Although electric vehicle technology has been touted as the way of the future, some believe that there is still untapped potential lying within the conventional internal combustion engine.

To encourage engineers to push the internal combustion technology forward, Republican Congressman Dan Lungren has introduced a bill that will reward a handsome $1 billion in Federal prize money to the first U.S. automaker that can successfully sell 60,000 mid-size sedans that are capable of achieving 100 mpg on gasoline.

In 2007, the X Prize Foundation held a contest with a similar format called the Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize. Participating teams were challenged to create a vehicle that was capable of reaching 100 mpg, travel safely in highway speeds, and emit less than 200 grams of carbon dioxide per mile. The winner of the challenge would receive a $10 million reward that will be used to fund the project to become a mass-market vehicle. Unfortunately, none of the vehicles were deemed commercially viable for mass production.

But now that it has been 5 years since the Automotive X Prize, the technology may be closer to our reach if not already attained. However, unlike the Automotive X Prize, Congressman Lungren would only award the winner after 60,000 units of its landmark 100 mpg mid-size sedan have been successfully sold. Not only does the bill ban vehicles of radical shapes and sizes like the Aptera, but 60,000 units is a daunting number that’ll effectively discourage any startup automaker. Compounded with the restriction to U.S. automakers only, the bill suggests a three-way battle between GM, Ford, and Chrysler.

While the bill does not necessarily suggest that a hybrid system is off limits, the aim is to encourage technological advances in the internal combustion gasoline engine, which rules out diesel technology as well. Given the parameters, perhaps earning the prize is much more difficult than it seems.

How are you going to survive the end of the world on December 21? According to Chevrolet‘s new Super Bowl ad, the only way to make it is by driving a Chevy Silverado.

The 30-second Super Bowl commercial takes a look into the very near future to give us a glimpse of what’s going to happen once the Mayan apocalypse comes to pass. One lucky survivor emerges from the rubble in his Chevy Silverado to survey the damage (and it looks like we met our end at the hands of aliens and giant robots). He meets with his friends at a specified meeting point… well, except for Dave. He was driving a Ford and didn’t make it.

And it looks like the rumors are true – Twinkies can survive anything, as our fortunate heroes find out. However, it doesn’t look like any women survived the apocalypse. You can discuss amongst yourselves if this is a positive or negative consequence.

It’s a pretty funny ad, so watch it after the jump. Our only critique is that the ad could have used a few zombies to make it even more realistic. Yep, you can never have enough zombies in a car commercial.

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Filed under: Coupe, Sedan, Performance, Videos, Cadillac, GM, Rumormill, Luxury

Motor Trend launched its new "Wide Open Throttle" news program on YouTube with a bombshell: "Cadillac Puts Hold on ATS Coupe." While it certainly gave us reason to click play, there's just one problem. The report - claiming that not just the coupe, but multiple ATS variants have been delayed or cancelled - may not be accurate.

Cadillac spokesman David Caldwell gave us the usual manufacturer disclaimer about not commenting on future product, but he did tell us, "There has been no recent radical shift in strategy" for the ATS. Reading between the lines, that either means an ATS coupe hasn't gotten past the idea stage, or that GM is still working hard at bringing us a two-door version of Caddy's BMW 3 Series fighter.

"On either end of the spectrum the reporting is inaccurate," Caldwell said, referring to those who have opined that Cadillac will launch several variants of the ATS sedan that comes to market later this year, including a coupe, a convertible, a wagon, and a shooting brake.

"We do plan to do variants," Caldwell told us. "We haven't yet called our shot of how we're going to execute that."

So what do we make of all this? We're pretty sure that we'll still see an ATS-V sedan, and perhaps that could be it for ATS models if the standard sedan is not well received. If sales take off, however, don't be surprised if Cadillac does move forward with at least one new bodystyle.

Click past the jump to watch the premiere episode of "Wide Open Throttle."

Continue reading Cadillac denies ATS Coupe development halted [w/video]

Cadillac denies ATS Coupe development halted [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Truck, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Chevrolet, Ford

Chevrolet continues its onslaught of Super Bowl ads released before this Sunday's big game, clearly hoping that volume plays in its favor when the points are tallied by marketing analysts on Monday.

