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In the rest of the world, General Motors offers a compact crossover badged as the Chevrolet Captiva. The Captiva is based on the Saturn Vue/Opel Antara architecture but it’s got lower trim levels and sold at a significantly lower price. GM has just launched a new base level diesel Captiva in Europe with a 2.0L common rail diesel. The 150hp diesel engine offers up some pretty impressive fuel economy numbers on the EU test cycle. In urban driving the diesel Captive manages 26.7mpg (U.S.) while highway numbers come in at 36.2mpg (U.S.). Here in the U.S. market, of course, we are relegated to the mild hybrid Vue which doesn’t come close to those numbers or the diesel torque. The 2.0L diesel is not currently certified for U.S. Tier 2 Bin 5 standards and there are no signs that GM is considering doing so.

[Source: General Motors]

Captiva style - now even better value!

New entry-level diesel Captiva joins the range

5-seat 2.0 VCDi LS priced at £18,295

Great price, but still stacked with equipment

It already has a reputation for offering superb value for money, but the Chevrolet Captiva has just got even more affordable thanks to the addition of a new entry-level diesel model.

At £18,295, the new five-seater Captiva 2.0 VCDi LS is £1,900 cheaper than Kia’s base model Sorento, over £2,000 less expensive than the cheapest diesel Nissan X-Trail, and more than £3,500 less pricey than the five-seat Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 CRTD GSi.

Yet despite the bargain price tag, the latest Captiva doesn’t skimp on specification. The new model comes with air conditioning, smart 16-inch alloy wheels, a glass-flip tailgate, electrically-adjustable heated door mirrors, an eight-way adjustable driver’s seat, a powerful six-speaker RDS radio/CD player with MP3 socket, steering-wheel mounted audio controls, front, side and curtain airbags, remote control two-stage deadlocking and charcoal-effect roof rails. That’s an impressive list of equipment when you look at the price!

The 2.0-litre 150PS common-rail diesel engine powers the front wheels through a five-speed manual gearbox, delivering a combined fuel economy figure of 38.7mpg (43.5mpg extra-urban; 32.1mpg urban). CO₂ emissions are 195g/km, and the car accelerates from 0-60mph in 10.8 seconds, with a top speed of 112mph.

The new 2.0VCDi LS model is the latest addition to the Captiva range, which made its debut in the UK last year and has been a significant contributor to Chevrolet’s phenomenal UK growth. Chevrolet sales in the UK were up by 27.6 per cent in 2007, and in the first quarter of 2008 showed a further 21 per cent year-on-year increase.

This latest addition to the Captiva family is in showrooms now, alongside the new Aveo supermini and Epica family saloon, both of which are new for 2008 and add further breadth to the rapidly increasing Chevrolet model range.

Source: All Cars Mashup

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General Motor’s Asia Pacific executive director James Reymond told reporters in Seoul today that the American carmaker may add the Chevrolet brand in…



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Source: All Cars Mashup

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General Motors announced that the Chevrolet Camaro will make its official debut at the Indy 2008, September 19-21, 2008. So, if you expected the car to be unveiled at a big auto show, well you were wrong! but after all it was about time to see it, don’t you think?

The car will be unveiled at the event and many different models/engine combos will be available for the general public to review.

The ’Back at the Brickyard’ Event will be happening in Indianapolis Indiana from September 19-21, 2008 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Hundreds of Camaros, Firebirds, and Pace Car owners will be in attendance to celebrate the unveiling and enjoy this historic event.

Chevrolet Camaro Concept

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Source: All Cars Mashup

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Bob Lutz officially announced that the first Chevrolet Volt prototype with the full lithium-ion battery pack has hit the test track. He said “It is reliably meeting its objectives. Even with a rough calibration, even with the wrong drive unit, the wrong body, etc. etc., it has been hitting its 40 miles on electric power.”

He also confirmed that the dynamometer tests have been successful even under various thermal conditions. Lutz said the Volt’s powertrain, comprised of an advanced lithium-ion battery and a small gasoline engine, was installed into a mule vehicle and is being driven on public roads around the automaker’s proving grounds in Milford, Michigan.

Lutz said he s pretty confident the car will debut in November 2010. “Three months ago if you asked Frank Weber ’November 2010?’ he’d get flustered and say he wouldn’t answer until he knew more,” said Lutz. “Now if you ask him the same question, he’s calm and relaxed and says unless we encounter some completely unforeseen obstacle - November 2010 looks good.”

2007 Chevrolet Volt Concept

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Source: All Cars Mashup

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Bob Lutz officially announced that the first Chevrolet Volt prototype with the full lithium-ion battery pack has hit the test track. He said “It is reliably meeting its objectives. Even with a rough calibration, even with the wrong drive unit, the wrong body, etc. etc., it has been hitting its 40 miles on electric power.”

