Chevrolet offers Corvette buyers the opportunity to build the engine for their cars. By JAKE LINGEMAN

For a great Selection of 2010 Corvettes visit www.BradshawGreer.com or come by Bradshaw Chevrolet in Greer SC.

Chevrolet Corvette buyers can already take delivery of their car at the National Corvette Museum, get professional driver training and watch their cars being built. Now, General Motors will let them build the engine.

GM is offering buyers of the 2011 Corvette ZR1 and Z06 models the chance to build the engines for their cars. For a suggested retail price of $5,800, plus the cost of getting to Detroit, a Corvette buyer is welcome to GM's Performance Build Center in Wixom, Mich., where engines for the ZR1 and the Z06 are built by hand.

The Engine Build Experience package includes a concierge service that will set up most of the arrangements.

Buyers who select the option will work side-by-side with professionals at the Performance Build Center. Together they will build up an engine, starting with a bare block and moving through a series of assembly stations. Virtually all of the work is done by hand, with minimal automated assistance.

At the end of the line, the engine is test run on a dynamometer and the builder adds a personalized nameplate. Then the engine is sent the Corvette assembly plant in Bowling Green, Ky., for installation in the car.

The most important part? Whether built by you or by the professional technician, the engine from the Performance Build Center is covered by a five-year/100,000-mile warranty.

Buick marketing new Regal with new 'Moment of Truth' website and... partying?

In its ongoing quest to reinvent the Buick brand as something other than the official car of the AARP, General Motors has launched a new social media marketing campaign complete with swanky parties in cities like Miami, Chicago and Philadelphia. There will be no shuffle board. The move is part of The General's new "Buick's Moment of Truth" campaign, where party attendees are given flip cameras to record their impressions – positive or negative – of the brand's products. The videos will then be posted to a site for all to see.

According to Brand Week, the Regal Remix parties are designed to help people become aware of exactly what the Buick brand means in post bankruptcy trim, and the shindigs dovetail with an aggressive internet marketing campaign targeted to 35-40 year-olds. That's a smart move, considering that most consumers hold opinions on the brand that range from apathetic to downright negative.

Automotive News says that while West Coast buyers have little idea of what Buick means as a brand, mid-westerners remember the malaise days of Tri-Shield engineering better than most. Buick's new campaign should kick off later this month with the launch of the Moment of Truth site.

Contact Bradshaw Buick to see the all new 2011 Buick Regal.  www.BradshawGreer.com or 864-879-7111.  We carry the full line up of GM vehicles...Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac.  Come see why we are the Superstore in the Upstate. 

Source: Brand Week, Automotive News

2011 Chevrolet Cruze prices announced

The 2011 Chevy Cruze has gotten a ton of attention as GM has worked to steal some of the Ford Fiesta’s thunder as both cars prepare to hit the US market. Yesterday, General Motors announced the pricing schedule for their replacement for the Cobalt (and the Cavalier before that) and much like Ford’s Fiesta, the Cruze looks to offer a spread of luxury oriented items in a fuel efficient compact car.

The basic pricing of the 2011 Chevy Cruze is as follows:

Cruze LS starting at $16,995, including:
• Standard 1.8L Ecotec engine and six-speed manual transmission
• The most standard safety features in the segment, with 10 air bags, StabiliTrak electronic stability control with rollover sensing, traction control, anti-lock brakes, collapsible pedal system, power rear-door child safety locks
• Standard OnStar, with a six-month subscription including Turn-by-Turn navigation
• Standard convenience features including air conditioning, power windows, power door locks with remote keyless entry, driver information center, and XM Radio with three month trial subscription

Cruze LT starting at $18,895, including:
• Standard 1.4L Ecotec turbo and six-speed automatic transmission
• 16-inch wheels

Cruze Eco starting at $18,895, including:
• Standard 1.4L Ecotec turbo and six-speed manual transmission
• Segment-leading expected 40 miles per gallon highway
• Standard 17-inch alloy wheels with ultra low-rolling resistance tires, and enhanced aerodynamic performance package

Cruze LTZ starting at $22,695, including:
• Standard 1.4L Ecotec turbo and six-speed automatic transmission
• Standard six-way power driver seat, leather seating surfaces, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob
• Standard cruise control, Bluetooth phone connectivity, USB port with audio interface, steering-wheel mounted audio controls, and remote vehicle start
• Standard automatic climate control, auto-dimming inside rearview mirror, and ultrasonic rear-parking assist
• 18-inch alloy wheels

Interestingly, GM also includes this table, showing that the Cruze costs around $500 more than the 2010 Honda Civic DX but along with offering more interior space, the Chevy Cruze comes standard with a great many items not included in the base price of the Civic.

Chevy Cruze is expected to delivery fuel economy in the 40mpg range – a number fairly unrivaled in the segment with the exception of some hybrid models. The Cruze will also offer a handful of features like their RS package, allowing you to make your 2011 Cruze sportier looking and if you want more luxury, items like heated leather seats and rear park assist are straight out of the higher end GM models.

Check out the gallery below for a look at the 2011 Chevy Cruze and stay tuned to your Detroit Autos Examiner for all of your breaking news from around town and around the world!

To get more information on the all new Chevrolet Cruz, come by Bradshaw Chevrolet in Greer, SC.  Visit 24/7 at www.BradshawGreer.com

Related articles by Zemanta

• G.M. Previews the 40 M.P.G. 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco (wheels.blogs.nytimes.com)

First Look: 2011 GMC Sierra 3500 HD Denali

It was only a month ago that we had our first look at the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado Heavy Duty pickups. Now, it’s GMC’s turn in the spotlight. The “professional grade” brand is unveiling the 2011 GMC Sierra HD lineup at the NTEA Work Truck Show. While most of the technical specifications of GM’s HD pickups are identical, GMC is adding a new high-end Sierra Denali HD model to its work truck lineup.

