PUTTING THE ORLANDOS IN ORLANDO, FLA

Visit Orlando was instrumental in helping juggle
logistics for the Chevrolet Orlando Summer
Road Trip Adventure from Toronto to Orlando and back!

By Lisa Calvi, Postmedia News - Chase vehicle in position at the Buffalo, N.Y. border. Check. Advance vehicle in St. Catharines, Ont., motel waiting to leap frog. Chevk. Customs documents, passports. Check. Seven Chevrolet Orlando drivers briefed and packed with bathing suits, Mickey Mouse ears and empty shopping bags. Check. Sweet, sleepy children roused and nestled in back seats. Check. (Well, maybe not so sweet at 6 a.m. on a Monday morning, almost at the end of summer.)

It's the start of the Chevrolet Orlando Summer Road Trip Adventure and seven blogging and tweeting families are heading to ... where else? Orlando, Fla! The aim: Put the Chevrolet Orlando vehicles through their paces. And these families will surely do that with a two-and-a-half day marathon drive from Toronto to Florida.

Hope no one barfs.

Since the Orlando can hold up to seven passengers and still have gear in the back, it's a good, solid contender in the category of multi-purpose family vehicles. Its short wheelbase ensures it's easy to manoeuvre and great on gas. There's a healthy supply of comfort features and it's loadd with all the safety features you'd expect from a Chevrolet.

So far, as the organizers, husband Garry Sowerby and I, have planned a 2,155-kilometre drive route (southbound and northbound), found cool overnight stops in Sutton, W. Va., and Savannah, Ga., selected a blitz of Orlando options with the help of VisitOrlando and booked seven vacation homes (through All-Star Vacation Homes) in Kissimmee, close to all the action but with room to spread out for each of the excited families.

Now it's time to put the plan into practive. Dawn in St. Catharines and I'm ready to go at 5 a.m., itching to get on the road. Garry's already ahead waiting to hear that all of the families have made it through the border at Buffalo. I'll be leapfrogging Garry, trying to stay ahead of the group and arrive first at the overnight stop in Sutton, the lovely Café Cimino Country Inn where owners Tim and Melody Urbanic have perfected the art of 'southern hospitality'.

I muse to myself that a stop at the Premium Outlet Stores in Grove City, Pa., is well-deserved, but who am I kidding? I've got to keep moving. With over 2,000 kilometres to cover in less than three days, everyone is focused on getting there. Outlet shopping will have to wait.

Our motley crew includes 16 adults, 14 children (ranging in age from 23 months to 12 years), two teens, 14 iPads loaded with Disney movies, seven 'mi-fi' units that allow mobile connection to the Internet while we're rolling, maps, road atlases, and countless personal devices that have become family necessities on long road trips.

The trip is being recounted online in real time in 140-character snippets of conversations with photos attached on the onmipresent Twitter, so although the seven families in their seven vehicles are on their own, there is a sense that we are travelling in convoy as we keep up on everyone's progress from the lead vehicle, using Twitter 'hash tag' #ChevyOrlando.

We go deeper south into the United States of America, winding our way through the Appalachians in West Virginia and Virginia, almost floating down from dizzying heights into the flats of North Carolina in the soft light of the early morning of Day 2.

We're in the thick of Road Trip now. Roadside Americiana, Cracker Barrel Restaurants, over the longest steel span in the Western Hemisphere, the breathtakingly high New River Gorge Bridge, in West Virginia.

Every stop at service stations and rest areas brings at least one "What the heck is that?" from curious Americans who have never seen an Orlando and probably won't any time soon since there are no plans to market the Orlando south of the border.

Our second night on the road is in sultry Savannah, Ga., at the AVIA Hotel on fun and funky Ellis Square, steps from the riverfront, the CityWalk and from the store and restaurant of Food Network maven Paula Deen.

Absolutely no calories were harmed in the making of dinner, with the gang at Paula's famour BBQ and buffet, The Lady and Sons.

Everyone is excited about the next day's arrival in Orlando. Who will have the first Orlando in Orlando? The kids want to know what our vacation houses are like. Will they get to meet Cinderella? Harry Potter? Spider-Man?

There have been many driving directions, crumpled-up maps, wrong turns, and even a couple of encounters with state troopers. There have been details, addresses, navigation questions, tears, cries of "are we there yet?" and "do you really know where you're going?"

But finally, all the Orlandos make it to Orlando and arrive at Acadia Estates Court, where we take over the neighbourhood.

Up at 6 a.m. the next morning, out into the humid stickiness of Central Florida, Garry and I creep around the neighbourhood while our seven families are soundly asleep.

We've got spare keys to all of the Orlandos and want to top up their fuel, clean the bugs off the windshields before they head off on their day's adventures.

We manage to get everyone's Orlando tidied up, fuelled and ready to whisk the gang off on a magical day. As the convoy pulls out, we stand and wave wistfully in our driveway as if our children are heading off to college.

One last instruction from Garry sets everyone laughing: Don't throw up!

CHEVROLET SONIC SAFETY: ULTRA-STRENGTH STEEL AND 10 AIR BAGS

Front, side and rollover crashes considered
during engineering for improvements

By General Motors Corporation, Detroit - The new 2012 Chevrolet Sonic comes with an array of safety features and sophisticated electronic control systems engineered to make it one of the safest vehicles in the small-car segment.

The backbone of Sonic's safety design is its exceptionally strong body structure consisting of a single welded unit of full-length, high-strength frame rails and a safety cage. Welded tubular-section members are used to frame door openings and to support the roof while steel members reinforce the doors.

Nearly 60 percent of the body structure, as well as the four-mount hydro-formed engine cradle, uses high-strength steel. Ultra-high-strength steel is strategically integrated in the forward portion of the rockers and the center cross bar. The Sonic's engine cradle distributes energy in frontal and side impacts. Together with the front bumper system and the engine compartment rails, the engine cradle bars absorb the brunt of a frontal crash.

