William Maley

Guess Who Coming To Chevrolet's Lineup? The Spark William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com October 12, 2011 Today, Chevrolet announced the Spark will be coming ashore sometime next year as a 2013 model. The Spark will come as a five door model with a 1.2L four-cylinder engine that delivers 83 horsepower. A five speed manual transmission will be standard, while an automatic will be optional. We'll learn more about the Spark next month, when it debuts at the LA Auto Show. Press Release is Below Spark Joins Chevrolet’s U.S. Small Car Lineup in 2012 2011-10-12 - DETROIT – Chevrolet hopes to excite first-time buyers and city residents when the Spark mini car joins the brand’s small car family next year in the United States and Canada. The Spark is a five-door, four-passenger hatch that is on sale in Chevrolet markets around the world. “For young, urban dwellers, the 2013 Chevrolet Spark can be their key to the city,” said Chris Perry, vice president, global Chevrolet marketing and strategy. “Spark’s vibrant exterior and interior colors make a statement, but it is a practical car, too. Affordable, maneuverable and very fuel-efficient, Spark will be easy to own and easy to drive.” More details about the Spark, the smallest Chevrolet in the U.S. and Canadian lineups, will be unveiled next month at the Los Angeles International Auto Show. The first version of the Spark is being sold in Europe, Korea, India, Mexico, South America and Australia. The Chevrolet Spark is 14 inches shorter than the recently launched Chevrolet Sonic. It’s three feet longer than the Smart Fortwo and four inches longer than the Fiat 500. In the United States and Canada, the Spark will be powered by a 1.2L four-cylinder engine that delivers 83 horsepower (61 kW). The standard transmission is a five-speed manual. An automatic transmission will be available. The Spark will offer more interior room than other mini cars, and it will be the only car in the segment to provide standard benefits such as a five-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty and the safety and security of OnStar. Available packages include uplevel features such as color touch screen radio; Chevrolet MyLink infotainment connectivity with Pandora and Stitcher internet radio; Bluetooth; exterior enhancements such as chrome accents; heated leatherette seats and alloy wheels. The Spark was originally seen as the Chevrolet Beat concept at the 2007 New York Auto Show. Show goers and online fans chose the Beat over two other concepts, and it was developed into an updated version of the Spark that will come to the United States and Canada.

I don't think so.. Trailblazer will not come to the US.

Chevrolet Announces Colorado-Based Trailblazer SUV William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com October 12, 2011 Today, General Motors announced a new SUV based on the Colorado truck. The SUV will be called the Trailblazer and will make it's official debut at Dubai Motor Show next month and go on sale oin Thailand beginning in early 2012. Now if you want to get your hands onto a Trailblazer, you'll have to go to Thailand. A spokesperson told Inside Line the Trailblazer will not come to the US. Source: Inside Line Twitter Press Release is Below Chevrolet Announces All-new Global Midsize SUV 2011-10-12 - DETROIT – Chevrolet will introduce the all-new, 2013 TrailBlazer midsize SUV in global markets, beginning in Thailand, in early 2012. Built on a new global midsize platform developed by GM do Brasil, the TrailBlazer will combine the hauling and towing capability of an SUV with the ride comfort and efficiency of a crossover. The new TrailBlazer will be unveiled at Dubai International Motor Show, Nov. 10-14.

GM Expected To Announce An All New All-Electric Vehicle William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com October 11, 2011 Tomorrow, General Motors will be making announcements to reporters about future plans. One of those announcements has been leaked out by The Detroit News, saying GM will be announcing an all-electric vehicle for the US. The car will be a small, battery-powered vehicle designed for urban markets, a source tells the news. Green Car Reports says that vehicle is the Chevrolet Beat Electric. The car was originally shown in India earlier this year. When asked, GM spokesman Mike Albano declined to comment. "We have some news announcements (Wednesday) and I'm not going to say what they are," Albano said. GM CEO Dan Akerson said at North American International Auto Show that the company was was developing an all-electric vehicle for the U.S. market to complement the Chevrolet Volt that went on sale in December. Source: The Detroit News, Green Car Reports

