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Pics of the test car I saw in South Padre Island, Tx:

Old Aug 29, 2002 | 01:01 PM
  #16  
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Man, now I'm wishing I had tracked down the guys and talked to them. I only saw them that one day, and I was on the island all week.

guionM, I saw the disguised Ute here in Irving, right around where my community college is. There is some sort of GM office a few blocks form the place where I saw the Ute. This happened in the fall of last year, which I think was before the new GTO production announcement.

As for this mystery car: I still think this car is much too big to be a Malibu, unless the Malibu is going to be significantly larger.

Something else I've been thinking about is what if GM is making the new Malibu bigger and RWD (or AWD) and that the new Cavalier will be made a bit larger to fill the gap that is left. Think about what Ford did with the Escort, Focus and Contour, and what they may do with the Taurus and upcoming Five Hundred. Just some speculation that I've been doing today.

formula79, What do you know about the next Cavalier? Is it going to be bigger as in similar demensions to the Focus?

Maybe Zane or Johnny can shed some light on this as well.

------------------
-Joshua
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I was thinking dagger. -Steve Nash
Old Aug 29, 2002 | 01:15 PM
  #17  
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I doubt the Malibu would become signifigantly larger. That would intrude on the Impala, a larger FWD family car. The Malibu is meant to be a smaller family car. So I think that this can't be the Malibu for that reason.
And no dual exhaust? Duals would simply give it away! The Holdens use a single side exhaust while the GTO will use be changed to use a dual system. Maybe it will be changed before release if it is a Caprice? It's just piping.
Old Aug 29, 2002 | 01:31 PM
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<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Sixer-Bird:
Man, now I'm wishing I had tracked down the guys and talked to them. I only saw them that one day, and I was on the island all week.

guionM, I saw the disguised Ute here in Irving, right around where my community college is. There is some sort of GM office a few blocks form the place where I saw the Ute. This happened in the fall of last year, which I think was before the new GTO production announcement.

As for this mystery car: I still think this car is much too big to be a Malibu, unless the Malibu is going to be significantly larger.

Something else I've been thinking about is what if GM is making the new Malibu bigger and RWD (or AWD) and that the new Cavalier will be made a bit larger to fill the gap that is left. Think about what Ford did with the Escort, Focus and Contour, and what they may do with the Taurus and upcoming Five Hundred. Just some speculation that I've been doing today.

formula79, What do you know about the next Cavalier? Is it going to be bigger as in similar demensions to the Focus?

Maybe Zane or Johnny can shed some light on this as well.

</font>
The Malibu and Grand Am will be bigger on the Epilsom platform and be satandard FWD with AWD possible.

As I said a reliable source told me that the next Malibu would have a side profile very similar to the old car which this one does. Also the grill looks very Malibu. When I first saw the picture I thought it looked like teh Altima more than anything.

When I confronted the same source with your picture I got a "can't talk about that" response....sso i may be wrong. About what current car is it the size of. If it was about as long as an Impala than I doubt its a Malibu.
Old Aug 29, 2002 | 01:33 PM
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<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Burmite:
I doubt the Malibu would become signifigantly larger. That would intrude on the Impala, a larger FWD family car. The Malibu is meant to be a smaller family car. So I think that this can't be the Malibu for that reason.
And no dual exhaust? Duals would simply give it away! The Holdens use a single side exhaust while the GTO will use be changed to use a dual system. Maybe it will be changed before release if it is a Caprice? It's just piping.
</font>
That Chevy frontend gives it away quicker than the two pipes...
Old Aug 29, 2002 | 01:38 PM
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Something to consider since we're going down this Caprice road:

The Holden V8 models have a dual exhaust system that crosses into a single pipe just in front of the differential and goes into a muffler & single tailpipe. The fuel tank is off centered like the pre-85 Mustangs were (similar to a Catera).

So in short, if this car is a V-based Caprice, it could still have dual exhaust, just with a single tail pipe (still worth a little over 300hp with an LS1).
Old Aug 29, 2002 | 01:49 PM
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<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by guionM:
Something to consider since we're going down this Caprice road:

The Holden V8 models have a dual exhaust system that crosses into a single pipe just in front of the differential and goes into a muffler & single tailpipe. The fuel tank is off centered like the pre-85 Mustangs were (similar to a Catera).

