Advertisement

Holden-designed Cruze hatchback may debut in Paris?

September 1, 2010 at 10:37 pm By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Cars, Chevrolet, Holden, International News

According to reports from Australian publication Go Auto, General Motors might be showcasing a Chevrolet Cruze hatchback alongside the new Aveo and Orlando at this year’s Paris Motor Show.

GM Holden is said to have links with the design of the hatchback model (essentially an Optra5 replacement) which was done at its design facility in Melbourne, Australia. This would also mean that the hatchback will be built at the GM Holden factory in Adelaide and is expected to cater for the Australian, Asian and European market. In Europe, it will likely be positioned as a cheaper alternative to its platform-mate, the Opel Astra.

The car won’t vary too much from the standard sedan and will be put into production sometime in 2011. It will also be based on the same platform and mechanics as the Cruze sedan, with some speculating that it might have better suspension and handling.

Holden on the other hand have not confirmed any reports of its appearance at Paris but went on to make this statement.” There will be some exciting news coming out of the Paris motor show and the Chevy reveals for the Australian market,” Holden external communications director Emily Perry speaking to GoAuto. Truth or fiction, we’ll find out when the Paris Motor Show rolls out the carpet on the 30th of September.

2 Comments    

First photos of Cruze-based Chevrolet Orlando 7-seater

August 31, 2010 at 5:04 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Chevrolet, International News

This is the production version of the Chevrolet Orlando 7-seater MPV, which is based on the Chevy Cruze platform. It’s basically a competitor for other C-segment car platform based MPVs such as the Toyota Wish, the Honda Stream, and the Peugeot 5008.

The design differs quite greatly from what we usually expect – all of its competitors are sleek and curvy while GM has decided to go for an American boxy and muscular look with the Orlando. This production car was first previewed as the Orlando Concept two years ago.

Perhaps there is a possibility that Naza might just launch this as an official Chevrolet offering sometime in the future as the Orlando is set to be launched in Indonesia soon for about 250 million Indonesian Rupiah. This shows that GM has the “ASEAN market introduction” checkbox ticked for the Orlando 7-seater.

Two engine variants are planned for the Indonesian market – a 1.8 litre petrol engine similar to the one in the Cruze and a 2.0 litre diesel with 163 horsepower.

65 Comments    


Chevrolet Cruze 1.8 LT Test Drive Review

August 29, 2010 at 7:38 pm By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Cars, Chevrolet, Local News, Test Drive Reviews

Chevrolet like Ford, is looking to downsize on costs by introducing one model globally. First in their global range of cars is the Chevrolet Cruze, which is named so in most of the countries it is sold in. The supposed successor to the Chevrolet Optra or the Lacetti (for you Top Gear fans), bears no resemblance to the Daewoo platform the car replaces. In reality, the Cruze comes to you courtesy of GM’s Delta II platform seen in the 2010 Opel Astra.

Design is courtesy of Daewoo and it looks like they have done a good job, though its not hard to get inspiration from your own model line up when it includes the Camaro SS. Nevertheless, you are treated to a front grill that makes you proud for once to own a non-American Chevrolet. The muscular face extends to the side, which is smoothened out to a more conventional look, finished off with a redesigned Optra-like posterior. Overall, it is a handsome looking thing.

Look for the full report and high-res images after the jump.
[Read more...]

79 Comments    

Chevrolet Volt battery gets 8-year, 160,000 km warranty

July 19, 2010 at 2:40 am By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Cars, Chevrolet, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News

The battery pack is one of the most vital and expensive components in a hybrid car, and the fear that it would fail is one mental hurdle in consumers’ minds. General Motors seems to understand this issue and has rolled out an 8-year, 160,000 km battery warranty for its upcoming Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid. GM says that it’s the longest and most comprehensive warranty offered by an automaker on batteries that will cover 161 parts of the power pack. The warranty is transferable.

The Volt works on a range extender system and is powered with electricity at all times. For up to the first 65 km, it’s powered solely by electricity stored in its 16-kWh lithium-ion battery, using no fuel and producing no emissions. When the lithium-ion battery runs low, an engine/generator seamlessly operates to extend the driving range by another 480 km on a full tank of fuel.

