-
Posts
22,750 -
Joined
Content Type
Forums
Articles
Garage
Gallery
Events
Store
Collections
Everything posted by Intrepidation
-
Well GM had little choice but to turn to the government since it pissed away so much money over the decades.
-
Uh, no. The consumer should tell the company what they want to purchase. Telling the consumer what they want is how we got to this state of FWD 4-doors in the first place.
-
Ford @ NAIAS: 2010 Taurus
Intrepidation replied to pow's topic in North American International Auto Show in Detroit (NAIAS)
Oh bob, I;m so sorry! I accidentally edited your post instead of mine. There, I think I fixed it, sorry for the screwup. ( have to get used to teh "edit" button being on everyone's post and not just my own.) -
GM Will Build Volt Battery Packs with LG Chem in Michigan
Intrepidation replied to Intrepidation's topic in General Motors
It's just too bad LG Chem is Korean based, it would have been cool to have an American based supplier. However the Volt is built atop a Korean engineered platform anyway so I guess it's fitting. -
Hate to brake it to you but guess who else uses a trapezoid shaped grill? Give up? Almost EVERYONE. Let's see... -Malibu -Cruze -Aura -Asta -Outlook -Insignia -Sebring -Evey Cadillac And that's the tip of the iceberg. Pulled back along the fender? Have you seen the Converj concept? Bangle butt? Afraid not, Chrysler had the design from the first Cloud Cars. If anything Bangle copied those, and did a worse job. You're way too comfortable likening every new car's rear end to a "bangle butt". If anything it looks inspired by the last gen Sebring's butt. It's a concept so of course the interior is pie-in-the-sky. This is nothing compared to other concepts. Try again.
-
Sounds like they are keeping Pontiac to slowly phase it out by not updating and discontinuing models.
-
I'm shocked that in a down market with most automakers in the red that there are no buyers.
-
LG Chem to build Volt Battery Packs in Michigan GM announced at the New England International Auto Show that LG Chem would provide the battery packs for the upcoming Volt. The Korean based battery supplier will build a plant in Michigan at a yet to be confirmed location, with GM handling the responsibility of building the complete packs and for all the battery management systems and power electronics. Follow the jump for full details and press release. http://www.cheersandgears.com/index.php?sh...c=27681&hl=
-
One of the big remaining technical questions for General Motors' Chevrolet Volt has been who the automaker will tap to supply the batteries. LG Chem and A123 Systems are the two companies that have been supplying prototype battery packs for Volt development program. It has long been rumored that South Korea's LG Chem would be selected, and today CEO Rick Wagoner confirmed the selection. Surprisingly though, GM has decided it will take responsibility for actually building the complete packs. GM will also take full responsibility for all the battery management systems and power electronics. The company will build a new factory in Michigan, but a specific site has yet to be announced, in part because negotiations are ongoing with state and local authorities on the usual incentives and approvals. LG Chem's US subsidiary, Compact Power of Troy, Michigan, has been building the prototype packs for the development vehicles and will continue to provide integration support and act as a liaison for the program. http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/12/detroit...h-lg-chem-in-m/ PRESS RELEASE: Chevrolet Volt Battery Packs Will Be Manufactured by General Motors in the United States * GM will establish the first lithium-ion battery pack manufacturing facility in the United States operated by a major automaker * LG Chem has been selected to supply the lithium-ion battery cells for the Chevrolet Volt * Advanced battery strategy strengthens GM's capabilities to develop hybrid and electric vehicles * GM will open a new automotive battery lab - the largest of its kind - in the United States to further strengthen design, development and testing capabilities * A partnership with the University of Michigan has been established to develop a specialized curriculum for battery engineers DETROIT - The Chevrolet Volt, an extended-range electric vehicle that delivers up to 40 miles of gasoline- and emissions-free electric driving, will use battery packs manufactured in the United States by General Motors, Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner announced at the North American International Auto Show. GM will establish the first lithium-ion battery pack manufacturing facility operated by a major automaker in the United States to produce the Volt's battery pack system. It consists of lithium-ion cells that are grouped into modules, along with other key battery components. The plant will be located in Michigan, subject to negotiations with state and local government authorities. Facility preparation will begin in early 2009, with production tooling to be installed mid-year and output starting in 2010. "The design, development and production of advanced batteries must be a core competency for GM, and we've been rapidly building our capability and resources to support this direction," Wagoner said. "This is a further demonstration of our commitment to the electrification of the automobile and to the Chevrolet Volt - a commitment that now totals more than $1 billion." The Volt's lithium-ion battery cells will be supplied by LG Chem. Compact Power Inc., a subsidiary of LG Chem based in Troy, Mich., will build battery packs for Volt prototype vehicles until GM's battery facility is operational. A joint engineering contract with Compact Power and LG Chem also has been signed to further expedite the development of the Volt's lithium-ion battery technology. GM has been testing battery packs for the Volt, powered by cells from LG Chem, for the past 16 months. These tests - both on the road and in the lab - have provided invaluable insight into lithium-ion battery technology. "Our selection of LG Chem was based on performance, production readiness, efficiency, durability and LG Chem's demonstrated track record of exceptional quality," Wagoner said. "At GM, we believe the technical strengths of LG Chem, combined with our own engineering and manufacturing expertise, will help position us as a key player in the development of electrically driven vehicles today and in the future." GM's advanced battery strategy "Our announcements are part of a comprehensive advanced battery strategy for GM that is expanding along two pathways," Wagoner said. "First, we're identifying core competencies - such as battery research, development and assembly - and integrating these fundamentals into our product development and manufacturing operations. We believe this will become a competitive advantage for GM, and