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Showing posts with label NextGen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NextGen. Show all posts
Monday, 4 July 2011
Sunday, 3 July 2011
GM to invest $331M, add 110 jobs to build next-gen SUVs in Texas [Update]
General Motors’ large SUV plant in Arlington, Texas, is about to get a major overhaul to the tune of $331 million in order to prepare for the next-generation versions of the Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe, GMC Yukon and Cadillac Escalade.
The plant will be getting the necessary changes in order to produce the new models, which are expected to arrive sometime in 2013 to 2014, as well as adding additional production capability. GM has seen solid full-size SUV sales in other markets, namely China, Russia and the Middle East, even as decline has diminished in North America compared to its heyday about a decade ago.
As a result of the changes to the facility, GM will also be adding 110 new hires as part of its overall plan to add approximately 4,000 new jobs in the U.S. over the next few years.
It is expected that GM secured a $1.6 million tax break with Tarrant County this week. The abatement represents a 70 percent cut in tax revenue in exchange for expansion of the plant. While GM will surely welcome to savings, it was far from the $3.4 million the automaker originally sought.
What we know about the next-generation SUVs
GM had not publicly and officially confirmed development of a replacement for its current GMT900 platform-based SUVs until today, when Larry Zahner, the automaker’s Manufacturing Manager, announced the investment.
Zahner called Arlington the “home of GM’s full-size SUVs today and tomorrow,” a comment which elicited an uproar of applause from the plant’s workers, who were gathered to hear the good news.
What Zahner wouldn’t comment on was specifics about the vehicles’ replacements. By most accounts, the GMT900s have been a resounding success for GM – especially given that consumers have generally trended away from large SUVs and smaller crossovers. Still, automakers acknowledge that big SUVs account for a decent share of the market, with sales expected to hit around 250,000 units for the non-luxury market alone.
And that’s a market that GM positively dominates. Its GMC and Chevrolet models are up 7 percent this year to 49,490 units through the first four months of 2011. That’s more than twice what Ford, Nissan and Toyota have sold – combined. Dodge is making big headway with its redesigned Durango, although it is smaller and utilizes unibody construction compared to the simpler – but more durable – body-on-frame design of the GMT900s, the Ford Expedition, the Nissan Armada and the Toyota Sequoia.
At this point, all we can do is speculate about the big GM ‘utes’ future. Look for them continue sharing a platform with GM’s next-generation full-size pickups, although a changeover to a fully independent rear suspension seems like a necessary move for both packaging – think fold-away third rows – and weight reduction for fuel savings.
GM’s next-generation V8s will offer more power and notably better fuel economy – although the trucks are currently the highest rated in the segment at 15/21 with the 5.3-liter V8.
Look for more news about the next-generation GM SUVs to sneak out of the automaker’s headquarters soon.
Sunday, 26 June 2011
Mazda targeting 720 pound weight reduction for next-gen Miata
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Wednesday, 15 June 2011
Report: Next-gen BMW 5- and 7-Series to feature customizable LCD gauges
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Learn more about new cars with our extensive collection of overviews, specifications, and pictures.
Monday, 13 June 2011
GM to invest $331M, add 110 jobs to build next-gen SUVs in Texas [Update]
General Motors’ large SUV plant in Arlington, Texas, is about to get a major overhaul to the tune of $331 million in order to prepare for the next-generation versions of the Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe, GMC Yukon and Cadillac Escalade.
The plant will be getting the necessary changes in order to produce the new models, which are expected to arrive sometime in 2013 to 2014, as well as adding additional production capability. GM has seen solid full-size SUV sales in other markets, namely China, Russia and the Middle East, even as decline has diminished in North America compared to its heyday about a decade ago.
As a result of the changes to the facility, GM will also be adding 110 new hires as part of its overall plan to add approximately 4,000 new jobs in the U.S. over the next few years.
It is expected that GM secured a $1.6 million tax break with Tarrant County this week. The abatement represents a 70 percent cut in tax revenue in exchange for expansion of the plant. While GM will surely welcome to savings, it was far from the $3.4 million the automaker originally sought.
What we know about the next-generation SUVs
GM had not publicly and officially confirmed development of a replacement for its current GMT900 platform-based SUVs until today, when Larry Zahner, the automaker’s Manufacturing Manager, announced the investment.
