This new episode of Jay Leno’s Garage is your ‘top secret’ clearance to visit General Motor’s Advanced Design Center somewhere deep in Detroit suburbs, probably! This is the place where GM’s concept cars and new technologies are developed. You get an exclusive tour of the facility by VP of Global Design Edward Welburn. Cadillac Ciel Concept is also heavily featured.

That is right. General Motors, Chevrolet to be more precise, has built its 100th million small-block engine in 56 years.

It is a very nice coincident that the 100th million milestone is achieved in the same month that Chevy is celebrating its 100th anniversary. Introduced in 1955, the small-block engine has been used in GM vehicles around the world and is currently found in global Chevrolet, GMC and Cadillac vehicles, as well as Vauxhall in the United Kingdom and Holden in Australia.

This engine practically ran the whole of GM.

The milestone engine is a LS9 crate 638-hp unit for the Corvette ZR1, hand-built at GM’s Performance Build Center, northwest of Detroit. Current small blocks engines feature all-aluminum cylinder block and heads in car and many truck applications to help save weight and contribute to greater fuel economy.

The fifth-generation small-block is currently under development and will feature a new direct-injection combustion system that will help enhance efficiency over the current-generation engine. The current LS3 units are not that bad in terms of economy either, considering their size and superb performance.

Now, here’s some history lesson for you:

In the beginning

GM didn’t invent the V-8 engine, but interpreted it in a way that made performance accessible to millions of new customers. It got its start in the years following World War II, after Chief Engineer Ed Cole transferred to Chevrolet from Cadillac, where he oversaw the development of its premium V-8 engine.

Cole’s team retained the basic overhead valve design that was a staple of Chevrolet’s inline-six engine – affectionately called the Stovebolt. It was seen as one of the Chevrolet car line’s selling points, reinforcing a message of simplicity and reliability. Cole challenged his engineers to tighten the new engine package to make it more compact, less costly and easier to manufacture.

Upon its debut in the 1955 Chevy lineup, the new V-8 engine was physically smaller, 50 pounds lighter and more powerful than the Stovebolt six. It was not only a better engine for Chevrolet cars, it represented a better way of building engines, with a minimalist design that took advantage of streamlined production techniques.

After only two years on the market, the small-block began a steady march upward in displacement, power and technological advancement. In 1957, a version equipped with mechanical fuel injection was introduced, dubbed Ramjet. The only other high-volume manufacturer to offer fuel injection at the time was Mercedes-Benz.

Mechanical fuel injection was discontinued in the mid-Sixties, but the small-block debuted electronically controlled fuel injection in the 1980s and established a benchmark with the 1985 launch of Tuned Port Injection. This electronically controlled port fuel injection system was advanced in its day and its basic design is still used on most passenger cars and light-duty trucks more than 25 years later.

The small-block’s 4.4-inch bore centers – the distance from the center of one cylinder to the next – would come to symbolize the compact, balanced performance of the small-block. It was the dimension around which the Gen III small-block was designed in 1997. In 2011, the small-block is in its fourth generation, powering Chevrolet’s full-size trucks, SUVs and vans, midsize trucks and the Camaro and Corvette performance cars.

The first 4.3L (265 cu. in.) engine in 1955 produced up to 195 hp with an optional four-barrel carburetor. Today, the LS9 6.2L (376 cu. in.) supercharged small-block in the Corvette ZR1 is rated at 638 hp (476 kW), making it the most powerful engine ever installed in a regular-production Chevrolet or GM vehicle.

General Motors is utilizing its latest active safety features to create cars that can partially drive themselves.

General Motors Vice President of Global Research and Development Alan Taub says autonomous cars with sophisticated self-driving systems can be ready by the end of the decade.

Cars these days have sensors, radars, portable communication devices, GPS and camera, and of course digital maps. Combine this lot together and you realize the car does not actually need a driver! It can start and stop all by itself, avoid running into things,  and find the defined route.

