gm

As Volt nears rollout, engineer tweaks its sound, feel

The Chevrolet Volt, a plug-in hybrid touted as a high-tech image-changer for General Motors, recently passed a milestone when Andrew Farah, the car's chief engineer, drove the first prototype of the production version. He said GM engineers are working to reduce road and wind noise and tweak the sound of the drivetrain.

Farah spoke with Staff Reporter Richard Truett about the Volt's progress toward its November 2010 production date.

What is it like when you step on the accelerator with the engine running? Since it is not connected to the wheels, it must be a strange sensation.

You get immediate response from the foot pedal -- I am reluctant to call it the throttle because it is not, in the traditional sense. But you get immediate response because the Volt is always driven electrically. You don't even notice the difference there. The gasoline engine's rpms then follow.

The engine, not being directly connected to the foot, is one of the things we continue to tune. We don't want it to be discomforting to people. There is an expectation of what happens when you put your accelerator to the floor in the way the car sounds and feels. We've got the feel. We've got the feel of a sports car. The sound part and the way the engine plays into that perception is one of the areas we have to work on. … Read more

Apple MacBook Air: Cooler graphics

Is there a downside to squeezing a real graphics processor into a 3-pound, ultra-thin laptop? Not if it's a MacBook Air.

After extensive use of two versions (the January 2008 original and October 2008 refresh) of the MacBook Air, my conclusion is that a decent graphics chip can--over the long haul--not only deliver the expected boost in performance but, surprisingly, contribute to better battery life while, even more surprisingly, bringing down the heat to acceptable levels.

First, let me address the original Air. I have used this version now for about 18 months. Though it has been remarkably reliable, … Read more

Saab to get '11 crossover built by GM

DETROIT -- General Motors will follow through on plans to provide U.S. Saab dealers with a new crossover, assuming a deal to sell the automaker to a small Swedish company is completed.

The 9-4X will be launched in the 2011 model year and will replace the 9-7X, says Steve Shannon, GM's executive director of product and marketing for Cadillac, Hummer and Saab.

Meanwhile, on June 12, GM sent new dealership agreements to owners of Saab's 220 U.S. dealerships.

Under the agreement, the dealerships would continue selling vehicles under the new owner, a consortium led by tiny … Read more

A fine-tuner's next task: GM's model lineup

When Tom Stephens was 10, he turned a pile of old plumbing pipes, a pair of hard rubber tires, and a sputtering old lawn mower engine into a minibike.

It went only about 5 mph, but young Tom was proud. And he immediately began tinkering to make it better. He would go on to work his way through college by fixing neighbors' cars and spend most of his adult life under the hood in the engineer's endless quest to tinker and improve.

Now the 60-year-old son of a Detroit tool and die maker takes on the ultimate tuneup--the future product plan of bankrupt General Motors--with tens of thousands of jobs and billions of taxpayer dollars hanging in the balance.

The key questions:

-- What's the plan?

-- Who is Tom Stephens, and is he the right guy for the job? … Read more

Are you really buying American?

GM and Chrysler's troubles seem to have quieted the crowd that consistently suggests buying anything other than American cars is not patriotic, at least temporarily, but a new tool put online by the New York Times shows the concept of an American car is muddy, at best. Your truck may sport a bow-tie, but that doesn't mean it wasn't built in Mexico. And although your sedan's hood might be adorned with a stylized T, its major parts and final assembly may have as little to do with Japan as Texas barbecue.

The New York Times' tool … Read more

GM opens auto battery research plant

General Motors opened the doors to a battery research and development plant in Michigan on Monday, a facility the company says will accelerate its move to electric vehicles.

The Global Battery Systems Lab in Warren, Mich., will be used to test the lithium ion batteries planned for the Chevy Volt as well as other energy storage systems such as ultracapacitors, GM said.

The facility, at 33,000 square feet, is four times larger than GM's existing testing operation and will be used by 1,000 engineers, according to the company which hosted a ceremony with Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm … Read more

The Humvee bids the Hummer bye bye

Amid recent developments of General Motors' chapter 11 bankruptcy and its decision to sell the all-mighty Hummer brand to a Chinese company, there's a silver lining. And it's a big one.

The U.S. Army wanted to make it crystal clear Thursday that the HMMWV (widely known as "Humvee")--the original High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle that inspired the creation of the Hummer--will continue to be made in the United States, by an American-owned company.

According to Lt. Col. Martin Downie, the U.S. Army's spokesman, though the Army's Humvee and the civilian Hummer … Read more

No matter what, GM will maintain product ties to Opel

General Motors says it will maintain deep product-development ties with Adam Opel AG despite a plan to sell a stake in the German subsidiary.

On Friday, May 29, Magna International Inc. appeared poised to take a controlling interest in Opel. The Canadian supplier reached a tentative agreement with GM, sources told Reuters. Fiat has been Magna's main rival in the bidding.

Either way, GM will remain integrated with the German unit it has owned for 80 years.

"Any deal in Europe will include GM holding a significant stake in the new entity," said GM spokesman Chris Preuss. &… Read more

120: A ride in Lexus' HS 250h 'economy luxury' car

A ride in Lexus first "luxury economy car," GPS maps that don't look like maps, you won't believe what Audi has in mind for the R8, and GM gets bundled up for a swift reorganization to the tune of $30 billion!

Listen now: Download today's podcast SHOW NOTES

• Lexus HS 250h first impressions

• TeleAtlas starts offering photorealistic GPS nav imagery

• VW dealers will sell Garmin GPS nav devices

• Audi R8 convertible, EV on the way?

• Tesla does a recall, makes housecalls

Lutz to Letterman: 'We can't survive selling $100K cars'

The most recent battle over electric car technology isn't being fought in the showrooms, but on the set of the "Late Show with David Letterman."

GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz was invited on the "Late Show," giving him the opportunity to respond to Letterman's negative comments about the Chevrolet Volt, which is an extended range hybrid.

Not really understanding the concept of a plug-in hybrid, Letterman had previously called the 40-mile all-electric capacity "insane" on a previous episode during which Tesla CEO Elon Musk was a guest promoting the electric Model S sedan prototype.

Lutz offered his rebuttal on Wednesday, Chevy Volt in tow, and tried to explain why GM doesn't sell an all-electric vehicle and is instead is coming to market first with a plug-in. … Read more