VOLT, LEAF WIN TOP SAFETY RATING IN CRASH TESTS

The Chevy Volt was engineered with a strong "crumple zone"
between the bumper and windshield to maximize protection
during a front collision, new crash tests show.

By Neil Roland, Automotive News - The 2011 Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf electric cars won the highest safety ratings in crash tests performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, putting them in the top 57 percent of models tested so far this year.

About 80 of 140 vehicles tested among 2011-2012 models have received the Institute's "top safety pick", the group's award for state-of-the art crash protection that exceeds federal safety rules, Institute spokesman Russ Rader said.

The Volt and Leaf received a "good" rating -- the highest of four rankings -- on each of four crash tests, said the Institute, which is funded by auto insurers including State Farm, All-State and Geico.

The tests involve front, side and rear collisions with another vehicle, and a rollover crash.

"What explains the Volt's and the Leaf's performance is the crash engineering that went into their development," Rader said.

The vehicles were engineered with a strong "crumple zone" between the bumper and windshield to maximize protection during a front collision. They also feature strong pillars between the front and rear doors to offer enhanced protection in the event of side crashes, he said.

The ratings were based on a vehicle's structural performance and injuries to crash-test dummies in the model being examined. Any damage to the other test vehicle or its occupants is not considered, Rader said.

Most 2011-2012 vehicles tested have received the highest safety award because "manufacturers have been stepping up to meet" increasingly tougher crash protection criteria, he said.

The performance of the Volt and Leaf, which are classified as small cars, can also be attributed to the weight of their battery packs, he said.

"When they collide with something bigger and heavier like a truck or SUV, they have an advantage over other small cars," Rader said.

The Institute tested the Volt and Leaf between January and March.

2012 CHEVROLET SNOIC: HIGH GAS PRICES PUSH CHEVY TO FOCUS ON SMALL

By Malcolm Gunn, Wheelbase Media - You might have noticed recently the steadily rising pump prices attributed to certain oil-producing-nation strife. This volatility is bad news for drivers of big, thirsty vehicles, but it's the perfect storm for General Motors, which will this fall launch the all-new Sonic series of sub-compacts.

The Sonic replaces the Korea-built Aveo that has served as the automaker's entry model since the 2004 model year. Like the Aveo, the Sonic will be offered in both sedan and mini-wagon formats. However, unlike the Aveo, the Sonic will be constructed at GM's Orion, Michigan plant that was recently refitted to the tune of more than $500 million.

The Sonic's design now features a stubbier-looking nose with a more prominent grille and fancier headlight pods. In back, the sedan appears somewhat similar to the outgoing Aveo sedan, while the stylish hatchback does a good job at hiding the rear door latches adjacent to the roof pillar. As well, the liftgate's shape is one of the more stunning examples of this genre, with curved glass plus a set of really fancy taillamps that were apparently inspired by motorcycle headlights.

Inside, the dashboard and control panel exude an up-level quality rarely seen in the econo-car class. An analog tachometer dominates the driver's field of vision, flanked by a rectangular screen displaying a digital speedometer, odometer and fuel guage. Up-level models will offer two-tone dash and door-panel trim.

Overall, both Sonic body styles are larger than their outgoing Aveo counterparts by nearly 3.5 inches in overall length and more than three inches between the front and rear wheels. In the sub-compact class, these increases are significant and point to added front and rear passenger space.

While the Aveo's standard 108-horsepower four-cylinder engine typifies those found in this class, the Sonic roars to life with a 135-horsepower 1.8-liter four-cylinder, or optional 138-horsepower turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder.

The 1.8 comes with a five-speed manual transmission or an optional six-speed automatic, while the turbo 1.4 is matched to a six-speed manual gearbox.

Base Sonics will likely arrive as relatively stripped-down price leaders, but will include front- and rear-seat side-impact airbags, side-curtain airbags plus knee cushions for the driver and passenger. There's a total of 10, which is at least four airbags more than the rest of the "sub" pack.

The Sonic's late-2011 arrival will be followed by an even smaller small car called the Spark, further bolstering Chevy's focus on the svelte end of the passenger-car scale.

Prices will likely begin at about $14,000 US (including delivery charges), possibly slightly more for the hatchback version. That should make for a super-Sonic buy in a class where automakers appear to be spending a lot more care and attention to detail than they were when gas was cheap and bigger was better.

ED WELBURN ON 100 YEARS OF CHEVROLET STYLE AND INNOVATION

By General Motors of Canada - Over the past 100 years, Chevrolet has been responsible for some of the most significant and groundbreaking designs in automotive history. From its utilitarian yet stylish pick-up trucks through to the cutting edge looks of each generation of Corvette, via cars like the BelAir which helped define the era they appeared in. The bowtie logo has adorned some of the most iconic shapes of motoring. Even some of Chevrolet's designers, such as Harley Earl and Bill Mitchell, have gone on to become as legendary as some of the cars they penned.

The very first Chevrolet - the Classic Six of 1912 - was highly regarded for its elegance and sophistication and, a century later, the brand continues to turn heads, with cars like the Volt and Camaro, among others, celebrated for their innovation and appearance. As Chevrolet embarks on its second century, it remains a leader in coming up with advanced designs at affordable prices. Who knows which cars will become automotive icons in the next 100 years?

The man with the enviable job of setting Chevrolet on this path is Ed Welburn, global vice president of design at General Motors. He stepped into the shoes of his "absolute heroes", GM designers Harley Earl and Bill Mitchell, back in September 2003, but despite the awe-inspiring responsibility of following those who have become legends, he admits that "I'm having more fun now than at any other time during my career at GM."

Born in Philadelphia in 1950, Ed's father co-owned a body shop. "In those early days, I was surrounded by cars," he remembers. His intense interest in all things automotive meant that, at the age of 11, he even wrote to GM to ask about a future job as a car designer. A helpful letter back suggested what he should study at school, and gave details of the internship program. Ed paid attention to those details, and won a place; after graduating from Howard University in Washington, D.C., he was hired full-time by GM. From the early 1970s onward, he worked at several GM design divisions.

One of his most important creations was the streamlined Aerotech, an out-and-out speed machine that achieved a top speed of 417 km/h in 1987. It got him noticed both inside and outside of GM. "For me, it was one of my most significant projects. I worked on the marketing and communications for it, not just with the engineers, in a way I had never done before. I"ve had a passion for aerodynamics ever since."

Following the Aerotech, Ed's rise through the GM ranks was rapid and impressive, culminating in his appointment as the corporation's chief designer a few years into the 21st century.

Here he looks back at what he regards as the ten most noteworthy and iconic designs from Chevrolet's history ....

1912 Chevrolet Classic Six: The Classic Six was the first car to bear the Chevrolet name after William Durant and Louis Chevrolet came together to found a company building cars using the famous Swiss race driver's last name. It was a large, luxurious and powerful machine, boasting the biggest capacity engine of any Chevrolet up until the 'big-block' V8 era of 1958. The imposing vehicle carried a price tag of $2,150, which made it much more expensive than most of its contemporaries. Very much Louis Chevrolet's dream car, it was designed in collaboration with his friend, the French engineer Etienne Planche. Unveiled in 1911, it was launched in 1912, but lasted only until 1914 after the company's focus shifted towards more affordable machines, something that prompted Louis Chevrolet to resign as he disagreed with Durant's policy. A total of 5,987 were constructed. "This was the first Chevrolet, so it's very significant," sayd Ed of the Classic Six. "Louis Chevrolet used all his experience and background to create it and make history."

