TRENDING NOW:
This may be a bit of understatement, but when Chevrolet announced the upgrades to the 2011 model year Camaro, many were rather unsatisfied. However, before The General moves the Camaro from the Zeta platform to the upcoming Alpha architecture that it will share with the imminent Cadillac ATS (and a possible 8-speed transmission), we can look forward to updates for the 2012 model year, which look to blow those of 2011…
Aside from the very necessary interior upgrade for the 2012 Camaro, Chevy will (finally) be smoking the tires of the all-mighty LSA-powered Z28 straight out of the assembly plant. Aside from those who have a fetish for convertibles, the reborn Z28 will be the zenith model of the fifth-generation Camaro. The powerhouse pony will have an arsenal of 556 horsepower and 551 pound-feet of twist, the same as the more prestigious Cadillac CTS-V Coupe. But the good news doesn’t end there, as the Z28 will eclipse the legendary Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 in sheer power. Call it a CTS-V for the masses.
While the Z28 looks to be the swan song of the 5th gen Camaro, all of us here at GM Authority hope that the LSA-powered street missile will find its way to the Alpha platform on which the sixth-generation Chevrolet pony car will be built. Here’s to hopin’!
[Source: Edmunds]
We’ve seen the Opel Insignia Wagon on U.S. shores before and have proposed an educated guess that it will eventually be available as the Buick Regal Wagon in the States. But, thanks to new spy shots, we now have concrete evidence of this being the case.
We expect the wagon to be powered by the same choice of 4-banger Ecotec engines as the Regal sedan, specifically the 2.4L LAF good for 182 horses as well as the up-level 2.0L turbo Ecotec making an estimated 220 ponies.
The Regal Wagon will most likely be available sometime at the end of 2010, making it a 2011 model year vehicle. GM will most likely produce the Regal Wagon at its Russelsheim plant in Germany, as it will the US-bound Regal sedan until the first quarter of 2011. After that, The General will move production of the Regal sedan to its Oshawa plant in Ontario. Hit up the source for more spy pics of the wagon, dressed in white!
[Source: Left Lane News]
Hummer is recalling all Hummer H3s produced since the 2006 model year. The recall, which affects 198,404 Hummer H3s and H3Ts worldwide and 164,190 units in the U.S., looks to fix a portion of the hood that can detach during driving.
According to Hummer spokesperson Nick Richards, the problem lies with a component of the hood called the hood louver. The louver was used to cool the engine on older Hummer models by allowing air to enter the engine compartment, thereby cooling the engine and preventing overheating. On the H3, however, the louver is non-functional and is used for decorational purposes only.
In recall documents filed with the NHTSA, General Motors describes a scenario whereby tabs holding the louver in place could fracture, causing them to rattle against the hood. This could result in the hood louvre detaching from the hood and hitting either the H3 and/or surrounding vehicles, all of which could result in an accident.
The fix comes in the form of applying an adhesive to refasten the louver to the hood. GM has already sent a bulletin to dealers outlining the fix, with owners of affected H3 models receiving letters notifying them of the recall this week.
The recall is a result of two complaints originating from the United States and three from Japan. It’s been reported that Japanese transportation officials notified GM of the problem in January.
This news comes to us as the Hummer brand is close to being wound down as part of GM’s post-bankruptcy brand strategy.
[Source: The Detroit News]
The Buick Lineup for 2010. Notice the one vehicle that doesn't fit in? (Hint - it's the Lucerne)
It’s finally official! According to top Buick execs, Buick plans to add a compact car and a small crossover to its lineup in the near future. The third model is one we’ve known about for almost a year and is none other than the Buick Regal midsize sedan. It’s showing up in showrooms across the U.S. and Canada as your read this. These plans were announced at the Buick Immersion Program at GM’s Tech Center, where General Motors mapped out the keys to Buick’s continued success to employees who work with the premium brand.
By introducing the three new models, Buick will expand into 47 percent of the market, said Brian Sweeney, U.S. Sales and Service Vice President for Buick GMC. Currently, Buick only competes in two vehicles segments with its LaCrosse (large) sedan and Enclave (large) crossover.
“Buick is the fastest growing brand in the industry,” Sweeney said. “And we expect to double our sales in the next few years.”
