Filed under: Recalls, Safety, Crossover, Chevrolet, GMC

General Motors' hot selling new Theta platform crossovers, the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox and 2010 GMC Terrain, face their first recall. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced that GM will recall some 59,031 units of the popular CUVs due to a potential problem in the HVAC system.

According to NHTSA, an unspecified fault in the system's software programming can render the heating, air conditioning, defroster, radio control, and panel backlighting to be rendered inoperative. Without proper defrosting and defogging capabilities, visibility can be diminished, increasing the possibility of a crash. (Presumably, you all can drive safely without use of the tunes)

In any case, beginning in January, Chevrolet and GMC dealers will be instructed to replace the computer modules in the center console to repair the problem. If you're an owner of one of these crossovers, click through to the jump for instructions on how to contact Chevrolet or GMC for further information.



Photos by John Neff / Copyright (C)2009 Weblogs, Inc.

Photos by Jonathon Ramsey / (C)2009 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration]

Continue reading GM recalling 59,000 2010 Chevy Equinox, GMC Terrain CUVs over faulty defrosters

GM recalling 59,000 2010 Chevy Equinox, GMC Terrain CUVs over faulty defrosters originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Dec 2009 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Concept Cars, Classics, Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, GM, Toys/Games, Design/Style

Having trouble deciding which of America's three latest muscle cars is right for you? Well, at least you're not alone. We ourselves at the Autoblog HQ have had lengthy debates on the merits and drawbacks of each model, and the expected ongoing series of improvements to the Camaro, Challenger and Mustang are sure to drive a wedge between GM Gearheads, Ford Fanatics and Mopar Maniacs until the end of time.

Or, as seen above, you could go a slightly different route and combine all three ponies into one model, which we've taken the liberty of christening has been christened (Whoops! We're apparently not as clever as we thought, someone beat us to the name.) the Challarostang. A Vulcan Mind Meld between the front fascia and hood of a Challenger, the bodysides of a Camaro and the hind end of a Mustang, it actually doesn't look nearly as crazy as you might imagine. In fact, we kinda dig it.

According to Robert D, the Challarostang's modeler, the automotive ménage à trois seen here took four months to complete. Next question, which drivetrain do you choose? Click here for a description of the build process from the modeler himself.



[Source: Model Cars Magazine Forum via Carscoop]

Challarostang? Enterprising car modeler combines three ponies into one originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Dec 2009 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Season’s greetings from all of us here at GM Blogs. - Will Stewart, blog editor

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Videos, Chevrolet, GM, Electric

Fuel efficient cars are slow, right? Just ask Jeremy Clarkson, who famously pitted a Toyota Prius against a BMW M3 around a test track to prove that the hybrid isn't very efficient when pushed to its limit. While it's true that hybrids and diesels have a reputation for being more than a bit poky in the name of saving a few gallons of gas, each generation seems to improve in that regard, and GM is hoping that the upcoming Chevy Volt will abolish that preconceived notion altogether.

Witness this video for proof, where, as GM puts it, the Volt 'burns rubber without burning gas.' Here we see the car's chief engineer Andrew Farah wring the electric car around a series of orange cones making up a test track at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. As you're likely aware by now, the Volt isn't a typical hybrid vehicle that requires gasoline to operate. For the first 40 miles or so, the Volt operates solely on electricity, assuming of course that the battery is charged up.

In the video pasted after the break, Farah is piloting the Volt in EV mode, meaning that the range-extending gasoline engine never fires up. We wouldn't expect to get the full 40-mile range when hustling the Volt around a race track, but the fact that it can perform as well as it does without emitting any tailpipe emissions is a laudable feat. So, how will it perform around the Top Gear test track with Stiggy behind the wheel? Click past the break to hear those low-rolling-resistance tires squeal!

UPDATE: Video added after jump.

[Source: Chevrolet VoltAge]

Continue reading VIDEO: Chevy Volt squeals tires around the track

VIDEO: Chevy Volt squeals tires around the track originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Dec 2009 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Buick, Chevrolet, GM, Earnings/Financials, UAW/Unions

Two weeks from now, General Motors will start running its Fairfax assembly plant continuously on a permanent basis. The unprecedented around-the-clock operation, following on the heels of the temporary third shifts a few months ago, is intended to boost the plant's production from its current 4,500 vehicles per week to 6,300 units over the same period.

Operating around-the-clock is no simple feat. Experts point out that automotive assembly lines require a lot of scheduled maintenance, cleaning, and restocking - tasks that are usually accomplished during the down periods between shifts. Typically, car makers add second shifts on a temporary basis when the market demands more vehicles. Third shifts are common for part suppliers, but not for automakers (even Toyota Motor Corp., often cited as a benchmark in efficiency, rarely operates more than two shifts). To allow time for maintenance, GM and union officials have figured out how to "overspeed" parts of the assembly line so they can be slowed temporarily later. The three-shift assembly line will run about 21.6 hours per day (up from 14.5 hours with two shifts).

