2006 Ls Used 2.2l I4 16v Fwd Coupe on 2040-cars

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Question of the Day: Worst year of the Malaise Era?

The Malaise Era for cars in the United States spanned the 1973 through 1983 model years, and featured such abominations as a Corvette with just 205 horsepower (from the optional engine!) and MGBs with suspensions jacked way up to meet new headlight-height requirements. There were many low points throughout this gloomy period, of course. The horrifyingly low power and fuel-economy numbers for big V8s during the middle years of the Malaise Era make a strong case for 1974 or 1975— the years of Nixon's resignation and the Fall of Saigon, respectively— as the most Malaisey years. But then the GM-pummeling debacles of the Chevy Citation and Cadillac Cimarron could make an early-1980s year the low point. 1979, the year of the ignominious Chrysler bailout? You choose! Related Video:

2020 Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban and GMC Yukon all spied with production lights

One of our spy photographers just caught a smattering of full-size GM SUVs out testing, including the Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban and GMC Yukon. Previous spy photos of the next-generation of these big GM SUVs have revealed that GM is going with an independent rear suspension design, and these shots confirm the news once again with our best look at the hardware yet. Check them out from the rear, lined up like ducks in a row to see the beefy control arms down there. This will undoubtedly give the big SUVs a more compliant ride, and should bring it back into touch with the refinement from the Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator. The new bits we get to see with these shots are production headlights and taillights that are shaping up to look pretty neat. Most distinguishable are the GMC Yukon's LED DRLs. These look a lot like the C-shaped LEDs outlining the headlights on the Sierra, but they have an extra LED strip on top of the C. The parts of the taillights that we can see look significantly different than that found on the Sierra, showing GM is planning on having a great deal of differentiation there. We can sort of see through the mesh covering the grille to what appears to be a classic horizontal bar style front opening. Chevy is predictably dialing the crazy LED strip design back for the Tahoe and Suburban. The parts that are lit up look a whole lot like the headlight fixtures on the 2019 Silverado. That truck uses a stack of lights with the actual headlights separated from the DRLs. We can see the same thing going on here, with the headlight up top and curved LED DRL strip sitting below. It's tough to say if the designs are exactly alike, but we expect to see an extremely Silverado-esque look once all the camouflage comes off. Chevrolet's taillight design differs from its donor truck like the GMC, showing off a curved, vertical series of LEDs out back. Once production lights start popping up like this, we know the vehicle is moving closer to its end game. A reveal sometime later this year could be in the cards for GM's next batch of full-size SUVs. It certainly needs them quick, as Ford rockets ahead with increased Expedition production announced earlier this week.

2016 Chevrolet Spark gleams in green in New York

Take one look at the 2016 Chevrolet Spark that's debuting at the 2015 New York Auto Show, and you can immediately see that the little hatchback is growing up. The previous long headlights and tall greenhouse are gone in favor of a slightly more conventional look that suits the enlarged overall size well. To address complaints about a lack of power from the current Spark's 1.2-liter engine, the latest model gets a larger 1.4-liter unit making 98 horsepower. It can be paired with a five-speed manual transmission, but for those looking to maximize fuel economy, a CVT offers an estimated 40 miles per gallon highway fuel economy. Beyond the new engine, there's an upgraded platform underneath with a longer wheelbase. The underpinnings are also more rigid, as well, to help improve handling and lower interior noise. Inside, the Spark now gets some physical controls to go along with the seven-inch MyLink infotainment system. A rearview camera is standard, which seems almost unnecessary is such compact model, and buyers can further enhance safety with tech like a Forward Collision Alert, Lane Departure Warning and Side Blind Spot Alert. Check out the gallery above to see the Spark in its nuclear green paint at the New York show before the little hatch arrives at dealers in the fourth quarter of 2015.