autoMedia Auto News Blog : Buick

Buick Reveals 2011 Regal

Brandy Schaffels — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:55:00 GMT

Buick will reveal the 2011 Regal sport sedan to Los Angeles journalists on Thursday evening with a private performance by singer Colbie Caillat. Touting its turbocharged horsepower, driver-selectable suspension system, and a firm, European-tuned chassis, General Motors promises it will deliver a driving experience intended to rival the best import sport sedans in the segment. "The 2011 Buick Regal is like nothing you've ever experienced from this brand," says Susan Docherty, general manager of Buick GMC. "The Regal is the next chapter in Buick's transformation and will expand the portfolio to include a sport sedan." It will be powered by the 182-horsepower 2.4-liter Ecotec direct injected four-cylinder engine found in its sibling LaCrosse , with a 220-horse/2.0-liter twin-scroll turbocharged version available late-summer 2010. Both engine choices will be mated to a standard six-speed automatic transmission to provide an estimated 30 mpg on the highway with the 2.4-liter, or 29 mpg on the highway with the 2.0L turbo powerplant. The driver will enjoy thick-rimmed, leather-wrapped steering wheel, standard heated leather seats, Bluetooth capability, XM Satellite...(read more)

No Sale! GM To Keep Opel

admin — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:15:00 GMT

Ending months of negotiation and speculation, General Motors has halted the sale of its European Opel division. GM has cited improving business and the importance of Opel/Vauxhall to its global operations as the reasons for the reversal. GM today posted its October sales figures, showing the first gain in 21 months. The news came hard on Magna International, which had been working with the German government, GM, and partners on acquiring Opel. Known as a major parts supplier, Magna is a large, diverse company that has grown to become a manufacturer-for-hire for several automakers, and this purchase would have been a natural expansion for its business. “GM will soon present its restructuring plan to Germany and other governments and hopes for its favorable consideration,” said Fritz Henderson, president and CEO. “We understand the complexity and length of this issue has been draining for all involved. However, from the outset, our goal has been to secure the best long term solution for our customers, employee, suppliers, and dealers, which is reflected in the decision reached today. This was deemed to be the most stable and least costly approach for securing Opel/Vauxhall’s long-term...(read more)

autoMedia CARnival 10-16-09: This week in Auto Blogs

Brandy Schaffels — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:24:00 GMT

It is the week ending October 16, and we have browsed our favorite automotive blogs all week long to gather the highlights from each....(read more)

GM Reports Only One Return Against 60-Day Promise

Editor — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 05:48:00 GMT

General Motors happily reports that since launching their 60-day love-it-or-return-it guarantee, only one buyer from 150,000 new-vehicle purchases has returned their new GM car, and actually he exchanged it for the same car but with a different transmission. “Out of hundreds of thousands, the people who've selected the 60-day guarantee were in the hundreds,” GM's marketing chief Bob Lutz said during a press conference Wednesday. “We have had one substantiated return of a vehicle.” Actually, of the 150,000 vehicles sold since the sales campaign debuted, only 100 people have opted for the 60-day return offer. The rest of the buyers each chose to take $500 cash. That's $74,900 in sales incentive "costs" the the automaker ... about the value of one nice Vette or a CTS-V ... and an indicator that a lot of people love cash and/or have faith they'll be happy with their new GM purchase decision 60 days down the road. ~ Deborah Neal, Editorial Director, autoMedia.com...(read more)

GM Joins Ford with Fall Truck Sale Campaign

Editor — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:49:00 GMT

Maybe it was a marketing ploy, or maybe GM's marketing chief Bob Lutz had a change of heart. After announcing that GM would not be holding the fall season truck sale in order to focus on their new "May the Best Car Win" campaign, Lutz has decided to hold a fall truck sale after all, starting tomorrow, September 25th. So what is GM said to be offering you on Chevrolet and GMC trucks? According to a report today in Automotive News:

$1000 cash on many GMC 2010 trucks, crossovers and SUVs, including Buick Enclave
$500 cash on 2009 and 2010 GMC Canyon pickup trucks
Zero percent financing for 60 months on all Chevrolet Silverado and Colorado trucks, plus the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu sedan
$1500 cash on 2010 Chevrolet Malibu models
$1000 on 2010 Chevrolet Impala sedans, Traverse crossovers, Tahoe and Suburban SUVs, and Silverado and Avalanche trucks

The caveat right now, according to some Chevrolet and GMC dealers, is that they currently do not have a lot of 2010 models in stock. The fall sale ends November 2, 2009. Ford's fall truck sale opened September 10 and ends October 5, 2009, with incentives as much as $4500 on F-150 model line trucks and $5000 on F-Series Super Duty haulers.

Research 2009 Chevrolet, GMC, and Ford models in our 2009 New Car Buyer's Guide.

~ Deborah Neal, Editorial Director, autoMedia.com

autoMedia CARnival 9-11-09: This week in the auto blogs

Brandy Schaffels — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:29:00 GMT

It's the week ending September 11, 2009 and we've browsed our favorite automotive blogs all week long to gather a collection of what we feel is the highlight from each. Big news is General Motors' announcement of a 60-day money-back guarantee, that will allow eligible buyers of new Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles that will allow customers to return their vehicle to their dealer between 31 and 60 days of purchase and receive a refund of the purchase price for the vehicle.

Sneak Peeks from the upcoming Frankfurt Auto show are everywhere to be found! AutoBlogGreen has news and photos of the Mercedes-Benz S 500 plug-in electric Hybrid set to Debut in Frankfurt next week. The luxury PHEV features a 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engine and a 44 kW/60 hp electric motor that promise the S 500 Hybrid races from 0 to 62 mph in 5.5 seconds, while also offering more than 70 miles per gallon. Race on, Treehuggers!

MotorTrend's Frankfurt preview is live now, with first looks at more than a dozen of the cars set to be revealed next week. They've got everything from the Audi R8 Spyder, Lamborghini Reventon Roadster, Lexus LF-Ch and BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concepts. The content here will just keep growing, so check back again next week to see what else has been added.

This announcement from Jalopnik is worth running just because the photo is so entertaining! During a marketing call to promote GM's GM's new marketing campaign: "May The Best Car Win," Bob "Maximum Marketing" Lutz challenged any comers in an unmodified production sedan to a duel against a Cadillac CTS-V. So, Jalopnik challenged Lutz to race against Wes Siler in a Mercedes-Benz AMG C63. Regardless, Lutz told the assembled reporters "You're running into a trap because if you beat me by a second on the lap time, we'll just advertise the price difference." Can't wait to see the outcome of this event!

Ahead of its official debut at the State Fair of Texas later this month, images of Toyota's next-generation 4Runner SUV have been leaked at LeftLaneNews. You'll have to wait until September 24 for more official news, until then, this is all you get.

Next week is National Child Passenger Safety Week, and to launch the event, Inspection stations across the United States are standing by on Saturday, September 12 so that car seat installations can be explained and demonstrated in person. AskPatty.com suggests that if you've got babies or young children, this would be a good reason to take the grandparents and caregivers for a refresher course on child seat safety

Moving up from child safety to Teen Driving Safety, Liberty Mutual Insurance has just released an analysis that claims to show that moms and dads are not exactly setting good examples as the drive. According to the article at TheDetroitBureau, 69% of parents of teen drivers report they practice at least two dangerous or distracting behaviors while driving, and nearly half do at least three. Blame the dads (not the moms) for these bad examples, as the survey finds dads are less likely than moms to encourage their teens to practice safe driving in general. While 85% of moms discuss safe driving often with their teen drivers, only 73% of dads have had the same conversation.

Before we end for the week, let's take a moment to enjoy a funny car commercial, brought to us by those wacky humorists at AutoBlog. Ever wonder what goes into the design of the cars we see on the road? Well, here's an inside look at what goes into styling a sexy German-designed automobile. It'll take your breath away...

