General Motors

GM will be debuting a new direct-injection petrol engine in the 2008 Cadillac CTS but according to a new report the power-boosting technology could carry over into more models within the next couple of years. This is good news for us, as GM engineers are working on a new Gen IV V8 engine with...

GM’s European division will be launching a new mini-SUV based on the Corsa hatch, which possibly could be joined by two additional variants to be sold in global markets including the US. Smaller than Opel’s current Antara SUV, already sold in the US as the Saturn Vue, the new...

The new Vauxhall VXR8 was only announced back in February but already GM's UK division is offering a new supercharger kit, lifting output from the standard car’s 420hp to a scorching 540hp. Set to go on sale in the UK next month, the new kit is an official option from Vauxhall and comes with...

Recent strong standings in a North American vehicle satisfaction survey and increasing popularity across China has led management at Buick to consider expanding its lineup. Buick has always remained a notch above its US-based rivals and now execs are pondering whether it could eventually rival the...

Opel will be going green at September’s Frankfurt IAA show with the unveiling of the Corsa Hybrid concept car. Though it’s not a “full” hybrid like a Prius, the concept car uses simple technology like a starter generator and stop/start automatic transmission to drop fuel...

GM Holden has unveiled the new ute version of its VE Commodore, the regular sedan with a flat-bed replacing the rear doors. This is the first all-new Holden Ute since 2000’s VU edition and it’s the most spacious and powerful utility from the Aussie GM subsidiary yet. Developers spent an...

Opel gave us a preview of the styling direction for the new Vectra sedan when it unveiled the GTC Concept car back at March’s Geneva Motor Show. There’s a lot of significance riding on this model because this is the car that will be sold in the US as the next-gen Saturn Aura and it may...

The prospect of China flooding Western markets with half-price autos is overrated and is unlikely to happen says GM Holden’s new boss Chris Gubbey. The former Shanghai GM vice-president said that increased costs required to improve quality, safety and equipment levels of Chinese built cars...

To keep the price of the upcoming Chevrolet Volt electric car low, GM execs are contemplating a rental scheme for the car’s batteries so that it costs no more to buy than an equivalent petrol car. GM is planning to introduce the Volt by 2010 and has more than 150 engineers working on it to...

GM is expecting to sell more than a million cars in China for the first time this year on the back of strong demand for new cars in the country. Combined vehicle sales are up by 21% on last year’s figure, and should top out at 8.4 million by the end of the year. Despite the positive result...

The owner of Russian carmaker GAZ, billionaire tycoon Oleg Deripaska, has bought a five percent stake in General Motors according to latest reports from Russian newspaper Vedomosti. Deripaska is the second richest man in Russia, commanding an estimated fortune of approximately $16.8 billion, and...

The CEO of GM's Daewoo Automotive Technology has speculated that a minicar similar to one of the three concepts shown at the New York Motor show earlier this year could be heading to the US and arriving as a 2011 model. This comes despite GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz telling the Wall Street Journal...

GM has appointed a new director of exterior design for its European division, whose job it’ll be to spearhead design work for the Opel, Vauxhall and Saab brands. Filling the role is Phillip A. Zak, the man behind models such as the Chevrolet Cobalt, Pontiac G6 and GXP sport model. Though Zak...

General Motors has beat market expectations by posting a $891 million profit for the second quarter, stark contrast to the $3.4 billion loss it made in the same period only one year ago. This was the third straight quarter of profits for GM, which cited improve sales in new markets as the main...

Pontiac is to become GM’s ‘affordable performance’ brand, dropping vehicles like the Torrent crossover in favor of sporty sedans and coupes like the G8 and the upcoming Solstice coupe. The new coupe is due next year as a 2009 model and will feature a higher performance version of...

GM is planning to reposition Buick as an affordable luxury brand with the help of a host of new Chinese designed vehicles. China has quickly become Buick’s number one market globally and execs are hoping to mimic that success back home in the US by introducing a totally revamped lineup. The...

GM has made the bold claim that hybrid versions of the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon SUVs will achieve 40% better fuel economy than regular petrol versions, equating to a mileage figure of roughly 19-20mpg in urban driving. Earlier forecasts predicted improvements of only 25%, but, according to USA...

General Motors is planning to inject up to $6 billion in its Daewoo subsidiary over the next four years for both design work and engineering. According to GM Daewoo Chief Michael Grimaldi the South Korean outfit is a major export platform within the GM empire, and was also described as...

GM has surpassed Toyota in global sales for the second quarter of the year but still remains in the number two spot for the first six months. GM managed to regain the top spot despite falling demand for its products in its largest market, the US, and its global sales were up overall by 10,000 units...

To secure its diesel future General Motors will purchase a 50% stake in Italy’s VM Motori diesel engine plant from current owner Penske Corp. in a new 50-50 joint venture. This is the same engine plant that GM co-developed its new 2.9L V6 turbodiesel, which will initially be sold in...