GM's New Engine Plant

Two engines will be built at the new facility. A 1.4-liter turbo for the Chevrolet Cruze and a naturally aspirated version for the Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle (E-REV). These are new members of an engine family already deployed successfully around the world, primarily in Europe. The engines will play a key role in GM’s plan to double global production of small four-cylinder engines by 2011, with more than half of that increase coming from North America.

The investment in Flint is one of several that have been announced at U.S. plants in the past 10 years, adding up to over a $9 billion total investment in Michigan and more than $42 billion in the United States. The investment includes construction of the new 552,000 square foot plant, machinery, equipment and special tooling to support production of the new 4-cylinder engines. In addition to the $349 million facility investment, GM will invest an additional $21 million for vendor tooling to support the new Flint operations. Construction on the new facility is slated to begin immediately, with completion in 2010.

Within the new engine plant will be GM Powertrain’s most flexible and competitive engine assembly lines in the world, with approximately 300 highly flexible stations that will allow assembly of multiple 4-cylinder engine families without retooling. In addition, the plant will be landfill free, meaning no waste from manufacturing operations will go to landfills, but will be recycled, reused or converted to energy, proving the plant will be as environmentally sound as the products it manufactures.

Dealers Can Improve

Sept. 25 - A majority of vehicles are rejected only after a new-vehicle shopper has visited a dealership, according to a J.D. Power and Associates Study released this week. The study analyzed the reasons why consumers consider a model but ultimately purchase a different one and found that 80 percent of vehicles are rejected after a new-vehicle shopper has visited a dealership.

Three dealer-related issues are among the top reasons for not purchasing a vehicle: another dealer has better service; limited availability of the specific vehicle shoppers are looking for on dealer lots; and lack of professionalism among personnel at the dealership.

The study also finds that an increasing number of shoppers have considered buying an Asian brand -- 63 percent in 2008, up from 60 percent in 2007. Conversely, the proportion of shoppers who considered buying a domestic brand has decreased -- down to 55 percent in 2008 from 58 percent in 2007.

Customers who purchase a domestic brand instead of an Asian brand most commonly cite a desire to "buy American" as their primary reason for purchase, followed by rebates and incentives offered, and vehicle price.

Shoppers who cross-shop among Asian and domestic brands are more likely to purchase an Asian brand and most often cite retained value, reliability and gas mileage as primary reasons for their choice.

Bentley Arnage Final Series

Sept. 24 - Since its debut in 1998 the Arnage has conveyed an air of sophisticated understatement as the four-door flagship of the Bentley range. Over the last decade the car has undergone a process of constant refinement to maintain its class-leading position in the high luxury market.

To celebrate 10 years of the Arnage, 50 years of its mighty V8 engine and 90 years of the marque, Bentley Motors will launch its limited edition model at the Paris Motor Show next week. Called the Bentley Arnage Final Series, the new model features a unique specification, combining the performance of the 500 bhp Arnage T with the refinement of the Arnage R and design elements from the Brooklands coupe.

The Final Series offers a range of discreet exterior cues that further enhance its powerful stance. Key ingredients of the distinctive appearance include a dark-tinted Bentley matrix radiator grille with Flying ‘B’ mascot and dark-tinted lower grille. The iconic Flying ‘B’, which can retract neatly into the grille surround, was originally designed by motoring artist F. Gordon Crosby and was first used on the 1930 Bentley 8-Litre.

Commenting on the final chapter of the Arnage story, Stuart McCullough, Member of the Board, Sales and Marketing, said, "The Final Series is the perfect model to give our Arnage flagship a splendid send off. Handcrafted at Crewe, this exclusive run of 150 cars represents the ultimate expression of Bentley luxury and effortless power."

Chrysler Goes Electric

Sept. 23 - Chrysler announced today that the Company and its ENVI organization have new production-intent, advanced electric-drive technology packaged in three different vehicles - one for each of its brands.

Chrysler will select one electric-drive model to be produced in 2010 for consumers in North American markets, and European markets after 2010. Additionally, approximately 100 Chrysler electric vehicles will be on the road in government, business, utility and Chrysler development fleets in 2009.

The Company said that it is well into the development of advanced, production-intent electric vehicles and that it will apply electric-drive technology to its front-wheel-drive, rear-wheel-drive and body-on-frame four-wheel-drive platforms in the next several years.

