CHEVY SELLS 2.35M VEHICLES IN FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR, BEST IN 100 YEARS

By Zach Bowman, autoblog.com - General Motors has announced that Chevrolet managed to sell a total of 2.35 million vehicles across 120 countries in the first half of 2011, marking the best half-year in the company's history. That figure marks an increase of 286,499 vehicles over the same period last year thanks to record sales in countries like Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Columbia, Denmark, Ecuador, France, South Africa and Turkey. The automaker also says that the swell is due in part to sales increases across its top five markets. Those include the U.S., Brazil, China, Russia and Canada. In other words, sales are up ... pretty much everywhere.

Russia saw the greatest increase with its Chevrolet sales up 54 percent compared to the same time period in 2010. General Motors attributes the increase to a wave of new models that include the Cruze, Spark, Sonic/Aveo and the Orlando. All told, the company managed to move a staggering 330,000 Cruze models in the first months of 2011, globally, which is a 132-percent increase over last year. Since the company has sold nearly 800,000 Cruze units since the model's debut in 2009, Chevrolet expects to break the 1 million unit barrier by the end of this year.

CHEVROLET CONFIRMS DIESEL VARIANT FOR CRUZE IN 2013

By General Motors Corporation - Chevrolet confirmed today it will add a diesel variant to the Cruze lineup in North America in calendar year 2013. Diesel versions of the Cruze are currently being sold in Europe. Additional details on the Cruze diesel for North American markets will be released at a later date.

The diesel will bolster the already fuel-efficient Cruze lineup. Cruze Eco with a standard six-speed manual transmission, is the most fuel-efficient gas-powered/non-hybrid vehicle in America, with an EPA-rated 42 mpg on the highway.

Cruze recorded a total of 24,896 sales in the United States in June, the fifth consecutive month sales have exceeded 20,000. The success of the Cruze has increased Chevrolet's total share of the compact-car segment from 9.5 percent a year ago to 11.9 percent for the first five months of 2011, even as the segment size grew 19 percent.

FIRST DRIVE: 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC TURBO

Chevy's New Subcompact is a Bona-Fide Contender

By Rory Jurnecka, Motor Trend - Racetracks are fine locations for automakers to introduce new models to the press. Porsche invited journalists to drive the current 911 GT3 at the Autodromo at Adria, for example. Ferrari brought its 599 GTO to Italy's Mugello circuit. And now Chevrolet has brought the 2012 Sonic Turbo, a subcompact five-door hatch, to Lucas Oil Raceway, a drag strip in a sleepy corner of Indianapolis, Indiana, mere miles from the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Okay, the "track" we're using is actually a temporary autocross course, the boundaries of which are defined by the winding access roads serving the nearby drag strip, and a smattering of orange pylons. Still, Chevy makes a bold statement by presenting its Aveo replacement -- a car destined to spend the majority of its miles getting 20-somethings to and from offices, homes, grocery stores, and concert venues -- here on a closed track. Getting straight to the point, Chevy rounds us up in front of the cars sitting on the damp asphalt circuit and tells us that the Sonic was designed to be the most fun-to-drive 40-mpg vehicle sold in the U.S. The collective ears of our assembled group perk up.

We're listening.

The Sonic is the first vehicle to be born from General Motor's all-new global small vehicle architecture, a front-wheel-drive platform that will underpin GM subcompacts on nearly every continent over the next several years. The Sonic's primary market is the U.S., and in fact, it's the only vehicle in its segment to be built in the States (right in good 'ol Orion Township, Michigan). Two bodystyles will be available: a four-door sedan and the five-door hatchback version we're spending most of our time with. Both are fun, and even aggressive-looking, with chiseled front ends and a rising waistline crease that runs from the front fender all the way back to the tail. Hatchback versions feature a rear door handle that's hidden in the blacked-out C-pillar, a la Nissan Juke.

Overall, the styling remains remarkably similar to the Aveo RS concept car first shown at the Detroit Auto Show in early 2010. It's a solid effort to connect with younger buyers and the antithesis of the drab Aveo that looked as if it was styled in a back office at Hertz. And get this: All Sonic models, even the most entry-level version, are given alloy wheels as standard. To put it another way, you cannot buy a Sonic with steelies, even if you wanted to.

"No one else in the segment has them," says Sonic lead development engineer John Buttermore of the wheels. "And I had to fight like hell to get them."

Inside the Sonic, the dynamic styling traits continue. The main instrument cluster is small -- similar in size and design to that of a sport bike. Indeed, designers took cues from the motorcycle world in the cluster's design with a large, round, red-needled tachometer dominating the layout, with an adjoining digital display for other vitals, including speed and engine temp. The center stack is heavily stylized, and somewhat futuristic-looking. Hard, cheap-looking plastic abounds, but let's face it, this is an inexpensive entry-level car. We fully expect plenty of cosmetic cost-cutting on a vehicle starting in the mid-teens. It should be noted that as these were pre-production vehicles, interior appointments are subject to change slightly, but the recent near-production model we saw looked about ready to go.

Ergonomics are good, with a nice-feeling steering wheel, comfortable driving position, and superb visibility. Rear seat room was very good for this 6-foot-tall scribe, with ample headroom and satisfactory legroom in both sedan and coupe. Controls are easy to operate and identify for the most part, and center console storage is reasonable for a car of this size. The cargo area in both variants also looked deep and uniform in shape, lacking much of the irregularity that often makes stowing larger, non-comformable objects difficult. Chevy says the sedan boasts 14.0 cubic feet of cargo space.

Two powertrain options are available in the Sonic and both are based on the twin options offered on the larger Cruze sedan. The base engine is a 1.8-liter, 16-valve I-4 that produces 138 hp and 125 lb-ft of torque and is paired to either a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic. The higher-spec offering that we spent our time with borrows the Cruze's 1.4-liter turbocharged four-banger, which puts out 138 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque. Tuned for increased drivability and torque, rather than all-out power, the single-scroll turbo mill produces a relatively flat torque curve that reaches its max around 2500 rpm and starts falling off after 4000 rpm. The versions we drive are equipped with six-speed manual transmissions, but for those who would have two pedals over three, the same six-speed automatic in the base model is available with the turbo engine as well. In the age of the dying manual transmission, we appreciate that a row-your-own option is available even in the high spec version (each also feature hill-hold assist). What's more, the 40 mpg highway fuel economy figure will be true for both manual and auto versions. Kudo, Chevy.

