GM dealers reportedly fretting over too tight crossover and truck inventories

You may be surprised to hear, though, that a dwindling supply of available inventory is one of the major problems some dealerships are currently reporting. We're not shocked to hear there's only a six-day supply of Chevrolet Camaro models on hand, but dealers are also seeking remedies for shortages of Buick Enclaves, GMC Yukon SUVs and extended-cab Sierra pickups, as well as limited supplies of Chevrolet Silverado trucks.


In these dark days of bankruptcy proceedings, ever-dwindling sales figures and decades of receding market share, General Motors' base of dealerships certainly has plenty of things to keep it up at night.



For a company that has historically had an unhealthy attachment to high inventories across their brands, this is an unusual development indeed.


GM is aware of the shortages and Mark LaNeve, vice president of vehicle sales, service and marketing, tells Automotive News that the shortage is a normal part of the adjustment process from the old days of carrying a 120-day supply of vehicles to today's goal of a leaner 75-day supply.


The General's messenger further suggests that dealers trade inventory with each other to bolster inventory until the automaker is ready to rekindle its assembly lines beginning on Monday, July 13 after the company's extended summer shutdown.
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Saturn Vue two-mode dead, Chevrolet Equinox in 2011

Before the financial crisis hit, General Motors had some major plans for its Saturn brand including the launch of a two-mode hybrid Vue and eventually a plug-in hybrid version. Development and engineering for both vehicles had been completed and production of the two-mode hybrid Vue was originally scheduled to start last November.


Rapidly declining sales and an inevitable bankruptcy, however, has caused GM to readjust its plans. The biggest change is the sale of the Saturn brand to the Penske Automotive Group. As for the hybrid vehicles, GM has already confirmed that the technology for the Vue plug-in hybrid will be retained and used in other brands, and now the automaker has revealed to AutoblogGreen that the Vue two-mode hybrid has been cancelled.


Instead, GM will use the FWD two-mode system for its Chevrolet Equinox crossover, which should arrive on the market in in petrol-electric form in 2011. The system in the Vue was to use a 3.6L V6 engine mated to the two-mode hybrid drive system. Since the Equinox uses a different 3.0L V6 engine, GM will need additional time to redesign the system.


The two-mode system utilizes an Electrically Variable Transmission (EVT) that GM developed together with Mercedes-Benz and BMW and currently uses in the Chevrolet Tahoe and Silverado, as well as the GMC Sierra and Denali, and Cadillac Escalade hybrid vehicles.
via: motorauthority

REPORT: GM to announce tentative sale of Hummer tomorrow

According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, General Motors plans to announce a tentative sale of the Hummer brand less than a day after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Although GM won't release the name of Hummer's (possible) future owner(s) on Tuesday, the WSJ's sources say that a deal could be struck by the end of the third quarter and the H2 and H3 will continue to be produced at GM's plants in Indiana and Louisiana.

It's been widely accepted that if GM couldn't offload Hummer this month, it would be killed during the bankruptcy proceedings, and the General has been entertaining bids from a interest parties, including a Chinese firm, for somewhere in the sub-$500 million range since late last year. When the announcement is made tomorrow, expect GM to be hyping the sale as part of its turnaround efforts and that the SUV purveyor's new parent will continue to work on expanding the Hummer line, including the production of future alternative-fuel models.
via:autoblog

GM reveals project to construct new small car at idled assembly plant in America

When the new small car will go into production also hasn't been disclosed, though with the Volt set to enter production late in 2010 and the Cruze aiming for an early 2010 release, it could be timed to fit between them, sometime in summer 2010.


In an atypically cryptic press release, General Motors announced that it will be building a new small car at an unnamed idled UAW-staffed assembly plant here in the U.S. The new vehicle will be in addition to the already-planned 2011 Chevrolet Volt and Cruze, but it's not yet known which small car it will be.


The new small car is apparently expected to be a major volume seller, with GM upping its estimate of the percentage of U.S.-built GM sales from the current 67% to over 70% by 2013.


"Small cars represent one of the fastest growing segments in both the U.S. and around the world," said Fritz Henderson, General Motors President and CEO. "We believe this car will be a winner with our current and future customers in the U.S.


One small car candidate is the Chevrolet Spark, born from the long-lived Beat concept revealed in 2007. Other models could also see U.S. production, however, especially with the ongoing brand shuffle at GM, as well as the expected bankruptcy filing coming June 1. It wouldn't be beyond the pale to see a re-branded Opel or Saturn model sold as a Chevrolet, such as the Astra.


