Looks like the new 2011 Chevy Cruze will bring more jobs to the economy. General Motors will add a third shift at its Lordstown, Ohio complex, adding 1,200 jobs to support production of the new, 2011 Chevrolet Cruze compact car. As previously announced, the Chevrolet Cruze program represents a $500 million investment in U.S. manufacturing operations, which includes more than $350 million to re-tool the Lordstown facility. Production begins in the third quarter and will increase the Lordstown workforce from 3,300 to 4,500. The third shift is expected to generate $47 million in additional payroll, $470,000 in local income taxes and $1.4 million in state income tax.

Since last July, GM has made announcements that represent about 5,515 new jobs and investment by the company of more than $1.4 billion in the United States. The 2011 Cruze is the first of a family of new Chevrolet small and compact cars that are designed to offer excellent fuel economy, outstanding quality and top safety ratings. Lordstown will produce Cruze models for the United States and Canada. The Lordstown complex covers 5 million square feet and includes 25 miles of conveyors. Last year, the facility – which includes on on-site stamping plant – purchased nearly 102,000 tons of steel and recycled nearly 53,000 tons of it. Renovations in preparation for the Cruze include a new, state-of-the-art body shop, with more than 800 new robotic systems. Since vehicle assembly started in 1966, the Lordstown complex has produced about 14.3 million GM cars. It currently builds the Chevrolet Cobalt, of which more than 1 million have been produced since its 2004 launch. Cobalt production will end as Cruze production ramps up this summer.

On Feb. 18, GM announced a $494 million investment and the creation of nearly 550 jobs, among three facilities, to produce the next-generation of fuel-efficient Ecotec four-cylinder engines.

The Chicago Auto Show is coming right up, it will be open to the public from February 12 – 21. Chevrolet will continue its push for its all electric Chevy Volt, and will feature it at the show. The Chevrolet Volt is a plug-in range-extended electric car with an on-board gasoline generator. It has a large battery that stores power from your home electric outlet and which is connected to an electric motor. The electric motor directly propels the car, and Volt is designed to drive up to 40 miles on electricity without using gasoline or producing tailpipe emissions. When the Volt’s lithium-ion battery is depleted, an engine/generator seamlessly operates to extend the total driving range to about 300 miles.

The driver will be able to set the charging schedule inside the vehicle or remotely, based on time of day or cost. And the Volt even has audio and visual cues to alert the driver when the car powers on, off and when charging is activated. For eager buyers, GM has committed to begin mass production of the 4-door, 4-passenger Volt in November 2010, as a 2011 model year.

The North American International Auto Show has become home of Chevy’s introduction of the Aveo RS show car – a European-inspired hot hatch aimed at young enthusiasts. The Aveo RS show car provides a glimpse of what designers have in mind for the future production car. One look at the show car’s electric Boracay Blue finish, motorcycle-inspired exposed headlamps and tail lamps, low roofline, fender flares, large wheels and tires, and dual-cockpit interior hints at the next-generation Aveo. Focusing on Aveo’s target audience of young buyers, Chevrolet gave the show car a sporty appearance inside and out. An aggressive front fascia; clean, uninterrupted body side lines; an integrated rear roof spoiler; wide stance; and large, 19-inch, five-spoke wheels with a gun metal Chevrolet logo and Boracay Blue brake calipers suggest upscale style and dynamic handling. The Boracay Blue continues inside, with accent stitching in the instrument panel, dual cockpit, front and rear door panels, gear shift boot, parking brake and seat bolster. The Aveo RS show car features the same small-displacement 1.4L Ecotec turbocharged engine that will be available in the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze in North America. Delivering 138 horsepower (103 kW), it performs like two powerplants in one, with the fuel economy of a small engine and the performance of a larger one. In the Aveo RS show car, the 1.4L turbo is mated to a six-speed manual transmission.