The 200 kW electric-drive motor generates 650 N•m (480 lb.-ft.) of torque. The instant high torque of the electric-drive motor delivers outstanding performance, accelerating the Dodge EV to 60 mph in less than five seconds, with quarter-mile times of 13 seconds. The Dodge EV has a top speed of more than 120 mph.

Chrysler LLC has launched a Web site to allow consumers to view the latest updates on Electric Vehicles and Range-extended Electric Vehicles from the Company.

BMW's Thermoelectric Generator

The BMW Group has received the OkoGlobe 2008 award for its development work on a thermoelectric generator. The award was presented by the DEVK insurance group, the Automobil-Club Verkehr and the Center Automotive Research, Gelsenkirchen University of Applied Sciences.

Dr. Klaus Draeger, BMW's Director of Development, accepted the award on behalf of the BMW Group, in the category "Development of the Combustion Engine". It was awarded in recognition of research on implementing the Thermoelectric Generator in the car. This enables the utilisation of energy from waste heat from the combustion engine and is an example of how the BMW Group is exploiting new potentials for energy generation.

Prof. Ferdinand Dudenhöffer, Director Center Automotive Research, said at the award presentation: "The BMW Group's EfficientDynamics measures for raising the efficiency of series production vehicles point the way ahead for the automotive industry. The Thermoelectric Generator shows how this efficiency enhancement can be further developed in the future."

Up to September 2008, the BMW Group had already delivered more than 1million vehicles with BMW EfficientDynamics technology to customers. 28 BMW Group models already have CO2 emissions of 140g CO2/km or lower. Until the end of this year 150 million litres of fuel will be saved in comparison to 2006 and the environment will be disburdened of 370,000 tons CO2.

Fuel Economy is On the Rise

Sept. 20 -For the fourth consecutive year, EPA is reporting an increase in the average fuel efficiency for cars and light duty trucks, to a projected 20.8 miles per gallon (mpg) for 2008. This year's projection is a 0.2 mpg up tick over last year's value.

The actual 2008 fuel economy value will be available when the automakers submit their final annual sales data in early 2009. EPA expects the final mpg for 2008 to be higher than the automakers initial projections since gas prices have since increased.

"This report shows we're driving in the right direction," said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. "Increased fuel efficiency is not only a smart consumer choice, but also a smart environmental choice."

EPA's annual report, "Light-Duty Automotive Technology and Fuel Economy Trends: 1975 through 2008," which provides data on the fuel economy and technology characteristics of new light-duty vehicles including cars, minivans, sport utility vehicles, and pickup trucks, confirms that average fuel economy has improved each year beginning in 2005, and is now the highest since 1993.

Most of the increase since 2004 is due to higher fuel economy for light trucks, following a long-term trend of slightly declining overall fuel economy that peaked in 1987. These vehicles also have a slightly lower market share, peaking at 52 percent in 2004 with projections at 48 percent in 2008.

Environment is More than Just Cars

Sept. 19 - As sunflowers bloom in Michigan, Ford is shining a light on sustainable landscaping.

Ford Motor Company maintains nearly 200 acres of sunflower fields, prairies and grow zones around its world headquarters, research and engineering campus in an effort to conserve natural resources, create wildlife habitat and lower grounds maintenance costs.

The company planted 100 acres of corn and sunflowers this year on several large fields near its world headquarters. By replacing what would otherwise be traditional turf grass, the company saves approximately 30 percent on the cost of labor, gas, and fertilizer, while creating an attractive habitat.

Planted in late summer, the crops provide food for birds and animals throughout the winter. Fox, wild turkeys and coyote have been spotted on Ford properties, several of which have been certified by the Wildlife Habitat Council.

In addition to planting annual crops like sunflowers, Ford uses many native plants that are well-suited to the local soils and climate and therefore do not require significant use of fertilizer, pesticides or irrigation.