Today's commercial, entitled "2012," stars the Chevrolet Silverado in a post-apocalyptic world. In this ad, Chevy reminds us of its oft-repeated statistic that its trucks are the longest lasting, most dependable trucks on the road, and it does so by imagining that the Mayans were right and that 2012 is our last year on Earth.

It's a well-done spot with lots of fun things to focus on - we're even amused by the soundtrack, which isn't what we'd immediately expect to hear as the backing music following life after an Extinction Level Event.

Follow the jump to view the end of the world through Chevy's eyes.

Continue reading Chevy Silverado takes shot at Ford in apocalyptic Super Bowl ad

Chevy Silverado takes shot at Ford in apocalyptic Super Bowl ad originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It’s cool to be in the car business again. If in doubt, just ask President Barack Obama, who recently spent time sampling and sitting in a number of new vehicles at the 2012 Washington DC Auto Show.

Although as President, Obama isn’t permitted to drive, something he’s lamented in a number of speeches and interviews, that doesn’t necessarily stop him from getting behind the wheel.

During his 20 minute tour of the show, Obama sampled some 18 different vehicles, all we might add, built by the Detroit three, Ford, Chrysler and General Motors. Vehicles ranged from fuel sippers like the 2013 Chevy Malibu Eco and Ford Fusion Energi Plug-in Hybrid, to muscle machines like the Corvette ZR1 and Shelby GT500.

Sitting in a Jeep Grand Cherokee, Obama (shown above during an earlier visit to the Jeep plant in Toledo), remarked to Dodge Brand president Reid Bigland that his first new vehicle was GC and asked him how the current model was selling. Bigland jokingly responded that the President’s former ride would now be worth a lot of money, citing the fact that Obama’s Chrysler 300C is currently listed on eBay for $1 million.

Although the President stated that the “US Auto Industry is back” and the fact that “GM is back Number One, shows the kind of turnaround that is possible when it comes to American manufacturing,”  despite, as he believes the fact that some (namely Republicans) were willing to sit back and watch the industry die, there were still a number of automakers who weren’t entirely pleased by the President’s visit to the auto show.

Mike Stanton, president of Global Automakers, which represents Honda, Hyundai, Nissan and Toyota among others, was miffed that Obama essentially ignored a number of US built vehicles from these overseas brands that were rolled out especially for the White House visit.

“We are terribly disappointed that the President did not spend time with our manufacturers who have created jobs, employ more than 80,000 people in the United States, invested more than $43 billion and last year built more than 3 million cars here,” he declared.  Ouch. That said, given Obama’s remarks at the DC show and the image above, we can only wonder what the President thinks about Fiat.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Filed under: Hybrid, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Hatchback, Chevrolet, Electric

Just when you thought you'd seen all the Super Bowl ads there were to see, Chevrolet is jumping in with a whole new spot for the Volt. The General Motors plug-in hybrid has been struggling to make sales headway for a number of reasons, including a now-closed government investigation into the vehicle's safety. With negative press at its peak in January, Volt sales took a nosedive last month - GM managed to move a paltry 603 units. With some Chevy dealers refusing their allocations, the automaker is understandably keen to put the spurs to Volt sales. This Super Bowl ad features a host of very curious aliens attempting to comprehend the science behind the propulsion system in the Chevrolet Volt.

It would seem GM believes buyers are being scared off from the Volt because they simply don't understand the mechanicals in the plug-in hybrid. If that's the case, this new commercial should help clear up any mysteries surrounding the vehicle. Hit the jump to see E.T. in action for yourself.

Continue reading Chevy turns to aliens to pitch Volt in Super Bowl ad

Chevy turns to aliens to pitch Volt in Super Bowl ad originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Motorsports, Sedan, Chevrolet, UK, Racing

If you, like us, were wondering how MG managed to snag Jason Plato away from Chevrolet in the British Touring Car Championship, well you had good reason to wonder. The racecar driver and Fifth Gear co-host had, after all, driven the factory-backed team to both titles in 2010 and landed himself third and his team second just this past season. But you can wonder no more, as the latest news from the BTCC paddock is that Chevrolet has withdrawn from the popular saloon racing series.