1932 Chevrolet Deluxe Sport Coupe: Adversity sometimes results in greatness, and that was truly the case with the 1932 Deluxe Sport Coupe. Launched amid the Depression, in a year when Chevrolet sales had dropped 50 percent compared to the previous year, the Sport was one of Chevrolet's prettiest pre-WWII cars, an attractive yet compact vehicle with a curvaceious rear that lived up to its title with sporting looks and performance. The car was a strict two-seater ... well, inside at least. If you wanted to carry more passengers, they had to make do with the rear rumble seat in the trunk. Lots of fun in the sun, rather less so in the rain. "It was a cool design," believes Ed. "It says so much about Chevrolet: a lot of the words you can use to describe it also relate to current cars. It had spirit, was affordable and contemporary. Customers felt they were getting a lot of car for their money, something that still holds true today."

1936 Chevrolet Suburban: The Suburban wasn't just a significant model for Chevrolet, it was an important vehicle for the car industry as a whole. Arguably it was the first Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV), a tough, no-nonsense load carrier featuring a station wagon body on the chassis of a small truck. Actually christened the Suburban Carryall - for it could pretty much carry anything - its origins could be traced back to 1933 and a wooden eight-seater body on half ton truck frame, intended for National Guard and Civilian Conservation Corps units. When made available to the public, it gained an all-metal body fitted with either rear panel doors or a tailgate. "They were doing a crossover between a car and a truck" says Ed of the ehicle that gave birth to what is now the longest continuous name to be used on a car. "And it's got a cool interior, too, a real neat one. One might consider it the first crossover, and it's very much related to the Capitva."

1948 Chevrolet Pick-up: Trucks (in the small commercial vehicle sense) and vans are as big a part of the Chevrolet story as its cars. And the 1948 range was one of the most significant series the company produced. Arriving in summer 1947, they were the first GM automobile products to have a completely post-war design, making them among the most up-to-date vehicles anywhere. Not a bad claim to fame for something meant to be utilitarian and hard-working! The mainstay of the range was the versatile and practical half-ton pick-up, which saw service all around the world. "You just have to smile when you look at one," is Ed's opinion of the friendly looking load-lugger. "It's a real workhorse of a truck. The shape was just beautiful, but it still did its job well. It was clean, basic and affordable."

1953 Chevrolet Corvette: "It was the first Corvette," sayd Ed of the Chevrolet that drew into an automotive legend. Created by the similarly legendary GM styling chief Harley Earl, 1953's Corvette two-seater sports car was intended to shake up Chevrolet's image, as well as battle the wave of sporty European imports flooding into the U.S.A. One of its more novel features was its fiberglass construction. Initially though, the car wasn't a big hit, and it was only with the styling tweaks of a few years later that it became a true success. "It was a design for years that I didn't care for that much," admits Ed. "But now I absolutely love it. I'll never forget the first one I saw. I must have been about seven, and walking down a tree-lined street. One came around the corner, rumbled along through the fallen leaves and then was gone. And I was, like, 'Wow, that was cool!"

1955 Chevrolet Bel Air: Chevrolet completely revamped its cars for 1955, with what it dubbed the 'Motoramic' look for the top-of-the-range Bel Air plus the introduction of the fabled 'small-block' V8 engine. Exhilarating performance and a flamboyant, confident and colorful style were what made the 1955 Bel Airs - coupes, convertibles and station wagons - stand out from the crowd. Such was the distinctiveness of General Motors cars from the period 1955 to 1957 that they received their own nickname, 'Tri5'. "In my opinion, the '55 Bel Air is the best of the Tri5s," asserts Ed. "It was such a departure from 1955, so fresh, so contemporary. This was a car that looked more expensive than it actually was, something that could also be said about the Cruze today."

1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray: "What an amazing car," says Ed of the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray, the model that took the Corvette range to new heights. Based on a show car penned by GM design chief Bill Mitchell, the angular and svelte Sting Ray was more sophisticated and civilized than previous Corvettes, yet in maturing, it didn't forget that its main purpose in life was to be exhilarating, both in how it looked and how it drove. Distinctive features of the car - which continued to be built out of fiberglass - were the electrically-operated pop-up headlamps and, on the coupe, a split rear window that would go on to become its main motif. "I've lectured on this car many times," says Ed. "Everything was new; in fact it was so new, they had to give it a new name, Sting Ray. Every Corvette since then has been influenced by it, even the current models. The dual cockpit interior is still part of the Corvette and the Chevrolet interior design today."

1967 Chevrolet Pick-up: Big, brusque and purposeful, Chevrolet's new generation of pick-up trucks for 1967 were tough machines designed to get the job done. Powerful and practical, with no-nonsense styling, they were marketed as general transportation as well as work vehicles, something that extended their appeal and profile into the mass market. "It's a very iconic American design," believes Ed. "You see that pick-up, and you also see a guy with blue jeans and a toolbox in the back! Many of the words I've used to describe the earlier pick-up also relate here."

1989 Chevrolet Pick-up: The importance of pick-up trucks within the Chevrolet portfolio was still high at the end of the 20th century, and the fourth generation of the C/K series - with stacked headlamps and square-cut, rugged appearance - were almost a celebration of this significance. Naturally, their main reason for being was to work and be useful, carrying loads. However, a growing use as pure 'lifestyle' machines meant that Chevrolet also offered a Sports package, something which contributed to impressive sales for these vehicles. Perfect for express deliveries, even better for just looking great on the roads. "It's a very clean design and still looks contemporary today," says Ed. "It sold in incredible numbers. We're working on future Chevrolet pick-ups and the guys have photos of this one on the wall for inspiration."

2010 Chevrolet Camaro: Ed is a big enthusiast of all Camaros and even owns a classic 1969 example himself. "But I decided to put the 2010 Camaro on this list before the '69. It connected with people worldwide. When we introduced the car as a concept, there were grown men and women with tears in their eyes. It's valued all round the world." When Ed and his team were working on the new Camaro, "I brought my one into the studio to inspire them. I told them, I want you to beat this!" Although there are echoes of the first 1967 - 1969 Camaros in the current car's muscular styling - such as the kick-up in the flanks beneath the rear side windows - Ed is keen to stress that the 2010 incarnation is "not a throw-back design, but very forward-looking. I'm always thinking of the future, but you have a great heritage with Chevrolet. You need to build on that; I wouldn't want to build a retro Camaro." He cites the confident and optimistic thrusting design of the new Camaro as "a positive sign to GM employees and customers. It lit a fire within the company."

GM, DEFYING CHINA SLOWDOWN, MAY RECLAIM SALES LEAD FROM TOYOTA

GM plans to introduce around 60 new and upgraded models
including the Volt in China over the next five years.

By Automotive News - General Motors Co. and Volkswagen AG expect to boost vehicle sales in China faster than the nation's economic growth rate, defying government policies to curb sales and threatening Toyota Motor Corp.'s standing as the world's largest carmaker.

GM plans to double sales in China to 5 million vehicles by 2015, the company said at this week's Shanghai auto show. VW, the biggest maker of passenger cars in China, said it may outpace industrywide sales growth of as much as 12 percent. Carmakers are boosting sales and production plans even after the government ended industry subsidies and as cities including Shanghai and Beijing restrict new car licenses to fight pollution and ease traffic.

GM's sales target may enable it to retake the global sales title it lost to Toyota in 2008. "You get used to not worrying about variations around the trend line," Kevin Wale, GM's China president said Monday. "In the past ten years China's growth rate has only been below 10 percent in one year. The underlying trend is very strong."

GM's prediction of 5 million sales compares with Toyota's goal of doubling deliveries in the nation by 2015 from 846,000 vehicles last year. The Japanese company sold 8.42 million vehicles globally last year, compared with GM's 8.39 million.

Realistic forecast: "If the market doesn't have any major setbacks, GM's forecast isn't unrealistic," said Ashvin Chotai, managing director of consultant Intelligence Asia Automotive. "We've been wrong in the past with conservative forecasts."

China already is GM's biggest market, with 2.35 million sales last year, compared with 2.21 million in its home market. The U.S. carmaker aims for market share of over 14 percent in China by 2015, Wale said today in an interview. Industrywide auto sales in the nation may grow as much as 12 percent a year over the medium term, Karl-Thomas Neumann, VW's CEO for China, said Monday.