The Volt is the only mass-market EV with a battery that can be warmed or cooled. The battery is designed to provide reliable operation at temperatures from -25 C to over 50 C. In cold weather, the battery will be preheated during charging to provide full power capability. In hot weather – the most challenging environment for a battery – the Volt’s unit can be chilled during charging.

Did you know that fully charging or fully depleting a battery shortens its life? The Volt’s energy management system never fully charges or depletes the battery and has top and bottom “buffer zones” to ensure a longer life. Another cool fact about the Volt’s battery is that more than 500 diagnostics run at 10 times per second, ensuring the the battery is operating safely and keeping track of performance and life.

Sales of the Volt and its European Opel/Vauxhall Ampera equivalent will start in 2011.

29 Comments    

Next generation Chevrolet Aveo patent filings leaked

July 15, 2010 at 6:51 pm By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Cars, Chevrolet, International News


We’ve had an idea of how the next-gen Aveo will look like, thanks to the Chevrolet Aveo RS show car that graced Detroit 2010. Subsequently, we also saw leaked illustrations of the Aveo Sedan and its funky looking cabin. Now, these patent filings confirm the shape of the hatchback and sedan variants of the 2012 Aveo.

Chevrolet’s B-segment global car uses the same design language as the Cruze but is recognisable as an Aveo, particularly the hatchback, which has door handles hidden in the C-pillars (neat) and long front overhangs (not so neat). The latter is probably to meet pedestrian crash regulations. The front design is dominated by a large radiator grille split into two and prominent double headlamps on each side.

No word on its official unveiling, but we won’t be surprised to see the new Aveo at the Paris Motor Show this September. See the patent filings after the jump.

Source

[Read more...]

8 Comments    

GM finally decides to make right hand drive Camaro!

July 5, 2010 at 10:47 pm By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Cars, Chevrolet, International News

Will this be the first step for a genuine American muscle car to make its way to our South East Asian continent, no matter through official channels or grey importers? This is in relation to the news that Chevrolet will finally be offering a right hand drive variant of their Camaro muscle car in the UK next year.

A Camaro (complete with Transformers Bumblebee decoration) was previewed to UK folk at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and the Camaro model in question uses the 6.2-litre V8, which produces 426hp and 569Nm of torque.

Even if Naza’s Chevrolet distributorship doesn’t bring this right hand drive Camaro in, but there will always be supply for where there is demand, and amusingly enough one of the first likely to bring a right hand drive Camaro in would likely be Naza’s very own Naza World. And I’m pretty sure there are enough deep pocketed people who were smitten by the Camaro’s portrayal of Bumblebee in the new Transformers franchise.

Here’s to 6.2 litre yellow monsters with the steering wheel on the correct side of the car on our roads soon! Previously, the only way to get a right hand drive Camaro was to buy a converted car from companies such as Performax International.

60 Comments    

UK: Chevrolet Cruze now available with ‘CS styling kit’

July 1, 2010 at 10:46 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Chevrolet, International News


Click for enlarged image

Chevrolet UK has launched this new bodykit for the Chevrolet Cruze, available as a £1,595 option on all models including VAT and installation. The bodykit is called the ‘CS styling kit’ and consists of 18 inch multi-spoke alloys finished in white, a lowered suspension, a boot spoiler, ‘CS’ graphic decals and ‘CS’ tailored carpet mats.

Perhaps Naza should think about offering something like this for our local Cruze! This ‘CS styling kit’ looks very clean and tastefully done, and the clean look is probably very much thanks to the lack of any lips or skirts added onto the body. If you’re looking for a more comprehensive styling kit for the Cruze, inspiration may come from the Singaporean market Cruze SS bodykit that we previously covered.

18 Comments    

Chevrolet Cruze 1.8 LT Test Drive Report

July 1, 2010 at 4:12 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Chevrolet, General Motors, Test Drive Reviews

It’s finally here! Malaysians have been promised the Chevrolet Cruze for quite some time now, starting from mid last year. In fact, yours truly was part of a media contingent sent by GM to the 2009 Shanghai Motor Show, where we got to drive the group’s (then) latest pride and joy. Held in a public park, it was far from a proper test drive, so we were happy to go on a drive to Kuala Terengganu to confirm/debunk those first impressions.

