Autoblog

Ward's 10 Best Interiors released, Asian automakers take 7 of 10 spots

Jeffrey N. Ross — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Acura, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Hyundai, Kia, Lexus, Mazda, Nissan, Toyota, Design/Style, Ram

Step inside just about any new car these days and you'll quickly see that vehicle interiors have become a pretty nice place to spend some time in. For the third consecutive year, WardsAuto sat in each and every new vehicle that had received redesigned or updated interiors, and it has now named its 10 Best Interiors.

Judges look at everything from design and fit-and-finish to comfort, safety and technology. Some of the standout selections include budget cars like the Chevrolet Spark and Kia Forte all the way up to more expensive sedans like the $60,000+ Cadillac XTS and Lexus GS450h. An interesting note here is that WardsAuto praises Cadillac for its CUE infotainment system while Consumer Reports generally lambasts the system. Asian automakers definitely won the contest for nicest interiors as the list is comprised of five Japanese automakers and two South Korean, with Toyota and General Motors in a dead heat with the most number of cars on the list with two each.

Scroll down for the full list (in alphabetical order) and press release from WardsAuto for its 10 Best Interiors of 2013.

Continue reading Ward's 10 Best Interiors released, Asian automakers take 7 of 10 spots

Ward's 10 Best Interiors released, Asian automakers take 7 of 10 spots originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Apr 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2013 Chevrolet Spark gets EPA rating of 32/38 MPG

Chris Tutor — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 16:28:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Hatchback, Chevrolet

Chevrolet can't be too happy with the EPA numbers for its tiny Spark. Equipped with the 1.2-liter engine and five-speed manual, the smallest Chevy in history gets 32 miles per gallon in the city, 38 on the highway for a combined EPA number of 34 mpg. Not bad, but not what we and, presumably, Chevy, were hoping for. Add the optional automatic transmission, and the numbers drop to 28 city, 37 highway and a combined number of 32 mpg.

When we first saw the Spark at the Geneva show in 2009, the Spark was expected to get a combined number of 47 mpg, though that may have been forecasting a European rating.

With its small size and small, 1.2 liter, 85 hp engine, it's easy to think of the Spark as super efficient. The similarly-sized Smart ForTwo gets a combined EPA number of 36 mpg, while the larger Hyundai Accent gets 34 as well.

In fact, the Spark's larger stablemates, the Cruze Eco and Sonic, can do almost as well if properly equipped. Both cars gets a combined 33 mpg with the turbocharged 1.4 liter and manual six-speed transmission. The Sonic even breaks the 40-mpg barrier in highway driving and the Cruze Eco gets an even better 42.

The moral of this story? Looks like a sixth gear makes a huge difference in fuel economy. And if you don't mind paying a little more, you can get a larger Chevy with better EPA numbers.

2013 Chevrolet Spark gets EPA rating of 32/38 MPG originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Jul 2012 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM battery lab explosion cost could reach $5M

Sebastian Blanco — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: Safety, Technology, GM, Electric

Last week, a fire broke out at the General Motors Technical Center battery research lab in Warren, Michigan. General Motors has since said the fire was caused by a battery that was being tested under "extreme stress." Engineers were trying to get the pack to fail, which it did, but not to ignite, which it also did when gases leaked out and somehow caught fire.

There's one detail we have not heard yet, and that's how much the fire could end up costing GM: up to $5 million, the The Detroit News reports, based on information that the automaker's representatives submitted in a police report. The local fire department has estimated that the damage could be closer to $3 million, with one million of that due to property loss - at least two labs were damaged - and $2 million worth of damage to the labs' contents. An investigation into the cause and extent of the fire continues.

The battery pack involved was not the same as the one used in the Chevrolet Volt and GM says that the incident has not negatively affected Volt sales. Media reports have suggested the battery is be intended for the Spark EV program and that the prototype battery pack was made by A123 (which has had other battery issues recently). Multiple people were injured in the fire but only one remains in the hospital because of "an estimated four-inch gash to the back of his head."

GM battery lab explosion cost could reach $5M originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Apr 2012 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Five people hurt in GM lab explosion, A123 battery reportedly responsible

Sebastian Blanco — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 10:58:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, GM

More details are filtering in about yesterday's explosion at the General Motors Technical Center battery research lab in Warren, Michigan.