IRS Grants Tax Credits for BlueTEC

Sept. 18 - Right in time for Mercedes-Benz's rollout of BlueTEC diesel vehicles next month, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has granted Daimler the Qualified Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit, which qualifies the ML 320 BlueTEC, R 320 BlueTEC, and GL 320 BlueTEC buyers for up to $1,800 in tax credits.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certified to the IRS that the Mercedes-Benz BlueTEC vehicles meet the strict emission requirements, a status so far only granted to hybrid-electric vehicles. The Mercedes-Benz BlueTEC clean diesel vehicles are the first diesel vehicles to be granted the tax credit, demonstrating both high fuel efficiency and low emissions.

"Diesel passenger vehicles are one important piece of the future technology puzzle," confirmed Margo Oge, Director of EPA's Office of Transportation and Air Quality. "Clean diesel is a viable, efficient technology to help improve our air quality and energy security."

The IRS has determined that purchasers of the ML 320 BlueTEC may qualify for a $900 tax credit, purchasers of the R 320 BlueTEC may qualify for a $1,550 tax credit, and purchasers of the GL 320 BlueTEC may qualify for a $1,800 tax credit depending on their individual tax status. The vehicles, which are the first diesel passenger vehicles to meet all 50 state emissions requirements and get up to 600 miles to the tank, go on sale October 1.

Mercedes-Benz Rock Crawler?

Sept. 18 - Exotic and muscle car restoration specialist Legendary Motor Cars is moodifying a Mercedes-Benz GLK350 luxury SUV for the SEMA Show, which will be held in early November.

Legendary's design includes an innovative winching system to propel skate and wakeboarders up to speed and actually "grind" down the vehicle’s specially integrated side rails. It will be one of four specially modified GLK350 SUVs on display at the show.

The Urban Whip, from Florida-based Boulevard Customs, is going to turn heads with a wide body styling kit, plus massive 26-inch wheels and tires. The RENNTech Rally Racer is inspired by the unlimited-class rally cars at the storied Pikes Peak Hillclimb, the GLK concept represents the Mercedes-Benz performance specialist's first hybrid powertrain project.

The BRABUS Widestar is developed by Mercedes-Benz tuning experts Brabus of Bottrop, Germany. This striking wide-track "designer suit" for the GLK includes flowing front and rear wheel arch flares and redesigned front and rear bumpers complemented with exclusive BRABUS wheels and an interior to match.

The four GLK-Class vehicles will be displayed at the SEMA show, taking place November 4-7 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. During the exhibition, attendees will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite design via online and mobile voting. The four vehicles will then be displayed at the Los Angeles Auto Show providing showgoers with another opportunity to cast their vote.

Rolex Series Concludes in Utah

Sept. 17 - The Daytona Prototype and GT championships will be on the line as the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 visits Miller Motorsports Park for Saturday's season-ending SunRichGourmet.com 1000 presented by the Grand and Little America Hotels.

The Rolex Series tackles the mammoth 24-turn, 4.486-mile circuit in the Salt Lake City, Utah, suburb of Tooele in the 139-lap, 1,000-kilometer event, with a seven-hour time limit. The race will be televised live flag to flag on SPEED (1 p.m. ET).

TELMEX Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates teammates Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas need to drive at least 30 minutes each in the No. 01 Lexus Riley to share the Daytona Prototype championship. Pruett is looking to become the first repeat champion in the Grand-Am Rolex Series' premier division. The Ganassi team has already locked up its third title, leading by 38 points.

The GT championship is expected to come down to the final lap of the season, with Paul Edwards and Kelly Collins - drivers of the No. 07 Banner Racing Pontiac GXP.R - leading by six points. Also in contention are Sylvain Tremblay and Nick Ham, who are 13 points out of the lead in the No. 70 SpeedSource Mazdaspeed Castrol Syntec Mazda RX-8.

The SunRichGourmet.com 1000 takes the green flag at 11 a.m. Saturday.

Production Speed Record Anniversary

Sept. 16 - In early 2007, Shelby Supercars began conducting high speed durability and verification tests on the Ultimate Aero. After various sub assemblies and aerodynamic specifications were verified, SSC scheduled September 13, 2007 for the attempt to break the record for the fastest production car. On that day Shelby Supercars were forever placed in automotive history with the likes of McLaren, Lamborghini, and Bugatti by officially becoming the "World’s Fastest Production Car".

