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Archive for February, 2009

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Opel Ampera Spy Photos Surface

February 19th, 2009 | Posted in: Images, Opel with 74 Comments

When the Chevy Volt was first unveiled there was a procession of so-called leaks of images. First grainy footage on the Transformers set, and then the bizarre set of photos with GM executives standing in front of the car just days before the official reveal.
The Opel Ampera is set to debut at the Geneva [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 74 Comments

Auto Industry Needs Nearly $100 Billion to Survive: Should They Get it?

February 19th, 2009 | Posted in: Financial, Politics with 182 Comments

The Detroit Free Press added up all of the loans requested and so far given to the auto industry.
The total sum requested or received by GM and Chrysler so far is $39 billion. The retooling loans, still not dispersed another $25 billion, and there is a request for $25.5 billion from suppliers. Adding in other [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 182 Comments

Opel Ampera Sketches Leak to Web

February 18th, 2009 | Posted in: Images, Opel with 40 Comments

Previously GM announced they would be unveiling the European version of the Chevy Volt, the Opel Ampera at the Geneva Auto Show in March.  They provided us with a teaser photo that when given careful scrutiny suggested it was actually the same Volt body with signature Opel branding.
The vehicle is known to use the identical [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 40 Comments

GM Plans to Produce Two Extended Range Electric Vehicles in Addition to the Volt in 2012

February 18th, 2009 | Posted in: Production, Voltec with 114 Comments

GM’s new restructuring plan attempts to explain how GM hopes to achieve profitability by 2011, and how it will need $16.6 billion in government funds to do so. Reading the fine print it also tells us a  bit more about what GM plans to do in the area of extended range-electric vehicles and other alternative [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 114 Comments

GM Submits 2009 – 2014 Restructuring Plan to the US Government

February 17th, 2009 | Posted in: Financial, Politics with 96 Comments

GM tonight along with Chrysler submitted plans to the newly formed Government Auto Task Force explaining how they will achieve viability.  GM’s 117-page plan spells out in detail the methods they plan on using to achieve viability, or net positive value, that they promised they would in exchange for $13.4 billion in loans they’ve already [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 96 Comments

Has Hydrogen Run Out of Gas?

February 16th, 2009 | Posted in: Hydrogen with 192 Comments

In the period leading up to the electric car revolution in which we are just in the foothills of, a future of hydrogen-powered vehicles was all the rage.
Some automakers like Honda and GM have put a lot of resources into developing hydrogen vehicles. At the Detroit Auto Show in 2008, Honda unveiled its Clarity [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 192 Comments

Obama to Name Auto Task Force Today Not a Car Czar, and Saturn Likely to Die

February 16th, 2009 | Posted in: Financial, Politics with 155 Comments

An Obama administration official under conditions of anonymity said the President will name a task force today to oversee the remaking of the auto industry, that will be charged on evaluating GM and Chrysler’s restructuring plan over the next six weeks. These plans are due tomorrow, and include an emergency request for $3 billion [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 155 Comments

Report: GM Considering Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Filing

February 15th, 2009 | Posted in: Financial, Politics with 143 Comments

The specter of the financial crisis and the horrendously dismal state of the automotive industry continue to weight down heavily on GM.
On Tuesday February 17, GM is to submit to the government an update on how well it is achieving its viability goals outlined in its plan submitted in December. That plan has [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 143 Comments

Chevy Volt Console Display Data Review, and Car Won’t Drive While Plugged in

February 14th, 2009 | Posted in: Features, Interior with 124 Comments

Cars.com gave a review of the information that is expected to be displayed on the Chevy Volt’s 7 inch center console touch screen LCD display.  I suspect at this point the final information rendered in the production car is still under revision.  Reviewed is what the show car illustrates on its screen as it flips [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 124 Comments

GM VP Jon Lauckner on Current Chevy Volt Production Status

February 13th, 2009 | Posted in: General with 119 Comments

I recently had the chance to speak to Jon Lauckner. He co-conceived the Volt with Bob Lutz and is GM’s VP of global program management.
What is the current state of mule development?
Frankly, its complete. We’ve built all of the cars that we intended to, around 33 or 35, and we are done with [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 119 Comments

Chevy Volts Can and Will be Frequently Updated

February 12th, 2009 | Posted in: Engineering with 178 Comments

One of the unique features about the way the Chevy Volt was designed is that it can be easily and rapidly updated. Most of the car’s behavior is controlled through software which could easily be revised.  Furthermore, the T-shaped battery pack could easily be replaced with future packs containing more advanced cells and/or battery [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 178 Comments

Breaking: Tesla Expects to Receive $350 Million in Government Loans to Build Model S Sedan and Will Unveil it March 26

February 11th, 2009 | Posted in: General with 108 Comments

California-based Tesla Motors is a pioneer in the electric car arena. They first brought the 2-seat electric Roadster into production in late 2008 and now have over 200 cars on the road.
The company is known to have inspired Bob Lutz to start the Volt program.
Tesla also has had plans to build an electric sedan [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 108 Comments

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