Reinforced front hinge and A- and B-pillar zones help maintain the integrity of the passenger compartment. Should the vehicle roll over in a crash, its roof structure is designed to withstand forces more than four times the car's weight. A releasable pedal assembly can reduce the risk of injuries to the lower extremities.

Sensors that control the deployment of 10 standard airbags is mounted into Sonic's structure. The sensing and diagnostic module receives data from the car's sensors and establishes the severity of the impact and whether to deploy the airbags. The Sonic features:

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  Dual-stage airbags for the driver and the front passenger


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  Roof-rail mounted head curtain airbags with rollover protection. The bags stay inflated longer than air bags developed only for side impacts, since rollover incidents can last longer. They also help keep occupants from being ejected.


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  Seat mounted side-impact airbags for front and outboard rear seat passengers are activated by sensors in the B-pillar and front door impact beams


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  A driver knee air bag and a segment-exclusive front passenger knee air bag can help reduce injury to lower extremities


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  If the Sonic's onboard sensors register that the vehicle "tips up" on a flat road surface, the brakes are activated to reduce lateral force.

All five seating positions have three-point safety belts. Front safety belts include pretensioners and load limiters. The outboard rear seating positions are equipped with a LATCH system to help make attaching child seats easier.

AUSTRALIAN DUO SET FUEL ECONOMY RECORD WITH CHEVROLET CRUZE ECO

By Ben Timmins, Motor Trend - Helen and John Taylor have already plenty of world records for hypermilling, but they recently added another. The Australian couple coaxed a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze Eco to an average fuel economy of 64 miles per gallon over the course of a 9552-mile journey around the U.S.

The duo launched their trip in Burbank, California, and drove counterclockwise around the contiguous 48 states, driving just under 10,000 miles behind the wheel of a new Cruze Eco fitted with the standard 6-speed manual transmission. When they finished in Las Vegas, Nevada, they calculated that they had used 148.457 gallons of gas, averaging 64.424 miles per gallon.

Those numbers were good enough to score the Taylors (and the Cruze Eco) a world record for an unmodified, non-hybrid gas-powered vehicle. They also exceed the Cruze Eco's EPA estimated numbers by 53 percent: the stock Cruze Eco achieves 28 mpg and 42 mpg highway. The only cars that can return better figures than the hypermiled Cruze Eco require electricity-notably, the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf.

The Taylors achieved this feat by using their aptly named MAP strategy, which combines maintenance, smart actions behind the wheel, and purchasing smart products. Maintenance strategies include keeping tires properly inflated and performing schedule maintenance at the right time, while smart actions include not exceeding the speed limit and coasting whenever possible.

"Helen and I are both thrilled with the 64.42 miles per gallon world record we set," John Taylor said in a prepared release. "This shows that we can all follow a few simple steps behind the wheel ... to help improve our fuel efficiency today."

AUTOFEST 2011 EVENT BURNS RUBBER NEAR GM CANADA IN OSHAWA

By Gary Grant, Autoblog.com - Like Detroit, Oshawa, Ontario is known as the Motor City thanks to the presence of General Motors of Canada. The home of the Chevy Camaro also celebrates the month of August with a giant cruise. 2011 marked the 18th year for Autofest, which is hosted by the Motor City Car Club who have been hosting car shows since 1961.

The three day event began with a cruise party in The Shwa's downtown core, moving to the more appealing Lakeview Park for Saturday and Sunday. Not surprisingly, the General's Sixties and Seventies muscle was out in force, but there were hundreds of other cars on hand from old Euro rides to hydraulic equipped low rider pickups and just about everything in between. The vendor area was an unusual mix of garage toys, barbecues, ladies crafts (whatever that means) and even a Batmobile replica body up for sale. A still, cool breeze brought on by Irene to the south didn't keep the cars away when we visited on Sunday afternoon.

GM SAYS VOLT A 'VIRTUAL SELLOUT'

By Calgary Herald - General Motors will report only about 100 Chevrolet Volt sales when July's U.S. auto sales come out today, but the extended-range electric car is "virtually sold out" of the outgoing 2011 model year, spokeswoman Michelle Bunker said Monday.

Of the 4,488 2011 Volts GM has built in Detroit, about 100 remain unclaimed, she said. The rest are reserved for dealer demos of the Volt's battery and backup generator or internal GM uses such as engineering tests or marketing.

Volt sales have averaged about 440 a month since the car's launch in December. But GM shut the Volt's Detroit plant in June for about a month for upgrades before the 2012 model year arrived. Since the average Volt has spent about 13 days at a dealership before heading home with a customer, weeks without Volt production meant weeks of slow sales, Bunker said.

Through June, GM had sold 3,071 Volts.

CHEVROLET SAFE AND FUN HOCKEY DONATES HELMETS TO YOUNG PLAYERS ACROSS CANADA

Helping keep kids safe while they experience the love of the game

By General Motors of Canada - Chevrolet Safe & 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 & 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 helments to young players is a great 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 helmet from Chevrolet. In the 2010/2011 season, over 23,000 five-year-olds were registered with Hockey Canada.

"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 & 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 enrich the hockey community by engaging fans and young players in new ways.

To pre-register for a Chevrolet Safe & Fun Hockey package, including a free helmet, parents can visit http://www.chevrolethockey.ca/ beginning July 12, 2011. Full registration starts August 19, 2011, when parents will be able to pick up their Chevrolet Safe & Fun Hockey package containing a certificate for the new Bauer 2100 hockey helmet from their closest Chevrolet dealer. The 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.

FUNCTIONAL VIRTUES AND IT'S ONLY IN CANADA

By Jim Kenzie, Toronto Star - Ever since General Motors got out of the minivan game a couple of years ago, it has been looking for a way back in.

It may not be the dominant segment it once was, but there are still lots of (typically young) families and some empty-nesters looking for maximum cubic metres of cargo carrying and seating capacity per dollar.

GM Canada scanned the company's international portfolio of vehicles and looked into something that would be called an MPV (multi people mover) in Europe, a class of vehicle typically with a two-box (minivan-like) configuration, two and often three rows of seats, on a compact-passenger-car-based platform to provide a family friendly ride and fuel economy.

