That’s right, after 20 years GM is set to begin production of its first small Buick. The vehicle is called the Buick Verano and will be a luxury version of the Chevrolet Cruze the sales of which began last month.
GM has also announced it will begin production of the car in its Orion Township, Michigan plant next year and is expected to go on sale in 2012. It will be joining the subcomapct Aveo already built there. The Aveo in addition to getting a makeover may also get a name change.
GM is investing $145 million to retool the plant for the Verano and to retain a workforce of 1550 workers. Those UAW workers had negotiated a rate of pay that would allow GM to profit on both of these cars.
GM has only released the above teaser photo of the Verano but invited 900 Buick dealers to come to the plant where they were shown photos of the car.
It was described by one observer as looking like a mini version of the new mid-sized Regal already on sale. It will have a similar front end and a sleek design. It is also expected to have luxury interior appointments and is expected to be the quietest car in its segment.
“Verano will bring premium styling, performance and content to Buick buyers wanting a smaller car than Regal,” said GM North American President Mark Reuss. “The investment in Orion Assembly also extends GM’s local small car footprint, again increasing the number of U.S.-made small vehicles available in showrooms.”
In the month of September when both cars went on sale, 516 Chevrolet Cruzes and 1776 Buick Regals were sold.
All automakers are emphasizing production of small cars with high fuel economy to move to meet US efficiency standards of 35.5 MPG fleet average for cars by 2015.
Whether the public wants these cars is yet to be seen.
No plans for a hybrid Buick have been made public yet though GM’s next generation mild BAS system could theoretically be deployed in this vehicle.
Source (GM), (Detroit News), and (Detroit Free Press)
-31
Oct 7th, 2010 (1:38 pm)(click to show comment)
+29
Oct 7th, 2010 (1:42 pm)Why not make it an E-REV?????
NPNS
+7
Oct 7th, 2010 (1:46 pm)Glad to hear that GM is not resting on its laurels. I would be more impressed if this were going to be a serial hybrid, especially given the smaller size and luxury brand.
An EREV Buick made out of the Verano would be ideal for the Chinese market… providing that GM does not have to give away the technology and partner with a Chinese firm to do it.
Harrier
+1
Oct 7th, 2010 (1:48 pm)Just not sure how willing people will be to buy a small Buick. The Regal is a very nice car and is competitively priced but it may be smaller than what Buick buyers are looking for. This is smaller yet. For me it’s NPNS so the announcement of new gassers doesn’t interest me that much. I’d be far more interested in an announcement that GM was offering an CNG version of the Buick LaCrosse.
An upscale version of the Volt doesn’t seem that appealing either but for good reasons — my impression is that the Volt is already a bit upscale.
Oct 7th, 2010 (1:52 pm)Can’t get too excited over an ICE Buick Cruze.
Putting Americans to work. Now THAT I can get excited about. Those government bailout dollars going to work. They have too much factory square footage not to utilize.
PUMP OUT THE VOLTS! ,
James
Oct 7th, 2010 (1:58 pm)Badge engineering at it’s best. Here’s the pics the dealers won’t get a look at until they visit the factory.
2012 Buick ( Cruze ) Verano
PUMP OUT THE VOLTS! ,
James
Oct 7th, 2010 (2:00 pm)I hope in the Buick version of the Cruise, GM will use SIDI for the engine. IMO they should have put SIDI in the Cruise and exceeded their target numbers instead of just meeting them. I think this is especially important to compete with the new Ford Focus coming out soon.
+1
Oct 7th, 2010 (2:04 pm)[
and the interior...
PUMP OUT THE VOLTS! ,
James
Oct 7th, 2010 (2:08 pm)GM already has a Chinese partner – Shanghai Automotive Industries. Any foreign company wanting to do business in China is required by their government to have a Chinese partner.
Happy trails to you ’til we meet again.
Oct 7th, 2010 (2:15 pm)http://www.hybridcars.com/files/buick-excelle-610q.jpg
http://gmauthority.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/2011-Buick-Excelle-GT-3.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/es.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/excellegt-05-1278435986.jpg
http://img197.imageshack.us/f/steve2l.png/
Don’cha just love the internut?