The news arrives as a bit of a surprise coming from the front-running team, particularly at a time when the grid has expanded enormously in the past couple of seasons. The reason? According to Autosport, Chevrolet wants to focus its energies on the World Touring Car Championship, where the same outfit RML that ran the BTCC team fields similar Cruze touring cars - driven by Yvan Muller, Rob Huff and Alain Menu - with considerable success: The RML Chevrolet team has claimed both the drivers' and constructors' titles for the past two seasons running, making it something like the Red Bull Racing of touring cars.

A longtime competitor in the BTCC, RML reportedly hopes it won't be long before it is back on the grid in the British series, and given that most of the cars in the championship are fielded by privateer teams, we wouldn't be surprised to see them return as early as next year. In the meantime, General Motors will be well represented in the series by Vauxhall.

Chevrolet pulls out of British Touring Car Championship originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Smug journalists across the internet are poking fun at the possibility that President Barack Obama might have referred to the 2013 Shelby GT500 Mustang as “sick” during his visit to the Washington D.C. Auto Show.

True or false, his remarks about the muscle car don’t really matter. What’s slightly more significant is the speech he made to herald General Motors’ return to the throne as the world’s highest volume automaker.

While it isn’t surprising that the President would want to talk about something like that, it is a good chance to point out that GM is doing more than taking the Costco approach to selling cars.

In fact, GM is leading more than just the number of vehicles sold. They’re also the industry’s top innovator, according to The Patent Board. This is actually the fourth consecutive quarter that the Detroit giant can claim that title. An impressive 1,123 U.S. patents were granted to the company in 2011 for global product engineering, global powertrain engineering, global research and development and OnStar organizations.

It’s interesting because we don’t always think of GM when imagining who will come out with the latest breaking tech or engineering feats, yet they emerged victorious over 183 other firms. It seems like most of the automotive wizardry starts overseas in Europe and makes its way to domestic vehicles a little while later.

Blind spot detection is a great example of that. Volvo was the first to introduce it, but companies like GM and Ford are on board with the bandwagon.

Among GM’s recent patents, there is technology for quieter brakes, better OnStar voice recognition and something called eAssist Thermal Management which controls engine shutoff to ensure occupant comfort in extremely hot or cold weather.

That begs the question: what’s next from some of the greatest minds in Michigan?

More than 1,900 GMC and Buick dealerships are getting a face-lift by 2013, but it’s about more than just a look. It’s also about a new atmosphere that enhances the customer experience.

“Luxury shoppers today expect a certain level of treatment when purchasing a vehicle,” said Brian Sweeney, U.S. vice president of Buick & GMC sales and service. “Those expectations are now being met at many Buick and GMC stores around the country.”

The image enhancement program, as it’s called, will boost the stores’ image by adding a new exterior façade with updated signage, a bright and airy showroom featuring a greeting station and lounge with free Wi-Fi. You may even find a café or a salon in a few locations — pretty fancy stuff.

So why did GM feel the need for an enhancement program? It’s because Buick and GMC attract more than 40 percent of its buyers from brands outside General Motors. So far, about 170 dealers underwent a face-lift through the image enhancement program. Right now, 1,900 Buick and GMC dealers are involved, but by the end of 2013, that number will grow to more than 2,000 across the U.S.

“These aren’t just new faces on old buildings. We’re creating the complete and convenient dealership experience that attracts these buyers,” Sweeny said.

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Hatchback, Chevrolet

The Chevrolet Sonic has been busy lately - taking part in a host of adventurous activities like sky diving, bungee jumping, kickflipping, and making a music video. We've seen snippets of a lot of the extreme sports activities the Sonic hatch has been involved in, but we have yet to see the music video for OK Go and its song "Needing/Getting." Chevy has just released a teaser to whet our appetites, however, as well as its latest full-length Sonic ad for the Super Bowl, both of which you can view after the jump.

The 60-second extreme sports spot is part of an onslaught of seven ads that Chevrolet will run before and during the game, and at least four of the brand's ads will be devoted to the Sonic. Follow the jump to check out the new spot called "Stunt Anthem," and if you like the song in the ad - The Fun's "We Are Young" - you can download it here.

Continue reading Chevy Sonic teases Ok Go music video and extreme sports ads for Super Bowl

Chevy Sonic teases Ok Go music video and extreme sports ads for Super Bowl originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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