Chrysler got a new lease on life some months back with regards to its current financial standing. Now it seems that they have totally forgotten how to redeem itself from their poor showing as the company is still mum on what it plans to do with their current product line. There has been no word on new vehicles that would be coming out and yet we are nearing the close of 2009. Has Chrysler totally lost it?

Unlike Ford which has put much of its weight on their electric car, the Volt, Chrysler has not leaked or shown any new car models to look forward to. Rather they are providing customers with perks like car leasing and specialized features. How long can they do that? Unless they start getting their act together they are better off closing the company or perhaps selling it to someone else. They do have plans of a brand makeover but time is essential. Apparently Chrysler forgot all about that.

Tags: auto chrysler, available resources, car industry, car leasing, car models, Cars, Dodge, doors, economic turmoil, electric car, Ford, makeover, market position, models, new blood, new car, new direction, new lease on life, new vehicles, quick time, rebates, signs of life, special offers, trucks, Volt, waste of time

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Here is a modern approach that motorists are using when it comes to fixing a flat. The Sylvania 9007SU BP SilverStar Ultra High Performance Halogen Headlight – Pack of 2 is perfect for people who hate fixing flat tires or maybe even worse, don’t know how to change one.

It comes with a powerful 120 volt inflator with a 2/3 HP motor which can easily inflate P185/70R14 tires from 0 to 28 PSI within 2 minutes. It also comes with an extra long 8 foot air hose with a quick connect valve and a built-in analog pressure gauge for easier reading and use.

Price: $59.99

(Source) Amazon

Tags: 9007su, air compressor, air hose, amazon, bon aire, foot air, halogen, high performance, hp motor, inflator, modern approach, motorists, pressure gauge, psi, silverstar, sylvania, tires, Volt

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GM has just announced that they will begin auctioning off new cars in California tomorrow and already they have taken center stage again to speak of the forthcoming Chevy Volt. The automaker will reportedly announced mileage details for the electric vehicle tomorrow, August 11th.

While the mileage numbers will most definitly vary from what they will be during everyday use, expect the Volt to feature well over 100mpg. If you’re wondering why an electric vehicle would use gas it’s because the Volt is an extended range electric vehicle, this means that it’s propulsion will come completely from electricity but in order to gain a higher range GM will include a small gas tank that will then be used to power those electric motors.

Still no solid word on a price or release date for the volt.

Read (HybridCarBlog)

Tags: all electric, extended range, gas mileage, GM, mileage, Volt

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GM has been talking about Chevrolet’s forthcoming Volt EV for some time now and we even heard that the vehicle’s batteries would be manufactured somewhere in Michigan.

Well, according to GM’s Bob Kruse we will know the official location of GM’s battery pant thanks to the $100+ million given to the company by the government. Additionally, it was made known that LG Chem will build cells for the Volt’s battery packs who will also build a plant using government given money.

Let’s just hope that GM hurrys up and gets the Volt onto the market at a reasonable price.

via Autoblog

Tags: all electric, battery, cells, lg tech, Volt

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It seems that today GM’s VP for Global Program Management, Jon Lauckner, was questioned about how much consumers can expect to pay for the Chevy Volt.

Apparanatly, GM hasn’t even begun pondering the price point but will do so sometime mid-late 2010. Below Lauckner speaks of the Volt’s pricing:

“We typically do not lock in on pricing until about 3-6 months prior to start of production. The reason is primarily so we have an opportunity to take a look at the market, competitors and other factors. So stay tuned.”

Let’s hope that GM can price the Volt competitively enough that it will cause a price war between all-electric automakers. Because, you know what price wars mean for us, right? Lower prices, of course.

via AutoBlogGreen

Tags: all electric, Chevrolet, GM, pricing, Volt

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General Motors have come up with a great idea regarding the future of electric vehicles. On the company’s blog, Gery Kissel says that engineers and officials will be discussing next week the need of a standard plug for future electric cars. If GM wouldn’t have thought of it, someone else would probably have done it. After all it would be really weird to have different plugs for different cars.

The SAE J1772 Task Force will be responsible for designing a plug which would fit with any charging station. That way no matter what electric car you end up driving in the near future, you will be able to charge it up when the power is low. The team will also be working on a “common electric vehicle conductive charging system architecture for all major automakers in North America” so we’ll keep you updated with the progress it makes especially as the Volt is coming next year.

via FastLane

Tags: electric car, General Motors, Plug, Volt

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It seems that the United States government is making a push towards the increased sale of electric cars. How?

Well the House of Representatives recently passed a bill that makes it so eletric vehicles, electric car batteries, and electric vehicle infastructure are not subject to state sales tax. The bill won pretty handidly with a 71-23 vote.

This is great news now let’s just see a mass produced electric car hit the streets for a reasonable price!

Read (KickingTirs)

Tags: bill, Democrats, government, house of representatives, united states, Volt

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Well it’s finally official folks! The Opel Ampera has been unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show and the car is GM’s European version of the Chevy Volt. The design is impressive and the car feels like something we’d like to drive and brag about it. Unfortunately we’ll have to wait until late 2011 to get our hands on it as that’s the official production date. Specs-wise the Ampera will be similar to the Volt. There’s a 16kWh lithium-ion battery inside which will give you an autonomy of about 37 miles and a gas powered generator which recharges the depleted battery and thus the range is extended to 500 miles.

