I like the idea of Chevrolet offering people the option of voting on designs. People that would be potential customers may feel more empowered and involved, simply because they ARE more empowered and involved, and choose a design that appeals to them. Then when the car is developed and introduced, there already is an established following. Thinking of design clinics and concept cars, this takes those philosophies a step further. Genius, in a way. Thought provoking.

Hi Mark:
You CAN "Vote for the Volt" at the GM website. That was an option they started almost immediately after the Detroit Auto Show this January. I assume the "polls" are still open to do this. When I last visited the site a few weeks ago, they were at a little over 400,000 votes, which about 99% wanted the Volt to go into production. I encourage you or anyone to visit the site and Vote if you would like to see this car offered. This is an easy and tangible way for GM to guage interest in their vehicles.

Yes the GM site is still open, and yes I have voted for the Volt.

And Fred, as far as introducing a new model into the US, there are alot of credentials needing to be in place before being offered. Cant just dump off a product and expect the world to be right, and everyone to know what to do. Crash standards, pollution (including clean diesels), warranty, etc. must be verified. Also dealers must be up to speed on what they are selling, and how to fix them if needed.

GM should be applauded for trying, and issuing interest ahead of time. In reality they are not studying these problems any longer than the other, "favored" makers on this site. Everyone puts their own spin on what these releases mean. But give credit to GM for trying, and at least having offerings to make. Chrysler, on the other hand, can only push the "Hemi" thing so far. Perhaps thats why they are in the trouble they are in.

Why don't they just display them on the American Dreamer (or whatever that show is) along with the guy who wants more hair. It is just a cheap publicity stunt. If you have something worthwhile, build it.

That's the ticket for Global Heating! More Coal, More Nuclear, Two-Tone Paint Jobs and Buzz Cuts.

These cars have buzz cuts?!

Wells: don't forget the epsilon semi-morons or are they being created by Sprawl Mart.

I like the idea of having input into design choices even if I'm likely to be ignored. I used to be on Decima Research's list of people to phone for political polls and I figured that I had way more influence by being part of a one or two thousand sample group than I ever did by voting. Of course where I am in B.C. the elections have usually been decided before I even get a chance to vote.

Fiat had one like that in the early fifties.

Don't let GM trick all of you would be consumers on their input or vote idea. I have a ton of GM points accumulated from my GM
Master Card, and I have not had one inquiry as to what type of vehicle I am interested in purchasing in the near term. Can you say "plug-in hybrid EV". It is the same old waiting game, to get
GM off of its supplier ICE bandwagon, and compete with the cars of the future, being manufactured today by its rivals, that are
reeling in market share in all catagories except "the guzzler".
Have you noticed the Consumer Reports 2007 top 10 vehicles. Its a long game of catch up for GM. Beware of the Euro /Asian /Korean and Chinese manufacturers, that they don't eat into GMs profitability like the UAW is now doing with GMs suppliers. IF you can't compete in the manufacturing game, then your relegated
to becomming a distributer, supplier, or history.

Its a big change for a company which once said that all the future vehicles will be based on Truck Platform.

Any vehicle which has 2-box type design, where the Bonnet is the 1st box and the passenger and cargo put together as the 2nd box is the most efficient design, since their cargo capacity is atleast 50 % more.

All SUVs, CUVs, Minivans, Wagons, Hatchbacks come under 2-box category.

Now a days, such vehicles are gaining market share at the expense of Sedan which has 3-box type (Bonnet, Passenger and Cargo boxes)

These vehicles are popular in Asia & Europe. Its catching up in US now.

Wells and Rich,

What rock did you two crawl out from under? I assume that you are both commissars from the Peoples Democracy of whatever third world cesspool that brought happiness and every luxury and a clean pollutionless world to their proletariat. Just where was that ?

GM did not fight every pollution standard. Politically set timelines that accomplish nothing is obviously what you prefer. Actually accomplishing anything is obviously beyond your mental capacities.

It was GM investments in technology that made the catalytic converter.

A technological advance that presented an opportunity to clean America's air to the point that you can almost breath the cooled exhaust from a modern "SULEV PZEV" ICE engine. (All that is missing is a little oxygen as the combustion is so thorough and complete)

But you boys wouldn't know anything about that. I'm sure you studied hard how to organize mobs, build bombs, chant nonsense, and other peaceful uses for all the empty time on your hands.

Meanwhile, GM swung to profit last quarter and analysts’ estimates for current quarter and year are in solid black:

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/ae?s=GM

Neil:

According to polls (I do not have references, but I remember quite definitely) no less than 30% of Canadians wished Bush victory on last presidential elections.