Chevy to Build Diesel Cruze in Ohio

The Chevrolet Cruze is one of the best selling compact cars in America since its inception last fall. Chevy will continue to improve its latest model with an exciting announcement for the 2013 Cruze.

General Motors Co. announced they will start building a diesel version of the Chevrolet Cruze in Lordstown, Ohio in early 2013. This will add to the current production of the gas-engine Cruze that is already being manufactured at the plant.

The Chevy Cruze has become one of the most popular and affordable cars for consumers this past year. It has outsold several popular competitors including the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla this summer. The 2011 Cruze has also appeared atop many lists of the year’s best-selling cars.

Europe and Australia have already seen diesel versions of the Cruze. However, this will be Chevy’s first diesel passenger car offered in the United States since the Chevette in the late 1980s.

The Cruze Eco, the model’s high gas mileage version, gets approximately 42 miles per gallon on the highway with a manual transmission. Experts believe that the diesel version should get around 50 miles per gallon, but GM has not yet given an official estimate.

To help accommodate production, GM will invest $5.5 million into the factory to upgrade the body shop and assembly line. Also, the plant is expected to add 360 new jobs at the Ohio plant.

Owners of the diesel-powered Chevy Cruze will be able to enjoy increased fuel economy, while the environment will enjoy lower carbon emissions.

NASA Launches into Auto Industry

Automakers are always looking for new, innovative ways to improve the quality and performance of the vehicles that they make. Now they may receive that technology from an agency that is out of this world.

NASA will be pitching nearly 40 different space-age technologies to automakers and their suppliers on October 27^th at an event at NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. The event will show off newer technologies that could be implemented into automobiles to improve quality, performance, and cost.

Over 100 companies have already signed up to attend the event including Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler. Toyota and Honda will also be attending the event along with several suppliers from around the country.

Some of the technology that will be on display will include sensors and controls that could help hybrid or electric cars become more efficient; solid oxide fuel cells to power vehicles; new materials that can be used to contain pressurized natural gas; and green polymers that put out only water instead of noxious gases when they are used.

This event should prove to be beneficial for both the auto industry as well as NASA. Automakers can use the latest and greatest technology and materials to improve their cars and NASA brings in more business to help itself.

Not only are automakers excited for the event, but manufacturers are also interested in the event. The event is being co-sponsored by the Center for Automotive Research at Ohio State University and the manufacturing advocacy and consulting group Magnet, which is based in Cleveland.

The auto industry is quite excited to see what type of NASA technologies can be implemented into their vehicles. This event could prove to be the start of a new partnership that revolutionizes how automobiles are manufactured around the world.

All-Electric Chevy Spark Announced for 2013

GM announced its first all-electric car, the 2013 Chevrolet Spark, will be available starting next year in select US markets.

The first of its kind for GM, the Chevy Spark EV will run solely off of lithium-ion battery technology, unlike the Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid which was introduced last year and runs on both electric and gas. “The Spark EV offers customers living in urban areas who have predictable driving patterns or short commutes an all-electric option,” said Jim Federico, global vehicle chief engineer for electric vehicles at Chevrolet.

The Chevy Spark EV will compete against other all-electric vehicles including the Nissan Leaf, which was released last year, and the forthcoming Mitsubishi i and Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid. While EVs have been slow to catch on in the US due to few model options, high prices and a lack of charging infrastructure, many automakers are pushing towards more fuel-efficient models as the US begins to require more stringent requirements for the industry.

Chevy has not yet made available the details on specifications, price, or release date of the 2013 Spark EV. A new version of the gasoline-powered Spark, already available in China, India and South Korea, will also debut next year in the US.

The 2013 Chevy Spark EV, entering the US electric vehicle market next year, will bring further weight to the increasing electric market and increase GM’s place within the green movement.

Chevy Brings ‘Transformers’’ Bumblebee to Life

The 2007 action thriller “Transformers” was a box office hit, maybe because of the leading lady Megan Fox or maybe because of the unlikely hero, a yellow Chevrolet Camaro named Bumblebee. GM likes to think it was the latter.

Indeed, the 2012 Camaro will be offered in a special “Transformers” edition. General Motors Company reports that the 2LT and 2SS Camaro Coupes can be purchased with the $3,000 Bumblebee package. This special edition Camaro can be ordered in July and will be seen to U.S. and Canadian dealers in September.