Thanks for joining us for this week's autoMedia.com CARnival! Have you got something of interest you want us to include in a future carnival? Then fill out our online form so we can be notified of your interesting entry to our weekly blog CAR-nival. Check back next week for another installment--until then, have a great weekend!

Brandy Schaffels, autoMedia.com Contributing Editor

GM Bets on Consumer Confidence with Money-Back Guarantee

Brandy Schaffels — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 23:43:00 GMT

As another step towards boosting consumer confidence in the brands, General Motors will now offer a Satisfaction Guarantee to eligible buyers of new Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles which allows customers to return their vehicle between 31 and 60 days of purchase and receive a refund of the purchase price for the vehicle.

The new Satisfaction Guarantee is in addition to GM's existing warranty coverage, which includes a transferable 100,000-mile/five-year (whichever comes first) limited powertrain warranty, roadside assistance, and courtesy transportation.

The warranty is part of GM's larger "May the Best Car Win" marketing campaign that demonstrates the manufacturer's confidence in its vehicles when compared head-to-head with the most competitive vehicles in each vehicle segment. The moneyback guarantee will be offered between September 14 and November 30, 2009.

"We're putting our money down that if people buy one of our vehicles and don't absolutely love it, we'll take it back. We will stand behind them both in the short-term and over the long haul," said Bob Lutz, GM vice chairman, Marketing and Communications.

It's clear here that the biggest goal is to get buyers into dealerships to take a look at the improved quality of the entire product lineup, instead of dismissing them in favor of import competitors, believing them to be better. "The Cadillac SRX and CTS Wagon, the Buick LaCrosse, the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain, for instance, are all outstanding new products," said Lutz. "We think if consumers give us a fair chance and look at the facts on the things that matter most to them, like design, fuel economy, warranty and safety, our vehicles are the best choices - that's what makes an offer like this possible," said Lutz.

The Satisfaction Guarantee covers the vehicle purchase price and sales tax on 2009 and 2010 Model Year Chevys, Buicks, GMCs and Cadillacs (except medium duty trucks). It excludes other add-ons like accessories, negative equity on a trade-in, or other fees; other restrictions apply, and leased vehicles are not included. If they're not happy with their purchase, customers (only one per household) can return their vehicle between 31 and 60 days as long as their payments are current and the vehicles have been driven less than 4000 miles.

"We know that we'll need to work very hard to get people's attention and encourage them to give Chevy, Buick, Cadillac and GMC a try," said Lutz. "We think the 'May the Best Car Win' campaign and the Satisfaction Guarantee offer should help re-instill confidence in the excellence of our products."

GM is betting big on that goal, but has taken out insurance against losses, which could equal thousands of dollars on each returned car. "I think we can now say our current lineup can bear comparison with any other volume automakers' products anywhere in the world," Lutz said, in an article at CNN Money.

Additional information will be available beginning Monday, September 14, when the following informative websites -- www.Chevy.com/guarantee, www.Buick.com/guarantee, www.Cadillac.com/guarantee, and GMC.com/guarantee -- come online.

Interested in finding out more about these brands before you go shopping? Then browse our Chevy, Buick, Cadillac, and GMC vehicle reviews here at the autoMedia.com Buyer's Guide.

By Brandy Schaffels, autoMedia.com contributing editor

autoMedia CARnival 8/21/09: This week in the auto blogs

Brandy Schaffels — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 12:36:00 GMT

It's the week ending August 21, and we've browsed our favorite automotive blogs all week long to gather a collection of what we feel is the highlight from each. Big news involves the end of the CARS rebates on Monday, as once again the Feds predict the money will run out over the weekend. People: That's nearly $3 billion dollars in rebates and admin costs car shoppers have burned through in barely a month!