The official average top speed of 256.18 mph was verified by Guinness World Records TM. On September 13th, 2008, SSC will be the first production car to hold the speed record for at least one year since the famed McLaren F1, whose title held for six years. The recorded speed during testing was limited by the road and a top speed of approximately 260mph would be attainable given optimal test conditions.

On SSC's website, the "250 MPH Club" gives members an inside look into SSC including a monthly newsletter from founder and lead designer Jerod Shelby. But the most exciting part of the 250 MPH Club is the yearly drawing for the chance to win an all expenses paid trip to Shelby Supercars' Headquarters. The day will consist of a tour of SSC’s facility, lunch with Jerod Shelby, and a ride in an Ultimate Aero, the fastest, most powerful production car in the world. Shelby says, "Although only a very small percentage of people in the world will be able to own an Ultimate Aero, I wish everyone were able to experience the thrill".

All Time Top 10 GM Nameplates

Sept. 15 - As General Motors approaches its 100th Anniversary tomorrow, you may find it interesting, or at least amusing, to know what the company's best-selling nameplates have been over the past 100 years.

14+ million - Chevrolet Impala
12+ million - Opel/Vauxhall Corsa
12+ million - Opel/Vauxhall Astra/Kadett
11.9 million - Oldsmobile Cutlass
6.5 million - Opel/Vauxhall Vectra
6.2 million - Chevrolet Cavalier
6.0 million - Buick LeSabre
4.8 million - Chevrolet Camaro
4.4 million - OpelAscona/Vauxhall Vectra
4.0 million - Pontiac Grand Am

Since its inception in 1908, General Motors has sold more than 308 million cars and trucks in the U.S. and more than 445 million worldwide.

In the past seven years, General Motors' capital investments in the U.S. have totaled more than $31 billion (more than double Toyota's and more than triple Honda's). More than 80 percent of the parts content of General Motors vehicles sold in America originates in America (compared to 53 percent for Honda and 50 percent for Toyota).

Washed Up Cars Coming

Sept. 14 - As Hurricane Ike sweeps inland, the process of rebuilding will begin in affected areas over the next few weeks. Efforts to assess the damage caused by Ike have barely begun, but early estimates suggest the bill could rise to $18 billion.

Over the next several months, you can expect that some flood-damaged vehicles will be repaired and put on the market as used cars, without disclosing the prior damage. Flood-damaged vehicles have a greater risk of premature failure of the structure, mechanical components, engine and transmission and electronic systems of the vehicle, including occupant protection systems, such as airbag components. There may also be health concerns because of mould.

Following similar incidents resulting from Hurricane Katrina, the National Insurance Crime Bureau established a flood damaged vehicle database as a national database for auto resellers and buyers to check a vehicle's history. Inconsistent vehicle registration requirements from one state to another made it possible for a vehicle's past to be hidden. The U.S. National Automobile Dealers Association estimated that 571,000 vehicles suffered damage from Hurricane Katrina.

Today, the NICB Flood Vehicle Database information has been rolled into the new VINCheck service offered by NICB. More than 1,000 insurance companies information about vehicles to the service, including vehicle thefts. VINCheck is available to both consumers and dealers.

Bait and Switch?

Sept. 13 - That's what a number of GM Volt enthusiasts feel General Motors has done after they saw accidentally released photos of the final production car. The Volt concept (right) was first shown at the 2007 North American International Auto Show. A poll conducted by fan site GM-Volt.com found that among 1388 respondents have seen, that 57% preferred the concept, 32% preferred the production model.

GM is expected to release intentional, official photos next week, but even the most skillful photography is not going to hide the differences from concept to production vehicles. Another GM-Volt web survey indicated that, among 2252 respondents, 65% said that driving the car without using gasoline was most important. Another 32% said that having good looks was equally important.

GM has said it expects to ship the Volt at the end of 2010. It will be able to drive 40 miles on its lithium ion batteries and have a gasoline engine that will give the car a 400-mile range. Strategically, GM is committed to the Volt, seeking to reduce dependence on sports utility vehicles and trucks at a time when gasoline prices and a green-tech vogue are pushing consumers to more fuel-efficient cars.

60th Anniversary for Lotus

Sept. 12 - Lotus celebrates its 60th birthday this year, and to mark the occasion, the British sportscar manufacturer has produced a real gem of a car - a fully customised, diamondset Lotus Europa valued at £150,000 which will be launched at the company's birthday celebrations in Hethel, Norfolk on Sunday 14th September.

