Autoblog

Which models will join the 100,000 sales club this year?

Zach Bowman — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 09:57:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Chevrolet, Ford, Kia, Toyota

2011 Toyota Camry - Click above for high-res image gallery

The number of vehicle models slated to cruise past the magic 100,000 mark this year is up. In a big way. According to Wards, there are around 39 percent more nameplates expected to clear the six-digit hurdle in 2010 compared to 2009. So far, sales-trends point to 32 cars and trucks expected to meet or exceed the goal, compared to 23 last year. So which models are the winners of 2010?

For the first time ever, vehicles like the Kia Sorento, Chevrolet Traverse and Nissan Versa are aiming to close out 2010 with more than 100,000 units sold. They join the ranks of mainstays like the Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado - two trucks that have already well-exceeded the 100k line, even with another full quarter left in the year. In all, a total of 16 cars and trucks have already performed similar feats of sales wizardry.

And who's the fairest of them all? That honor goes to the Toyota Camry. The Japanese automaker has already delivered a total of 220,061 units through August, putting it well ahead of any competition. That pace doesn't look to be slowing anytime soon, either.

Gallery: 2010 Toyota Camry

[Source: Wards]

Which models will join the 100,000 sales club this year? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 09:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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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GM nixing summer shutdown, hiring thousands of temps to meet demand

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 17:26:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, GM

The Detroit auto industry's annual summer shutdown is a tradition that goes back many decades, but this year, General Motors is taking a pass. It comes from a time when the new model year started in September for every car and they all debuted simultaneously, usually in dealer showrooms. The shutdown was the two week period in the summer during which all the plants installed updated tooling for the new models.

In more recent times, the practice has persisted as a time to do maintenance and other work that might interfere with production - even if it hasn't coincided with the launch of a new model. This year, however, GM's inventories on many models are running so low that nine of the automaker's 11 assembly plants will keep producing vehicles during the designated shutdown period. Among the plants that will stay open are the Detroit-Hamtramck plant that builds the Cadillac DTS, the Delta Township plant builds the Lambda crossovers and the Chevrolet Corvette plant in Bowling Green, KY. Full press release after the jump.

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading GM nixing summer shutdown, hiring thousands of temps to meet demand

GM nixing summer shutdown, hiring thousands of temps to meet demand originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Jun 2010 17:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Cadillac to get seven-seat Lambda variant

Zach Bowman — Thu, 27 May 2010 11:31:00 EST

Filed under: Crossover, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Rumormill, Luxury

Brace yourself, Cadillac fans. Word has just come down the pike that The Crest will "absolutely" be getting a new model based on none other than the Lambda architecture. That means that a variant of the Chevrolet Traverse will be sold under all four of The General's brands. So far, drivetrain options are still up in the air and vague at best, but we'd be willing to bet our lucky penny that both front- and all-wheel drive models will be available. Chances are that power will come from the same 3.6-liter V6 found under the hood of every other Lambda out there, too.

It's hard not to approach this with a cynical eye. Right after the company's 2009 bankruptcy blitzkrieg, GM promised the world that it was through with badge engineering for good. Swapping nameplates and fenders had done much to lead the company to the brink of collapse, and the waves of fresh new models hitting our shores had us thinking that maybe the company had turned over a new leaf.

By all accounts, the Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave are selling well, so is this a case of Detroit getting greedy or is the company simply trying to spread development costs as thin as possible? Either way, it will take something really special to convince us that this is a smart move.

[Source: InsideLine]

Report: Cadillac to get seven-seat Lambda variant originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 May 2010 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: GM cancels plan to sell Chevrolet Orlando in U.S.

Zach Bowman — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 16:23:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Europe, Plants/Manufacturing, Crossover, Hatchback, Chevrolet, GM, Canada, South Korea

Chevrolet Orlando - Click above for high-res image gallery

Rumor has it that General Motors won't be selling the new seven-passenger Orlando here in the United States come 2011, or ever for that matter. According to Automotive News, GM has said that it will be skipping the people-mover in order to focus its attention on the models Chevrolet currently sells. Margaret Brooks, Chevrolet's product marketing director for small cars and crossovers, said that the company's current portfolio easily takes care of any family's needs.

While buyers in Canada, Europe and Asia will still be able to buy the new Orlando as scheduled, GM has decided to increase production of the Equinox, Traverse and Malibu here in the U.S. to make up for the missing model. The move is still somewhat of a shock, especially considering how hard GM was pushing the Orlando as part of its new product lineup just one year ago.

