Autoblog

GM says Chevy Equinox and Traverse rolling in conquest buyers

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Crossover, Chevrolet, GM

2010 Chevrolet Equinox - Click above for high-res image gallery

Sales - any kind of sales, regardless of who they are made to - with the possible exception of those made to fleets - are the ultimate all-important measuring stick for every automaker in the world. No matter how much the press or the public says they like a vehicle, if nobody is buying it, it's a flop.

But some sales are even more important than others. For instance, General Motors has sent out a press release specifically flaunting the number of so-called conquest buyers that are purchasing its latest Chevrolet Equinox and Traverse crossovers. Apparently, two-out-of-three buyers of the dynamic duo are trading in non-Chevrolet vehicles.

Further, these aren't all former GM customers. In fact, The General tells us that just nine percent of Equinox and Traverse buyers are trading in vehicles from its other core brands, and similarly small numbers are streaming in from its recently abandoned marques.

From a broader standpoint, the 120,000 crossovers that Chevrolet has sold so far this year represents an 80-percent gain over last year. Want more pro-GM-crossover statistics and bluster? You'll find plenty of 'em in the press release pasted after the break.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Chevrolet Equinox

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading GM says Chevy Equinox and Traverse rolling in conquest buyers

GM says Chevy Equinox and Traverse rolling in conquest buyers originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW experimenting with electronic noise canceling tech for diesels

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 31 May 2010 09:03:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, BMW, Diesel

BMW sound engineer Manuel Reichle and the 635d - Click above for high-res image gallery

When considering how to go about improving fuel efficiency and reducing emissions, we typically think of smaller engines, alternative fuels and electrification. One area that doesn't typically come to mind is that of sound design and acoustics. While the noises produced by a vehicle don't directly affect fuel efficiency, soundtracks are important because they are often a prime determinant in whether a given powertrain solution is acceptable to drivers and passengers.

Companies like BMW, General Motors, Honda and others have been actively pursuing mechanisms of controlling noise at the source in order to create more flexibility for modifying the powertrains. A key example is the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox with its 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder gasoline engine. GM added active noise cancellation so it could allow the engine to spend more time running at lower speeds where the engine tends to make more of a low booming sound. Without the noise cancellation technology, the engine's sountrack would turn off drivers.

Similarly, BMW has been carefully studying the structures of engine blocks and engine bays. Careful application of ribs and tuning of the structural shapes have allowed these structures to be made lighter without risk of excessive vibration. Similarly, adding insulation materials closer to the engine also reduces the amount needed overall as well as facilitating the use of other types of engines that might be inherently noisier.

All of these factors play into making more efficient vehicles that are appealing to customers. After all, if consumers don't want to buy a vehicle for reasons that have nothing to do with function, all of the efficiency advantages they might offer will be left stuck in 'park.'

Gallery: BMW Acoustic development

[Source: BMW]

Continue reading BMW experimenting with electronic noise canceling tech for diesels

BMW experimenting with electronic noise canceling tech for diesels originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 31 May 2010 09:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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General Motors adding Chevrolet Equinox production at Oshawa, move boosts GMC Terrain too

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 18:39:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Crossover, Chevrolet, GM, GMC, Canada

2010 Chevrolet Equinox - Click above for high-res image gallery

Continued strong demand for General Motors' new Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain has triggered the automaker to add extra production capacity for the crossovers at the its Oshawa, Ontario assembly plant. As you may recall, last year, GM added an extra shift of production at the Ingersoll plant that has always built the Equinox, but apparently that still isn't enough bandwidth. Thus, the body shop at Ingersoll will be expanded over the next several months to provide the extra stamping capacity needed to supply Oshawa. The bodyshells will then be shipped 120 miles east to Oshawa where a third shift will build the Equinox alongside the Impala.

With the new production capacity, all laid off employees at Ingersoll will be back at work and 70 workers will be hired. The Oshawa ramp-up will lead to the recall of 600 employees there, many of whom lost their jobs when full-size pickup truck production ended there last year. Production of the Equinox in Oshawa will start this fall.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Chevrolet Equinox

Continue reading General Motors adding Chevrolet Equinox production at Oshawa, move boosts GMC Terrain too

General Motors adding Chevrolet Equinox production at Oshawa, move boosts GMC Terrain too originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Mar 2010 18:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: GM smokes out Chevy Equinox; figures out how many ping pong balls fit inside

Chris Shunk — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 09:27:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Crossover, Chevrolet, GM

Click above to watch the video after the jump

From our vantage point the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox is a monumental upgrade from the Bowtie brand's first generation midsize crossover. General Motors seems to be pretty proud of its work as well, as the automaker has poured cash into advertising its first post-bankruptcy success story.