But GM wants the Sonic to be more than fun and youthful. Many aspects of the car were designed to be seriously grown-up. NVH values were a major concern with the Sonic engineering team. Recognizing that increasing fuel prices and a new interest in smaller cars is driving buyers of larger vehicles into the subcompact market, developers worked to give the Sonic big-car comfort in a small-car package. Wind noise, often an issue in inexpensive cars, is at on part with A-level (read: premium) vehicles, says Chevy. Acoustic baffles in the A-, B- and C-pillars help keep this to a minimum, while liquid-applied sound deadening on the floors dampens road noise. The structure of the Sonic is 60 percent high-strength steel to provide stiffness that not only aids driving dynamics, but also the comfort and solidarity of the ride. According to Chevy, the small Sonic is also safe. The engine cradle has been specially designed to absorb frontal impact and 10 airbags are fitted as standard equipment.

After an engineering walkaround (MacPherson struts and disc brakes up front, torsion-beam axle and drums out back), we get our first taste of the manual-equipped Sonic Turbo hatch. To play fair, Chevy has even brought two of what it says are the Sonic's chief competitors -- Honda's Fit Sport and Ford's Fiesta SES (the only automatic in the group and the only vehicle not capable of having its stability control deactivated). Each are variants that Chevy claims best compete against the three Sonic Turbos (two pre-production, one early production) that it has stationed at the course's start/finish line. Oh, and there's full timing gear, too. To each Sonic's snout has been taped a transponder that will monitor lap times, crushing the egos of those who abandoned their aspirations as would-be F1 pilots, turning instead to the noble, yet lowly, world of automotive journalism.

It's tough to get full driving impressions from a slightly damp, twisty temporary course, but some key traits are revealed in our brief time with the car. First, the Sonic's electric power steering is really quick (just under three turns lock-to-lock, 14:1 ratio) and rather accurate, but as in the Cruze, it is light and lacking in feel. Both stability and traction control are standard equipment on the Sonic, and as expected, while engaged the two conspire to kill any hooligan-style fun.

Press and hold the disabling button on the center console, and the story changes. Entering the higher-speed sweeping hairpin at the far end of the course, front-end grip feels strong and the car's willingness to turn-in, coupled with easily controllable trailing-throttle oversteer, allows the car to enter a lovely drift mid-turn, straightening out just in time for a quick left-right sequence of turns. Tighter bends exhibit fundamental understeer typical of a front-wheel-drive setup with a bit of body roll. The Sonic's brakes seemed adequate, but the pedal felt progressively softer as the hard-driven laps piled up, even with brief cool-down periods between sessions.

While the Fit's engine was certainly more rev-happy and the Fiesta felt a little bettwe planted in the turns, averaged lap times from the day indicated that the Sonic was incrementally quicker around the temporary track. This should, of course, be taken with a grain of salt until we're able to independently test all three cars ourselves. In truth, all three subcompacts felt very well-behaved and very, very close in performance. The Sonic's turbo engine and impressive driving dynamics certainly kept it in contention against its more established rivals.

The Sonic goes on sale later this fall, where GM expects the sedan to slightly outsell the hatchback with around a 60/40 percent split. Should the hatch prove more popular, a trend that GM says isn't out of the realm of possibility, production is flexible to produce more of the five-door version if necessary. Whatever the split, we expect the Sonic as a whole to provide its fair share of competition on the sales boards against Ford, Honda, Hyundai, and Nissan.

While we haven't been overwhelmed with the 1.4-liter turbo power in the 3300-pound Cruze, the mill seems much better suited to the smaller, lighter Sonic. While a hint of turbo lag still exists, the engine's 148 lb-ft of down-low torque makes itself known coming out of tight bends in second gear. Still, the drop-off in power around 4k rpm is noticeable, and while the engine is fairly content to let you wind it out all the way to its 6500 rpm redline, there's little point in doing so beyond the sake of making noise.

2012 Chevrolet Sonic Review and Prices

By Chris Poole, Consumer Guide - It's bigger, bolder, and likely a better buy, but this redesigned subcompact will face tough competition -- and the same tough task of convincing more buyers to get small. Perhaps a new name will help matters, so Chevy's marketing team as decided to replace the Aveo nameplate in North America with a new moniker. Meet the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic.

What We Know About the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic: It's safe to say that a redesigned Chevrolet Aveo is not on the minds of most U.S. consumers. Sure, the economy remains troubled and uncertain, and gas prices are back up to $3 a gallon in many places. But that's a long way from the $4 record that caused such a big upsurge in sales of thrifty compact and subcompact cars back in the mid-2008s.

Of course, demand for fuel-efficient vehicles tends to rise and fall with fuel prices, as well as with public confidence in the way things are going. Still, small-car sales have been rather weak even for today's down market. That's especially true of older designs like Aveo, whose 2009 deliveries plunged nearly 29 percent from the '08 total.

Even so, General Motors' largest division is betting heavily on its new South Korean-designed Sonic subcompact and on the European influenced Chevrolet Cruze compact sedan. Like Ford's comparable 2011 Fiesta and redesigned 2011 Focus, these products are not only a hedge against another spike in gas prices. They're needed for compliance with the tough new federal fuel-economy standards that start ramping up with the 2011 model year and reach a car-fleet-average of no less than 42 mpg come 2016.

With all this, fuel-stingy compacts and subcompacts will loom large in coming years regardless of whether the public is ready to buy them in significant numbers. That's why GM, Ford and other automakers are going all out to give their newest small cars real "gotta have" apeal, no more dumpy styling, city-bus interiors, and pedestrian performance. Visual flair, functional features, and driving fun are the imperatives now -- plus the best possible mpg, natch. Inevitably, the new little ones will cost more than the cars they replace, but that's necessary too. All automakers, but especially the Detroit based companies, want to improve their profit margins in this end of the market, even at the risk of losing some sales volume.

The 2012 Chevrolet Sonic reflects these trends, as we know from various recent intel and the production-preview Aveo RS Concept, revealed at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show. For starters, the Sonic will be an inch or two longer, wider, and lower than the vintage-2004 Aveo (freshened for 2008-09). As a result, this subcompact will grow to about the same size as Chevy's Cobalt compact car (recently replaced by the Cruze). GM hasn't released many specifics about the Sonic, so the dimensions in our spec chart are educated guesstimates.

2012 CHEVY SONIC SELLING POINT: SUSPENSION TUNED BY CORVETTE ENGINEERS

By Keith Cornett, corvetteblogger.com - General Motors rolled out the new 2012 Chevrolet Sonic models earlier this week at the Detroit Auto Show. The sedan and hatchback models are powered by either a 1.8 liter four-cylinder or the Ecotec 1.4L turbo rated at 138 horsepower. But it was the suspensions we found interesting. Chevy says Corvette engineers provided their expertise in the ride and handling of the sub-compact.

Foregoing the conventional wisdom that Corvette engineers are limited to only playing with transverse leaf springs, the 2012 Chevy Sonic features a MacPherson strut front suspension with coil springs and stabilizer bar and a semi-independent, torsion beam axle-mount compound link-type rear suspension -- featuring a robust, tubular V-shape beam -- with gas-charged shocks.