The luxurious Sierra Denali will only be available as a crew cab four-wheel drive 2500 model with a choice of either the standard 360 horsepower / 380 pounds-feet of torque 6.0-liter V-8 gas engine or the class-leading 397 hp and 765 pounds-feet 6.6-liter Duramax V-8 turbodiesel.

To separate it visually from the rest of the Sierra HD trucks, the exterior of the Denali HD will feature a four-bar chrome grille along with body-color bumpers, chrome door handles, chrome accents and 18- and 20-inch polished forged aluminum wheels. As with other Denali models, the cabin will be unique with standard premium touches. It will include Denali-specific brushed aluminum trim, power-adjustable pedals, a Bose premium surround audio system and 12-way power seats. Along with an optional heated steering wheel, heated and cooled leather-appointed seating is available. The exterior will be offered in three colors: Black, Stealth Gray and White.

The rest of the new 2011 Sierra HD lineup receives new three-bar grilles and prominent louvered hoods, along with a revised chrome steel front bumper and new 17-, 18- and 20-inch wheels. The interior, though, is mostly unchanged.

GM made the biggest changes to the Sierra’s frame, powertrain and running gear to increase towing and hauling capacity.

Maximum trailering is rated up to 20,000 pounds pulling a fifth wheel trailer with a dual rear wheel Duramax diesel and up to 14,500 pounds pulling a fifth wheel trailer with a single rear wheel 6.0-liter gas V-8.

Maximum payload is rated up to 6,335 pounds with the DRW 6.0-liter gas V-8 and up to 5,724 pounds with the DRW 6.6-liter Duramax V-8. Five of 12 Sierra 3500 models offer a payload capability greater than 6,000 pounds.

Jeff Luke, GM's chief engineer for full-size pickups, said the new frame has five times the torsional strength, 92 percent better bending stiffness and 20 percent better beaming stiffness. The front frame bay cradling the engine is 125 percent stiffer than the old frame.

Torsional strength is how much the frame will twist side to side under load. Bending stiffness is how much the frame will bend under load. Beaming stiffness is how much the frame will flex as it's loaded in the center and supported at both ends. The stronger frame is also said to help reduce noise, vibration and harshness, particularly up front. The engine mount brackets have been strengthened, and their positions supporting the engine are optimized so that the bracket attachment points are now set relative to the center of the frame rail instead of offset at an angle, which had caused unwanted engine vibration.

There are a total of 11 different frame assemblies, depending on cab configuration, wheelbase, weight class and whether it's a pickup or a commercial chassis cab.

In the front suspension, the upper control arm is now made from forged instead of cast steel, for increased strength and weight savings, while the cast-iron lower control arm has been bolstered to handle greater loads. To help improve ride quality, two urethane jounce bumpers instead of one are mounted to the frame to cushion each side of the lower control arm, and there's also a new upper shock mount attachment design as well as all-new shocks.

There's also a new steering box with a 16-1 turn ratio and larger front linkage to manage increased front-end loads resulting from the improved front gross axle weight rating, which has jumped from 4,800 pounds to 6,000 pounds.

It's not just the stronger frame and suspension that support the increased towing and hauling numbers in the 2011 GMC Sierra HD. There's also a revised 6.6-liter Duramax clean diesel. Sixty percent of its parts are new, and Duramax chief engineer Gary Arvan said it will be 11 percent more fuel efficient than the previous LMM Duramax.

To ensure that the driver refills the DEF tank, Duramax-equipped trucks will warn the driver when the fluid is down to a 1,000-mile range. A series of start-up warnings — including lights, chimes and messages — will become more frequent until the tank is empty. When the DEF fluid is down to a 100-mile range, the truck will be limited to only 55 mph. As the range declines, so will the vehicle's top speed. If the driver continues to operate the truck with a dry DEF tank, after a final warning and restart, the truck will operate in a “limp home” mode that limits speed to just 5 mph until the tank is refilled.

The 2011 Sierra adds the first application of trailer sway control to GM's full-size pickups. It works using the truck's antilock braking system and integrated trailer brake controller to brake individual wheels on the pickup automatically when it senses dangerous yaw in the rear of the truck from the trailer, which could happen if weight unexpectedly shifts inside the trailer. If the trailer has electric brakes and is connected to the Sierra's 7-pin trailer connector, the truck can also automatically apply the trailer's brakes to stop dangerous sway. TRW is the supplier for the system.

The Sierra also has bigger wheel brakes that have increased from 12.8 inches to 14 inches in diameter and widened from 1.5 inches to 1.57 inches. They feature a larger swept area for better stopping power, and the operating pressures have been changed to provide a firmer feel during application with less pedal travel required. The bigger brakes are a necessary improvement to reach higher gross combined weight ratings across the line.

Another new safety feature can help with hill starts. Hill-hold assist will automatically apply the vehicle's brakes for 1.5 seconds once you lift your foot off the brake when you're on an incline. It's part of the Sierra's integrated trailer brake controller, so it will apply the trailer's brakes, too, if it has electric brakes.

Finally, all single rear-wheel Sierra HD pickups will come standard with GM's StabiliTrak stability and traction control system. Though it's not required on trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds, on the GM pickups it will run up to the heaviest 11,600-pound GVWR.

