Citing a defect that can cause a parked vehicle to roll away, General Motors is recalling 277,000 cars and trucks. The models involved, all built for the 2009 model year, may have a loose clip on their transmission shift cable. The failure of the clip to be locked into place may prevent the transmission from moving into Park – even if the driver moves the shift lever into the proper position. GM has told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that dealers will inspect the transmission shift cable and replace broken units. Affected models include the Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Cobalt, Chevrolet HHR, Chevrolet Malibu, Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, Pontiac G5, Pontiac G6, Saturn Aura and Saturn Outlook. NHTSA Safety Campaign after the jump.

[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd]

click image above for high-res gallery

While the name Traverse is not set in stone, the arrival of a Lambda-based CUV for Chevy is. Joining the Saturn Outlook, GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave will be this model caught for the first time on the Las Vegas strip, of all places. Condenamed the GMT 561, the Traverse is on a fast track to production and will likely be built at GM's Springhill, Tennessee plant starting in August of 2008, which means it should be labeled as a 2009 model. Chances are we'll see its first public debut at either the Detroit Auto Show in January or Chicago show in February.

While it's hard to tell based on the spy shots, the front end will likely carry styling cues over from the new Chevy Malibu, which is fine with us. The only real question is whether or not the Traverse will grow Lambda sales, or merely cannibalize them from its siblings. We expect it would be the value leader among the group, slotting below the Outlook in price and equipment. Does the Traverse make for one too many full-size CUVs in GM's stable? Perhaps, but at least the "new GM" is badge engineering vehicles that are good to begin with, spreading the wealth around its brands rather than saddling them with poorly made copies of below average vehicles.

[Photos: Brenda Priddy & Co.]

We've finally poked our respective heads out of our interweb caves and unleashed episode 67 of the Autoblog podcast upon the world. We've been pretty nutty lately with our new, improved site design and our groundbreaking car giveaway, so please forgive our delay at getting back to this. Our first delightful round of witty repartee centers around the excellent spy shots from the last couple weeks, and more specifically Jaguar's new Starship Enterprise looking shift selector. Expanding on the abundance of uberteched European cars, we carp for a while on the proliferation of new and ill-conceived user interface paradigms. Coming back to native shores, we touch on the new CTS-V, which will eschew the need for bumper nuts by a conspicuously bulged hood hiding a supercharged V8 capable of roasting the competition. Speaking of big power, we touch on the rumored NSX mule running around the Nurburgring in S2000 drag, and then concede that we really have no idea. Again, we come back to the US after a quick jaunt to the Continent, and discuss the upcoming Chevy version of GM's Lambda CUV. We're split on whether that's a good idea or not, but we all agree that the Utes themselves are a great product from the General. What the heck, let's go back across the Atlantic to close it out with insane VAG concepts at the Worthersee gathering in Austria, which saw the unveiling of a mid engine twin turbo GTI, the Audi TT Clubsport design study, and the Pirelli Edition GTI that is a real production car. We decided to only consume about 37 minutes of your time, as we'll be back soon. Enjoy the show!

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Sometimes news is just too good to keep to yourself. Just ask GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz. With his company supposedly claiming 13 spots on Edmund's Consumers' Most Wanted list, Lutz just had to brag a bit on the corporate blog before the winners were made public.

And he should brag. Most other car of the year awards are chosen by us automotive writers who usually prefer horsepower over hip room. As the name implies, Edmund's CMW awards are chosen by the car-buying public. And despite not voting with their wallets, the car-buying public who visits Edmund's really like their GMs.

The GMC Acadia got Most Significant vehicle of the year, beating out Honda's Fit, the Toyota Camry Hybrid, the Ford Edge and the Toyota Tundra.

Click through to see Edmund's press release as well as the other category winners.

[Source: Edmunds, GM FastLane Blog]

Yesterday the website Inside Line reported that sources deep within General Motors revealed that the storied "Nomad" name would be revived for the upcoming Chevy version of the automaker's full-size Lambda-based CUV. According to their sources, the new ute will debut as a 2009 model to replace the abhorrent Chevy Uplander.

Not so, says Josh Oliver from The GM Source. His sources, also deep within General Motors, claim that reviving the "Nomad" name, which most recently was used on a Kappa-based concept in 2004 (shown above), has never even "appeared on the radar screen" during discussions of how to christen the new crossover. Oliver's sources also claim the CUV will appear in 2009 as a 2010 model.

Who to believe? We don't really care, because it's just a name. We're more concerned that GM's spreading the Lamda platform too thin across four brands. While the Buick Enclave manages to differentiate itself well from therest of the pack, the Saturn Outlook and GMC Acadia already appear too close for our comfort. Hopefully the Chevy version doesn't come off as an Acadia with a Malibu grille.