That, says Chevy, gives the Sonic a more direct, confident and athletic feel, while balancing the vehicle for the broad range of driving conditions in North America.

The Sonic represents GM's major move into the sub-compact market. Utilizing the Corvette engineering staff to provide the ride and handling, GM not only gets to-notch engineering on their new car, but the unique selling point that is offered whenever the Corvette name is associated with someting: Corvette tuned suspension = performance, quality and visions of halos.

Could this exercise by the Corvette Engineering staff lead to a design change in the suspensions on the C7 Corvette? Based on the body of work that engineers for Corvette have done lately, I believe it's more than a possibility. Which car's suspension isn't like all the others:

1. Corvette C6


2. Corvette C6.R GT Race Car


3. 2011 SEMA Corvette Z06x Concept


4. 2012 Chevy Sonic

The Corvette C6, designed and engineered in the early 2000's, borrows its transverse leaf spring from the C5 Corvette. The other Corvettes (and the Sonic) are much more recent in their engineering and all share a coil-over type suspension. Just saying ...

CORVETTE RACING AT MOSPORT: THE REAL DEAL

High Speed Canadian Circuit Favors the
Brace and Suits Corvette Racing's Strengths

By Keith Cornett, corvetteblogger.com - America is the home of the brave, but that description also applies to a twisting ribbon of asphalt in the Canadian countryside. Mosport International Raceway, a legendary circuit that will host Sunday's Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport, separates the brave from the meek with its sweeping turns and soaring speeds.

Mosport demands commitment, courage, and unflinching self-confidence. Not surprisingly, this daunting 2.5-mile road course ranks among the favorites of the Corvette Racing squad.

"I like fast, fast race tracks, and Mosport is definitely fast," said Tommy Milner, who will share the No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.$ with teammate Olivier Beretta in the fourth round of the 2011 American LeMans Series. "Even Turn 5, the slowest corner on the circuit, has an approach that's quick. It's a flowing race track, and once you get your rhythm, it's a blast."

Mosport has been the stage for many of Corvette Racing's winning performances. The team has tallied eight victories there, including its first win in the GT2 category (since renamed GT) in 2009. That race featured a spectacular wheel-to-wheel duel between Jan Magnussen and Ferrari rival Pierre Kaffer in the final 30 minutes. Magnussen prevailed by .331 seconds at the finish.

"The whole circuit is a huge challenge, one that I relish," said Magnussen's teammate, Oliver Gavin. "We always to into that race with a strong car and the track seems to suit the Corvette's strengths.

"Our car's balance and braking is very good, and we seem to be quick in the tight Turn 5 area and coming into Turn 8 at the end of the back straight," Gavin explained. "One of the most daunting parts is Turn 2, and it's also the most fun when you get it right. The corner entry is blind, you turn in and the track starts to fall away almost immediately. You need absolute trust in the marshals to tell you if there's a problem ahead."

Corvette Racing has unfinished business at Mosport. Last year's event was red-flagged with 30 minutes remaining when the guardrail lining the high-speed Andretti Straightaway was severely damaged in an accident. The twin Corvettes had completed their final pit stops and were in position to race for the win when officials cancelled the remainder of the race.

"If the race had restarted we would have been in good position," said Magnussen. "We had a strong car, things were shaping up, and we would have had a shot at it. I'm looking forward to going back there and setting the record straight."

Corvette Racing ambassador Ron Fellows, who scored three GT1 wins at Mosport in 2001-03 with teammate Johnny O'Connell, has a new role at Mosport as co-owner of the historic circuit. Fellows and partners Carlo Fidani and Alan Boughton purchased the track on June 1.

"Mosport has a storied history that goes back to 1961," said Fellows. "From Formula 1 and Can-Am to Trans-Am, Group C and motorcycles, Mosport has had it all over the decades. To have the opportunity to be part of the ownership group at a circuit that's been part of my life for over 40 years is very exciting. The ALMS Grand Prix of Mosport is our marquee event, and we intend to build on its success in the future."

Fellows' new responsibilities are appreciated by his former teammates. "Ron promised that if we have too much understeer, he'll straighten that bit out," Masnussen said with a laugh.

The Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport is scheduled to start at 3:05 pm ET on Sunday, July 24. Live video coverage is available on ESPN3.com in the US and americanlemans.com for international users, supplemented by live coverage on Rogers Sportsnet in Canada. ESPN2 will televise the race on Sunday at 10 pm ET.

ONSTAR FOR MY VEHICLE COMING TO BEST BUY JULY 24

By Suzanne Ashe, cnet.com - If you want the benefits of the OnStar system, such as emergency services and turn-by-turn navigation but your car didn't come with OnStar hope is not lost. OnStar FMV (For My Vehicle) will be available this week.

Launching July 24, OnStar FMV will be available at Best Buy for $299.99, plus $75 for installation. Service Plans for OnStar FMV will start at $18.95 a month, or $199 a year.

"The wait is over," OnStar President Linda Marshall said in a press release. "Since we announced OnStar FMV at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, thousands of people have signed up to be notified when this innovative product is ready to buy. Now, through Best Buy, they can enhance their Fords, Toyotas, Chryslers and other brands with the power of OnStar."

OnStar, best known as a General Motors premium feature, comes standard in new Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles.

OnStar FMV offers the same services at the factory-installed version, including automatic crash response, turn-by-turn navigation, hands-free calling, stolen-vehicle location assistance, emergency services, and roadside assistance.

GENERAL MOTORS TO LAUNCH FIRST REAL-WORLD SMART GRID PILOT

Smart grid solutions enable utilities to manage electric vehicle energy demands. OnStar will be the lone telematics provider able to create wireless bridge between electric vehicles and the grid. Regional utility employees will drive Volts as every day vehicles in Q3.

By General Motors of Canada - General Motors and OnStar will launch the first real-world pilot of smart grid solutions for electric vehicles this year, paving the way for utilities to increase energy efficiency and offer lower charging costs to customers.

Starting this quarter, hundreds of employees of regional utilities will drive leased Chevrolet Volts as their everyday vehicles and participate in the pilot.

"In contrast to other OEMs who are only talking about smart grid technology, we're moving beyond research and development projects to a program in the real world," said Nick Pudar, OnStar vice president of planning and business development. "Through this pilot we will see real-time results on how intelligent energy management can maximize EV charging efficiency and minimize the electric bill for EV drivers."

Many utility companies throughout the United States have implemented programs where customers opt in to allow the utility to stop and start their home air conditioning units as needed when electricity demand is high. The customer benefit from this service is a lower electricity bill. OnStar's smart grid solution builds on this concept, but to a much more advanced and sophisticated level.

