After Chevrolet temporarily halted production of the Camaro ZL1 at the Oshawa, Ontario assembly plant due to a potential software problem, we reported recently that it had been green lit once again.

However, given that the three-week hiatus caused a hiccup in the original production schedule of the car, General Motors has now released some information regarding how many ZL1 coupes will be built and when they’ll be made available.

As it stands some 1,100 orders out of the original 2012 allocation (less than 3000 units)  are currently outstanding. That said, given the time required for changeover to new model year production, GM has said it will only build a further 500 as 2012 models.  The remaining 600 cars will be serialed as 2013 models, manufacture of which isn’t scheduled to begin until sometime after April.

Besides the change in schedule, the production hiatus has also resulted in a slight shuffle of trim and equipment packages. As a result, early and late-build 2012 models will differ in some of their features and options. Examples include a ZL1 stripe package which, when combined with the optional sunroof, will omit the roof mounted lines on late-build cars. In addition, ordering the extra cost $600 carbon fiber hood inserts will actually  result in a $600 credit option on late-build cars.

As to whether the 2013 coupes will be virtually identical, no word yet, though for muscle car enthusiasts and collectors, these production changes for ’12  are likely to only further enhance desirability of what is arguably Chevy’s baddest pony car ever.

[Source: Motor Authority]

The 2013 Chevrolet Traverse officially debuted at the 2012 New York International Auto Show this morning as the as the brand’s latest full-size crossover.

“We have injected a stronger presence into the Traverse exterior by focusing on the details. The small but important changes give it a more vibrant personality that more closely reflects the lifestyles of the families who rely on the Traverse to get them through their busy lives,” said GM director of exterior design Phillip Zak.

GALLERY: 2013 Chevrolet Traverse

Exteriors with sportier styling borrowed from the likes of the Camaro are becoming a mainstay in the marque’s lineup and the Traverse is no exception. In this case, that is especially evident in the car’s taillights which have hints of the same half-moon glare as the brawny muscle car. While Chevrolet isn’t trying to send the message that the two vehicles are soul mates, the update helps the car seem tighter and less bulky.

Like the updated GMC Acadia, which we first saw at the Chicago Auto Show, the Traverse will be available with a front-center airbag to prevent passengers from crashing into each other during collisions.

Despite looking a little smaller than its predecessor thanks to the updated exterior, the incoming Traverse keeps the same dimensions as its older brother.

Size isn’t the only thing that translates between the two. The 3.6-liter V6 featuring fuel-saving direct injection technology and continuously-variable valve timing also migrates into the new model — power ratings also remain with 281 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque. Mated to an improved six-speed automatic transmission, the Traverse is expected to earn the best fuel-economy rating of any eight-passenger FWD utility vehicle.

At least that’s the news according to statistics released by the two American automakers. Chrysler said it sold 34 percent more vehicles this March, versus the same period last year, delivering some 161,381 cars and trucks, versus 121,730 in March 2011.

Jeep and Ram truck demand was particularly strong, with gains of 35 and 22 percent respectively. Ford said it had seen sales grow by some five percent with sales reaching 222,884 units last month versus 212,295 in March 2011.

Despite declines in Buick and Cadillac sales, General Motors said it had seen overall demand grow by 12 percent in March to 231,052 units, largely fuelled by sales of small cars. Don Johnson, GM’s vice president of US sales remarked that,”the economic recovery and a deep bench of fuel-efficient cars and crossovers have been driving our sales for more than a year, but the combined impact has never been stronger than it was in March.”  The General said it sold a record 100,000 vehicles last month that get at least 30 miles per gallon on the highway.

A number of analysts believe the growth in auto sales last month can be partly attributed to this year’s unseasonably mild winter, which had consumers flocking to dealers earlier than the traditional spring selling season; other factors include a plethora of new models hitting the streets as well as lower unemployment statistics and easier access to credit for many.

Many industry observers are keeping a close eye on gas prices to see if they have an effect on auto sales this year; as currently they’re around the $4.00 gallon mark, traditionally seen as the tipping point which consumers change their car buying and driving habits.

Nonetheless, the outlook remains generally optimistic. “Barring any future shock related to geopolitical issues in the gulf region and further upward pressure on the price of oil, we believe sales will continue on a solid pace for the balance of the year, said John Humphrey” J.D. Power and Associates senior vice president of global operations.

