Gorehamj
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The Malibu Hybrid is more like the Accord Hybrid than the Camry Hybrid. The newest generation of hybrids use multiple electric motors. Instead of just recapturing energy from braking like early hybrids, the Malibu, Accord, and some others use the gas engine much less. The vehicle is usually propelled by an electric motor and the gasoline engine acts like a generator much of the time it is in use. In other reporting I have calculated the cost of energy to run an EV in the California and Massachusetts markets vs. the cost of a 50 MPG gasoline powered car. Because electricity is costly in these markets, and gas is cheap everywhere, the gas-powered vehicle can match the per-mile cost of an EV now. Smart buyers looking for a green car that comes with no range-anxiety may realize that the Chevy Malibu is the perfect mix of real-car usability and a cost per mile for fuel around five or six cents. -
GM isn't actually building any wind new turbines. Not to be skeptical, but that isn't how this clean energy thing works. Rather, GM signed a power supply deal with EDP Renewables North America who has 261 massive wind turbines operating in Texas. Fifteen of them will be sort of designated for GM and the power they create will "save" 1 million metric tons of CO2 form being produced during the production of 125K vehicles per year. GM can now claim that some of its full-sized SUVs are "Build using clean energy." Even better, GM says that its agreement will save the company $2.8 million in energy costs each year. -
Here are some selected predictions. See if any ring true now that you know how it all turned out: - Pickup truck sales could lead car industry rebound - Prosperous farmers and ranchers are returning to their car leasing habits...trend is helped by stable gas prices, rising fleet sales and a rebound in the housing market. - manufacturers could get more creative in 2011, adding light-duty diesel engines to their powertrain lineups Sure sounds like that last Swapalease prediction was spot-on, at least for Colorado, Canyon, Ram, and Titan shoppers. It's interesting to look back and see that one of the first signs of recovery was in agriculture and ranching. -
Chevy's 2015 December sales push is on and the deals are ridiculous. Like $10K off a Silverado before you even begin to negotiate (at least according to this Chevy Advertisement). However, not all of Chevy's great products are being highlighted this year. The Colorado didn't make it to the holiday photo-shoot. The reason why would seem simple. Chevy can't build enough Colorados to meet existing demand. Why discount? Have you ever bought a new vehicle during the holidays as a gift or are you thinking of doing it this year? -
There are a lot of practical reasons a GM family might want to see a Bolt succeed. Eventually, the rebates and hand-outs are going to be too good to ignore for families that want an affordable second car for commuting and around town. The Bolt with a 200 mile range will very likely be a steal once the market has other longer range EVs competing with it. EVs are coming. Let's give the Bolt a friendly welcome. -
If there is any bad news it is that average transaction prices are now the highest in the industry. While that is good for GM, it means we GM shoppers pay more for their products. The GM press release says that the GMC Denali trimmed vehicles are the reason for that record-breaking high average price. At least they're worth it. Looking ahead, Mustafa Mohatarem, GM chief economist, says, “We believe U.S. auto sales will continue to grow in 2016, based on the underlying strength of the economy, and we expect customers will continue to embrace crossovers and SUVs because they are meeting their fundamental needs for utility, comfort and fuel efficiency.” -
Bow Tie Logo Silverado Polished Chrome Exhaust Tip $105 Chevy Performance offers a number of chromed exhaust tips for Silverados depending upon year and drivetrain (exhaust type). Cold Air Intake (Estimate) $900 Chevy says its cold air intake for the 5.3L engine reduces intake air restriction by 15%. That must have some positive horsepower benefit. Performance Exhaust $1200 Chevy's cat-back performance exhaust system is legal in 50 states and does not void your warranty. It reduces back-pressure by 66% and will work perfectly with the cold air intake. You can order parts from the Chevy Performance Catalog ( see yesterday's story) or call your local Chevy dealer and arrange for installation. -
The all-new 2016 Chevy Camaro adorns the cover. You can download the catalog right here. It comes in two easy to use versions including fast-load PDF. We will have some truck gift ideas coming in the next couple of days for you to add to your list too. Check back Monday. -
Mark Reuss is the number two person at GM (and a great guy who fully supports the auto media) and our own Zane Merva had a chance to interview him last month. Zane asked if GM would expand capacity and Mr. Reuss confirmed that the company was trying hard to find a way to do that. Multiple outlets, including Automotive News are reporting today that GM has found a way. The plan is to subcontract the Chevy Express and GMC Savanna to Indiana-based AM General. GM trusts AM General, having subbed out the last Hummer to the company. This would free up some space for more Colorados and More Canyons. AM General is a manufacturer of tactical vehicles for military use, but has the capacity to do the work for GM. -