Zahner called Arlington the “home of GM’s full-size SUVs today and tomorrow,” a comment which elicited an uproar of applause from the plant’s workers, who were gathered to hear the good news.
What Zahner wouldn’t comment on was specifics about the vehicles’ replacements. By most accounts, the GMT900s have been a resounding success for GM – especially given that consumers have generally trended away from large SUVs and smaller crossovers. Still, automakers acknowledge that big SUVs account for a decent share of the market, with sales expected to hit around 250,000 units for the non-luxury market alone.
And that’s a market that GM positively dominates. Its GMC and Chevrolet models are up 7 percent this year to 49,490 units through the first four months of 2011. That’s more than twice what Ford, Nissan and Toyota have sold – combined. Dodge is making big headway with its redesigned Durango, although it is smaller and utilizes unibody construction compared to the simpler – but more durable – body-on-frame design of the GMT900s, the Ford Expedition, the Nissan Armada and the Toyota Sequoia.
At this point, all we can do is speculate about the big GM ‘utes’ future. Look for them continue sharing a platform with GM’s next-generation full-size pickups, although a changeover to a fully independent rear suspension seems like a necessary move for both packaging – think fold-away third rows – and weight reduction for fuel savings.
GM’s next-generation V8s will offer more power and notably better fuel economy – although the trucks are currently the highest rated in the segment at 15/21 with the 5.3-liter V8.
Look for more news about the next-generation GM SUVs to sneak out of the automaker’s headquarters soon.
Thursday, 9 June 2011
Report: Next-gen BMW 5- and 7-Series to feature customizable LCD gauges
Thursday, May 26th, 2011 @ 12:26 p.m.
Digital dashes are certainly anything but new, but the idea of a programmable custom liquid crystal display gauge interface is still gaining ground in the luxury market today.
Not wanting to be left too far in the dust by competitors like Mercedes-Benz or Jaguar-Land Rover, BMW is said to be working on a high-tech LCD, programmable gauge interface of its own for the next-gen 5- and 7-Series sedans, according to Autoblog sources.
The interface system is already underway and will be the result of a joint effort between a team in Munich, Germany, and BMW’s Technology Office located in Mountain View, California. The goal of the collaboration is to create a gauge display that is capable of outputting traditional information such as the speedometer, odometer, tachometer, fuel levels and oil temperature, as well as navigation and other infotainment content – but to do so in an innovative way.
A BMW engineer explained that the goal is not simply to provide a different gauge system from an aesthetics point of view, but rather to innovate and create something from scratch that can better display crucial information to the driver.
How exactly the display will be innovative we may have to wait and see, but we do know there will be some form of customization available to the driver that will be partially tied into the vehicle’s drive mode (Sport or Comfort), optimizing which information should be most emphasized.
References
1.’BMW developing…’ view
Tuesday, 12 April 2011
Report: Next-Gen Chevrolet Equinox To Downsize
General Motors plans to take its best-selling crossover vehicle down a notch—in size and weight, that is, according to one report from GM Inside News.
It's a trend we might see a lot more of over the next several years, as automakers struggle to meet tougher upcoming fuel economy regulations. And in one of what we think will be many more cases, the next generation of the Equinox, due for around the 2016 model year, is due to be downsized.
The current 2011 Equinox is still based on GM's Theta platform, originally introduced with the 2002 Saturn Vue. It's nearly a mid-size vehicle, at about 188 inches long, and it's as heavy as a mid-size ute, at close to 4,000 pounds with all-wheel drive and about 4,200 pounds with the available V-6—that's hundreds of pounds more (and larger on the outside) than the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Nissan Rogue, or Hyundai Tucson. The Equinox, in fact, is more in line with the likes of the Toyota Highlander and Kia Sorento, while the Chevy Traverse is a half-step larger.
The next-gen Equinox will be built off a new version of the automaker's Global Delta platform, which will be several hundred pounds lighter than the current Delta platform. Currently, the Delta platform is used in the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze and 2012 Buick Verano.
Also, according to GMI, the new Gamma platform, on which the automaker is building the upcoming 2012 Chevrolet Sonic, will also be the foundation for a smaller crossover.
What do you think: Are we at the cusp of another major downsizing trend? Will Americans be happy with a slightly smaller Equinox?
[GM Inside News]
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