The mega-hit AMC show Mad Men dips into the automotive realm from time to time, and took another twist in last night’s episode with agencies grappling to represent some kind of secret GM project, the XP-887, aka the Chevrolet Vega. Judging by the way the car has already shaken up the show, and its eventual place in automotive lore, this is going to be a fun season.

Everyone on the show is excited about the mystery mobile, and for good reason. It marked several firsts for General Motors, and combined style and performance with value for what was essentially a can’t-miss hit. Powered by an innovative inline-four engine with an aluminum alloy cylinder block, the Vega delivered power to the rear-wheels through a three, four or five speed transmission. It was an instant hit, but met an unfortunate end, and nearly crippled GM. Now you can find Vegas in pretty good condition for about $3,000. But Don Draper doesn't know that yet. More...

General Motors will take the technology known as “Super Cruise” to a new level of testing, as they aim to log hundreds of thousands of miles in the autonomous system they say could be available in Cadillacs by the end of the decade. Super Cruise uses advanced radar and other tech to essentially drive the car itself, though GM is careful to warn that the driver will still need to be attentive at all times. Could we really see a self-driving Cadillac within seven years?

GM has already been testing Super Cruise in simulators and closed courses for some time. There have even bean real-world tests, but those will significantly expand to include all times of the day and night, plus all weather conditions. Several automakers have shown their desire to develop and test autonomous vehicles, but this effort from General Motors is by far the most focused effort to bring them to market within an established timeframe. More...

In efforts to meet changing emission and fuel economy standards at a lower cost, the Ford Motor Company and General Motors Corporation separately announced plans to collaborate on making nine- and 10-speed, front- and rear-wheel automatic transmissions for their vehicle fleets. Once bitter rivals in their “Big Three” heydays, this is the third time in recent history that the two Detroit titans will collaborate on creating transmissions.

“Engineering teams from GM and Ford have already started initial design work on these new transmissions,” said Jim Lanzon, GM vice president of global transmission engineering. More...

General Motors Co. has announced that it will invest nearly $332 million to create four state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities that will produce fuel-efficient components like the new Ecotec small gas engine, a new V6 engine, and a more efficient 8–speed transmission.

GM predicts that the new facilities will retain about 1,650 jobs at six failing facilities in the Michigan cities of Flint, Bay City, Romulus, and Saginaw; Toledo, Ohio, and Bedford, Indiana. More...

The official unveiling of the 2014 Cadillac CTS luxury sedan isn’t supposed to be for another two days, but since when has that stopped the Internet?

Images of the highly-anticipated CTS leaked online today, showing off a new design that keeps a traditional shape while updating for the more dynamic and sumptuous era of today. Last week we showed you the all-new turbo V6 engine and eight-speed transmission that will power the CTS. Today, we finally get to see its new facelift. Let’s dive right in. More...

The wraps have fallen off the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible today at the Geneva Motor Show, revealing a cloth power top that GM says will retain the structural rigidity of the Stingray coupe. Oh. It also looks drop-dead gorgeous.

At the push of a button, the power cloth top in the new 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible retracts into the rear tonneau panel behind the seats, and is operational even at speeds up to 30 mph. Those tonneau panels serve an aesthetic purpose, too, glossed in black paint for a look that exudes the seductive nature associate with topless Vettes.  More...