VW's deliveries may increase at a faster rate, he said.

"We're bracing for more rather than less," Neumann said. The company sold 1.92 million vehicles in China and has said it aims to be the world's biggest carmaker by 2018, surpassing Toyota and GM. VW sold 7.14 million vehicles globally in 2010.

China GDP growth: VW's estimates compare with economic growth of 10.3 percent in China last year, a rate that may ease to 9.6 percent this year, according to the Asian Development Bank.

The world's second-largest economy expanded by a more- than-estimated 9.7 percent in the first quarter of this year, even after the government raised interest rates to rein in inflation. China overtook the U.S. as the world's largest auto market in 2009. The growth slowed to 32 percent last year as the government began phasing out tax breaks and subsidies for car buyers.

The market may expand by less than a previous forecast of 10 to 15 percent, Dong Yang, vice chairman of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, said this month. Carmakers are unworried about lower growth because China, the world's most populous nation, still dwarfs all other markets and two-thirds of Chinese customers are first-time car buyers, said Joe Hinrichs, head of Asia Pacific and African operations at Ford Motor Co.

Catching Toyota: "A market as big as this one, even 5 to 10 percent growth is very significant," said Hinrichs. "I'd take 10 percent growth forever," he said. Ford plans to add 15 models in China by 2015, the company said April 15.

Hyundai Motor Co. said today it's considering building a fourth plant in Beijing, while Nissan Motor Co., the biggest Japanese automaker in China, said it expects sales to rise to 1.5 million in 2012 from 1.02 million in 2010. GM and VW's growth plans may help both automakers catch up with Toyota, whose growth has lagged behind rivals in China.

Toyota may miss this year's target to sell more than 900,000 vehicles in China after Japan's record earthquake on March 11 caused parts shortages, Masayoshi Hori, the automaker's executive coordinator, said today at the Shanghai show. While Toyota would like to increase its market share, the company is focused on raising vehicle quality, service and customer satisfaction, said Masayoshi Hori, executive coordinator of the company's China unit.

"We're not in the business of prioritizing market share," he said.

Chinese car companies: Chinese car companies are also planning expansion. SAID Motor Corp., GM and VW's local partner, is aiming for 6 million deliveries by 2015, compared with 3.6 million last year, it said today.

Dongfeng Motor Group Co., the partner to Nissan and Honda Motor Co., aims to produce and sell 5 million models a year by 2015, it said today. SAIC and Great Wall Motor Co. also plan to raise sales outside China.

Shanghai-based SAIC said it's aiming to sell 800,000 cars a year outside China by 2015. Great Wall said exports may account for 30 percent of its sales by the same year. While automakers' growth plans are realistic, government measures to limit car sales in cities may become a concern, Chotai said.

China will start curbing vehicle ownership in cities with more than 10 million people from 2011 to 2015 to ease congestion, China's Economic Observer reported March 31. The government has also passed a new law requiring vehicles with larger engines to pay more taxes, starting next year.

License restrictions: Beijing's government said Dec. 23 it would set a monthly quota of 20,000 new vehicle licenses in the Chinese capital.

"Beijing demand will be down 45 percent this year just because of license plate restrictions and more cities will follow," Chotai said. "Cities in Guandong province, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Shanghai are all possibilities because of high congestion rates and levels of pollution."

Tightening measures to slow China's economy may also deter car sales. The nation increased interest rates four times since October to curb inflation that accelerated to a 5.4 percent annual pace in March. Liquidity remains "excessive," Gov. Zhou Xiaochuan said in Beijing last night, a day after the People's Bank of China announced the fourth increase in lenders' reserve ratios this year.

That may not be enough to slow rising auto sales or Toyota's replacement as the leading global automaker, said Koji Endo, an analyst at Advanced Research Japan in Tokyo.

"Automakers ought to get out there and grab market share because the Chinese market will grow, unless something unexpected happens," he said. "You can expect the Chinese market to expand to something like 40 million by 2020 and obviously there's a possibility Toyota may be surpassed."

CHEVROLET VOLT WINS GOLD MEDAL IN 2011 EDISON AWARDS

By General Motors of Canada - The Chevrolet Volt continued to build its resume of honors, winning the 2011 Edison Awards Gold Medal in the Personal Transportation Segment. The Edison Awards honor the innovation in the spirit of America's greatest inventor and marketer Thomas Alva Edison.

"Being selected as an Edison Award winner validates our drive to develop an all-new transportation solution," said Tony Posawatz, Chevrolet Volt Vehicle Line Director. "Innovation has been at the heart of the Volt from its onset; from the development of the Li-ion battery to the drive unit and the driver connectivity."

At the same ceremony Tuesday evening in New York City, the OnStar Mobile App won the silver award as the 2011 Best New Product in the Transportation in the Remote Driving Aids Segment. In the Volt, the app allows users to control vehicle charging functions and view charge level, electricity rate tables and electric vehicle data along with other features.

The OnStar Mobile App allows users to access current vehicle diagnostics, such as fuel levels, oil life, tire pressure, miles per gallon or next scheduled maintenance. It also lets users control certain vehicle functions, such as remotely starting the vehicle, locking and unlocking the doors, and sounding the horn and lights.

OnStar recently expanded the availability of the app, certifying 14 Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles from 2010, with more certifications expected in the future. The app has been downloaded by nearly 60,000 active users to date in North America and has more than 1 million interactions.

The Edison Gold Medal for the Volt highlights the innovative engineering that resulted in the production of the world's first electric vehicle with extended range capability. With a full charge, Volt drivers can travel 40-80 kilometres completely emissions- and gasoline-free and then continue for over 500 more kilometres.

Complementing its groundbreaking propulsion system, engineers in the General Motors wind tunnel helped to develop the most aerodynamic vehicle in Chevrolet's history. Reducing the energy needed to overcome air resistance added an estimated twelve kilometres of electric range and 80 kilometres of extended range to the Volt.

The Edison Gold Medal for the Volt joins the Motor Trend, Automobile Magazine and Green Car of the Year awards, Popular Science Best of What's New and Ward's 10-Best Engine designations awarded earlier.

For OnStar, this was its second consecutive Edison award. OnStar's Stolen Vehicle Slowdown, a technology designed to reduce dangerous high-speed chases, received a Silver Edison Award for Best New Product in the Technology category in 2010.

The Edison Awards are voted on by roughly 2,000 members of the not-for-profit Marketing Executives Networking Group. America's top executives and academics nominations based on societal impact, marketplace innovation, marketplace success and market structure innovation of new products launched in the past year. The awards symbolize the persistence and excellence personified by Edison whose innovations and new product developments earned him 1,093 U.S. patents.

GM AIMS TO DOUBLE CHINA SALES BY 2015

By D'Arcy Doran, Host News - General Motors said Monday it aims to more than double the number of cars it sells in China by 2015 as it unveiled its first car model branded specifically for the world's top auto market.

GM China Group President Kevin Wale said the US auto giant aimed to capitalise on "the unmatched opportunities that the Chinese market offers" and sell around five million cars a year by 2015, up from 2.35 million last year.

"The way we're going to get there is we're introducing new brands, we're going to concentrate on building areas of opportunities like luxury ... and commercial (vehicles). We have a great portfolio," Wale said.

Wale said GM was investing in research and development in China, including an advanced design studio, a battery lab and a plan to co-develop electric vehicles with its partner Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC).

GM's new China-only brand, Baojun, is one of more than 60 new and upgraded models the US giant plans to introduce over the next five years, Wale said ahead of this week's Shanghai Auto Show.

The Baojun 630, an affordable yet sporty 1.5-litre-engine sedan, was produced by GM, SAIC and Wuling Motors and was unveiled Monday.

The compact sedan will be priced between $10,000 and $15,000, Wale said.

It was designed for young drivers in China's second- and third-tier cities in the country's vast interior, home to tens of millions of people with growing buying power.

