Vauxhall Insignia gains New 1.4-Liter Turbo Petrol

It’s model-year changeover over time for the Vauxhall Insignia with the British company announcing the addition of a low emissions ecoFLEX diesel model and a new-to-the-range 1.4 Turbo petrol engine.
Beginning with the petrol model, the 1.4-liter turbocharged unit, which is also offered in the Astra, delivers 140-horsepower and 200Nm of peak torque, while returning 51.4mpg UK (5.5 lt/100km) in the hatchback and saloon models and emitting 129g/km of CO2. In the UK, the Insignia 1.4 Turbo is priced from £18,680 for the ES Hatchback up to £27,110 for the SRi Nav Vx Line Red Sports Tourer.
For the new model year, GM’s Vauxhall unit updated the Euro 5 compliant 2.0 CDTi diesel engines in the Insignia ecoFLEX model. The four-cylinder unit is available with 130PS or 160PS power outputs, and for the first time, is offered with Start/Stop technology. The underbody aerodynamic measures and low rolling resistance tires help to improve fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
When equipped with the 130-horsepower version, the Insignia ecoFLEX achieves a top speed of 129mph (209 km/h), with 0-60mph (96 km/h) taking 10.4 seconds. The 160HP model records a 137mph (220 km/h) top speed and a 0-60mph sprint time of 8.9 seconds. Compared to the outgoing ecoFLEX diesel, CO2 emission have dropped by 10 percent, from 129g/CO2 to 115g/CO2.
Prices for the Insignia ecoFLEX diesel models start from £20,345 for the ES 2.0 CDTi 130PS Start/Stop Hatchback and go up to £29,385 for the top-of-the-range SRi Nav Vx Line Red Sports Tourer 160HP.

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GM Recall Chevrolet Cruze Models for 2011

After the initial 2,100 inspections triggered by a detached steering wheel, General Motors announced a new recall involving 154,112 units of the 2011 model year Cruze - pretty much all models built for North America since production started in summer 2010.
The reason for this action is related to a steering issue as well, with GM saying it wants to check that the steering shaft was properly installed. The company didn't say whether or not the two recalls are related, but added it will use the latest one action to check on another issue that might affect some 120,000 models with automatic transmission. In this case, GM wants to verify whether the transmission shift linkage was properly installed.
GM stressed in a statement that “very few” of the recalled models should have both problems and that it has already made quality process changes to make sure neither error occurs again. According to a GM spokesman, the steering shaft issue was discovered when a customer lost steering control in a parking lot, without being involved in any type of accident. As for the automatic transmission problem, the carmaker says it was discovered when customers brought in their cars under warranty.
The company added that no accidents or injuries related to the Cruze recall have been reported. Built in Lordstown, Ohio for the U.S. and Canadian markets, the compact sedan was GM's second best selling vehicle in April.

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Swedish Office and GM Allow Antonov to Invest in Saab

It appears that Saab's hopes of survival continue to depend after all that happened on Vladimir Antonov, the Russian banker who was forced by GM to sell his initial shares in Spyker for the Saab sale to occur. Spyker today confirmed that the Swedish National Debt Office (NDO) allowed Antonov to become a major shareholder in Spyker Cars, Saab's parent company.

"This is a great day for our company and for me personally. We worked relentlessly for 11 months to achieve the desired result: restore the reputation of Vladimir Antonov, who made so many valuable contributions to Spyker since 2007 as financier and shareholder,” said Victor Muller, CEO of Spyker and chairman of Saab Automobile.

“We are convinced he will be able to make such contributions again in the near future and look forward to the decisions of the Swedish Government, General Motors and the European Investment Bank (EIB), following the recommendation of the NDO which was the result of intense scrutinising,” Muller added.

General Motors, which has redeemable preference shares in Saab, also gave the green light to Antonov.

“GM continues to be in active discussions with both Saab and the European Investment Bank and has reached a tentative agreement with Saab on a construct which could allow for Vladimir Antonov's acquisition of a shareholder interest in Saab,” the Detroit automaker said in a press statement.

The American company stressed, however, that the agreement requires “certain specific actions to be taken by Saab which have not yet been completed, as well as certain formal consents, approvals and waivers which Saab has not yet obtained.”

Antonov still needs the green light from the Swedish government and the European Investment Bank (EIB) to return as a Spyker shareholder. Saab halted production three weeks ago because it had no money to pay suppliers and announced it will sell production facilities to Antonov and lease them back in order to get cash to restart production.

However, the deal must receive the approval of the EIB, to which Saab owes €400 million.

“Spyker and Saab Automobile are negotiating equity and debt financing and/or technology licensing with various strategic partners, including various Chinese car manufacturers. No commitments have been received to date,” Saab said in a statement.