We can't wait to drive the heck out of these trucks this summer when they go on sale.  To order your GMC HD, contact Bradshaw GMC in Greer, South Carolina.  Visit us 24/7 at www.BradshawGreer.com.  We have the complete line of GMC as well as Chevy,  Buick, and Cadillac

New Cadillac sedan is proof of hard lessons GM’s learned

Image via Wikipedia

The new CTS is efficient, striking and powerful.

Cadillac is a name full of history. It was the pride and joy of General Motors before years of mismanagement and lost sales turned what was once the world’s largest carmaker on its head. It was merely the final insult when so many cars bearing this quintessential American luxury “bigger-is-better” name were junked under the U.S. government’s cash-for-clunkers program.

The shock of the last few years obviously signaled the need for a new direction and philosophy at Cadillac, something other that just big luxury battleships, something efficient. The 2010 Cadillac CTS 3.0 that I tested recently provided a glimpse of that ongoing transformation.

When it was released in November last year, the 2010 Cadillac CTS 3.0 boasted the second-highest fuel efficiency among cars in its class being sold in Korea. It got 9.4 kilometers per liter (22 miles per gallon), second only to the Lexus ES350’s 9.8 kilometers per liter.

The Cadillac’s signature design, reminiscent of a spaceship or stealth fighter, is still the same in the CTS 3.0. Its straight lines conjure up a state-of-the-art image. The wide chrome grille between four rectangular headlamps adds to the dynamism of the vehicle. The number of imported cars is ever-increasing here, but during my test drive, the exotic look of the Cadillac CTS 3.0 still drew the attention of many pedestrians and other drivers.
 
Indeed, the luxurious air of the vehicle earned it a spot on several soap operas, almost always populated by fantastically wealthy characters. For example, Koo Jun-pyo, one of the four rich handsome boys in “Boys Over Flowers,” a KBS soap opera, drove the car.

And actually, the price tag is reasonable, compared to other luxury imports.

The 2010 CTS 3.0 Luxury, the cheaper model, goes for 47.8 million won ($38,400), compared to the Lexus ES 350’s 60 million won range. The 40 million won bracket is home instead to the BMW Mini Cooper JCW or Volkswagen Golf or Passat. The 2010 CTS 3.0 Performance, on the other hand, is priced at 56.6 million won.

The car promises 275 horsepower, the strongest among automobiles with engines between 3,000 and 4,000 cubic centimeters.  To test drive a CTS call or click www.BradshawGreer.com  In Greer SC.  We have the complete line 2010 Cadillac  in stock.  We can also help you with GMC Chevrolet and Buick.  864-879-7111.
By Moon Gwang-lip

cnet Review of the 2010 Cadillac SRX Turbo

Check out the Cnet review of the 2010 SRX Turbo.  Follow this link to see it. Then come to Bradshaw Caddilac to find out why everyone is talking about the SRX.  Visit us on the web http://www.bradshawgreer.com/, become a fan at www.facebook.com/bradshawgreer .  You can stop by any time at 14000 E Wade Hampton Blvd, Greer SC 29651

Chevrolet Volt nearer to reality

Image via Wikipedia

General Motors has a lot of expectations riding on its upcoming Chevrolet Volt. GM execs have predicted the electrically driven sedan will vault them four years ahead of the competition in the high-tech vehicle race.

Now, the validation of the production process for the Volt has passed a major milestone.

On March 31, the first pre-production Volt rolled off the line at the Detroit Hamtramck assembly plant. Several pre-production Volts will be built to validate and fine-tune the production process. These pre-production versions of the Volt will not be sold at dealerships, but will be used to assure all steps in the production system will meet the quality targets set by the Volt engineering team.

Assembly workers will build more pre-production Volts in the coming months, before production begins in preparation for a late-year vehicle introduction. These vehicles will be examined by manufacturing engineers as the plant prepares to kick up full production of the innovative vehicle.

"We have a very experienced workforce at this plant, and through all of their preparation and training, workers here have been given the privilege to take GM into the future with this car," said Detroit-Hamtramck plant manager Teri Quigley.

The Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle with extended range delivers up to 40 miles of pure electric driving before an engine-generator kicks in to sustain the battery charge and extends the range to about 300 additional miles.

Copyright (c) 2010 Studio One Networks. All rights reserved.

GM March sales up 21 pct as incentives draw buyers

Image via Wikipedia

By TOM KRISHER (AP)

DETROIT — Sales of General Motors Co. cars and trucks rose 21 percent last month compared with a dismal March last year, a sign that U.S. auto sales are benefiting from an incentive war touched off by Toyota.

GM said Thursday sales of its four core brands — Buick, GMC, Chevrolet and Cadillac — rose 43 percent on strong demand for redesigned vehicles like the Chevrolet Equinox midsize crossover and Buick LaCrosse luxury sedan.

Meanwhile, Hyundai's sales rose 15 percent to 47,000 vehicles, propelled by sharply higher demand for its newly released Sonata sedan and its Tucson small SUV.

It's likely that higher incentives from GM and other automakers drove traffic to showrooms. Toyota Motor Corp. raised its rebates and low-interest financing deals last month to counter publicity about safety-related recalls, and other automakers were forced to respond.

GM says it sold 188,546 vehicles last month, up from the 156,380 it sold in March of 2009 as it was receiving government aid and heading into Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

The company, which is shedding Pontiac, Saturn, Saab and Hummer, sold just over 27,000 vehicles from those brands in March of last year, but that dropped to about 3,100 last month because few cars and trucks remain on dealer lots.