First, the number of people injured has climbed to five, with one taken to the hospital and four treated at the scene. The local deputy fire chief said none of the injuries were life-threatening. The fire department also told the local mayor that it was fumes from hydrogen sulfide that caused the explosion, but GM declined to comment on that aspect. We learned yesterday that a battery under "extreme testing" caused the explosion.

According to The Detroit News' David Shepardson on Twitter, "Chemical gases from the battery cells were released and ignited in the enclosed chamber. The battery itself was intact" and, "All areas of the Alternative Energy Center except for the battery lab and adjacent offices will operate normally on Thursday."

Unnamed sources have told the media that it was a prototype battery pack made by A123 that caused the fire. Fox News says that pack was being tested for use in the Chevy Spark EV and other all-electric vehicles. Batteries made by A123 were recently involved in a $55 million replacement effort in the Fisker Karma.

Five people hurt in GM lab explosion, A123 battery reportedly responsible originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Apr 2012 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hands-on with Chevrolet MyLink for the 2013 Sonic, Spark

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, CES, Videos, Hatchback, Chevrolet, Infotainment

We got our first taste of Chevrolet's new entry-level version of MyLink at CES, and for being a pre-production unit that's not due to arrive in showrooms until later this year, we're throughly impressed.

The system uses a seven-inch resistive touchscreen to display the basics - audio, telephone and settings - along with a photo/video viewer (only functional when the car is stationary) and an app launcher.

The only two apps currently available are Pandora and Stitcher, but there's a lot of space to fill on that screen and the reps we spoke to made it clear that they're in talks with other third-party developers.

What impressed the most was both the responsiveness - something other automakers have been combating for some time - and the overall design, which is clean, clear and straight-forward (and how can you go wrong with Helvetica Neue?). It's everything we want in a touchscreen interface and nothing more.

Well, almost.

There's no embedded navigation system, so you'll be relying on OnStar to provide directions. That said, turn-by-turn guidance will be ported through the head unit, so it's better than dealing with arrows on a tiny screen nestled between the gauges. And what about voice control? For Android devices, Chevy is leveraging the built in voice search functionality. For the iPhone... not much, yet. But for a system that's aimed at subcompacts and with a price point that's sure to be more than palatable, you can't have the world. And aside from the Sync-equipped Ford Fiesta, there's nothing out there that even begins to compete. Check out the demo after the jump for more.

Continue reading Hands-on with Chevrolet MyLink for the 2013 Sonic, Spark

Hands-on with Chevrolet MyLink for the 2013 Sonic, Spark originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chevrolet MyLink democratizes infotainment, coming to 2013 Sonic and Spark

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 22:01:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Technology, Hatchback, Chevrolet, Infotainment

Infotainment systems are expensive. Even rolled into the average new car payment and spread out over four or five years, you're still talking about some serious cash. And if we're honest, most buyers that can drop that kind of coin generally don't care about deep smartphone integration. But young people do. And that's where the latest MyLink system from Chevrolet comes in.

Set to be fitted to the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic RS and higher-spec Spark models, the new, low-cost MyLink system integrates a seven-inch LG-sourced capacitive display into the dash and can connect with either iPhones or Android devices with a USB cable or Bluetooth.

Phone and address book integration is built in, but more importantly, users can stream Pandora and Stitcher radio through the system, as well as play videos and photo slideshows. OnStar handles navigation duties and reps tell us that more third party apps are on the way.

GM isn't saying how much the system will cost when it hits both models later this year, but something well below $500 would be a smart place to start. From the images we've seen, it's easily one of the most attractive interfaces on the market and we're hoping to get some hands-on time with it tonight. But in the meantime, get the first batch of details in the video and release after the break.

Continue reading Chevrolet MyLink democratizes infotainment, coming to 2013 Sonic and Spark

Chevrolet MyLink democratizes infotainment, coming to 2013 Sonic and Spark originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 22:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #256

Dan Roth — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 10:15:00 EST

Filed under: Podcasts

2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe, Lexus HS 250h, Chevrolet Spark, Cadillac XTS

Episode #256 of the Autoblog Podcast is here a day late but still fresh, with Chris, Dan and Zach this week. Topics include the heavily revised Hyundai Genesis Coupe, the possible death of the Lexus HS 250h, the U.S. Chevrolet Spark and the Cadillac XTS. Your questions and comments power the end of the 'cast, and for those of you who hung with us live on our UStream channel, thanks for taking the time. We've embedded our Q&A module after the jump for you to scroll through and follow along, too. Thanks for listening!