It’s all jolly well, but the thing is, would you get in a car that has no driver? Or a plane that has no pilot?

Still, here’s what GM thinks:

“The technologies we’re developing will provide an added convenience by partially or even completely taking over the driving duties,” Taub said. “The primary goal, though, is safety. Future generation safety systems will eliminate the crash altogether by interceding on behalf of drivers before they’re even aware of a hazardous situation.”

GM is already putting some of these advanced safety systems into its vehicles. For example, a lane departure warning system is available on the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain; a side blind-zone alert is available on the Cadillac Escalade, Buick LaCrosse, GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban. A host of vehicles, including the Equinox and Terrain, offer back-up cameras.

Additional advanced safety systems under development will provide the foundation for autonomous driving including:

• An industry-first crash avoidance system available on the 2012 GMC Terrain uses a camera to help drivers avoid front-end and lane departure crashes. The system uses a high-resolution digital camera mounted on the windshield ahead of the rearview mirror to look for shapes of vehicles and lane markings, alerting the driver to possible collisions and lane departures.
• Vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication systems gather information from other vehicles, roadways and traffic signals to warn drivers about possible hazards ahead, including slowed or stalled vehicles, hard-braking drivers, slippery roads, sharp curves and upcoming stop signs and intersections. These systems, on display this week at the ITS World Congress, can be embedded in the vehicle or be added as applications to portable devices/smartphones that connect wirelessly to the vehicle.
• The EN-V urban mobility concept combines GPS with vehicle-to-vehicle communications and distance-sensing technologies to enable autonomous driving. The EN-V’s capabilities  being demonstrated at the ITS World Congress   includes pedestrian detection, collision avoidance, platooning and automated parking and retrieval, where the EN-V drops off its driver, parks itself and then returns to pick up the driver via commands from a smartphone.

“In the coming years, we believe the industry will experience a dramatic leap in active safety systems, and, hopefully, a dramatic decline in injuries and fatalities on our roadways,” Taub said. “GM has made a commitment to be at the forefront of this development.”

GM has been a leader in developing autonomous vehicle technology, having worked with Carnegie Mellon University to develop the “The Boss” Chevrolet Tahoe that brought autonomous vehicle operation to life in 2007 and won the DARPA Urban Challenge. The event required teams to build a driverless vehicle capable of driving in traffic and performing complex maneuvers such as merging, passing, parking and negotiating intersections over a 60-mile course.

General Motors will equip a number of its cars with the industry-first Front Center Air Bag from 2013.

This innovative safety features is designed to help protect drivers and front passengers in far-side impact crashes where the affected occupant is on the opposite, non-struck side of the vehicle.

The airbag deploys from the right side of the driver’s seat and positions itself between the front row seats near the center of the vehicle. The main function of this airbag is to act as an energy absorbing cushion between driver and front passenger in both driver- and passenger-side crashes. GM says it is also beneficial in rollovers, but it hasn’t been tested yet for that.

This feature is not required by federal regulation, but this option will definitely result in GMs products achieving Top Safety Picks in IIHS tests. The front center air bag will be introduced on the Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, and Chevrolet Traverse midsize crossovers in the 2013 model year. This new safety feature will be standard on Acadia and Traverse with power seats and all Enclaves.

“While no restraint technology can address all body regions or all potential injuries, the front center air bag is designed to work with the other air bags and safety belts in the vehicles to collectively deliver an even more comprehensive occupant restraint system,” said Gay Kent, GM executive director of Vehicle Safety and Crashworthiness. “This technology is a further demonstration of GM’s above-and-beyond commitment to provide continuous occupant protection before, during and after a crash.”