Last month Toyota boosted interest-free financing, low-priced leasing and free maintenance in an effort to bring customers into showrooms as it dealt with the recall of more than 8 million cars and trucks around the world.

Toyota has been forced to recall cars and trucks mainly due to reports of unintended acceleration. The company is fixing gas pedals and floor mats in many of its top sellers including the Camry midsize sedan, a top-selling car in the U.S.

A top Toyota executive said on Wednesday that the automaker's sales would rise 40 percent in March and that some of those deals would extend into the spring. The company's sales fell 9 percent in February, before it launched its aggressive incentives. The broader industry's sales climbed 13 percent that month.

The automaker is to update its incentives on Monday.

Toyota's March surge likely outpaced the U.S. industry. Sales of new vehicles as a whole climbed 23 percent in March, according to market research firm J.D. Power and Associates.

Although auto sales have been steadily recovering, automakers have been raising their spending on incentives due to the shaky economy. Automakers are spending less on incentives now than they did a year ago, according to data from the auto Web site Edmunds.com.

Sales tanked in March of last year as the economy slowed, layoffs rose and GM and Chrysler headed into bankruptcy protection. Last March was among the worst auto sales months in decades.

AP Auto Writers Dee-Ann Durbin in Detroit and Dan Strumpf in New York contributed to this report.

Chevrolet factory turns out its 1st Volt

Image via Wikipedia

General Motors is to finish building the first Chevrolet Volt battery car using production tooling today, at the Hamtramck, Mich., factory that will begin regular production of the radical electric car in November.

The pre-production Volt will be kept for GM testing. Such practice runs are tense for automakers. They show whether the tooling is designed correctly, the factory laid out properly, the workers trained sufficiently. The interim before regular production this fall gives GM time to make changes, though major hiccups weren't reported.

"Never seen a first, pre-production build go as smoothly as this one," said Andrew Farah, Volt chief engineer.

Although the first factory-built Volt is to roll off the line today, it began down the line Monday, showing how painstaking such dry runs can be.

Volt's moment nearly coincides with rival Nissan announcing pricing Tuesday for its Leaf compact battery sedan. It was lower than expected -- $33,600 before federal tax credit, $26,100 after the buyer gets the federal $7,500 credit on that year's tax bill.

And it appears to undercut numbers that have floated out from GM. If those have been real, rather than stalking horses, Volt could be about $40,000 before the $7,500 credit.

GM continued to say nothing specific about the price. Volt marketing manager John Hughes did tell Drive On, however: "It takes all kinds of EVs (electric vehicles) at different price points to meet the needs of consumers, just as there are all different types of SUVs at different prices."

He deflected comparisons between Volt and Leaf, whether for price or features: "Both are electric drive all the time and both provide the electric-drive experience. But Volt will propel the vehicle another 300 miles" after the batteries' 40-mile range.

Volt carries a gasoline engine that kicks in to drive a generator that keeps the electric motor humming when the batteries are juiced-out. Leaf, on the other hand, is battery-only. Nissan says it'll go 100 miles on a charge before the driver has to plug in and recharge the car.

Automakers say that government data show roughly three-fourths of Americans drive 40 miles or less per day.

-- James R. Healey/Drive On

Could Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain become hits for GM?

Image via Wikipedia

USA Today DRIVEON

General Motors may have a rare -- and badly needed -- hit on hits hands with the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain.

The starkest evidence yet was GM's announcement Friday that it's increasing production of the two models at a Canadian assembly plant. Almost certainly, March sales figures are going to show healthy increases in sales of the two models. But GM passes on a little more positive word about the pair that underscore why the extra production was needed:

U.S. retail sales for Equinox in February rose 121% compared to February 2009, the eighth consecutive month of year-over-year retail sales increase.

Terrain was a new model introduced last year. So far in 2010, U.S. retail sales for Terrain are up 191 percent, compared to the same period last year for the Pontiac Torrent, the vehicle it replaced.
In February, Equinox averaged 16 days-to-turn,(industry parlance for how many days that vehicles linger on dealers' lots.) Terrain averaged 13 days-to-turn, as compared to 31 days for the overall compact SUV segment and 54 days industry average.

About half of all Equinox and Terrain sales come from non-GM trade-ins.
That last one, that so many sales are coming from buyers trading in other brands, is probably what makes GM CEO Ed Whitacre the happiest.

Check out the Equinox and the Terrain at Bradshaw Chevrolet Buick GMC Cadillac.

Related articles by Zemanta

• GM to Add Workers, Boost Output at Canadian Plants (abcnews.go.com)

Chevrolet and GMC to add crossovers in new way

Image via Wikipedia

2 Ontario sites involved

BY TIM HIGGINS
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER

GM dealers have said they can't get enough of the Equinox and Terrain crossovers, which are made at GM's CAMI Automotive plant in Ingersoll, Ontario. The plant has been running at full capacity and does not have room to paint or to do final assembly of more Equinox vehicles.

But since taking charge as GM North America president in December, Mark Reuss has been working on ways to boost production of some of the automaker's hottest new vehicles to meet customer demand.

On Friday, GM said it will expand CAMI's body shop to produce extra Equinox bodies that will then be shipped about two hours to GM's Oshawa plant for paint and final assembly along with the Chevrolet Impala sedan.

"This plan for CAMI and Oshawa allows us to meet customer demand for hot products while avoiding a potential production overcapacity situation by creatively using our assets and facilities," Reuss said in a statement.

GM executives have been wary of reopening a plant that locks the company into making extra vehicles way into the future even if demand falls off.

The solution announced Friday would seem to allow GM to use workers and space it already had at minimal added cost.