There was some hesitation over the past couple of years as the company hovered in and out of bankruptcy. But Oshawa finally decided to go ahead with what is now known as the Orlando. It goes on sale in October, starting at $19,995.

GM has identified the Mazda5 as the Orlando's primary competition, with the Kia Rondo and Toyota's ScionXb also on the radar screen. They don't specifically mention the Dodge Journey, but if I were in this market, that would surely be on the shopping list.

Ford's upcoming C-MAX would be there too, except that Ford's bizarre decision to only offer it as a hybrid in North America puts a stake right through its heart before it is even born. The seven-seat version of the C-MAX also will not be sold here.

You might wonder (as I did) how different the Orlando really is from Chevy's Equinox crossover. If you're talking about a front-drive Equinox, the two aren't that far apart in size and even share the same engine.

Inside the Orlando, the ride is quiet and very good indeed.

Paul Hewitt, GM Canada's product manager for the Orlando, doesn't argue this too strenuously and thinks the Orlando might well steal some sales from its sibling.

"Still," he said, "Equinox is more of a rugged SUV-type vehicle, and does offer four-wheel drive. We think there's room for both vehicles."

GM in the United States doesn't agree -- it isn't taking the Orlando. "The U.S. has always been stronger in SUVs, and less so in minivans," explained Hewitt. "Also, in many regions of the U.S., the front-wheel drive Equinox is popular; not so much in Canada."

It wouldn't be quite fair to call the Orlando a Cruze with a van-nish body on top. But it wouldn't be that far off the mark either, sharing as it does much of the Canadian Car of the Year's underpinnings, that 2.4-litre, four-cylinder engine and many interior components.

Like the Cruze, the Orlando was also developed by an international team, with design and engineering input from GM's European, North American and Asian facilities. It was launched in Europe earlier this year and will eventually be sold in dozens of markets worldwide.

The sole production facility is the former Daewoo operation in South Korea.

Styling-wise, there's only so much you can do with a box-on-wheels. Three rows of seating -- two-three-two -- will be standard on all trim levels. The middle row split-folds with a one-hand release of a seat-top-mounted latch. The seat back falls onto the cushion and the entire mechanism rocks up against the front seats to ease access to the rear.

Pivoting the folded seat onto the floor again creates a flat luggage floor. The pair of seats in the third row also flip-fold individually into the floor, the headrests automatically folding themselves out of the way.

It's all so simple, you wonder why everybody doesn't do it this way.

Given the family orientation of the Orlando, it figures the occupants of the second and third row will most often be kiddies. I could sit in the second row fine, and in the third with minimal "Cirque du Soleiling," and there are headrests in all seven seating positions. But I did feel my head would be uncomfortably close to the tailgate glass in the event of a rear-end collision.

There isn't all that much luggage space if all seats are upright, but you do have several cargo/people combinations available. The front seats in the Orlando are just about exactly butt-cheek-high for average adults. So, no climbing up into this car, no having to winch yourself out.

The interior decor will be familiar to the Cruze-knowledgeable -- mostly grey plastic with some bright metal accents. Not ground-breaking, but not bad.

Two characteristics of the Orlando seemed commonly held by the journalists on this media drive -- how quiet the car is, and how good the ride is. Noise insulation begins with a very stiff underbody -- 34 hertz -- and continues with extensive sound deadening.

The six-speed transmission (either manual or automatic) helps keep revs down too, although the engine is remarkably quiet for a relatively large-displacement four, even when revved hard.

This also means you have to be aware of your highway speed, as the car tends to creep up on you.

Performance is more than adequate when accelerating from rest; passing at highway speeds requires a bit more advance planning.

Chevrolet also claims class-leading highway fuel economy for the Orlando, although that's with the manual gearbox, which will have a vanishingly small "take rate."

I spent most of my time in a mid-level LT, which is expected to account for about 85 per cent of Orlando sales. Ride quality was exemplary for a vehicle of this capacity.

Driving home from Muskoka in the LTZ with its 18-inch alloy wheels (versus 16s) and concomitant lower-profile tires revealed a slightly more pebbly ride on coarse pavement, and more jitteriness on small road irregularities. The electric power steering is light and precise, and the handling just above everything you could expect from a little minivan.

Previous attempts at vehicles like the Orlando -- the Nissan Multi and Axxess, Eagle (née Mitsubishi) Vista, a decade or more ago -- didn't really succeed. They were much smaller than contemporary regular minivans but didn't cost much (if any) less. To a considerable degree, that is still the case, although with rising fuel prices, these smaller vehicles may start to gain some traction.

Mazda and Kia don't put a lot of marketing effort against their current entries, so market acceptance today hasn't really been tested. Dodge doesn't either, although the Journey has quietly become a very strong seller.

Given the near absence of the most efficient vehicle type of all, the compact station wagon (thank you, Volkswagen Golf Wagon) an MPV is our best bet.

The Orlando offers a well-balanced combination of functional virtues in an attractive and attractively priced package. With GM's sales and marketing people making the case (and all candidates probably benefiting from the "rising tide lifts all boats" theory), the Orlando should be able to make an impression on Canadian customers.

If it can't, maybe we're just not smart enough to get it.

CAMARO AIRBAG DEPLOYS WHILE DRIFTING

By Aaron Richardson, Autoblog.com - Having a 2011 Chevrolet Camaro SS stuffed with a 426-horsepower V8, six gears and the rear wheels doing the pushing is reason enough for anyone to want to get a little sideways. Trouble is, letting the tail hang in your 5th-gen Camaro could gety pretty uncomfortable.

During a drifting session in a parking lot at Michigan's Milan Raceway, Paul Beiswenger of Lopez Tire and A&D Autosport managed to deploy the car's side curtain airbags, apparently spontaneously. Beiswenger was fine, but his female passenger suffered minor burns on her right arm. The solution? Cut the airbags down and keep going. We love it.