The Cruze replaces the Chevy Optra, but has a different sort of upbringing. While the Optra was a Daewoo designed model, its successor is billed as a Global Car, with GM’s various outposts (GMDAT Korea and Opel) sharing development duties. Testing was spread across continents, with Korea being just one of the few global production hubs for the Cruze alongside China and the US. Naza subsidiary Pavilion Crest gets its supply from Korea, and the single spec Cruze 1.8 retails at RM98,767.60 OTR without insurance.

Continue reading the report after the jump.
[Read more...]

252 Comments    

Chevrolet plans to introduce new pick-up truck in Thailand

July 1, 2010 at 1:17 pm By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Cars, Chevrolet, General Motors, International News

General Motors are looking to capitalize on Thailand’s thirst for pick-ups by introducing the production of a new mid-sized Chevrolet truck in our neighbouring country. There are even plans to export said model to Europe and parts of South East Asia.

Accomplishing this, GM has secured loans from three Thai banks, though the company refused to say exactly how much it was, to boost production of its Rayong plant in Thailand.

The plant that already makes current Chevrolet Colarado pickups and Aveo variants, will boost output at the factory to more than 80,000 units according to Martin Apfel, executive director for GM’s Southeast Asian operations. This new pickup truck might be the new pickup that was found in patent filing recently (refer to photo above).

“The logical consequence is to build where the customer wants it, as that keeps your costs down. Thailand and Brazil are the two centres of gravity for mid-sized trucks,” Apfel said.

Manufacturing of the new model will start once a deal to assemble trucks with Isuzu Motors Ltd expires. While they wait for that to happen, plans to build new diesel engine plant in eastern Rayong province are on track. The new plant will produce engines for the new truck. The plant is supposedly in its last stages of completion. Unfortunately Afpel declined to provide an exact timeline.

Truck production is part of GM’s plans of investing $467 million in Thailand while the Detroit automaker plans to sell 100,000 units of the new truck in the first year, with global production concentrated in Thailand and Brazil. Other plans for GM in our region include the reinstatement of a factory in Bekasi, near Jakarta which has been idle for five years. This would be for the production of a seven seat vehicle for local market consumption which would require about $100 million in investment.
[Read more...]

8 Comments    

Chevrolet Spark with 1.4 turbo used as WTCC pace car

June 14, 2010 at 2:16 pm By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Chevrolet, International News, Motorsports

You can now catch the spunky new Spark at the World Touring Car Championship. It will actually be the pace car for the event, very much like the 500 horsepower Mercedes SLS is the pace car for Formula 1 races, but with alot less grunt of course.

The Spark will be equipped with a 1.4-litre turbocharged four cylinder Ecotec capable of producing a respectable 140 horsepower and 200 Nm of torque, similiar to the one used in the US market Cruze. This is a big difference from the standard Sparks on offer with their minimalist 1.0 and 1.2-litre engines that produce 67 and 80 horses respectively.

Look out for the new pace car at the WTCC race in Zolder on the 19th and 20th of June. It will temporarily be covered in the red design that you see in the picture. A permanent design will be decided through a contest for young artists held throughout Europe. Thus you might even see a design similar to that of Jeff Kooks BMW M3, if the winning design is zany enough.

Chevrolet fronts a Cruze in the WTCC and is top of the Constructors Championship with its driver Yvan Muller, who is top of the leader board as well. Away from the WTCC, Chevrolet will be entering the 24 hours of Le Mans with the Corvette C6.R GT2 and as the designation of the car implies, it will be taking part in the GT-2 category. The Corvettes will be driven by Magnussen-O’Connell-García and Gavin-Beretta-Collard.

The Cruze was recently launched in Malaysia and will feature the 1.8 litre Ecotec engine. It will be interesting to see if they plan to add the Spark to the Malaysian line up, as well as a 1.4 turbo Cruze as available in the US. What do you think?

11 Comments