Opel has dropped some new images and details on the new Astra OPC, that will make its public debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.

Based on the new Opel Astra GTC hatchback, the Astra OPC is powered by a 2.0 liter direct injection turbo gasoline engine making 276-hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Mated to a 6-speed manual transmission that pushes power two the front wheels, top speed goes until 155 mph.

The Astra OPC is fitted with a sport-tuned suspension, including high-performance front struts. But the coolest thing provided to the fastest Astra ever are the high-performance bucket seat with state-of-the art technology.

“Opel is the world’s first auto manufacturer to use this material in the shell of a production car seat,” says Armin Rossmann, the leader of the OPC seat development team. “The most powerful Astra ever deserves the best technology in all areas, including seating.”

The seats in the Opel Astra OPC feature an organic injection molded sheet in the performance seat shell, resulting in a weight saving of 45 percent compared to a conventional shell. The sheet is then filled with a composite material of polyamide and fiber glass. The new material is both agile and strong and because of its strength.

Stay tuned for more details from Geneva.

- By: Omar Rana

While we won’t be getting it in the United States, General Motors has just released a picture of the Chevrolet Cruze station wagon that will debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show next month. The station wagon variant will be joining the sedan and the hatchback (another trim we wish we got in the U.S. but don’t) in the Cruze’s European lineup.

Check out more news on the Chevrolet Cruze.

“The Cruze station wagon caters to an important market segment. It ticks all the boxes for European drivers in terms of distinctive design, dynamic driving, space and economy,” said Chevrolet Europe President and Managing Director Susan Docherty.

GM even goes out of its way to rub it in the face of Americans in the press release stating: “The new station wagon, which is not planned for sale in North America, features generous storage space and a choice of powerful and efficient engines as well as the state-of-the-art Chevrolet MyLink onboard infotainment system.” – Of course, us Americans hate space, efficiency and state-of-the-art infotainment systems.

Power for the Chevrolet Cruze Station wagon will come from a range go engine when it goes on sale in Euro later this summer. The power train lineup will include a 1.6L and 1.8L gasoline engines, a new 1.4L turbo gasoline, a new 1.7L diesel and an improved 2.0L diesel engine.

- By: Omar Rana

Check out more news from the 2012 Chicago Auto Show.

“With an award-winning combination of space, capability and fuel-efficiency, Acadia epitomizes GMC’s ‘never say never’ attitude,” said Tony DiSalle, U.S. vice president of GMC Marketing. “For 2013, our engineers and designers applied that same attitude to developing the new Acadia.”

While things have been upgraded inside out, the GMC Acadia keeps its interior roominess and functionality – including the popular SmartSlide seating system that allows easy access to the third row. The second and third row still fold completely flat allowing for class-leading cargo space.

The exterior of the 2013 Acadia has been completely redesigned and I think it looks quite amazing. The front fascia has a more chiseled and prominent look with premium looking LED running headlamps. The rear also gets some nice touches including a G shaped taillamp.

On the inside, the 2013 GMC Acadia gets an upgraded material with soft-touch materials, stitching and red ambient lighting. It seems GMC has finally received its own interior rather than sharing the same one from the Enclave and other GM brand trucks. The interior of the new Acadia also gets something called GMC’s Color Touch Radio, which was first seen on the 2012 Terran. The feature is now standard in the Acadia with available IntelliLink for Bluetooth and iPod connectivity.

The GMC Acadia Denali gets a totally upgraded interior with perforated leather seating and Denali-specific Cocoa Dune upholstery color, leather-wrapped steering wheel with wood inserts and power tilt/telescope, heated and cooled front seats, accent lighting in footwells and lighted sill plates with Denali logo, color Touch navigation and dual SkyScape sunroof system, with sliding front sunroof and fixed rear section. Optional on the base Acadia but standard on the Denali are some strong safety features including Side Blind Zone and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

So all that stuff is new but what about the powertrain choices? Unfortunately, no – and that may not be a bad thing. The 2013 GMC Acadia keeps its 3.6 liter V6 making 288 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque. Mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission, the 2013 Acadia returns an EPA estimated fuel-economy of 17/24 mpg (city/highway) for the FWD model and 16/23 for the AWD.