PUMP OUT THE VOLTS! ,
James
Oct 7th, 2010 (2:15 pm)Looks similar to opel/vauxhall astra saloon. The back end looks great!
+1
Oct 7th, 2010 (2:23 pm)Here GM goes again. The constant dividing demographics and creating redundant products to please everyone, is a bankrupting concept…how many cars do we really need!
+7
Oct 7th, 2010 (2:24 pm)Changed my mind about waiting (because of CorvetteGuy’s comment about leasing) and ordered a VOLT last week, so no Buick for me.
Oct 7th, 2010 (2:27 pm)Making a small car Buick quiet will be quite a trick.
I cannot help but wonder if GM isn’t really thinking of the Chinese market with this car.
+1
Oct 7th, 2010 (2:41 pm)Don’t they sell bazillions of them to China? If it is as nice as the Cruze on the inside it should do very well.
Oct 7th, 2010 (2:46 pm)The car is already being sold ( and built in Shanghai ) in China since June 23 as the Buick Excelle GT ( see picture links on post #10 and in my previous posts ). Engine choices in the Chinese market include a 138-horsepower 1.8-liter four-cylinder and a 181-hp turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder.
In the U.S., the car has been described in some reports as a “baby LaCrosse.” Dealers also have said Buick plans to add a small crossover in 2012, which may be marketed as the Buick Encore .
Also GM is considering a U.S. LaCrosse mild hybrid for 2012. The LaCrosse hybrid is also already being produced and sold in China.
Buick is big in China, yes, and China is currently the world’s largest auto market, but hopefully we don’t see this as the coming trend- China getting everything before we do.
PUMP OUT THE VOLTS! ,
James
+2
Oct 7th, 2010 (2:47 pm)I’m only interested in GM ICE cars for keeping GM in business to make Volts. If they made a Voltec Buick, then I’d be looking real close.
+2
Oct 7th, 2010 (2:48 pm)I still believe a 36 month ‘test drive’ is the right way to go on this new technology. Getting a Volt would not even be on the table for my wife if GM had not announced a special lease rate to be available. She has a great middle-management job, but she is reluctant to pay big $$ per month just for a car… any kind of car, gas or otherwise. (read very frugal) And since she has leased the last 3 cars she has driven and has been very happy with the result, that will be the way she goes for a Volt. Her current lease is up next May… so I am hoping that Chevrolet will have decided by then on whether they will bring the Volt MPV5 to the USA. If so, that will be the one she gets. Not because of 5 seats, just because it looks better and would have greater utility.
+9
Oct 7th, 2010 (2:50 pm)Why? I just have to ask Why? As a Chevrolet dealer, who hasn’t gotten our first Cruze to deliver (several SOLD, but none have arrived at our store), why is GM already dividing up the production capacity? I have driven a new Cruze, and there is NO WAY that GM can make the interior any quieter for a Buick customer – the car is amazingly quiet as a Chevy.
I’m perfectly fine building this car for the Chinese market, but we don’t need another model to steal production away from Chevrolet. It will cost GM more money to market a seperate Buick model than any price premium they can charge. I believe that the Chevrolet dealer network can sell every Cruze that GM can build. JMHO!
Oct 7th, 2010 (2:51 pm)Drive a Cruze it is hard to believe how quiet it is.
+4
Oct 7th, 2010 (2:58 pm)I have to agree. The cruze is by far the quietest small car I have ever driven. In fact it is just as quiet as any car I have ever driven. And yes I have driven most upscale American and Non-American brands.
The only down side I saw was that for me the Cruze could use a little more pep. But I think that about most cars. For the money the Cruze maybe the best buy out there.
Oct 7th, 2010 (3:00 pm)Hey man, I’m with you! Get rid of the cars and let’s all use bikes and public transport!
Oct 7th, 2010 (3:04 pm)This is great news for those that just have to have a Buick, but don’t want a Regal.
Off-topic: I’ve been selected to drive a Chevrolet Volt during the Volt Unplugged Tour on Thursday, October 14th in San Francisco! Will also be able to chat with the Volt engineers, so if anyone wants me to ask a question for them, let me know!
NPNS!