will be critical to GM's long-term success. Secondly, we're building a roster of battery suppliers and academic experts from around the globe, and leveraging their specialized abilities to develop battery chemistries and cell designs, as well as future automotive battery engineers." Key elements of GM's advanced battery strategy include: * Opening the largest automotive battery lab in the United States (31,000 square feet / 3,251 square meters) that will be capable of testing new energy storage system technologies, as well as lithium-ion and nickel-metal hydride batteries, to accelerate the domestic development of advanced battery technology and lead GM's network of existing labs in Honeoye Falls, N.Y.; Warren, Mich.; Torrance, Calif.; and Mainz-Kastel, Germany. This new battery lab will be located in Michigan, subject to final negotiations with state and local authorities * Continuing to ramp-up "in-house" battery-development capability by increasing the staff of GM's global hybrid, electric vehicle and advanced battery organization to several hundred engineers in 2009, including more than 200 currently dedicated to advanced battery technologies * Joining with the University of Michigan to create a new automotive advanced battery lab in Ann Arbor, Mich., and a specialized curriculum within U of M's College of Engineering to develop automotive battery engineers * Continuing to grow and establish a robust lineup of battery suppliers for cell development and manufacturing and battery integration expertise, with companies such as LG Chem, A123Systems, Hitachi Ltd., Compact Power and Cobasys * Collaborating with government organizations and industry consortia, such as the U.S. Department of Energy; United States Council for Automotive Research; the United States Advanced Battery Consortium LLC; and Electric Power Research Institute to advance the development of hybrids, plug-ins and electric vehicles, and related electric infrastructure to support those vehicles Energy alternatives and advanced technologies that reduce dependency on petroleum, improve fuel economy and reduce emissions are the keys to developing sustainable transportation. GM is pursuing several options to best meet the varied needs of customers around the world - from advanced gasoline, diesel and biofuel technology to electrically assisted vehicles such as hybrids, plug-in hybrids and - ultimately -electrically driven extended-range electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. GM believes that electrically driven vehicles, based on battery and hydrogen fuel cell technology, offer the best long-term solution for providing sustainable personal transportation. In June 2008, the GM Board of Directors approved the Chevrolet Volt program and Voltec™ propulsion system for production starting in late 2010. For trips of up to 40 miles, the Volt is powered by electricity from the grid and stored in its lithium-ion battery pack. Beyond 40 miles, a small engine-generator creates additional electricity to extend the range of the Volt several hundred additional miles. The development of the Volt's 16 kWh T-shaped lithium-ion battery, which is roughly 6 feet long (1.8 meters) and weighs nearly 400 pounds (181 kg), is key to the Volt's success. The production-intent design was revealed in September 2008. General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest automaker, has been the annual global industry sales leader for 77 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 252,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 34 countries. In 2007, nearly 9.37 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.
-
Just after showing off the the production intent version of the Karma plug-in hybrid sport sedan, designer Henrik Fisker had his models pull the cover off a new concept: the Karma S. The Karma S takes the drivetrain and platform and loses two doors and the roof. The Sunset has a retractable hardtop over its four seats and, as usual in such configurations, the rear seating area loses out. Thankfully, the top folds into fairly compact pieces, so the Karma S doesn't suffer from long deck syndrome. Under the hood sits a GM 2.0L turbocharged and direct-injected EcoTec four-cylinder with 260 hp driving a generator to keep the car going after its 50-mile battery range has been depleted. Out back a pair of electric motors drive the rear wheels with 400 hp courtesy of the lithium-ion battery. If Fisker lasts long enough, the Karma S should be out in 2011. Video of the live reveal is available after the jump. http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/12/detroit...oncept-w-video/
-
NAIAS 2009 Despite the doom and gloom the auto industry is facing, the North American Internatinal Auto Show has seen quite a turnout and even a few surprises. GM came out swinging with the production LaCrosse, Equinox, SRX, and Spark. It also surprised us all with the Converj concept, the drop dead gorgeous Cadillac version of the Volt as well as showing the Orlando concept. NAIAS 2009: Buick LaCrosse NAIAS 2009: Chevy Equiniox NAIAS 2009: Chevy Spark NAIAS 2009: Chevy Orlando Concept NAIAS 2009: Cadillac SRX NAIAS 2009: Cadillac Converj Concept Other debuts worthy of mention are Ford's redesigned Taurus which is shaping up to be a class leader, and Chrysler 200C concept which may, and hopefully, signal a new direction for the company's replacement for the mediocre Sebring. NAIAS 2009: Ford Taurus NAIAS 2009: Chrysler 200C Concept
-
The 2010 Chevy Equinox showed its new face alongside the 2010 Cadillac SRX in Detroit today, and it was a tossup as to which looked better. Regardless of where you stand on the Equinox' appearance, the new CUV is a far more sophisticated vehicle than the crossover it replaces. Power will be provided by a choice of two direct injection engines, with the four-cylinder model able returning 30 mpg on the highway and the new 3.0L V6 packing 255 horsepower. It also features a gorgeous interior that should look familiar to anyone who's looked inside a Malibu or Traverse. While this is an evolution of the Theta architecture, the dimensions are almost identical to the old one and shared with the Saturn Vue. It still manages to look tidier than the outgoing model. The 2010 Equinox is still a unibody crossover with either front- or all-wheel drive and the same basic suspension layout as before. The styling is more contemporary, with prominent wheel arches and the obligatory Chevy twin-port grille. As expected of any new model these days, the full array of USB audio, Bluetooth and DVD entertainment systems are also now available. The full details are in the press release after the jump. http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/11/detroit...quinox-w-video/
-
Ideally I want 2 coupes, a sedan, and a wagon. Maybe a truck too. I'm so ambitious.
-
That's odd, it shows up for me. Oh well.