Luckily, we’ve already caught a glimpse of Buick’s upcoming compact sedan in spy shots and in filings with the USPTO. It will share GM’s global Delta II architecture with the Chevrolet Cruze and Opel Astra and will most likely wear the Verano nameplate in the United States (Excelle in China). As for the MPV, we’re hearing reports that it will be styled like a “baby Enclave” and will use GM’s global Gamma II architecture shared with the all-new Chevrolet Aveo. Both Gamma-based vehicles will be produced at GM’s Orion facility, with tooling for the new Aveo being shipped to the plant soon.
Currently, we don’t know whether the Buick MPV will make its way to Buick’s other markets such as China. Stay tuned as we learn more!
[Source: The Detroit News]
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For May 8, 2010
The General has been served!
Corvette Chief Engineer Tadge Juechter on the next Chevrolet Corvette – click the pic to watch the video
At the annual C5/C6 Bash at the Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky, Corvette chief engineer Tadge Juechter decided to discuss clarify a few issues. For starters, Juechter took the mic to dispel a few myths about the next-generation Corvette, saying that the C7 ‘Vette won’t be “watered down” and that print automobile publications, Automobile Magazine in particular, are not to be trusted.
After giving the auto print industry a beatdown even Donkey Kong would be proud of, he went on to criticize the Environmental Protection Agency and its CAFE requirements. Most importantly, however, Juechter addressed concerns that CAFE standards will result in a debilitated C7, hinting that such tough standards will cause the automaker (and – consequently the next-gen Corvette) to focus on aerodynamics and weight reduction. While there aren’t any concrete specifics, the video (after the jump) is worth watching just for the smack-down Juechter gave the magazine industry and the EPA.
For those who believe that the entire Corvette program is in big trouble, GM already knows about your concerns. That said, it wouldn’t hurt to remind them in the comments below as you’re watching the short clip.
[Source: Autoblog via Corvette Blogger]
We just received a tip from a very reliable source that the much-awaited GMC Sierra Denali 3500 HD (dually) will go on sale in 2010 alongside the redesigned 2500 variants. This is in contrast to what is being reported by multiple outlets, specifically that the full-ton/3500-level truck will be available only in 2011. The big-daddy Sierra, however, will be a 2011 model-year vehicle.
Our source tells us that GM is planning on launching the new heavy-duty trucks, Denali trim included, in late Q2 or early Q3 of 2010. This will mark the first time the Denali trim package will be available on 2500- and 3500-level Sierra trucks. The 1500-level Denali has been available in Denali trim since 2001.
In the meantime, here’s all there is to know about the 2011 GMC Denali HD and Denali 3500HD.
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The General has been served!
Oh how much we love the US Patent and Trademark Office! How come? Well, just think of all the vehicles we’re able to see ahead of their release date thanks to the government agency! From the next-generation Malibu to the upcoming Volt MPV5, the USPTO is like a spy photographer, but instead of hiding in trees on proving grounds like any good cameraman, automakers actually submit sketches to the USPTO, which in turn makes the sketches available for public consumption. And this time is no exception!
The sketches presented herein are probably the newest product to join the Buick lineup after the Regal sedan goes on sale this spring. These patent drawings portray a compact sedan based on GM’s global Delta II platform – the same architecture used by the Chevrolet Cruze and Opel Astra, along with derivatives such as the Chevy Orlando, Volt, and MPV5.
Just a few days ago, we got our hands on a few spy shots of this very sedan! GM already offers a hatchback version of this vehicle in China called the Buick Excelle XT, which itself is a rebadge of the Opel/Vauxhall Astra hatch. Therefore, the car you see here will in turn be the sedan variant of the Astra. What’s more, Buick already showed us this vehicle in rendered form during a presentation last year. (more…)
Hey, it’s not just us talking about it. According to the latest Associated Press GfK Poll, Americans currently are falling out of love with the overseas auto manufacturers and starting to pay attention to domestic brands. As of March 2010, 38 percent of Americans perceive that American-made brands hold the best quality, while 33 percent prefer the Asian models. Only 15 percent prefer ze German European brands. This is a large change in perception compared to 2006, where 49 percent of the U.S. population preferred Asian brands and only 29 percent favored American vehicles. Eurocars remained roughly the same at 17 percent this time five years ago.
Factors of influence to be considered are Toyota’s latest (for lack of a better word) fumbles as well as Ford and GM’s latest product and lineup standouts like the Buick Lacrosse and Cadillac SRX. Upcoming models such as the Chevy Cruze, Buick Regal, and Cadillac XTS look to play in American’s favor.
[Source: Detroit Free Press via Autoblog]
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