- By: Omar Rana

The previous record for the largest audience viewing a single commercial was General Motors’ ‘Miss Evelyn,’ a spot for the Chevrolet Camaro in Super Bowl XLV last year. This year, GM once again took the title with Cadillacs 30-second preview of the upcoming 2013 ATS sport sedan during Super Bowl XLVI.

The commercial, titled ‘Green Hell,’ was the most-viewed single advertising spot in U.S. television history, according to a study released Tuesday.

Check out more news on the Cadillac ATS.

”We have a big message this year – Cadillac is expanding with new models challenging the world’s best luxury cars. This stunning viewership data proves that Cadillac’s big message reached the largest audience,” said General Motors Global Chief Marketing Officer Joel Ewanick. “When it comes to Super Bowl ads, everyone has opinions on their favorites. But it’s a fact that this Cadillac spot had the biggest audience during the game.”

“Kantar Media’s Super Bowl audience study found that the Cadillac spot reached an audience rating of 43.5, highest among all advertising spots shown during the NBC-TV telecast,” GM said in statement.

You can check out both GM commercials after the jump.

Refresher: The 2013 Cadillac ATS sedan will go on sale later this year and will come with a choice of three engine units. The based model will carry a 2.0 liter 4-cylinder turbo engine making 270-hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. A 2.5 liter naturally aspirated 4-cylinder will also be available, making 200-hp and 188 lb-ft of torque. The top-of-the-line Cadillac ATS will be powered by a 3.6 liter V6 making 318-hp and 267 lb-ft of torque. Prices will be announced closer to launch.

- By: Omar Rana

Buick has just released some news stating that there’s a new transmission option for their Regal lineup, specifically for the performance-oriented GS. Previously offered with only a six-speed manual transmission, the new 2013 Regal GS comes with a no-cost option for an Aisin AF40 automatic.

“With the Regal GS, we made a conscious decision to go against the current trend and give enthusiasts the manual transmission they desire as standard equipment” said Tony DiSalle, U.S. vice president of Buick Marketing. “Adding an automatic simply makes the performance of the GS even more accessible.”

And with that statement, it seems that General Motors, or at least Buick, is making a bet that manual transmissions are still desirable and it’s comforting to hear that GM is keeping the enthusiast in mind.

Actual performance figures for the automatic-equipped Regal GS have yet to be announced, but Buick says that it will match the manual version’s sprint to 60 of just 6.7 seconds while returning 19 mpg’s in city runabouts and 27 on the highway.

The new six-speed automatic will also be equipped to the Regal eAssist, boosting its EPA estimate to around 36 mpg’s in the combined average cycle. At the expense of this newly equipped Regal eAssist is the discontinuation of the base 2.4L Regal.

“Buick is committed to increasing innovation across the lineup,” said DiSalle “By making the advanced eAssist powertrain standard on a second vehicle, we are putting the spotlight on smart technology.”

- By: Chris Chin

Eli Manning is on top of the world. After proving that he is not only in the league of top tier quarterbacks like Tom Brady, Manning proved that he can take down top tier quarterbacks and lead his team to a Super Bowl victory.

Besides celebrating the win, Eli received a brand new 2012 Corvette Grand Sport Convertible Centennial Edition in recognition of his tremendous effort on the field in the Giants’ 21-17 win over the New England Patriots.

Check out more news on the Chevrolet Corvette.

The car was presented to Eli by Chevrolet, the official sponsor of the Super Bowl XLVI MVP Award, during the post game show.

The Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Convertible comes with a 6.2 liter V8 making 436-hp and 424 lb-ft of torque. That allows it run from 0 to 60 mph in just 4 seconds. The black-on-black model that Eli received was a Chevrolet Centennial edition that commemorates 100 years of the brand’s history.

- By: Omar Rana

One of the most important things that engineers are paying attention to while completing development on the new 2013 Cadillac ATS is not only its driving dynamics – but the sound it makes.

Click here for our original post on the Cadillac ATS.

The man behind the whole thing is Kyle Stanforth, noise and vibration engineer on the Cadillac performance team. Stanforth said the ATS is engineered to enhance the performance-tuned sound for each of the three available engines. It also keeps unwanted to noise from entering the cabin.

“Cadillac customers expect a level of refinement beyond what most cars have. Yes, it’s quiet, but it’s more than that,” Stanforth said. “They also love to hear that sound of refined power when they ask for it. So when you open it up, you not only feel the power, you hear it too.”

Stanforth and his team shaped the intake system to allow the engine to breathe easier while keeping annoying sound from coming inside the cabin. However, when you’re outside the ATS should sound pleasing to the ear.

“The ATS sounds distinctly like a Cadillac should. We’ve created a signature sound that expresses Cadillac power, refinement and luxury – and we make it sing,” Stanforth said.

We can’t wait to hear it.

Refresher: The 2013 Cadillac ATS sedan will go on sale later this year and will come with a choice of three engine units. The based model will carry a 2.0 liter 4-cylinder turbo engine making 270-hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. A 2.5 liter naturally aspirated 4-cylinder will also be available, making 200-hp and 188 lb-ft of torque. The top-of-the-line Cadillac ATS will be powered by a 3.6 liter V6 making 318-hp and 267 lb-ft of torque. Prices will be announced closer to launch.

- By: Omar Rana

Automakers stole the show when it came to Super Bowl XLVI commercials. However, behind the scene FoMoCo was complaining about a Chevrolet Silverado commercial that took a stab at Ford. Apparently, General Motors ignored a request from Ford to cancel the commercial before it made its television debut last night.

The ad, which shows the Chevrolet Silverado being the only truck to survive an apocalypse, takes a stab at Ford when one of the main characters asks about the fate of one his friends.

“Dave didn’t drive the longest lasting, most dependable truck on the road,” another friend tells him. “Dave drove a Ford.”

“What’s important is that Ford is proud to be the best-selling truck in America for 35 years, the best-selling vehicle for 30 years and the only brand with more trucks on the road with more than 250,000 miles — demonstrating just how durable our trucks are in the real world,” Ford said in a statement.

The General isn’t backing down, however. ”We stand by our claims in the commercial, that the Silverado is the most dependable, longest lasting full-size pickup on the road,” said Joel Ewanick, GM Global Chief Marketing Officer in a statement. In the meantime, people who are really worried about the Mayan calendar coming true should buy a Silverado right away.” Ewanick jokingly added.

Check out the commercial for yourself after the jump.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: CNNMoney

General Motors has just released its Super Bowl XLVI commercial for the Chevrolet Volt for the big game on Sunday.

Titled ‘Aliens’, the 30-second spot shows the curiosity about the Volt and its electric powertrain extends to extraterrestrial beings from galaxies far, far away.

Click here for more news on the Chevrolet Volt.

Refresher: The 2012 Chevrolet Volt is powered by 16-kWh, ‘T’-shaped lithium-ion battery that powers the electric drive unit, which allows it to drive 40 miles on battery power alone. The system puts out 149-hp and a maximum torque of 273 lb-ft, allowing the Volt to go from 0-60 mph in about 9 seconds, hitting a top speed of 100 mph. The battery can be re-charged by plugging into a household outlet and takes 4 hours to recharge on 240 volts, and about 10-12 hours on a standard 120-volt outlet. The Chevrolet Volt also carries an 84-hp 1.4 4-clyinder engine that allows the five-door, FWD sedan to travel additional miles while averaging a fuel-economy of 50 mpg. A fully charged battery and full tank of gas will allow the Volt to travel 379   miles. The 2012 Chevrolet Volt gets an EPA estimated 93 miles per ’gallon-equivalent’ when driving under electric power only, 37 mpg when in gasoline mode and over the long term it is estimated to get 60 miles per gallon in combined gasoline-powered and electric-powered driving. Prices for the 2012 Chevrolet Volt start at $39,995 but with a full federal income tax credit (which range from $0 to $7,500), the Volt can cost a total of $32,495.