The decision to drop the Orlando does make sense, though. Despite the fact that the vehicle was based on the much smaller Cruze platform, it would be elbowing its way into an already packed showroom dominated by the likes of the popular Equinox. Those needing a little more space for their brood or luggage can still easily step up to a Traverse.

Meanwhile, Automotive News reports that the Cruze is still scheduled to begin production later this year.

Gallery: Detroit 2009: Chevrolet Orlando Concept

[Source: Automotive News]

Report: GM cancels plan to sell Chevrolet Orlando in U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Apr 2010 16:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Consumer Reports adds six cars to Top Picks list, touts diversity

Steven J. Ewing — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 12:58:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Hybrid, Minivan/Van, Sedan, SUV, Truck, Hatchback, Chevrolet, GM, Hyundai, Infiniti, Lexus, Mazda, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen, Luxury, Off-Road

2010 Consumer Reports Top Pick Cars - Click above for high-res image gallery

Each year, the automotive editors of Consumer Reports select their Top Pick Cars, representing vehicles that are the best in their individual segments. These cars are deemed to have "average or better" predicted reliability and have scored high marks in government safety testing. In past years, automakers like Honda and Toyota have dominated this list, but since more and more manufacturers are ramping up their quality within each competitive segment, the 2010 list proves to be the most diverse CR Top Picks group in over a decade.

So, which cars garner the most praise from CR? The Nissan Altima has officially dethroned the Honda Accord from the top family sedan spot, the Volkswagen GTI takes honors as the best sporty car, the trusty Subaru Forester takes the cake in the small SUV category, the quirky Mazda5 wins for best family hauler, and both the Chevrolet Traverse and Silverado stand tall as the best family SUV and pickup truck. These six newcomers join the Hyundai Elantra SE, Infiniti G37, Toyota Prius and Lexus LS460L to round out the entire list of Top Pick Cars.

Unlike most automotive media outlets (Autoblog included), Consumer Reports actually buys its own test cars before putting them through rigirous evaluations of handling, braking, comfort, safety and more, and each test car is roughly 6,000 miles older by the time all of the tests have been completed. Follow the jump to read the official press release from CR, and scroll through our attached gallery to see high-res shots of all the 2010 Top Pick Cars.

Gallery: 2010 Consumer Reports Top Picks

[Source: Consumer Reports - sub. req.]

Continue reading Consumer Reports adds six cars to Top Picks list, touts diversity

Consumer Reports adds six cars to Top Picks list, touts diversity originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Feb 2010 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lambdas get IIHS Top Pick rating

Dan Roth — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 07:58:00 EST

Filed under: Safety, Crossover, Buick, Chevrolet, GMC, Saturn

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety took some GMC Acadias and smashed them up to see how the big crossovers hold up against immovable objects, and unlike recent tests conducted for the Chevy Equinox and Pontiac Torrent, the news is positive. An AWD Acadia SLE acted as a stand-in for all of the Lambda models - Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, Saturn Outlook, and all Acadia trims included. It didn't matter whether the IIHS attacked the front, side, or rear - the CUV earned a "good" rating in all directions. With the standard fitment of Stabilitrak, the IIHS also bestowed a Top Safety Pick crown on GM's big haulers. The Lambas now have both a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick designator about which to brag.

[Source: Inside Line]

Lambdas get IIHS Top Pick rating originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Aug 2008 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2009 Chevrolet Traverse

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Crossover, Chevrolet, First Drives

2009 Chevy Traverse - Click above for high-res image gallery

At the Chicago Auto Show, Chevrolet rolled out the fourth and hopefully final member of its Lambda crossover family, the new Traverse. By the way, according to Chevrolet the proper pronunciation puts the emphasis on the second syllable. Like its Saturn, GMC and Buick siblings, the new Traverse is a full-size vehicle that is almost the same size as the Tahoe. That means it has seating for up to eight occupants, although three in the last row is a bit of a squeeze.

GM invited the media out to its Milford Proving Ground last week for a first drive of the Traverse, which of course we attended on your behalf. We had the chance to sample the big CUV in several different scenarios against what the marketing staff consider its main competitor, the Toyota Highlander. We ran the Chevy and Toyota back to back on the ride road, the skid pad, a lane change and slalom course and while towing a 4,200-lb boat. Check out how the Traverse fared after the jump.