Oct 7th, 2010 (3:06 pm)In order to sell with a profit.
+2
Oct 7th, 2010 (3:07 pm)MPG in CS mode
+1
Oct 7th, 2010 (3:08 pm)I can hardly wait for the Cadillac version.
Oct 7th, 2010 (3:10 pm)Mr. S:
Ask them some tough questions. How about do they feel there is anything specific that was over-engineered in the Volt? After that ask what they think is the most important thing to include in the next gen Volt.
Forget the stupid MPG questions. Let’s find out what the creators feel are the weaknesses of this car. Being corporate guys I doubt anything real will be divulged.
-Book
Oct 7th, 2010 (3:16 pm)Buick was my first car so I have a special (no pun intended) affection for them. I also had a ’92 Le Sabre which was the best car I ever owned.
China buys Buicks by the trainload. Their last emperor (before Communism ruined the country) drove Buicks, so they respect that over there.
It is becoming a truly world-class Lexus-beating brand. The new LaCrosse is one of the most gorgeous sedans I’ve ever seen.
Oct 7th, 2010 (3:20 pm)Hey Carl, how do you know you were selected?
I ask because I signed up for the NYC tour stop, and I think that implies I can test drive it, but you sound more confident than me.
join thE REVolution
+7
Oct 7th, 2010 (3:41 pm)…now to convince Toyota to put some Chevy stickers on a Matrix or two and the job is done
-7
Oct 7th, 2010 (3:58 pm)So true… I just hope Toyota never gets the “stupid” idea to put a 40 Miles Volt-equivalent battery pack into the 50+ MPG “prissy” and realize that the additional weight might cost about 5-10 MPG that will end to a true Volt-Like concurrent with 40-45 MPG CS mode. So yes, MPG is stupid, don’t matter. The only tiny risk that might remain is simply being screwed…
Oct 7th, 2010 (4:21 pm)Now you’ve done it. Cue The High Priust in 3 – 2 – 1 …
Oct 7th, 2010 (4:26 pm)I was still driving the 1976 Buick Century my parents bought when I traded it for a ’95 Saturn. I only wish they had gotten the V8 (believe it or not, it got better mileage than the overworked V6).
I’ve been very impressed by current Buicks, but I’m not really in that market. Now if we were to replace my wife’s Solara …
I’m glad to hear this. Note, I didn’t say that they couldn’t do it, just that it would be quite a trick.
Nice to know that they were able to pull this particular rabbit out of the hat!
Um, by the way; how do you get to drive a Cruze? I’ve only seen them at the NYC event in March, and in a couple of commercials recently.
Oct 7th, 2010 (4:29 pm)No car maker can make all EV’s right now … fact is this is a great looking fuel efficient new option.
If it’s anything like the Buicks I own… it will be a very reliable very easy to maintain car too.
After owning many different makes and models over the last 39 years these Buicks have turned out to be the best.
+2
Oct 7th, 2010 (4:32 pm)With all the boasting of how quiet the Cruze is. Makes one wonder what it sounds like with the engine turned off.
=D-Volt
BTW: Talked with the Volt order manager today. He has received his total allocation number and was able to give a date for the start of the build on the first Volt allotted to his dealership. Looks like they will be coming in on Santa’s sleigh. He’s a solid guy to work with. While on the phone I added the parking assist camera option to the build.
http://garfwod.250free.com/2029/Volt_Prince_Cream.mp3
Oct 7th, 2010 (4:32 pm)OK… ask them what VOLT made so far has the highest miles put on it? How many miles?
Oct 7th, 2010 (4:35 pm)Anyone know if the Cruze (or Verano) will be offered as a 2-door, or as a convertible?
+1
Oct 7th, 2010 (4:43 pm)Ask how development of the Gen III ‘solid-state’ battery is coming. They likely won’t say anything, but ask anyway.
Ask if there could be any potential shortening of pack life in hot, broiling climates like the Deep South and Southwest (they said “no” in NYC, but let’s see if they still think this).
See if anyone will commit to a date for nationwide rollout.