]]> http://www.motorward.com/2011/09/gms-front-center-airbag/feed/ 0 http://www.motorward.com/2011/01/chevrolet-replaces-daewoo-nameplate-in-korea/ http://www.motorward.com/2011/01/chevrolet-replaces-daewoo-nameplate-in-korea/#comments Fri, 21 Jan 2011 09:23:41 +0000 Arman Barari http://www.motorward.com/?p=19221

General Motors has been selling Daewoo cars as Chevrolet for a long time, under the GM Daewoo nameplate, but now they have decided to let go of the Daewoo name in favor of Chevrolet. So even in South Korea Daewoo cars will be called Chevrolet from now on. GM Daweoo will also be called GM Korea.

This is probably for the sake of bigger sales figure for Chevrolet. Recently they announced 2010 results which indicated 4.26 million sold vehicles, or one car every 7.4 seconds. So for next year they can add Daewoo sales to Chevrolet’s and come up with an even bigger number.

Press Release:

“This important new brand strategy is designed to strengthen our commitment to the Korean market, recognizing it as one of the strongest-performing countries within GM’s global operations. We are well positioned to bring one of the world’s iconic brands to Korea,” said Mike Arcamone, President and CEO of GM Daewoo. “We cannot afford to sit still, and instead, choose to make a bold move with the launch of Chevrolet in Korea.”

GM’s market research overwhelmingly points to consumer acceptance of the Chevrolet brand in Korea. “This new growth opportunity will allow us to compete in brand new segments and offer our customers more choices than ever before, resulting in a strong future for our company, our employees and our sales agents,” said Arcamone.

This year, the company will begin its most aggressive vehicle launch plan in its history and will have an all-new product lineup with the introduction of eight new models carrying the Chevrolet name. The portfolio includes the Chevrolet Camaro, Chevrolet Orlando, the Chevrolet Aveo global small car, as well as a new SUV and a new premium midsize sedan.

“Not only are we giving Korean consumers more vehicle choices than ever before, but in order to ensure Chevrolet’s long-term success in the domestic market, we are totally redesigning our dealerships, A/S networks and sales networks so that customers will be able to enjoy Chevrolet’s award-winning dealership experience and service,” said Arcamone. “Our main goal is to achieve the highest levels of customer satisfaction and loyalty.”

This next step of its evolution recognizes the company’s rich heritage and GM’s commitment to Korea, which is one of GM’s primary production and engineering operations. “Our sales increased 20 percent last year, our domestic market share increased double-digits and our exports soared 35 percent,” said Arcamone. “We are able to make this bold, strategic move to Chevrolet because of the hard work and dedication of our 17,000 employees, who have unflinchingly focused on increasing our domestic market share and supporting Chevrolet’s global growth in our export markets.”

According to GM, a Chevrolet was sold somewhere in the world every 7.4 seconds in 2010. Last year, more than 4.25 million Chevrolets were sold around the globe, and currently one out of every four Chevrolet vehicles is manufactured in Korea.

In step with its new brand strategy, the GM Daewoo Board of Directors, factoring in the best interests of the company, its employees, shareholders, dealers and suppliers, approved the new company name this morning. The current GM Korea will keep its name, GM Korea Ltd., and its focus will remain on the Cadillac brand.

“Changing our corporate name will increase our standing within GM globally while demonstrating our commitment to growing locally,” said Arcamone. “With the significant changes that we are announcing today, our goal is to increase our domestic sales and market share, generate additional revenue, strengthen our relationship with the customers, create new jobs and expand our presence in Korea. We regard these moves as a key to our long-term success and fundamentally believe they will also bring added benefits to our customers and the Korean economy.”

Founded in 1911 and named after famous, Swiss-born race car driver Louis Chevrolet, Chevrolet is one of GM’s four core brands and its largest brand. Chevrolet’s celebrates its 100th anniversary this year with sales in more than 120 countries The Chevrolet brand constitutes 53 percent of GM’s global business.

GM Daewoo played a lead role in the design, engineering and manufacturing of the Chevrolet Cruze global compact sedan, the new Chevrolet Spark global mini-car, and the new Chevrolet Aveo global small car.

