Production Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback coming to Geneva

General Motors has confirmed that it will debut the final production version of the Chevrolet Cruze Hatchbackat the Geneva Motor Show next month. The original design was previewed by the five-door Cruze show car we saw in Paris last year, but we expect the completed car to look more like the design renderings that were filed at the European patent office in December, complete with front-end fittings more closely related to what we see on the Cruze sedan.

Oh, and just in case you forgot, the Cruze Hatchback has not been given the green light here in North America. A shame, since Ford’s new five-door Focus is just about to hit dealerships and Hyundai haspromised us a hatchback version of its swoopy new Elantra. What gives, GM?

We’ll have the complete details live from Geneva in just a few weeks. For now, follow the jump for The General’s official press release.

 

Source:Autoblog

2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible

 

Chevrolet doesn’t need any help selling its Camaro. It handily throttled the Ford Mustang in sales last year despite only being able to offer customers a single coupe bodystyle compared to the Stang’s more expansive coupe, convertible and GT500 range. In fact, General Motors says the Camaro is jumping off of dealer lots with nearly no incentives and 90 percent retail sales. Still, buyers have been clamoring for a droptop version of the mighty Bowtie since the Camaro Convertible concept hit the scene in 2007. This year, The General has finally obliged by taking out the knife.

The history of the Camaro is littered with topless wonders that looked like a stack of cool cash while parked, yet most drove like a wet noodle when you stepped on their skinny pedals. The minds that pull the strings at GM have made it clear that in the coming years, what was once the king of the muscle car heap will turn its attention more toward the sports car crowd, and to that end, they’ve striven to deliver a Camaro Convertible capable of all of the same driving dynamics as the coupe. Have they pulled it off? We took to the streets of San Diego to find out.

 

Source:Autoblog

Chevrolet Cruze hatchback production version to debut in Geneva

GM has announced the Chevrolet Cruze hatchback production version will make it’s world debut in Geneva next month.

Identical to the Cruze Hatchback concept displayed at the Paris Motor Show last September, the five-door will be available with several new engines.  But for now, Chevrolet is only naming the top spec 2.0-liter diesel engine with 163 hp (122 kW / 165 PS) also found in the Orlando. Six-speed manual transmission will be standard.

Since hitting the market in 2009 sales have been brisk for the Cruze sedan exceeding sales expectations across the globe. The Cruze hatchback widens the opportunity even further for Chevrolet as it targets the top players for the first time in hatchback happy Europe.

In the UK Chevrolet is keen to mention its British Touring Car Championship drivers and constructor titles with Fifth Gear television show presenter Jason Plato at the helm. It is Chevrolet’s first season ever in the sport.

“Motor sport is part of Chevrolet’s DNA,” added Mr Terry. “What we learn on the track is passed down to our road cars, and this latest incarnation of Cruze proves that.”

The Cruze Hatchback will go on sale in Europe summer of 2011, with prices and exact specifications to be confirmed nearer the time.

This is not your typical review of the 2011 Chevrolet Volt

 

Gene Weingarten is not an automotive journalist. He is, however, a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning writer forThe Washington Post. And yet, despite limited automotive knowledge by his own admission, he’s written an excellent review of the 2011 Chevrolet Volt. Weingarten admits he was predisposed to hate the Volt (and American cars in general), but his time behind the wheel didn’t jibe with those expectations. And it wasn’t even because the car apparently made him more attractive to members of the opposite sex (though we doubt that hurt its chances any). Trust us on this: Go and read all five pages of Weingarten’s review of the Chevy Volt, then come back and tell us what you think.

Source:Autoblog

Chevrolet Brand of Vehicles in India

Introduced in India in 2011, under the banner “For a Special Journey Called Life”, the Chevrolet has emerged as one of the fastest growing brand names in India. The introduction of the brand in this market represents a significant milestone for GM in India and for the auto industry. Under the Chevrolet umbrella, GM India presently produces the Chevrolet Optra (Petrol and Diesel and the CNG version), Chevrolet Tavera, Chevrolet SRV, Chevrolet Aveo, Chevrolet U-VA and the Chevrolet Spark. The dynamic Chevrolet brand stands for quality, reliability, safety, innovation, value for money proposition, environment-friendliness and customer care.

The Chevy saga began in 1909 when William Durant, the founder of General Motors and Louis Chevrolet, a leading racecar driver joined hands to form the Chevrolet Motor Car Company. On November 3rd 1911 the very first Chevy rolled off the assembly line and since then on, the legendary ‘bow-tie’ logo has been part of automobile folklore across the globe. It has the distinction of being one of the world’s most famous brands and the best seller in North America.

With the love affair blooming between the American legend Chevy and India., GM India kick started the Chevrolet Indian Revolution last year which has been making serious inroads in India’s vehicle market. Riding high on the success of the popular Chevrolet brand, GM India has introduced several marketing initiatives to enhance the brand equity of Chevrolet. GM India has also introduced net-based initiatives aimed at increasing the sales volume through their website. Off late, it has introduced a unique industry first ‘Chevrolet Promise’ program for its customers to enjoy an excellent ownership experience of Chevrolet brand of vehicles

2012 Chevrolet Sonic is not an Aveo

General Motors seems intent on banishing all memories of the unloved Aveo – so much so that it’s gone and renamed its entry-level fighter in the States. While we’re still not 100-percent in love with the name (we can’t get visions of spiky-haired hedgehogs out of our heads…), all three flavors of the Sonic do appear to be vastly improved over the machine they replace, though one of them, the Z Spec, is still in the concept stage.