"This is really a good way to take care of it," Joe Langley, an industry analyst from CSM Worldwide, said. "This agreement is pretty cost-effective and they could easily get 50,000 to 60,000 units of ... production online pretty quickly," he said.

The plan calls for a third shift to be added at the Oshawa plant in October, bringing about 600 laid-off workers back to work. At CAMI, about 70 jobs will be created to handle the extra body-shop work, GM said.

"I cannot think of one plant right now in North America that is shipping bodies to another plant for assembly," said industry analyst Michelle Hill of Oliver Wyman.

Equinox and Terrain sales have been on fire. Sales of the Equinox, for example, were up 132% in February compared with a year ago. Its sales are already up 98% so far this year compared with last year, according to Autodata.

According to GM, the Equinox averaged 16 days to sell once at a dealer and the Terrain 13 days, compared with 54 days for the industry average.

In February, the Free Press reported that GM was considering unique solutions to boost production of hot new vehicles. Internal discussion this year at GM included the possibility of bringing some work to GM's Spring Hill, Tenn., plant, or, perhaps, a facility in Janesville, Wis.

Said Kim Carpenter, a GM spokeswoman, "Spring Hill and Janesville remain on standby status and are available if market demand and business conditions dictate a need."

2011 Chevrolet Silverado HD

It's a numbers game, but it's important not to overlook the ride
By Malcolm Gunn
Posted: 03/26/2010 11:13:44 AM PDT

When it comes to heavy-duty haulers, you can always expect a scrap between General Motors, Ford and Dodge as to which brand has the most power, offers the biggest payload and can haul the biggest yacht.

The 2011 Chevrolet Silverado HD appears determined to assume the lead when it makes its summer debut.

In this category, the vast majority of buyers depend on these trucks for their livelihoods, while a relatively small minority use them to tow massive fifth-wheel travel trailers. It's really a numbers game for both groups of people, who carefully consider cab configurations, payload ratings, towing capacities, box sizes and powertrain output before investing a sizable chunk of their cash.

Chevrolet thinks it has the right stuff to attract the Heavy Duty crowd with a host of new features and technologies plus a superior level of bar-raising muscle.

Structurally, the Silver-ado's variety of uses necessitates no fewer than 11 frame assemblies, all of which have been significantly stiffened to resist bending and twisting. The engine and transmission mounts have been enlarged and hydraulic body mounts are used on extended-cab and crew-cab models to isolate the passenger compartment from powertrain and road vibrations.

The steering has been upgraded and the redesigned front suspension can now better support more weight. Accor-ding to Chevrolet, these changes improve ride and handling and make the HD better able to function with a snow plow on all cab models with four-wheel-drive.

The rear leaf springs have also been beefed up and now feature a 6,200-pound gross rear axle rating on the 2500 (three-quarter-ton) HD series, up from the previous 6,084-pound mark (the rear axle ratings on the 3500 (one-ton) HD single and dual rear-wheel models have also increased).

The HD can now trailer up to 16,000 pounds (previously 13,000 pounds) using a conventional ball hitch, or up to 20,000 pounds with a fifth-wheel hitch, up from 18,500 pounds.

The base 6.0-liter pushrod V8 remains unchanged at 360 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque. By comparison, the upcoming 2011 Ford Super Duty will arrive with 385 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque produced by its new 6.2-liter V8, while Chrysler's Ram HD's 5.7-liter V8 generates 383 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque.

The real game-changer is the Silverado's optional (and very popular) 6.6-liter turbo-diesel V8 that retains the outgoing motor's displacement, but now puts out 397 horsepower and an earth-shaking 765 pound-feet of torque. That compares with the Ford SD's 390 horses and 735 pound-feet of torque emanating from its 6.7-liter V8 turbo-diesel, or the Ram's optional 6.7-liter six-cylinder turbo-diesel that's worth 350 horsepower and 650 pound-feet torque. All are capable of just about any task you can dole out, so, yes, this is a bit of a numbers game, but one that Chevy is probably happy to be winning.

Both base and optional engines employ six-speed automatic transmissions: a GM-developed Hydramatic comes with the 6.0, while the turbo-diesel employs an Allison-built unit.

Chevy has added its smart exhaust brake system to the turbo-diesel for 2011. When coasting, compressed exhaust gasses are contained inside the engine's cylinders, forcing it to turn more slowly, which in turn slows down the truck without touching the brakes. The result is less wear and tear on the brake hardware and greater control for the driver, especially when hauling or towing heavy loads downhill.

Included is a stability program that reduces the trailer's tendency to wiggle around, while hill-start assist prevents the HD from rolling backward when on an incline.

The list of standard HD equipment on the WT (Work Truck), LT and LTZ trim levels is tremendous, as is the options list. You can, quite literally, outfit the HD from bare-bones basic to over-the-edge luxury.

Pricing hasn't been announced yet, but the starting point will likely be around $30,000. That's actually a reasonable sum for a pickup that, unlike dogs or people, continues to improve with age.

2010 GMC Terrain Review

As a compact crossover, the GMC Terrain excels, while defying convention with a bold new look

By Colum Wood, Mar. 12, 2010 Autoguide.com

The GMC Terrain may be a compact crossover, but it has all the bold and brawny styling of a Mack truck, with boxy flared fenders and a massive front grille. A sister vehicle to the Chevrolet Equinox, it certainly doesn’t look it.

General Motors has a new plan for the GMC brand and it’s so crazy it might just work. The concept, it seems, is to rebrand and restyle Chevys as GMCs. Now, we know what you’re thinking… didn’t they do that with Saturn and Pontiac and isn’t that what got them into a financial mess?

