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Toyota to lose No 1 spot for 2011 – GM to return to top of the heap, while Volkswagen moves into second place

November 18, 2011 at 12:49 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, General Motors, International News, Toyota, Volkswagen

It hasn’t been a good year for Japanese automakers, with the Japanese earthquake earlier in the year and more recently, floods in Thailand disrupting production, schedule and plans. All this has certainly lost them a fair bit of ground in terms of sales and expansion.

Toyota, the world’s number one automaker, looks set to lose the most – the company is set to cede the top spot in global new-vehicle sales in 2011 to the resurgent General Motors, according to reports. Toyota was No. 1 for the past three years, but now looks certain to drop to third place after the Asian disasters forced the company to cut production at home and abroad.

GM’s global sales for the January-September period rose 9% on the year to 6.79 million units, and with sales in Q4 on track to outpace the 2.17 million units recorded in same 2010 period, the US automaker’s full-year total is likely to exceed nine million units. This number would be 20% above the figure for 2009, when the company filed for bankruptcy.

Meanwhile, Volkswagen is expected to advance one spot to second place, with group sales surging 14% on the year to 6.17 million units in the first nine months of 2011. In 2010, Toyota and GM were the only carmakers to achieve more than eight million units sold – VW is positioned to reach that milestone for the first time this year, helped by double-digit sales growth in Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific, the reports say.

As for Toyota, its January-September sales slid 9% on the year to 5.77 million units, and with the effects of the Thai floods set to impact the October-December figures, it looks unlikely that Toyota will narrow the gap with GM and VW, which have also enjoyed a head start the world’s largest market, China.

Elsewhere, Hyundai, which surged past Ford in 2010, is on pace to consolidate its position thanks to robust sales in the US, China and other key markets – the company has already upgraded its sales forecast for the full year to at least 6.5 million units, from the 6.33 million units projected, the reports add.

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GM to introduce industry’s first front centre airbag

September 30, 2011 at 1:39 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, General Motors, International News, Technology

One more added on the safety item list. General Motors is set to introduce the industry’s first front center airbag, which is an inflatable restraint designed to help protect drivers and front passengers in far-side impact crashes.

Designed to work collectively with the other airbags and safety belts in a vehicle, the front centre airbag deploys from the right side of the driver’s seat and positions itself between the front row seats near the centre of the vehicle.


Without, and with, the FCAB, single front occupant. Looks painful.

The tethered, tubular airbag is designed to provide restraint during passenger-side crashes, be it with a single or double front occupant scenario – the airbag acts as an energy absorbing cushion between driver and front passenger in both driver- and passenger-side crashes. It is also expected to provide benefit in rollovers.

GM and its technology supplier Takata developed the airbag over the course of three years, testing many design iterations to achieve packaging, cushioning, and restraint in a variety of crashes and occupant positions.


Without, and with, the FCAB, two front occupants. Definitely painful.

While the front centre airbag is not required by US federal regulations, it is expected to improve the safety performance measurements in such-equipped vehicles in terms of third-party crash test performance.

The front centre air bag will be introduced by GM on the Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, and Chevrolet Traverse midsize crossovers in the 2013 model year, and will be standard fitment on Acadia and Traverse with power seats and all Enclave models.

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General Motors opens new diesel engine plant in Thailand

September 11, 2011 at 3:36 pm By Harvinder Sidhu Filed Under Cars, General Motors, International News

General Motors has officially opened a new diesel plant in Rayong, Thailand. The new plant which is worth $200 million and is the company’s first diesel factory in region will be the first in the world to produce the new line of Duramax 4-pot oil burners that will be first installed in the Colorado pickup.

These Duramax engines are made up by a 2.5 litre as well as a 2.8 litre variant featuring overhead cams, force-induction and aluminum cylinder heads. General Motors confirmed that the plant is able to churn out 120,000 engines per year and these engines will used for vehicles manufactured in the country and in other markets.

The 54,275 square meter plant will have up to 500 employees by the end of the year and houses various state-of-the-art computers and laser-guided equipments. It is also dust-free and features an in-house climate control system to ensure the best possible environment for engine production. Furthermore, the plant uses a lighting system that consumes 40% less energy compared to conventional systems.

