Flybrian

Link to original article @ GM Media Online FOR RELEASE: 2006-06-13 General Motors to Build Chevrolet Cars in St. Petersburg *Russian President Vladimir Putin and GM CEO Rick Wagoner seal $115 million investment *Capacity for 25,000 Chevrolet Captiva SUVs and a new compact vehicle range *Start of production in 2008 *Facility is General Motors' third assembly source in Russia General Motors Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner (left), and St. Petersburg Governor Valentina Matviyenko react to the applause after officially breaking ground at GM's new greenfield manufacturing facility in St. Petersburg, Russia on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 at the plant site in the Shushary region of St. Petersburg, Russia. The new plant will have 700 employees producing Chevrolet compact cars and SUV's. (General Motors Photo/Dmitry Beliakov) (United States) ST. PETERSBURG. General Motors will build a greenfield manufacturing facility in the Shushary region of St. Petersburg, Russia. The plant will go on stream in late 2008 with initial full-year capacity of 25,000 units. It will produce Chevrolet Captiva SUVs and a new generation of compact cars from CKD kits. Starting as early as September this year, a separate SKD facility in the city of St. Petersburg will begin operation. This facility will assemble the Chevrolet Captiva until the Shushary facility begins production. Total investment in the new facilities amounts to $115 million. At a ground-breaking ceremony in Shushary today, General Motors Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner said, "This project clearly demonstrates our commitment to Russia as one of the world's fastest growing auto markets. With the addition of this new, wholly-owned facility, GM and its partners will be able to assemble more than 100,000 cars a year in Russia." The new assembly plant on the outskirts of St. Petersburg will employ more than 700 people who will be recruited specifically for their ability to set up and operate a world-class production facility. "We are delighted that General Motors has recognized the value of strategic investment projects in our city. We will endeavor to repay this trust by ensuring that General Motors is satisfied with the choice of its newest manufacturing plant. It is my fervent hope that General Motors has blazed a trail that its suppliers will soon follow to enjoy the benefits the St. Petersburg region offers," said Governor of St. Petersburg, Valentina I. Matvienko. The facility will operate according to General Motors' global manufacturing system to ensure the highest levels of quality. In order to leverage the company's global manufacturing expertise, GM's leading assembly plants will host numerous new employees from Shushary for comprehensive training programs. The ground-breaking ceremony for the new plant coincides with record sales for GM in Russia. More than 11,000 registrations in May represent an 80 percent increase over May 2005. "With five brands on the market, we offer Russian customers more choice than any other manufacturer," said Carl-Peter Forster, President of GM Europe. "The St. Petersburg plant and the new Chevrolet cars it builds will give us another boost in this very important market." Chevrolet is GM's best-selling brand in Russia, with sales of over 35,000 in the first five months of the year. In 2005, Chevrolet was the number two non-domestic brand on the Russian market, taking over the number one position in the month of April this year. The separate SKD operation in the city of Saint Petersburg will go into operation in September and have an annual capacity of over 4000 units. This is an interim solution that will end when the new CKD plant in Shushary goes on stream in 2008. GM has been active in Russia since 1992. The St. Petersburg project complements existing GM operations in Togliatti and Kaliningrad. Established in Togliatti in 2001 as the first joint venture on the Russian automotive market, GM Avtovaz builds the Chevrolet Niva and Viva. GM, with partner Avtotor, began SKD operations in Kaliningrad in 2004 and now assembles Cadillac, Hummer and Chevrolet models. Russia, with a population of 143 million, is one of the most dynamic car markets in the world. Year-on-year sales growth has accelerated from 9 percent in 2005 to 17 percent in the first four months of this year. Vehicle ownership has now reached a ratio of 178 cars to 1000 people.

Direct link to article @ GM Media Online FOR RELEASE: 2006-06-13 General Motors Receives Eight Top Scores Michelin Challenge Bibendum 2006 Fuel cell-powered HydroGen3 triumphs three times World's largest automaker committed to three-tier strategy PARIS. General Motors underlined its leading position in alternative propulsion concepts with eight best performances at this year's Michelin Challenge Bibendum (June 8 - 12, 2006). The HydroGen3, a hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicle based on the Opel Zafira, scored top marks three times, the Opel Zafira CNG and the Saab 9-5 BioPower twice, and the Saturn Vue Green Line, representing a new generation of hybrid vehicles, once. Vehicles powered by natural gas, bioethanol, hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell technology are important parts of General Motors' strategy for reducing emissions and fuel consumption to ensure sustainable mobility in the future. With hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles such as the HydroGen3, GM proves that alternative propulsion has already made the leap from the laboratory to the road. The development vehicle, based on the Opel Zafira, gets its electric power from 200 hydrogen fuel cell units connected in series in the fuel cell stack under the hood. These cells power the HydroGen3's 60 kW/82 hp electric motor, which delivers a top speed of 160 km/h and accelerates the fuel cell car from zero to 100 km/h in about 16 seconds in almost complete silence. The car is currently undergoing a practical test as a customer service vehicle at IKEA's furniture store in Berlin as part of the Clean Energy Partnership (CEP), Berlin's government-aided hydrogen demonstration project. In April 2005, it won the Rallye Monte Carlo for fuel cell-powered vehicles, and in Paris it won top marks in the slalom, as well as the emissions and CO2 categories. The seven-seat, natural gas-powered Opel Zafira 1.6 CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) compact van, which is about to be launched, achieved top marks in the tests for braking and noise. Together with the Combo 1.6 CNG, over 20,000 unit sales of the previous Zafira CNG model made Opel the clear natural gas vehicle market leader in Germany. Its monovalentplus concept is designed for maximum efficiency in natural gas operation. Fuel costs are around 30 percent less than diesel and as much as 50 percent less than gasoline, with emission levels also lower: 20 percent less CO2 than a gasoline model and 15 percent less than a diesel. Opel CNG vehicles' total operating range is more than 500 kilometers. The 9-5 2.0t BioPower from GM's Swedish daughter Saab achieved its best marks in the acceleration and braking categories. Running on bioethanol (E85), its powerful engine develops more performance than a similar gasoline model, yet with reduced CO2 emissions. While engine performance increases from 110 kW/150 hp to 132 kW/180 hp, the combustion of bioethanol (E85), a renewable energy carrier, releases around 90 percent less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than gasoline. The dynamic Saab BioPower, which is also available in other European countries including Germany, currently accounts for around 80 percent of all sales of the 9-5 model range in Sweden. As the first vehicle of a new hybrid generation, GM presented the Saturn Vue Green Line in Paris, and it received a top rating in the fuel economy category straight away. The compact SUV consumes up to 20 percent less fuel than a conventional gasoline model. The innovative powertrain uses sophisticated electronic controls and a unique electric motor/generator mated to a 2.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with variable valve timing to produce 127 kW/170 hp, considerably more than the 106 kW/143 hp provided by the 2.2-liter gasoline engine in the conventional Saturn Vue. Three-tier strategy based on technology and economy The short, mid and long-term three-tier strategy of GM, the world's largest automaker, includes the on-going optimization of conventional combustion engines, the increased use of alternative fuels such as natural gas and bioethanol, and broader application of hybrid propulsion where such systems would be most beneficial. In the long-term, the introduction of vehicles with hydrogen as a propulsion energy source offers the opportunity to establish the emission-free car as a completely environmentally compatible means of transport.