Baojun, whose name translates to "treasured horse", will go on sale later this month through a network of 150 dedicated dealerships across the country.

The number of dealerships is expected to double by the end of the year, GM said in a statement.

Having already conquered China's coastal areas and first-tier cities such as Beijing and Shangahi, carmakers are increasingly looking inland to extend their phenomenal growth in a market that saw sales rise more than 32 percent to 18.06 million units last year.

China overtook the United States as the world's top car market in 2009. GM is the leading foreign automaker in the country as measured by sales.

But the company saw sales slow last month to a 1.3 percent on-year rise after a 10 percent on-year rise in the first quarter and as Beijhing ended incentives it offered since the 2008-2009 financial crisis hit.

But, Wale said short term variations due to policy changes would be outweighed in the long term by factors such as urbanisation, strong economic growth, low car ownership rates and increased consumer spending.

"For the last 10 years China's annual growth rate has only been below 10 percent one year," Wale said. "The underlying trend is very strong."

Analysts remain bullish about the market's prospects, as the number of car owners is still relatively small compared with the country's massive population of more than 1.3 billion.

ALL-NEW 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU GIVES CUSTOMERS MORE

Chevrolet's First Global Midsize for Customers
in Nearly 100 Markets on Six Continents

By General Motors of Canada - The all-new 2013 Chevrolet Malibu made its global debut today, with simultaneous introductions in the United States and China - two of the nearly 100 countries on six continents where it will be sold. Chevrolet's first global midsize sedan will provide customers from Shanghai to New York and Sydney to Sao Paulo with expressive design, advanced technologies, ride performance and fuel-efficient powertrains.

"The current Malibu has left an award-winning impression and changed the way people think about Chevrolet. It redefined what an American midsize car could be," said Rick Scheidt, vice president, Chevrolet Marketing. "This all-new Malibu delivers on the intangibles of today's Malibu but gives customers even more: more style, fuel efficiency, content and features, craftsmanship, and dynamic capabilities rivaling high-end sedans."

Product highlights for North American models include:

- All new, fuel-efficient and powerful 2.5L four-cylinder engine and next-generation six-speed automatic that lead Malibu's powertrain lineup

- Expressive exterior design with a wide, athletic stance

- Segment-best aerodynamics - close to those of the Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric car - that enhance fuel efficiency and reduce wind noise, including active electronic shutters on select models

- All-new, Chevrolet-signature dual-cockpit interior that is more spacious, features premium materials and is engineered to be the quietest in the midsize segment

- New Chevrolet MyLink connectivity seamlessly integrates online services like Pandora internet radio and Stitcher SmartRadio

- European-influenced ride and handling traits

- New safety features and technologies including 10 air bags, ultra-high-strength steel, lane departure warning/forward collision warning and rearview camera system

Expressive and efficient exterior: "The exterior design of the all-new Malibu carries DNA from its sister vehicles, the Camaro and Corvette, to bring a sporty sensibility to the family sedan segment," said Bryan Nesbitt, executive director for GM exterior design and Chevrolet Brand Champion.

A wider stance, broad shoulders and an integrated rear spoiler bring a new athleticism to Malibu and give it a more aggressive appearance. The new Malibu has a 4.5-inch (114 mm) shorter wheelbase and 62-inch (1,574 mm) front and rear tracks that are more than 2 inches (51 mm) wider than the model it replaces.

Other exterior design cues include Chevrolet's dual-port grille, projector HID headlamps, larger Chevrolet bow-tie badges front and rear, and new Camaro-inspired LED dual-element taillamps. The look is complemented by a range of large 17-, 18- and 19-inch wheels.

The new Malibu exterior is anticipated to be SAE-certified as one of the most aerodynamically efficient cars in the segment, with a coefficient of drag (Cd) rating near Chevrolet Volt's Cd of .280. Because of Malibu's new shape and design, engineers were able to remove 60 counts of wind drag compared to the model it replaces.

Malibu also has electronically controlled and integrated active aero shutters (select models in North American markets) to improve aerodynamics and enhance fuel economy without sacrificing the exterior design.

Malibu's active shutter system automatically closes airflow through the lower intake opening when air intake is least needed. When closed, the shutter system enhances aerodynamic performance by redirecting airflow around the front of the vehicle and down the sides, rather than through it. Whether the shutter is open or closed depends on engine coolant temperature and speed - for example, the shutters open when the car is travelling up a hill, pulling a trailer, or in hot city driving; the shutters close at highway speeds when less engine cooling is required.

Roomier, more refined interior: The new Malibu interior was designed to bring an element of sophistication to everyday driving, featuring an all-new dual cockpit design that creates an inviting, roomy and comfortable environment.

The increased width of the new Malibu means a more spacious cabin. Compared to the previous model, it has nearly 4 cubic feet (113 L) of additional interior volume, along with more shoulder and hip room.

The Malibu interior features metallic, chrome or wood accents located around the shifter, surrounding the center stack, around the instrument cluster and on doors and the steering wheel. Soft, ice blue ambient lighting reflects off of and complements chrome accents and ensures even, consistent illumination along the instrument panel and in storage pockets. Ice blue lighting on the center stack dials, exposed ice blue French contrast stitching, soft-touch and textured surfaces, and strategic applications of noise-deadening materials add to Malibu's interior refinement.

The Malibu also has a number of storage areas, including a radio face that articulates up and down to reveal a six-inch deep storage area behind its seven-inch touch-screen radio display - a U.S. first in a midsize car. Malibu will also offer a full range of the latest infotainment options, including new color radio systems and an available navigation system.

Malibu will include Chevrolet's new MyLink infotainment package at launch. It builds on the safety and security of OnStar and seamlessly integrates online services like Pandora internet radio and Stitcher SmartRadio. MyLink integrates wireless connectivity through Bluetooth to enable hands-free use of selected smart phone apps while the device remains safely stowed.

MyLink features a high-resolution, full-color touch screen display designed to manage the number of steps required to complete a task. MyLink also adds stereo audio streaming and wireless control of smart phones, building on the Bluetooth hands-free calling capability already offered in most Chevrolet vehicles.

All-new 2.5L powertrain: The 2013 Malibu features a global lineup of fuel-efficient and powerful four-cylinder engines that complements its European-inspired driving characteristics.

An all-new Ecotec 2.5L dual overhead cam, four-cylinder engine with direct injection leads Malibu's engine lineup in North America. It is expected to be one of the most efficient of its size in the market. New features include enhanced authority continuously variable valve timing, variable-displacement oil pump and electronic thermostat that save fuel, while delivering V-6-like performance. It is estimated the engine will be SAE-certified at more than 190 horsepower (141 kW) and 180 lb.-ft. of torque (245 Nm). The new engine has noise-reducing features such as a cast exhaust manifold, steel crank, low-noise timing chain and direct mount accessories that contribute to a quiet-cabin experience.

The 2.5L is mated to a Hydra-Matic 6T40 six-speed automatic with features designed to enhance powertrain efficiency. They include changes to clutch controls and hardware that improves shift response and time. These changes enabled engineers to specify higher gearing to improve cruising efficiency while maintaining acceleration performance and driveability.

Driving experience: The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu delivers precise ride and handling. It has been engineering to be best-in-class and on par with more expensive sports sedans.

Benefiting from continuous refinement of an award-winning global architecture, engineers have tested, tuned and calibrated the Malibu on rural roads, highways, freeways and GM validation facilities around the world.

