GM halting Duramax production for 10 weeks

The revamped 6.6-liter Duramax V8 engine will go into production in April 2010 and the current Duramax, which doesn't meet emissions requirements that go into effect January 1, 2010, will cease production the day before the new year begins. In the interim, GM will be retooling the factory and won't be producing any of the engines to go in the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra.This has some dealers and outside observers wondering if GM will run out of 2009 Duramax engines before the new ones are built and installed in engine bays. One dealer says GM will take orders for extended cab models with the big diesel, but no longer accepts orders for Duramax regular cabs. Analysts believe that with the car and work truck market showing some recovery, that demand will grow just as GM is trying to play the inventory game.While the General prepares it's urea-infused powerplants, any engines that GM builds through the end of 2009 can be installed in vehicles even if those vehicles are ordered and built next year. For now, GM says it is padding its stocks of Duramax engines and is confident about being able to meet the need.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

-->Read More...

GM dealers opting out of 60 day satisfaction guarantee

It looks like a group of General Motors dealers aren't fond of the company's new 60-day satisfaction guarantee. In fact, they dislike it so much that about 3.5 percent of the General dealers are opting out of the program, according to the financial site 24/7 Wall St. Although GM has stated it will foot the bill for returns, it appears there's enough concern (or confusion) that it's causing a car-fuffle.


According to the report, at least 149 of the company's 4,000 dealers will let other retailers handle the claims. Other reports put the number of non-participating dealers even higher. The 24/7 Wall St. crew phoned a few dealers to find out why they weren't participating, and the reasons cited included everything from not liking the new ads featuring Ed "I don't know anything about cars" Whitacre to beliefs that the program sends a message of desperation (duh), and fears that there will be financial risks to the dealers.

The promotion allows a buyer to return a new Chevy, Buick, GMC or Cadillac after 30 days of ownership, with GM refunding the purchase price minus any rebates and sales tax as long as the car is returned before the 60th day of ownership. It does seem like there's plenty of potential for the campaign to backfire, but we were a bit surprised that so many dealers would choose to pass on the promotion altogether.

[Source: 24/7 Wall St.]

-->Read More...

2010 Opel Astra Fully Revealed: New 1.4 and 1.6 Turbo Engines, Sales Start this Fall

While these aren't the first photos of the all-new Astra, they are certainly the best we've seen up until now, revealing Opel's (Vauxhall in the UK) new subcompact hatch in all its glory ahead of its scheduled world premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Clearly influenced by the Insignia, the sixth generation Astra hatch is based on GM's new Delta platform that also underpins the Chevy Volt and Cruze models and it comes with a new set of engines including 1.4-liter and 1.6-liter turbocharged petrol units.

Unlike VW's rivaling Golf VI with its stale design language that keeps evolving from previous generation models, the new Astra features a new design and from what we reckon by looking at the photos, it will be a head turner. Its up to date and clean looks combine a sleek and sporty shape with the latest Opel styling cues such as the characteristic scalloped side blades and the Insignia-inspired headlights.

Opel has not disclosed any photos of the new Astra's interior yet, but thanks to our spy photographers, we have a few shots of the hatchback's dashboard that borrows heavily in design from the Insignia. Highlights include the four deeply positioned instrument dials in front of the driver and the swoopy central console with an elevated lower section.

European buyers of the Astra will be able to select from a broad selection of gasoline and diesel engines. Aside from an entry-level 1.4-naturally aspirated engine and the Insignia-derived 1.6-liter Turbo with 180HP, the Astra's petrol range will also include GM's new 1.4-liter turbocharged unit. It will be offered with outputs ranging from 120 hp to 140 hp and torque values of 175 to 200 Nm. General Motors says that the 1.4 Turbo engine will deliver fuel savings of up to 8 percent compared to the naturally aspirated 1.6 and 1.8-liter engines that it will replace.

The diesel range comprises of 1.3-liter, 1.7-liter and 2.0-liter turbocharged units ranging from 95 to 160HP while Opel also plans to introduce an ecoFLEX version with low CO2 emissions and improved fuel economy sometime in 2010.

Depending on the market, the five-door Astra will go on sale in Europe this fall. It will be joined by a sporty three door fastback variant called GTC Coupe and the more practical station-wagon in late 2010 - early 2011 followed by a four-door sedan model and a coupe-cabriolet with a retractable hardtop.

And no, we do not know if the Astra will make it across the Atlantic and arrive in one form or another in U.S. showrooms due to the instability in GM's current situation and of course, the pending sale of the American automaker's stake in the Opel / Vauxhall brands.

-->Read More...

GM Kills Buick Vue SUV before it's (Re)Born after Negative Feedback

Only two weeks after announcing the rebirth of the Saturn Vue as a Buick that would also be offered as a plug-in hybrid, General Motors revealed that the compact SUV has been canned. The news was broken by GM's Vice Chairman Tom Stephens on Wednesday in a posting on the company's official blog. Stephens said that GM decided to cancel plans for the rebadged Vue after negative feedback about the vehicle from employees, potential customers, dealers, media and analysts at a recent preview in Michigan.

"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," said Stephens.

"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."

Buick's version of the Saturn Vue was scheduled to be launched into the market with a 2.4-liter direct-injection four-pot and a 3.0-liter direct-injection V6 in late 2010, followed in 2011 by a plug-in hybrid model featuring a 3.6-liter flex-fuel V6 and two electric motors.

Stephens said that the "important" plug-in hybrid technology of the Vue would be applied to another vehicle "at no delay", with more details to be released in the very near future।

-->Read More...

Pontiac Firebird Conversion for 2010 Chevy Camaro

The demise of the Pontiac brand killed off any dreams that General Motors might create a Firebird model out of the new 2010 Chevy Camaro, but fans of the car may find some comfort in the Trans Am conversions that are being readied by the crew over at "Trans Am Depot". The company said that it will unveil a one-off Kevin Morgan "Trans Am" Concept at the 2009 Trans Am Nationals at the end of the month with the production version kits set to be available for order later this year.

The Phoenix T/A project that is said to recall the '77 - '78 Trans Am will feature among other things, new front and rear fascias, unique alloy wheels, lowered suspension and turned aluminum inserts in the interior plus a series of performance upgrades.

Trans Am Depot said that the company will be offering everything from the body conversion only to the limited Phoenix Edition with details, pricing and delivery information to be released at a latter date.

Phoenix T/A Conversion Specs - Excluding Performance Upgrades

Exterior

• 1' - 1.5' Lowering Kit w/sway bar handling upgrade
  
• Wheels & Tires
  
• Front: 20x9.5x120 CB-66.9 Gold or Silver Machined Face Snowflake Wheels. PIRELLI PZERO 275/45ZR20
  
• Rear: 20x11.5x120 CB-66.9 Gold or Silver Machined Face Snowflake Wheels. PIRELLI PZERO 305/35ZR20
  
• Hood
  
• Shaker Scoop
  
• Fender Extractors
  
• Exhaust Conversion w/ splitter tips
  
• Rear Fascia Clip w/tail lamp lenses and bulbs
  
• Rear Spoiler
  
• TA Graphic Package
  

  Interior
  

• Embroded Head Rest and Console Lid - KM Graphic Punch
  
• Turned Aluminum Door Panel
  
• Turned Aluminum Dash Inserts
  
• Turned Aluminum Instrument Cluster
  
• Door Panel Badges
  
• T/A SN Badge and Designation

[Link: Trans Am Depot , Via: Jalopnik]

-->Read More...