“Chevrolet has enjoyed success in mature markets in North America and Europe, as well as in emerging markets in Asia Pacific, CIS countries, and Latin America,” said Arcamone. “We are confident our customers in Korea will embrace Chevrolet as well.”

The all-new LSX454R crate engine rated at 750 plus horsepower and 680 lb.-ft. of torque is developed for drag racing. But before it goes racing it’s going to help raise money for American Heart Association. GM Performance Parts (GMPP) will auction the first production LSX454R crate engine at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale event this month.

The charity sale is scheduled for the evening of Friday, Jan. 21, and will be carried live on SPEED’s coverage of the Barrett-Jackson auction. The engine carries lot number 1032.1 and bids can be submitted at the auction in person or online.

“GM Performance Parts is thrilled with the opportunity to leverage our high-performance engine, the heart of a vehicle, to help prevent heart disease and stroke,” said Dr. Jamie Meyer, product integration manager for GM Performance Parts. “This sale gives the highest bidder the opportunity to buy the first production version of the most powerful small-block V-8 ever engineered by General Motors.”

“The American Heart Association is honored to work with partners like General Motors, who exemplify corporate citizenship,” said Heather Kinder, executive director for the Southeast Michigan American Heart Association. “This donation further defines GM’s commitment to improving the health of our community.”

Over the years, GM and the GM Foundation have contributed more than $1 million to the American Heart Association.

GMPP’s presence at Barrett-Jackson also will include a display of crate engines, engine parts and project vehicles, including E-ROD emissions-compliant crate engine systems. The Lingenfelter custom ’55 Chevrolet pickup truck featuring the 5.3 E-ROD crate engine (part number 19258004) and the Superformance ’63 Grand Sport Vette with the LSA E-ROD crate engine (part number 19257460) will be showcased. Product experts will be on hand during the event’s Jan. 17-23 run, answering enthusiasts’ questions on how to build their own dream car.

General Motors officially confirmed  that Edward E. Whitacre, Jr. will step down as the company’s CEO on September 1, 2010. Whitacre who is the man responsible for the new efficient GM will remain chairman of the board until the end of the year. He will be replaced by 61-year old Dan Akerson [pictured above]. He has been a member of GM board of directors since July 2009, during the company’s hardest time and helped it to return to profitability. His plans is to keep GM on this path.

“My goal in coming to General Motors was to help restore profitability, build a strong market position, and position this iconic company for success,” said Whitacre. “We are clearly on that path. A strong foundation is in place and I am comfortable with the timing of my decision.”

Whitacre, 68, joined GM as chairman of the board on July 10, 2009. On December 1, 2009, he was named chief executive officer. He led the company after it emerged from a historic bankruptcy to become a profitable automaker again.

“Ed Whitacre was exactly what this company needed, at exactly the right time,” said Pat Russo, lead director on the GM board. “He simplified the organization, reshaped the company’s vision, put the right people in place, and brought renewed energy and optimism to GM.”

“Dan Akerson has been actively engaged in and supportive of the key decisions and changes made at the new GM. He brings broad business experience, decisive leadership, and continuity to this role,” said Russo. “The board of directors deeply appreciates the leadership Ed has provided and is pleased with the serious commitment Dan is making to the company. We look forward to his leadership.”

In addition to serving on the GM board since July 2009, Akerson has had a distinguished career in finance as a managing director at the Carlyle Group and in telecommunication, serving as chairman and chief executive officer of XO Communications and at Nextel Communications. He was also chairman and CEO of General Instrument Corp.

“There are remarkable opportunities ahead for the new GM, and I am honored to lead the company through this next chapter,” said Akerson. “Ed Whitacre established a foundation upon which we will continue building a great automobile company.”

pic: GM

Things are starting to come together nicely and the new General Motors is now ready to get going. They say they now have a new corporate structure, a stronger balance sheet, and a renewed commitment to make the customer the center of everything the new GM does. We hope so! Long Live GM.