One such marketing exercise involving the Equinox is captured in the General's inaugural Department 180 video. The videos seek to showcase the improved quality of Chevy-branded vehicles, with the engineers co-starring in the spots along with the cars and trucks. The Equinox gets the first turn at bat in the new series, with employees showing how they tested the crossover to ensure that it had a quiet cabin.

The first test involves filling the cabin with a thick cloud of smoke, then checking every crevice of the vehicle to ensure nothing seeps out. The second, unofficial test is slightly less scientific and you can check out both in the video after the jump.

Continue reading Video: GM smokes out Chevy Equinox; figures out how many ping pong balls fit inside

Video: GM smokes out Chevy Equinox; figures out how many ping pong balls fit inside originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Feb 2010 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: GM to invest C$100M in Ingersoll plant to boost GMC Terrain, Chevy Equinox volume

Chris Shunk — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Crossover, Chevrolet, GM, GMC, Canada

2010 Chevrolet Equinox - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's early, but so far, General Motors' 2010 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain twins are exceeding sales expectations by enough of a margin that the automaker may have to shell out some serious coin to better-align production with demand. Reuters and the Toronto Star say GM will pay $100 million loonies ($93M USD) to upgrade its CAMI assembly facility in Ingersoll, Ontario to pump out more copies of the well-received crossovers. The move comes after The General added a third shift at the facility on October 19, resulting in 350 new jobs. The plant expansion, which Canadian officials told The Star would occur over the next six months, would result in the call-back of an additional 150 laid off positions.

The Equinox and Terrain were major factors in GM's 4% year-over-year sales increase in October, as the two new crossovers accounted for 7,868 and 2,994 October sales, respectively.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Chevrolet Equinox

Gallery: New York: 2010 GMC Terrain

[Source: Reuters]

REPORT: GM to invest C$100M in Ingersoll plant to boost GMC Terrain, Chevy Equinox volume originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2010 Chevrolet Equinox ushers in New GM era

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Crossover, Chevrolet, First Drives

2010 Chevy Equinox - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Chevrolet Equinox has never really been a loser in the compact crossover segment, but it has also never really been a leader, either. It was always just kind of "okay," with milquetoast styling, so-so performance and reasonable roominess, but never anything really attention grabbing. Coming just a week after General Motors filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, Chevrolet General Manager Ed Peper officially introduced the all-new 2010 Chevy Equinox as the first product of the "New General Motors," and it's clear that the company hopes their new baby is able to grab a much larger share of this burgeoning segment.

Among other things, the Equinox gets all new powertrains, including an available four-cylinder engine for the first time. Both the four and the new 3.0-liter V6 have direct fuel injection and are paired up with six-speed automatic transmissions. In fact, everything about the Equinox is new. Apparently the only major component carried over from the old model is the sunroof module. Everything else has been reworked or replaced. We had the opportunity to spend some seat time with both the four-cylinder and V6 models with front- and all-wheel drive. Find out if the Equinox finally has what it takes to be more than just competitive after the jump.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Chevrolet Equinox

Continue reading First Drive: 2010 Chevrolet Equinox ushers in New GM era

First Drive: 2010 Chevrolet Equinox ushers in New GM era originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Jun 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Chevy Equinox expected to hit 32 mpg highway

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 04 May 2009 14:32:00 EST

Filed under: Crossover, Chevrolet

2010 Chevy Equinox - Click above for a high-res image gallery

When General Motors rolled out the new 2010 Chevy Equinox in January, they announced the new EcoTec 2.4-liter four-cylinder version equipped with direct injection was expected to get 30 mpg on EPA highway cycle. Since then, the powertrain engineers have continued to tweak the calibrations to eek out every last mile from every gallon of gas. The EPA is still finishing up its evaluation of the Equinox but Chevy spokesman Brian Goebel sent out a note this morning that the latest internal tests at GM are showing the Equinox hitting 32 mpg on the highway cycle. In the city, the Equinox is expected to achieve a rating of 22 mpg. Those numbers easily top competitors like the Honda CR-V at 20/27 mpg and the Toyota Rav4 at 22/28 mpg. The Equinox should be in dealer showrooms in June.

Gallery: 2010 Chevrolet Equinox

2010 Chevy Equinox expected to hit 32 mpg highway originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 May 2009 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2009: The 2010 Chevy Equinox [w/VIDEO]

Frank Filipponio — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 16:09:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Crossover, Chevrolet

Click above to live shots of the 2010 Chevy Equinox from Detroit

The 2010 Chevy Equinox showed its new face alongside the 2010 Cadillac SRX in Detroit today, and it was a tossup as to which looked better. Regardless of where you stand on the Equinox' appearance, the new CUV is a far more sophisticated vehicle than the crossover it replaces. Power will be provided by a choice of two direct injection engines, with the four-cylinder model able returning 30 mpg on the highway and the new 3.0L V6 packing 255 horsepower. It also features a gorgeous interior that should look familiar to anyone who's looked inside a Malibu or Traverse.