Ask if you can take one home
Oct 7th, 2010 (4:50 pm)A July video clip mentions a “Golden Iver” which at that time had about 11k miles on it. News from the GM Battery Lab is T pack testing has reached the equivalent of millions of miles in many conditions. The low temperature test number was -30 degrees. I believe the oven test was +130 degrees, but not positive on the high. The sustained Death Valley testing had to be run in about 100 degrees.
=D-Volt
+2
Oct 7th, 2010 (4:59 pm)In China the Buick Excelle ( Buick Verano ) will have more variants, a hatch and station wagon are being planned, and of course the GT “sport” version on sale there now. As of yet no news re: A Cruze, Excelle, Verano hybrid. As yet, who knows what variants will make it to this side of the pond. GM’s global strategies are confusing since the factories for Cruze are incredibly spread out – one in Petersburg, Russia, India and Mexico, along with Daewoo in S. Korea we all know, China and Australia! > whew! < ….oh, and I almost forgot, USA.
OT but of huge interest to me are homes like these I found online in my area that come new replete with green roofs, wired for EV in garage right from planning stage with water mgmt. V to H, and eventually V to G are also of great interest.
http://www.estately.com/listings/info/8832-ne-170th-st#listings/info/17802-86th-ave-ne–1
The home I’m looking at now is waterfront, but built in the 1970s and so inefficient in it’s design. Large sloping roof with old-school double pane glass from floor to ceiling. I want waterfront so badly but hard to find an energy efficient home with that feature. Converting such a home to solar with efficiency costs tons.
Lotto anyone?
PUMP OUT THE VOLTS! ,
James
OT but
Oct 7th, 2010 (5:20 pm)I have not heard anything, but the Cruze would be sweet as a 2dr Coupe!
-1
Oct 7th, 2010 (5:41 pm)Good idea. I think it’s a very nice addition. And congrats on your order.
Yes of course you’re right about China. I meant the size would be an issue in NA. Personally I still think GM has too many brands. I think they should have shut Buick as a brand down and moved the cars to Cadillac. I like the Buick lineup a lot but but you can sell the same car as a Cadillac in NA and as a Buick in China.
Oct 7th, 2010 (5:44 pm)What the creators think the weaknesses are doesn’t matter.
It’s what the buying public decides are the weaknesses that matters. If people here are asking, frequently, what the CS mode fuel economy is, then it matters.
+1
Oct 7th, 2010 (5:57 pm)I’m going on the 14th too, 1PM. Small world.
+1
Oct 7th, 2010 (5:58 pm)I agree 100%. My 1995 Buick Regal was my first new car and after 16 years, I am still enjoying it. I will replace it with a Volt because it is the only new car that will be worth the replacement. But if GM announces a Buick version of the Volt, I will wait for it.
Raymond
Oct 7th, 2010 (6:06 pm)/OT just got a call from Volt salesman: there is a Volt visiting and if I could get there quickly I could drive it. Unfortunately I’m 200 miles away on vacation. but very exciting! Ps it is there because Tony P. is there for something.
Oct 7th, 2010 (6:10 pm)#23
Carl S Said:
Oct 7th, 2010 (3:04 pm)
Will also be able to chat with the Volt engineers, so if anyone wants me to ask a question for them, let me know!
Ask what happened to the Raleigh stop.
Oct 7th, 2010 (6:11 pm)I’ve wondered about that too, but I’ve come to think both Buick and Cadillac are valuable, especially if each brand understands its purpose and comes out well armed for battle. I see Buick going after the near-prestige brands- the Acuras, Lexuses and Infinities; while Cadillac targets the established prestige brands, BMW & Mercedes.
-15
Oct 7th, 2010 (6:43 pm)(click to show comment)
Oct 7th, 2010 (7:11 pm)Well, I like the looks of the Buick better than the Cruze! Too bad it is not called the Electra…
Oct 7th, 2010 (7:34 pm)When will they learn?
NPNS!