Press Release

DETROIT – The new General Motors Company began operations today with a new corporate structure, a stronger balance sheet, and a renewed commitment to make the customer the center of everything the new GM does.

Created from the old GM’s strongest operations in an asset sale approved by the bankruptcy court on July 5, the new GM is built on:

* Four core brands in the U.S. and the largest, strongest dealer network in the country,
* A fresh lineup of Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC cars, trucks and crossovers, each with leading-edge designs and technologies that matter to both consumers and the environment,
* A competitive cost structure, a cleaner balance sheet, and a stronger liquidity position that will enable GM to invest in new products, key technologies, and its future,
* A winning culture focused on customers and products.

“One thing we have learned from the last 100 days is that GM can move quickly and decisively,” said Henderson. “Today, we take the intensity, decisiveness and speed of the past several months and transfer it from the triage of the bankruptcy process to the creation and operation of a new General Motors.”

Committed to great cars and trucks
The new General Motors launches with a clear and simple vision – to design, build and sell the best vehicles in the world.

Despite the recent downturn, GM has maintained its cadence of strong new products. In the U.S., for example, the Chevy Camaro has surged past its rivals to lead its segment, while the new Chevy Equinox, Cadillac SRX, and Buick LaCrosse are earning strong initial reviews. Later this year, the Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon and GMC Terrain debut, followed next year by the Chevy Volt, Chevy Cruze and Cadillac CTS Coupe.

This emphasis on great new products is also reflected in the Chevy Agile now launching in Latin America, in the Chevy Cruze and Buick Excelle in Asia Pacific, and in the new Opel Astra in Europe.

Just last month, GM announced its intention to build a new small car at a plant in Orion Township, Michigan, which will add to GM’s growing portfolio of fuel-efficient cars and restore approximately 1,400 jobs.

GM also has moved aggressively to develop a full range of energy-saving technologies, including advanced internal combustion engines, biofuels, fuel cells, and hybrids. The company is also a leader in the development of extended-range electric vehicles, with its first model, the Chevy Volt, currently undergoing road testing and scheduled to launch in 2010. The new GM is also taking steps to make advanced battery development a core competency, and expects to make additional announcements on this matter late this summer.

Stronger brands and dealers
As part of its reinvention, the new GM has also focused its resources on four core brands and a stronger, more effective dealer network.

General Motors’ core brands – Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC – will have a total of just 34 U.S. nameplates by 2010. This emphasis on fewer, better entries will enable the new GM to put more resources into each nameplate, resulting in better products and stronger marketing.

In May, the company accelerated its dealer consolidation efforts, with the goal of reducing the number of GM dealers in the U.S. from 6,000 this spring to approximately 3,600 by the end of next year. Even so, GM will still have the largest dealer network in the U.S. and GM dealers have committed to continue to improve the total customer experience for GM customers.

A pledge to regain trust and confidence
General Motors Company is primarily owned by the governments of the United States, Canada and Ontario, and by a trust fund providing medical benefits to UAW retirees. Specifically, common stock will be owned by:

* U.S. Department of the Treasury: 60.8 percent
* UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust: 17.5 percent
* Canada and Ontario governments: 11.7 percent
* The old GM: 10 percent

Stronger balance sheet
General Motors Company launches with a strong balance sheet, a competitive cost structure, and a strong cash position, enabling it to compete more effectively with both its U.S. and foreign-based competitors here in the U.S., and to continue its strong presence in growing global markets.

The new company acquired old GM’s strongest operations and will have a competitive operating cost structure, partly as a result of recent agreements with the United Auto Workers (UAW) and Canadian Auto Workers (CAW).