While this is an evolution of the Theta architecture, the dimensions are almost identical to the old one and shared with the Saturn Vue. It still manages to look tidier than the outgoing model. The 2010 Equinox is still a unibody crossover with either front- or all-wheel drive and the same basic suspension layout as before. The styling is more contemporary, with prominent wheel arches and the obligatory Chevy twin-port grille. As expected of any new model these days, the full array of USB audio, Bluetooth and DVD entertainment systems are also now available. The full details are in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: Detroit 2009: 2010 Chevrolet Equinox

Gallery: LIVE: 2010 Chevrolet Equinox

Gallery: 2010 Chevrolet Equinox

Continue reading Detroit 2009: The 2010 Chevy Equinox [w/VIDEO]

Detroit 2009: The 2010 Chevy Equinox [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 11 Jan 2009 16:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: 2010 Chevy Equinox inside and out

Chris Shunk — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 12:34:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Crossover, Chevrolet, GM

Click above to watch video after the jump

The 2010 Chevy Equinox looks to be a far more sophisticated vehicle than the crossover it replaces. It will be powered by a choice of two direct injection engines, with the four-cylinder model able to crest 30 mpg on the highway and the new 3.0L V6 packing 255 horsepower. Chevy's new crossover also adds upgraded aesthetics with expressive, modern headlamps and tail lights, the new corporate Chevy grille and a more muscular stance. On the inside, the Equinox also looks very Malibu with a sweeping, double cockpit and a center stack that looks as good as any in the segment.

We had a chance to get down and dirty with the all-new Equinox at the GM Design Center last week, and the video evidence of our trip is available after the jump for your high-def, widescreen viewing pleasure. You can also read our in-depth preview of Chevy's new crossover by clicking here.

Gallery: LIVE: 2010 Chevrolet Equinox

Continue reading VIDEO: 2010 Chevy Equinox inside and out

VIDEO: 2010 Chevy Equinox inside and out originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Dec 2008 12:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DI FTW: GM unveils new direct-injection 2.4L EcoTec and 3.0L V6

Dan Roth — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:09:00 EST

Filed under: Crossover, Chevrolet, GM

Well, that was short lived. Ford just finished bringing its more powerful and efficient four- and six-cylinder engines to market in the Escape CUV, but the Dearborn CUV is going to have to kiss its crossover efficiency crown goodbye when the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox drops. Redone for '10, the new Equinox will offer direct-injection engines that deliver greater power and fuel economy improvements of their own, enough to push Ford's new powerplants out of the top spot.

This evening GM has unveiled a 2.4-liter direct injection EcoTec four-cylinder that will kick out 180 horsepower while returning a projected EPA highway rating of 30 mpg (Ford's 2.5L I-4 produces 170 hp and returns a maximum of 28 mpg highway). It's a marvelous way to send the old 3.4 liter V6 into the sunset, but if you absolutely must have a V6, there's also a DI 3.0-liter version of GM's excellent "high feature" V6 delivering an impressive 255 horsepower (Again, Ford's heavily revised 3.0L V6 produces 240 hp).

Both engines have been developed with an eye (or ear) toward reducing the typically increased noise of DI engines. There are rubber isolators to keep the fuel rail racket down and attention to noise attenuation was an important aspect of the program. Variable valve timing also allows both engines to be more efficient over a broader rpm range. Backing both powerplants is a six-speed automatic transmission. Now all the General has to do is hang on 'till these cars hit showrooms and pray for higher fuel prices to further drive demand.

[Source: GM]

Continue reading DI FTW: GM unveils new direct-injection 2.4L EcoTec and 3.0L V6

DI FTW: GM unveils new direct-injection 2.4L EcoTec and 3.0L V6 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: 2010 Chevy Equinox

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:34:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Crossover, Chevrolet

Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2010 Chevy Equinox.

The stealthy lensmen at KGP have caught the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox making the rounds at General Motors' internal testing facility, and they've provided us with a better glimpse of Chevy's new crossover, beyond the low-res image that appeared last month.

The revised fascia predictably apes the new Malibu's front end, with a horizontal bar bisecting the enlarged grille. The headlamps and taillights have a new shape that sweeps down and back, following into fenders fitted with seriously blistered wheel arches. The rear hatch features a steeper rake, and the C- and D-pillars cleanly integrate into the more modern exterior.

General Motors has already announced that the new Equinox will be available with either a direct-injected 2.3-liter inline-four or a V6, and sales should begin next summer, after production begins in May.

Gallery: Spy Shots: 2010 Chevy Equinox

Spy Shots: 2010 Chevy Equinox originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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