More than anything else, they look vastly better both inside and out, but until we get a stint behind the wheel we’ll hold off final judgment. According to Chris Perry, vice president of Chevrolet marketing, “The all-new Chevrolet Sonic blends the practicality of a small car with the passion for driving that Chevrolet vehicles like the Corvette are known for.” That won’t be the only time you’ll ever hear someone mention the Sonic in the same sentence as the Corvette. In fact, Chevy tells us that Corvette engineers are responsible for the ride and handling of the sub-compact.

The Sonic will be available in both sedan and hatchback bodystyles and with either a 1.8-liter four-cylinder mated to a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic, or a 1.4-liter turbocharged mill with 138 horsepower that’s hooked to either an automatic or manual with six forward ratios. For those keeping track, these are the same engines available in the slightly larger Cruze. You’ll also get a gauge cluster inspired by motorcycles, OnStar connectivity, 10 airbags and plenty more.

Read all the details in the exhaustive press release after the break, but not before you peruse the high-res images in the galleries below.

2011 Chevrolet Caprice Police Car Revealed: Based on Australian Holden Caprice, LWB Version of Pontiac G8

Looks like Bob Lutz was right after all when back in July he said that the Pontiac G8 would live on as the Chevrolet Caprice – even though shortly after he hastily took his words back. Apparently, what Lutz meant to say was that the G8 would live on as a law enforcement car as GM revealed the all-new Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle (PPV) at the annual International Association of Chiefs of Police convention, in Denver, Colorado.

Set to join the ranks of law enforcement departments across North America in 2011, the new Caprice is essentially a remasked version of the Australian Holden Caprice and Statesman models which in turn are more luxurious, long wheelbase versions of the Holden Commodore and its American counterpart, the Pontiac G8 that will soon be discontinued.

And just to confuse you a bit more, the Holden Caprice and its Statesman twin are already sold in the Middle East as the Chevrolet Caprice.

As with the Commodore and the G8, the Chevrolet Caprice PPV is based on GM’s Zeta RWD platform that also underpins the new Chevy Camaro. It uses the longest wheelbase of the architecture that measures 118.5 inches (3,010 mm) in length along with a four-wheel independent suspension

At launch, the Chevy Caprice PPV will be offered exclusively with a GM 6.0-liter V8 with fuel-saving Active Fuel Management technology and E85 capability but GM said that in the 2012 model year, a smaller displacement V6 engine will also be offered.

The Caprice PPV’s V8 churns out an estimated 355 horsepower (265 kW) and 384 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission that is specially calibrated for police duty. The Detroit automaker said that the Caprice V8 can sprint from zero to 60mph (96km/h) in under 6.0 seconds.

Additional police car-specific powertrain and vehicle system features include: a high-output alternator, engine oil, transmission and power steering coolers, 18-inch steel wheels with bolt-on center caps, larger four-wheel disc brakes with heavy-duty brake pads, heavy-duty suspension components, police-calibrated stability control system and driver information center in the instrument cluster with selectable speed tracking feature.

According to GM, the Caprice PPV can also be equipped with special equipment packages such as spotlights; lockouts for the power windows and locks; and an “undercover” street-appearance package (9C3).

“The new Chevrolet Caprice police car is the right tool at the right time for law enforcement,” said Jim Campbell, general manager for GM Fleet and Commercial Operations. “We asked for a lot of feedback from our police customers, which helped us develop a vehicle that is superior to the Crown Victoria in key areas.”

General Motors pointed out that the new Caprice PPV will not replace the Chevy Impala that will continue to offered in police outfit along with the Tahoe.

2012 Chevy Sonic shown off as sedan and hatchback

General Motors has officially yanked back the sheets on the newest sub-compact from Chevrolet, the 2012 Sonic. Just don’t call it the Aveo. The five-door hatch and four-door sedan are set to be officially unveiled later today at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show, but the Bow Tie brand has been kind enough to share the skinny on this vehicle that’s supposed to tango with the likes of the new Hyundai Elantra and the Ford Fiesta. The Sonic will be available with a standard 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, though buyers can opt up for a turbocharged 1.4-liter producing 138 horsepower, which GM underscores is 18 ponies more than the Fiesta. Shifting duties are handled by either a five-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic gearbox.

In fact, it’s clear that The General had its sights locked on the Fiesta from the get go. The Sonic hatchback packs more back seat room than its Blue Oval competitor and, with the rear bench folded flat, delivers more cargo room, as well.

GM also put plenty of effort into the suspension by tasking the geometry gurus responsible for the Corvette’s mighty grip. Up front, the Sonic benefits from a MacPherson strut design, while a torsion beam handles suspension duties out back.