- By: Omar Rana

The pace for U.S. light vehicle sales rose by 11 percent last month and was set by a few major automakers including Chrysler Group, Volkswagen Group and Hyundai/Kia.

All major automakers posted sales gains last month except General Motors, which fell 6 percent from a strong January 2011. The automaker sold a total of 167,962 vehicles with Chevrolet being the main highlight as sales for the brand were up 13 percent.

“Chevrolet drove our performance once again and sales of our fuel-efficient new cars were especially good,” and Don Johnson, vice president, U.S. Sales Operations. “The strength that the economy and the auto industry showed in the fourth quarter carried into January, so we believe the year is off to a good start.”

FoMoCo sold a total of 136,710 vehicles in January, a 7 percent increase. Ford as a brand sold 131,589 vehicles in January, making it the best January sales month for the Ford brand since 2008.

Chrysler shined the most out of Detroit automakers with U.S. sales coming in at 101,149, a 44 percent increase compared with sales in January 2011.

Toyota sold a total of 124,540 units – up 7.5 percent. Honda sold 83,009 units a increase of 8.8 percent. Nissan was up 10.4 percent after selling 79,313 units.

Korean’s Hyundai was up 15 percent with total sales coming in at 42,694.

Germany’s Volkswagen Group sales were up 40 percent to 36,681 units. The sales were led by a 48 percent increase for the VW brand and 20 percent increase at at Audi.

- By: Omar Rana

Sales of the Chevrolet Volt dropped sharply in January with GM only selling 603 units. Blame for the drop in sales goes to the negative publicity the Volt has received from a government safety investigation.

January 2012 turned out to be the worst month for the Volt since August, where it was only delivered to 302 customers. During the fourth quarter of 2011, GM averaged monthly sales of 1,259 units.

Check out more news on the Chevrolet Volt.

GM executives say that they are unable to gauge the demand for the Chevrolet Volt until May or June due to the availability being tight and some dealers still receiving their first batch.

In 2011, a total of 7,671 Volts were sold, way short of GM’s 10,000 goal.

Refresher: The 2012 Chevrolet Volt is powered by 16-kWh, ‘T’-shaped lithium-ion battery that powers the electric drive unit, which allows it to drive 40 miles on battery power alone. The system puts out 149-hp and a maximum torque of 273 lb-ft, allowing the Volt to go from 0-60 mph in about 9 seconds, hitting a top speed of 100 mph. The battery can be re-charged by plugging into a household outlet and takes 4 hours to recharge on 240 volts, and about 10-12 hours on a standard 120-volt outlet. The Chevrolet Volt also carries an 84-hp 1.4 4-clyinder engine that allows the five-door, FWD sedan to travel additional miles while averaging a fuel-economy of 50 mpg. A fully charged battery and full tank of gas will allow the Volt to travel 379   miles. The 2012 Chevrolet Volt gets an EPA estimated 93 miles per ’gallon-equivalent’ when driving under electric power only, 37 mpg when in gasoline mode and over the long term it is estimated to get 60 miles per gallon in combined gasoline-powered and electric-powered driving. Prices for the 2012 Chevrolet Volt start at $39,995 but with a full federal income tax credit (which range from $0 to $7,500), the Volt can cost a total of $32,495.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: AutoNews

Today is a very special day for all American muscle car fans – production of the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 has kicked off in Canada (ironic huh?) at GM’s Oshawa Assembly Plant.