Contributing to the Malibu's ride and handling characteristics are:

- A solid body structure as still as any in the global midsize sedan market, allowing for precise tuning and dynamic vehicle control

- A premium steering gear for smooth, precise responsiveness and on-center feel

- Proven and continuously refined MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspensions

- Large, ventilated front disc and solid rear disc brakes, clamped on by dual-piston front and single-piston rear aluminum calipers, which are expected to deliver segment-best stopping distance

- An isolated engine cradle for tuned, refined feedback, without noise or vibration

- Fuel-saving electric power rack-and-pinion variable-effort power steering, resulting in efortless low-speed maneuvers and a higher degree of steering feel at higher speeds

- Chassis control technologies include four-channel anti-lock brakes, full-function traction control, four-corner electronic stability control, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist system, corner brake control, hydraulic brake fade assist and drag torque control

Safety features: When it comes to safety features, the new Malibu will be one of the best-equipped in segment. The Malibu will also be pedestrian protection-compliant in all markets where it is sold, and for the first time in North America. Pedestrian protection design in the front of the vehicle reduces the chance of secondary collision between the pedestrian and engine block in car-pedestrian accidents.

The Malibu will also offer these standard and available safety features:

- Dual-stage driver and front passenger air bags

- Driver and front passenger pelvic/thorax side-impact air bags

- Driver and passenger knee air bags

- Roof rail air bags with rollover protection

- Available second-row head/thorax side-impact air bags

- Available lane departure warning system with forward collision alert

- Available rearview camera system

OnStar is also included in Malibu's safety features and includes Automatic Crash Response, as well as improved voice recognition technology, remote diagnostics, remote door unlock, Stolen Vehicle Slowdown and six months of uplevel Directions and Connections service that includes Turn-by-Turn Navigation.

The new Malibu comes in LS, LT and LTZ trim levels, with 10 exterior colors and four interior color combination choices in North America, depending on the model. Malibu production in the United States begins in early 2012. It will be built in multiple locations around the globe, including the Fairfax, Kan, and Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plants in the United States. Pricing will be announced later this year.

TEST DRIVE: CHEVROLET ORLANDO, THE CHAMELEON CAR

By Dana Verdes, Business Review - What have the European branch of Chevrolet and politics got in common? Both have to deal with a "heavy" heritage. In the carmaker's case this tradition was represented by models more or less akin to the Daewoo, a tradition which Chevrolet has shaken off rapidly and successfully. So, starting with the new Spark, the Cruze, and recently the Orlando, Chevrolet offers a modern and attractive design line. The Orlando is a very large multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), with seven seats. Its design is a twist on the family car theme, being similar to an SUV in certain features, such as for instance high driving position. This certainly represents an advantage, cleverly solving the "status" issue - a big deal in Romania.

At first sight, the Orlando boasts a bold design, with a modern interior - perhaps in this regard the interior gets more points. The frontal design of the car, including the exterior illuminating system, has a quiet aspect when compared to the prototype model presented at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. The interior features some cheap materials the carmaker has selected in order to save money, such as the plastic used on certain parts, which is of lower quality.

However, the board's piano black finish compensates for this as it has a nice and modern aspect, and the massive center console clearly separates the driver's space from the passenger's seat on the right. Assembly is also a strong point of the model, borrowing German rigor and firmness. The trunk is large enough if the third row of seats is folded down, but if they are used it is practically nonexistent. With all seven passengers it is clear that there would not be enough space left for the luggage.

In terms of driving behavior, the car shows its heaviness: acceleration is reasonable, while braking requires some accommodation in advance as it is soft. Consumption is at the normal level for the class, the tested car having a petrol engine of 1800cmc and 141 HP. Under normal driving conditions the car uses an average of 9 liters/100km consumption. However, given Romanians' Latin spirit and the fact that most local drivers accelerate even when they see a red traffic light ahead, a significant increase in consumption is to be expected. The model's price positioning seems very well chosen, undercutting similar models by the competition - the Renault Grand Scenic and Ford C-Max - but higher than the cheapest alternative with seven seats available on this market, the Dacia Logan MCV.

CHEVROLET SONIC Z-SPEC

The Sonic Z-Spec accessory portfolio includes Color Out accent
packages with contrasting-color exterior parts & graphics
that express the cars performance characteristics.
It will appear on the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic.

By Chrissie Thompson, Detroit Free Press - Chevrolet will bring to market its Z-Spec accessories starting with the 2012 Sonic subcompact that launches in Orion Township in the third quarter, in a move to make its small cars hip for young buyers.

Chevy had introduced a Z-Spec Sonic as a concept in January at the Detroit Auto Show and now plans to have its dealerships offer accessories such as body wraps, mirror caps, colored wheels and fascia and rocker extensions such as the ones on this Sonic.

For now, the accessories are also eventually planned for the recently launched Cruze compact and the Spark minicar, which launches next year, said Margaret Brooks, who runs marketing for Chevy's small cars.

Automakers use accessories such as body wraps to allow young buyers to personalize their often-inexpensive rides. For instance, Ford has several licensed graphics available for buyers of its Fiesta subcompact.

GM PUTS CHEVROLET MALIBU PRODUCTION ON FAST TRACK

By Seyi Geshinde, Tribune - General Motors has said that it will begin the building of its next-generation Chevrolet Malibu about four months ahead of time. This, it said, would be the company's latest efforts to accelerate the delivery of new cars and trucks to dealers' showrooms.

The automaker said it had advanced its timetable for the midsize Malibu to early 2012 - several months earlier than planned.

According to GM's report, the new Malibu would start production in January 2012, as opposed to May. GM said the Malibu on arrival would be the company's first globally sold midsize car. The company said it was studying its programme to see if it would move quicker.

The automaker said it was forced to delay spending on a number of new car and truck programs during its 2009 bankruptcy, to save on costs.

GM said it took advantage of greater manufacturing flexibility at its factories and efficiencies built into its global platform to accelerate the car's production schedule.

The Malibu is a real workhorse vehicle for GM, ranking among its top-selling vehicles for 2010. According to GM, the company sold 198,770 Malibu last year.

The Malibu was redesigned for the 2008 model year, and after production, the new model would compete against newer versions of the Hyundai Sonata and Kia Optima. However, other automakers also are preparing to release new contenders in the midsize segment. Nissan Motor Company is expected to release a new Altima next year and Toyota Motor Company is working on production of a new Camry.

CHEVY VOLT ELECTRIC IN SO MANY WAYS

By David Booth, Edmonton Journal - Despite my repeated attempts to be as profligate as possible, the Volt eked out 67.8 kilometres in pure electric mode during a test run.

That's more than the 64.4 km General Motors has been promising since the car's inception and, most importantly, more than most North Americans typically drive in their daily commute. This means the Chevrolet Volt - like a true electric vehicle - will consume no gasoline during regular use.

What sets the Volt apart from its EV competition is that, once its main battery depletes its supply of excitable electrons, the Chevrolet doesn't become a boat anchor and require eight hours of recharging before continuing on its way. Once the 16 kilowatt-hours of lithium-ion battery power are depleted, the on-board 1.4=litre Ecotec gas engine fires up and, powers a generator that feeds a big 11-kW traction motor without ever being connected directly or indirectly to the wheels - except under very specific circumstances.

The Volt certainly feels, drives and responds like a true electric vehicle. The electric motor is silent. And, despite being tied into the electric propulsion system, the brakes feel conventional, with none of the lurching common to the regenerative braking systems found in hybrids and EVs.

The traction motor's 111 kW translates into 149 horsepower. But, an electric motor's advantage is its prodigious low-end torque. In the Volt's case, 273 pound-feet is available from zero rpm. The result is an acceleration time to 100 km/h in less than nine seconds, perfectly in line with conventional sedans the Volt hopes to supplant. This Chevy is "more car than electric."

CORVETTE OWNER REALLY KNOWS HIS ENGINE

By Brianne Pfannenstiel, KansasCity.com - Greg Howell is positively giddy. The Mission Hills man's voice is filled with excitement as he recounts his experiences from the day before when he helped build the engine that will go in his brand new ZR1 Corvette.

He's one of only 10 people in the world who have taken advantage of Chevrolet's new program that lets customers go to Michigan and join an engineer for the process of building their car's engine.

"It was so exciting," he said. "I'm still pretty psyched up about it."