The diamond anniversary Lotus Europa has received the highest level of customization from cosmetic enhancements to performance upgrades. Inside, the car boasts sumptuous textures created using the finest quality leather, while the bespoke gear knob and controls feature sparkling diamonds set in cool matt black metal. The diamond scheme is completed with a specially designed rev counter and speed dials that feature diamonds highlighted by hidden LED accent lighting.

An exclusive paint finish has been applied to the sleek form of the Europa giving the already sophisticated model a truly spectacular finish, a high gloss black base has been adorned with tiny glass flakes giving the appearance the car has been showered with diamonds. Tinted glass and black and silver wheels complete the monochrome scheme in polished, stylish fashion whilst a beautiful, diamond set Lotus nose-badge proudly crowns the car.

The diamond anniversary Europa is the culmination of skill and expertise from many of Lotus' production teams and suppliers. The project was championed by Winsor Bishop, East Anglia's premier diamond specialists who are supplying Lotus with around £111,000 worth of diamonds for the stunning car.

Assisted GPS to Improve Start Time

Sept. 12 -AT&T Inc.announced this week that it has deployed assisted GPS technology (A-GPS) within its wireless network to enhance existing and planned location-based services (LBS) used with A-GPS capable devices. The company also announced it will launch two new navigation applications.

A-GPS technology gives capable devices a significant jump-start on identifying the user's initial location. AT&T's network speeds up initial location by identifying nearby cell sites. A-GPS capable devices can identify a user's initial location in fewer than 20 seconds.

AAA Mobile navigator gives AT&T customers access to audible turn-by-turn directions, AAA TourBook travel guide information including Diamond Ratings for restaurants and lodgings, gas prices, movie reviews and show times, traffic alerts with alternate routes and more. AAA Mobile also allows AAA members to send their GPS location directly to a roadside assistance operator.

MapQuest Navigator, powered by Telmap, gives AT&T customers access to turn-by-turn, voice-guided driving and walking directions, 3-D moving maps, 16 million points of interest from MapQuest's database, quick route recalculation for missed turns, real-time traffic alerts, gas prices, gas station locations and AOL's City's Best restaurant and venue ratings.

Most Small Cars Aren't Economical for Crash Repairs

Sept. 11 - A recenty study, released by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, showed that bumpers on many cars aren't designed to handle what should be a no-damage event.

In a series of crash tests, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently assessed how well the bumpers of 20 small car models would protect the vehicles from damage in low-speed collisions. The worst performers are the Hyundai Elantra, Toyota Prius, and Volkswagen Rabbit. The Ford Focus performed the best.

The Institute found a common problem in that the bars underneath bumper covers often aren't up to absorbing the energy. They may not be big enough to provide much protection from damage, especially if they don't extend to vehicle corners, or they may be too flimsy to absorb much energy.

To illustrate how small changes to bumper design can make a significant difference in repair costs, the Institute modified the front bumper of the Prius. The reinforcement bar and foam absorber were extended another 10 inches on the passenger side under the headlight. When the Institute tested the Prius again, the headlight and fender were undamaged and the repair cost dropped from $1,200 to $254.

"There's plenty of room under the bumper covers of most cars to make this simple change," says Institute senior vice president Joe Nolan.

Lingenfelter Performance Engineering Comes Home

Sept. 10 - Ken Lingenfelter and an affiliate of Metropolitan Motor Sports LLC, announced yesterday that they have acquired Lingenfelter Performance Engineering (LPE) from an unrelated third party. With this acquisition, Lingenfelter intends to continue and build on LPE's worldwide track record in performance engineering.

Lingenfelter Performance Engineering, founded by the legendary drag racer and engine builder John Lingenfelter, is a performance tuner and specialty automotive parts supplier located in Decatur, Indiana. LPE is recognized worldwide as a premier tuner of domestic North American sports performance cars. LPE's work expertise includes premier engine modification packages, customized engine rebuilds and related performance engineering shop work.

On the transaction, Ken Lingenfelter commented, "This acquisition is the culmination of a diligent and thoughtful process and I believe it is in the best interest of Lingenfelter Performance Engineering. I am confident that our innovative products, talented employees and worldwide customer base will be key contributors to the future success of LPE."