Chevy is also offering a box-delete in the Colorado. You can check out details of that truck here. GM confirmed today in its press statement that the Silverado box-delete is not just a fleet option, but open to retail customers. Ed Peper, U.S. vice president, General Motors Fleet, commented on the box-delete business at GM, saying, “We are in the business of meeting our customers’ needs by providing a range of products and solutions that fit their businesses. Light-duty box delete is a direct response to our customers who have been clamoring for it.” The Silverado 1500 2WD Regular Cab box delete starts at just $29,155 -
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CD loves the CTS, having named some version of the car a Ten Best eight times over the years. Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen commented on the award, saying, “This award is further proof of Cadillac’s emphasis on product substance to elevate the brand. CTS sedan is the core of our brand, and sets the tone as we continue to expand the brand.” We won't argue that the CTS is an important part of Cadillac, but it is presently being outsold by the SRX, ATS, and XTS and CTS sales are down 42% this year. -
To this writer, it seems obvious that a fuel-cell Colorado would be a huge asset to GM, particularly if the Army is paying to help develop it. Although pretty much nobody, not even green car advocates, like fuel cell vehicles, CARB assigns them three times the ZEV credits that EVs get due to their long range. That is why Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, and Mercedes-Benz have production vehicles coming to market. Even if GM leased or sold the FCEV Colorados to private owners and fleets at a huge loss it be offset by the credits GM needs to meet mandates. The attached image is a sketch released by GM that shows the proposed look of a hydrogen fuel cell Army Colorado. The sketch artist is apparently not familiar with the color scheme of every single military vehicle in our arsenal. However, we do like that maroon running light bezel! -
Duncan Aldred, vice president of GMC Sales and Marketing, didn’t mince words in the Denali Ultimate’s press announcement, saying, “This truck is the ultimate expression of the Sierra Denali with greater emphasis on the bold and refined presence and advanced features that make Denali models synonymous with precision and exclusivity.” He means this truck gets the full bling-bling if that marketing-speak got confusing. The Sierra Denali Ultimate starts with a 4X4 1500 crew cab model with either a 5’ 8” or 6’ 6” cargo bed. The drivetrain is the 6.2L V-8, eight-speed automatic with 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. The Denali's trailer brake controller and magnetic ride control are also of course standard. Everything on the Sierra Denali is. So what do you get that makes this truck the "Ultimate?" GMC lists many things including premium soft-touch interior materials, aluminum trim and contrast stitching on the standard leather-trimmed interior, 12-way power adjustable heated and vented front leather bucket and a heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel. 22-inch wheels with chrome or black inserts, tri-mode running boards, the 2016 Denali LED headlamps with GMC LED signature lighting, the all-new Denali grille and LED taillamps are part of the standard package. Also included are: OnStar 4G LTE connectivity with a Wi-Fi hotspot Bose premium sound system Wireless phone charging – new for 2016 Remote vehicle starter system Remote keyless entry with new remote locking tailgate Power-adjustable pedals Power-sliding rear window with defogger Rear-vision camera with dynamic guidelines. GMC has not said what the new Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate will cost yet. We are pretty sure it will be more than $55K though. -
The 2016 Motor Trend Car of the Year is the all-new 2016 Chevy Camaro. In its testing Motor Trend drove both the RS and SS versions of the Camaro. Yes, the SS is the one most people dream about, but the RS impressed Motor Trend. “The performance you get out of this six-cylinder is amazing,” he said. “It might as well have an SS badge on it. I can already hear the fanboys: ‘My RS does 0-60 mph in 5.3 seconds, handles better than an ATS, and gets killer mileage.’” Still, the V8 engine in the Camaro is what makes it an exceptional car for value and performance. Motor Trend pointed out that "...the new SS is nearly as quick in a straight line (0-60 mph in 4 seconds flat, quarter mile in 12.4 seconds) as the outgoing and more powerful Z/28. Lower weight plus the superlative Alpha bones make handling measurably mega; the SS runs our figure-eight track in 24.1 seconds, two-tenths off a Porsche 911 Carrera 4S." The Camaro returned better fuel economy in Motor Trend's real-life testing than did the Mustang or the Challenger. Motor Trend also pointed out that the Camaro is a world-beating value, saying, "A 275-hp turbo for $27K, 335 horsepower for $28.5K, or 455 hp for $37K? This isn’t rocket science, people." -
Full-Size SUV/Crossover: 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe "The Tahoe is the best-selling vehicle in the segment. Its unique combination of style, comfort, economy and value has earned it Kelley Blue Book Best Buy honors for the second year in a row." Full-Size Car: 2016 Chevrolet Impala "The latest Impala is stylish inside and out, offers a long list of in-car technologies including Apple CarPlay and wireless phone charging, and balances smooth highway ride with responsive handling." Sports/Performance Car: 2016 Chevrolet Corvette "The Corvette offers an unmatchable mix of performance and price has always been the Corvette's trump card, but impressive fuel economy and resale value strengthen its case as the Best Buy in fun." Electric/Hybrid: 2016 Chevrolet Volt "The Chevy Volt was completely redesigned for 2016, the second-generation Chevy Volt complements greater battery range and improved performance with sleeker styling, more features, and even-more-attractive pricing." -