The short answer is yes.

The difference with GMC, however, is that the idea of bringing muscular styling from middle-America to new models designed more for the big cities on the coasts, might just work. And this bold styling is sure to be a big draw with younger buyers who might not have considered a GM product of any sort, until now.

What also makes this plan different from rebadging Chevys as Pontiacs is the fact that GM is actually producing pretty decent vehicles these days.

The Terrain’s engine. In front drive layout and with GM’s direct-injection 2.4-liter 4-cylinder, GMC claims a best-in-class highway fuel economy rating of 32-mpg, with a city rating of 22-mpg. During our test we managed 25-mpg, which is pretty incredible for a vehicle with room for five and good cargo room.

Power from the 4-cylinder is rated at 182-hp and 174 ft-lbs of torque. Many journalists have complained that this isn’t enough, perhaps forgetting that it is in fact a compact crossover and not a real truck. We, however, think the acceleration is adequate and would only opt for the V6 for towing purposes – the V6 rated to tow 3,500 lbs vs. the 4-Cyl at 1,500 lbs. Costing just $1,500 extra for the V6, it’s certainly attractive, although you’ll spend far more in the long run in fuel, with a rating of 17/25 mpg. Plus, once you’ve opted for the six, you’ll be tempted to go for the then-optional 19-inch wheels.

In regards to driving dynamics, the Terrain does seem to be tuned more for a truck-like driving feel, with a bit more lean in the corners than some competitors. For the most part though, the suspension is identical to that in the Equinox, although the Terrain has a slightly wider track as well as slightly better ground clearance with a minimum height of 7.8-inches (although the same overall height). The turning radius also remains constant with its Chevy twin.

As big as the Terrain looks, it’s no behemoth and we found it quite easy to scoot around in – even in urban traffic. In fact, it will fit nicely into a single garage space, even though you wouldn’t expect it to.

Overall, the driving feel is reasonably sporty for a crossover, but the Terrain continues to feel more like a mid-size crossover than a compact one – which is at least in keeping with its look.

There’s also a truck-like build quality to the Terrain, with doors that slam shut with a resounding thud.

Another strong point for the Terrain is its interior. While fully optioned-out models have plenty of style with two-tone leather and the like, all come nicely designed and put together. The monotone black leather on our tester isn’t the best combo for looks, but was still nice. And like the Equinox, you just don’t expect red stitching on the seat and dash on a vehicle at this price-point – something that really helps it stand out.

Even more impressive is when the dash lights up at night, with a bright red glow. There’s even red ambient lighting for the center console and cupholder surrounds. We still find the center stack a bit excessive in the button department, but we have to commend GM for the digital trip display between the gauges that not only gives plenty of info, but can also display the car’s speed digitally.

In the rear seat area there’s a notable absence of style, with big swaths of hard plastic on the doors. But considering the use the rear seats area will get, it’s at least purposeful. Like the Equinox, the Terrain gets GM’s MultiFlex rear bench seating that can slide forwards and back by 8-inches. Even when forward legroom is good and when pushed all the way back, there’s a tremendous amount of space to stretch out. This is aided by the Terrain’s huge rear doors that make accessing those seats easy.

The sliding rear seats also allow for different amounts of rear cargo room. With the seats all the way forward, the Terrain offers 31.6 cubic feet of space and when folded flat, there’s a total of 63.9 cu.-ft. That’s good, but not exactly great, falling far short of the class-leading Honda CR-V, despite the Terrain’s huge appearance. One much-appreciated luxury feature that comes on the SLT-2 trim level is a power liftgate for easy access to your cargo.

The SLT-2 trim level includes most every feature you could ask for with the usual power options plus leather, heated front seats and an 8-way power driver’s seat with lumbar support and a memory setting. There’s also automatic climate control, an impressive 8-seaker audio system with a subwoofer and 7-inch display screen, rear parking assist, heated mirrors, remote vehicle entry and vehicle start, Bluetooth connection, a sunroof and a leather steering wheel with audio controls and cruise controls. Like we said, pretty much everything.

We’re not really sure if the seat memory is really necessary, but some customers will most likely see the appeal and it’s obvious GM wants to market the Terrain as a bit of a step-up from the Equinox. That’s why models like the SLT-2 also come with gobs of chrome on the exterior and some big and bright 18-inch wheels.

With the Terrain starting at $24,250 it’s definitely priced higher than a lot of compact crossovers, allowing GMC to target it against larger models like the Nissan Murano, Ford Edge and Mazda CX-7, even thought it’s really more of a CR-V, RAV4 rival. Our SLT-2 tester in front-drive 4-cylinder form starts at $29,550 and thanks to a $2,145 Navigation system, a few small options and a very reasonably priced $1,295 rear seat entertainment system with two display screens its sticker price is $33,035 (deliver included).

THE VERDICT

The Terrain is likely just the first of many new vehicles for the GMC brand, using a smart new strategy. Priced at several thousand over its Chevy Equinox twin, it’s putting much needed cash in GM’s pockets. The down side to this smart business model is that the customer has to pay extra.

Most customers aren’t likely to mind, however, as there’s a real feeling that you’re getting more with the Terrain, with its bold style and big looks that make even the pricey $24,250 base price seem like a bargain compared to larger vehicles.

The reality, however, is that it’s still a compact crossover and, when judged on those qualities alone, it excels. There’s good cargo room and great passenger room, top-notch fuel economy, a nicely executed interior and overall sturdy GMC construction.

With the Terrain, GMC has built a highly competitive compact crossover that snubs it big chrome grille at conventionally cute ‘utes.