Autoblog Podcast #256:

In the Autoblog Garage
2012 Chevrolet Volt
2012 Volkswagen Beetle
2012 Ford Edge EcoBoost

Hosts: Dan Roth, Chris Shunk, Zach Bowman

Runtime: 01:17:50

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Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #256

Autoblog Podcast #256 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Nov 2011 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chevrolet Spark minicar confirmed for U.S.

Jeff Glucker — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 12:59:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Hatchback, Chevrolet, GM

General Motors wants to take on all segments of the automotive industry. With the all-new Sonic making its way to dealerships later this year, GM will have a new player in the B-segment, and now, a tweet from the automaker has confirmed that the Chevrolet Spark minicar is officially arriving Stateside.

The diminutive Spark will allow GM to have a hand in all areas of the automotive cookie jar. As American car buyers begin to embrace smaller, more efficient modes of transportation, the Spark could be arriving at the perfect time. We got our first glimpse of the automaker's mini at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show, and we were intrigued by the idea of a Chevrolet achieving a combined 47 miles per gallon. Now, it seems we'll get to experience green machine for ourselves on U.S. soil, starting sometime in 2012.

Chevrolet Spark minicar confirmed for U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 04 Aug 2011 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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General Motors 2011 VIN decoder reveals new 1.0L, 1.2L, 1.6L four cylinder engines

Sam Abuelsamid — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 18:58:00 EST

Filed under: Chevrolet, GM

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

General Motors' Service and Parts Operations website has published a pair of new documents for decoding 2011 model year Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) which reveal several new engines. The passenger car list includes a pair of small inline-fours of 1.0 and 1.2-liters displacement. Both engines are listed as port-injected, dual-overhead-cam units from the automaker's South Korean operations, GM Daewoo Automotive Technologies (GMDAT). We're assuming that these are the engines for the Spark mini-car that is due to arrive on our shores sometime during the coming year.

Also on the car list are a pair of 1.6-liter fours listed at 80 and 82 kilowatts. The 80 kW unit matches the 108 horsepower output of the current Aveo engine, so presumably it's a carryover until the new model arrives early in next year. That car is expected to use 110 hp (82 kW) version.

Finally, in the light-duty truck list, there is a 177 horsepower 2.2-liter diesel inline-four. GM has made clear that it has no plans to offer any light-duty diesel engines in the States, so we assume that this is for an export market vehicle, likely the Chevrolet Colorado pickup. The decoder guides are after the jump. A tip of the hat to xeong5!

Gallery: 2010 Chevy Spark

[Source: General Motors Service and Parts Operations]

Continue reading General Motors 2011 VIN decoder reveals new 1.0L, 1.2L, 1.6L four cylinder engines

General Motors 2011 VIN decoder reveals new 1.0L, 1.2L, 1.6L four cylinder engines originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How the British Pay Homage to 50's America: Chevrolet Spark woody

Zach Bowman — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 12:59:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Budget, Europe, Hatchback, Chevrolet, UK, Design/Style

Chevrolet Spark Woody art car - Click above for high-res image gallery

At some point in history, the notion of having a wood-lined automobile went from the pinnacle of awesome to the depths of loathsome. We're guessing that demarcation falls at about the same point in time when automakers stopped using real wood and started gluing vinyl recreations to the sides of vehicles that were an affront to cool to begin with. If you need proof, please direct your attention to any number of woody Chrysler PT Cruiser models or, if you're of stouter stomach, the self-proclaimed Chevrolet Spark Woody Wagon art car pictured above.

Chevrolet UK decided to wrap one of the company's diminutive people movers in wood-grained Di-Nocto harken back to the company's American, youthful roots - or at least that's what the press release says. If that's not enough to send your head spinning, take a good close look at those tires. Yup, they're wide whitewalls.

The company has rolled out a few different one-off art Sparks so far, and plans to keep it up with a new British Touring Car Championship inspired version set for an unveil later this month. We're guessing that one will strike our fancy a bit more than the trans-generational pastiche above. Hit the jump for the press release and make sure to check out the large high-res gallery below - but perhaps you'll want to pop a few Tums first.