General Motors' take? The incident is an indication that the system is working as it should. GM spokesman Alan Adler said the car is designed to "predict" an imminent rollover and deploy the curtain airbags proactively. That's a brilliant feature if you're indeed on your way through the spin cycle, but as you can see, it isn't exactly conducive to hooning.

2011 CHEVROLET ORLANDO PRICE STARTS AT $19,995 IN CANADA

By Chris Chin, EGM Cartech.com - General Motors will be introducing its newest and latest submission to the minivan segment. Called the Chevrolet Orlando, it's a South Korean sourced MPV that was launched in European dealerships not too long ago. General Motors was considering on bringing the Orlando here to the States, but then they reconsidered and changed it to Canada only instead.

A 2.4L Ecotec four banger provides power for all of the models with direct injection for a result of 174hp. A six-speed automatic or manual can be mated to the four pot for a fuel economy cycle of 35.1 mpg highway and 23.3 mpg city for the manual and 34 mpg highway and 22.2 mpg city for the automatic.

"The new Orlando builds on the transformation of Chevrolet's fuel efficient and versatile product portfolio, offering a family-friendly vehicle in a key segment in the Canadian market," said president and managing director of General Motors of Canada, Kevin Williams. "With its expected segment-leading fuel efficiency and standard 7-passenger seating, Orlando should be a popular choice with Canadian families."

Press Release

• The Chevrolet Orlando is a true family vehicle, combining 7-seater practicality and interior flexibility with striking crossover style design.


• Refined and fuel efficient performance thanks to its 2.4 litre direct injected engine and 6-speed manual or automatic transmissions


• Expected to deliver best seven passenger fuel efficiency for non-hybrid vehicles


• MSRP starts at $19,995 in Canada

2012 Chevrolet Orlando Redefines Family Transportation

The all-new 2012 Chevrolet Orlando, like other Chevrolet models recently launched in various market segments, doesn't follow convention. Orlando's design - part MPV, part crossover - breaks the rules of a historically conservative segment; it makes a statement and stands out from the crowd. Pricing on the 2012 Chevrolet Orlando begins at an MSRP of $19,995 for the LS model, $22,295 for the LT and $29,735 for the well equipped LTZ model.

Orlando demonstrates how innovative design can transform the once ordinary confines of the family vehicle to create a totally different experience for driver and passengers alike. That is made clear by a quick look at some of the vital statistics, starting with overall length. Orlando is remarkably compact for a vehicle that can transport up to seven people in comfort and it continues the transformation underway at Chevrolet, reaffirming the commitment to building refined, fuel-efficient vehicles using small-displacement, four-cylinder engines. It is expected to deliver the best fuel efficiency of any non-hybrid 7 passenger vehicle - including 10.1 L/100km in the city and 6.7 L/100km on the highway.

Chevrolet's new compact MPV brings flare to the segment by adopting a bolder look with its low roofline and crossover inspired silhouette, while retaining the distinctive and recognizable Chevrolet front grille depicted by the split radiator grille and bow-tie badge.

Based on the show car concept first seen in 2008, the Chevrolet Orlando is nevertheless a true family car for the times, combining 7-seater practicality, interior flexibility and generous load space.

Orlando offers a refreshing alternative to many of the family vans and crossovers currently on the market. The distinctly recognizable Chevrolet front grille is complemented by a profile characterized by the low swept roofline and the muscular, protruding wheel-arches, housing 16 or 18 inch wheels. The wheel arches enhance a 'body in, wheel out' appearance while at the same time ensuring Orlando keeps its agile, sporting stance.

Interior versatility

While the exterior of the new Chevrolet Orlando is sure to attract plenty of attention, the interior also features many of the latest design cues from Chevrolet such as the Corvette-inspired dual cockpit and ambient blue backlighting to the centre console. The interior has three rows of "theatre style" seating and, despite the sweeping roof-line, designers have succeeded in raising the second and third rows to allow the Orlando's occupants to get an even better view both forwards and to the side without compromising headroom. In fact, headroom in the third row of seats in the Orlando is superior to a number of competitor MPVs.

Numerous seating configurations are possible with either second or third rows folded independently or together to make a completely flat load area. The second row also has a tumble-fold feature for both the left and right-hand outer seats to allow easy access for passengers into and out of the third row. When the time comes to hauling large loads of cargo, Orlando's cargo area is one of the most voluminous in the segment with 1,594 litres available when both rows of seats are folded behind the first row.

Any hard-working family car needs plenty of storage space for all the bits and pieces that collect inside. Like the original concept car, the final production version of the Orlando obliges with a range of compartments of different shapes and sizes and different locations, including two large cup holders in the center console, map and bottle holders integrated into the front and rear doors and a number of individual compartments in the cargo area. However, perhaps the most ingenious is a storage area hidden behind the front fascia of the audio system, within easy reach of both the driver and passenger. Seen originally on the Orlando concept car, designers have been able to integrate a usefully large area which is revealed by flipping up the face of the audio system, large enough for such items as an MP3 player, sunglasses and wallets. Within the space itself, there is a standard auxiliary jack and optional USB port for MP3 or iPod connectivity, depending on the trim level.

Efficient Ecotec Engine and Six-Speed Transmissions

Just as Orlando is amazingly space efficient, its award-winning 2.4L Ecotec four-cylinder engine is also impressively fuel efficient - in fact, it has an expected best fuel efficiency of any non-hybrid seven-seater on the market. A pair of six-speed transmissions - a six-speed manual and a six-speed automatic - match the standard 2.4L Ecotec direct injected I-4 engine rated at 174 horsepower. The six-speed manual transmission delivers 6.7 L/100 km on the highway and 10.1 L/100 km in the city while the 6-speed automatic delivers 6.9 L/100 km on the highway and 10.6 L/100km in the city.

Shifts within the automatic transmission are accomplished by applying and disengaging clutches simultaneously, which provides a more direct feel for the driver, compared to "freewheeling" gear change mechanisms. On the road, a wide selection of shift patterns is adapted to the styles and habits of the driver, anticipating when maximum acceleration or maximum efficiency is required. The electronic control also adapts to the prevailing road conditions, reducing gear shifting when climbing or descending and using engine braking assistance during down changes.