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has announced the cash for clunkers program will come to a close on Monday, August 24th at 8 p.m. EDT. According to The Detroit News, the latest round of Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) rebates has inspired 457,476 sales worth $1.91 billion in rebates. Apparently, dealers have been submitting paperwork for 20,000 vehicles, or about $100 million, a day in recent days, since the program was renewed. And this time, lawmakers have no interest in extending the program. Unfortunately, while sales have been brisk, reimbursements have not, so Chrysler Group and General Motors have announced they will advance funds to dealers who are still awaiting payment from the government for clunkers deals. DetNews reports the administration has paid just $145 million of the $1.9 billion in vouchers submitted -- or less than 10 percent of the funds requested. YIKES!

For more than a year now, says The Detroit Bureau, automotive manufacturers have, done nothing but cut, cut, cut. Thanks to the cash for clunkers sales melee, and inventories so low that some popular models are literally being sold right off the car haulers, automakers are cautiously starting to ramp up production again. Hope they get to lots before the money runs out!

Dealership inventory is quickly thinning many towns, even as factories ramp up overtime to deliver small, fuel-efficient vehicles in before the funds run out. There is a definite race against the clock for all involved to take full advantage of this unique program, and car shoppers shouldn't delay. You can learn about the so-called "cash for clunkers" from our guide, and research year-end clearance models in our new car buyer's guide and reviews here at autoMedia.com

It might appear to be little more than a toyish looking box on wheels, but Trabant has released teaser images of its upcoming all-electric Trabant nT set to debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show. AutoBlog Green has a fun photo gallery of the new electric Trabant nT (new Trabi) which promises a range of about 156 miles from its lithium-ion battery.

With the oldest car yet, cross-dressing maids, and a crash-and-roll finale, people have been talking about this high-performance exhibition for weeks! At last Jalopnik has posted the results of all 95 entries into the Buttonwillow Histrionics 24 Hours Of LeMons. Be sure to check out the gallery of entries - it'll almost be like having attended the event! And to think: Some of these cars could have been worth $up to $4500 as Clunker trade-ins...

She's the modern-day version of a photographic Mata Hari, and LeftLaneNews reports that ABC News spent a day Automotive Spy Photographer Brenda Priddy as she followed various camouflaged vehicles the sun-soaked southwest desert. To read ABC News' report and to watch their video, click here.

Would you spend $129 for a video game if it promised to make you a better driver? AskPatty.com reports on DriveSharp -- computer-based exercises produced by a provider of brain fitness programs -- which has been shown in independent studies to improve reaction time, cut crash risk by up to 50 percent, and increase control in most driving conditions.

Last week, General Motors gave journalists and consumers a sneak peek at several models expected to debut over the next two years. This week, in response to its poor reception, All Cars All The Time reports that Buick has decided to cancel the Saturn-Vue-based electric crossover, but promises the important plug-in hybrid technology will quickly be applied to another vehicle.

So, do you enjoy the broad variety of headlines and automotive websites here in our weekly carnival? If this still doesn't provide a broad enough selection of car content, then you should check out autos.alltop.com: They've got links to more than a hundred automotive websites, and list the five most recent headlines at each. So whether you're looking for the most popular auto items at Digg.com, auto & transportation press releases from PR Newswire, and anything in between, autos.alltop.com is the place to go when you've got too much time on your hands, and an insatiable appetite for car news.

Thanks for joining us for this week's autoMedia.com CARnival! Have you got something of interest you want us to include in a future carnival? Then fill out our online form so we can be notified of your interesting entry to our weekly blog CAR-nival. Check back next week for another installment--until then, have a great weekend!

Brandy Schaffels, Contributing Editor

GM Axes Buick Crossover Plug-In Hybrid

admin — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 03:10:00 GMT

No one likes to have their children criticized, but General Motors took to heart feedback it received at a recent future product showcase held for employees, potential customers, dealers, media, analysts, and others. (Read: “25 in 24: GM Reveals New Models for its Core Brands.”)

The diverse panel were very interested in the future Chevrolet Aveo, Spark, and Cruze, and it even lauded the upcoming Cadillac line. However, a Buick crossover expected to go into production in 2011 was not well received. The vehicle was a badge-engineered next-generation Saturn Vue, notable for offering a plug-in hybrid variation. While this sounds like a slam-dunk, those who have seen it feel otherwise. And GM is responding to the feedback. Word has it that the two-mode hybrid powertrain will live on in another vehicle.