Through the OnStar Advanced Telematics Operations Management System (ATOMS), a utility will be able to accurately monitor and manage the energy used by the vehicles. The data will give the utility deep insight into where and when EVs are charged and demand response, which allows the utility to reduce peak demand by shifting EV charging to non-peak hours.

"OnStar is the only telematics provider that can create a wireless bridge between electric vehicles and the grid, building on our learning from the Chevrolet Volts on the road today," Pudar said.

Through OnStar's ATOMS infrastructure and partners' solutions, utilities will be able to implement two Smart Grid services:

Data Gathering. With customer permission, OnStar will provide the utility with overall charge level as well as charging history -- by time and location -- for the Volt pilot fleet, without the vehicles having to connect to a charging station. This will give the utility better insight for forecasting demand, setting rates and determining the best location for charging infrastructure.

Demand response. OnStar will allow the utility to actively manage EV charging for those who opt in to the service. The utility can then reduce peak loads by offering discounts or other incentives to encourage drivers to charge their EVs when overall electricity demand is lowest, typically in the early morning hours.

OnStar, the automotive industry leader in telematics, first demonstrated EV data gathering and demand response in February at the DistribuTECH conference in San Diego. The Chevrolet Volt is now available in select U.S. markets and will be available nationwide by the end of the year.

ORLANDO CLAIMS TO BUCK TREND IN BLAND DESIGN

By Autonet.ca - Nearly three years after Chevrolet introduced the Orlando show car at the 2008 Paris Motor Show, the production vehicle of the same name is ready to make its debut in Canada. The seven-seat Orlando multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) fills a hole in the Chevrolet line-up that the Uplander minivan left empty when it went out of production in 2009.

Built on the same platform as the Cruze sedan, the Orlando will be built alongside that car in South Korea. Though the Orlando show car was equipped with a 2.0-litre turbodiesel four-cylinder engine, the production model will have a 2.4-litre gasoline inline-four under the hood. This engine, which is also used in the Chevrolet Equinox, will produce an estimated 178 hp.

The engine will be mated to a choice of either a six-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmission.

Chevrolet says Orlando bucks the trend of "bland" designs in the MPV segment, thanks to features like a low roofline, crossover-inspired silhouette, muscular, protruding wheel-arches, and 16- or 18-inch wheels.

Although the Orlando does feature a sweeping roofline, GM says designers were still able to raise the second- and third-row seats in order to allow better visibility for rear occupants. Of note is that at 1,633 mm in height, Orlando is almost 200 mm shorter in overall height than Uplander.

In terms of interior space -- no doubt a big priority for shoppers in this segment -- the Orlando includes several compartments in the centre console, front and rear doors, and the cargo area. The boxy shape of the vehicle also lends itself to a more versatile interior that can hold larger objects.

The cargo space behind the rear seats is just 89 litres, but that expands to 727 litres with the third row stowed and 1,487 litres with the middle row also folded.

Like the new Sonic subcompact, the Orlando is influenced by its performance-minded brethren -- GM says the interior is Corvette-inspired, with features such as a dual cockpit and ambient blue centre console backlighting.

"We're confident Orlando brings the great value and fuel efficiency for which Chevrolet is known to the MPV segment, but also something fresh -- function with attitude. With its fuel efficiency, versatility and strong safety story, the Orlando will bring more new customers to the Chevrolet brand here and across Canada," says Marc Comeau, GM Canada's vice-president of Chevrolet Canada.

Orlando will be available to Canadians later in 2011, with further details including pricing, announced closer to the launch date.

By General Motors of Canada - Chevrolet Safe and Fun Hockey is providing all five-year-old players across Canada with an opportunity to get their first hockey helmet for free, giving parents peace of mind while instilling the importance of on-ice safety from the beginning of their child's sporting involvement. By providing new and safe equipment, the Chevrolet Canada Hockey Helmet Program will help these young players learn that safe hockey is fun hockey.

"We're focused on serving our customers and communities better than ever, and with more than 400 dealers in communities across Canada, we have the opportunity to make a real impact through this bold new initiative," said Rob Assimakopoulos, general director of marketing at Chevrolet. "Hockey is Canada's game, and as a longstanding supporter, Chevrolet is encouraging young players to learn the importance of on-ice safety and sportsmanship, making positive change by ensuring they play safe and fun from their first days on skates."

"For over a decade, Chevrolet Safe and Fun Hockey has been involved in creating a safe and enjoyable environment for kids across Canada," said Bobby Orr. "The new program to provide free helmets to young players is a grat initiative that will help us build safety into the culture of sports and help kids understand that hockey can be lots of fun, while still being safe."

All players born in 2006 who register to play hockey with Hockey Canada in the 2011/2012 season will be eligible to receive a free Bauer Hockey helmet from Chevrolet. In the 2010/2011 season, over 23,000 five-year-olds were registered with Hockey Canaa.

"Chevrolet's involvement in the sport and commitment to safety and innovation has helped Canadian families play safer hockey while having fun," said Bob Nicholson, president and CEO of Hockey Canada. "Now, Chevrolet is giving Canadians the home ice advantage by providing hockey parents with the equipment their children need so that they can play the sport they love. I would also like to thank Bauer Hockey and the Forzani Group for joining Chevrolet on this initiative."

Chevrolet also helps Canadian hockey families develop positive attitudes towards healthy competition, teamwork and fair play through Chevrolet Safe and Fun Hockey. In partnership with Hockey Canada, this program was developed for parents, minor league players and coaches to be much more than a "how to" course on the fundamentals of hockey. By teaching hockey enthusiasts the importance of a positive attitude, teamwork, fair play and grace under pressure, Chevrolet Canada is helping to enrigh the hockey community by engaging fans and young players in new ways.

To pre-register for a Chevrolet Safe and Fun Hockey package, including a free helmet, parents can visit www.chevrolethockey.ca beginning July 12, 2011. Full registration starts August 19, 2011, when parents will be able to pick up their Chevrolet Safe and Fun package containing a certificate for the new Bauer 2100 hockey helmet from their closest Chevrolet dealer. This certificate can be exchanged for the helmet at the designated Forzani retail outlet in their local area, including Sport Chek, Hockey Experts, Sport Mart, InterSport and Sports Experts.

CHEVROLET BACKS SPOTIFY'S U.S. LAUNCH, INTEGRATION IMMINENT

By Damon Lavrinc, Autoblog.com - Unless you've been living in tech-exile for the last 24 hours, you're undoubtedly aware of Spotify's launch in the U.S. The music streaming service has been going strong in Europe for the last two years and aftr a series of protracted negotiations with the music industry, Stateside audiophiles can finally get their all-you-can-eat fix by joining the service with free, $5 or $10 monthly plans.

Part of Spotify's revenue model is advertising and Chevrolet has hopped in to be one of the services first supporters -- and the only automaker to partner with the company at launch.