Lingenfelter is also the owner of the Lingenfelter Collection - a collection of Corvettes, muscle and exotic cars. Lingenfelter is also a sponsor of the Kids Wish Network's Corvette Dream Giveaway to benefit children. On December 25th 2008, one ticket holder will win a pair of Corvettes - a 2008 Lingenfelter 427 LS3 convertible and a beautifully restored 1967 427 tri-power Corvette convertible. Ticket info.

Going Green Never Looked So Good

Sept. 10 - While the major automakers struggle with tradeoffs between ecological responsibility and vehicle performance, Fisker Automotive dove headlong into the issue last January, showing a sleek, luxurious vehicle called KARMA.

It seems that some others are ready to jump headlong in with them - others that bring development money with them. The company announced yesterday that it had raised an additional $65 million to fund development of the KARMA, which is intended for production. Existing investors, Palo Alto Investors and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, participated in the new financing, along with an an affiliate of Qatar Investment Authority.

The first-of-its-kind four-door plug-in hybrid premium sports car was unveiled in January at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). The stance of the Fisker Karma is wide and low. It delivers such dramatic proportions for a four-door sports sedan that one would not anticipate. The height of a Porsche 911, length of a Mercedes Benz CLS and the width of a BMW 7 Series.

Over his 18 years in the car design business, Henrik Fisker has left his thumbprint on some of the most highly regarded automobiles. His creations range from the BMW Z8, Aston Martin DB9 & V8 Vantage to his most recent creations – the Tramonto and Latigo CS, designed under the Fisker Coachbuild nameplate.

The Green Hell

Sept. 9 - There's a new way to get your street creds, and it's called the Nurburgring Nordschleife in Germany, once used for grand prix races, before it was deemed too dangerous.

In recent months, North American manufacturers have been using this road course as a testing standard... forget about SAE or ASME requirements. To hold the official lap record for the Nordschleife is nothing less than a pot of gold. For the Nordschleife, anything in the 7-second range is hugely respectable. In June, Chevy posted a time, with its 2009 Corvette ZR1, of 7:26.4.
More recently, Chrysler did the same with a new model Viper. Hah...the game is afoot! Using a 2009 Viper ACR, they set a new lap recoprd of 7:22. That segment of the track, the North Loop, almost claimed the life of then-reigning Formula One world champion, Niki Lauda, in 1976.

A new track was built next to the old one in the early 1980s and officially called the Nurburgring, but the route that performance junkies follow today - the Nordschleife - is the original track, one that Sir Jackie Stewart called "The Green Hell." Of the road course, Sir Jackie said, “Those who weren’t scared weren’t driving fast enough.”

Other manufacturers that routinely use the track include: BMW, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Nissan, Lexus and Saleen. The absolute lap record of 6 minutes, 11 seconds was set in 1984 by Stefan Bellof, driving a Porshe 956 around the 73-turn, 12.03-mile circuit.

Historic Shelby Car is an MG TD

Sept. 9 - Mid-October will see the inaugural Las Vegas edition of the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction hit the Strip in Sin City.

The three-day auction begins on Thursday, October 16 and caries through Saturday. As usual, much of the action will be broadcast on SPEED Channel.

Shelby afficianados will be circling in the sky for Lot #819 to be driven onto the auction platform. This 1949 MG TC roadster is first car that Carroll Shelby drove in a road race - the car that started his racing career.

In May of 1952, his good friend Ed Wilkins let Carroll Shelby drive this MG TC in a road race at Norman, Oklahoma. It was Shelby's first sport car race. He won it, and the second race, too, easily outrunning the Jaguar XK120's. That race and this car changed the course of his life.

This vintage race car has been part of the famous Syd Silverman Collection for the past 20+ years and is well-known throughout the MG vintage race car circuit. Obviously, this car represents a once-in-a-lifetime chance to own an important piece of automotive history. Bidding should be brisk.

18 GM Models Achieve 30 mpg or More

Sept. 8 - For 2009, General Motors offers 18 U.S. models that get 30 miles per gallon on the highway, more than is expected of any other automaker. They include cars, crossovers and SUVs from GM’s Chevrolet, Pontiac and Saturn brands.