In the U.S., the new GM will be a far leaner company. By the end of 2010, the company will operate 34 assembly, powertrain, and stamping plants, down from 47 in 2008, and capacity utilization is expected to reach 100 percent during 2011. Overall U.S. employment will decline from about 91,000 at the end of 2008 to about 64,000 at the end of this year, creating a company sized to respond quickly to changes in the market, while still retaining the global scope necessary to develop world-class products and technologies.

The new GM will begin with a much stronger balance sheet, including U.S. debt of approximately $11 billion, which excludes preferred stock of $9 billion, and could change under fresh-start accounting. In total, obligations have been reduced by more than $40 billion, representing mostly unsecured debt and the VEBA trust fund that provides medical benefits to UAW retirees. The stronger balance sheet and lower break-even point will allow the new GM to reduce its risk, operate profitably at much lower volume levels, and reinvest in the business in the key areas of advanced technology and product development.

GM’s subsidiaries outside the United States were acquired by the new company and are expected to continue to operate normally without any interruption.

A new way of doing business
With the launch of the new General Motors, company leaders will work to change the culture of the company, making the speed and decisiveness that GM demonstrated over the past several months the new way of doing business, and adding an intensified focus on the customer.

More direct communications
Henderson also announced initiatives to open more direct communications between customers and GM employees at every level. “Beginning next week, we will launch a ‘Tell Fritz’ website where customers, or anyone else, can share ideas, concerns, and suggestions directly with senior management. I will personally review and respond to some of these communications every day.”

Detroit being home, General Motors is bringing almost everything! They are Showcasing 17 New and Upcoming Cars and Crossovers, most important of them include 2010 Chevrolet Equinox, 2010 Cadillac SRX and 2010 Buick LaCrosse; Cadillac Converj concept with Voltec electric propulsion technology. Also GM will introduce two brand new cars, Spark mini car, and Orlando a seven-seat MPV.

PRESS RELEASE:

DETROIT – General Motors opened the North American International Auto Show with a road rally of 17 new and upcoming cars and crossovers – including four global premieres – that underscores GM’s ongoing commitment to emotionally compelling design, leading fuel efficiency and advanced technology.

In addition to the four world premieres – the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox, 2010 Cadillac SRX, 2010 Buick LaCrosse and Cadillac Converj concept – Chevrolet announced it will produce and bring to the U.S. the highly fuel-efficient Spark four-door mini car and seven-seat Orlando multi-purpose vehicle.

T he production version of the Spark will be unveiled at the Geneva Auto Show in March. Sales of Spark will begin in early 2010 in Europe, followed by other global regions. Originally seen as the Chevrolet Beat concept, the car drew nearly 2 million consumer votes asking GM to build it. Spark will hit U.S. showrooms in 2011.

A production version of the Orlando show car, introduced last fall at the Paris Motor Show, will also join Chevrolet showrooms in the U.S. in 2011. More details on GM’s global plans for Orlando will be announced in the near future.

The Cadillac Converj concept propels Cadillac’s acclaimed design into the future of luxury driving. The concept is a well-appointed grand touring coupe with a bold design, a host of interactive technologies and eco-friendly, renewable materials throughout. The four-passenger Converj concept is intended to show how GM’s revolutionary Voltec electric propulsion system can meet the desires of luxury consumers.

“In many ways, today marks a new beginning for General Motors, as we dramatically accelerate and expand the restructuring that we’ve been driving in North America, and around the globe, for the past several years,” said GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner.

“Buried in all the financial news of recent months, is that we’ve made tremendous progress in recent years in making cars and trucks that consumers really want to buy,” Wagoner said. “At the same time, we’re committed to leading the industry on the most important issue we face over the next generation: the development of alternative-fuel propulsion.”

Here is a brand-by-brand look at today’s all-new or upcoming introductions:

Chevrolet

2010 Chevrolet Equinox (world premiere): When equipped with GM’s all-new 2.4L four-cylinder direct injection engine – one of two all-new engine choices – Equinox is expected to lead the segment in highway fuel economy, beating both the Toyota RAV-4 and Honda CR-V. The 2.4L-equipped five-seat crossover, filled with unexpected amenities for the price and influenced by the popular Malibu sedan and midsize Traverse crossover, achieves an estimated 30 mpg highway.