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GM Recalling 2,100 Chevrolet Cruze sedans after Steering Wheel Comes Loose in one Car

Following a single incident on March 1, 2011, when a GM was notified of a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze that had been brought to one of its dealerships with a steering wheel that had come loose from the steering column, the Detroit automaker decided to issue a voluntary recall on certain Cruze vehicles. According to GM, during manufacturing, the steering wheel might have been improperly fastened and could detach from the steering column.

In a filing to the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration, General Motors noted that the affected assembly plant help shipment of 2,021 Cruze vehicles until they were inspected for the potential default, adding that the inspection found no additional problems with the steering wheels on these cars. The company also issued a notice to dealers to inspect all unsold vehicles prior to sale. GM said that no additional steering wheel fastener abnormalities have been found to date.

As a precautionary measure, the company will recall a total of 2,100 Chevrolet Cruze sedans from the 2011MY to inspect the steering wheel. The safety recall is expected to begin in April. Concerned owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, or at the owner center

GM Recalling 2,100 Chevrolet Cruze sedans after Steering Wheel Comes Loose in one Car

Following a single incident on March 1, 2011, when a GM was notified of a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze that had been brought to one of its dealerships with a steering wheel that had come loose from the steering column, the Detroit automaker decided to issue a voluntary recall on certain Cruze vehicles. According to GM, during manufacturing, the steering wheel might have been improperly fastened and could detach from the steering column.

In a filing to the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration, General Motors noted that the affected assembly plant help shipment of 2,021 Cruze vehicles until they were inspected for the potential default, adding that the inspection found no additional problems with the steering wheels on these cars. The company also issued a notice to dealers to inspect all unsold vehicles prior to sale. GM said that no additional steering wheel fastener abnormalities have been found to date.

As a precautionary measure, the company will recall a total of 2,100 Chevrolet Cruze sedans from the 2011MY to inspect the steering wheel. The safety recall is expected to begin in April. Concerned owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, or at the owner center

GM Design of Holden Commodore Due in 2013

Good news for Commodore fans; General Motors design boss Ed Welburn was in Melbourne recently to sign off on the styling of the next Holden Commodore, due in Q3 2013. The as-of-yet-unrevealed VF Commodore will be an evolution of the current generation VE, sharing the same rear-wheel-drive platform and V6 engines. "It's the absolute right Commodore for that market,” Mr. Welburn was quoted as saying, “I feel very good about it.”
Holden is said to be looking into lightening the VF’s components to improve fuel economy with the new model, and is also putting a strong emphasis on improving drivetrain efficiency. Though Mr. Welburn refused to comment on whether the Commodore would come to the U.S. badged as a Chevy, he did say:
“They are doing work for Holden and for other projects around the world. They are a very talented team – very talented – and I want to take full advantage of that. So, they are responsible for the look and feel of all Holden products, but they are doing work on Chevrolets, they have done some wonderful Buick work, and I could not be more proud of the work that they do.”

Holden has substantial experience in vehicle design, and is currently working on one of three new Opels expected in 2013. It’s still unknown which of the three – which includes a four-seat convertible and an Opel Corsa-derived MPV – Holden is working on.
Holden’s managing director and chairman Mike Devereux hinted that the Commodore will continue to be rear-wheel-drive, unlike its main rival the Ford Falcon which is rumored to go front-wheel or all-wheel-drive for its next model cycle. Carscoop will remain abreast of this project and bring you all the details as they come in.

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Chevrolet Teases New Colorado Mid-Size Truck

Less than a week after the 2011 Geneva Motor Show press days and automakers are already getting ready for the next round of auto shows. Today, GM’s Chevrolet division issued a teaser sketch of its next-generation Colorado mid-size pickup truck that will be unwrapped in pre-production form at the 32nd Bangkok International Motor Show, which begins March 25. 

General Motors said that Thailand was chosen as the site of the global debut of the Colorado because of the “popularity of pickup trucks and the growing importance of the Thai market to Chevrolet”. The company noted that in 2010, the truck segment accounted for a whopping 43 percent of all vehicles sold in Thailand.
“Trucks play a key role in most Southeast Asian markets,” said Susan Docherty, vice president, GMIO Sales, Marketing and Aftersales. “Nowhere is this more evident than in Thailand, where trucks like the Colorado are ingrained in the local lifestyle. Thailand was a natural place to give the public a first glimpse of our all-new Colorado.”
Those of you with a sharp memory may recall the patent drawings of a Chevrolet pickup truck that we showed in the summer of 2010. If you compare Chevy’s official rendering with the sketches, it is obvious that we are talking about the same vehicle.
GM noted the new Chevrolet Colorado will make its market debut in Thailand later this year, but did not say when (or if) the mid-size pickup will come to the States and other markets across the globe.