Gallery: First Drive: 2009 Chevrolet Traverse

Continue reading First Drive: 2009 Chevrolet Traverse

First Drive: 2009 Chevrolet Traverse originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chicago 2008: Chevy unveils 2009 Traverse [w/VIDEO]

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 11:33:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, SUV, Crossover, Chevrolet, GM

click above for more high-res live shots of the 2009 Chevy Traverse

As was previously mentioned, Autoblog is here at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show, doing our best to bring you up to speed on all the latest live reveals. We made it down to the GM booth early in the morning for the official debut of the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse, and it was pretty much exactly as we expected: another Lambda crossover, platform mate to the GMC Acadia, Saturn Outlook and Buick Enclave. Looks-wise, the Chevy Traverse is not the least attractive Lambda (looking at you, Outlook), but the Acadia and Enclave have it beat. Though Chevy claims that it used styling cues from the Malibu midsize sedan in the Traverse's design, we don't think they work as well on a CUV of this size. Especially note the grille, which apes the current Chevy design language to a tee. As Alex mentioned, the headlights look a little mean in pictures, but less so in real life. We like the upswept rear quarters, which remind us of the Enclave - by far the best looking Lambda. Other than that, everything remains status quo, with the 3.6 liter V6 engine, 6-speed automatic transmission, your choice of front-wheel or all-wheel-drive and seating for either seven or eight.

The presentation that GM put on for the Traverse was much less agreeable than the actual vehicle. Involving a family of two parents and their four children (all actors, for sure) reciting a contrived script, it reminded us of a high school play, though thankfully was much shorter.

Gallery: Chicago 2008: 2009 Chevy Traverse

Continue reading Chicago 2008: Chevy unveils 2009 Traverse [w/VIDEO]

Chicago 2008: Chevy unveils 2009 Traverse [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Feb 2008 11:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chicago 2008: 2009 Chevy Traverse makes it a Lambda superfecta

Alex Nunez — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 01:05:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Crossover, Chevrolet

click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Chevy Traverse

Let's cut right to the chase. Everything about the 2009 Chevy Traverse that will be unveiled later today in Chicago is stuff we pretty much already know. As the fourth Lambda-platform crossover from General Motors, the basics have been introduced already in the GMC Acadia, Saturn Outlook and Buick Enclave. The Traverse is a roomy seven (or eight)-passenger crossover with a well-organized cockpit, whose details differ only slightly from its platform sibs. That's been GM's M.O. thus far, so why should the Traverse be any different? Power, like the other Lambdas, comes from the 3.6L V6 with direct injection, which makes 281hp/253 lb-ft or 286hp/255 lb-ft in the Bowtie version depending on whether the vehicle is equipped with a single or dual exhaust. GM promises "best in class" fuel economy (final numbers are still TBD), but our experience with the other Lambdas (non-DI 3.6 VVT models) has been that they averaged in the mid teens during real-world driving.

The Traverse comes in third in the looks race behind the Enclave and Acadia and ahead of the Saturn Outlook. In front, the jumbo-sized Chevy grille is the dominant element, flanked by some rather angry-looking headlamps. In profile, the Traverse has a lot of Enclave to its looks, with pronounced but less-sculpted rear haunches and similarly-shaped glass. The rear end is highlighted by some very funky-looking taillights. Other than that, you feel like you've been here before, mostly because you have. GM hasn't announced pricing yet, but there'll be LS, LT and LTZ trim levels with both 2WD and AWD available. Given that the Chevy should be competitively priced and has a large dealer network, we wonder how many sales it's going to cannibalize from its siblings -- particularly the Outlook. We'll find out this Summer when it starts appearing in showrooms.

[Source: GM]

Gallery: 2009 Chevrolet Traverse

Continue reading Chicago 2008: 2009 Chevy Traverse makes it a Lambda superfecta

Chicago 2008: 2009 Chevy Traverse makes it a Lambda superfecta originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Feb 2008 01:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is this the 2009 Chevy Traverse?

John Neff — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:04:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Crossover, Chevrolet

We've seen spy shots of the 2009 Chevy Traverse, the bowtie brand's upcoming large Lambda-based CUV. Whether those spy shots are of the same vehicle we see above is a matter of debate. The image you see here, while grainy and potentially a photoshop experiment, appears to be an official image of the '09 Traverse that made it's way out GM's hands somehow. Being a stablemate of the Saturn Outlook, GMC Acadia, and Buick Rendezvous, you can see that the Traverse pictured shares its doors and perhaps its roof with those vehicles, but everything before the A-pillar is all new, as well as the C-pillar out back, which features an upkink not seen on the other Lambdas. The other thing that suggests to us that this picture may be real is the background, which appears to be one of the many standard backdrops against which GM photoshops its press shots. While there's no conclusive evidence this is the production 2009 Chevy Traverse, we can't imagine the real deal will look much different.

[Source: The Hollywood Extra]

Is this the 2009 Chevy Traverse? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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