Saab To Head Into Bankruptcy Today? William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com October 11, 2011 Saab could be heading into bankruptcy today, if a report from Autocar is to be believed. According to the story, £60 million loan ($94M USD) from Chinese automaker Youngman Automotive is likely to be denied by the Chinese government. The reason why is due to the deal not having any intellectual property rights being acquired. Saab has been waiting on a £60 million loan from Youngman and an additional £210M ($328M) from Zhejiang Youngman Lotus Automobile and PangDa Automotive to help pay off debts and workers. The only problem is the Chinese government approving the deal. Reports in Sweden are suggesting the administrator handling Saab's restructuring under court protection could declare the company bankrupt today. Source: Autocar

Dodge To Say Goodbye To Grand Caravan & Avenger, Replace With One Model William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com October 10, 2011 Dodge will be getting one crossover to replace the Grand Caravan and Avenger. Fiat & Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne tells Automotive News the model is part of a plan to reduce the number of duplicated vehicles in showrooms and give their brands a strong identity. "We cannot have the same type of vehicle in the showroom because the consumer is not stupid. We're not going to create the confusion and conflict in the showroom," Marchionne said. The crossover will use the Town & Country's platform and come out sometime in 2013 or 2014. Updates from Automotive News: Editor's note: The Dodge crossover will be built on the platform of the new Chrysler Town & Country minivan. An earlier version of this story misstated the platform for that Dodge vehicle. -- The Chrysler brand will get a replacement for its mid-sized 200 sedan in 2013. The 200 name may remain. The sibling Dodge Avenger will disappear, and Dodge instead will attempt to cover the mid-sized segment with a crossover -- the same vehicle that replaces the Grand Caravan. -- A second smaller Dodge crossover is planned to replace the current Journey. That vehicle will arrive after 2014. -- Dodge will cover the compact segment with a four-door sedan, expected to debut at the Detroit auto show in January. The model will replace the outgoing Caliber hatchback. The Chrysler brand will offer a "sort of hatchback," Marchionne said, built on the same underpinnings used by the Dodge compact sedan. That car will be sold in Europe as a Lancia. The Chrysler brand will share many platforms with Lancia. -- The next-generation full-sized minivan, due in 2014, will be offered only by the Chrysler brand. The crossover that Dodge will offer in lieu of a minivan is meant to appeal to Grand Caravan customers looking for space, flexibility and sportiness. "A crossover is more in line for Dodge to cover that segment than it is for anybody else to cover that segment," Marchionne said. Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

Chevrolet Colorado Confirmed For US William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com October 10, 2011 In a not surprising move, General Motors has announced the global Chevrolet Colorado will be making it's way to the US. "The new Chevrolet Colorado is generating a lot of excitement as we begin its launch in Thailand. We think the design, capability and fuel efficiency of the new Colorado will make it attractive to U.S. customers," said Chris Perry, vice president, global marketing and strategy for Chevrolet in a press release today. GM says information about equipment, pricing, and release date will be release at a later time. Press Release is Below New Chevrolet Colorado Pickup Confirmed for U.S. DETROIT – A version of the all-new Colorado midsize pickup will be built and sold in the United States, Chevrolet confirmed today. The first version of the truck is launching this month in Thailand, to be followed by other regions around the globe. "The new Chevrolet Colorado is generating a lot of excitement as we begin its launch in Thailand," said Chris Perry, vice president, global marketing and strategy for Chevrolet. "We think the design, capability and fuel efficiency of the new Colorado will make it attractive to U.S. customers." Product details, timing, pricing and the production location will be announced later. The current-generation Colorado will be produced in Shreveport, La., through the 2012 model year. The all-new global Colorado builds on Chevrolet's strong truck DNA and award-winning heritage, and the show truck versions generated significant attention at global auto shows in Thailand, Argentina, Australia and Germany. Thailand is the world's largest market for midsize pickup trucks. In Thailand, the model lineup will include 2WD and 4WD regular, extended-cab and crew cab variants. Gasoline and diesel engines will be available, including new 2.5L and 2.8L turbo diesel engines that produce broad torque bands engineered for excellent cargo and towing capability. Engine availability for U.S. versions will be announced at a future date. The new Colorado is based on an all-new midsize truck architecture developed by GM do Brasil within GM's global product development organization. In major markets where the Colorado will be sold, engineers will tailor the truck to meet local needs. "For example, Chevrolet Colorado Chief Engineer Roberto Rempel and his team lived in Thailand during the Colorado's development," said Brad Merkel, global vehicle line executive. "They immersed themselves in the highly competitive truck market and observed how the Thai people use their vehicles and the driving conditions they experience. "A similar development process will precede the launch of the truck in the U.S. market," said Merkel. "We think American customers will be pleased with the results."