General Motors also revealed that it is expected to source Thai-built components that is worth $94 million for the engine production by 2012. The opening of the new plant comes after the company announced plans to invest up to $150 million in the revival of its Bekasi manufacturing facility in Indonesia which will output a new line of people movers for other Southeast Asian markets.

Since the Chevrolet Colorado was brought up in this article, it is worth to point out that the pickup is expected to make its local debut sometime in December 2011 following a recent announcement by Naza Quest CEO Datuk Maruan Mohd Said.

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Facelifted Chevrolet Captiva is here – 2.4 petrol, RM155k

August 23, 2011 at 2:14 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Chevrolet, General Motors, Local News


UPDATE: Full gallery from the launch event added

Naza Quest, distributor of Chevrolet vehicles in Malaysia, launched the facelifted Chevrolet Captiva at its Jalan Ampang showroom this afternoon. This introduction is the start of a busy period for the General Motors brand in Malaysia, which will see the Colorado pick-up truck launched here later this year. There are also a few new models coming our way in 2012.

Back to the main point. This facelifted Captiva was first seen late last year, making its world debut at the Paris Motor Show. It wears a bold new grille that totally dominates the front end; not too all tastes, but it sure does give the Captiva plenty of road presence.

It’s not just the grille, but the entire front end, including bonnet and headlights, is new. The wing mirror indicators are now LEDs, and the 18-inch alloys you see here are standard. The rear end is untouched, however.

The interior ambiance of the original Captiva wasn’t one of its strong points, feeling very old fashioned (green lighting, with Casio style green digits) and cluttered. It’s much improved now with metallic elements and a slightly revised layout. There are additional storage spaces and the redesigned dials and displays now come with Ice Blue illumination, a Chevy trend.

There’s also a new panel between the centre air con vents that quite high-end Nissan/Infiniti in style. It carries a digital clock and buttons for ESP, Hill Descent Control and Rear A/C.

Blank buttons are not in sight – the Captiva comes very well equipped. The steering wheel has controls for the stereo (with Bluetooth and ’3D Sound Stage’), cruise control and air con – the latter is new and very useful.

There’s also an ECO mode button (helps economy) and an electronic parking brake, a class first. Another new feature is Hill Start Assist, which holds the car on gradients (of 3% onwards) for 1.5 seconds after the brake pedal has been released, preventing rollback.

That’s quite a lot of changes for a mid life update, but the Captiva comes with a new drivetrain as well. Still displacing 2.4 litres (it’s actually 2,384 cc now, from 2,405 cc), the new petrol engine with Double CVC makes 165 hp and 225 Nm of torque, 21% and 2% more than the old model, respectively. This DOHC 16v Ecotec unit is now paired to a 6-speed automatic with Tiptronic, one forward ratio more than before. We’re getting only the AWD model.

The results are positive. Fuel consumption for this 1,860 kg seven seater SUV is now 9.1 litres per 100 km, quite a bit better than the old 10.4 litres per 100 km. CO2 emissions is down by 14% as well.

What happened to the diesel variant, you ask? We asked too, and Naza Quest bosses said that that one is coming in the fourth quarter of this year, which is not too far away from now.

Safety kit includes dual front airbags, curtain airbags, ABS, EBD, Brake Assist, ESP and ISOFIX mounts for child seats. Imported from Thailand, the new Captiva is priced at RM155,185.20 on the road excluding insurance. Six colours are available, including a new Auburn Brown, which wasn’t on display at the launch.

Full gallery from the event is after the jump.
[Read more...]

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SAIC-GM to sell Chinese minivans in India by 2012

August 19, 2011 at 1:30 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, General Motors, International News

Chinese minivans are set to make their move into a new market – India. Reports say that General Motors and its Chinese partner Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp will start building the minivans in complete knockdown form in India next year.

SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile will begin entry into the market with the eight-seater Wuling Hong Guang and five- to eight-seater Hong Tu models, which will be renamed the CN100 and N200 respectively in the Indian market. Sold under the Chevrolet brand, the left-hand drive microvans will be modified for India’s right-hand drive market.

Initially, two engine choices will be available for each model, the Hong Guang wearing either a 70 hp 1.2 or 100 hp 1.4 litre P-TEC mill, and the Hong Tu a 1.15 or 1.2 litre unit, though with India being a heavy diesel market the alliance is set to expand the engine lineup for the vehicles in the coming future.