While that doesn't mean much from a music-consumption point-of-view, General Motors' place on the Spotify bandwagon is a clear indication that the automaker is actively interested in bringing new music streaming services to its vehicles. Spotify integration would be a huge leap forward and we wouldn't be surprised to learn that the forthcoming Sonic will be the first product from the General to incorporate the service. Hit up the Sonic's Facebook page for a free invite to service.

COOL DAD INTRODUCES SON TO AUTOCROSS IN CORVETTE Z06

By Jeff Blucker, Autoblog.com - Father-son bonding is important, and if dad's a car guy, he may choose to hit local autocross track on some weekends. It's hard to think of a more fun place for a kid and his pop to spend a little quality time together. Clearly, the owner of this Chevrolet Corvette Z06 agrees. He's sharing his passion for cars with junior by popping a helmet on his noggin, strapping him into the passenger seat, and hitting the course.

When this little guy grows up and does likewise with his own kids, he'll always remember when and where that seed was planted.

CNN SHOWS HOW MAN WON CHEVY CAMARO ON AUCTION WEBSITE FOR $5.28

By Chris Shunk, Autoblog.com - Penny auction sites like QuiBids or Beezid that advertise $18 iPads and $15 laptops sound too good to be true, and some simple math shows that the sites end up winning big in the end. That isn't always the case, though -- at least not when it comes to pony cars. CNN reports that Jonathan Mason of Michigan purchased a brand-new Bumblebee yellow Chevrolet Camaro SS for only $5.28 using the site fastpennycars.com.

Amazing, right? Well, before you trip over your mouse on the way to the site, keep in mind that each bid of one penny costs 80 actual cents, and there were a total of 528 bids. Mason's Camaro only cost him $5.28 plus the cost of any bids, but the site collected $422.40 in overall bids. That's a far cry from a $31,000 Camaro, but keep in mind that Fast Penny Cars is a newer site, without a big following like QuiBids. On QuiBids, an iPod Touch will sell for $10, or 1,000 bilds at 60 cents each, which is quite a deal for the website. Well, that was the case until this story broke. Fastpennycars.com is now so backed up with traffic, we couldn't even get to the homepage.

GM TO MAKE NEXT GENERATION FULL-SIZE PICKUPS IN FLINT, MICHIGAN

By Automotive News - General Motors Co. said today it will invest $328 million in its Flint, Michigan assembly plant to make the next generation full-size pickup trucks.

In a statement, the automaker said as part of the investment it will create or retain 150 jobs at the plant, which opened in 1947 and employs about 2,050 people.

GM is expected to roll out the next version of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups in early 2013.

The investment is part of a plan announced by GM in May to invest $2 billion in 17 U.S. plants.

GM has been criticized by analysts for its 122 days of full-size pickup truck inventory in the United States at the end of June. That ws 50 percent higher than the 80 days typically preferred and above the industry's still-hefty average of 99 days. GM has said it will reduce its big pickup inventory to a range of 100 to 110 days by year end.

U.S. sales through June of the Silverado and Sierra were up 3 percent and 1 percent, respectively. The Silverado is the No. 2 selling vehicle in the U.S. market behind Ford Motor Co.'s F-150 pickup.

GM said last month it would close the Flint plant for two weeks in July to conduct maintenance work and prepare for a change to 2012 model-year production.

In January, GM announced plans to add a third shift of 750 workers at the Flint plant in the third quarter to build heavy-duty versions of the big pickups.

NYPD TO GET FIRST CHEVY VOLT POLICE CARS

By Fred Meier, USA Today - New York City has bought 50 Chevrolet Volts that will go to the NYPD, as well as to the fire and sanitation departments.

The 50 Volts were among 70 EVs in NYC's latest round of buying under green Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a big fan of electrics. Also bought were 10 electric Ford Transit Connect vans and 10 electric Navistar eStar utility trucks. The 70 bring New York City's fleet of EVs to 430 and were paid for in part with U.S. Department of Energy and New York Power Authority grants.

"This is the latest and largest-ever addition of electric vehicles to the city's fleet, which is already the largest municipal clean-air vehicle fleet in the nation Bloomberg said in a press statement. "We will continue to lead by example."

The NYPD already has electric scooters and golf cars, so the Volt is maybe a step up from those rather than a step down from a Ford Crown Vic. The department also has hybrids, including Prius.

But don't look for the Volt to be whooshing through NYC's canyons, lights flashing and siren blaring, in pursuit of bad guys. The Volt, like the police hybrids, will be on traffic duty, dealing with gridlock and writing the city's famously expensive parking tickets. Too bad for the Chevy, since as anyone familiar with TV crime shows knows, that's the kind of duty the hero homicide detective is threatened with as punishment.

A charged-up Volt runs for about 35 miles on electric only, which should mean a lot of ticket writing in Manhattan before it needs to use the backup gas engine.

The city recently picked the Nissan NV200 to become the official NYC taxi will be testing a small number of electric versions of it to see if it is practical to convert the city cab fleet to electric.

PUBLIC EV CHARGE STATIONS COMING TO CAR GPS

By Martin LaMonica, cnet.com - Coulomb Technologies today is demonstrating a way to locate public charging stations for electric vehicles through the TomTom car navigation systems.

The application will let drivers find and reserve the nearest available Coulomb charging site, as well as get details on each location, such as the cost, charge rate, and connector type.

Coulomb, which is one of the major players in EV charging sites, declined to say when the product will be available. It does intend to integrate with other car navigation systems, according to a representative. The TomTom application is being shown this week at the Plug-In 2011 electric vehicle conference in Raleigh, N.C.

Drivers can already reserve Coulomb's EV stations through a Website or smart-phone applications for the iPhone and BlackBerry models. Coulomb EV charging stations are networked and have a programming API to access data. But integrating directly with in-car navigation systems will make the service convenient to a larger group of potential customers, according to Coulomb.

"The successful adoption of electric vehicles will depend on the ability of EV drivers to easily locate charging stations and more importantly to ensure that the station is available, especially now when there are more EVs than stations in many locations," Coulomb CEO Pat Romano said in a statement.

Many people expect that the bulk of electric vehicle charging will be done at home, but public charging points in parking garages or retail outlets are considered important to make EVs more convenient and to ease so-called range anxiety, or worries about running out of power.

GM TEST PLAN TO MONITOR POWER USAGE IN CHEVY VOLT

By Claire Baldwin, Reuters - General Motors and OnStar are launching a program to send data instantly from Chevrolet Volts back to the power grid so utilities can better manage their energy demands.

The program uses the Volts' OnStar system to monitor a vehicle's battery charge. Utilities could then better balance demand and offer incentives to electric vehicle owners who charge their vehicles during off-peak hours. The program will include hundreds of Volts leased by General Electric for its employees.