"This vehicle segment, while important today and expected to be more so in the future, is extremely challenging. It takes a special effort by everyone to bring a domestically produced small car to market in a cost-competitive and profitable way - but that is what we are going to do together [with the UAW]."
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New York Auto Show; 2010 GMC Terrain prepares to polarize

While GMC's new-for-2010 Terrain crossover may be all but identical to Chevrolet's Equinox, one look at this bluff-faced polarizing design will tell you that badge-engineering wasn't part of the program at General Motors. Yes, both vehicles share the same platform, the same engine choices and even the same suspension calibrations, but the in-your-face look here is likely to inspire love-it-or-hate-it reactions.

We'll let you decide on which side of the fence you sit, with one caveat: It is often the case that certain cars look better in the metal than on screen or in photographs. We were invited to GM's Design Dome for a media backgrounder, and after being in-and-around the vehicle, we profess that we can't make the same case.
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First Drive: 2009 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid and GMC Sierra Hybrid

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Once again, this time-honored dictum is proving true as pickup trucks regain their rightful place at the top of the U.S. sales charts following a precipitous fall from grace last summer.

As you've undoubtedly noticed, the cost of gasoline has dropped to a more manageable level, with an average gallon of regular-grade fuel going for half the price it was less than a year ago. So is it back to business as usual? Not quite. As we found out (again) in 2008, the volatile nature of gasoline stocks means that the market price for a barrel of crude can and will change on a whim. Does anyone really think fuel is going to stay cheaper than bottled water forever? Not likely.

However, America's love affair with the pickup truck will continue to burn bright even though the status quo is changing. All vehicles, regardless of type, must travel more miles on each gallon of gasoline. Enter GM's latest duo of fuel-saving pickups: the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra Hybrids.


These two workhorses were first announced at the LA Auto Show in late 2007, though the 2009 editions are just now beginning to show up at dealerships across the country. For the new model year, GM has made a few tweaks to its range of heavy haulers, most notably switching to a new set of hydraulic body mounts to compensate for the extra weight of the large battery pack. Are there any good reasons to consider these hybrid trucks over their highly-respected standard siblings? To find out, we strapped ourselves behind the wheel of each, followed a route through the streets of San Antonio, Texas, and recorded our mileage along the way.
more detail. ...





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Dallas 2009: The base Camaro... with steelies!

For all the stuff we're able to get our hands on, sometimes you just can't beat reader-submitted content. Today's contribution comes from faithful Autoblog aficionado, Jay P., who happened to check out the Dallas Auto Show this week. What he found over in the GM display area is interesting: a bona-fide base Camaro LS.

We knew that 18-inch wheels were standard equipment, but until now, we hadn't seen what they looked like. And dig this: they're steelies!


Black with silver Bowtie caps and beauty rings, they happen to look pretty friggin' good, too. If GM's smart, it'll offer these as separate accessory items. Camaro drivers in cold-weather states might have just found the perfect wheel for their performance winter rubber. The Dallas Auto Show runs through tomorrow, so if any of you guys happen to attend, feel free to send some more shots of this base car our way. Just ping us via the tips link at the top of the page. Thanks for the shots, Jay P!
Source:autoblog



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GM's LS9 crate motor costs more than most cars

Tuners and hot rodders everywhere dove into a horsepower-induced coma when GM announced its epic LS9 would be available as a crate engine. The company has rolled out its 2009 performance parts catalog and sure enough, there's the engine - complete with a $ 21,000 price tag. Steep?

Depends on where you stand.With 630 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque, a dry-sump oil system and a beefy blower on top of the company's light-weight aluminum V8, there's plenty to love. Still, folks looking to get the most power are usually looking to do it with the least buck. Scrapped LS V8's can be had for as little as $ 2000, all the while cranking out 400-plus ponies. Something tells me I could make a good deal more than 630 horses with the left over $ 19,000.
via: Autofiends



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GM disbands unit that creates high-performance vehicles

General Motors, focusing on mainstream products in a battle to survive, has scrapped a unit that produced high-performance vehicles.


The move is in the spirit of GM's viability plan delivered to the U.S. Treasury Department on Tuesday. In the plan, GM said its future-product focus is on fuel- efficient cars and crossovers. It also pledged to increase its current offering of six hybrids to 14 by 2012 and to 26 by 2014. GM also boosted its request for federal aid by as much as $16.6 billion.


GM on Wednesday disbanded High Performance Vehicle Operations, which is based at the company's suburban Detroit technical center, and redeployed its engineers, spokesman Vince Muniga said.

"All high-performance projects are on indefinite hold," Muniga said. "The engineers are moving into different areas of the organization, and they will work on Cadillacs, Buicks, Chevrolets and Pontiacs."