Well, it isn't for his big mouth

Nardelli Recants On His Comments William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com October 7, 2011 Related: Bob Nardelli Laments The Loss Of Chrysler Earlier this week, Former Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli made some comments to The Detroit News about how the US Goverment handled Chrysler. "If the government gave us the deal they gave Fiat, we'd be doing just fine — really. There was no reason for the government to give Chrysler away," Nardelli said in the interview. Now Nardelli is backing off his comments. In email sent to The Detroit News, Nardelli didn't deny his claims but clarified them. "I did not mean to suggest that the government did not make the right decisions about Chrysler and the auto industry. We fully understood and supported the government's decision to give Chrysler to Fiat. Needless to say, Chrysler was very appreciative of the government's understanding of the challenges it faced and its willingness to work with us to survive, an objective we both shared equally." Nardelli also said in his email "the Chrysler team and the government, working side by side, saved Chrysler and the tens of thousands of jobs that were dependent on its survival, not to mention the hundreds of thousands of jobs that supported Chrysler, including dealers and suppliers." However, Nardelli said that Fiat reaped significant gains in the form of massive financial savings that Chrysler obtained in bankruptcy restructuring. Source: The Detroit News

All-New Chevrolet Colorado Revealed to the World 2011-10-05 - BANGKOK - The all-new Chevrolet Colorado, designed and engineered to be General Motors’ toughest, highest-performing and most-refined midsize pickup truck ever, made its global debut today in Thailand. The Colorado range is the product of a five-year, $2 billion vehicle program developed across five continents for customers in more than 60 markets around the world. The new-generation Colorado offers more technology and delivers more features and value than ever.. Interiors, exteriors and major mechanical features are all new, representing the most-extensive clean-sheet midsize truck program in Chevrolet’s 100-year history. Chevrolet will offer Thai customers 26 combinations of Colorado models, powertrains, cabins, and ride heights when the range goes on sale this month. They include single-, extended- and crew-cab bodies in high- and low-stance configurations, wide- and narrow-body options, as well as two- and four-wheel-drive configurations. The range features a choice of two all-new Duramax turbo-diesel engines that provide a leading combination of performance and fuel economy across three specification levels. GM Thailand President Martin Apfel said the entry of the new Colorado into Thailand’s booming pickup truck market builds on Chevrolet’s heritage of building vehicles that exceed the needs and desires of its customers. “Thailand is excited to be the first market in the world to introduce the all-new Colorado, which represents GM’s most significant play in the midsize pickup truck market ever,” Apfel said. “This is a vehicle built tough for the people of Thailand, by the people of Thailand. It is a truck of which Thailand can be proud.” Apfel added, “The new Colorado represents our largest-ever engineering and manufacturing program and demonstrates the outstanding skills and capability that exist in this country. Our manufacturing operations have the ability to meet the needs of the local and global marketplace now and well into the future.” Based on GM’s global body-on-frame, rear-drive midsize truck architecture, the new Colorado is designed, engineered and executed to deliver best-in-class appearance, performance, versatility and refinement. It also has been developed to meet the highest-possible safety standards wherever it is sold. Included in the Colorado range are features such as electronic stability control, anti-lock braking system featuring electronic brake force distribution, traction control, hydraulic brake assist, cornering brake control and driver and occupant front air bags. According to Brad Merkel, GM’s Global Vehicle Line executive for Midsize Trucks, the Colorado offers the strength, design and performance needed to compete with the world’s best truck nameplates. “Our objective from the beginning of the program was ‘haul anything, go anywhere’ – and that’s exactly what the new Colorado delivers,” Merkel said. “We have engineered it to meet the needs and desires of commercial and personal buyers alike. It can be a workhorse, a family hauler, a lifestyle vehicle, or a truck that plays to the higher-end