GM is moving cautiously. The Fairfax assembly plant is the automaker's best candidate for a permanent third shift. Located in Kansas City, it consistently ranks among the most efficient automotive factories in America. In addition, the facility is tasked with manufacturing the Chevrolet Malibu and Buick Lacrosse - both vehicles are selling well, so a third shift will help satisfy demand rather than oversaturate the market. Hat tip to Sea Urchin for the tip!

[Source: Wall Street Journal - Subs. Req'd]

REPORT: GM to depart with form and run certain plants around-the-clock originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Dec 2009 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Podcasts, Audi, BMW, Buick, Chevrolet, Chrysler, GM, GMC, Spyker, Rumormill

'Twas a couple nights before Christmas, and in the Autoblog house, Paukert and Shunk got Roth off the couch... For episode #158 of the Autoblog Podcast! What better way to get into the holiday spirit than an hour and a half of new Podcast? It's fresher than egg nog this week, as the trio chews on the return of the 5.0 in the Ford Mustang, Audi's more sane torque numbers for the E-Tron, and what may yet be a Christmas miracle: Spyker's dogged pursuit of Saab. Rounding out the sextet of topics are the Alfa Giulietta and its potential as a Chrysler, the BMW Z4 GT3, and General Motors' plan to bring the Buick Regal GS to the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, where it will also debut a Chevrolet Orlando-based vehicle called the GMC Granite.

For the long holiday drives, our colleagues at Joystiq and Engadget do fine work. Let us know what you think of our podcast by dropping us an email at Podcast at Autoblog dot com, reviewing the show in iTunes, filling out our survey, or even leaving us a voicemail on our Google Voice line 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763). Thanks for listening!

Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #158 - 'Twas a few days before Christmas

Autoblog Podcast #158 - 'Twas a few days before Christmas originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Dec 2009 18:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Chevrolet, GM

The Big Block. Rat Motor. Call it what you will, we can now officially add a final epitaph to the long-running engine's gravestone: R.I.P. The final L18 big block rolled down the assembly line at General Motors' Tonawanda plant in New York last week, and that engine was signed by all the workers at the plant and is on its way to the GM Heritage Center in Sterling Heights, Michigan.

The first big block Chevy engine was introduced way back in 1958 and was used in both passenger cars and trucks. The engine's legacy includes such classic nameplates as Chevrolet Impala, Chevelle, Camaro and Corvette with displacements ranging from the venerable 396, 409, 427 and 454 to, finally, the 496-cubic-inch Vortec 8100 that ended the production run.

Naturally, the death of the big block brings with it other casualties as well, such as the 150 laid off hourly workers that are hoping GM sees fit to bless them with a new powerplant to build along with the RV and marine industries. Thanks for the tip, Corey H!

[Source: The Buffalo News]

REPORT: Last GM big block engine rolls off the line originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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By Kim Reynolds
Motortrend.com

Here’s one Bow Tie that’s almost unbearably burdened with history—the all new Camaro. It’s bad enough having the spotlight on you as the resurrection of just one particularly fondly remembered iconic-car. But in the case of this new Camaro, there were endless original styling iterations, power train combinations, even hood striping’s—as well as millions of memories to distill. That’s an awful lot of nostalgia for one reincarnation to handle.

Fortunately, Chevy has done its history proud. With three basic variations, (LS, LT, and SS) a trio of engines (an impressive 304 horsepower, 3.6 liter V-6; the 400 horsepower 6.2 liter V-8 that’s matched to a six-speed automatic; and the 426-horse LS3 version couples to a six-speed manual), plus a wondrous parts bin of wheels, tires and axle ratios to deliciously pick through. It’s hard to go wrong. And the new Camaro puts all this superlative hardware to good use.

However, of the two Camaros we had at our service – a V6/automatic/trannied RS (A performance option atop the LT package) and a quaking, snorting V-8 SS version with a manual –we…preferred the smaller engine car. Hold the emails folks, the RS really was the sweetheart of the two: Nimble, balanced, swift and with a delightful note from its V-6 too. While the SS’s muscle beach swaggers is fun, as St Antoine notes: “I far prefer the lighter-feeling and more responsive V-6. It’s the real Camaro story: 304-horse, direct-injected v-6, six speed auto, and show car looks for about $25k.”

But as delightful as the RS is, it’s also plagued by off-putting weaknesses: the windows are mere gun-slits while the interiors material are barely adequate

Be sure to look at all of cedarkayak’s photos and our other albums. And if you would like to recommend your favorite photo with a GM car or truck in it, put it up on Flickr and tag it with “gmfyi.”