1) Cobalt SS... nice possibility for a next winter vehicle for me. Can I mod it to destroy the ricer crowd and take down SRT-4's with ease?

2) GTO... would make a nice company car, apart from that whole RWD + winter problem. Automatically means a second car would have to be purchased.

3) Trucks... Diesel. Diesels are cool. Diesels are hella-expensive.

4) Doesn't the whole situation with the SSR remind you of the death throes of the Prowler?

5) Cadillac... I'd sure like to see a V-12 Cadillac. Probably never be able to afford it, but I'd sure like to see one. That being said, methinks Cadillac needs to make sure they dominate one market in particular - the true luxury car in the American idiom - big, floaty, comfy, powerful. It would be such a tragedy to see the classic American luxury car die completely out, and DeVille seems to be the only survivor. Rock hard seats, tiny "luxury" cars and "European" driving characteristics just never floated my boat.

6) Next year, the LS2 MUST move up to AT LEAST 425hp.

7) Anybody thinking that splayed valves would look nice on top of an LSx block? I do...

8) Somebody please tell me how much more forged rods and pistons cost for an OEM manufacturer. Here's a vote for resurrecting the "Super-Duty" (as in SD 455) name as a marketing tool. Make it an option for the really good engine components in high performance cars and have a tiny, subtle badge associated with it. Betcha that folks would fall all over themselves buying that option in the performance oriented cars. Cadillacs oughta just get them standard.

 

Doesn't the LS2 currently have the 2001 (385hp) LS6 cam? a move to the 2002 (405hp) cam could do the trick.

 

Diesels need to have broader representation.

Jeep Liberty Diesel is on our just started Envoy replacement short list (along with the Vibe/Matrix & Forester). I suspect demand and dealer attitude will ultimately nix it for us.

 

My thought to #4: Yes, but now that it has the LS2 and a 6spd, its the first time a niche hot rod vehicle has the punch and the look to actualy modivate not only gotta-have'ers, but enthusiasts with some extra spending money, and both will be very happy.
#5: I think that with this new "Ultra" V8 that is based off the High Feature/Alloytech V6, we could see the modularization of this engine, and very well could see a V12 engine like we saw from the Cien, which I belive where the new HF V6's come from. It will all come full circle
#6 It would be nice to move up to 425. I think that we could see something like the LS7's intake or a more radical cam to boost it up 10-15.

 

FWIW, the GTO is my daily driver... NE Ohio winters and all.

I also drive for my job, probably 400 miles per month average, and some of that into the heavy snow belt.

I did this with my 99 Z28 as well...

It's not the best thing in the snow, but it is not unusable either...

 

Might run amuck with Ford's truck line. Name is @'ed.

I agree with your theory though.
Dodge has hung a bear with the "Hemi" craze.