Auto123.com by Bertrand Godin

Okay, I have so much to tell you about the new CTS-V that I don’t know where to start.  irst, there’s the outrageous power that makes it the fastest production sedan ever produced by a domestic manufacturer.  Then there are the incredible sound effects and driving dynamics, not to mention the fact that it’s the first serious American threat to the German performance leaders.  Like I said, oh my God! Read the rest of this entry »

Sports Car Central by Michael Austin - Attention, IROC-Z enthusiasts: the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro will not be available with your beloved T-top.  If this is hugely disappointing, well, it may finally be time to put on a shirt with a collar, sell your Skynyrd CDs, and scissor the mullet.

In reviving the Camaro, Chevy is doing all it can to make the born-again car remind everyone of the sharp, cleanly styled 1967 original, rather than the more awkward later versions that seemed like accessories to tank-top wear and excesses in facial hair.  This writer, the semi-proud owner of a 1995 Z28, knows intimately all the social assumptions that go with late-model Camaro ownership. Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: Sports/GTs, Wagons/Estates, Plants/Manufacturing, Cadillac, GM

After speaking this morning with Cadillac's product communications manager, David Caldwell, we've fleshed out some near-term product plans for General Motors' luxury brand - in particular the timetable for the 2010 CTS Sport Wagon. The automaker's Lansing Grand River plant is scheduled to begin building the stylish rear-drive load lugger in early May, and the first examples should be at dealerships around Memorial Day (May 25), or perhaps early June.

Cadillac's first-ever U.S-market station wagon (no, the SRX crossover doesn't count) is expected to offer a reasonable 25 cubic feet of space beneath its rakish rear glass, and while it rides on the same 113.4-inch wheelbase as its sedan counterpart, the wagon will actually be .3-inches shorter. The model looks to be particularly important for GM's fortunes in Europe, where the luxury division is still struggling to gain traction against the entrenched domestics. While being something of a fringe interest in the U.S., sport wagons do solid business in Europe, and the overseas-only BLS Wagon has played largely to lukewarm reviews. Back home in the States, Cadillac expects just 20 percent of CTS customers to opt for the estate version, while the European model mix is slated to be more along the lines of a 60 percent/40 percent split in favor of the wagon.

So... what about the CTS Coupe? As we reported in January, the stylish two-door's production plans remain firm for next year, despite company-wide cutbacks and rumors to the contrary. While that's still later than Cadillac had originally hoped, officials say the delay will give them the opportunity to focus on launching the Sport Wagon as well as the 2010 SRX replacement. No official word on the likelihood of a CTS-V Coupe or Sport Wagon, but mules of the former have already been spotted, so perhaps we'll get lucky.

Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon production to begin early May, CTS Coupe still on track originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Mar 2009 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Car Buying, Buick, Jaguar, Lexus

J.D. Power and Associates has just released its 2009 Vehicle Dependability Study... and it is a bombshell. For the past 14 years, including the most recent 2008 Vehicle Dependability Study, Lexus has sat at the top of the chart. In a significant upset this year, Buick and Jaguar have tied for top ranking (with just 122 problems per 100 vehicles) dropping the premium automaker Lexus (126 PP100) down to third place. The top five are rounded out by Toyota (129 PP100) and Mercury (134 PP100).

The Vehicle Dependability Study is designed to accurately measure problems experienced by original owners of three-year-old (2006 model year) vehicles. J.D. Power based this year's results on responses from more than 46,000 original owners of 2006 model-year vehicles. For 2009, the study has also been redesigned to include 202 different problem symptoms across all areas of the vehicle. Scores are based on the number of problems experienced per 100 vehicles (PP100), with lower scores reflecting higher vehicle quality. The complete J.D. Power press release and charts can be found after the jump and in the gallery below.



[Source: J.D. Power and Associates]

Continue reading Buick, Jaguar knock Lexus from top of J.D. Power 2009 Vehicle Dependability Study

Buick, Jaguar knock Lexus from top of J.D. Power 2009 Vehicle Dependability Study originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Mar 2009 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The future is here! But will car enthusiasts follow?