Motor Trend Declares 'Buick is Back!'

Image via Wikipedia

Buick graces the cover of the premier automotive magazine for the first time in 28 years
General Motors

DETROIT, March 8 -- /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time in 28 years, Buick dominates the cover of Motor Trend magazine, along with a headline declaring "Buick is Back!" The April issue of the premier automotive publication features photos of the Buick LaCrosse, Regal Turbo and Regal GS Concept and touts the growing momentum behind Buick.

The April 2010 edition of the magazine includes two Buick features; a drive review of the new 2011 Regal called "International Rescue" and "Trading Places," a comparison of the 2010 LaCrosse and the 2010 Lexus ES350, in which LaCrosse emerges the winner. The Century T-Type was the last Buick to grace cover of Motor Trend in August of 1982. The April issue of Motor Trend is now available on newsstands.

"We are thrilled to be honored with the placement of Buick models on the cover of Motor Trend," said John Schwegman, U.S. marketing vice president, Buick GMC. "The declaration that 'Buick is Back' attests to the transformation of the Buick brand and the buzz building for the LaCrosse and Regal. It shows that we are introducing cars that merit the attention of auto enthusiasts, including the editors of Motor Trend."

In his review of the 2011 Regal, Motor Trend Editor-in-Chief Angus Mackenzie says the Regal "is the first Buick in history with internationally chic sheetmetal and sophisticated road manners to match," and that it "is truly likely to appeal to young, affluent, trend-setting import buyers."

Available in dealerships this spring, the Regal is the next chapter in Buick's transformation. The vehicle features a dynamic driving experience with a standard 2.4L Ecotec direct injected engine rated at an estimated 182 horsepower (136 kW). Also available later this year is the 2.0L Ecotec turbocharged and direct injected engine rated at an estimated 220 horsepower (164 kW). Customers will also experience many advanced personal technologies, making it a premium sport sedan without the premium price. Pricing for the Regal starts at $26,995.

The LaCrosse, a luxury sedan completely redesigned for 2010, continues to attract buyers to Buick and the 2010 model is selling three times faster than its predecessor. The car has been praised for its exterior styling and luxurious interior and features a suite of advanced personal technologies and safety features that rate among the best in the industry. In addition to two fuel-saving V-6 engines, a new fuel-efficient, direct inject Ecotec 2.4L four-cylinder engine will be available with the LaCrosse CX model this spring. LaCrosse will be the only sedan in its segment with an available four cylinder engine.

About Buick

Buick is in the midst of a transformation that started with the Enclave luxury crossover and continues with the completely redesigned LaCrosse luxury sedan and Regal sport sedan. Buick is emerging as a modern, premium brand with vehicles characterized by sculpted designs, personal technologies, luxurious interiors and responsive performance. Future new sedans and crossovers are planned and will continue to expand Buick's portfolio both in North America and China. More information can be found at www.buick.com. To see the best Buick's in the Upstate visit www.BradhsawGreer.com

SOURCE General Motors

Cadillac and Aston Martin honoured

Image via Wikipedia

Awards for the favourite car designs as voted for by car designers from around the world went to the Aston Martin Rapide and the Cadillac Converi.

The creators of the Aston Martin Rapide were presented with the prestigious Best Production award at the Geneva Motor Show, while the producers of the Cadillac Converi scooped the honours in the Best Concept category.

The readers of Car Design News voted for the eventual winners after senior editors at the publication compiled the shortlists of the best designs from last year.

Accepting the award for the Rapide sedan, Aston Martin design director Marek Reichman thanked the designers who voted for the vehicle "on behalf of a team that is very passionate about the brand".

The Cadillac Converj concept was by GM's Advanced Design Studio in Europe under then design director Simon Cox. Accepting the award, Malcolm Ward, exterior chief designer for mid-size cars at GM Europe, emphasised the global nature of the design teams by being "very proud to receive this on behalf of the team and I know the team in Detroit are also very proud to receive it".

The Converj concept introduced a cab-forward stance and softened Cadillac's now iconic angular design aesthetic, while the interior featured environmentally sustainable and renewable materials.

Copyright © Press Association 2010

GM claims sales dominance with Chevrolet Equinox

General Motors, which badly needs some more hits, has one where it counts -- in the hot small crossover segment, declares GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz.

Small crossovers are the new sweet spot in the auto industry. So having a shortage of the Chevrolet Equinox is a great sign that GM is on the way back, Lutz says.

With Equinox,"we have broken through the barrier," he says. With sister vehicle GMC Terrain, "we dominate the segment" when it comes to purchase intent, he told the J.D. Power and Associates conference in Orlando yesterday.

GM sold 9,513 Equinoxes in January, Autodata figures show, and conceivably would have sold more if the model wasn't in short supply. By contrast, Toyota sold 7,894 RAV4s and Honda sold 9,672 CR-Vs. Check out our great selection of Chevrolet, Buick, Caddilac, and GMC today at www.BradhsawGreer.com

Review: Cadillac CTS sport wagon is just so darn likable

Image via Wikipedia

By James R. Healey, USA TODAY

DETROIT — Henry Ford II is quoted on why he fired Ford Motor President Lee Iacocca in 1978 as: "Sometimes you just don't like somebody."
Well, it works the other way, too, and not just on people. Sometimes you just like a car.

