GM Begins Building Chevy Sonics

GM has started building the subcompact Chevy Sonic at their Orion Hills, MI plant. The upcoming Chevrolet Sonic may be small in size, but the automaker has huge plans for the subcompact car, which replaces the forgettable Korean-built Chevy Aveo in its lineup. Chevy has gone to great lengths to promote the Sonic, despite the fact that it won’t hit dealer showrooms until sometime this fall.

Like the Aveo, the Sonic was developed in South Korea; unlike the Aveo, the Sonic will be built in the United States. GM is quick to point out that the Sonic is the only subcompact from a domestic manufacturer built in this country. If you count the Fiat 500 as being from Chrysler, it’s built at their plant in Toluca, Mexico. Ford’s Fiesta also comes from south of the border, and is assembled at the Ford plant in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico.

The Sonic began production at Chevy’s Orion Township, MI plant today, justifying some $500 million in upgrades that GM has spent on the facility, which also builds the Buick Verano. At launch, Chevy will offer the Sonic at a base price of $14,495, which makes it slightly more expensive than a base Ford Fiesta. Opt for the 1.4-liter turbo engine, and the price goes up by $700. If you want the range-topping LTZ version in hatchback form, that price starts at $17,235.

Chevy has alluded to the Sonic’s handling, referencing its direct DNA link to theChevrolet Corvette. We’re struggling to make the connection between a front-engine, front-drive subcompact and one of America’s premier sports cars, but we’ll give Chevy some latitude, at least until we have a chance to drive the Sonic.

gallery:2012 Chevrolet Sonic

 

• 
• 
• 
• 

Source:The Detroit News

Read More

Comparison Test: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze LTZ vs. 2012 Ford Focus Titanium

All hail the death of the American shitbox. With the 2011 Cruze and 2012 Focus, Chevrolet and Ford have finally delivered compact cars that aren't cheap turds with rental-car interiors.

Certainly Chevy and Ford are tired of losing sales to the more refined Japanese competitors and those sneaky imports from South Korea who trump all comers with an unparalleled feature-per-dollar ratio and worry-free warranties. Today, buyers want their 40 mpg as well as a driving experience and level of quality previously reserved for cars a class or two higher. Well, duh.

So the globally designed and engineered Chevy Cruze and Ford Focus are not just the same old heaps in new wrappers. No shitboxes here. But there can only be one winner.

What We Tested
To find out which is best, we gathered the top trim level of each, the Chevy Cruze LTZ and the Ford Focus Titanium, to see just how far American small cars have come. Both offer power windows and locks, power seats, automatic climate control, cruise control and Bluetooth as standard features.

The Cruze LTZ starts at $22,695 (including $720 destination). Our tester, fitted with a couple of pricey options including a $1,995 navigation system and a power sunroof, totaled $26,085. The Focus Titanium starts at $22,995 (including $725 destination) and our tester, fitted with $3,605 in options, including a Titanium Handling package, navigation and special interior trim cost $26,600.

Out of Europe and Into America
The 2012 Ford Focus was developed in Europe and is currently on sale in more than 120 markets around the world, but don't worry — the North American version is built right here in the good ol' U.S. of A. at Ford's Wayne, Michigan, assembly plant.

The Cruze is also a global machine — it was penned at the former Daewoo facility in Incheon, South Korea, while engineering was based at GM's European headquarters in Russelsheim, Germany. But despite the Cruze's foreign roots, U.S. and Canadian versions are built at GM's Lordstown, Ohio, plant.

Hop inside either car and you're sure to be impressed with the level of quality and execution. But don't expect Toyota Camry-like space — these are still compact cars. Similar wheelbases (105.7 inches for the Cruze, 104.3 for the Focus) return similarly adequate passenger room, although rear head- and legroom will be tight for anyone much above average height.

Both cars offer folding rear seats, but the Cruze gets points for practicality with a 15-cubic-foot trunk and a pass-through large enough to squeeze in a bicycle when the rear seats are folded. The Focus' trunk is encroached upon by its full-size spare (necessitated by the summer tire option), and its small pass-through is better suited to hauling less bulky cargo.

Read More

Report: Chevy developing two-door Cruze

2011 Chevrolet Cruze – Click above for high-res image gallery

Thus far, the Cruze has been a big success for Chevrolet. Although you could chalk up part of its meteoric rise to a lack of supply from Japan, the Cruze was the best-selling compact in America last month. To build on that success, General Motors is reportedly developing a two-door coupe Cruze for future production.

Although officials have yet to confirm the Cruze coupe, reports indicate that development is already well under way, with production earmarked for the Orion, Michigan, plant where the Sonic is being built. Why not the Lordstown, Ohio plant where the Cruze sedan is built? That facility is already running at full capacity – even into overtime – just to meet demand.