GM Vice Chairman Tom Stephens said:

“The Buick crossover we showed received consistent feedback from large parts of all the audiences that it didn’t fit the premium characteristics that customers have come to expect from Buick.”

You may recall that this was the Buick compact crossover I announced in Traverse City a few weeks ago, with a plug-in hybrid version to accompany it — this is not the smaller Buick crossover we showed that was playfully referred to as ‘the baby Enclave.’ That vehicle did very well and remains in the lineup.”

We were all struck by the consistency of the criticism of the compact crossover. And what we decided to do in response is a good example of the essence of the new General Motors… acting quickly, and boldly, and listening to feedback from customers, employees, dealers, media and just about anyone else with an opinion.”

There it is, the New GM making bold moves and working to ensure fewer weak links in the product line. Sounds like the Pontiac Aztek may not happen again. Phew.

25 in 24: GM Reveals New Models for its Core Brands

Brandy Schaffels — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:04:00 GMT

One month after it emerged from bankruptcy, General Motors reintroduced itself on Tuesday by revealing to journalists an array of all-new cars, crossovers, and trucks that will be debuting now through 2011. Watch a repeat of the webcast at this link.

Among the many offerings, GM President and CEO Fritz Henderson also confirmed that Cadillac is developing an entry premium sport coupe to capitalize on the growing market for smaller luxury vehicles in the U.S. and globally. The rear- and optional all-wheel drive ATS model will launch as a coupe to compete in the segment below the CTS, promising outstanding performance and driving dynamics. A sedan variant will arrive later.

At GM's Design Center and Milford Proving Ground, GM promised 25 new products in the next 24 months, and previewed six all-new 2010 vehicles as well as a glimpse of what will be introduced through the end of 2011:

Chevrolet alone will be releasing 10 new models, including the 2011 Volt (due Q4 2010), the miniscule Spark hatchback (debuted at the 2007 New York Auto Show and currently on sale in Asia, due Q1 2012), the next-gen Aveo, the compact Cruze sedan (due Q3 2010), the seven-seat Orlando crossover SUV, the Corvette Grandsport which outfits the current Corvette powertrain with the sporty appearance of the Z06, the completely redesigned next-gen Malibu, and a Camaro convertible (due Q2 2011).
Buick and GMC are adding 10 new entries. In addition to the lovely new 2010 LaCrosse sedan and library-quiet Enclave SUV on sale now, Buick will introduce a plug-in hybrid compact crossover in 2011 developed from the Saturn Vue, a brand-new small crossover "Baby Enclave" similar in size to the now-retired Pontiac Vibe, and a compact sedan promising premium content without a premium price. The Buick showcase was most intriguing, but because they sealed up the lenses of all our cameras with orange tape when we entered, I was unable to even sneak any blurry spy photos with my cell phone cam.
Cadillac is introducing five new models through 2011, and will be expanding its CTS lineup to include a sport wagon, the small ATS coupe and sedan, a gorgeous XTS full-size sedan that will replace the STS and DTS models, and the SRX crossover.

Repeating a familiar focus point of the new General Motors, Henderson emphasized the company's commitment to producing quality vehicles and an increased focus on customer satisfaction. "The key to restarting this company lies with GM's customers, cars and culture," Henderson said. "With four focused brands, we are committed to exceeding our current customers' expectations and giving consumers plenty of reasons to choose a Chevy, Buick, GMC or Cadillac car or truck."

Want to find out more about these vehicles? Check out more Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC products in the autoMedia.com Buyer's Guide.

By Brandy Schaffels, autoMedia.com Contributing Editor

GM Ends Sponsorship Contracts to Cut Costs

admin — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 23:49:00 GMT

As part of the austerity program accompanying its emergence from bankruptcy, General Motors is ending long-standing sponsorship contracts to slash unnecessary costs. The move follows on the heels of the company’s announcement Friday that it will be cutting 25-35 percent of its workforce, and reducing nameplates from 48 to 34 within a year.

