GM Unveils 2007 Lineup

General Motors — the puppeteer behind Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, Pontiac, GMC, Saturn, Hummer and Saab — has taken the wraps off its entire 2007 lineup. Most redesigned or all-new vehicles, like the Saturn Sky and Chevrolet Tahoe, have been uncovered for months. As for the rest, here are some highlights:

• GM’s minivans, which include the Chevrolet Uplander, Buick Terraza and Saturn Relay, add much-needed oomph with a standard 240-hp V-6. Consumers thankfully voted last year’s underwhelming 201-hp V-6 out of office. Also heading home is Pontiac’s related Montana SV6, whose slow sales and asinine name foretold its end months ago.

• Cadillac’s SRX SUV and STS sedan receive substantial interior upgrades, ditching last year’s button-infested dashboards in favor of more ergonomic environs. Both models now couple six-speed automatic transmissions with Cadillac’s Northstar V-8; both had five-speed automatics last year.
• Cadillac’s XLR roadster also gets a six-speed slushbox, though its interior remains unchanged.
• The General’s five-cylinder engine, which sees duty in the Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon and Hummer H3, gets bumped from 3.5 to 3.7 liters. Horsepower increases from 220 to 242, and torque moves from 225 to 242 pounds-feet. What’s more impressive is, despite the increased power, gas mileage should remain roughly the same.
• The Chevrolet Equinox and Pontiac Torrent SUVs have upgraded interiors and standard electronic stability systems, an important safety feature in the small-SUV segment.
• The Chevrolet Corvette adds an acoustic tuning package and optional steering wheel audio controls – you know, for those who’d rather hear Pavarotti than an LS2 V-8. We can’t understand why they bought a ‘Vette, either.
• Pontiac’s G6 receives an optional 252-hp, 3.6-liter V-6, bringing the engine total to four. The related Chevrolet Malibu adds variable valve timing to its 3.5-liter V-6, bumping output from 201 to 217 hp.
• The Pontiac Vibe hatchback loses its optional high-revving Toyota engine, as well as its all-wheel-drive edition. What’s left? A cheapo base model with – stop the presses – 126 hp. Take that, Kia.
• Saab’s 9-3 receives a new dashboard.