PHOTOS/AUDIO: Cadillac CTS sport wagon with Healey's comments
CHAT TRANSCRIPT: James R. Healey answers your questions

In that case, its limitations — all cars have them — fade because the car looks good, feels right, goes with élan. So it is with the Cadillac CTS sport wagon. It's new to the CTS line for 2010. It is nearly identical to the CTS sedan mechanically. The body panels from the rear door forward are the same. The big visual difference is the sport wagon's raised roof and its rear end.
Short take: It sliced through 520 stormy highway miles from here to Virginia after the auto show without discomfort, hassle or even the driver's normal geez-aren't-we-there-yet squirming.

Once home, it made every suburban, cold-weather, short-hop, kid-schlepping, job-going task seem like a special occasion.

Among the goodies:
•Drivetrain. The 3.6-liter V-6 used in a number of General Motors vehicles was a lusty runner, and sounded throaty and primal when spurred. The six-speed automatic transmission shifted correctly, save for a skosh too much delay on hard-throttle downshifts. GM six-speed automatics in other vehicles tested lately have ranged from mediocre to disastrous. GM changed shift programming to get a much better feel, says Tom Stephens, the automaker's vice chairman in charge of products worldwide. The previous tuning resisted downshifts to save a bit of fuel but caused the discerning driver anguish.

•Styling. Fat rear roof pillars. Low, unbroken roofline. Tall taillights that emulate tailfins of yore. Crisp fender, hood creases. Sport wagon makes the CTS sedan seem a bit dowdy.

•Distinctiveness. Caddy's selling just a few hundred sport wagons a month. You won't see yourself coming and going.

•Interior. Clever cargo area allows multiple configurations and hold-down points. Elegant dashboard and associated trim. Intuitive switches and knobs. The middle rear safety belt's mounted to the seat, not hung from the ceiling where it can make folding the back seat awkward.
Unfortunately, Caddy continues GM's omission of a safety head restraint for the middle rear rider. Instruments are excellent — real analog gauges. In addition to the big speedometer and tachometer, you get a trio of useful gauges that show Cadillac still thinks you care: oil pressure, coolant temperature and, of course, fuel level. What's more, you can dig into the digital info readout to get actual pressure in each tire, not a generic "something might be amiss somewhere" tire warning light. Heck, you'd almost think Caddy people like cars and their drivers.

•Comfort. Before we get gushy, these caveats: It's small, despite its visual heft. Narrow inside. If you like to cruise splay-legged, you'll abrade your outboard leg on the door handle and accidentally activate optional seat-temperature controls with your inboard knee. The back seat will suffice, mostly, but won't have riders raving about the room. But front seats had an almost magical quality. Lumpy and hard (not merely firm) at first. But 520 miles and nine almost-uninterrupted hours later, the rump and back, legs and neck felt just fine. In daily dash-about duty, the seats continued to feel wrong for a minute, right for hours.

•Feel. The unusually sweet blend of power, stopping, steering and cornering (though with a bit more body lean than expected) was a delight. Those aforementioned limitations?

•Marginal ground clearance. Even if you choose the all-wheel drive (AWD) option, you'll still worry that the low-slung wagon (5.9 inches of ground clearance, vs. about 8 inches in a crossover SUV) could get stuck by becoming high-centered on built-up snow or in deeper-than-expected mud. Caddy says it's not supposed to be an SUV substitute and has the same clearance as a CTS sedan.

2010 CADILLAC CTS SPORTWAGON
•What? New station wagon version of the CTS sedan; compact, four-door, five-passenger wagon available with rear-wheel drive (RWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD).

•When? On sale since October in the U.S., this quarter in Europe.

•Where? Made at Lansing, Mich., with U.S.-built engine, French-made transmission.

•Why? Little additional cost because it's 85% common with CTS sedan. Can be sold in U.S. and with few changes, in wagon-loving Europe.

•How much? RWD base model starts at $39,150 including $825 shipping after recent price cut.
Loaded AWD "Premium Collection" test wagon was originally $54,445, but a $3,055 price cut early this month dropped that to $51,390.

•How many? Maybe 500 a month in the U.S., Caddy says — a tiny number overall, but strong for small luxo-wagons, such as the BMW 5 Series and Audi A4 and A6 wagons that Cadillac considers main rivals.

•How powerful? 3-liter V-6 rated 270 horsepower at 7,000 rpm, 223 pounds-feet of torque at 5,700 rpm. 3.6-liter V-6 rated 304 hp at 6,400, 273 lbs.-ft. at 5,200. Only transmission is six-speed automatic with manual-shift mode. AWD normally operates as RWD, can send up to 100% of power to the front wheels when rears slip or stability control requires.

•How big? Within a few tenths of an inch of a BMW 5 Series wagon. CTS sport wagon is 191.3 inches long, 72.6 in. wide, 59.1 in. tall on a 113.4-in. wheelbase.
Weight, 4,212 lbs. Passenger space, 98 cubic feet. Cargo space, 25 cu. ft. behind rear seat, 53.4 cu. ft. when rear seat's folded. Tows 1,000 lbs. Turning circle diameter, 36 ft.

•How thirsty? 3-liter, RWD rated 18 miles per gallon in town, 27 mpg on the highway, 22 in combined driving. All others: 18/26/21. Trip computer in 3.6 AWD tester registered 23.2 mpg (4.31 gallons per 100 miles) in highway driving, 13.8 mpg (7.25 gal./100 mi.) in suburban driving consisting mainly of short trips in cold weather, with a little keep-warm idling. Burns regular, holds 18 gallons.

•Overall: Unusually appealing.

To find your CTS wagon check out http://www.bradshawgreer.com/ today, or stop by Bradshaw Cadillac Chevrolet Buick GMC at 14000 E Wade Hampton Blvd Greer, SC 29651