According to a report at The Detroit News: ”A federal judge Monday let General Motors Co. shed dozens of sponsorship deals and pricey perks that included VIP suites at international speedways, naming rights for a Lansing baseball stadium and Times Square billboards.”

The move frees General Motors from millions of dollars in marketing, sponsorship, and promotions-related expenses, most of which are deemed unrelated to core operations, especially now that the company has announced it will be focusing its efforts on Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC. Among the cuts are even seats at major motorsports venues, including Daytona, Dover, and Richmond NASCAR tracks. (Click here to download a complete list of affected sponsorships.)

Earlier this year, General Motors ended several sponsorships with such high-profile celebrities as PGA golfer Tiger Woods and filmmaker Ken Burns, and it pulled out of hosting such events as the Super Bowl and Academy Awards. According to the court filing, these sponsorships are not required for ongoing business and create unnecessary and burdensome expenses for company, which has reportedly lost as much as $82 billion in the last few years.

According to the report, GM ended more than 50 promotional agreements, though it was not reported how much money the automaker will save. Once the nation's largest advertiser, General Motors will be ending sponsorship deals with the Oakland Raiders, the University of Southern California, and the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament, and it gives up naming rights of Oldsmobile Park, as well as the Chevrolet clock in Times Square -- where it has advertised since the 1930s.

"You'll see that many of those we 'rejected' or chose not to carry forward involve retired brands or soon-to-expire GM brands, or simply reflect the reality that the new, smaller, GM only has four brands to support," GM spokeswoman Kelly Cusinato told The Detroit News.

In a more positive news, GM has announced that Bob “Maximum” Lutz has changed his retirement plans to join the “new” GM as vice chairman responsible for all creative elements of products and customer relationships. Rest assured, there will be interesting marketing campaigns in the months ahead.

By Brandy Schaffels, autoMedia.com Contributing Editor

General Motors Emerges from Bankruptcy with New Plan

Brandy Schaffels — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 23:02:00 GMT

As General Motors emerges from its bankruptcy today, GM President and CEO Fritz Henderson led a "state of the company" address this morning, describing the immediate priorities for the new General Motors. It's been only 40 days since the company filed its bankruptcy plan on June 1, 2009.

At this morning's announcement, Henderson, said "One thing we have learned from the last 100 days is that GM can move quickly and decisively...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."

The new General Motors launches with a clear and simple vision - to design, build and sell the best vehicles in the world, focusing on General Motors' four core brands - Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC - will have a total of just 34 U.S. nameplates by 2010 (a reduction from the previous 48). Henderson believes 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

"Business as usual is over at GM," said Henderson. "Today starts a new era for General Motors and everyone associated with the company. Going forward, the new General Motors is fully committed to listening to customers, responding to consumer and market trends, and empowering the people closest to the customer to make the decisions. Our goal is to build more of the cars, trucks, and crossovers that customers want, and to get them to market faster than ever before."

"We're also working on new ways to make car buying more convenient for our customers, including an innovative new partnership with eBay in California to revolutionize how people buy vehicles online," Henderson said. "Customers will be able to bid on actual vehicles just like they do in an eBay auction, including the option of choosing a predetermined 'buy it now' price. We'll be testing this and other ideas with our dealers over the next few weeks, and hope to expand and build upon them in the coming months. In all cases, our goal is to make the shopping and buying process as easy as possible for GM customers - on their time and their terms. Stay tuned."

In a report published at WSBT.com, GM spokesman John McDonald said that some GM dealers already independently list vehicles on eBay, but they expect this experiment could be a way to bring other GM dealers on board.