The vehicles will be shipped from Liuzhou in southwest China in kit form and then assembled at GM India’s new Talegaon plant in Maharashtra.

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Long live Corvette! GM pours $131m into Kentucky plant to support production of next generation car, due in 2013

May 5, 2011 at 2:38 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Chevrolet, General Motors, International News

The legendary Corvette name, around since the 50s, will live on after the current sixth-gen car expires. GM has announced that it will invest $131 million in the Bowling Green assembly plant to support production of the next generation Corvette.

The Kentucky plant is scheduled to continue building the current generation Corvette for at least the next two model years, including the 2012 car that begins this summer. Bowling Green is the exclusive manufacturer of all versions of the Corvette – Coupe, Convertible, Grand Sport, Z06, and ZR1 – and has been the birth place of Corvette since 1981.

About 50,000 tourists visit the plant annually to catch a glimpse of the manufacturing process, some even watching their new cars being completed before taking delivery from the neighbouring National Corvette Museum. By the way, did you know that the Corvette is the “official state sports car of Kentucky”?

“This is a significant day for anyone who believes that America should build world-class, high-performance products. Corvette has no domestic peer for performance and pedigree and stands alongside the world’s best supercars with almost 60 years of continuous heritage,” said Mark Reuss, GM North America president.

Click here for more pics of the recently released Centennial Edition Corvette.

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Baojun 630 launched in China – sales begin this month

April 20, 2011 at 1:38 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Baojun, Cars, General Motors, International News

The announcement of the launch of the brand was made last November, with production of its first model beginning the same month. Now, five months on, GM’s newest car brand, Baojun, has officially launched the Baojun 630 into the market.

Aimed specifically at the Chinese market, the 1.5 litre Euro IV-compliant sedan – which sits on a Buick Excelle platform – has been designed to attract young drivers in the country’s second- and third-tier cities, primarily the middle-class crowd in its vast interior.

Produced by GM and its partners Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation Group and Wuling Motors in Liuzhou, Guangxi, the Baojun 630 is set to address the growing demand across the country for affordable personal transportation, and will be attractively priced between US$10,000 and US$15,000.

Baojun, which means “treasured horse”, will start selling the 630 later this month. It has a network of 150 dedicated dealerships across the country, but the number of dealerships is expected to double by the end of the year, says GM.
[Read more...]

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China becomes GM’s largest market – 2.35 million units sold

January 26, 2011 at 12:35 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, China, General Motors, International News

For the first time in its 102-year history, General Motors’ largest market isn’t the United States, but China. The company sold more cars and trucks there than it did in the US in 2010, managing 2.35 million vehicles sold, 136,000 more than that shifted in the US.

Shanghai GM achieved 1.03 million of the total figure, with GM’s other joint ventures accounting for the rest. In total, the number is a 29% increase from 2009. China, of course, is the world’s biggest automotive market – passenger car sales in 2009 amounted to 13.7 million vehicles, with total vehicle sales registering above 18 million.

Total global sales for the US automaker was 8.39 million, up by 12% over 2009, and though it is still in the world No. 2 spot behind Toyota, it’s virtually a case of neck and neck – the Japanese automaker reported a global sales volume of 8.42 million units in 2010, just 30,000 more than GM. In China, Toyota managed to sell 846,000 units, just over a third of what GM accomplished.

GM reported double-digit jumps in five of its top 10 markets in 2010, including a 12.4% increase in Russia and a 10.4% jump in Brazil.

Still, China remains the bright star, and the company isn’t going to take its foot off the pedal, planning to export US$900 million in vehicles and parts to the country under a two-year agreement signed with Shanghai GM, its flagship JV.

Vehicle exports worth US$500 million and components worth US$400 million will come under the agreement, which was among various trade and investment deals signed in connection with Chinese President Hu Jintao’s state visit to the US.

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Chevrolet Sonic hatchback and sedan launched at Detroit!

January 10, 2011 at 7:17 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Chevrolet/Daewoo, General Motors, International News

General Motors has released details and images of the new Aveo that will be unwrapped later at Detroit, just that it’s not called the Aveo, but Sonic. Like the car it replaces, the B-segment Sonic is available in two body styles – five-door hatchback and four-door sedan. Both variants deliver “class-leading rear-seat roominess and cargo space” according to GM. In the US, the subcompact Sonic takes on the Ford Fiesta, Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit.