The Chevrolet Cruze compact sedan is already on sale in Asia and Europe with strong market acceptance. In 2011, the Cruze will change the rules in America by bringing a midsize car presence to the compact sedan segment. It will deliver many segment-leading features, more interior room and cargo capacity than the competition and upscale amenities such as Bluetooth, USB and navigation. It offers midsize roominess, safety and amenities with the fuel economy and expected price of a compact car. The U.S. production version of the Cruze was unveiled last month. The Cruze affirms Chevrolet’s commitment the lead in small-displacement, turbocharged four-cylinder engines that are highly fuel efficient. Cruze is expected to deliver segment-leading fuel economy in North America with a new Ecotec 1.4L turbo with variable valve timing – including under 6.0 L/100 km on the highway with a high-efficiency model. The all-new Cruze will be built in Lordstown, Ohio beginning in the third quarter.

The five-door Chevrolet Spark, the smallest member of Chevrolet’s family of cars, brings style, roominess and versatility to a segment of extremely fuel-efficient small cars. Spark will provide great fuel economy, and its trim size makes it very agile in all kinds of driving conditions while still feeling substantial on the open road. The Spark will go on sale in Europe this spring. The U.S. production version will go on sale in early 2012.

But General Motors is now recalling Vettes from the 2005 through 2007 model years because the roof panel might blow off. The recall covers Corvette coupes with the removable roof panel. There’s a problem with the adhesive that bonds the plastic roof panel to its frame. If the bond breaks, the roof panel could go flying off while driving. There are clues to the problem, such as a snapping noise from the roof when driving over bumps, water leaking from the headliner or the roof panel moving when the door is closed. Nearly 22,100 cars are involved in the recall. Those with a bad panel–GM has previously run a customer-satisfaction campaign for this problem–will get a new one. GM says it will start the recall in January.

The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze is finally coming Stateside and was introduced at the 2009 LA Auto Show. Sharing much of the 2011 Chevrolet Volt’s architecture, the Cruze has the potential to be a massive leap forward for Chevy in the mid-size/compact segment. Larger than the Cobalt in almost every dimension and packing a choice of either a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder putting out 138 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque or a naturally aspirated 1.8-liter four-pot, fuel economy and efficiency take center stage. Buyers will be able to choose between a manual or automatic six-speed gearbox.

Inside, the two-tone brown and black leather interior is a tremendous improvement over the model it replaces, with an artfully sculpted dash and center stack surrounded by soft touch materials, brushed fauxluminum and a smattering of chrome. Back seat passengers should be equally pleased with the appointments and a 60/40 split bench ups the ante for usability.

The Cruze’s arrival late next year couldn’t be better timed, as Ford is readying the next generation Focus and Honda is toiling away on a reworked Civic.

The 2011 Chevrolet Orlando

While small minivans are extremely popular in Europe and other parts of the world, they have met little success in the US. Chevrolet hopes to change that when they roll out the 2011 Chevy Orlando, alongside their new Chevy Cruze sedan. Although the Orlando show car carried a 2.0L turbo-diesel, it is expected that the U.S. version will at least have the option of a 1.4-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine, the same one that will power the Cruze. The Orlando is said to combine the versatility of an SUV, a family van and a wagon in one vehicle. The Orlando offers room for seven, but differs from traditional minivans or crossovers, as it is a much more compact design. The Orlando is expected to compete with recent successes such as the Mazd5, which has proven that there is a market for this type of compact package family mover.  Expect to see the Orlando in late 2010. For more research, videos, and pictures, read a complete 2011 Chevy Orlando review.

In an industry that is facing troubled times, the 2010 Chevy Camaro is a shining star among Chevy lineup.  It has proven to be a very popular model, consumers can’t wait to get their hands on it and in many cases, the Camaros are actually selling for more than the MSRP, simply because of the high demand. GM is trying to keep up production numbers with the sales numbers, but Camaros are flying out of dealerships. The Camaro was originally built from 1967 to 2002; the 2010 model marks the brand’s rebirth.  Many consumers are previous Camaro owners, and are excited to get a modern version of the car they so loved. Dealers started selling the 2010 two-door Camaro in May, and while the new model is far from retro, it does bring forward some styling cues from older Camaros (namely the 1969 model) in a thoroughly modern manner.

The fastest Camaro has a 6.2-liter V-8 engine, generating 422 horsepower. The V-6 Camaro, with 304 hp, gets a much better 29 miles per gallon on the highway. The SS model offers 20-inch aluminum wheels and 4-piston Brembo brakes and offers an optional white stripe color option on the hood. Dealers have already booked about 25,000 orders for the Camaro, yet only half have been delivered to date. There is no question that the Camaro has grabbed the attention of the car-buying public, and the recent debut of Transformers 2 will likely give the pony car another marketing shot in the arm. So if buying a Camaro is on your list, get in line, and get ready to experience one amazing vehicle.  For research, videos, pictures, and information, read this 2010 Chevy Camaro review.