So in short, if this car is a V-based Caprice, it could still have dual exhaust, just with a single tail pipe (still worth a little over 300hp with an LS1).
</font>
Isn't the change in the gas tank, what will permit the duals. If this is a test mule, then it may have the aussie fuel tank and exhaust.

My vote is for the Chevy Caprice. I suspect by the lines of the car that are hidden that this is a holden. I'd bet my left nut.

Ted 99 TA WS6 Conv

Old Aug 29, 2002 | 02:00 PM
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I don't know guys....it looks Epsilon based. Either the next Malibu, or (since the grill looks more Opel than Chevy to me), the next Vectra.
Old Aug 29, 2002 | 07:07 PM
  #23  
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Amazing pictures Sixer-Bird!!!
Im 100% sure we are looking at a Chevrolet.
But which one?


Ill analize them further and try to figure this one out.

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Old Aug 29, 2002 | 07:09 PM
  #24  
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It definately is not a Commodore or any of it's variants. The tailpipe was the first clue - Commodores do not have a rear muffler that close to the rear end - only a resonator. Secondly, the glasshouse is clearly different - Firstly, all Commodores have flush glass on the side windows, and there is a central strip along the B pillar that is missing in Pic3 ...

Here's a couple for comparison:

Original Spy Shot

Commodore 1
Commodore 2

[This message has been edited by Decromin (edited August 29, 2002).]
Old Aug 29, 2002 | 08:11 PM
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Does anyone know what the demensions of Epsilon is compared to Sigma?

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I was thinking dagger. -Steve Nash
Old Aug 29, 2002 | 08:40 PM
  #26  
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<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Sixer-Bird:
Does anyone know what the demensions of Epsilon is compared to Sigma?

</font>
Both architecture's lengths and widths can be varied.

But generally, I'd say most Epsilons will be smaller than Sigmas.
Old Aug 29, 2002 | 10:41 PM
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Its the Saturn Ion..or something like that..the new car comming out in a few months...

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thanks
David Morgan
the "Over Drive Gang"
94 Z28 A4, K/N FIPK!,AIT Relocator,TB bypass,99 SS MAF Airfoil,HPP+, Shiftkit,Cutout, Flowmaster 80 series American Thunder Exhaust with 3" Chrome tips GMS Strut Tower Brace, GMS Sub Frame Connectors AND 93-96 GM Export Tail Lights! GTS Headlight Covers and Tail covers.

http://overdrive-gang.tripod.com

Check it out !! you might know some of the cars, or my friends.and a few of their rides frequent the pages of muscle car mags

Congrats Tony L. of the "ODG" Owner of The BBC 6SP 81 Malibu

Making Hot Rod Mags top 10 cars of 2001!!
Old Aug 30, 2002 | 12:30 AM
  #28  
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Appears to be a leather interior. Is that available on Malibu? Interesting place to drive the thing, why the h*ll would they go down there? One other thing I noticed was that the hole for the 3rd brake light indicates that it is mounted in the back of the trunk? perhaps integrated in a spoiler? It would seem that the easier way to convert a foreign design would be to stick it behind the rear seats, between the speakers, so this one has been designed w/ it integrated into the back of the body, leading me to think it is a domestic design. Interesting, good luck.
Old Aug 31, 2002 | 12:42 AM
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<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Caps94ZODG:
Its the Saturn Ion..or something like that..the new car comming out in a few months...

</font>
No way that is the saturn LS replacement...the thing has a blatent Chevy crosshair grille.
Old Aug 31, 2002 | 01:24 AM
  #30  
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okay..maybee its chevy's version of it..but to me it looks like a Ion from Saturn.
But I thought Lutz said no t othe chevy bar across the front??

------------------
thanks
David Morgan
the "Over Drive Gang"
94 Z28 A4, K/N FIPK!,AIT Relocator,TB bypass,99 SS MAF Airfoil,HPP+, Shiftkit,Cutout, Flowmaster 80 series American Thunder Exhaust with 3" Chrome tips GMS Strut Tower Brace, GMS Sub Frame Connectors AND 93-96 GM Export Tail Lights! GTS Headlight Covers and Tail covers.

http://overdrive-gang.tripod.com

Check it out !! you might know some of the cars, or my friends.and a few of their rides frequent the pages of muscle car mags

Congrats Tony L. of the "ODG" Owner of The BBC 6SP 81 Malibu

Making Hot Rod Mags top 10 cars of 2001!!

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