In America, the Sonic will come with relatively powerful engines for its size. The Ecotec 1.4L turbo (138 hp/200 Nm from 1,850 to 4,900 rpm) and the 135 hp/167 Nm Ecotec 1.8L are also found in big brother Cruze. Three transmissions are available: a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic with the 1.8L and a six-speed manual for the sporty 1.4 turbo.

These modern powerplants come with features such as low-mass hollow-frame cast iron block, DOHC with VVT, chain-driven cams, roller-finger camshaft followers, piston-cooling oil jets and integrated oil cooler, variable-flow oil pump and electronically controlled thermostat. The 1.4′s turbocharger is integrated within the exhaust manifold for reduced weight and greater packaging flexibility.

GM talks about “fun to drive” in the release, mentioning that Corvette engineers tuned the Sonic’s ride and handling. The hardware is par for the class – front MacPherson struts, rear torsion beam, EPS steering, front disc brakes and rear drums are expected.

The body structure is claimed to be among the stiffest in the segment. Sonic’s unique “flat top frame” cradle, for example, assures optimal stiffness in the front chassis portion, while he rear axle is straight without contour for packaging restraints and reduced noise, vibration and harshness. Wheels are as big as 17 inches for the turbo model.

The funky cabin’s highlight is the motorcycle inspired instrument panel, which combines analog with digital displays. The centre stack is typical modern GM; it and the steering wheel will be familiar to Cruze owners. Front “bucket seats” are standard and heated front seats are available along with remote start and sunroof. Connectivity includes OnStar, XM Satellite Radio, USB/Bluetooth and MyChevrolet mobile application. On the safety front, 10 standard air bags, ABS, EBD, brake assist and OnStar with Automatic Crash Response are included.

Production of the Sonic begins later this year in Michigan. GM says that Chevy is the only company building a small car in the US and Sonic will help restore about 1,000 jobs in the metropolitan Detroit area. This could be a big selling point for a US economy that’s still facing issues with unemployment.

Gallery after the jump.
[Read more...]

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2012 ‘Baby Buick’ Verano revealed ahead of Detroit debut

January 7, 2011 at 10:06 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Buick, Cars, General Motors, International News

This is the “baby Buick” that will make its world debut at the upcoming Detroit Auto Show. Verano, as it is called, is a “compact sedan” (in US terms of course) based on General Motors’ Delta II platform that also underpins the Opel Astra and Chevrolet Cruze. Seen it before? The Verano was launched in China mid-2010 as the Buick Excelle GT, and we showed you that car here.

The Verano, which sits below the Regal in Buick’s range, will come with an Ecotec 2.4L engine paired to a six-speed automatic gearbox. With 177 horsepower and 230 Nm of torque, the Verano does 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 8.0 seconds flat, and is capable of 11 km/l on the highway.

That will be the sole powertrain option when it goes on sale in the fourth quarter of 2011, but a 2.0L turbo engine will be offered in the future. In contrast, China’s Excelle GT comes with a 1.6 turbo with 181 hp/235 Nm.

Buick is all about traditional comfort and luxury, so the Verano is claimed to be “the quietest compact sedan on the road, quieter than many midsize and full-size cars”.

Among the unique measures to maintain a “library-quiet driving experience” are hydraulic ride bushings, isolated engine cradle, nylon baffles and foam in hollow body portions, five layer headliner, triple-sealed doors with fiberglass “blankets” and acoustical laminated glass, among other things. Even the 17-inch aluminum wheels are manufactured in a unique way to enhance quietness, Buick says.

Meanwhile, the Verano’s cabin features “exceptional seat comfort”, soft touch materials and ambient lighting inspired by the LaCrosse. It also comes with the same grade of leather as the LaCrosse that can be had in a special “Choccachino” colour seen here. Buick says that the components within the center stack have a gap tolerance of less than 1 mm, while the instrument panel-to-door panel gaps are less than 5 mm – the best in class.

Besides the expected Bose stereo, OnStar and 10 airbags, the Verano’s heated steering wheel and seats automatically activate when one starts the car in temperatures below 7 degrees C, surely something many Americans facing a harsh winter would appreciate.

Gallery after the jump.
[Read more...]

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