Auto news and reviews from Car Buyer's Notebook.com: GM Archives

June 10, 2008

2009 Cadillac CTS-V Performance certified at 556 horsepower

MILFORD, Mich. - As final testing of the limited-edition 2009 CTS-V nears completion, the results suggest that Cadillac's upcoming sports sedan is entering the stratosphere of the world's highest-performing cars.

Cadillac announces the following performance specifications for all-new 2009 CTS-V:

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June 9, 2008

Robbie Knievel Jumps 21 Hummers

FORT WORTH, Texas — Motorcycle daredevil Robbie Knievel successfully completed a shortened jump Saturday night at Texas Motor Speedway.

Knievel jumped over 21 Hummer vehicles, four less than had originally been planned because of a headwind gusting more than 30 mph. The landing ramp protected the last three of the large SUVs in the line, though Knievel easily cleared all the vehicles and avoided crashing even after hitting the landing ramp off-center.

"I love you Texas, bye-bye," Knievel said after the jump.

June 8, 2008

Video: Bob Lutz on the Volt Test Mule

By Bob Lutz, GM Vice Chairman

This week we announced that the GM Board has approved the Chevrolet Volt program. Yes, development work has been going on in earnest, but now it’s official. In fact, recently, at GM’s Milford Proving Ground, I drove an official “engineering development vehicle” with the 16-kwh lithium-ion battery pack we’ve been testing for our E-Flex System and I have to say – pun half-intended – it was electrifying.

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A Note from HUMMER: Let the Speculating Begin

By Martin Walsh, General Manager, HUMMER

In preparing for the announcement about General Motor’s putting HUMMER up for strategic review this week, we anticipated that subsequent rumors and speculation about the brand’s fate would soon begin.

They have, and we can expect these things to swirl while we examine possible outcomes. But I want you to know that in the end I believe the HUMMER name, and it’s line-up of iconic vehicles, will still be purchased and enjoyed by customers around the world.

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Posted by Frank at 12:38 PM | Filed under Auto Marketing | Auto News | GM | Hummer

Video: General Motors Exec Buys Vectrix Scooter

General Motors electric car champion Bob Lutz has upped his personal commitment to battery-powered transportation with the purchase of an electric scooter.

The GM vice chairman has bought a Vectrix scooter that uses a nickel metal hydride battery pack to give it a range of 45-60 miles and a top speed of about 60 mph. Watch the video of Lutz taking delivery of the scooter.

For more scooter news, read ScooteringUSA.com

Chevy to award five lucky high school grads with new cars

Nashville, Tenn. – During Fall 2008, high school seniors at more than 200 schools in 26 Tennessee counties learned that having perfect attendance would make them eligible to win a new 2008 Chevy Cobalt sedan this June. Close to 500 students faithfully attended all 180 days during the school year.

Five of these students will be awarded new Chevy Cobalts in a drawing held at the Sommet Center on 501 Broadway in Nashville on June 13, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

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GM Dealer Group Helps Habitat For Humanity

PONTIAC, Mich. - The Suburban Collection is working on a very special gift to commemorate General Motors' 100th anniversary, but instead of giving it to the automaker, the company is helping a deserving Oakland County family.

That's because this anniversary present is a brand-new home that will be built in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County.

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Posted by Frank at 5:38 AM | Filed under Auto Marketing | Auto News | GM

June 7, 2008

Cadillac Escalade Adds FlexFuel Capability for 2009

ATLANTA – All models of the 2009 Cadillac Escalade will be able to run on either ordinary gasoline or E85 ethanol, or any combination of the two, General Motors announced Friday.

And customers will have the fueling choice at no additional cost.

The Escalade, Escalade EXT and Escalade ESV as well as the GMC Denali, join the previously announced 2009 Chevrolet HHR, Buick Lucerne and Hummer H2 and H2 SUT as additions to GM’s industry-leading flex-fuel lineup.

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GM Continue Improvement in Harbour Productivity Report

DETROIT- General Motors Corp. improved overall productivity, despite an 8 percent production volume decrease last year, according to "The Harbour Report North America 2008." The Harbour Report measures North American automotive manufacturers' assembly, powertrain and stamping plant productivity.

GM is the only manufacturer to consistently improve year-over-year overall in the history of the annual report.

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Posted by Frank at 9:19 AM | Filed under Auto Marketing | Auto News | Car Tech | GM

June 6, 2008

2009 Caddy XLR Amps up the Drama

Detroit, Mich. -- Since its inception in 2004, Cadillac's XLR has been a fresh face in the elite club of the world's finest luxury roadsters. Today Cadillac revealed the new 2009 edition of the XLR Roadster, featuring styling and model enhancements providing more dramatic design and technology.

Only the finest editions of Cadillac's retractable hardtop roadster will be offered in 2009: The luxurious XLR Platinum and the high-performance XLR-V.

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GM looks beyond improved quality scores

By Jamie Hresko, GM Vice President, Quality

There are many gate-checks, so to speak, here at GM when it comes to quality. However, the ones that matter most to you, the customer, the driver, are the external measures that tell you if we’re all wet or if we’re running hard and clean. J.D. Power & Associates has announced its Initial Quality Survey results. I won’t re-iterate the content of the press release.

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Winners Unveiled at Auto Interiors Show

DETROIT -- For the first time in several years, foreign nameplates outshined domestic competitors for top honors in the 2008 Ward's "Interior of the Year" Awards. And unlike previous years, no brand won more than a single award.

Chosen by the editors of Ward's Automotive Group, the prestigious awards were presented today to executives of the automakers at a special program held on the floor of the Ward's Auto Interiors Show at Detroit's Cobo Center.

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June 5, 2008

Best Selling Pickups in the United States for May 2008

Pickup truck sales dropped 36.1% in the U.S. in May, and as they say, that's gonna' leave a mark.

For the year to date pickup sales are down 21%, with only the Toyota Tundra selling more than last year [8.5%].

Even with plant idlings and closings, it's becoming pretty obvious there is overcapacity in the market, and we wouldn't be surprised if one of the manufacturers pulls out or shuts down pickup truck production altogether.

Best selling pickups trucks for May 2008:

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Saab Turbo X Lands In The United States

Detroit – The all-black Saab Turbo X, which made its world debut at the Frankfurt auto show last year, is now arriving at Saab dealership around the United States.

Celebrating thee decades of Saab turbocharging leadership and the first to feature Saab’s state-of-the art Cross-Wheel Drive system, the limited-edition Turbo X is a driver-focused performance car that is already being hailed as an instant classic.

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Report: Initial Auto Quality Improves Considerably

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. -- Initial quality in the automotive industry has improved significantly in 2008, with substantial gains demonstrated by nearly three-fourths of the 36 ranked nameplates, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Initial Quality Study (IQS) released today.

Overall quality improves to 118 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) in 2008, down from 125 PP100 in 2007.

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