What do you think about the Ampera? What would you rather drive? The Volt or the Ampera?

via Press

Tags: ampera, Geneva, Motor Show, Volt

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GM announced plans to upgrade its only electric vehicle, the Chevy Volt, shortly after its initial release in late 2010. Specifically, GM is looking at improving the battery that powers the Volt by driving down the size and the cost of it. The 400 pound battery is the most expensive element in the vehicle, and producing a competitively priced vehicle is vital to GM’s recovery and continued existence in the United States. Improve the Volt’s range on a single charge, which as it stands is set at only 40 miles, is not part of the plan for upgrades, according to GM executive Frank Weber. “My goal is not to go from 40 to 60 miles in the next generation vehicles,” Weber said of the Volt’s range.

Instead, GM is focusing on cost and weight. Several smaller startup companies already have vehicles for sale that match or exceed the Volt’s 40-mile range. Canada’s Zenn Motor Co will release an all-electric vehicle later this year with a range of 250 miles on a single charge and a top speed of 80 MPH. The current model of the Zenn has a range of 30-50 miles on a charge, costs under $13,000, and is available right now.

Tags: Chevy, GM, Volt

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Bose has a new sound system for the future 2011 Chevy Volt. It’s the Energy Efficient Series which will do wonders for your car. It’s going to be 30% smaller and 40% lighter than regular Bose sound systems. As for power consumption it will use 50% less energy which fits great with the Volt’s need for energy. What do you think? Will the new Bose sound system satisfy your music needs?

via Press

Tags: 2011, Bose, Chevy, Energy Efficient Series, sound system, Volt

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Brace yourselves for the next hybrid SUV that is expected to come out in 2010. The Touareg BlueMotion Hybrid by Volkswagen will be the first real production hybrid from the German company and will join the automaker’s expanding BlueMotionTechnologies lineup.

The Touareg BlueMotion Hybrid will feature a supercharged 3.0L TSI V6 engine that’s shared with the Audi S4 along with a new 8-speed automatic transmission. While many would likely be awfully pleased just to see that drivetrain in the Touareg, the big news is what’s sandwiched between them, namely, a 38 kW electric motor that gets power from a 288-volt nickel-metal hydride battery pack.

(Source) Autoblog

Tags: audi s4, hybrid suv, nickel metal hydride battery, touareg, volkswagen, Volt

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I am not a hardcore fan of the Transformers but it has recently come to my attention that the sequel will be filled with new General Motor cars, as was the first part too. The last inclusion was the Chevy Volt which had to be squeezed into the script in the minute. That’s what an old chat file says:

Quote:
Originally Posted by llamatron
Sounds like my home made movies.

Looking forward to it, Bob!

Oh and was the Chevy Volt TF kind of shoved into the film by GM and not really in the script? I understand that you might not be able to answer this.

Yes. Had to figure it out last minute.

That’s a little disturbing isn’t it? Will see how the Volt and the other GM will perform later this year.

Tags: Chevrolet, GM, Transformers 2, Volt

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No matter what, America will get the Chevy Volt. On time. That is the battle cry over at General Motors these days, and it’s being echoed once again on the pages of The Wall Street Journal. Still, there is reason to be skeptical as the Feds have yet to agree on a loan package for the struggling Detroit automakers. The General has just announced that it’s stopping work on the plant in Flint, Michigan, where the Volt’s 1.4L range-extender was to be built alongside the powerplants slated to go under the hood of the new Cruze compact. Regardless, says GM, nothing will stop the Volt project from moving forward, not even Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Engines can be imported from overseas.

Where will the money come from? That’s a big question mark, but GM spokespeople suggest that whatever funds there are will be diverted to the Volt program. Some may question if this is a good idea, especially considering that the extended-range electric car isn’t going to be a big money-maker for the beleaguered automaker. GM counters those claims by saying it has promised the green car to Americans eager to reduce their use of oil. In other words, it would be a PR disaster not seen since the crushing end of the EV1 if the Volt didn’t make it as scheduled.

Tags: Chevrolet, Chevy, EV1, GM, Volt

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The rumour mill has it that General Motors is likely to show a Cadillac with the Chevrolet Volt’s range-extending hybrid powertrain technology at the Detroit auto show.

When the production Volt was unveiled in September as part of GM’s 100th anniversary, vice chairman Bob Lutz said “there’s definitely room” for an electric Caddy.

A luxury car, such as a Cadillac, would be able to charge a steeper price than the predicted $36,000 for the Volt and frankly, that would simply be more acceptable to much of its demographic.

Lutz said that Chevrolet got the Volt technology first because of its universal appeal, while noting that Cadillac has a comparably limited distribution channel.

Cadillac happens to be launching the new SRX, in the second quarter of 2009 based on the Provoq concept that was unveiled last January. And that vehicle did have alternative propulsion: GM’s fifth-generation fuel cell.

It will be interesting to see which direction this goes for GM.

Tags: Cadillac, Chevrolet, SRX, Volt

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It’s no wonder car companies ran out of money! GM for starters, has poured no less than $750 million into developing the Chevrolet Volt. Rick Wagoner, GM’s CEO testified that the Volt is going to enter production for 2011 although it won’t be cost competitive by that time.

Well that seems to be true. GM invested a huge chunk of that money in developing the battery which is a very important part of a hybrid. Will GM recover the losses? Well it probably will only not now. And who knows who’s going to own GM by then?

Tags: Alternative Energy, Chevrolet, GM, Volt

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