The six-speed automatic also features ActiveSelect manual control, which allows sequential driver gear selection via the shift level. The transmission also has neutral gear disengagement at idle, which reduces vibration and improves fuel efficiency.

Ride and Handling

Based off Chevrolet's successful and award winning Cruze sedan, already proven to offer excellent ride and handling. Orlando drivers are assured of a safe, yet involving and rewarding drive. The Orlando's well proven set up utilizes McPherson struts for the front suspension and compound crank axle for the rear.

Emulating the successful Chevrolet Cruze, the Orlando's chassis has been tuned to provide the ideal compromise between ride comfort and agility. McPherson struts used for the front suspension use hydraulic bushings which are often found in more expensive vehicles, and provide increased ride isolation for passengers and controlled absorption of variable road surfaces.

The advanced compound crank (torsion beam) system at the rear is used as it offers the perfect compromise between suspension control combined with savings in weight and space. A torsion beam system can also be easily tuned to accommodate the different vehicle and engine weights.

Safety and Security

Orlando's chassis and body structure have also been engineered with high reserves of safety as a key consideration. Sixteen-inch ventilated front disc brakes are fitted across the range, with sixteen-inch solid discs at the rear and with electronic ABS acting on all wheels. All chassis also benefit from electronic brake force distribution, a system which governs the amount of braking at each wheel to ensure the shortest stopping distances, traction control for when road conditions are wet or slippery, electronic stability control and hydraulic brake assist.

Safety for the vehicle's occupants is always of paramount consideration in this vehicle segment, and the Orlando provides a comprehensive list of safety and security features, including: Panicbrake assist and cornering brake control, StabiliTrak, traction control, six standard airbags, head restraints for all seating positions, pedal release system, power rear child security door locks, child-view mirror, standard OnStar with six months of Directions and Connections service, and Euro NCAP 5 star rating (one of the top scoring cars in Europe for 2011).

Most of Orlando's body structure is constructed of high strength steel to form an effective passenger safety cage providing protection in the event of a collision to the front, rear and side of the car. Should a collision occur, Orlando's occupants will be protected by six airbags -- twin front, side and curtain.

One of the biggest challenges often faced by emergency services when assisting at the scene of an incident is helping the occupants of vehicles when the doors are locked. However, this is not a scenario that Orlando owners will be faced with; Orlando is fitted with crash sensor technology, where the doors unlock automatically on detection of an impact.

Finally, like most Chevrolet vehicles, Orlando is available with OnStar that includes Automatic Crash Response and its latest enhancement, Injury Severity Prediction. This feature helps OnStar advisors alert first responders when a vehicle crash is likely to have caused serious injury to the occupants. With Automatic Crash Response, OnStar uses data from a collection of built-in vehicle sensors that can signal an advisor for help if the vehicle is involved in a moderate to severe frontal, rear or side-impact crash, regardless of whether an air bag deploys.

The Chevrolet Orlando is produced at General Motor's South Korea manufacturing facilities and arrives in Chevrolet dealers across Canada in October 2011.

CHEVROLET VOLT: AN ELECTRIC MEDITATION ON THE FUTURE

By Tamara Warren, Forbes.com - The Chevrolet Volt is the first production car I've driven that feels like the future.

My initial go around in the Chevrolet Volt was at the Detroit media launch last fall in Detroit. First impressions: fresh faced, totally tech-geek, and like no other car on the road. The fanfare about the Volt was palpable, but no one really knew how the reception would be when it hit the streets. On the ride and drive, I felt as if I had to handle the vehicle with kid gloves, though GM execs insisted this was not the case. In fact, along with my driving partner, electric car expert Chelsea Sexton, I came out of it with the best mileage out of the entire bunch of journalists that drove it.

However, deep down I knew I lacked the patience to drive so slow and smoothly on the regular. I was curious what it would be like to live with the Volt. I got my chance last week.

I found that my initial driver impressions have held up, as Forbes contributor Hannah Elliott put it in her review, the Volt is a "cool car". It is blessed with both sophisticated engineering and significant vroom. As a city dweller, living with a Volt for a few days presented unforeseen unique challenges. I typically park in my friend's Brooklyn driveway. She has the good fortune of having a driveway and garage attached to her home. I was looking forward to charging the Volt from the comfort of my own parking place.

However, on my first night with the Volt, we discover that her garage is not equipped with a centrally located outlet that I could plug the Volt into, and extension cords are not recommended. Rather than rush off to a charging station, I figured that I would take the opportunity to live with the Volt as a gasoline car for a couple of the nights. After using the 35 mile e-range, the car functioned with no problems on gasoline, but I couldn't shake the profound sense of guilt I had -- it was like cheating on a diet. Eventually, I got back on track, and charged the Volt at my partner's studio space, which has accessible outlets and a driveway.

I'm sure there are many owners who will wake up and say, "Darn, I forgot to charge last night."

The Volt continued to make a cosmic impression on me -- the uncanny peaceful quiet of driving it. The car attracted ridiculous amounts of attention with its suggestive bading and styling. But what epitomized the experience was the interior. The plastic (yes, plastic) door panels and center console have a mod aesthetic, giving the vehicle a Jetson-like nuance with touch controls. I felt quite urbane in my stomping grounds.

My father, an automotive engineer, used to bring home the future -- test vehicles and prototypes. The future came in the form of one-off vehicles, most of which never came to be, or were produced in very limited quantities. It's just been announced that Cadillac is moving ahead with plans to make it's own version of the Volt. Hello, future.

2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA RECALLED FOR IMPROPER ROUTING OF POWER STEERING HOSE

By Autoblog - General Motors announced that it is recalling certain Model Year 2012 Chevrolet Impalas for improper routing of the vehicle's upper power steering hose, which could lead to melting of the hose due to its close proximity to the catalytic converter. The safety concern is that the melted hose may drip power steering fluid onto the vehicle's catalytic converter, resulting in a blaze.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that 10,344 Model Year 2012 Chevy Impalas manufactured between April 19, 2011 and July 29, 2011 could potentially be affected by this recall. GM dealers will inspect vehicles to ensure the upper power steering hose is routed correctly and make any repairs or alterations free of charge.