Check out the Top 10 things you need to know about the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1.

“This is an exciting new chapter in the ongoing revival of the tremendously popular Chevrolet Camaro,” said Kevin Williams, president and managing director of GM of Canada. “The new 2012 Camaro ZL1 is the most-powerful Camaro ever produced by Chevrolet and further demonstrates the flexible capabilities of the award-winning Oshawa Assembly Plant.”

On hand for the launch of production was R ick Hendrick, owner of NASCAR’s Hendrick Motorsports, to celebrate the start of regular production. Hendrick, a Camaro purchased the first 2010 Camaro Coupe, the first 2011 Camaro Convertible, has now also purchased the first 2012 Camaro ZL1 available for public sale. Lucky guy.

Prices for the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 start at $54,995.

Check out more news on the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1.

Refresher: Power for the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 comes from a LSA 6.2L supercharged V8 making 580 horsepower and 556 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission. 0 to 60 mph comes in just 4 seconds when mated to the manual transmission and 3.9 when mated to the automatic. Top speed comes in at 180 mph for the manual and 184 for the automatic.

- By: Omar Rana

While the Big 3 have certainly made their mark building outstanding pickups and full-size SUV’s, when it comes to the subcompact segment, the Detroit automakers have fallen fairly short. The first of the three to offer an impressive contribution to the segment in recent years was FoMoCo, with the launch of the Ford Fiesta. Chevy is now stepping up to compete, bringing its new Aveo replacement to the market.

Known as the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic, GM wants you to totally forget about the POS Aveo they used to sell before – a car that would get you extremely depressed if you received it from a rent-a-car. Now, bearing a badge with the hedgehog name like the Sonic, GM is offering something totally different and something completely better.

When you think of the subcompact segment, things like standard aluminum wheels, rear-seat roominess, and Corvette-engineer-tuned suspension are completely off the table. Guess what? The 2012 Chevrolet Sonic comes standard with all those features, plus some more surprising additions.

So is the Chevrolet Sonic better than its competitors? Let’s take a look – but we will tell you up front, it is light years ahead of the crap it replaces.

2012 Chevrolet Sonic Hatchback Specifications:

• Style: Hatchback.
• Drive Type: Front-wheel-drive.
• Seating Capacity: 5 (4 comfortably).
• Base Price: $14,765 ($13,865 for the sedan).
• Price As Tested: $18,215.
• Engine: 1.8 liter 4-cylinder turbo Ecotec – 138-hp at 6,300 rpm / 125 lb-ft of torque at 3,800.
• Transmission: 5-speed manual, 6-speed automatic.
• 0 to 60 mph: 8.2 seconds.
• Curb Weight: 2,684 lbs.
• Fuel-economy (city/highway): 26/35 mpg.

Exterior:

Personally, I don’t think that the Chevrolet Sonic is bad looking car. Others on the egmCarTech staff had contrasting opinions, which leads me to believe that the Sonic has a ‘love it or hate it’ kind of design. I found the front end of the car particularly aggressive for a subcompact. At a closer look, you’ll see that it mirrors the dynamic appeal of the Mitsubishi Lancer.

On both the sedan and hatchback models of the Chevy Sonic, the front end is definitely more attractive than the rear. Both models come with chrome grille surrounds, a matte black honeycomb grille and a range of aluminum wheels sized from 15 to 17 inches.

Interior:

Like the exterior of the Chevrolet Sonic, the interior also draws some inspiration from motorcycle design. It can be found starting from the detailed instrument cluster, which features a large, round analog tachometer set within an asymmetrical LCD readout, and an ample digital speedometer display.

The Sonic also delivers class-leading rear-seat roominess, connectivity features and a nice smooth ride. It is typical of the segment for there to be a lot of road-noise that leaks into the cabin – however, that is not the case with the Sonic. Driving on the highway with 3 passengers, we were able to have a full conversation about the Sonic’s design and driving dynamics.