Howell built an LS9 6.2L 638-horsepower supercharged small block with titanium connecting rods.

Not a car person? That means it's fast. Very fast.

Howell said this is the first Corvette in years that would be able to go head to head with Ferraris and Lamborghinis as far as speed and power.

When he first started hearing rumours about the new Corvette model several years ago, he knew he would happily continue driving his rusty 1999 Suburban for a few more years if it meant he could save up money for his dream car.

After laying down the down payment on the car, signing on to help build the engine was a no-brainer, despite its $5,800 add-on cost.

He said he had done some work with cars in the past, but nothing as extensive as building an entire engine.

He arrived at the plant in Michigan early one day last week and met Ron Hein, the engineer who would guide him through the process. Hein has nearly 30 years of experience under his belt and even built the engine inside the first ZR1 Corvette that currently sits in the factory showroom.

"This guy was compulsive," Howell said. "Whenever I would set a ratchet or socket down and it wasn't exactly how he liked it he would move it over a quarter of an inch. The precision's uncredible."

Eight hours later, he was done with a process that normally takes the engineers about three hours. His engine will soon be shipped to Bowling Green, Ky., where the final assembly occurs. He hopes to pick up his shiny new toy sometime in May at the National Corvette Museum, where it will be photographed for him as it goes down the line.

Tom Read, GM Technology Communications representative, said in the past, the company had allowed journalists to come to the plant to help build an engine. The idea eventually caught on and customers got the option starting with the release of the 2011 model.

"Corvette people are a very passionate group that always wants to be connected, you know, connect themselves with their vehicle," Read said. "This is a way, you could say the ultimate way, to connect an owner to their vehicle by allowing them to participate in that build process."

NEW CHEVROLET CAMARO WILL OUTPOWER FORD MUSTANG

By James R. Healey - USA Today - Chevrolet's Camaro sporty car, already outselling chief rival Ford Mustang, gets some significant updates for 2012, including a power boost. In a conversation with Drive On, Chevy disclosed that it plans to announce today more horsepower and other improvements to the Camaro coupe and convertible, beginning with 2012 models on sale this summer.

The base engine, a 3.6-liter V-6 with gasoline direct injection, gets an 11-horsepower boost, to 323 horsepower, with no expected drop in fuel-economy ratings. That will put it way past arch-rival Mustang's 305 horsepower. Other features include:

• Optional rearview camera



• Soft-touch instrument panel



• Power-lock switches in the door panels, in addition to the current lock switch in the center console



• Optional power pssenger's front seat, including a consumer-requested height adjustment that currently is available only on the driver's seat



• Redesigned steering wheel with thinner, easier-to-grip rim and easier-to-reach steering-wheel-mounted controls



• Upgraded suspension on the V-8 coupe models, designed for flatter cornering

WARD'S AUTOMOTIVE PICKS BEST CAR INTERIORS OF 2011

By Chris Shunk, autoblog.com - Ward's Automotive takes its 10 Best Interior awards seriously. The industry mag tested 51 vehicles to come up with this year's winners, which span three luxury vehicles, three economy cars, a sport sedan, a minivan, a family sedan and an SUV. Ward's AutoWorld Editor-in-Chief Drew Winter says the publication has never tested so many vehicles, adding, "Every auto maker wants the freshest, highest-quality interior possible for all the vehicles they sell."

Showing just how much the world of interiors has changed over the years, Chrysler was the only automaker to take home two awards, thanks to the Dodge Charger and Jeep Grand Cherokee, while Kia and Hyundai could technically say the same since the Elantra and Optima each took home honors. At the same time, both Toyota and Lexus were shut out, as was Honda's Acura luxury brand and Mercedes-Benz.

Among the first-time winners for 2011 are the Ford Focus Titanium and Chevy Cruze.

GM TO INVEST $100 MILLION IN NEW YORK PARTS PLANT

By Automotive News - General Motors Co. said today it will invest $100 million in a New York plant to produce parts for its new small block engine.

"This investment in our manufacturing operations will enable us to produce a new generation of fuel-efficient small block car and truck engines," Cathy Clegg, GM vice president of labor relations, said in a statement.

"The Gen V small block engine family will have unprecedented fuel efficiency, and GMCH Rochester Operations will play a key role in helping us deliver these efficient engines to our customers."

GM said four product lines will be enhanced: the integrated air module, a new high-pressure fuel rail, a new lifter oil manifold assembly, and a new direct injection injector. GM plans to ship the parts to powertrain plants in Tonawanda, N.Y.; St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada; and Ramos Arizpe, Mexico.

The plant employes 826 salaried and hourly workers.

The state of New York provided the U.S. automaker a $3 million capital grant and $1.82 million in jobs program benefits for the proposed investment.

GM said that with today's announcement it now has invested $1.1 billion in its new small block engine.

GM FIGHTS BACK AGAINST RIVALS WITH LEASING ON CHEVROLET, GMC VEHICLES

By Greg Keenan, Globe & Mail - General Motors of Canada Ltd. is restoring leasing on Chevrolet and GMC vehicles beginning Monday, another sign that the auto financing market is recovering from the cataclysm that helped drive General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC into U.S. Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2008.

The return of leasing as a financing option for customers buying vehicles from those two brands -- it was reinstated for Buick and Cadillac customers last fall -- will make GM more competitive in key segments of the market, such as subcompact and compact cars and full-sized pickup trucks, which are offered only through Chevrolet and GMC dealers.

The move comes while GM's market share Canada sits near historic lows as it faces several competitors that offer leasing, a financial tool that allows them to meet one of the key demands of Canadian car buyers -- obtaining the lowest possible monthly payment on a new vehicle.

"It's all about the monthly payment," said industry analyst Dennis DesRosiers, president of DesRosiers Automotive Consultants Inc., who noted that 80 per cent to 85 per cent of buyers focus on that payment and not the manufacturers suggested retail price.

Monthly payments on leased vehicles are lower than those purchased with a loan.

The payment options priced on GM Canada's website for a Buick Regal with a 1SC option package demonstrates the difference. With $3,000 down on the vehicle's price tage of $33,570 before taxes, the payment to lease is $420 a month for 48 months. With a loan at 1.9 per cent annually and the same down payment, the monthly payments are $662.

"We see this as another step forward helping to maintain our retail sales momentum," GM Canada spokesman Tony LaRocca said Sunday. GM's sales to retail customers rose 26 per cent last year, Mr. LaRocca said, five times the growth rate of the overall Canadian retail market.

Leasing is being restored on Chevrolet and GMC vehicles less than two weeks after GM announced it had purchased FinancialLinx Corp., one of the largest independent leasing companies in Canada. It also provides leasing services to Hyundai Auto Canada, Mazda Canada Inc. and other auto makers that don't have their own financial arm.

"This acquisition will allow us the flexibility to expand leasing into our Chevrolet and GMC brands," Marc Comeau, GM Canada's vice-president of sales, service and marketing said in a memo to dealers announcing that leasing returns effective Monday, April 11, 2011.

The ability to offer leasing is critical in the Canadian market. It peaked at 45 per cent of all retail sales in Canada in 2005 and stood at 42.4 per cent of the market in 2007, the year before the financial crisis. Leasing fell to 7 per cent of retail sales in 2009, before rebounding to 15 per cent last year.

GM's market share in Canada, meanwhile, slumped to 15.8 per cent in 2010 from 17.2 per cent in 2009. The lack of leasing contributed to that slide, as did the discontinuation of the Pontiac, Saturn, Saab and Hummer brands. Market share for the first three months of 2011 stood at 15.4 per cent.

"It's something we've really missed," one Chevrolet dealer in Western Canada said. "We're losing some business because of it."

The auto financing market collapsed during the liquidity crisis of 2008 that helped cause the Great Recession.

Auto maker financing companies such as GMAC Corp., as GM's financing arm was known then, Ford Motor Credit Corp. and Chrysler Financial would bundle hundreds of millions of dollars worth of leasing contracts together and sell them to investors on the asset-backed commercial paper market.