Friday it is. Have at it everyone! Please?

That's what SHE said!

1951 GM LeSabre show car.

^^

Apparently, the wood gets darker and there's a Lucerne wheel.

One has to hope then that the power gets delivered in a metered and controlled fashion. Power delivery and Acura don't always mix well (torque steer).

Only in Ford's 15-seater and only in the Sprinter 2500. GM still has it standard on the 12-seaters.

Less mileage, but they're far more picky and quicker to complain about any little thing wrong in owner surverys and the like. Think about it - you're 75, retired, and on your fifth LeSabre. What else do you have to do but find things wrong with it because it surely can't be as good as the '62 you bought new from a nice young fellow who was the son of your ex-Army Lieutenant buddy from back in the 62nd Scout Battalion when you were stationed outside Einsiedlerhof right after the airlift and you guys used to go out every Tuesday to the bierhaus and raise quite a ruckus before the...

Remember when Econolines and Ram Wagons were drunkenly flipping over left and right? Since IIHS doesn't care enough to point this out, I will... GM was the first (and to date only) manufacturer to equip its fullsized 12- and 15-passenger vans with some form of electronic stability control, vans that are used on a daily basis to transport thousands and thousands of people at airports, hotels, amusement parks, private and public schools, universities, day cares, and other businesses. And they made it standard.

Better yet, why doesn't Honda offer its 205hp 2.4l from the TSX as the 'base' engine, leaving the turbo an option? The fact that it sounds like its geared so low for low-end power that it boosts everytime the throttle is depressed is discouraging to me.

That is super funny you say that because I can change all my coil packs for $75.00 and about 15 minutes under the hood, do my plugs and wires in under an hour. A good 80-90% of what the average person would want to mess with is within easy reach - in spite of its "FWD, transverse" layout. Yeah, I think you have to drop part of the engine cradle to get to the transmission, but who the hell does that in their driveway to a post-70s car? As far as electronics, hardly "super complex" (you must be thinking of a Benz or Bimmer), and the control modules you would have to buy are not that expensive, at least no more than your typical modern car. Northstars are designed to be pushed and used to their capabilities, but sensibly. Don't beat on them, rev them up smoothly. Don't be afraid to push the redline, but don't do lame-ass stuff like eight neutral drops in a row either. As always, you take care of it and it takes care of you. BTW, you knew I'd say something about this.

Rain, winds, and crappy overcast skies. Clearing out now and the rest of the week looks good. Minor flooding, but not too bad. And despite Camino's ill-wishes, the Aurora lives to drive another day.

Hello, Ocn. It looks better stretched. I'm not fan of the brick-like design, but this makes it more palatable and will hopefully eliminate the desire to build that gaudy, silly Imperial concept.

Ask the Jews and Arabs. Same reason, but more car-related. :AH-HA_wink:

I would aim for an H2/Tahoe level of differentiation.

And this pickup would be for where/what purpose...?

I have a funny story about a man who knew who did just that...and crashed...seven seperate time, twice in the span of an hour.

From all I've heard, the oil drip problems with the Northstar/Aurora V8s were solved for the '97 model year and beyond. As with all cars like, this best to find a lower-mileage unit that's been pampered and well-maintained.

Camry Prius Highlander Sienna Tundra Avalon A hybrid Corolla is probably not necessary, nor a Yaris. I hope that when all Toyotas have hybrid options, the Prius dies. I'm honestly sick of looking at them.

I think Saturn having a European sportvan as Enzl suggested to attack a different market than the regular, American sized vans would be nice.

With a 60/40 city/hwy mix and a/c on about 80% of the time, I average between 18 and 23mpg, which I'm happy with out of a heavy V8.

Well, I just ordered something else I think is cool. It should be on a car like this, but just isn't. I'll show you guys when I get/install them!

'LeMans' is such a sexist name for a car. How about LePerson? Gosh...