Gallery: Chevrolet Europe Spark Woody Art Car

[Source: Chevrolet UK]

Continue reading How the British Pay Homage to 50's America: Chevrolet Spark woody

How the British Pay Homage to 50's America: Chevrolet Spark woody originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Aug 2010 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chevy Beat stars as centerpiece of European young artists competition [w/video]

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 19:40:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Europe, Videos, Chevrolet, UK, Design/Style

Young Creative Chevrolet awards - Click above to watch video after the jump

Just as Toyota rocks a lot more hip in Australia than it does in the U.S., Chevrolet's got far more groove in Europe than it does domestically. That kind of juice gives rise to things like the fourth annual Young Creative Chevrolet competition that's grown from eight schools in eight countries to 135 schools in twenty countries.

The challenge for entrants this year was to find the coolest way to insert the Chevy Beat into five media: fashion, music, photography, video and visual arts. Winners came four countries, the UK taking photography, Austria grabbing music, Portugal owning visual arts, and France unsurprisingly nabbing fashion and video. Winners get "behind-the-scenes" experiences with their respective category judges.

We could tell you more about it here, but the gallery of high-res images below and the three videos after the jump do a much better job of it (there's a press release back there, too). Congratulations to all of the winners. We hope the Beat/Spark is even half as cool when it reaches our shores... albeit maybe with a different soundtrack.

Gallery: 2010 Young Creative Chevrolet Awards

[Source: Chevrolet]

Continue reading Chevy Beat stars as centerpiece of European young artists competition [w/video]

Chevy Beat stars as centerpiece of European young artists competition [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Jul 2010 19:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chevy builds Cruze-engined Super Spark for WTCC duty

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 15:57:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Hatchback, Chevrolet

Chevrolet Spark turbo - Click above to enlarge

Chevrolet has built a special edition of its new Spark runabout for use as a pace car during World Touring Car Championship races this year. The Spark is powered by the new 1.4-liter turbocharged inline-four that will power the Cruze when it goes on sale in the United States this fall. The turbo-four produces 140 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque while standard production Sparks are powered by 1.0 or 1.2-liter engines generating 67 and 80 hp, respectively, so this figures to indeed be a significantly hotter drive. The Spark turbo will make its first WTCC appearance during the event at Zolder, Belgium on June 19-20.

Before it gets down to business, the Spark and a WTCC Cruze will be displayed with the Corvette C6.R at the kickoff of this week's activities for the 24 hours of Le Mans. The GT2 Corvettes ran second and third in the opening qualifying session on Wednesday.

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading Chevy builds Cruze-engined Super Spark for WTCC duty

Chevy builds Cruze-engined Super Spark for WTCC duty originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Jun 2010 15:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Chevrolet tries to Spark up some interest with World's Largest Record Player

Dan Roth — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 12:57:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Hatchback, Chevrolet, UK, Design/Style

Chevrolet Spark DJ booth - click above to watch the video

Wherever feral youths congregate, it's pretty much a given that there'll be a car on its side. Now Chevrolet has gone and made that a certainty by creating a Spark that's intended to be rotated 90 degrees to rock the party. The car powers the DJ gear, though we're curious about modifications to the oil sump to keep the engine happy when on its side.

A special Chevrolet Spark DJ car that can pull off the Batmobile-like trick of transforming from a road-going automobile to a DJ platform with turntables on the wheels will be joining the haircut-wanting "indie" band The Mystery Jets (you're not an indie if you've got Chris Thomas producing your record. Just sayin') on some gigs starting today, April 8. The location of the Spark's roll-over-and-play-music demonstration will be determined by public vote, though the idea of a mustard factory in Birmingham sound like a tasty locale. Press release and video posted after the jump.

Gallery: 2010 Chevy Spark

[Source: Chevrolet]

Continue reading Video: Chevrolet tries to Spark up some interest with World's Largest Record Player

Video: Chevrolet tries to Spark up some interest with World's Largest Record Player originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 12:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM confirms Chevrolet Spark for North America after all

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:28:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Hatchback, Chevrolet, GM, Misc. Auto Shows, India, Canada

2010 Chevrolet Beat for India - Click above to enlarge

The question of whether or not General Motors will bring its diminutive Chevrolet Spark to the United States still doesn't have a definitive answer. Thanks to a GM of India press release, however, we now know that the little urban runabout will be coming to North America, although that geography obviously also includes Mexico and Canada.