TECHNOLOGY HELPS CHEVROLET CRUZE CUSTOMERS SAVE FUEL WHEN SLOWING DOWN

By General Motors of Canada - Chevrolet Cruze customers can rest easy knowing the engineers who developed their car packed a wide variety of advanced fuel-saving technologies under the hood.

One of those technologies is deceleration fuel cutoff (DFCO). While the vehicle is decelerating or slowing down, fuel is automatically shut off to the Cruze's advanced Ecotec engine. When the driver accelerates, the fuel automatically begins flowing again and the vehicle accelerates as the driver commands. It's a seamless process that the driver and passengers don't notice.

The benefits: This is an effective technology that helps keep money in a customer's pocket when at the pump.

"The Cruze is packed with fuel-saving technologies," said Kai Loos, the development systems manager for the Cruze's 1.4-litre turbocharged engine. "These types of cost-effective technologies allow Chevrolet to offer customers a vehicle that achieves hybrid-like efficiency without the cost of the hybrid technology."

How it works: DFCO is enabled when the driver's foot is off the accelerator pedal and the vehicle is coasting. Through integration of engine and transmission conrols, the engine speed is carefully controlled under these deceleration conditions. Fuel automatically begins flowing back to the engine when the driver accelerates or when the engine speed approaches idle conditions.

This technology is on Cruze models with both automatic and manual transmissions.

Cruze Eco with the standard six-speed manual transmission remains the most fuel-efficient gas-powered/non-hybrid vehicle in North America, with a rating of 4.6L/100km on the highway.

GENERAL MOTORS REJOINS WORLD'S 20 LARGEST CORPORATIONS LIST

Albeit just barely. After having languished in the number
38 spot since 2010, thanks to corporate earnings, the
General was able to beat out Bank of America Corp, by some
$1.4 million in profit to secure its place once again
on the Top 20 World's Largest Corporations list.

By Huw Evans, autoguide.com - However, despite the news, there are those that say GM still has a long way to go to regain its former prominence. As for other automakers, the General's cross-town rival, Ford Motor Company is ranked number 25 on the list, down two places from last year.

By contrast, Japanese juggernaut Toyota is ranked number 9 on the same list, also making it the top automaker, according to Fortune Magazine. Volkswagen is the only other automaker in the Top 20, placing 13th overall.

As for the top spot? It belongs to none other than Walmart, which raked in revenue of some $421.85 million.

MORGAN STANLEY LOVES GM

By David Berman, Globe & Mail - Morgan Stanley is hot for General Motors Co. In a research note on Wednesday, analyst Adam Jones declared the automaker as his new top pick, with a lofty target price of $50 US implying an upside of more than 60 per cent from the stock's closing price on Tuesday.

The move is somewhat contrarian, given that North American auto stocks have stalled this year. As the analyst pointed out, talk among investors at the start of the year was about the v-shaped U.S. economic recovery and 15 per cent to 20 per cent growth in the Chinese car market. Now, investors are talking about high gas prices, Japanese price wars, fears of a double-dip recession and flat growth in China.

HOW A SMALL CAR IS HELPING REWRITE LABOR COSTS IN A U.S. PLANT. MAYBE EVEN A PROFIT

By Mike Colias & David Barkholz, Automotive News - Inside General Motors' sprawling Orion Township assembly plant, nearly 100 workers pick through a jumble of components for power mirrors, heated seats and other trim parts for the new Chevrolet Sonic. For easy plucking on the assembly line, the parts are sorted neatly into a single plastic bin for each car.

GM says the system of sequencing parts into tidy kits for line workers is a game-changer that will boost productivity. And the workers doing the sorting are not GM employees. They're UAW workers employed by an outside supplier and paid about $20 an hour, including benefits, far less than GM's Orion workers.

Both the parts sorting and outsourcing are examples of how GM has rewritten its manufacturing playbook for Orion, a suburban Detroit plant where workers will begin assembling the only U.S.-built subcompact car next month.

Historically, small U.S.-built cars lose money. Small price tags on small cars leave little breathing room for automakers to build them profitably in the United States, where labor costs can run several times that of, say, Mexico.

But GM and the UAW say they've got the formula for making the Sonic profitably in the United States. An Automotive News analysis shows GM will cut roughly $450 in assembly plant labor cost per car -- a savings of nearly 40 percent of the roughly $1,160 in costs it would incur if GM rant it like any other plant. Sonic prices start at $14,495, including shipping.

That will make Orion a laboratory to test cost-saving tactics that could be dopted at other GM plants to drive down manufacturing costs, a key objective of CEO Dan Akerson. In particular, Orion's two-tier wage system looms large this month as GM, Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler Group start negotiations with the UAW on a new four-year contract.

"I think GM is taking a longer view and sees possibilities to set a precedent from this system at Lake Orion," said Sean McAlinden, chief economist at the Center for Automotive Research. And UAW President Bob King "knows that Orion has to pay. This is a huge experiment for the union, too."

Beyond Tier 2: The Sonic replaces the Aveo, which is built in Korea and was engineered by GM's Korean unit, formerly known as GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co. The current Aveo also is made in Mexico for Latin American markets.

GM vows it will make money on the Sonic assembled in Michigan. But how?

Cheaper labor will be a big factor. But GM is reaching far beyond the savings it will wring by paying 40 percent of its Orion workers a so-called Tier 2 entry-level wage of about $33 per hour in wages and benefits. That's well below the $57 hourly figure for full-pay workers.

The Tier 2 arrangement is the core of a deal struck in 2009 between GM and the UAW that created as many as 1,800 GM and third-party UAW jobs by putting Sonic production at Orion rather than in Mexico.

Key figures on both sides of the landmark deal included Cal Rapson, then a UAW vice president and head of its GM department, and Diana Tremblay, then GM's vice president of labor relations. They were the lead negotiators during the talks leading up to GM's 2009 bankruptcy.

Rapson in particular, an unabashed Michigan supporter, pushed hard for Orion over idled GM plants in Spring Hill, Tenn., and Janesville, Wis., and hashed over with Tremblay the details of Orion's labor arrangements, according to a person involved in the negotiations.

Still, the UAW insists in a statement that Orion "is specifically not intended to be a model for other plants." It says the arrangement is a "unique operation for both GM and the UAW with the very special objective of bringing a small-car platform assembly into the U.S."

GM believes it can coax profits out of Orion through other methods that are used sparingly or not at all in its other plants:

• Slashing the number of skilled workers at Orion will save millions, though line workers will have to learn and perform some new duties.


• As many as 500 workers from a half-dozen suppliers eventually will work at Orion. All are UAW-represented, and many will perform tasks that higher-paid GM employees typicaly do.