A pretty close tie we'd call that, except one thing. The Duramax engine costs $3,750 more than the V6 gasoline engine according to GM. So, by our estimation the Duramax has a higher cost over 100,000 miles on a strictly fuel economy basis. Diesel owners don't care about combined MPG though. Most diesel fans only look at the highway mileage of their trucks because that is the situation in which the diesel is most efficient. So we re-ran the calculations using the V6 gas engines' highway mileage of 24 MPG and the diesel trucks' mileage of 29 MPG. Here is the result: Gasoline Canyon and Colorado - $9,125 Diesel Colorado and Canyon - $ 8,548 Here the diesel looks much better until the engine premium is factored in. Of course, the diesel has other advantages. This analysis is simply one way to look at the cost for fuel over 100K miles. If anyone spots a math error please let me know and it will be corrected. -
For more on this topic see our prior story. -
GMC is lending its financial support, the support of its employee charity groups, and its ability to get the word out on this worthy program. -
In case you were wondering how these stack up to the Ram 1500, the 2WD Ram has a rating of 20 MPH City / 28 MPG Highway / 23 Combined. A V6 gasoline-powered Canyon or Colorado with 4WD has a 17 MPG City / 24 MPG Highway / 20 MPG Combined Rating. The efficiency advantages to the diesel are real. Even when adjusted for a higher average price for diesel the Duramax will likely still be ahead ion terms of fuel economy (fuel cost per mile) as well. Range with the dual tanks in the trucks is also amazing. GM says the trucks can go 651 miles (maximum) without refueling. The cost adder for the Duramax over a V6 truck is about $3,730. Obviously that buys a lot of regular unleaded. Luckily, the Duramax has advantages beyond just fuel efficiency. Towing being the most notable. One aspect of which is smart diesel exhaust braking. This type of braking enhances vehicle control and reduces brake wear by reducing the need for breaking on downgrades according to GM. Duncan Aldred, vice president of GMC Sales and Marketing commented on the Duramax trucks, saying, “GMC's Canyon is designed for those who want a smart-sized premium pickup that is quiet, capable and efficient and the new Duramax diesel engine gives customers another choice for handling heavier work and recreational needs – while doing it efficiently. It’s the very definition of GMC’s professional grade ethos.” Sandor Piszar, director of Chevrolet Truck Marketing offered up his two-cents, saying, “The Colorado Duramax diesel is in a league of its own. Colorado’s gas models already led the segment in fuel efficiency, and the new diesel – which no other non-GM competitor offers on a midsize truck – gives customers even greater freedom to go where they want with fewer fill-ups.” The Canyon we drove recently was loaded and had an MSRP of $45K. Expect shipments to dealers to begin any day. -
Two others owners found they were and have sued GM. CarCompliants.com reports that it has received complaints about the issue from other owners as well. The two owners that sued laid out a pretty interesting case. They say the GMC 9012 halogen single filament bulb design is not bright enough for safety. Prior to that new design the truck used a total of three bulbs; A H11LL bulb for the low beams, a 9005LL bulb for the high beams and a 5202 bulb for the fog lights To see all the details, check out the story at CarComplaints here. -
When the truck was revealed, Jacob said, "It gorgeous, from the inside to the outside." The truck is a 1977 Chevrolet Scottsdale C10, and anybody can appreciate the restoration work that went into the truck. That was part of the surprise. It was for sale in rough condition. Jacob's step-dad helped the process get started. He's a Dodge guy, which proves not all Dodge truck guys are bad. -
The Ford F-150 MRT with its breathed-on 3.5-liter EcoBoost had too many add-ons to list, but some of the most notable drivetrain parts include: •MRT stainless steel exhaust, Max-Flow h-pipe and back half exhaust system •MRT custom induction •MRT custom shifter •MRT custom rear spoiler fabricated by Team Z Motorsports •JMS Pedal MAX accelerator pedal signal controller •JMS Boost MAX boost signal controller •SCT custom tune for performance and extreme duty thermal management •Tremec Magnum 6-speed manual transmission (conversion) •QuickTime bell housing •EXEDY performance clutch and flywheel •Turbosmart blow-off valve Toyota brought a Tundra made into a limo which we refuse to dignify with an image. However, Yoda redeemed itself with this awesome looking 4Runner Tonka off-road vehicle. -
Cadillac was up for the month, but the ATS and CTS were both down. Escalades are flying off the lots though and the ESV was up 49%. Chevy's Malibu was also up a whopping 19% for the month compared to last October. The Silverado was up 10%, amazing considering it has been a top seller for so long. Sierra was flat, but still a very strong number. As we have reported, the Colorado and Canyon can't grow because the production capacity is maxed out. A great problem to have. Still, those headlines (I sometimes write at other publications) saying "Tacoma outsells Colorado by 2 to 1" must sting. Crossovers are the new family "car." That is not news. However, the Cadillac SRX being up by an amazing 65% sure is. The SRX outsold the Audi Q5 by 2 to 1 in October. Cadillac is now having sales months close to the Lexus RX. Just in case you are one of the rare green car fans, the Chevy Volt was the number one EV in America for October sales. -
Our thanks to reader RyanbabZ71 for the heads up and the great image.
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