Quality wise, the interior of the Sonic is quite well built. There isn’t any soft touch materials like you would find in a Volkswagen, but the materials used are so well put together that you end up with a very solid feel.

Performance:

This is where the Chevrolet Sonic really stands out from the crowd. Besides being able to bungee jump, skydive and being used to perform kick-flip stunts by Rob Dyrdek, the Chevrolet Sonic’s ride and handling were tuned by Corvette engineers, giving it a more direct feel, while balancing the vehicle to handle the broad range of driving terrains across the United States.

The Sonic’s tight, refined chassis help it soak up road imperfections on the worst of pot-hole filled roads, while tight steering also provides some impressive control on sharp turns. All Sonics feature a MacPherson strut front suspension with coil springs and stabilizer bar and a rear suspension with a semi-independent, torsion beam axle-mount compound link-type design – featuring a tubular V-shape beam – with gas-charged shocks. In everyday normal English, that means that the Sonic packs in a smooth ride, tight handling, and an overall solid driving experience into its small frame.

Our tester model was equipped with an optional ($700 extra option) 1.4 liter turbo Ecotec 4-cylinder making 138-hp at 4,900 rpm and a peak torque of 148 lb-ft at 2,500 rpm. The 1.4 liter turbo comes exclusively with a 6-speed manual so if you’re not familiar going through the cogs, then obviously go for the 1.8 liter. However, you will be missing out on the added fun of the turbo zip (0 to 60 mph in 8.2 seconds) and better fuel-economy figures.

EPA rated fuel-economy for our 1.4 liter turbo tester model comes in at 29/40 mpg (city/highway). Also according to the EPA, the turbo model will allow for a driving range of 317/427 (city/highway) on a full 12.2 gallon tank. Annual fuel-costs will come in at $1,532, meaning you’ll be saving a nice chunk at the pump.

The 1.8 liter naturally aspirated 4-cylinder unit averages 26/35 mpg for the manual and 25/35 mpg for the automatic.

Overall:

Nonetheless, the Sonic definitely outperforms its competitors when it comes to driving dynamics, interior room, and comfort. In my opinion, the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic is a better bang-for-your buck than the Fiesta, Fit and Yaris – however, before you take my word for it, go test drive all the models in the segment and see which fits your lifestyle best.

All Photos Copyright egmCarTech © Omar Rana.

- By: Omar Rana

Two days ago we told you about two Chevrolet Sonic Super Bowl XLVI commercials that will air during the big game. General Motors has now released two videos – one teasing a commercial with a band named OK Go and the other being the full commercial showing all the stunts GM has pulled with the Sonic.

Check out more news on the Chevrolet Sonic.

Note: While we’ve seen the Chevrolet Sonic go skydiving before – we’ve never really seen it pull its shoot – well, that’s about to change.

Hit the jump for the videos.

Refresher: The 2012 Chevrolet Sonic is available in a sedan and hatchback variant. The standard engine on the 2012 Sonic is a 1.8L DOHC inline 4-cylinder unit making 135-hp and 125 lb-ft of torque, while an optional 138-hp 1.4L turbocharged inline 4-cylinder is also available. Prices start at $14,495 for the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic LS Sedan($15,395 for the Chevrolet Sonic LS Hatchback), which is powered by a 1.8L Ecotec making 128-hp. Prices top out at $17,295 for the LTZ Sedan and $17,995 for the LTZ Hatchback. Prices start at $14,495.

- By: Omar Rana

The Chevrolet Volt has been under a lot of scrutiny after a crashed Volt’s battery shorted by coolant caught on fire three weeks after a test by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Ever since, the Volt has become a top-topic for right wingers.

Click here for more news on the Chevrolet Volt.

Bob Lutz, who conceived the Volt with a team of advanced engineers, has now written an article asking right wingers to stop attacking the Volt.