Oct 7th, 2010 (7:47 pm)I never know when I am going to buy a new car, I was chilling at the airport when the wife called and wanted to go car shopping. I was to meet them several towns over and look at cars. I had the top down in the Miata and went car shopping. On the way I took several pictures of cars with my cell phone and sent them to her. She hit a few dealers also and we met at a GM dealer. She had picked out a big red four door Silverado for me to test drive. I would not sit in it. I looked around and found a nice red Malibu. As the salesman went to get the plates the whole family piled into the Malibu and waited for me to go for the test drive. I was talking to the salesman and said I really wanted a Volt. He said that he had heard a nasty rumor about the Volt. Surprised I asked what was the rumor? He said that it costs $41,000. I explained that there is a tax rebate. I did not mention the lease…
Anyway the family loved the Malibu. The kids thought it was sick, which I guess is a very good thing. Anyway we did not buy it, but they were impressed. GM even had a $1,000 discount because we own a Toyota? I am polite and let my wife talk about money, let her know how much she can save and you may make a deal. I will insist it be red.
Oct 7th, 2010 (8:05 pm)Red HHR:
“I was talking to the salesman and said I really wanted a Volt. He said that he had heard a nasty rumor about the Volt. Surprised I asked what was the rumor? He said that it costs $41,000. I explained that there is a tax rebate.”
——–
I don’t have the advantage of knowing what market you are in, but car salesmen stay alive by selling cars now, not months or years from now. I am not particularly surprised that he would use this tactic to try and divert your attention back to cars he has in stock.
If he had a lot full of shiny new VOLTs he may have a different story to tell you.
Oct 7th, 2010 (9:14 pm)I kind of understand, from his point of view I might as well be saying I want a Honda. However he could of said “I will give you a call when they are available”.
So very true…
+1
Oct 7th, 2010 (9:44 pm)Vlad ,
The Emperor After the Communists came to power, also drove Buicks when he wasn’t killing people or nightly raping a new 11 year old nubile virgin,which was the old perverts personal predilection. He was also much more the reason that Buicks are favored.
How could any member of the Communist nobility be criticized for driving a Buick, as befits his status as a nouveau Duke or Count. It simply wasn’t politically safe to drive a Mercedes or a Rolls, and expose yourself to political criticism. The idea spread.
There are no rules for Chinese Emperors, as Emperor Mao Tsetung I, knew full well.
Oct 7th, 2010 (10:01 pm)Don’t know what type of waterfront you are looking at, but here is what I am planning-
I purchased a second home on a bay off of Lake Ontario a few years ago. Existing dock was 70’ ‘I’. I recently extended dock into an ‘L’, 20’ further out and 30’ cross section. Dock is 8’ wide throughout. During extension, I had dock builder leave pilings a few feet above dock. Ultimate plan is to put solar array out there…if you have waterfront, you (most likely) have possibility to erect an array unimpeded by trees and other obstructions. Additionally, you have the freedom to orient the array without a building’s roof dictating what you do. Something to think about.
As an aside, I originally thought I might erect a wind turbine over the dock [I have since abandoned ‘small wind’ as providing too little return]. During the permit process, I had to interact with the Army Corps of Engineers. I got to find out that they have jurisdiction over anything that juts out from the shoreline over the ENTIRE lake. I was informed that I would be the first person to embark down this clean energy path. Nothing like being a trendsetter.
Oct 7th, 2010 (10:10 pm)Hmmm. I remember when GM REALLY went down hill in the early 80′s. They made 5 different versions of their small car (the J platform) for each division: the Chevy Caviler, Pontiac 2000, Cadillac Cimeron, Oldsmobile Firenza, and of course, the Buick Skyhawk. Keep in mind the Chevy version of this car was at best marginal. You can only imagine what the Cadillac was like compared to the competition.
I think it’s a mistake to try to make economy car Buicks and Cadillac’s. Save the small cars for Chevrolet. I sat in the new Buick Regal at the dealership waiting for my car’s oil change. The Regal should be the FLOOR in the Buick line.
-2
Oct 7th, 2010 (10:32 pm)Gald to see the intelligent movement towards smaller cars. It will be easier to make these electric when needed.
It should also be noted that Ford’s new Fiesta is getting serious attention overseas. People are loving the design and the voice commands.
Due to the simple fact that it’s easier to move electrons than molecules, at least we are being smart by trying to use less molecules to shuffle our fat molecules around.
Soon we will realize we have to be far more drastic in this transition of our transportation infrastructure. I hope GM is working on some cool things in their advanced product development centers.