Demand for such securitized portfolios in the asset-backed commercial paper market is recovering, Mr. DesRosiers noted, but has not bounced back to precrisis levels.

Before 2008, his consulting company was being called upon six to eight times a year to assess the true value of the vehicles on which the leasing contracts were based.

That number dropped to zero when the liquidity crisis hit its peak in the fall of 2008.

In the past six to eight months, he noted, the firm has been asked to evaluate three to four portfolios.

The GM move back into leasing for Chevrolet and GMC cars and trucks indicates the market is getting healthier, he noted.

But Chrysler Canada Inc. is still out of the leasing game.

It does offer, however, a financial product called customer choice financing, which allows the buyer to return a vehicle to a dealer after three, four or five years of driving.

The difference is that under the Chrysler program, the consumer owns the vehicle, while leased vehicles are owned by a leasing company such as a dealer or auto maker's leasing division.

CHEVROLET VOLT WINS GOLD MEDAL IN 2011 EDISON AWARDS

OnStar Mobile App takes Silver in Remote Driving Aids segment

By General Motors of Canada - The Chevrolet Volt continued to build its resume of honors, winning the 2011 Edison Awards Gold Medal in the Personal Transportation Segment. The Edison Awards honor the innovation in the spirit of America's greatest inventor and marketer Thomas Alva Edison.

"Being selected as an Edison Award winner validates our drive to develop an all-new transportation solution," said Tony Posawatz, Chevrolet Volt Vehicle Line Director. "Innovation has been at the heart of the Volt from its onset; from the development of the Li-ion battery to the drive unit and the driver connectivity."

At the same ceremony Tuesday evening in New York City, the OnStar Mobil App won the silver award as the 2011 Best New Product in the Transportation in the Remote Driving Aids Segment. In the Volt, the app allows users to control vehicle charging functions and view charge level, electricity rate tables and electric vehicle data along with other features.

The OnStar Mobile App allows users to access current vehicle diagnostics, such as fuel levels, oil life, tire pressure, miles per gallon or next scheduled maintenance. It also lets users control certain vehicle functions, such as remotely starting the vehicle, locking and unlocking the doors, and sounding the horn and lights.

OnStar recently expanded the availability of the app, certifying 14 Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles from 2010, with more certifications expected in the future. The app has been downloaded by nearly 60,000 active users to date in North America and has more than 1 million interactions.

The Edison Gold Medal for the Volt highlights the innovative engineering that resulted in the production of the world's first electric vehicle with extended range capability. With a full charge, Volt drivers can travel 40-80 kilometres completely emissions- and gasoline-free and then continue for over 500 more kilometres.

Complementing its groundbreaking propulsion system, engineers in the General Motors wind tunnel helped to develop the most aerodynamic vehicle in Chevrolet's history. Reducing the energy needed to overcome air resistance added an estimated twelve kilometres of electric range and 80 kilometres of extended range to the Volt.

The Edison Gold Medal for the Volt joins the Motor Trend, Automobile Magazine and Green Car of the Year awards, Popular Science Best of What's New and Ward's 10-Best Engine designations awarded earlier.

For OnStar, this was its second consecutive Edison award. OnStar's Stolen Vehicle Slowdown, a technology designed to reduce dangerous high-speed chases, received a Silver Edison Award for Best New Product in the Technology category in 2010.

The Edison Awards are voted on by roughly 2,000 members of the not-for-profit Marketing Executives Networking Group, America's top executives and academics nominations based on societal impact, marketplace innovation, marketplace success and market structure innovation of new products launched in the past year. The awards symboli8ze the persistence and excellence personified by Edison whose innovations and new product developments earned him 1,093 U.S. patents.

CHEVY CELEBRATES BIRTHDAY WITH 2012 CORVETTE CENTENNIAL EDITION

By Liane Yvkoff, CNET.com - To celebrate its 100th birthday, Chevrolet created a racing inspired Centennial Edition appearance and suspension package for the entire line of 2012 Corvettes.

The special edition package gives the 'Vette a dark and sinister makeover inside and out. The first thing you'll notice is the all-black color scheme. Your only paint choice is Carbon Flash Metallic with Centennial Satin Black wheels and red brake calipers. The lightweight cast-spun aluminum wheels are specific to each model: 18-inch/19-inch wheels for the Coupe, Convertible and Grand Sport; and 19-inch/20-inch for Z06 and ZR1. On Z06 models, a thin red line outlines the perimeter of the wheels. Centennial edition Corvettes also receive Magnetic Selective Ride Control.

A few custom details adorn the exterior, including a graphic of Louis Chevrolet on the B-pillars, the center caps of the wheels, and the center of the steering wheel. The fleur-de-lis symbol on the traditional crossed flags badge has been replaced with "100."

The black and red color scheme is carried into the vehicle's interior. The doors, instrument panel, and steering wheel are wrapped in Ebony leather with contrast red stitching. Seats, steering wheel, shifter and armrests get microfiber suede accents, which is also used on the 2011 Z06 Carbon Limited Edition. The seat headrests carry an embossed centennial logo.

All models, including the Grand Sport, Z06 and ZR1, can be ordered with the black-on-black trim package starting this summer, but pricing for neither the Corvette nor the Centennial package has been released.

Over the weekend, Chevrolet offered a 2012 Centennial Edition Z06 Corvette for sale at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Florida. A Chevrolet dealer won the 'Vette with a winning bid of $175,000. The sports car was the 100th 2012 Corvette of the assembly line, and has a VIN ending in "00100." All of its sale proceeds will benefit the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer.

TOYOTA CITY'S SUPPLIERS, FAR FROM QUAKE, ON LIFE SUPPORT

A Toyota dealership is seen at a devastated area after the earthquake

and tsunami, in Minamisanriku, Miyagi prefecture, on March 22.

Hundreds of parts suppliers in Toyota City have become victims of

the earthquake and subsequent radiation leak at a power plant

that have disrupted production and distribution in Japan's northeast.

By Automotive News - For Fumihiro Shimizu and his family-owned auto parts plant in this company town, being a second-tier supplier for Japan's top car makers has never been easy.

Even in the boom years, margins were squeezed as Toyota Motor Corp. and others extracted maximum value from suppliers to fight off competition from overseas rivals and keep prices down.

Now, with the magnitude-9.0 earthquake off Japan's eastern coast halting virtually all car assembly in the country since March 11, Shimizu says his company is facing its toughest test yet.

"It's never been this bad," he said. "The areas hit by the tsunami are a mess, but here the auto industry is being strangled. The buildings are standing but inside, we're economically starving to death," he said.

Shimizu Kogyo is one of hundreds of parts suppliers in Toyota City that have become victims of the earthquake and subsequent radiation leak at a power plant that have disrupted production and distribution in Japan's northeast.

With a full-scale recovery expected to be months away, the cost to Japan's $700 billion auto industry will be significant.

And without a clear exit in sight, many say the upshot will be the liquidation of smaller and weaker suppliers that will be unable to meet their payments.

"Many of these companies worked only nine days out of the 23 working days in March," said Yusuke Yamakawa, senior manager at Tokyo Shoko Research's Nagoya branch, near Toyota City.

"Some financially weak subcontractors will inevitably go under starting in April."

Detroit-style decline?

While times are tough and some bankruptcies are expected, few in Japan's Motor City see the risk of a Detroit-style decline.

Detroit's unemployment rate is among the highest in the United States after General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler shuttered dozens of factories in recent decades as sales fell with increased competition against Asian brands.

Bigger, stronger parts companies in Toyota City could buy up smaller struggling rivals. But without the suppliers at the bottom of the food chain that have long endured low-margin components, Toyota could gradually lose its cozy supply chain that has kept much of its production in Japan.

Although hundreds of kilometers away from the worst-hit regions of the earthquake, tsunami, and radiation, Toyota already appears a changed city.