In the past, GM spokespeople have suggested that it might be possible for the Spark (A.K.A. "Beat," or that unbearably irritating robot from Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen) to be imported Stateside and that the automaker had kept U.S. regulations in mind when designing the car. Regardless, with gas as cheap as it currently is and a new Aveo just around the corner, we're certainly not holding our breath for a U.S. launch any time soon, and we feel that seeing the Beat in Mexican and/or Canadian showrooms is more likely.

That said, feel free to hit the jump to read GM of India's press release on the introduction of the Beat, which made its production-ready debut earlier in the week in New Delhi.

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading GM confirms Chevrolet Spark for North America after all

GM confirms Chevrolet Spark for North America after all originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Auto Expo 2010: Chevrolet e-Spark, an electric car for the average Indian car buyer

Sebastian Blanco — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 08:32:00 EST

Chevrolet e-Spark - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Reva NXG concept car looks aggressive, like it wants to hunt down anyone who says that all electric cars needs to look silly. The Chevrolet Spark concept, too, looks pretty darn good for a little car. The two companies are working together on an all-electric car for the Indian market and it was revealed at the New Delhi Auto Show this week. Sadly, the look of the car is a big bag of yawn.

The car in question is the Chevrolet e-Spark, and it would be India's first four-door electric vehicle. The outside is simply the standard Indian-spec Spark, but Reva's EV powertrain sits underhood. Detailed information on this car is scarce, but we hear it will have both regular drive and boost modes as well as regenerative brakes. There might also be an option to get the car with either lead acid or lithium-ion batteries. Production should start sometime this year.

Gallery: New Delhi 2010: eSpark

[Source: Bikencar | Live Images: Indianautosblog]

Auto Expo 2010: Chevrolet e-Spark, an electric car for the average Indian car buyer originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Jan 2010 08:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: GM to show Chevy Orlando-based GMC Granite and hi-po Buick Regal in Detroit

Frank Filipponio — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 18:25:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Convertible, Coupe, Budget, Sedan, Performance, Etc., Crossover, Hatchback, Buick, Chevrolet, GM, Rumormill, Luxury, Off-Road

GMC Granite will share a platform with the 2011 Chevrolet Orlando shown above

It seems as though it's just about impossible to keep an embargo in place these days. A Canadian outlet just spilled the beans on a couple of GM reveals set for Detroit next month. They say they were invited to a sneak preview Wednesday evening and although they couldn't take pics, they felt free to tell us about the whole array of models. Some have been loosely-guarded secrets, but a couple are unknowns, so we'll quote CanadianDriver on those until we get confirmation from GM.

Apparently, The General will have a slew of new model introductions in the D next month, including the much-anticipated Camaro Convertible, the new, upsized Aveo, a substantially-revised Malibu, production versions of the Spark and Orlando, and two models we hadn't heard about until now: A GMC version of the Orlando dubbed the Granite, and a "sport version of the Buick Regal" that should get "many of its performance parts from the 325-hp Opel Insignia OPC." Hot dog, the Regal GS is apparently more than a wet dream. Bring on the Stage 1 and GNX.

The Regal was just introduced in Los Angeles a couple of weeks ago, so the announcement of a performance model so soon thereafter seems a little strange -- not that we're complaining, mind you. The Granite is described as an "urban utility vehicle" and will be the smallest model in GMC's history. A Denali edition can only be around the corner. We'll get you more details as they are released and we'll be sure to have the whole field covered when the Big Top opens at Cobo in January.

Gallery: Detroit 2009: Chevrolet Orlando Concept

Gallery: 2010 Chevy Spark

Gallery: 2011 Buick Regal Live Unveiling

[Source: CandianDriver]

REPORT: GM to show Chevy Orlando-based GMC Granite and hi-po Buick Regal in Detroit originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 19 Dec 2009 18:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Minicar, EV on the way from Opel

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:32:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, GM, Opel, Electric

General Motors has declared that Opel needs a minicar, a tiny little thing that can compete with runabouts like the Ford Ka and Peugeot 107. That's a fine sentiment here at the starting line, but to get to the finish GM will need to keep Opel running smoothly, get its Spark firing quickly (if indeed it aims to use that as an Opel), and lure some eyeballs away from the two dozen minicars currently in the segment and the ones on the way from the likes of Volkswagen and Toyota.