So what exactly does the 2012 Bumblebee Chevy Camaro entail? You can guess that it will be painted a striking bright yellow. In order to achieve the quintessential bumblebee look, black rally stripes extend from the hood to the roof and rear deck lid. The interior is characterized by black leather with whimsical yellow stitching. And this Transformers edition Camaro would not be complete without Autobot Shield logos on the front quarter panels, center caps, and front headrests.

The debut of the 2012 Bumblebee edition Camaro aligns with the release of the third “Transformers” movie, but GM has long been thankful for the awareness “Transformers” has produced for the Camaro brand. In 2009, the Camaro was the most searched for car on the internet and Rick Scheidt, vice president of Chevrolet marketing says that “The Transformers franchise has helped introduce Camaro – and Chevrolet – to a whole new generation of fans.”

The 2012 special edition Chevrolet Camaro may not make you Shia LaBeouf or allow you to save the world, but it will give you a taste of the “Transformers” appeal. So you can get rid of that Autobot bumper sticker. Replace it with your very own Bumblebee Camaro.

The 2012 Camaro Flaunts Black and Yellow, For Bumblebee That Is

The 2007 action thriller “Transformers” was a box office hit, maybe because of the leading lady Megan Fox or maybe because of the unlikely hero, a yellow Chevrolet Camaro named Bumblebee. GM likes to think it was the latter.

Indeed, the 2012 Camaro will be offered in a special “Transformers” edition. General Motors Company reports that the 2LT and 2SS Camaro Coupes can be purchased with the $3,000 Bumblebee package. This special edition Camaro can be ordered in July and will be seen to U.S. and Canadian dealers in September.

So what exactly does the 2012 Bumblebee Chevy Camaro entail? You can guess that it will be painted a striking bright yellow. In order to achieve the quintessential bumblebee look, black rally stripes extend from the hood to the roof and rear deck lid. The interior is characterized by black leather with whimsical yellow stitching. And this Transformers edition Camaro would not be complete without Autobot Shield logos on the front quarter panels, center caps, and front headrests.

The debut of the 2012 Bumblebee edition Camaro aligns with the release of the third “Transformers” movie, but GM has long been thankful for the awareness “Transformers” has produced for the Camaro brand. In 2009, the Camaro was the most searched for car on the internet and Rick Scheidt, vice president of Chevrolet marketing says that “The Transformers franchise has helped introduce Camaro – and Chevrolet – to a whole new generation of fans.”

The 2012 special edition Chevrolet Camaro may not make you Shia LaBeouf or allow you to save the world, but it will give you a taste of the “Transformers” appeal. So you can get rid of that Autobot bumper sticker. Replace it with your very own Bumblebee Camaro.

Electric Cars Are (Almost) Here

After hearing about them for years, the time has come for two of the largest auto manufacturers to begin rolling out electric cars. Nissan and General Motors are ready to introduce plug-ins by the end of 2010, and several other automakers, including Toyota and Ford, have announced plans to launch electric cars in 2011.

Now I know electric cars are eco-friendly and budget-friendly, as they eliminate the cost of fuel, but I must admit the idea scares me. I was the proud owner of an electric Barbie car as a child, and I still have vivid memories of waiting hours for my car to charge, only to have it run for 30 minutes and leave me stranded on the sidewalk. So when I heard that we would be seeing plug-ins before the end of the year, I decided to do some research to answer some FAQ and ease my fears.

1. How far can you travel before charges?

Depends on the car, but the range is 50 to over 200 miles. The Nissan Leaf will be able to travel up to 100 miles when fully charged.

2. How long will it take to charge?

Rapid charging can charge a battery in 30 minutes. However, the Nissan Leaf will take up to 8 hours to fully charge a dead battery.

3. Where do you charge?

Currently, electric owners are expected to do 80% of charging at home, especially overnight. There are public charging stations in some parking garages and shopping centers. Soon Charging systems will be installed in Best Buy parking lots, and BP and ARCO stations. The Obama Administration has set a goal to have 20,000 charging stations installed nationwide by 2012.

4. What kind of special maintenance do electric cars require?
Electric cars do not require oil changes or tune-ups, and they have 1/10 as many parts as gas cars, so maintenance is relatively easy. The battery will need to be checked often, and may need to be watered. The connections will need to be kept clean and tight, and tires checked.

5. How fast can electric cars travel?

Depends on the car, but most can reach 55-65 mph and some may reach 85-90 mph