He also confirmed that the dynamometer tests have been successful even under various thermal conditions. Lutz said the Volt’s powertrain, comprised of an advanced lithium-ion battery and a small gasoline engine, was installed into a mule vehicle and is being driven on public roads around the automaker’s proving grounds in Milford, Michigan.

Lutz said he s pretty confident the car will debut in November 2010. “Three months ago if you asked Frank Weber ’November 2010?’ he’d get flustered and say he wouldn’t answer until he knew more,” said Lutz. “Now if you ask him the same question, he’s calm and relaxed and says unless we encounter some completely unforeseen obstacle - November 2010 looks good.”

2007 Chevrolet Volt Concept

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Source: All Cars Mashup

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• Audi wins European Inventor of the Year Award
• Audi TT Clubsport quattro production version spotted
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Chevy’s European arm is enhancing its UK line-up with the addition of a new entry-level diesel version of the Captiva SUV. Priced from £18,295, the…



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Source: All Cars Mashup

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There’s a new addition to the Chevrolet Lacetti line-up, and it brings with it better performance, stylish good looks and incomparable value for money.

The Lacetti Sport, based on the popular five-door version of Chevrolet’s mid-sized hatchback, is instantly identifiable thanks to its smart factory-fitted body styling kit. It also comes with body colored trim, stylish 15-inch alloy wheels, lowered suspension and integrated front fog lamps.

Inside, the highlight of the package is full leather seat trim finished in smart charcoal grey, while a leather-covered steering wheel and gear knob, plus metallic-effect inserts on the doors and facia add to the car’s sporty appeal.

Equipment highlights include air conditioning, a cooled glove box, four electric windows, electrically adjustable mirrors and a six-speaker Blaupunkt CD/Radio with steering wheel-mounted controls.

Power comes from a lively 1.8-litre 121PS petrol engine, which gives the Sport the ability to sprint from 0-62mph in 9.8 seconds, with a top speed of 121mph.

Yet despite the lively performance, the Lacetti Sport returns respectably good fuel economy – up to 47.8mpg on the extra-urban cycle, 38.1mpg combined and 28.5mpg urban. CO2 emissions are 183g/km.

Lacetti owners can also benefit from Chevrolet’s fixed price servicing package – for a one-off payment of £199, it covers all of the car’s maintenance costs for the first three years or 30,000-miles.

The Lacetti Sport is available from Chevrolet retailers now, where it joins the newly launched Aveo supermini and Epica family saloon, both of which add further breadth to the rapidly growing Chevrolet line-up. Chevrolet sales in the UK grew by 27.6 per cent in 2007, and showed a further 21 per cent year-on-year increase for 2008.

Source: All Cars Mashup

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In an attempt to spice up its image, Chevy’s European arm has introduced a “sporty” flagship version of its Korean sourced Lacetti hatch. The Lacetti…



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Source: All Cars Mashup

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General Motors has been hit so hard by the ongoing American Axle strikes that it’s stopped production of the GMC Yukon, Denali, Sierra heavy-duty regular and extended cab, its commercial-duty pickup and variants of Chevrolet trucks and Tahoes. All the while, the General is still negotiating with the UAW over local contracts at some of its most important plants. To ease some of its supply problems, General Motors has reportedly offered as much as $200 million to American Axle for the funding of employee buyouts, early retirements and for the support of wage buy downs. The offer, however, is conditional on a quick resolution between American Axle and the UAW.

Spokesman Dan Flores says that GM hopes “the offer will help bridge the gap between American Axle and the UAW and that they will be able to reach a mutually satisfactory agreement in the near future.” Both the UAW and American Axle sound supportive of the investment; Bill Alford Jr., vice president and incoming president at UAW Local 235 says, “We’re happy that General Motors is finally coming to the table and realizing that they have a stake in American Axle’s future.” For GM’s sake and that of the striking workers, we hope the feuding companies find an amicable solution soon, though it seems unfortunate that GM, which is not exactly posting record profits itself, should need to cough up funding to make it happen.

[Source: The Detroit Free Press]

Source: All Cars Mashup

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Over 20,000 people have expressed interest in buying a Chevy Volt when it arrives by signing up on GMVolt’s virtual waiting list. It still isn’t clear how much the Volt will cost, although most estimates put it around $35,000. Also not clear is how many Volts will be produced in the first model year, estimates put that at at least 10,000.

There are about 4000 Chevy dealerships, so if only 10,000 cars should be made, how will they be distributed? GM vice-chair Bob Lutz has mentioned the possibility of early distribution to “smile states” such as California, New York, Washington D.C., and Florida, but also indicates that final plans haven’t been made yet.

GM Volt will be powered by a 160-hp electric motor that will allow it run on electricity for up to 40 miles. Recently Bob Lutz was reported saying that the price of the Chevrolet Volt could reach about $48,000. Lutz said that $40,00 would be possible only if GM doesn’t make a dime on the car.

Chevrolet Volt Concept

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Source: All Cars Mashup

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