Possible practical projects in the works:
1) High-speed rail systems
2) Renewable energy systems related to transportation
3) Fully electric, low mass, public transportation systems
4) Swappable battery powered EVs
5) Renewable liquid fuel powered private and public transportation systems.
Things not to be working on:
1) High mass personal transportation systems
2) Air powered cars
3) Weak hybrids
4) Production hydrogen powered personal transportation systems (R&D – OK)
5) Fossil fuel infrastructure projects
-2
Oct 7th, 2010 (10:37 pm)If you go back in history, GM became the biggest seller by making the same car with different badges. It is in their blood. So even though Pontiac, Olds, and Saturn are gone, they continue their tried and used to be true pattern. But the “name change” game continues, they make an unreliable vehicle, it gets two or three years of black dots on the CU survey, then they come out with a new car. The Cruze replaces so unsatisfactory car. The quick rinse bankruptcy did not actually address the real problem, or so it seems to me.
+1
Oct 7th, 2010 (10:51 pm)If you go to current History.
Toyota takes the Camery and makes a lexus out of it.
So if you pick on GM pick on the other auto companies as well.
Ford does this as well with the taurus / Lincon
Also CU ( Stands for Consumer Distorts)
Consumer reports gets heavy donations from companies like Toyota. There rating system has been proven to be warped from over 20 years ago.
+2
Oct 7th, 2010 (11:18 pm)They went bankrupt doing that, too.
-1
Oct 7th, 2010 (11:19 pm)That’s great! Not interested.
NPNS for a passenger car, no diesel no sale for a compact pickup/van.
Oct 8th, 2010 (12:17 am)Here in Seattle, 23 mile long Lake Washington is the A ticket , Bill Gates, Paul Allen and Kenny G live on it’s shores, amongst others with deep pockets. Although I was raised on this body of water, it’s still above my price range even in the downturn. Thusly I’ve been looking at homes such as this one near my present home on the Sammamish River ( actually a slough with no real current ) http://www.redfin.com/WA/Kenmore/8416-NE-170th-St-98028/home/284190 which provides boat access to the lake with approx. a 5 minute boat ride, plus a more serene setting-no wakes, waves, no constant howling jetskis, through-the-hull exhaust speedboats and seaplanes…etc etc.
Wondering if you’ve studied underwater geo thermal. From How-To alt energy books I’ve been pouring over, supposedly geo thermal on waterfront property is very doable and economical. The reason being that due to the insulatory properties of water – your line doesn’t have to run very deep at all compared to the drilling required with dry ground geo thermal ( your greatest expense ). Of course I nixed this right away as geo thermal doesn’t make sense here in Western WA – a major earthquake zone. Also, thin film roofing tiles are for sale now, they’re much cheaper than traditional photovotaics and don’t stick out like a sore thumb either. Dow Chemical makes them and others are in the pipeline – soon thin film nano solar will be the standard, the hard part is waiting, waiting and waiting some more for companies like Nano Solar to go public and begin selling their wares at Home Depot and not just to large commercial concerns ( Plus I’m dieing to buy their stock!!! ). Traditional photovoltaics are out also since the cheaper thin films work better here since Seattle is cloudy and they work better in overcast environs. Passive solar intrigues me – if – it can be applied to existing structures and not designed in from the start. My dad lives on the shores of the Puget Sound, a much different environment – he is in the “Sequim eye” a high pressure anomaly that gets much more sun each year – he owns beachfront right out to the waterline and has dark solar water heaters that heat his pool very nicely. We get 85% of our electricity from hydropower, and if I lived near a creek or river I’d look into small hydro for the home….
PUMP OUT THE VOLTS! ,
James
+4
Oct 8th, 2010 (12:37 am)I know this page is about cars but look what I found on YouTube. I know it may not look like that nice of a vehicle. But when it comes to delivery trucks like UPS and Fed Ex do you think this Electric truck from Colorado would do the trick when getting off fossil fuels and foreign oil? Plus me if you like this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOx5DWcn5SU&feature=pyv&ad=3882380501&kw=electric%20trucks
Oct 8th, 2010 (12:59 am)Also if your really excited about the electric car search up the Paris auto show 2010 on the internet or YouTube and you will see how the world is transforming into the world of the electric automobile of the future even if these cars are only concepts you should still give it a look.