premium buyer. “That versatility is a big win for our customers. Regardless of configuration, they’re getting the features of a common frame and body structure, high-performing powertrains and outstanding refinement. There are no sacrifices in fundamental hardware or aesthetics, from a very basic two-door work truck all the way up to a premium crew cab. The development of the all-new Colorado was led by a highly skilled team of GM engineers in Brazil who used their expertise to tailor the vehicle for a number of global markets, including those in Southeast Asia. Team members lived in Thailand during the Colorado’s development, immersing themselves in the highly competitive truck market and observing how Thais use their vehicles and the driving conditions they experience. That expertise led to the development of new Colorado models covering three specification levels: the entry-level LS, mid-range LT and range-topping LTZ. The new lineup was designed to deliver ride and handling characteristics unexpected of a midsize pickup thanks to two levels of chassis and suspension tuning. As a result, it is equally adept both at hauling and towing and at serving as a day-to-day city commuter. The range also features an all-new global family of GM-developed turbo-diesel four-cylinder engines designed to deliver a leading combination of performance and fuel efficiency. The two Duramax diesels, built at GM Thailand’s newly opened $200 million engine plant, are available in 2.8-liter and 2.5-liter displacements. The 2.8-liter turbo-diesel features a variable-geometry turbocharger for optimal power and efficiency across the rpm band and a balance shaft for greater smoothness, while both engines feature components designed to last for 240,000 kilometers. The 2.8-liter engine is rated at 180 horsepower (132 kW) and 346 lb.-ft. of torque (470 Nm) with an available six-speed automatic transmission (324 lb.-ft. / 440 Nm with a five-speed manual). The 2.5-liter engine is rated at 150 horsepower (110 kW) and 258 lb.-ft. of torque (350 Nm). The Colorado’s presence was created by the GM South America Design Center in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and takes many cues from the three Colorado concept vehicles revealed at global auto shows in Thailand, Argentina, Australia and Germany throughout the year. Design highlights include a power dome in the hood which, combined with a raised cowl, is intended to give the Colorado a strong, purposeful appearance. Higher-mounted dual projector headlamps are positioned beneath the power dome, intended to emphasize visual strength in the face of the vehicle. Also prominent is the dual-port grille – an unmistakable Chevrolet cue – that carries a three-dimensional grille mesh. Chrome appointments in the grille surround, door handles, tailgate handle, mirror caps, and headlamps and fog lamps on high-level models are intended to provide a premium appearance. Meanwhile, in a first for a Chevrolet pickup truck, the Colorado offers LED-illuminated tail lamps on high-level models. That goal of premium appearance is also reflected by detailed sheet metal work throughout the exterior, including the hood and door panels, which blend layers of natural light for an uncluttered, natural surface appearance. With a flowing instrument panel, integrated center stack and trademark Chevrolet dual cockpit design, the interior of the all-new Colorado combines car-like characteristics with the boldness expected of a pickup. With segment-leading front- and second-row shoulder room, headroom and seat height, the Colorado is designed to provide outstanding levels of interior comfort for drivers and passengers alike. Designers have also carried the premium finish expressed in the Colorado’s exterior into the interior with the use of chrome appointments around the shifter and shifter head; steering wheel bezels; heating and air conditioning controls; door pulls; door appliqués; and surrounding the radio head. The use of LED backlighting in the instrument cluster and HVAC controls in Chevrolet’s trademark “Ice Blue” illumination is designed to provide a high-definition appearance. The Colorado also includes several storage locations designed to be best in class. The regular cab has 16 storage locations, while the extended cab has 19 and the crew cab has 30. Seats feature flat-woven cloth fabric or optional leather on high-end models with matching instrument panel inserts. They carry sculpted edges and have dual-density foam construction. A front vinyl bench seat is available on base models. Convenience features like auxiliary power, auxiliary plugs and USB connectivity are standard across the range.