• Having non-GM workers perform parts sequencing and subassembly work in-house, rather than at the usual off-site facility, eliminates transportation costs and ensures line workers get the right parts at the right time, boosting productivity.

"That's breaking new ground for us by reducing the overall net cost of the vehicle," said Terry Woychowski, GM vice president of global quality and vehicle launches. "It's a game-changer."

Success on those fronts could cut Orion's labor costs by roughly $72 million annually, based on wage rates provided by CAR and GM's employment forecasts. That saves about $450 per car, driving Orion's per-unit labor costs down 40 percent, to about $710 per car, compared with what the costs would be without those changes.

Not bad. But consider this: Ford's labor cost at its assembly plant in Cuautitlan, Mexico, where it builds the subcompact Fiesta, may be as low as $150 per vehicle, CAR estimates.

Doing the math: Even before its 2009 deal with the UAW to build a small car at Orion, GM crunched plenty of numbers. Executives estimated the cost required to ensure a profit, then worked with the UAW on ways to hit that target, according to a person familiar with those negotiations.

Automotive News' analysis of the major potential cost savings at Orion is based on a projected 1,800 GM and third-party workers, which is GM's projected maximum employment level for two shifts. It assumes GM's eventual production target of 160,000 annual units of the Sonic and Buick Verano, a compact to be built at Orion starting late this year.

Orion will employ 800 full-wage workers at $57 an hour, including benefits, CAR estimates; 500 Tier 2 workers at $33 an hour, including benefits, and, eventually, up to 500 workers from outside suppliers.

Here's how the estimated cost savings break down:

Entry-level wages: Adding those 500 $33-an-hour Tier 2 workers to Orion will save roughly $25 million a year, assuming straight time of 2,080 hours. That's about $155 per car in labour costs, trimming about 13 percent in per-unit labor cost at Orion.

Fewer skilled-trades workers: Cutting the number of skilled-trades workers at Orion by about 60 percent will save GM about $18 million, or about $110 per car.

Skilled trades workers earn about $62 an hour including benefits. CAR figures, to maintain and repair plant machinery. Orion will operate with a total of about 90 of them for two shifts, down from roughly 230 when the plant cranked out Pontiac G6s and Chevrolet Malibus, also on two shifts, before being temporarily shuttered in 2009.

That means line workers will be expected to perform tasks they have never done before, such as changing welding tips and oiling machines. But GM believes the high-tech equipment at Orion is more efficient than in most plants and should be easier to maintain. It has spent nearly $600 million to renovate and retool the facility.

On-site suppliers: The 400 to 500 employees from outside suppliers who eventually will work at Orion are represented by the UAW, but their employers, such as LINC Logistics Co. and Sodecia Group of Portugal pay them less than even Tier 2 GM workers - about $10 an hour, $20 an hour including benefits - in many cases, several plant workers have said.

Say about half those third-party workers, or 250 of them, will do jobs that normally would have been done by GM employees. At $20 an hour, that would save GM another $19 million per year, or about $120 per car, compared with the cost of having full-wage workers doing those tasks at $57 an hour.

Having the suppliers work on site will save another $10 million a year, or about $65 per car, on transportation costs, GM estimates. For example, Sodecia assembles underbody components inside Orion's body shop. That work normally would be done at an off-site warehouse, where subassemblies would be loaded and shipped to the plant.

Saving steps: How is there room to do all that third-party work in-house? GM's overhaul of Orion carved out a smaller manufacturing footprint to accommodate them. The new body shop, for example, takes up about 500,000 square feet, less than half as big as the previous one. The shop now uses about 400 welding robots, down from nearly 700 previously.

GM touts many "lean manufacturing" elements at Orion that should boost productivity and cut costs, though they're tougher to quantify. A good example is the sequencing of those interior parts for delivery to the assembly line.

In most GM plants, fasteners, bolts and other parts are stored in bins on racks along the assembly line. Workers walk back and forth from the line to the car, picking the right part for the right trim level. For instance, cars with heated seats get one set of wiring; ones that don't get another.

At Orion, LINC workers organize the parts into plastic bins, or "kits", that move down the line inside the car. Workers simply pick out the parts without worrying about matching the part to the car.

Bulkier components, such as wiring harnesses or carpeting, go on an automated cart that follows just behind the car on the line.

Steve Brock, Orion's assistant plant manager, says it's akin to making sure a surgeon is handed the right instrument at just the right time. "It allows us to very effectively get them that one right part that goes into the particular car they're building," Brock says.

He said GM believes Orion is using the system, known as kitting and sequencing, more extensively than any other North American assembly plant. Even with all of Orion's cost cuts and efficiencies, there's no guarantee GM will make the Sonic profitably.

Rival foreign-made vehicles such as the Ford Fiesta still will enjoy a cost advantage. That will make it easier for the companies that sell them to offer discounts while maintaining profit margins, McAlinden says. And the drop in gasoline prices could let the air out of small-car demand, he adds.

Mike Smitka, an economics professor at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Va., who studies the auto industry, says profits could hinge on GM being able to persuade buyers to spring for higher trim levels. GM seems to subscribe to that theory.

NEW GM CARS FOR SALE, AUTO INSURANCE INCLUDED

By Liane Yvkoff, cnet.com - In addition to airbags, satellite radio, and OnStar, some new GM vehicles will also come with free auto insurance for one year.

GM vehicle sales increased dramatically this year, but they're still sluggish in Washington and Oregon. To give sales in the Pacific Northwest a boost, the auto manufacturer is offering a year's worth of free auto insurance from MetLife Auto & Honme as an incentive to car buyers in Washington and Oregon.

The new offer will apply to any new 2010, 2011, or 2012 Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, or Cadillac car, truck or crossover purchased or leased between now and September 6 in those two states. The insurance coverage exceeds Washington and Oregon's collision and liability minimums, and covers the car owner and any driver given permission to drive the vehicle. That includes notoriously expensive-to-insure teens.

The average annual policy in Washington is $1,584 and $1,306 in Oregon, according to Insure.com. The insurance incentive is optional, but that savings could help offset the cost of upgrades, and make some of the vehicles that are more expensive to insure, such as the Corvette or Escalade, more appealing. For shoppers eyeing the Chevrolet Volt, the offer makes the low operating cost of the car even more affordable. The only downside of this incentive is that it might end before the first vehicles that offer the MyLink and IntelliLink infotainment system hit the market.

The 2012 Buick LaCrosse will be the first of the GM products to get the new IntelliLink system, which integrates smart phone apps. IntelliLink will become the new standard electronics system used in the 2012 LaCrosse, but the manufacturing plant that builds the vehicle isn't scheduled to switch to the new head unit until later this summer, making it difficult to confirm if a LaCrosse purchased before then would be equipped with the new technology, according to a GM spokesperson.

