GM has confirmed that they will build the 2014 Chevrolet SS performance sedan, for sale in the U.S. with rear-wheel drive and a V8 engine, and that the SS will run in the NASCAR Sprint Cup next season.

When the SS reaches dealerships in late 2013, it will be the first time in 17 years that Chevrolet sports a rear-wheel drive sedan in the U.S. But GM has been producing vehicles like that for years in other parts of the world.

Holden, their Australian arm, is well-known for their performance sedans, and will build the new SS based on their popular Commodore. GM used a similar strategy for the Pontiac GTO coupe and G8 sedan, which Holden built based on their own models. More...

No one knows much at all about the 2014 Chevrolet SS Performance, but already we can’t wait to see it hit showroom floors.

Growing suspicion that GM had been planning to build a new high-performance model in the near future seemed to be confirmed Wednesday, when roadside assistance company OnStar listed the 2014 Chevrolet SS Performance as a model included in their RemoteLink app coverage.

The news that a car called the SS Performance even existed is news to the automotive world, and OnStar has since pulled the list of 2014 cars, but they’re clearly onto something. Did GM tip them off that a new vehicle is in the works? What does OnStar know that we don’t?

What we know for sure is that GM has been looking to replace the Pontiac G8, a V8-powered tire-smoking sedan that became a casualty when the brand called it quits in 2009. The Chevy SS Performance may be the natural progression of that four-door monster – especially in the wake of the successful Cadillac CTS-V, as it seems that buyers are more willing to embrace performance sedans than they were in the age of the G8. More...

Nothing lasts forever. Yet, in the automobile business, several makes have been around for a century or more. A handful of car models, too—Chevrolet Impala, Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Corvette, Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic—have lasted four or five decades, or longer, going through a succession of generations but maintaining a tie to the company’s heritage.

Over the past year or so, several makes that seemed destined to last virtually forever instead bit the dust. Pontiac is the most notable example, with a history dating back to 1926. Like Saturn, another member of the GM family that was axed in the recent downsizing, Pontiac disappeared after the 2010 model year, following substantial shrinkage for 2009. So did Hummer, whose heritage began with the military version that served during the Gulf War of the 1990s.

Saab seemed destined for the scrap heap when several buyers failed to take it over after the separation from GM. Even now, the future of that Swedish nameplate remains uncertain.

Car models don’t generally last as long, and tend to fade away without fanfare. Buick, for instance, will soon drop its Lucerne sedan. Cadillac has abandoned its big DTS sedan, which was a descendant of the long-lived DeVille. Honda’s boxy compact Element crossover is gone. Mercury soon will delete the Mariner compact crossover SUV from its lineup. Volvo dropped its V70 station wagon, but retains the more SUV-like XC70. More...

Toyota has issued a voluntary safety recall involving approximately 1.13 million 2005-2008 Toyota Corolla and Corolla Matrix cars sold in North America to address some Engine Control Modules (ECM) that may have been improperly manufactured. The recall includes 199,163 Pontiac Vibe models from 2005-2008 built at the former New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. joint venture between General Motors and Toyota.

On 2WD cars equipped with the 1ZZ-FE engine , there is a possibility that a crack may develop at certain solder points or on the electronic component used to protect circuits against excessive voltage (varistor), on the ECM's circuit board. In most cases, if a crack occurs at certain solder points or on certain varistors, the check engine light may illuminate, harsh shifting could result, or the engine may not start. In limited instances, if cracking occurs on particular solder points or varistors, the engine could stop while the vehicle is being driven. More...

RM Auctions, the world’s largest collector car auction house, and Jim Wangers, Pontiac’s renowned ad and marketing man fondly named “Godfather of the GTO,” are teaming up this Saturday, June 19, 2010 in San Diego, CA for a one-of-a-kind sale of some of the most well known and coveted musclecars ever built.

Do you want to own an exceptional piece of history? More...

Even though all eyes are on Toyota for their many recent recalls, General Motors has also released information about two recalls for more than a million Chevrolets and Pontiacs due to a problem with their power steering.

"This is a condition that takes time to develop. It tends to occur in older models out of warranty," said Jamie Hresko, GM Vice President of Quality. "Recalling these vehicles is the right thing to do for our customers' peace of mind.

"While greater steering effort under 15 mph may be required, if the customer experiences loss of power steering assist, it is important to note that the vehicle can still be safely controlled because the customer can still steer the vehicle," Hresko said. "When the condition occurs, both a chime will sound and a 'Power Steering' message will be displayed."

GM is developing a repair and will notify affected customers when a plan is in place. Vehicles affected by this voluntary recall include 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalts, 2007-2010 Pontiac G5s, 2005-2006 Pontiac Pursuit sold in Canada, and 2005-2006 Pontiac G4s sold in Mexico.

This voluntary recall follows on the heels of another General Motors recall issued last month that affects the gasoline fuel pump of certain model year 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt and Saturn Ion vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of Arizona and Nevada; and model year 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, Pontiac G5, and Saturn Ion vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of Arizona, California, Florida, Nevada, and Texas.

According to NHTSA, the plastic modular reservoir assembly may crack and allow fuel to leak. If the crack becomes large enough, fuel may drip onto the ground and vehicle performance may be affected. In the presence of an ignition source, such leakage could result in a fire. Dealers will replace the fuel pump module free of charge.

To find out more about these recalls, owners may contact Chevrolet at 800-630-2438, Saturn at 1-800-972-8876 and Pontiac at 800-620-7668 or at the owner center at www.gmownercenter.com. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 (tty 800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

By Brandy Schaffels, autoMedia.com contributing editor