New York Times war with GM escalades?

WTF? Guy is a moron. The new GM large SUVs use the least amount of fuel compared to its competition. Granted the Hummer is not at that point yet. Friedman just trying to get attention by attacking an easy target. This idiot has it out for GM. Just look at his columns "The sooner General Motors gets taken over by Toyota, the better off our country will be." What a crock of BS.

This guy is a complete idiot, GM produces the most fuel efficient full-size SUVs.

Whatever Diddy. Can't take anything you just posted seriously. Continue on the road with whatever non-GM ride you got. GM has improved greatly and their interiors have room for improvement but their new vehicles are starting to show a shift. I tend to not listen to biased statements anyway. Besides no one can argue that entry level Japanese car interiors are any better. Lexus is the best Japan has to offer and yes its nice. The new Cadillacs are very nice and the new Escalade interior is light years ahead of the last model.

By the way, that 1971 pushrod is an American tradition and the Z06 smokes nearly all the competition is its price bracket as well as most above it (And Yes it has been around since 1955). Why change a proven technology? Don't get me started on the better then all sports car MPG. Tell me MB or BMW made major changes to their engines in the last 20 years! Its interior does not match Porsche but that is a different animal and GM could have used better materials, but chose to save weight as being more important.

I agree

The new corvette is actually quite fuel efficient as compared to the others which can perform 0-60 miles/hr in mid 3-mid 4 seconds. I believe Autospies had an articel and video review of the new corvette with these specs. fuel consumption was almost alike with an Accord

The criticism it not really about the latest GM trucks, which seem to be better (and a bit more fuel efficient) than the models they replaced. What Friedman and others really dislike is the emphasis on large trucks, which are much more wasteful than (say) mid-size cars. It's perfectly understandable why GM is doing that -- the company is in trouble, with high costs and many non-competitive products, and the large trucks are their most competitive and by far their most profitable offerings. But for the dual goals of really saving GM and reducing the US dependence on oil, what is needed is to emphasize smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles. In this area GM seems to be doing the least, and deserves some criticism.

Friedman deserves a prize for keeping the issues of size, weight and full-efficiency in the news. He rightly gets on GM's case for GM's deranged new product and marketing priorities.

As an auto nut I like a healthy debate so again I applaud Mr. Friedman - please keep up the attacks on GM's leadership and priorities.

Anyway, surely GM has enough resources to defend itself more effectively against this one journalist?

M-B, I95, Michael missed the point like so many people that don't know the facts. You can critize a SUV or car all you want but you do not make statements like GM is buying votes in Congress!?! Insane. GM has a right to attack a critic if he is printing lies and/or factless tales. You don't agree? If you do not like GM thats your choice, but any auto manuf would have fought back this criticizm. GM has done more to reduce emissions in cars then any other manuf period. Does the Catalytic Converter ring a bell? Among other inventions too long to list.

I enjoyed DaimlerChrysler's retort to Tom. Its true that the ENTIRE GM SUV market is not fuel efficient but the Tahoe and Yukon are the top sellers. They both are more fuel efficient then any foreign full size SUV. Go check for yourself...google it. Tell me I am wrong.

So you guys have the God given right to support journalist that make claims they cannot prove and hide under their papers shadow. Good for you.

Hey dbloseven are you part of GM's executive team?
Does GM have a 47mpg minivan?
Did Toyota spend the same amount of effort as GM to get Congress not to get more aggressive with federally mandated fuel efficiency standards?
Does GM have a strong new product portfolio in fuel efficient cars?

And as for the DCX fool - let's look at one of the claims. Nissan has increased average emissions more than other manufacturers. Well duh - they've moved into big trucks, so their fleet is becoming more biased towards trucks - if trucks are the crime then Chrysler (Dodge and Jeep) should be strung up and quartered

This left wing zelot should do his homework first before he dises chevy!Has anyone checked out the incredible highway mielage the Tahoe gets?It is better on gas than any toyota truck!It is better an gas than a 4cyl tacoma4x4! These people just want to hate something American!Why don't people pick on Mazda?They suck on gas!I was considering the little mini van mazda 5? and it is worse on gas than the full size tahoe with the pushrods!There is treatment for Tom!

Well MB Basher does the Government help GM with medical and other benefits? Toyota gets help from their governent so that they do not have to pay medical and other insurances for their employees. GM is stuck with the burden of Unions and Toyota does not. Two major reasons Toyota is climbing the ladder.

Is that minivan even out yet? I can guarantee that minivan will not get 47MPG, just like the Prius never even gets close to 60MPG. Of course the Large GM Suvs may not get the MPG as well, but they are putting effort with cylinder deactivation technology and to implement hybrid tech into next years models. So GM is not just sitting there and continuing to produce gas guzzlers.

Rupert - Sorry buddy but most Americans do not like to stuff their families into small econobox cars so they can save some fuel. Large SUVs are improving MPG each year (not as easy task). People do buys cars from their own country thats probably why Toyota is number 1 in Japan and VW is number 1 is Germany (so I guess they are just being patriotic?). Nothing wrong with that. Its your right to not buy a truck, but don't start saying idiotic statements about why people buy trucks. And YES some people do need 7 seats and the ability to tow a boat!

Rupert! dblo7 sumed it up well! I did some homework pertaining to fuel consumption and here are the facts! Mazda-5 15.6/100km city & 11.2 hwy with a wopping 157hp &148lb-ft Pathetic! Now the much despised archaic 2007 Tahoe (I am being sarcastic because the numbers are going to hurt you American haters)The full size Taho 5.3L 15.6/100km city & 11.2/100km hwy with that old technology push rod 320HP !!!340Lb-ft.Now we all know the facts.By the way the Tahoe is also a 4x4. Mazda has to go back to school the chev had about double the power with the same fuel consumption! I want to buy a commuter car and considered the diesel jetta but was scared away by all the bad press concerning poor quality $$ repairs.Even Toyota has there problems!Land Rover I wont even go there.The Queen can afford to fix it.

Rupert the Tahoe mielage I found on the web was was exactly the same as the Mazda 5 . The Tahoe was the 2007,maybee you were checking the 2006 Tahoe mielage.I saw the mielage rated at 9.8/100km for the Tahoe but couldn't find it again to confirm it so I went with what I found at 11.2L/100km. Isn't the escalade almost the same vehicle?I think the Escalade comes with the 6L engine and the Tahoe comes with the 5.7? I am not a big fan of the Hummer H-2 either for different reasons,mainly because they are all show and no go!Espesially the H-2.I like the H-1 (not love) but am disapointed in limited axle articulation,and the H-2 is so low to the ground & bad on gas!The H-3 is marginal but again lacks axle articulation and poor engeneering.