Chevrolet Spark: This four-door mini car combines youthful exterior and interior design with outstanding fuel economy. Spark was inspired by the popular Beat concept that recently swept the global auto show circuit. Spark will be sold in several markets around the globe starting in 2010 and hits the U.S. in 2011.

Chevrolet Orlando show car: Making its North American debut, Orlando is a compact, seven-seat multi-purpose vehicle based on the recently introduced Cruze compact sedan. Equipped with a fuel-efficient, four-cylinder engine, Orlando offers the versatile attributes of a sport-utility, family van and wagon. Like the Spark, the Orlando production vehicle debuts in U.S. markets in 2011.

Other Chevrolets in the product rally include the production design version of the Voltec-powered Chevrolet Volt extended range electric vehicle; the Chevrolet Malibu, 2008 North American Car of the Year; the upcoming 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, expected to achieve nearly 40 mpg on the highway; the fuel-efficient Chevrolet Aveo 5-door; and the much-anticipated 2010 Chevrolet Camaro, which already has 10,000 pre-orders.

Cadillac

Cadillac Converj concept (world premiere): The Cadillac Converj concept was developed as a well-appointed grand touring coupe with a bold design and a host of interactive technology. The four-passenger Converj is intended to show how GM’s revolutionary Voltec electric propulsion technology can power a luxury coupe with a typically Cadillac “no compromises” design. It enables up to 40 miles of gas- and emissions-free electric driving with extended-range capability of hundreds of miles.

2010 Cadillac SRX (world premiere) : Cadillac’s next-generation midsize luxury crossover features a completely new design and two efficient, high-technology V-6 engine choices as well as available advanced all-wheel-drive technology. The five-passenger crossover, with its CTS-inspired interior, is designed to appeal to both the emotional and pragmatic preferences of today’s luxury consumer. Production begins in the spring.

2010 CTS Sport Wagon: Cadillac’s first-ever North American wagon is a progressive take on the classic wagon body style that delivers significant functionality and fuel efficiency, including up to an estimated 28 mpg highway. Intended to connect with the changing priorities of luxury consumers, CTS Sport Wagon production begins in the spring. The CTS Sport Wagon, like its sedan predecessor (which also is part of the rally), includes available features such as all-wheel drive, a 40-gigabyte internal hard drive, pop-up navigation screen and a hand-cut-and-sewn interior with Sapele wood accents.

Buick

2010 Buick LaCrosse (world premiere): The completely redesigned 2010 Buick LaCrosse luxury sedan builds on the success of the popular Enclave crossover and continues Buick’s renaissance. LaCrosse offers all-wheel drive, a suite of advanced intelligent personal technologies and safety features, and a choice of two fuel-saving V-6 engines. The exterior design builds on the Buick Invicta show car introduced at the 2008 Beijing Auto Show.

Other vehicles featured in the GM rally conference include the Saturn Aura midsize sedan, the 2007 North American Car of the Year, with segment-leading highway fuel economy of 33 mpg; and the upcoming plug-in hybrid electric version of the Saturn Vue compact crossover. The Vue will use a modified version of GM’s two-mode hybrid system and plug-in technology, a lithium-ion battery pack, highly efficient electronics and powerful electric motors to potentially double the fuel efficiency of any current SUV.

GM also featured the 2009 Pontiac Solstice Coupe, equipped with a removable roof that enables an open-air driving experience yet offers a greater range of all-season driving opportunities; and the just-launched Opel Insignia midsize sedan, the European member of GM’s global family of midsize sedans. Insignia was recently named 2009 European Car of the Year by a panel of 59 auto journalists representing 23 countries.