ELECTRIC CHEVY CAMARO TEARS DOWN THE 1/4-MILE IN 10.08 SECONDS

By Autoblog - Back in April, Ron Adamwicz's electric 1981 Chevrolet Camaro ripped down the quarter-mile track at Palm Beach International Raceway in just 11.253 seconds. In addition to its record-setting quarter-mile run, the electrified Camaro, dubbed "Warp Factor II", set a world record with a 6.8-second eighth-mile run at 150.4 kilometres per hour. And get this: those records were set with just one of the Camaro's two electric motors operational.

On August 6, with both electric motors functioning correctly, the Team Haiyin EV Racing Chevy Camaro tore down the strip at Lebanon Valley Dragway in 10.08 seconds, hitting a top speed of 204 km/h. That time puts the electric Camaro within spitting distance of the Black Current, the converted Volkswagen Beetle that holds the world record for "street bodied" electric vehicles.

The time to beat stands at 9.51 seconds. That's simply amazing considering the 1,001-horsepower Bugatti Veyron roars down the quarter-mile in the mid-10s.

2012 CHEVY SONIC FEATURES "HILL-HOLD" TECHNOLOGY

By Suzanne Ashe, Car-Tech-Blog - That reverse-roll some drivers of manual transmission vehicles experience when stopping, and then accelerating, up a hill won't happen for drivers of the 2012 Sonic.

Chevy's new subcompact car offers a feature usually reserved for SUVs and luxury sedans; hill-hold technology will be available on all manual-transmission models.

Drivers of the 2012 Sonic will have no problem stopping at the crest of a hill such as the one on San Francisco's Filbert Street. No more rolling backward before accelerating forward.

"Hill-hold assist uses a pitch sensor that detects the tilt of the body when the car is stopped on a slope and sends a signal to the stability control system. This triggers the electronically controlled brake hardware to keep the wheels clamped for up to two seconds after the driver releases the brake pedal," GM said in a press release.

"It will retain the braking force that the driver applied with the chassis control system and Buttermore, lead development engineer for the Sonic, in a press release. "That's long enough for the driver to safely apply the accelerator and let out the clutch for a smooth start, always heading in the right direction."

GM. CHRYSLER FULL-SIZE PICKUPS LIKELY TO GET FUEL-SAVING V6S, TOO!

By Automotive News - Ford's choice of direct-inject turbocharging for its EcoBoost V-6 is one strategy. General Motors has chosen other technologies to improve fuel economy and performance.

GM spokesman Tom Wilkinson says GM is focused on "continuous improvement" of the mainstream 5.3L V8 in the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra full-sized pickups. The Silverado's 5.3-liter V8 makes 315 hp and 335 pounds-feet of torque.

That engine competes most directly with Ford's EcoBoost in price and performance, he says.

GM's four-wheel-drive trucks match the combined EPA fuel economy rating of the EcoBoost 4wd F-160s. Rear drive models are 1 mpg lower.

GM's recent changes to the engine include variable valve timing and displacement on demand. GM is expected to introduce a turbocharged V-6 on its next generation of full-size pickups, expected in 2013. It is considering other fuel-saving techniques for the redesigned trucks, too, such as eight-speed transmissions and significant weight reduction.

Chrysler Group sells mostly V-8s in its Ram 1500 half-ton pickup. But the Ram 1500 eventually will get Chrysler's new Pentastar V-6 engine, which likely will be teamed with a new eight-speed automatic transmission, probably in 2013.

Ford knows the competition will react. It has the advantage of being first to put direct-injection turbocharged V-6 technology in a pickup. But Mike Omotoso, senior manager of global power train at J.D. Power and Associates in suburban Detroit, notes that, because of rising federal fuel-economy requirements, "The heat is on Ford, and the heat is on for everyone.

GM INVESTS $117 MILLION IN OSHAWA ASSEMBLY PLANT

By General Motors of Canada - General Motors will invest $117 million to prepare the Oshawa Assembly Plant to build the all-new Cadillac XTS, creating or retaining 400 jobs on the Flex Line.

"This investment further extends the capabilities of the award-winning Oshawa Assembly Plant and pays compliment to the achievements of its dedicated workforce, one that consistently strives for excellence," said Kevin Williams, president and managing director of General Motors of Canada. "Adding the Cadillac XTS affirms GM's commitment to a strong manufacturing base in Canada, ensuring Oshawa will have a critical role in the ongoing transformation of Cadillac.

The Oshawa Assembly Plant has undergone major changes in the last year having added the Chevrolet Equinox, the Chevrolet Camaro Convertible and the Buick Regal. These expansions resulted in the addition of two new shifts and 1,300 employees. The Oshawa Assembly Plant also builds the Chevrolet Camaro and Chevrolet Impala, and employs over 4,500 people combined.

"Having added three new products, two new shifts, and hundreds of new employees this past year, Oshawa has undergone tremendous changes," added Dan Hermer, plant manager at the Oshawa Assembly Plant. "Our employees have successfully turned each one of these challenges into successes, and this investment demonstrates GM's continued vote of confidence in our facility, employees and our ability to execute outstanding product launches."

The Cadillac XTS is being designed to compete and win against the finest luxury cars. It takes a new, modern approach to the large luxury sedan, combining high-tech electronics and engaging driving dynamics in a car that is also elegant and spacious.

First shown as the Cadillac XTS Platinum concept car last year, the final production model Cadillac XTS will be revealed in the coming months. Production is planned to start in the first half of 2012.

2013 CHEVY MALIBU MYLINK SYSTEM: FIRST LOOK

By Autoguide.com - The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu is supposed to be the most high-tech car in Chevy's lineup. And in order to compete with Ford's Sync, it's going to be the car that debuts GM's new MyLink infotainment system.