Oct 8th, 2010 (4:21 am)Buick dealers also need cars to sell.. The Cruze is not really a small car, comparable to the Malibu in interior room, which is what really counts.
With the luxury and quietness of the Cruze/Verano you also get heavy cars and that reduces the economy.. a true low cost econobox similar to the idea of the modern Impala would be a much cheaper, lighter and de-contented Chevy Cruze.. leave the luxury to the Buick and Voltec divisions… keep it simple, cheap and bulletproof like the Impala.
Oct 8th, 2010 (4:58 am)http://www.wired.com/autopia/2009/08/occ-electric-chopper/
NPNS
-1
Oct 8th, 2010 (6:51 am)Another upscale Voltec ready car is Ho-Hum news to me. Seeing Volt in the hands of some real drivers is the real news that’s coming soon.
Oct 8th, 2010 (6:57 am)Hey Dave, I assume image posting didn’t work for you so I thought I’d help ya out here since I LOVE motorcycles. And if we go OT it might as well be WAY OT…
Much as I love my Yamaha R6 “NASA GUY” bike (had it up to 145mph on the way to the Cape (NASA), this thing just makes me DROOL! Although its range is only 60 miles, with a bike like this you’d WANT to stop for a bike recharge and a rider recharge (beer) at every biker bar —and central Florida has plenty of ‘em!
Oct 8th, 2010 (7:09 am)PS: Anyway, wrapping up a thread with a “69 & a chopper to die for” just seemed apropo!
Oct 8th, 2010 (7:20 am)If wind power floats your boat, take a look at this.
http://www.aerotecture.com/
NPNS!
Oct 8th, 2010 (8:14 am)I live near and work in Milford Mi. (not for GM) Cruze is everywere. When you drive a Cruze check out the seals on the door.
Oct 8th, 2010 (8:23 am)A wagon to replace the HHR would be great also.
Oct 8th, 2010 (9:08 am)As I mentioned, I had moved beyond ‘small wind’. The reason why is on the website you posted http://www.aerotecture.com/610VSpec-Sheet.pdf Look how fast the wind has to be blowing to get any appreciable energy from this thing. It only puts out <10% of its rated power until wind speed is above 20 mph. And you don't get above 50% of rated power until 30 mph. Yes, put these up at the top of tall buildings where winds are greater and more consistent. For us (close to ground) home owners, better to go solar to be green.
Oct 8th, 2010 (10:11 am)Do you realize that CU does NOT conpensate for the number of cars on the road when making up these “DOTS” and they “try” to get up to a hundred responses for a vehicle… so .. the fact is ,,when you see these “dots” they are only from readers of their biased magazine and if there are a million Chevys that get 10 problems and 10 thousand Hondas that get 5 problems they rate the Honda twice as good. If you don’t see the problem in this .. you need to take a statistics course.
I got burned by CU once by this “dot” thing… bought a Nissan that had more problems in 4 years than all my GMs put together.
JDPowers who does compensate for the quantity of vehicles rates BUICK as the best long term reliability. That I agree with… my current Buick with 95K miles has cost me a total of $101.99 in repairs. That’s as good as any vehicle I’ve ever heard of. Especially all miles driven in the PGH area which mean very little highway miles. Mostly stop and go miles.
My original tires lasted 58K miles my original brakes lasted 42K ….. original rotors 74K… this is in PGH area hills pot holes stop and go driving.
Oct 8th, 2010 (11:21 am)Try the 1.4 turbo…It has more torque than the 1.8
Oct 8th, 2010 (11:40 am)As a Chevrolet salesperson, I would give him as much information as I could on the vehicle of interest. Just helps them make an informed decision. Many guests come in to look at a certain vehicle and end up in something different.
Oct 9th, 2010 (2:46 am)Dave K. Is that the guy from the Chopper show that is on the Discovery Channel ridding an electric motor cycle sweet! I hope he shows it on one of his episodes if he’s still running his show on that network unless it’s TLC instead?