It would be interesting to see the Cruze spawn a coupe variant, particularly since two-door versions of theCobalt and the Cavalier that preceded it, lamentable though they were, proved popular among teenagers as first cars. We particularly miss the Cobalt SS, which was available in both coupe and sedan bodystyles before the model was discontinued, as it offered one of the best performance to price ratios on the market.

Gallery:2011 Chevrolet Cruze 1LT: Review

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

[Source: The Detroit Bureau | Images: Copyright 2011 Steven J. Ewing / AOL]

Read More

Video: Chevrolet Racing Track To Street Season 2 Episode 5

In Chevrolet’s latest Track to Street series, Corvette Racing takes us along on a hot lap around the LeMans track. This is the very same track where driver Oliver Gavin received first place in the GTE Pro division of the 24h endurance race a little over a week ago.

In addition to the lap around the track, Chevrolet has also provided a second video featuring in depth interviews with drivers like Richard Westbrook as they describe what it’s like to be on and off the track. This video came out before the team’s win at LeMans, but after watching the Gavin make the quick lap around LeMans, it seemed necessary to go into the the team’s preparations for the 24 hour long event.

Let’s just say that we envy the thrill of being a part of such a famous event, but are in awe of the endurance these drivers have to have in order to complete the race.

One more video after the jump.

Read More

Future Maserati SUV will be powered by Chevrolet, Not Ferrari

We’ve been drowning in rumors about a Maserati SUV for a little while now - ever since the Maserati Kubang Concept came out in 2003 - so the thought of some semi-concrete evidence was rather inviting. A few months ago, the newMaserati SUV was finally confirmed by the brand, who set a launch for sometime in 2012. That confirmation was followed with rumors of a Ferrari-sourced engine, but as it turns out, Top Gear is hearing that Chevrolet will actually be the ones powering the bulkier Maserati.

CEO of Chrysler Group and Fiat, Sergio Marchionne had said that the new SUV would carry a "rock and roll engine," possibly in both V8 and V12 variants. Current rumors suggest that the engine will actually be a Chrysler Hemi V8 with 465 HP and more torque than the original option. This engine will also fit better in the 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee platform they have already confirmed for the Maserati model. Now, the future SUV will only be Italian on the badge, as the engine and chassis will be American made at Chrysler’s Jefferson North assembly plant. This should bode well for the SUV, since having a Ferrari engine would have undoubtedly hiked up the price.

Expect to see the official launch of the Maserati SUV at one of the major auto shows in 2012.

gallery:2003 Maserati Kubang

 

• 
• 
• 

Read More

Total Chevrolet Camaro production hits 5 million

The first Chevrolet Camaro went on sale on September 29, 1966 as a 1967 model. Since then, and until 2002 when the fourth generation was dropped, a total of 4,774,156 Camaros had been built. It took seven more years beforeChevrolet unveiled the reworked and highly successful fifth generation Camaro and customers ate it up like pancakes on a Sunday morning. So much so, in fact, that the company can now say that they have produced five million units.

The Camaro with the number 5,000,000 features black exterior paint and a cloth interior. It is powered by a 3.6 liter SIDI VVT V6 engine that delivers 312 HP and is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. The car was priced at $24,700 and was delivered just outside Lexington, Kentucky where its lucky owner was waiting.

Congratulations Chevrolet! May the next few generations bring the company even more success! Heck, maybe they’ll even be able to hit the six million mark!

gallery:2010 - 2012 Chevrolet Camaro

• 
• 
• 
• 
  

Read More

Do you want to win a Corvette Grand Sport?

With a starting price of $54,770, the Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport isn’t exactly a vehicle that can be purchased by just anyone. However, if you are a US resident, Chevrolet is giving you the chance to win the American icon, along with a five day/four night trip to next year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans in France. They’ll even pay for the airfare for two, hotel accommodations, and an $800 travel allowance. Now that’s a contest we can get on board with!

We know it sounds a little sketchy, but Chevrolet is running the contest in recognition of Corvette Racing just winning the 24 hours of Le Mans. The best part is that the contest is pretty easy. All you have to do is click on the source link, answer three questions about Corvette Grand Sport - very simple ones like sprint time, HP, and weight - and then enter your personal information. The winner will be randomly selected on July 1st 2011 and will be notified by email or phone.

The only problem we see with this contest is that, because it’s so easy, many people will be put in the drawing to win the Corvette so you’re chances get slimmer with every click of someone else’s mouse.

gallery:2010 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport

 

• 
• 
• 
• 

Source:Chevrolet

Read More