This isn't the first time GM has used insurance as a way to move product. GM's insurance company GMAC Insurance offers its customers who use OnStar the option of using mileage-based premiums. The savings policy holders realize through this "pay as you go" program can offset the cost of the OnStar subscription. However, recent changes to insurance regulations in some states have allowed other insurance companies to offer mileage-based policies without using OnStar.

2011 CHEVROLET CAPRICE POLICE PATROL VEHICLES ROLL INTO GEORGIA & IOWA

By Suzanne Ashe, cnet.com - The 2011 Chevrolet Caprice PPV was designed with the input of police officers to meet their comfort, performance and safety needs.

Law enforcement officers in Forsyth County, Georgia, and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, are keeping the peace in the 2011 Chevrolet Caprice police patrol vehicle (PPV), General Motors said in a press release.

"With its emphasis on the ergonomically designed seats for officer comfort, and enhanced safety features, the Caprice is a vehicle that is made for police work," said Forsyth County Sheriff Ted Paxton, who chose the Caprice PPV as a replacement vehicle to older fleet cruisers. "We've had our vehicles for a month, and we're sold. This will be a worthwhile investment," Paxton added.

GLUT OF UNSOLD PICKUPS HAS GM CRITICS FEARING RETURN TO PRE-BANKRUPTCY HABITS

By Zach Bowman - autoblog.com - Some analysts are concerned that General Motors is falling back into old habits by producing far more vehicles than the market can support. Bloomberg is reporting that the automaker's dealers are currently sitting on a 122-day supply of pickup trucks. That's more than twice the average for most models.

Meanwhile, competition like the Ford F-150 hangs around its lots for about 79 days before finding a home. GM enjoyed similar performance between 2002 and 2010, when its Silverado and Sierra trucks averaged 79 days on the lot, but now says that the company is producing sufficient volumes to meet demand and that somewhere between 100 and 110 days will be the new normal moving forward.

But analysist interviewed by Bloomberg disagree, saying that a dated product, a slow economic recovery and overzealous production has led to an overstock scenario and that the automaker hasn't learned any of the painful lessons of its bankruptcy. GM counters by suggesting that trucks require a larger dealer supply because of the variety of weight classes, cab and bed configurations and engine options.

GM TO SELL DIESEL CHEVY CRUZE IN U.S.

By Tom Krishner, Associated Press - Two people briefed on the matter say General Motors has decided to sell a diesel version of the Chevrolet Cruze car in the United States.

They say the car would get about 50 miles per gallon on the highway and help GM meet stricter government fuel economy standards.

One of the people says the diesel version is at least two years away from hitting U.S. showrooms. Neither person wanted to be identified because the company has not made an official announcement.

GM already sells a diesel version of the Cruze in Australia and is reworking the engine to meet U.S. emissions standards.

The people didn't know how much the diesel Cruze would cost. Company spokesman Tom Wilkinson would not comment.

CHEVROLET CANADA IS DRIVING CHANGE WITH FIVE HOLE FOR FOOD

Teaming up to drop the puck
in support of local food banks

By General Motors of Canada - Chevrolet has partnered with Five Hold For Food (FHFF) on their annual Coast-to-Coast street hockey tour to collect food and donations in support of local area food banks.

Founded by hockey enthusiast, Richard Loat, FHFF is a fun, innovative initiative that partners with professional and amateur hockey teams throughout its 17-day cross-country street hockey tour to raise awareness about hunger issues in Canada.

"We see Chevrolet Canada and Five Hold For Food as a perfect match -- both organizations are pushing the boundaries in their commitment to drive change," said Jason Easton, Manager of Corporate Communications at Chevrolet Canada. "Chevrolet is dedicated to making a difference for Canadians. We are honoured to have the unique opportunity to help Five Hole For Food raise significant funding and awareness for hunger issues as the organizers tour the country."

With Chevrolet Canada in the game as the organization's exclusive automotive sponsor, the team from FHFF will cross the country in a truly all-star vehicle, the Canadian-built 2011 Chevrolet Equinox. This compact crossover offers enough space for the FHFF team and their equipment while maximizing comfort and fuel efficiency for those long stretches of Canadian highway.

"As Canadians, we know the value of helping our fellow neighbour. Five Hole For Food recognizes that we have an important role to play in reducing hunger across our country," says Richard Loat. "By aligning with sponsors like Chevrolet Canada that share our dedication and commitment to the cause, we can continue to spread the message about issues that matter while helping families in need."

On each leg of the trip, the organizers of FHFF will set up a rink in the heart of each respective city involved. They will invite the public to join their fight against hunger by participating in a street hockey game. All food and donations collected will go directly to the local food bank in each city.

1939 PONTIAC PLEXIGLAS DELUXE SIX 'GHOST CAR' UP FOR AUCTION

By Suzanne Ashe, CNET.com - This 1939 Pontiac Plexiglas Deluxe Six 'Ghost Car', once on display at the 1939-40 New York World's Fair, could now be yours, at the right price.

The first full-size transparent car built in America (at a reported cost of $25,000), is expecting to fetch somewhere between $275,000 and $475,000.

The Plexiglas vehicle was a collaboration between General Motors and Rohm & Haas. It features a Plexiglas body that exposes the vehicle's innards.

Following the New York World's Fair, the 'Ghost Car' went on a nationwide tour, and then spent several years on display at5 the Smithsonian Institute before passing through a succession of Pennsylvania Pontiac dealers.

Also up for auction, is a rare 1932 Packard Twin Six Individual Custom Convertible.

PARTISAN PONY CARS: 2011 FORD MUSTANG GT CONVERTIBLE VS 2011 CHEVROLET CAMARO SS CONVERTIBLE

By Zach Bowman, Autoblog.com - You can forget baseball -- it seems like Americans have a new favorite pastime on their hands. No, we're not talking about saddling up to the feeding trough at the local Golden Sizzlin'. Now more than ever, we love to argue. As a country, we'll leap into a debate half-cocked, half-informed and fully armed faster than you can say, "You're fired!"

In that grand tradition, the editors at Autoblog have dug in on which of our country's convertible muscle cars is the most American -- the 2011 Ford Mustang GT Convertible or the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro SS Convertible. Motoring out across the Lady Liberty's wide open spaces in a topless muscle car is more patriotic than all the flag pins in Congress. They give our homecoming queens a perch from which to wave and make drive-in movies all the more magical.

In a twist of test fleet fate, two of us have been granted the keys to these beasts for the most American of holidays, Independence Day. Editor/Test Fleet Manager Steven J. Ewing has taken up the FoMoCo banner, leaving Associate Editor Zach Bowman to lead the Bowtie charge. Who will stand victorious?

Since it's the Fourth of July weekend and this is America, we'll leave that for the people to decide. To vote check out autoblog.com.