Opel showed off the Trixx Concept (pictured) five years ago, but it was left out back to die in favor of the Spark. Five years on, the Spark hasn't arrived, meanwhile the Ford Ka has solidified its position with 500,000 sales in the UK alone over the last 13 years, the equally cheap and cuter-than-kittens Fiat 500 is still winning awards and stealing hearts and the VW Up! is banging drums.

When Magna was going to purchase Opel it said it would have a minicar for the brand by 2012. GM gave no timeline for its arrival, but did say that it was also looking at battery-powered electric cars -- possibly an electric Spark with the help of Reva? Whatever it is -- as long as it's good -- it can't come too soon.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

REPORT: Minicar, EV on the way from Opel originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #154

Dan Roth — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:10:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Podcasts, Etc., Acura, BMW, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Hyundai, Infiniti, Lexus, Nissan

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Episode #154 of the Autoblog Podcast is here for your tryptophan-addled pleasure. Chris, Sam, and Dan kick it, starting with the BMW 5 Series, then move on to such appetite supressants as the Lexus GX, Acura ZDX and its pricing, and Infiniti's re-style of the massive QX56 rig. Before we become an emetic, we move on to the pretty new Infiniti M, the ongoing anticipation for a US-bound Chevrolet Spark, and Hyundai's new 2.4 liter direct-injection 4 cylinder for the next Sonata. We hit some questions, and wrap it up in time for pie.

If you're looking to bulk up on podcast excellence over the Thanksgiving holiday, check out our colleagues at Joystiq and Engadget. Let us know what you think by dropping us an email at Podcast at Autoblog dot com, reviewing the show in iTunes, filling out our survey, or even leaving us a voicemail on our Google Voice line 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763). Thanks for listening, we'll see you next week!

Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #154

Autoblog Podcast #154 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Chevrolet Spark still under consideration for U.S.

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:27:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Hatchback, Chevrolet

The 2010 Chevy Spark is still said to be an "on-and-off thing" when it comes to the U.S., although now we are in an "on" phase. That's according to GM's Jack Keaton, the man in South Korea overseeing GM's minicar development. The miniature runabout is expected to make do with a 66-hp, 1.0-liter four-cylinder or a 78-hp, 1.2-liter four-cylinder engine that will be good for 47 mpg. Keaton's team is also investigating peripheral connectivity and, as if that weren't enough, he says, "We can even package the Spark for Big Gulp cupholders."

The issue is getting it here and on sale at the right moment. While this is an "on" phase, there are still regulatory issues and the matter of whether U.S. buyers are ready to make a minicar profitable. It will take something compelling to get Americans back into the frugal mindedness of last year, and gas isn't nearly expensive enough for that yet. The Spark's appearance in Chevy's American lineup does look to be an eventuality, though, when Keaton says "We have to start thinking now about how to meet the standards... and people will be looking for minicars and small cars to lead the way."

Nevertheless, while the Spark looks to be coming to America, it probably won't be built in America -- at least not until GM sees that the market here will be large enough to support it. We're all right with that for now; just get it here and make sure it doesn't do anything to remind us of Skid from Transformers.

[Source: Ward's Auto]

REPORT: Chevrolet Spark still under consideration for U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Chevy Spark spotted as Daewoo Matiz

Chris Paukert — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:29:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Budget, Hatchback, GM, South Korea, Daewoo

Daewoo Matiz spy shots - Click above for high-res image gallery

The folks at Noticias Automotivas have scored shots of what looks to be the next-generation Daewoo Matiz, the subcompact hatch that we know better as the Chevrolet Spark.

The budget runabout is clearly very similar to General Motors' 2007 Beat concept and is in fact bang-on the Bowtie-badged production-intent model we saw displayed at this year's Geneva Motor Show, albeit with a Daewoo-specific upper and lower grilles, less stylized fog lamps and discount looking wheels.

Inside, the motorcycle-like gauge binnacle appears to have to have made the transition to production as expected, although as we were not permitted to touch the Geneva car, we can't tell if it's a tilt/telescope assembly.

Check out the gallery of images below.

Gallery: Daewoo Matiz spy shots

Gallery: Geneva 2009: Chevy Spark

[Source: Noticias Automotivas]

Spy Shots: Chevy Spark spotted as Daewoo Matiz originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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