[Source: New York Times via Auto News]

It wasn’t long ago when the best-selling General Motors models greedily guzzled gas, but times have changed due to a large part to rising gas prices.

Now, GM’s fuel-effiicient models rule the roads and in March they have reached a milestone. Last month, GM sold more than 100,000 vehicles that achieve 30 mpg or better.

“GM’s strategic investments in four-cylinder and turbocharged engines, advanced transmissions and vehicle electrification have been very well timed,” said Mark Reuss, president of GM North America. “Three years ago, about 16 percent of the vehicles GM sold achieved at least 30 mpg on the highway. Today, that number is about 40 percent, and we have more new fuel-economy leaders on the way, including the Chevrolet Spark, Cadillac ATS and the Buick Encore.”

This is a huge shift and shows where the market is heading. The cars that make up this new sales record include the Chevrolet Sonic, Cruze, Volt, Malibu, Impala, Equinox and even the V6 Camaro.

Buick‘s Verano, Regal, LaCrosse, and GMC‘s Terrain round out the field.

In future, GM will be offering more fuel efficient models, like the new Cadillac ATS, which will also offer four-cylinder engines.

The Heartland Institute is well known for its skepticism on climate change, pushing to challenge accepted norms about global warming and their man-made causes.

General Motors on the other hand, is trying really hard to sell their Chevrolet Volt so any support for an association that spreads climate misinformation isn’t good for the American automaker. A recent leak exposed that GM was sending funding towards the Heartland Institute and climate advocacy group, Forecast the Facts, began a petition to ask GM to stop their support.

It didn’t take very long for the petition to get over 20,000 signatures from current GM vehicle owners. And without further ado, GM has announced that they are no longer supporting the Heartland Institute. The decision was reported to the Climate One organization and it said:

“General Motors has decided to discontinue funding of the Heartland Institute, an organization that downplays the risks of climate disruption, three weeks after GM Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson was asked about it during a Climate One radio interview. GM spokesman Dave Barthmuss confirmed the move today.”

While this probably doesn’t have a huge impact on the Heartland Institute – it is believed that GM’s contributions weren’t significant – it proves that GM is willing to back off support for organizations that their car owners aren’t too keen of.

Now if only they could persuade those tens of thousands of customers to switch to a Volt.

[Source: Tree Hugger]

Who would have thought it? Given the flack the Chevy Volt has received at Republican hands over the last few months, former Republican president George H. W. Bush dealt the Volt attackers a serious blow, deciding to purchase one of GM’s extended range electric cars.

The Volt, which has become a symbol of all that’s wrong with the Obama administration according to a number of conservatives, might finally be getting a break. In addition to Bush Sr.’s purchase of a Volt (for his son Neil), there’s growing sentiment among the right that the car might not be that bad after all.

Fred Barnes, writing in the conservatively inclined Weekly Standard, showed sympathy for the Volt, saying it “is not an Obamamobile,” a view that’s been widely held by many Republicans. In perhaps an even more surprising turn, Fox News, the notorious Volt basher, is also apparently changing it’s tune. Lee Spieckerman, CEO of Spieckerman Media and a conservative himself, said during a recent interview on the network that the “Volt is the quickest and most efficient way to bring American fossil fuels like coal, natural gas and nuclear energy to American automobiles. It is a terrific car, it is the iPhone of the automobiles. I’ve driven it and it’s very impressive.”

Volt sales remain sluggish despite GM introducing a zero percent incentive this month, so this change is probably welcome news, though Spieckerman did say that in order for it to truly be successful in the market, the price of the Volt needs to be reduced by about 20 percent, in order to give it a fighting chance against the likes of machines like the Chevy Cruze.

[Source: Yahoo Autos]

In today’s safety conscious world, having a vehicle earn “Top Pick” status from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is a big deal for many automakers, especially when it’s not just one car, but the entire brand’s lineup. 

Buick has already been awarded IIHS top safety picks for its LaCrosse and Regal sedans, plus the Enclave crossover and now the Verano compact sedan, which was recently bestowed with the same award. That means each model in the current 2012 Buick lineup has been awarded Top Pick status, with the exceptions of the Encore compact crossover, since it hasn’t hit the market yet.