Filed under: Spy Photos, Economy, Sedans/Saloons, China, Buick

These spy shots show a compact car that is rumored to be a baby Buick based on the same Delta II platform as the Chevrolet Cruze and next-gen Opel Astra. Just as the new 2010 Buick LaCrosse will share its platform with the next Saab 9-5 and Opel Insignia, this baby Buick would be one more model that helps General Motors increase the economies of scale for its small car platform.

While the spy shooter who took these pics claims that the car is destined for sale in China and the U.S., we're not so sure Americans are ready for a Buick of this size that will almost certainly cost more than the already capable Cruze. GM certainly doesn't want another slow-selling Cadillac Cimarron on its hands, but Buick/Pontiac/GMC dealers may be begging for a small car after Pontiac gets pared down to a niche performance brand and the G3, G5 and G6 go away.

[Source: Next Autos]

Spy Shots: Mystery GM sedan spotted... Is this a baby Buick? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Recalls, Safety, Buick, Chevrolet, GMC, Pontiac, Saturn

Citing a defect that can cause a parked vehicle to roll away, General Motors is recalling 277,000 cars and trucks. The models involved, all built for the 2009 model year, may have a loose clip on their transmission shift cable. The failure of the clip to be locked into place may prevent the transmission from moving into Park - even if the driver moves the shift lever into the proper position. GM has told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that dealers will inspect the transmission shift cable and replace broken units. Affected models include the Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Cobalt, Chevrolet HHR, Chevrolet Malibu, Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, Pontiac G5, Pontiac G6, Saturn Aura and Saturn Outlook. NHTSA Safety Campaign after the jump.

[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd]

Continue reading GM recall affects 277,000 models with shifter problem

GM recall affects 277,000 models with shifter problem originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Camaro5.com - The Intianapolis Motor Speedway announced February 26 it has selected the all-new 2010 Chevrolet Camaro to pace the 93rd running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 24, 2009.

The Camaro Pace Car was unveiled during a ceremony at the IMS Hall of Fame Museum with IMS President and Chief Operating Officer Joie Chitwood, and Indianapolis 500 winners Johnny Rutherford, Al Unser Jr. and Eddie Cheever Jr. Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: Truck, Green, Chevrolet, GM, GMC

General Motors' 4.5-liter Duramax diesel V8 engine has become the latest casualty of the automotive downturn, as GM has put the promising powertrain on indefinite hold. The General follows Ford, Toyota, and Dodge in dropping light diesel engines from its near-term plans. GM spokesperson Susan Garavaglia told Pickuptrucks.com that the project has not been canceled, and that the General was "still very interested" in using the innovative diesel powertrain in the future.

The 4.5-liter Duramax diesel sounds terrific on paper, with a 25% improvement in fuel economy, 310 horsepower and 525 lb-ft of torque for towing, and an innovative design that cuts weight while also saving $600 per engine. The news will be difficult for fans of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra anxiously waiting for a diesel engine in a light duty pickup truck. Still, GM points out that it has a dual-mode hybrid truck that can achieve 40% better fuel economy in the city, along with a full line of gasoline and diesel engine offerings in its truck lineup.

While the 4.5-liter diesel isn't going into GM trucks and SUVs any time soon, the General says it would still consider license the technology to a third party if the deal was beneficial to all involved.

[Source: Pickuptrucks.com]

REPORT: GM 4.5L light-duty diesel V8 "indefinitely postponed" originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Mar 2009 08:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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General Motors of Canada - Using cutting-edge technology, the 2010 Cadillac SRX is launching with an advanced all-wheel-drive system (AWD) that delivers best-in-class levels of driver control.  The intelligent, active system continuously distributes engine drive torque between the front and rear axles, delivering optimum handling, stability and grip in all driving conditions - from fast corners to slower curves, in dry or wet weather. Read the rest of this entry »