The unit created low-volume vehicles for GM's divisions designed to appeal to enthusiasts and bolster the company's image. Products included V-series Cadillacs and the Chevrolet Cobalt SS, HHR SS and a V-8 version of the Colorado.

Muniga said there are no plans for high-performance versions of upcoming cars.


The High Performance Vehicle Operations unit could be reinstated once GM regains its financial health, GM's Muniga said.

"These guys are pretty good at what they do," Muniga said, "They are moving into different areas to work on core products." More Photos
Source: Autoweek



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GM, the U.S. prepare for the Volt

That means a very concrete example, that there must be points where flow "refueled" can be. For example in a terraced house with garage lives will still be able to charge home. However, away from home it would be nice to the battery of the Volt's power needs.


Thus, General Motors, together with San Francisco, Washington and other "early adopters" to build the infrastructure to make that possible. In offices, but also in public places must allow the Volt (and other plug-in hybrids) to recharge.


It will also look at measures on the purchase of plug-in hybrids by governments and commercial organizations to promote. Consumers with a plug-in car to buy, get a tax benefit of $ 7500, -.
Source:autoblog.nl



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This Pontiac Trans-Am in 1987 driving 407,134 km / h!

Say hello to KITT's evil twin! Because this Pontiac Trans-Am in 1987 is officially the fastest road legal car in europe. Certainly the record because of the Veyron is not official (apparently). The Trans-Am is under substantially rebuilt by the Norwegian Polly Motorsport and now has no fewer than 1407 hp (8.9-liter V8)! And 0-100? In just 2.23 seconds!

And the Norwegians have recently traveled to the German Papenburg to make the same top speed test. The present coincidence AMG engineers did it in their pants from laughing when they stick to old Trans-Am saw coming. But when gas was once the laughing ended their very fast!

What performance?

0-100 km / h: 2.23 sec
0-200 km / h: 5.55 sec
0-300 km / h: 12.22 sec
0-201m: 5.91 sec - 205 km / h
0-402m: 9.19 sec-202 km / h
60 ft: 1.45 sec

PS: In potentially the Trans-Am even a top speed of 435 km / h should be able to retrieve. But the test was unfortunately too short. But in 2009, they go to America to record more explicit!
via:autoblog.nl

GM recalls the fire risk 857,735 vehicles

DETROIT - General Motors Corp. is recalling 857,735 vehicles equipped with a heated windshield wiper fluid system for a potential short-circuit problem, according to federal safety regulators.

A short-circuit in the system may cause other electrical features to malfunction, create an odor or cause smoke, increasing the risk of a fire, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on its Web site.

The recall involves the 2007-2008 model year Chevrolet Silverado, Tahoe, Avalanche and Suburban, Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV and Escalade EXT, GMC Acadia, Sierra, Yukon, Yukon XL and Saturn Outlook; 2006-2008 Hummer H2, Cadillac DTS and Buick Lucerne; and the 2008 Buick Enclave.Read All



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Monterey 2008: GM' In Pebble Beach s Motorama automobile

To help celebrate GM's 100th anniversary, Pebble gathered them together to show them off once again. Many look spectacular but a couple still need some TLC.


For those of a certain age, the Motorama cars were some of the wildest dream cars ever created. GM created a traveling road show of concepts that went from town to town.


Along with the 20+ liter class, the Lancias, Lamborghinis and Ferrari California Spiders, GM's Motorama cars were among the featured groups at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance this year.


These vehicles were styled by some of the greatest names in the design biz and have had a lasting impact on many that followed. The cars themselves explored design themes that stretched the imagination and incorporated some of the latest, greatest technology of the day.


Some were used for a year or two to show people the possibilities, and then were discarded like yesterday's newspaper. Others were outright destroyed because they were never designed to be drivable. Thanks to at least one dedicated fan, their remains were salvaged and the cars rebuilt when possible.
Source:autoblog


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Transformers Corvette concept shows some tush

Someone slipped Jalopnik a new pair of shots of the mysterious Corvette concept that's appearing in next year's Transformers sequel. So far, we've seen good views of the car from the front and side, but rear-end shots had yet to surface. Well, that's over. The concept -- now a confirmed product of the GM Design studios (note the plate in back), has large ducts in back that mimic the openings in front and presumably also hide the car's taillamps.



Four big centrally-mounted exhaust outlets poke through the bodywork as well. Frankly, the rear view is the car's least appealing, with that chunky boattail mixed in with all those sharp angles. There's also a new detail shot of the front quarter, which focuses on that very traditional Corvette fender shape. Is it just a movie character or also a concept that GM's going to drop on us somewhere along the line? Your guess is as good as ours, and the trickle of spy shots is probably far from over.
via:autoblog


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