Chevrolet, GM’s largest brand, leads with eight, along with five each from Pontiac and Saturn. Four-cylinder, six-speed models of the Chevrolet Malibu and Saturn Aura lead among non-hybrid midsize sedans with 33 mpg highway, along with the Pontiac G6. The Chevy Cobalt XFE and Pontiac G5 XFE win among non-hybrid, gasoline-fueled subcompacts at 37 mpg highway.

Here are the models, along with their EPA-estimated highway fuel economy:

Chevrolet: Aveo sedan, Aveo5 (34 mpg with automatic or manual); Cobalt coupe and sedan (30 mpg for SS Turbocharged; 33 mpg for 2.2L automatic); Cobalt XFE (37); Malibu 2.4L (30 mpg with four-speed automatic; 33 mpg with six-speed); Malibu Hybrid (34), HHR (30 mpg with 2.2L and automatic or manual) and HHR Panel (30 mpg with 2.2L and automatic or manual).

Pontiac: G5 (33 mpg automatic, 35 mpg manual); G5 GT (32 mpg automatic, 35 mpg manual), G5 XFE coupe (37); G6 2.4L sedan (30 mpg with four-speed automatic, 33 mpg with six-speed); Vibe (1.8L model, 31 with automatic, 32 mpg with manual).

Saturn: Astra 5-Door; Astra 3-Door (all 30 mpg with automatic, 32 with manual); Aura four-cylinder (33); Aura Hybrid (34); and Vue Hybrid (32).

California Buckles Up

Sept. 8 - State traffic safety officials announced last week that seat belt use in California has reached an all-time high of 95.7 percent, an increase of more than 1 percentage point over the 2007 figure of 94.6 percent. California's seat belt usage rate is one of the highest in the nation.

"These numbers show that the overwhelming majority of Californians have gotten the message that seat belts work," said Dale E. Bonner, Secretary of the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency. "They save lives, prevent injuries and reduce the societal costs of collisions."

The annual survey by researchers at California State University, Fresno, has shown steady increases in seat belt usage since the start of the Click It or Ticket campaign in 2005, when usage was at 90.4 percent. In the last four years alone, it is estimated that more than 1.25 million motorists in the state have begun buckling up regularly.

"While we are very happy with actually surpassing 95 percent usage, that still means that more than a million people are in real danger in the event of a crash," said Christopher J. Murphy, Director of the Office of Traffic Safety (OTS). "It takes just two seconds to reduce your chances of dying in a crash by half."

With the successes of the traditional Click It or Ticket campaign in May, OTS officials are mounting the first ever Next Generation Click It or Ticket. Similar to the mobilization leading into the summer travel season, the new effort will kick off holiday driving by targeting the last two weeks of November.

If You Owned a Viper SRT-10...

Sep. 7 - Likely the modern progenitor of "in your face" styling, the Dodge Viper is, without a doubt, an all-American sports car and the icon of the Dodge brand.

For 2009, the Dodge Viper SRT10 remains available in two body styles - Roadster and Coupe. Both feature a dramatic hood with a more efficient hood scoop for air induction and functional hood louvers to facilitate a greater cooling effect for the powerful 8.4-liter 600-horsepower V-10 engine underneath.


The 2009 Dodge Viper SRT10 generates 600 horsepower (450 kW) and 560 lb.-ft. (760 N•m) of torque from its 8.4-liter (510-cubic-inch) V-10 engine. In the performance category, the numbers speak for themselves: 0-60 mph in under four seconds, quarter-mile time in the low 12-second range, 0-100-0 mph in the low 12-second range and 60-0 mph braking in under 100 feet.

If You Owned a Viper SRT-10, you would share the following demographic characteristics with your fellow Viper owners:

• Gender: 96 percent male/four percent female
• Median Age: 45 years old
• Annual Household Income: $173,000
• Education: 44 percent college graduate
• Household: 62 percent married
• Occupation: Primarily executive/entrepreneurial

While Chrysler's equity capital owners shop the car around to potential suitors, there is little doubt of the brand's ability to survive and sustain the kind of market approach that made it an American icon in the first place.