A shortage of electronics and resin-based components from the region has forced automakers including Toyota and Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd to suspend a majority of their factory lines, resulting in a production loss of at least half-a-million vehicles so far.

The roads are free of the 10-ton trucks that usually carry parts to Toyota's five assembly plants here. Instead, business at pachinko parlours - Japan's most popular form of gambling - is booming. Restaurants are busy with families at lunchtime as factory workers are told to take time off.

Auto parts makers in the city of 420,000 say they have never stopped work for as long as a month. The record so far was two weeks, when Toyota suspended production to work down bloated inventory after the conomic crisis blew up in 2008.

About a fifth of the residents in Toyota City work in the auto manufacturing sector.

Analysts say many small and medium-sized companies still have outstanding loans from the financial crisis, meaning banks will be reluctant to lend further to the companies that need it most.

An official at Toyota City's unemployment office said that over the past few days, his office had fielded 40 to 50 calls from companies asking about government support to keep paying wages in the event they had to fully suspend operations.

Risk management

Already workers are looking for ways to fill in the time they would usually be on the assembly lines.

At one of the pachinko parlours a short drive from Toyota's headquarters, about a dozen rows of slot machines were occupied nearly to capacity with men of working age puffing away at their cigarettes.

"Since the earthquake, I'd say we've seen a 20 to 30 percent rise in traffic," said the store's deputy manager, who asked that he and his store not be identified.

"Because of everything that's going on up north, a business like ours tends to get criticized by people who think it's socially inappropriate to be running an amusement business at a time like this. But with the factories closed, some of those workers need something to pass the time," he said.

While the supply disruption has affected all Japanese automakers and even many overseas, the current debacle was a particularly cruel blow for Toyota.

To spread out its geographic risk, the world's biggest automaker has in recent years begun to establish a third production cluster in Japan in the northeast Tohoku region, which bore the full force of the earthquake and tsunami.

Toyota builds more than two-thirds of its vehicles in Japan in and around its namesake city, and the rest was meant to be spread into the southern Kyushu region and Tohoku.

Toyota Chairman Fujio Cho last month celebrated the opening of subsidiary Central Motor's new, 120,000 units-a-year factory near the badly hit city of Sendai. The plant suffered some damage to its facilities and equipment from the quake.

Toyota is scrambling to get whatever production it can back. So far, it has resumed limited production of the Prius and two other hybrid models at two factories, including the Tsutsumi plant in Toyota City. It is also producing replacement parts and parts for overseas production.

That has helped Okuda Industry, a second-tier supplier, bring its production of engine and transmission parts back up to 70 percent of pre-quake levels in the past two weeks. While his peers in Toyota City say he's lucky, President Kiyohito Okuda said that was far from enough to make money.

"We'll be in the red this month," he said, referring to March. "So if you're operating at 0-20 percent, as I think many suppliers here are, you're past the point of worrying about losing money - it's far, far worse."

The disaster hit just as Toyota's suppliers, like the automaker itself, were recovering from a recall crisis-driven sales drop and the global recession before that.

With a strong yen crippling its domestic operations, Toyota had reduced its daily vehicle production in Japan to around 12,000-13,000 units, or about 70 percent of its peak years. Parts makers say they were just beginning to get by at those reduced levels.

Family businesses to fade

Kosei Aluminium President Sunkichi Kamiya said his company needs to be producing at about four-fifths of capacity to break even - a far cry from around 10-20 percent since the quake. He is assuming a worst-case scenario that a full recovery of car production would take six months - too long for many of the city's debilitated subcontractors further down the supply chain to stay afloat.

"We have an overseas business that's healthy, so we will be able to withstand some pain," Kamiya said.

His company, which makes aluminium wheels and other parts, plans to extend financial support to one of its subcontractors so as not to disrupt production, he said.

Kosei has switched off the man-made waterfall on the company grounds, even though the power source in Toyota City is different from the blackout-affected northeast.

As the pain lasts, Shimizu Kogyo's Shimizu said the end-game for many family-owned suppliers might be to give up and hand over the business to any willing takers.

"Nowadays, you don't find too many families that want to hand down the business to the next generation," said Shimizu, who has no children of his own.

"The one good thing about this business was that it was fairly stable. Now even that's gone. If we reach the end of our rope, I guess we'll just sell the business. I think many people like us have the same thought - how best to end the business."

CRUZE DRIVES CHEVROLET-BUICK-GMC-CADILLAC SALES UP 32 PERCENT IN MARCH

By General Motors of Canada - Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac dealers reported total sales of 24,498 vehicles in March, a 32 percent increase from one year ago. The gain was driven by the best sales month yet for the Chevrolet Cruze, Canadian Car of the Year, which was GM's top-selling vehicle at retail for the month. Across its four brands, GM's retail sales increased 42 percent in March.

"The strengths of our fuel-efficient new products and our focus on the customer are continuing to drive strong retail sales performance," said Marc Comeau, vice-president of sales, service and marketing at GM of Canada. "We're very excited that our new cars, crossovers and trucks, across our brands, continue to build momentum, win new customers and further enhance the transformation underway at General Motors."

Passenger car sales rose 55 percent in March, with strong performances by award-winning launch products like the Chevrolet Cruze and the Buick Regal, which both posted record monthly results. Chevrolet Malibu and Cadillac CTS also posted big gains, up 52 percent and 24 percent respectively.

Customer demand also grew for GM's fuel-efficient crossovers, with the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain both posting their best month since being redesigned for the 2010 model year. Their combined sales increased 43 percent from one year ago, while the Cadillac SRX also continued red-hot, growing sales 41 percent, its fifteenth consecutive monthly increase.

GM's leading truck capabilities continue to be recognized, with the all-new heavy duty Silverado and Sierra recently named "Best in Class 2011 Work Truck" by Truck Trend magazine, helping drive a 27 percent increase for combined pickup sales in March.

SIX LEGENDARY BERTONE CONCEPTS TO BE AUCTIONED BY BANKRUPTCY COURT

By Luca Ciferri, Automotive News - Six concept cars created by Italian design house Bertone for Lamborghini, Lancia and Chevrolet will be auctioned next month on the orders of a bankruptcy court.

Three of the cars represent milestones of Italian design and are expected to be sold for high amounts. Bids of between 1 million and 1.8 million euros are being asked for:

• The 1967 gull-winged Lamborghini Marzal prototype, which was driven by Prince Ranieri and Princess Grace at the start of 1967 Monaco Grand Prix. The car later was built as the Espada.


• The mid-engined Lancia Stratos HF Zero. The car went into production as the Lancia Stratos, a car that dominated the World Rally Championships in the 1970s.

Both cars were designed by Italian car designer Marcello Gandini, who worked at Bertone from 1965 to 1980.

The third milestone car is the Chevrolet Testudo, created by Giorgetto Giugiaro. The concept has a transparent one-piece windscreen and roof and was driven by Giugiaro from Turin to its debut at the 1973 Geneva auto show. Bids between 500,000 euros and 800,000 euros are being sought for the car.

The other three concepts have less historical relevance and so have lower starting prices.

The sale comes after the Bertone Group went into a court-supervised liquidation in 2008.

Fita S.p.A. bought Bertone's contract manufacturing plant in 2009. The factory is scheduled to resume production at the end of 2012, building midsized and large sedans for Maserati.

Lilli Bertone, the widow of company founder Nuccio Bertone, saved the Stile Bertone design company from bankruptcy and in 2009 bought back the Bertone trademark and historical files for 3.5 million euros.

She also made a 4.56 million euros offer for the Bertone Group museum and its 90 cars but the bankruptcy court asked for 6 million euros.

Lilli Bertone bought 84 of the museum's concept cars at their book value of 2.4 million euros. The court is selling off the remaining six cars and RM Auctions, a British auction house that specializes in high-end automobile auctions, will auction the cars at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este in Como, Italy, on May 21.