Fritz Henderson also confirmed in this morning's address that Bob Lutz will not be retiring as had been previously announced. Instead, he will be staying on at General Motors as vice chairman responsible for all creative elements of products and customer relationships. In his report, Henderson announced that Lutz and Tom Stephens (vice chairman, product development) will work together as a team, partnering with Ed Welburn (vice president of design) to guide all creative aspects of design. GM's brands, marketing, advertising, and communications will report to Lutz for consistent messaging and results. Lutz will report to Henderson, and be part of the newly formed executive committee. "I am pleased to announce that we are 'unretiring' Bob Lutz so he can fill this important position in the new GM," said Henderson. "He has a proven track record of unleashing creativity in the design and development of GM cars and trucks. This new role allows him to take that passion a step further, applying it to other parts of GM that connect directly with customers."

As part of its new plan, General Motors will end its regional operating structure, moving decisions closer to the customer. This eliminates the regional president positions and the regional strategy boards. Nick Reilly will be named executive vice president of GM International Operations (GMIO) which will be based in Shanghai. Along with this, GM will be removing layers of management - reducing the number of U.S. executives by 35 percent and overall U.S. salaried employment by 20 percent by the end of this year - a plan General Motors says will flatten the organization and speed decision making.

Much has been happening within General Motors in the last 40 days, and undoubtedly the company still has much to do. We'll keep watching the progress, as the New GM forges on as a lean, clean, carmaking machine!

By Brandy Schaffels, autoMedia.com Contributing Editor

Bankruptcy Court Approves Sale of GM Assets to New GM

admin — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:51:00 GMT

The General is racing through its bankruptcy proceedings, with victory lane in sight, where the troubled automaker will arrive leaner, meaner, and better positioned for long-term success. A key milestone was reached Sunday when Judge Robert E. Gerber of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York approved the sale of substantially all of General Motors Corporation's assets to the new GM.

Through the 363 asset sale, the new company will carry on with the “best” parts of the old corporation, officially known as Motors Liquidation Company. Among the key assets are just four brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC. Separately, GM has said it will withdraw from the NUMMI cooperative factory venture with Toyota, where the Pontiac Vibe was built in California.

The new GM's 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

The judge's order included a four-day stay before closing of the sale can occur, allowing for appeals to be heard.

Buick Announces 2010 LaCrosse with 2.4-liter Four-Cylinder Ecotec Engine

Brandy Schaffels — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:25:00 GMT

When Buick revealed its 2010 LaCrosse, people were impressed by its gorgeous looks, and well-positioned pricing that makes it competitive in the luxury sedan marketplace. However, the biggest news was that it will also feature a fuel-efficient, direct injected 182-horsepower/2.4L four-cylinder Ecotec engine. Backed by a fuel-saving six-speed automatic transmission, this new powertrain combination is expected to deliver fuel economy of 30 mpg highway and 20 mpg city - making LaCrosse one of the most fuel-efficient cars in its segment.

"Buick LaCrosse customers will have the fuel-efficient option of the Ecotec 2.4L direct injection engine, a four-cylinder that is not available by key competitors, such as the Lincoln MKZ and Acura TL," said Susan Docherty, Buick-Pontiac-GMC vice president.

The Ecotec 2.4L four-cylinder joins the lineup later this year as the standard engine in the LaCrosse CX. Direct injection technology helps it deliver 182 horsepower (136 kW) and 172 lb-ft. of torque (233 Nm). Buick expects about 25 percent of customers will opt for 2.4L-equipped models. Also offered are a 255-horsepower/3.0-liter direct injection V-6, and those thirsty for more power can also step up to a 280-horsepower/3.6-liter direct injected V-6.

"Direct injection is a key component of GM's ongoing strategy to use advanced propulsion technology to help us deliver more fuel-efficient cars today and in the future," said Tom Stephens, vice chairman, Global Product Development. "GM is using multiple technology pathways to achieve increased efficiency and to diversify energy sources - and we're applying them where they make the most sense for customers when it comes to efficiency, performance and cost."