MyLink will be a touchscreen that features voice activation, Pandora Internet, Stitcher and XM satellite radios, hands-free dialing, USB and MP3 input, and Bluetooth -- the sorts of features consumers not only expect these days, but are used to.

The system seems relatively fast and easy to understand, thanks to its 7-inch touchscreen. Consumers can get their hands on MyLink starting next spring, when the new Malibu debuts.

GM NOW WORLD'S LARGEST AUTO MAKER

By Bloomberg, bsmotoring.com - General Motors outsold Toyota Motor Corp globally in the first six months to become the world's largest auto maker after the record March earthquake disrupted production in Japan.

GM sales rose 8.9 per cent to 4.5 million units in the half-year ended June 30, the Detroit-based auto maker said yesterday. That compares with 4.1 million units at second ranked Volkswagen AG and 3.7 million units for Toyota, including its luxury Lexus marque and affiliates Daihatsu Motor Co and Hino Motors Ltd., according to statements by the companies.

Output at the Toyota City, Japan-based auto maker slumped 23 per cent to 3.4 million units in the half-year after the company halted production following the magnitude 9 temblor and tsunami in March. Toyota expects to enter a production recovery phase in September, one month earlier than previously announced, it said on August 2.

"Even if Toyota recovers production, it will take another few more months for sales to actually recover" as it takes time to deliver vehicles to dealers, said Takeshi Miyao, an analyst at consulting company Carnorama in Tokyo. "Toyota's sales may trail behind Volkswagen in the full-year as well."

GM's US sales climbed to 669,065 vehicles in the second quarter, according to industry researcher Autodata Corp.

The Chevrolet Cruze was the top-selling car in the market in June and the Chevy Silverado full-size pickup remained the second- most popular vehicle, behind only Ford Motor Co.'s F-Series line.

2011 CHEVROLET CAMARO SS CONVERTIBLE

By Zach Bowman, Autoblog.com - Muscle cars have never coped well with having their tops clipped. Losing the roof rarely does a vehicle any favours in the rigidity department, but the high-horsepower, high-torque coupes of the last four decades took fiendish delight in twisting themselves into pretzels after a few enthusiastic throttle plunges. To make matters worse, frumpy, awkward-looking soft tops were never as attractive as the original tin. When it came time to design the fifth-generation Chevrolet Camaro, the engineers at General Motors specifically aimed to avoid those pitfalls by drafting the chassis to field both coupe and convertible duties.

Long before the first test mule ever turned a tire, this coupe was designed to go topless, and the result is one of the more stable convertible platforms out there. With a little help from the minds behind the Chevrolet Corvette soft top, the retractable lid even offers the same sleek profile as the Camaro Coupe. That's not to say all is right in this cruising kingdom, though. Tough top-up visibility, a bulging waistline and an overly extroverted interior all work against the drop head. Even so, this is still a vehicle soaked in summertime. And whatdayaknow? The sun's out.

HYBRID ECONOMY IN CRUZE CONTROL

By Derek McNaughton, The Ottawa Citizen - Almost every press car I evaluate fails to achieve the fuel economy ratings posted by either the manufacturer or Transport Canada.

There are exceptions, of course, and driving behaviour (read, cement foot) has more impact on missing the mark than anything else. But when an automaker goes out and assembles and markets an entirely unique model whose primary selling point is stellar fuel economy, the vehicle -- when driven by anyone but the most hedonistic -- had better be darn close to achieving those economy targets, lest we all come to think official fuel ratings are as entertaining as "Vince" and his Slap Chops.

The 2011-Chevrolet Cruze Eco certainly advertises fuel economy that might seem laughable: 4.6 L/100 km highway and 7.2 city -- numbers that lay waste to the real economy realized by many hybrids, which also happen to be more expensive and only slightly less complicated than a Mars Rover.

But here I am cruising at 120 km/h on Highway 416 near Ottawa and the instant-economy readout is bouncing between 4.3 and 5.5 L/100 km at steady throttle. Who's laughing now? While I'm surprised to see the rpms as high as 2,000 at this speed because the Eco has a supposed "taller" sixth gear with the manual transmission, I'm nevertheless burning fuel at a rate as good as a diesel engine.

The manual transmission, besides achieving better economy than the available automatic, is also the best way to extract every ounce of what available power is on tap from the 1.4L turbocharged four cylinder -- 138 horsepower and 148 lb-ft of torque. Those are not big numbers for a car equal to the size of a BMW 3 Series, but the easy-shifting manual and light clutch make the car feel adequately responsive. There is some turbo lag when you're really hustling the throttle, but the turbo's power band is low and long enough through the rpm range that you feel the added boost at precisely the point where it's most needed for daily urban driving.

Even through my 25-minute urban commute, I was able to score between 6.5 and 7.5 litres/100 km over five days, though much of that commute is 70 km/h along an uncongested parkway. Still, the numbers only added to the satisfaction of this bright and cheery compact. I was making up for all those years as a net carbon producer.

The $19,495 Cruze Eco (which the kidlets came to call the Cruzeeko) is lighter and more aerodynamic than its Cruze sibling, which also starts at $19,495, (though it gets an automatic for that price). The Eco also uses lighter, more stylish wheels, as well as the same low-roll-resistant Goodyear tires used on the electric Volt.

In all, GM says 42 changes were made over the base model to reduce weight, with a net gain of almost 100 kilos over the regular car. The Cruze Eco weighs 1,365 kilograms, which isn't exaclty Keira Knightly thin, and is about 150 kilos more than a Hyundai Elentra, but the weight has no detrimental affect on ride quality or interior noise.

Easily one of the Cruze's more endearing attributes, the ride is supple yet firm, feeling more German than GM thanks to Opel's involvement. If the hard seats matched the superior suspension, it would be easy to think Cadillac engineers designed the undercarriage. The Cruze interior, too, is more upmarket than econo, though my right knee constantly bumped into the heater control knob, and some digital readouts are dated. Still, the cabin is pleasant and visibility is good.

