Nother CarGuy

General Motors shocked the auto industry when it announced plans to close up to five North American plants and slash 15 percent of its salaried workforce earlier today. The initial release was light on specifics, but the company has now added a “North American Capacity Actions” sheet which spells out of the death of a number of different models. Like previous actions by Ford and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, GM’s sedan lineup is seeing major cuts. Things will kick off on March 1st 2019, when the last Buick LaCrosse and Chevrolet Volt are built at the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant in Michigan. At the same time, a couple hundred miles away, the last Chevrolet Cruze will be built at the Lordstown Assembly Plant in Ohio. When summer rolls around, the Cadillac CT6 and Chevrolet Impala will cease being built at the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant on June 1st. The Impala will get a slight reprieve as the model will continue to be built at the Oshawa Assembly Plant in Canada until th...

General Motors and Holden Special Vehicles have reached an agreement which will ensure the latter company remains active following the death of the rear-wheel drive Holden Commodore. Described as a "pivotal moment" in HSV’s history, the agreement paves the way for an assortment of new vehicles to come to Australia. There will be two "product streams" and the first will consist of the familiar vehicle enhancement program that is offered on existing Holden vehicles. An example of this is the new HSV SportsCat which is based on the Holden Colorado. The model features an all-new front fascia with a revised grille, tow hooks, and LED fog lights. Other notable features include new fender flares, a retuned suspension, and an increased ride height. Power is provided by a 2.8-liter Duramax Turbo Diesel engine that produces up to 197 hp (147 kW) and 368 lb-ft (500Nm) of torque. It can be connected to either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission.  ...

General Motors has revealed its new modular platform for electric vehicles will be used on at least 11 different models. According to the company, the platform will be used to underpin an assortment of different vehicles in various segments across multiple brands. The company was coy on specifics but confirmed the platform builds on knowledge learned from the Chevrolet Bolt and Volt and will have an all-new battery system that is "structurally integrated" into its design. The platform will be used to underpin a dizzying array of all-new models including two "centroid entries." They include a compact SUV and a luxury SUV that is likely bound for Cadillac or Buick. Various versions of the platform will also underpin a small SUV, a compact crossover, and a luxury compact crossover. There will also be large seven-passenger crossovers in both standard and luxury form. GM went on to say the platform has enough "bandwidth" for a low-roof car that resem...

General Motors has confirmed plans to launch two new electric vehicles within the next 18 months. The company declined to say which brand or brands will receive the vehicles but stated the two new models will be "based off learnings from the Chevrolet Bolt EV." The models are slated to become the first of at least 20 new electric vehicles that will be launched by 2023. In a statement, GM executive vice president of product development Mark Reuss said “General Motors believes in an all-electric future." The executive went on to say “Although that future won't happen overnight, GM is committed to driving increased usage and acceptance of electric vehicles through no-compromise solutions that meet our customers' needs.” GM was coy on specifics but previous reports have suggested the company is developing a Bolt-based crossover for Buick. The model will reportedly resemble a futuristic Encore and be equipped with aggressive LED headlights and a floating roof...

General Motors' Chinese joint venture SAIC-GM-Wuling has introduced the Baojun E100, a small electric car inspired by the Smart ForTwo Electric Drive. Priced from RMB 35,800, which is equal to $5,326 at today's exchange rates, the E100 is powered by a single motor that pushes 39 horses (40PS) and 81lb-ft (110Nm) of torque to the wheels. The Baojun E110 can reach a top speed of 62mph (100km/h), and its lithium-ion battery pack, whose capacity remains undisclosed for now, can be fully charged in 7.5 hours, providing it with a zero-emission range of up to 96 miles (155km). It also has independent front-wheel suspension and single-arm rear suspension, electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), anti-lock brakes (ABS), electric power steering, pedestrian alert, electronic parking brake, parking sensors, and ISOFIX locks for child safety seats. Inside, it can sit two adults that will get to enjoy the 7-inch screen infotainment system with Wi-Fi, in the most basic version, wh...

General Motors continues to pursue the SUV boom not only with its Western brands, but with the SAIC-GM-Wuling Chinese joint venture. The latter is responsible for producing the new Hong Guang S3, a compact seven-seater SUV, the first one of its kind to wear the local brand's logo. Developed on the same platform as the Hong Guang MPV, it has a length of 4,654 mm (183.23 in), a width of 1,731 mm (68.15 in), and a height of 1,777 mm (70 in), which is said to translate into a spacious interior that GM has yet to detail. Among the amenities found on it are the LED DRLs, integrated on the sides of the bumper and sitting right under the headlights that have a black look, LED taillights, and optional roof rack. The engine family includes two members: a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated unit, which is likely shared with the new Baojun 310 Wagon that is also displayed at the 2017 Shanghai Auto Show, and a 1.5-liter turbocharged lump. Details surrounding the output, transmission offe...

Developed by the SAIC-GM-Wuling joint venture, the all-new Baojun 310 Wagon has made its public debut at the 2017 Shanghai Auto Show. As the brand's first offering of its kind in this segment, it joins its hatch sibling which debuted last year, and looks pretty much just like it, bar the extended rear end. It is 4,620 mm (181.9 in) long, 1,710 mm (67.32 in) wide, and 1,535 mm (60.43 in) tall, and can carry up to five people, and their luggage in the flat 740-liter cargo area, which doubles in size with the rear seats folded. Inside, it gets a dark beige tone for "a high-quality feel", as the automaker explains, and has an 8-inch LCD screen for the entertainment system and GPS navigation, which is joined by the additional amenities found on upper models, such as keyless entry and push-button start, rearview camera, and the six-way power adjustable driver's seat. Baojun also offers a suite of advanced safety and comfort features, with the list counting cruise...

General Motors is currently negotiating the sale of its European operations, which include the Opel and Vauxhall brands, with PSA Group as confirmed from both companies earlier today. "PSA Group confirms that, together with General Motors, it is exploring numerous strategic initiatives aiming at improving its profitability and operational efficiency, including a potential acquisition of Opel," PSA said in their statement. Earlier reports talked about that the talks between GM and PSA could lead to a merger of Opel with PSA, with the deal to be announced even within days. General Motors and PSA already work together on some of their minivan and SUV models, as the two companies had tried to strike a merger deal unsuccessfully back in 2013 . Merging Opel with PSA’s Peugeot, Citroen and DS would create the second-biggest auto group in Europe after VW, with about 16 percent of the European car market. If the deal does happen, then GM will get the clean exit from Europ...

On the back of increasing demand for its fleet of SUV models, General Motors has revealed that it will add a third shift to its Spring Hill assembly  plant . The facility is currently responsible for building the  Cadillac XT5  and  GMC Acadia  and from January, production will ramp up. Additionally, 650 new jobs at the plant will be created by the additional of the extra shift. As it stands, the Spring Hill plant has 3,265 employees and incorporates comprehensive engine, assembly and stamping facilities. An expansion to the current engine plant is currently underway and will provide an additional 792 jobs, reports   The Detroit News . According to vice president of GM North America manufacturing and labor relations, Cathy Clegg, “Spring Hill is demonstrating again its flexibility and agility to meet increasing customer demand for GM’s hot products. “Just last month, Spring Hill quickly converted engine production to meet higher demand for full-size truc...