Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[GM CEO promises RHD Corvette, international operations boss says otherwise]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/15/gm-ceo-promises-rhd-corvette-international-operations-boss-says/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/15/gm-ceo-promises-rhd-corvette-international-operations-boss-says/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/15/gm-ceo-promises-rhd-corvette-international-operations-boss-says/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



Affirmation, clarification, smack-down refutation - that was the order of responses when the issue of a right-hand0drive C7 Corvette came up at the Detroit Auto Show. When an Australian news outlet asked General Motors CEO Dan Akerson whether the new Stingray would get an RHD version, he answered "yes" and "soon."

That same question was put to lead Corvette engineer Tadge Juechter, and he began by stating that they've been wanting Corvette to get to Australia and "Our plan is to make this a truly global car." He then clarified Akerson's answer with "It'll be years away rather than soon.

Nevertheless, even after Juechter's curb-your-enthusiasm answer and Holden chief Mike Devereaux's sidestepping the line of fire by offering no comment, the responses led to this headline in Australia's Daily Telegraph newspaper: "Finally, iconic American sportscar, the Corvette, set for Australian showrooms."

Cue Tim Lee, GM's vice president of global manufacturing, president of its international operations and "the operating guy in charge." When the same query was put to him the day after it was put to Akerson, Lee said, "I have no idea what [Akerson] said but we have no plan to put a right-hand-drive under that bonnet. The Corvette is a Chevrolet, it's not a Holden, it never will be, next question." He added that there isn't even a plan for it, much less any engineering behind it.

His journalist questioners, sniffing blood in the contradiction, wouldn't let it go. After being led back to the subject of Akerson's "Yes" and Juechter's non-denial again and again, Lee finally said "This is a non-story from my point of view. You can write what you want to write, I really don't give a [expletive]. But it is not in the mainstream plan."

So there you have... something. The Brits and Japanese will get the new Corvette because it's legal to drive left-hand drive cars in those countries. For you Aussies, the 60-year wait continues.

GM CEO promises RHD Corvette, international operations boss says otherwise originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Jan 2013 13:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 detroit auto show2014 chevrolet c7 corvette2014 chevrolet corvetteaustraliac7c7 corvettechevroletcorvettedan akersondetroitdetroit 2013general motorsgmleft hand drivelhdrhdright hand driveTadge JuechterTue, 15 Jan 2013 13:35:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20429277/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/01/15/gm-ceo-promises-rhd-corvette-international-operations-boss-says/20429277/article-detail.xml 20429277 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/rhdcorvettecoming_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/rhdcorvettecoming.jpg <![CDATA[Quebec reportedly bans importation of RHD cars for six months to evaluate safety concerns]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/07/quebec-reportedly-bans-importation-of-rhd-cars-for-six-months-to/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/07/quebec-reportedly-bans-importation-of-rhd-cars-for-six-months-to/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/07/quebec-reportedly-bans-importation-of-rhd-cars-for-six-months-to/#commentsFiled under: ,



According to the CBC, the Canadian province of Quebec is saying "No way, Jose" to importing right-hand drive cars for six months. Even though there are 3,000 RHD cars on the roads and none of them have been faulted for anything, the province's insurance board wants to investigate the safety of such vehicles. The official line is that "they don't always meet Transport Canada safety standards." Perhaps the genuine reason will be known soon, but we're guessing that safety nannies will point to their comparative danger when passing vehicles on single-lane roads.

For now, the board is going to consult accident reports and ask around before lifting the ban. No more Japanese gray imports for you Quebecois in the meantime.

[Source: CBC]

Quebec reportedly bans importation of RHD cars for six months to evaluate safety concerns originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Apr 2010 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ImportsinsuranceLHDquebecquebecoisRHDright hand driveRightHandDrivetransport canadaTransportCanadaWed, 07 Apr 2010 11:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19427501/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/04/07/quebec-reportedly-bans-importation-of-rhd-cars-for-six-months-to/19427501/article-detail.xml 19427501 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/quebecrhdban_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/quebecrhdban.jpg <![CDATA[All future Chevys to be right-hand drive ready]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/07/all-future-chevys-to-be-right-hand-drive-ready/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/07/all-future-chevys-to-be-right-hand-drive-ready/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/07/all-future-chevys-to-be-right-hand-drive-ready/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



As evidence by the complete transformation of Saturn from a plastic-bodied, college car brand to an imported reflection of the European Opel brand, General Motors is serious about sharing its platforms the world over. To that end, the company has announced that all future Chevrolet products will be built to accomodate left- or right-hand drive. It's reported that it will take five or six years for the process to be completed, since certain vehicles like the Chevy HHR were never developed with right-hand drive in mind and must complete their product cycles before right-hand drive can be engineered into their designs. New and upcoming vehicles, however, will be available soon. GM has already confirmed that the upcoming Camaro, for instance, will be capable of being built in right-hand drive, which gives those markets around the world that drive on the other side of the road some hope for seeing Camaro muscle on sale in their countries.

[Source: Newspress]

All future Chevys to be right-hand drive ready originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Mar 2007 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CamaroChevroletChevyHHRleft-hand driveLeft-handDriveLHDrhdright-hand driveRight-handDriveWed, 07 Mar 2007 18:27:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/847955/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2007/03/07/all-future-chevys-to-be-right-hand-drive-ready/847955/article-detail.xml 847955 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/03/wagonerdreamcruise01_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/03/wagonerdreamcruise01.jpg -1 2