According to IIHS president Adrian Lund the results indicate that “Buick is building state-of-the-art crash protection into every model from the ground up. This means the best overall protection in the most common kinds of crashes, along with standard electronic stability control for helping drivers to stay out of many crashes to begin with.”

Among the key features that have enabled current Buicks to enjoy Top Pick safety status, include the use of high strength steel in the vehicle body structure, ABS and panic braking technology, collapsible pedals, GM’s Stabilitrak dynamic control system and a plethora of airbags – the Verano alone has 10 of them.

Lund’s sentiments are echoed by Jack R. Nerad, veteran auto journalist and editorial director of Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com website, who stated in response to the Top Safety pick awards that “Buick buyers want to make certain that any vehicle they buy has state-of-the-art safety features. With this in mind, Buick engineers have incorporated an unprecedented combination of safety systems to more than address that need.”

Interestingly, the newest IIHS Top Pick Buick, the Verano, was also named by kbb.com as one of it’s “Ten Best sedans under $25,000.” Clearly it seems that Buick is indeed back.

Watch the IIHS Verano crash test below.

When Opel/Vauxhall first announced that its Ampera plug-in hybrid electric vehicle would participate in the 13th International Monte Carlo Rally for alternative energy vehicles, it made a point to challenge the Tesla Roadster, which won the previous two years.

Completing the racing stages from Annecy-le-Vieux to Monte Carlo from March 22 through 25, the Opel Ampera of Bernard Darniche and Joseph Lambert finished in first place, winning the Ampera’s inaugural Monte Carlo Rally. Following the leading Ampera, three more crossed the line to finish in the top 10.

A total of 130 competitors from 30 manufacturers took part in the Monte Carlo Rally, including a total of seven Amperas, the Renault Fluence Z.E., Tesla Roadster, Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Volkswagen Up!, and Peugeot Ion. A test of endurance for alternative propulsion, teams were judged based on energy usage at a steady speed via a ratio formula that accounted for vehicle weight, CO2 emission, energy density of the fuel and its consumption.

According to French rally co-pilot Joseph Lambert, “The sophisticated technology of the Ampera was always reliable and enabled our tremendous success.”

“The Ampera’s success in this versatility contest under very challenging conditions proves its impressive balance between durability and fuel efficiency. This underscores our leadership role in the field of alternative propulsion,” Vauxhall/Opel director of E-mobility Enno Fuchs said.

GALLERY: Monte Carlo Rally Opel Ampera

WellStar Health System, a five hospital not-for-profit health system, teamed up with General Motors to create a three-dimensional visualization system to track step-by-step progress on everything from vehicle repairs to patient care…with Legos.

The same childhood building blocks we all adore, are now being used for real-world dilemmas instead of constructing toys (Like the 1966 Corvette Stingray pictured above). GM says the new system could help reduce the time needed to implement a change that would prevent future warranty repairs by 33-percent.

“The automotive and healthcare industries may be different, but we face similar challenges,” said Tim Herrick, GM global vehicle chief engineer for trucks, vans and crossovers. “If a customer visits a dealership service department they expect their car to run better afterward, much like a sick or injured person expects to feel better after going to the hospital. 3-D Visualization helps manage both processes more efficiently.”

Instead of complex computer algorithms or fancy 3-D programs, the Lego-based system is built on GM’s Problem Resolution Tracking System. When a problem arises, a corresponding Lego block goes on a Lego board. The bigger the block, the bigger the problem; while the color designates what are of the vehicle needs fixing. Each Lego block is labeled with a number and date of discovery with the board showing its progress from cause to solution to outcome.

GM isn’t only using this neat system for warranty repair tracking. The American automaker is planning to implement it to track vehicle program engineering changes and program budgets. A digital version has already been developed to deploy worldwide.

Last month General Motors and Peugeot finalized an alliance that will see the two companies share research, vehicle platforms and production. Now the alliance will help bring some new vehicles to the market as well.

The two companies will begin by sharing large vehicles, transmissions and a small car for emerging markets. A new plan also revealed by Peugeot is to co-operate on some other projects including minivans, crossovers and small cars. What this means is that we can expect some new vehicles to be born from this alliance, hopefully sometime in the not so distant future.

GM’s experience with larger vehicles and crossovers will certainly come in handy for Peugeot, who’s main market segment is generally small cars.

Additionally the companies will study low-emission vehicles, including hybrids and regular internal combustion engines.

[Source: Automotive News]