When the public steps inside the 121,000-square-foot GM display beginning Jan. 17, a dramatic entry leads to nearly 100 current GM vehicles as well as future product displays. Product stories – illustrated with touch screen computers, cut-away engines and transmissions and trained product specialists – focus on how GM, through design and technology, integrates fuel efficiency, safety and quality into its vehicles.

]]> http://www.motorward.com/2009/01/gm-lineup-2009-naias-detroit/feed/ 0 http://www.motorward.com/2009/01/2009-buick-lacrosse-official-videos/ http://www.motorward.com/2009/01/2009-buick-lacrosse-official-videos/#comments Sat, 10 Jan 2009 16:12:40 +0000 Arman Barari http://www.motorward.com/?p=1919

General Motors recently dropped a preview of new generation 2009 Buick LaCrosse before the official debut at Detroit Motor Show. Following that, official videos are now available for you to have a better look at the car. 2009 LaCrosse actually received a warm welcome from the press. At launch, it will come with two V6 engines developing 255 and 285 horsepower. Click here to read more about the car. Also follow the jump for the second video…

The Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC and HUMMER car brands made a strong statement regarding the strength of their Middle East offerings by unveiling a combined total of eight new models on the first day of the 2008 Abu Dhabi International Motor Show (17-21 December).

PRESS : This impressive display of new vehicles, which was hosted by local dealers Bin Hamoodah Automotive (Chevrolet and GMC dealer) and Liberty Abu Dhabi Automobiles Co. (Cadillac and HUMMER dealer), included four Middle East premieres and four regional show debuts. It also coincided with the recent announcement of the launch of the new 2009 model year line-up.

The new models are set to reinforce the strength of Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC and HUMMER in the Middle East. Together with Saab, the fifth General Motors brand in the region, they have experienced a 10% increase in sales over the first eleven months of 2008. Backed by the energy and commitment of the dealer network, the brands’ new 2009 model year line-up will ensure that they continue to offer customers the best value in the market place.

Leading the way, and one of the stars of the whole show, was the much heralded 2010 Chevrolet Camaro, the hottest new sports car on the scene and appearing in the Middle East for the very first time prior to its official launch in the region next year.

Also making their Middle East premieres in Abu Dhabi were the all-new Cruze, Chevrolet’s stylish new entry in the midsize segment, and the Chevrolet Malibu midsize car. Both cars are set to go on sale in the region in the second quarter of 2009, and introduce new standards of design, quality and value for money to their respective segments.

Five of the models making their show debuts in Abu Dhabi have either just been launched in the Middle East or will be hitting dealer showrooms in the coming weeks. Chevrolet launched the Traverse, an expressively styled and well-equipped family crossover that introduces the brand into the growing crossover sector for the first time, while GMC unveiled the Sierra Denali, a luxury pick-up.

Cadillac introduced its flagship car in the large luxury SUV category, the Escalade Platinum, as well as the world’s fastest production V8 sedan, the CTS-V. Meanwhile HUMMER displayed its first entry in the luxury pick-up segment with the versatile new H3T.

Commenting on the premieres at the Abu Dhabi International Motor Show, Mike Devereux, President of General Motors Middle East, said: “The new models that Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC and HUMMER have displayed in Abu Dhabi clearly demonstrate how important the Middle East market is to us. Providing a combination of great value, cutting-edge design and market-leading technology, the current line-up represents our best ever offering in the region.”

Here’s a video by General Motors giving a preview of 2010 Buick LaCrosse. The first parts of the vid feature some classic buicks and a guy explaining its design heritage! There is also a shot of interior.

source :The Car Connection

General Motors recently put 2010 Camaro SS on display at L.A autoshow, so it’s cool to take another look to this magnificent muscle! As you expect form a SS Chevy, it comes with a V8, 6.2 liter developing 422hp and 408 lb-ft of torque and does 0-60 in 4.6 seconds. Prices starts at around $30,000. Check out the photo gallery after the jump…

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