 miles per gallon in the city and 24 highway. I averaged close to 17mpg with a mix of highway and city driving. Admittedly, my highway driving was pretty mellow, with city driving being more aggressive. I figured I did pretty well. But be prepared to be hit in your wallet keeping this car filled up.
Family hauler
The interior of the G8 is quite roomy, with my 6-foot frame having no problem getting comfortable behind the wheel. Kids will have plenty of room in the back seat to spread out and get comfortable for long trips. Adults should find leg and head room acceptable as well. Separate air vents at the rear of the center console will help keep said kids or adults cool or warm, depending on the time of the year.
The leather seats, particular for those in front, are supportive and firm. I appreciated the aggressive side bolsters holding me in place during sport-minded driving.
And of course the car's CD-player and XM satellite radio will help on extended trips as well.
For the performance-minded family guy
This car is not your grandparents Pontiac. It is definitely geared toward performance enthusiasts who also need to move family and friends. This is a true four-door sport sedan that can compete with any other on the market. For a well-optioned G8 GT, you're looking at a little over $30,000. Pretty good, considering any European counterpart will be thousands more.
And it's an American car we can get excited about. I haven't been bashful in my support lately of the American car makers, evident in my posts about the Cadillac CTS Coupe and SRX crossover.
The G8 may not be breaking any new ground in styling as I've discussed in those previous articles, but it is breaking ground for GM as a quality vehicle, further dispensing with the myth that GM can't produce exciting cars.