[Source: TheGMSource]

We've heard these rumors before, but now, sources deep within the RenCen have made it clear to Inside Line that a Lambda-based crossover sporting a bow tie and a "Nomad" badge could be coming in 2009.

Although the 50s nameplate doesn't carry the same cache as say, the Mustang, it's still somewhat recognizable to non-enthusiasts and with so many nameplate revivals, it certainly wouldn't be out of the question.

If the Nomad would come to fruition, it would be used to plug the hole currently left by the Chevrolet Uplander, whose sales have been less than noteworthy. Sporting seven seats and carrying many of the same lines as its GMC sibling, the Acadia, IL's sources say that although the name harkens back to times gone by, the styling won't. And it's doubtful that any cues will be taken from the 2004 concept that shares the same badge.

[Source: Inside Line]

The KickingTires blog at Cars.com is reporting GM has recalled its new 2007 Saturn Outlook and GMC Acadia full-size CUVs for potentially faulty airbag sensors. The problem is reportedly software related, meaning it can be fixed with a trip to the dealer and a quick patch, but every single unit sold since they went on sale in December is affected by the recall. Letters went out yesterday to owners of the Saturn Outlook and will be sent on February 28th for GMC Acadia owners.

This is not a recall mandated by the NHTSA, but rather one initiated by GM itself after the problem was discovered internally. The potentialy faulty sensor in question controls the front airbags' deployment. While this potentially faulty sensor in the Outlook and Acadia could cause injury, GM apparently caught it quickly and the fix should be cheap, easy and fast for them to apply to every vehicle affected by the recall.

[Source: KickingTires.com]

UPDATE - AWD pricing added. Scroll for details.

The price of entry for the eight-passenger 2007 GMC Acadia is $29,990.

That sum gets you a front-wheel-drive model with the new 3.6L V6 tuned to pump out 275 horsepower, plus standard features including StabiliTrak, ABS, Airbags all around, AM/FM/CD with MP3 capability, the latest, greatest version of OnStar, dual exhaust with a pair of double-barrel tips, 18" rims, and a roof spoiler. Load it up all the way and you' should see that bottom line fly well into the $30Ks.

You also get GM's spiffy 5yr/100K mile powertrain warranty. Sadly, none of the available optional equipment enables the Acadia to fly like the GM cars in the new TV spots, so you'll have to sit in traffic like the rest of us. At least the GM-nouveau interior gives you a nice place to sit.

UPDATE: Our buddy Dave over at Kicking Tires has posted the base price for the AWD model, which comes in at $31,990. Dave also notes that the announced pricing for both the FWD and AWD models includes a $735 destination charge.

(Press release after the jump)

[Source: GM]

Official shots of the 2007 GMC Acadia have just surfaced on Inside Line GM's media site, and here we get our first look at the production version of GMC's first product ever to be offered without a full frame. Built on the Lambda platform that will also underpin the 2007 Saturn Outlook and 2008 Buick Enclave, the Acadia features a 267-horsepower 3.6L V6 and six-speed auto transmission. Fuel economy should range between 17 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway. It will be available in front- and four-wheel drive and can seat or eight people depending on the configuration.

After seeing the 2007 Saturn Outlook in person at the 2006 New York International Auto Show, we're a bit surprised there's not more visual differentiation between that vehicle and the Acadia. The Acadia's less cluttered face is a bit more attractive than the Outlook, which incorporates Saturn's new grille. What do you think, does this fall under the rubric of badge reengineering?

Since General Motors is working on consolidating GMC, Buick and Pontiac into a single retail network, the Buick Enclave needs to be the most distinguishable one of three, since it will be on the same dealer lots as the Acadia. GM needs to build a Buick version that resembles the Buick Enclave Concept (official website) as closely as possible, as that SUV was actually a sleeper hit of the 2006 Detroit auto show.

(Check out more pics after the jump)

UPDATE - 19 official pics, full press release and complete specifications after the jump

[Source: Inside Line]

General Motors and Ford have announced plans to cut some of their light truck models to focus on new crossovers. Automotive News reported that GM's TrailBlazer (right) and Envoy SUVs are on the way out, with a scheduled 2009 restyling cancelled. The Blue Oval boys are cutting the Monterey minivan in the very near future, with the Ford Freestar retiring soon.

GM plans to concentrate on its new-generation crossovers - the GMC Acadia, Saturn Outlook and Buick Enclave, while Ford plans to develop a production version of the Ford Fairlane concept for both the Ford and Lincoln brands.

[Source: Autoweek]