'general motors'

A new project from General Motors will examine ways that Chevy Volt batteries could get a second life helping provide renewable energy.

Joining forces with power grid supplier ABB Group, GM will study whether it can reuse batteries that formerly powered Volt electric cars to store energy created by wind and solar power generators. The goal is to find cost-effective and creative ways to improve the efficiency of the country's electrical grid, the automaker said today in a statement. The Volt, priced at $41,000 before a federal tax credit, is set to launch later this year.

Specifically, the … Read more

Keyless entry just got smarter. The 2011 Buick LaCrosse CSX will feature a smarter keyless entry that anticipates when the driver, or passengers, want the cars doors locked and unlocked.

With new key fob technology, the driver is able to program which doors are to be locked and unlocked and when. The key fob can be carried in a pocket, purse or briefcase. It sends a signal that opens the driver's side door, or all of the doors, as the driver approaches. After the car is parked, and the driver and passengers leave the car, the key fob will … Read more

There has been a lot of buzz about the Chevy Cruze over the last couple of months, but General Motors today announced the highly anticipated compact cars are rolling off the assembly line in Lordstown, Ohio.

"Our new body shop is among the best in the world. Our team is inspired and energized by the build of the Cruze. It's a safe and reliable compact car with that mid-size experience," Dave Green, president of UAW Local 1714 at the Lordstown Metal Center said in a press release.

The Lordstown Complex has been in operation since 1966. According … Read more

General Motors today announced it will unveil a five-door 2011 Chevy Cruze hatchback at the 2010 Paris Motor Show.

Wayne Brannon, president and managing director of Chevrolet Europe, said the total compact segment in Europe represents about 4.8 million units, which is more than a quarter of the total market and hatchbacks represent about 65 percent of that volume.

"Hatchbacks play a critical role in many markets," said Brannon. "We therefore expect to see increased business in a number of regions, while sending out a signal that Chevrolet is now a serious mainstream player in Europe.&… Read more

What do the Canadian Alpine Ski Team, the America's Cup-winning Stars & Stripes yacht, and the 2011 Chevy Cruze Eco have in common? They've all been tested in the GM Aerodynamics Laboratory.

For 30 years, engineers have used the GM Aerodynamics Laboratory to improve the capability of vehicles and athletes to slip through the air more efficiency.

The GM wind tunnel, the largest of its type dedicated to automotive work, began operating in August 1980. During the past three decades, engineers have used it to cut the coefficient of drag of GM vehicles by about 25 percent, according … Read more

"Pretty smooth," President Obama said as he stepped out of a Chevy Volt to resume his tour of the General Motors Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant on Friday. The president took a of test drive of about 40 feet, according to a GM news release.

President Obama's visit corresponds with GM's announcement that the plant will receive $336 million in new investment to prepare it to produce the Volt electric vehicle. The money is part of more than $700 million that GM has invested in eight Michigan facilities since 2008 to support the Volt's production.

According to … Read more

One of the biggest hurdles the folks at General Motors face in marketing the Cruze is getting consumers to set aside negative thoughts about Chevrolet and embrace a new product.

The Chevy Cruze, which replaces the "thank-goodness-it's-gone Cobalt," is a great place to start. And with an expected 40 mpg on the highway with the Cruze Eco model, consumers might quickly change their minds about Chevrolet.

The all-new 2011 Chevy Cruze pushes the limits of the compact segment. It offers a quiet, comfortable ride and a stylish and sturdy body, all at an affordable price.

The Cruze is already available across Europe and Asia, in a total of 60 countries, and will make its U.S. debut in September.

Chevy is offering five models of the Cruze to the U.S. market: Cruze LS, Cruze LT, Cruze 2LT, Eco Cruze, and Cruze LTZ. An RS package is available for the LT and LTZ models for $695 extra.

Handling

Pulling into traffic on I-66 heading east away from Dulles International Airport, the LTZ held its own against the elements and other vehicles. The ride was smooth and quiet, even in the pounding rain that had felled trees and knocked out power lines.

The LTZ's electrically assisted power steering was a plus when switching lanes quickly or hugging turns on the narrow roads of the Washington area.… Read more

General Motors launched a new social-media advertising campaign, including a new Web site, to promote the 2011 Buick Regal.

"We are inviting consumers to find out on their own that Regal is a true performance sedan and worthy of their consideration," said Craig Bierley, Buick advertising director. "We are making it easy for the consumer to get unbiased opinions in one online location."

The automaker announced the new Web site, "Buick's Moment of Truth," last month. Buck hopes the Web site well help it rebrand the classic model and entice a younger generation … Read more

GM is planning to keep drivers and passengers of 2013 Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac cars cool with a sustainable air-conditioning refrigerant that lingers in the atmosphere for only days instead of years.

Honeywell has designed a new refrigerant, (HFO-1234yf), that lingers in the atmosphere for just 11 days and has a global warming potential (GWP) of only 4, a 99.7 percent improvement over current emissions.

On average, the refrigerant used in current GM models, R-134a, has an atmospheric life of more than 13 years and a GWP of more than 1,400.

"GM's decision to adopt … Read more