You think GM needs to step it up? What about Ford?! It'* almost like they're afraid to build performance.

1 Word... 2 letters

Ford GT

and I'm not saying GM/Pontiac is at the back of the pack... they are just not at the front either...

I think the judge and the Solstice will help.

Maybe a solstice GXP with L32?

I'd like to see what the Pontiac twin of the Cobalt SS is like as well.

I think the Solstice as it stands now won't help too much.
But a Judge, with a SC'd 5.7L V8 would go a long way.

EDIT: Looking around it looks like they are going w/ a 6.0L V8 with 400hp and 395lbs for the 2005 GTO Judge.

They need to bring back the El Camino with a L32 in a rwd manual trans version (like the Holden -whatever it is). These would sell like hot cakes and give a performance like Aerosmith.

Look elsewhere in that very issue and Car & Driver showers praise on the Vette C6. Rarely do they portend 10 Best probabilities as they did for the C6. Also they give high marks for the Equinox. They also gave a great review of the Caddy SRX V6 in a short take last month and put the SRX tops in an earlier comparo.

The 300C is a major US effort based on European roots. The MB 5-speed transmission is built here in the USA. The only heavy component imported is the electronic architecture and suspension, that'* from the E-class. The soul of the car of course is red, white, and blue - Hemi V8. The computer simulation development of that motor was done by Ricardo - Detroit.

At any rate, the GXP Bonneville got me so excited and if it showed up 3-5 years ago, it'd be a star. I particularly love the cameo on the Sopranos HBO drama! But this 300C was a pure blind-side and it stole GXP thunder.

Time Magazine August 16, 2004 issue on newstands now (pp. 54-55) talks about the 300C in an article titled "Chrysler'* Bling King." Shaq owns one. Snoop Dogg owns one as well. It'* not just for rappers but a 64 year old guy named John Dickens traded his $65,000 Lexus SUV for this.

This 300C is magic. It gets drools from the enthusiasts in Supraforums.com to rappers/rapper fans to everyday mom and pop folks. It'* the Marylin Monroe of cars when it comes to captivating universal awe.

It is a major pity that GM does not make a 300C fighter. They have great chassis and powertrain engineers that put together nice handling Aleros, Intrigues, Cadillacs, and Vettes not to mention their awesome V8s.

Take a CTS-based Buick and put a 6.0L 400hp LS2 engine in it and let'* see it rock the 5.7L 345hp Hemi. I'd bet it'd get better fuel efficiency w/o cyl. deactivation!

Right now, Buick is barking up a tree that'* a damn tough fight. They're bringing out the LaCrosse, which is supposedly remarkable, but that FWD sedan will have to contend with a redesigned Avalon, popular Camrys/Accords, and more. Plus those type of buyers are so hard to switch to domestic because much of them have preconceived and ill-placed notions of American inferiority.

The Buick LaCrosse type of vehicle will never be an instant hit type of car that this emotion-charged 300C is. The LaCrosse, even if it scores on top, will have a hell of a time penetrating through the import sedan crowd. It will earn back market share painfully slowly. The high scoring Alero and Intrigue failed as well in this same intent.

Chrysler got ahead of the curve in designing the 'big' V-8[even though it'* not particularly all That big/powerful a V-8],RWD,flagship car 300C,....now it seems to have a 'must-have'car to a lot of people[even though,IMO,it'* a butt-ugly cross between a Checker taxi-cab and an early-80'* Mercedes sedan].Chrysler went to the retro-design again(ie:PT Cruiser)because they somehow figure that people will fall all over it,like the PT Cruiser.
Even though the GXP is a great flagship Pontiac,I think that GM Pontiac kind of shot themselves in the foot by not putting the 'full monty'Northstar drivetrain in the new GXP........I'm sure the 300hp Northstar Caddy motor [or better yet,the 320hp Caddy XLR motor] would have created a much bigger stir to the automotive world.I guess most everybody will be anticipating the move to RWD for the next-Gen Bonneville,and it'* engine/horsepower possibilities................

And, for the record, the 300C isn't exactly, technically, "domestic"...it'* a Mercedes.

actually, that'* the base GTO that'll get the 400/395 6.0L... should be quite a ride. i rode in an '04 last week, and it was killer. love the exhaust note on that thing...