The 2010 LaCrosse will be offered in three models - CX, CXL and CXS: Pricing starts at $27,835 for the base CX model; $30,395 for CXL FWD (adds leather heated seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, fog lamps, outside rearview mirror with LED turn indicators and puddle lamps, and 18-inch alloy wheels); $32,570 for CXL AWD which includes a fully automatic, all-wheel-drive system, anti-lock braking system and StabiliTrak as well as the larger 3.6-lliter engine. This top-of-the-line model also adds perforated, leather heated and cooled seats; and chrome-plated 18-inch wheels (19-inch wheels are optional). All prices include the $750 delivery charge.

The 2010 Buick LaCrosse luxury sedan is the newest example of the globally influenced product renaissance at Buick. It offers all-wheel drive, a suite of advanced intelligent personal technologies and safety features, and styling that blends Buick's heritage cues with modern design. Inside, the atmosphere of the LaCrosse's cabin is accented with available digital connectivity and personal technology that includes in-dash navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, an auxiliary audio input and a USB port. Rear-seat passengers can enjoy an optional DVD entertainment system. GM's Side Blind Zone Alert system will be available later this summer. Additional optional technologies will include a head-up instrument display, adaptive forward lighting, and a rearview camera system.

All models in the LaCrosse lineup also feature Buick's signature QuietTuning, an engineering process that reduces, blocks and absorbs interior noise to provide a distraction-free passenger environment. Watch for a complete review of the 2010 Buick LaCrosse to appear soon here in the autoMedia.com Buyer's Guide.

By Brandy Schaffels
autoMedia.com Contributing Editor

First Look: 2010 Chevrolet Equinox

Brandy Schaffels — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 06:25:00 GMT

Chevrolet has revamped its compact crossover Equinox with a stylish new design that reminds of a slightly smaller Enclave (pictured below, right), while adding an assortment of convenient technology, and new more-efficient powertrains that promise highway fuel economy as high as 32 mpg highway and a cruising range farther than 500 miles. Best of all, GM is pricing the new Chevrolet Equinox starting at $23,185, which is $1800 less than the outgoing model.

GM North America vice president, Chevrolet, Ed Peper introduced the vehicle to journalists in Detroit this week: Starting with a short update about the current environment at General Motors, Peper informed attendees that "Chevrolet will be our anchor brand," and promised that the company is "working hard to earn America's trust and confidence."

The new Equinox proudly wears Chevy's signature global design face, which is founded on a two-tier grille and prominent gold bowtie insignia. The new design of the Equinox also boasts strong fender shapes, distinctive roofline, wraparound headlamps, and dual round taillamps to help define Equinox as a true Chevrolet. Inside, the double cockpit design sweeps around the driver and passenger with a styling character familiar from the interior of the popular new Malibu.

Equinox offers two new direct injection engines mated with GM's new six-speed transmission to offer surprising fuel economy that promises to beat its segment competitors: the standard 2.4-liter/182-horsepower four-cylinder is rated at 22 city/32 highway, while the 3.0L/264-hp V-6 provides 18/25.

Placing an increased emphasis on perceived quality, engineers have focused on creating a quiet cocoon inside the vehicle. Acoustic laminated glass and high-tech active noise canceling technology combine to virtually eliminate engine and road noise that intrudes into the cabin.

Finally, a variety of technologies are integrated in the new Equinox, including hands-free Bluetooth connectivity, USB audio connectivity for audio devices, and a rear-vision camera display integrated into the rear-view mirror or on a seven-inch in-dash touchscreen navigation system. A convenient feature we've only seen on luxury vehicles is a programmable liftgate that can be set to open to a specific height to better accommodate the reach of shorter users. Uplevel models also include a 40-gig harddrive which allows you not only to import your music library, but to pause and rewind live radio in much the same way a DVR allows you to timeshift television. Back seat passengers will enjoy the optional DVD-based seat-mounted entertainment system which offers two independent screens to allow each passenger to choose to watch a DVD or play their favorite video game.

These are just the highlights: Watch for a more detailed road test of the new 2010 Chevy Equinox to appear soon here at autoMedia.com.

By Brandy Schaffels, autoMedia.com contributing editor