The back seat is useable and the trunk isn't just an afterthought.

The Cruze Eco may not offer all the glitz and glamour that comes with owning a hybrid, but it is completely honest about its real fuel economy -- and achieves its miserly-like state for thousands less than the nearest hybrid. That's a win-win combination for me.

GM FUTURLINER RUNS QUARTER MILE LIKE A BOSS

By Chris Shunk, autoblog.com - General Motors built the Futurliner to promote a traveling show called the "GM Parade of Progress" in the 1940s and '50s. The slippery-lined bus, which was penned by the legendary Harley Earl, is one of 12 that traveled the U.S. to show Americans the future of motoring and technology.

GM Futurliner #10, which was fully restored in 2007, recently made a trip out to the Pontiac Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio. The 30-tonne, 10-metre-long bus was on display at the event, but that didn't mean that the massive antique wasn't allowed to also take a whack at the quarter mile. The 70-year-old sign of progress didn't exactly light up the tarmac, but it can hold its head up high for even finishing the run. The final time? 48 seconds at 45 km/h.

GM STARTS SALES OF CHINA-ONLY BAOJUN BRAND TO WOO FIRST-TIME BUYERS

GM aims to sell 20,000 Baojun 630 sedans this year in China

By Automotive News - General Motors Co. China's largest overseas automaker, today introduced its first sedan under a new China-only brand to cater to entry-level buyers in the world's largest auto market.

The four-door 1.5-liter Baojun 630 sedan went on sale today, with prices from 62,800 yuan ($9,750) to 73,800 yuan, according to the company. The car will be available in three variants and sold to 120 dealers in eight cities, including Zhengzhou, Nanning, Changsha and Harbin.

GM joins Honda Motor Co. in creating cheaper China-only brands to boost sales among first-time buyers as overall vehicle deliveries slow this year after the government phased out incentives and imposed ownership restrictions to curb traffic congestion.

The Baojun brand is targeted at "young professionals and young families" with the focus in so-called second- and third-tier cities, Matthew Tsien, the executive vice president of the automaker's China unit, told reporters in Chengdu, southwest China.

The nation overtook the U.S. as the world's largest car market in 2009. Sales increased by a record 32 percent last year, and grew 3.4 percent in the first six months, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

GM aims to sell 20,000 Baojun sedans this year, Tsien said. The Chevrolet Spark car will be rebadged in China under the Baojun brand, which will focus on developing smaller vehicles, he said.

Industry sales will likely grow about 10 percent in 2011 as deliveries of mini-commercial vehicles fall, Kevin Wale, president of GM's China business, said in an interview on July 8. This compares with his forecast last November for a gain of 10 percent to 15 percent.

GM's China deliveries fell 1.8 percent to 173,398 vehicles in July, as deliveries of commercial vehicles declined. Sales by SAIC-GM-Wuling fell to 77,944 units from 90,658 a year earlier, according to the company on August 5.

Honda will sell its Li Nian S1 compact sedan from 69,800 yuan in China, the company said in April. Based on the City platform, the S1 targets entry-level consumers with its 1.3-liter and 1.5-liter engines, the company said.

GM OUTLINES PLANS TO CUT PRODUCT-DEVELOPMENT COSTS

By Mike Colias, Automotive News - General Motors says it will cut the number of vehicle platforms it uses globally by more than half over the next decade, in a bid to reduce complexity and save on product-development costs.

"More of our components will be common, and more of our vehicles will be on global architectures," GM CEO Dan Akerson said today during a series of presentations to analysts and media, billed as GM's 2011 Global Business Conference. The sessions were webcast.

Mary Barra, GM's senior vice president of global product development, said GM will reduce the number of vehicle architectures, or the platform of parts and subcomponents that underpin cars and trucks, from 30 in 2010 to 14 in 2018.

More use of 'core' platforms

GM also said it will vastly increase the number of cars and trucks that will be assembled on its "core" architectures, which GM defines as global platforms as well as high-volume regional platforms such as the %900 architecture used for its full-sized pickups in North America. Core platforms will account for 90 percent of GM's volume by 2018, up from 31 percent in 2010.

"This allows us to have a much more efficient engineering investment in each of our vehicles," Barra said, "and it also delivers higher quality, faster to market."

The company also aims to cut its engine platforms, from nearly 20 in 2009 to fewer than a dozen in 2018 and around 10 eventually. For example, Barra said a new, small gasoline engine platform, ranging from 1.0 to 1.5 liters, will be used globally and replace engines that now are on three separate engine platforms.

The consolidation is aimed at eliminating inefficiencies in GM's product-development system.

'Churn' wastes $1 billion

With a more efficient product-development process, GM hopes to reduce costly development snags, which GM calls 'churn'. The term covers canceled programs, late changes to vehicles nearing production, and reassigning a vehicle program from one of GM's lead engineering centers around the world to another.

Such churn costs GM up to $1 billion annually, according to slides GM prepared for its presentations.

GM has a "huge opportunity" to "bring discipline within the vehicle programs, control churn, control change," GM CFO Dan Amman said. "That will enable us to work better with the supply base."

Barra said, "Whether we start or stop, cancel or make late changes to a program, it really hurts the momentum of the team that's executing the program" and ultimately delays vehicle introductions and adds costs.

Fewer vehicle architectures should allow GM to get new products to market more quickly and improve quality by standardizing "best practices" across its development facilities, she said.

It also will drive down engineering and materials costs, she said, while allowing GM to share the cost of tooling across platforms, which would also cut capital costs.

Manufacturing grows abroad

GM also said it plans to increase its productions capacity in the developing markets of China, Russia, India and Brazil 45 percent by 2015.

Up to 80 percent of the capacity that GM adds between now and 2015 will be in low-cost countries, said Diana Tremblay, GM's global chief manufacturing officer.

In North America, Tremblay said GM will be using about 99 percent of its production capacity by year end, on two shifts, up from about 90 percent in 2010. If demand grows, she said GM would add third shifts, which could bring the capacity-utilization rate up to 133 percent.