Toyota Delays Plant Opening

Sept. 6 - Toyota has delayed the opening of a new assembly plant in Canada. The Woodstock, Ontario facility was built to produce 75,000 RAV-4 vehicles per year, but weak sales have forced the company to delay plans. A company spokesperson confirmed that the plant will open later this year.

A second work shift had been anticipated early in 2009, which would have doubled vehicle output. Those plans have been shelved indefinitely, according to sources. Sales of the RAV-4 are down by almost 20 percent this year. Overall Toyota sales are down by more than nine percent in the U.S., but up more than 30 percent in Canada.

Late last week, Jim Lentz, president of Toyota Motor Sales, said that the company is anticipating industry-wide sales of slightly over 14 million vehicles in the U.S. market - down from the 16.2 million sold in 2007. The company is not forecasting any significant increases in 2009.

C60 Insurance Reductions

Sep.5 - Volvo Cars has attracted considerable attention with its new safety function in which the car brakes automatically.

"City Safety is of considerable interest to insurance institutes, and insurance companies on many markets are cutting premiums by up to 30 percent for anyone who insures a Volvo XC60," relates Anders Eugensson, safety expert at Volvo Cars Governmental Affairs.

City Safety, which is fitted as standard in the Volvo XC60, is a system whereby at low speeds (0-30 km/h) the car automatically brakes if the driver has been distracted and does not respond to a vehicle in front. The function thus helps cut the number and severity of low-speed rear-end collisions. Such impacts represent a large proportion of the total number of accidents that take place.

"We demonstrate City Safety on a track where a large inflatable bag shaped like a car is parked 40 metres away," explains Anders Eugensson. "We accelerate up to 15 km/h and when the collision is imminent, City Safety steps in and brakes the car so the collision can be entirely avoided. At speeds above 15 km/h but below 30 km/h, the car runs into the vehicle in front, but the consequences of the collision are much milder owing to the substantial retardation in speed.

"The car receives its command to brake from a laser sensor that is well-protected behind the windscreen. The command is sent to a processor that determines if the car has to be braked automatically. City Safety is an auxiliary system that never takes over the driver's responsibility," Eugensson emphasized.

Road Trip!

Sept. 3 - Two of the world's most fuel-efficient drivers, John and Helen Taylor, left today on the "Taylors' Diesel Inspiration" tour - an attempt to break the current world record for lowest fuel consumption on a drive across the 48 contiguous United States. The Taylors are behind the wheel of an all-new, clean diesel Volkswagen Jetta TDI employing simple "FuelStretch" driving tips they developed with Shell.

The Taylors are an Australian husband and wife team who set a Guinness World Record for driving around the globe on 24 tanks of fuel behind the wheel of a Volkswagen Golf in 2006, and as always, Guinness World Records rules and regulations will be strictly adhered to on this challenge.

Approximately 12 official check-in and refueling stops across the country are included throughout the duration of the drive, which is slated to conclude September 26 in W.Va. The current world record for the lowest fuel consumption on a nationwide drive is 51.8 miles per gallon.

"It will be a great challenge and adventure to drive through the 48 U.S. mainland states," said Helen Taylor. "We want to educate the American public that by choosing the right car, using the right fuel and adopting fuel-saving driving techniques, everyone in the U.S. can save money, fuel and reduce carbon emissions."

The Taylors have made a 26-year career out of driving economically and conducting workshops on fuel-efficient driving techniques. Along the way, they have collected 36 world fuel economy world records.

It's Almost Time

It's almost time... Time for what, you might ask?

It is time to introduce UberDrive^tm Magazine, a new digital publication for automotive enthusiasts everywhere.

UberDrive Magazine is written by enthusiasts, for enthusasts. We call it an Adventure Guide for those that love to DO stuff with their cars and trucks... and bikes... and sleds... and more.

Presented online in a digital flip book format, as well as adownloadable PDF file, UberDrive Magazine brings moderntechnology to cherished print values, creating an engaging, new experience for automotive enthusiasts everywhere.

Unlike “lifestyle” publications, UberDrive Magazine concentrates on knowledge, activity and accomplishment in our modern world and the new challenges we all face.

To make sure that you don’t miss an issue, drop by our web site and register for your free subscription. We’ll send you an email when each new issue is available. In the meantime, enjoy the sample stores that are available there.

The first issue of UberDrive Magazine will be available early in October.