2010 Chevrolet Camaro Transformers Special Edition Announced

Now GM has announced the new 2010 Chevrolet Camaro Transformers Special Edition at the San Diego Comic-Con.

“When the first Transformers movie was setting box office records, we had countless customers asking to purchase the ‘Bumblebee’ Camaro,” remarked Karen Rafferty, product marketing director, Chevrolet. “Now, they can buy one with the new Camaro Transformers Special Edition. “Hasbro is thrilled to team up with Chevrolet and excited to see the Camaro Transformers Special Edition come to market for our fans to enjoy,” stated Samantha Lomow, Global Brand Leader for Transformers at Hasbro. “The yellow Camaro with the black stripes has become so iconic and closely associated with the Bumblebee character that this edition was a natural fit for both companies.”

The powerful V6 vehicle features Bluetooth phone connectivity and USB connectivity, and an XM Satellite Radio and OnStar. Rampant on the Camaro, are Transformers design cues. The vehicle is estimated to deliver 29 mpg on the highway.

The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro Transformers Special Edition comes with the following striking Transformers features:

An Autobot shield on the driver and passenger side panels.

An Autobot shield on each of the four wheel’s center cap.

A Transformers logo on the sill plates of the driver and passenger doors.

A Transformers logo among the rally stripes on the car’s hood.

An Autobot shield which is embroidered on interior center console.

The High-gloss black center rally stripe package.

Manufacturer’s suggested retail price of package, which is 995 USD (approx. Rs. 48,195).

The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro Transformers Special Edition can now be order as either a Rally Yellow LT or SS model. The Special Edition Camaro is SAE-certified at 273 lb.-ft. of torque (370 Nm) and at 304 horsepower (227 kW). The Camaro comes standard with a six speed manual transmission, but a Hydra-Matic 6L50 electronically controlled six-speed automatic is also available and has TAPshift control.

The Chevy Camaro SS is built for high-performance and is fitted with a 6.2L powerhouse of a V8 engine. Models of the SS with manual transmission are SAE-certified at 426 horsepower (318 kW) and 420 lb.-ft. of torque (569 Nm).

The SS models equipped with automatic transmission have the new L99 V8 engine and include GM’s Active Fuel Management system which helps save fuel, giving about 25 miles per gallon. The model is SAE-certified at 410 lb.-ft. of torque (556 Nm) and 400 horsepower (298 kW).

Fan Boys be happy, you can drive BumbleBee in 2010. Nice!

Chevy Aims to Roll Out Volt in 2010

Despite the economic downturn and trouble in the auto industry, the Chevy Volt remains on track to hit the market in late 2010.  Although GM lost $6 billion in the first quarter of this year and is surviving on government loans the Volt, along with other 2010 modle year vehicles, remain a top priority. GM has continued to produce eye-catching design and performance vehicles such as the Chevy Malibu, Saturn Aura, and Cadillac CTS.
Furthermore, the 2011 Chevy Volt’s extended-range technology could eventually appear throughout GM’s product lines.

The Chevrolet Volt is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle to be produced by General Motors. The Volt’s propulsion system will be based on GM’s new Voltec (formerly known as E-Flex) platform, which differs significantly from GM’s earlier BAS Hybrid and Two-Mode Hybrid systems. With fully charged batteries, enough stored electrical energy will power the Volt for 40 miles, a distance capable of satisfying the daily commute of 75% of Americans.  After 40 miles, a small 4-cylinder gasoline internal combustion engine drives a 53 kW generator effectively extending the Volt’s potential range to as much as 640 miles on a single tank of gasoline. The electrical power from the generator is sent to either the electric motor or the batteries, depending on the state of charge (SOC) of the battery pack and the power demanded at the wheels. The distribution is controlled by the electronic control unit (ECU) of the vehicle No external charging station will be required. Unlike most current commercially available electric hybrids, the actual propulsion of the Volt is accomplished exclusively by the electric motor, and the internal combustion engine is used as another charging method.