Some of the points Lutz points out:

1. Not one Chevrolet Volt has ever caught fire in normal use or in accidents. Not a single one.
2. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, even after the highly artificial crash test (placing the car on its back, even though it did not roll over in the test) nevertheless awarded the Volt NHTSA’s highest crash-safety rating: 5 stars. Volt is supremely safe.
3. The crashed Volt, its battery shorted by coolant from the period unjustifiably spent “feet up,” caught fire three weeks after said test. (I submit that this would provide adequate time for surviving passengers to exit the vehicle.).

Check out Lutz’s article on Forbes here.

- By: Omar Rana

Creating the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic sedan after the Sonic hatchback resulted in an unexpected expansion for GM’s designers.

GM originally intended to make the subcompact sedan a bit longer then the hatchback to add extra trunk space. Ending up with a model 14.1 inches longer then the hatch, the Sonic now come close in length to the Chevrolet Cruze, which falls in the compact segment.

“We felt very good about the balance of the hatch. As we put the sedan together at the same time, the sedan just felt, from a proportional, standpoint stubby. Proportionally it didn’t feel right,” says Ken Parkinson, executive director for GM design and Chevrolet brand champion.

“So we decided to add a little bit more on the rear length, pull the car together again and step back, and all of a sudden it felt really good. We knew proportionally that was the right thing to do.”

As the designers completed the design challenge, a new set of issues arose. Since the car was significantly longer than expected, they had to be sure there were no problems with manufacturing and engineering.

What GM ended up with is significant trunk room in a well-balanced, attractive sedan, which barely remains stuffed into the subcompact segment.

Refresher: The 2012 Chevrolet Sonic is available in a sedan and hatchback variant. The standard engine on the 2012 Sonic is a 1.8L DOHC inline 4-cylinder unit making 135-hp and 125 lb-ft of torque, while an optional 138-hp 1.4L turbocharged inline 4-cylinder is also available. Prices start at $14,495 for the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic LS Sedan($15,395 for the Chevrolet Sonic LS Hatchback), which is powered by a 1.8L Ecotec making 128-hp. Prices top out at $17,295 for the LTZ Sedan and $17,995 for the LTZ Hatchback. Prices start at $14,495.

- By: Alexandra Koken

GM announced today that it is starting construction next week on its new $200 million facility that will create around 180 jobs. The new plant is a part of GM’s Arlington manufacturing complex and will be responsible for producing the next generation of full-size Chevrolet Tahoes, Suburbans, GMC Yukons and Cadillac Escalades.

“Our investment in GM’s Arlington plant is one more example of GM strengthening the economy and creating jobs throughout the many U.S. communities where GM does business,” said GM Manufacturing Manager Larry Zahner.

The plant currently receives stamps from several GM plants with some pars coming from more than 1,000 miles away.

GM’s new investment in the facility is on top of a $331 million investment to purchase tooling and equipment and expand the Arlington Assembly Plant that was announced along with 110 additional jobs in May 2011.

- By: Omar Rana

At the International LCT Show in Las Vegas, Cadillac will debu its newest livery vehicle that will go head to head to with the Lincoln MKT (which now replaces the Town Car) and serve as a replacement for the Cadillac DTS/DeVille sedans.

The new model will be based on the new XTS sedan and will offer what Cadillac says will be a “younger luxury image suffused with advanced technology and intuitive connectivity.”

“This new vehicle will help dispel some of the myths out there about Cadillac,” said Ray Bush, Cadillac Professional Vehicles Program Manager. “The Cadillac of old was from the standpoint of large, floaty vehicles. Cadillac has moved away from that with its new products launched over the last 10 years. The XTS will further that with outstanding ride characteristics that compare favorably with Cadillac vehicles of the past.”

The Cadillac XTS W20 Livery Sedan will come standard with illuminated door handles, push-button start, Brembo brakes, rear vision camera and obstacle detection, and OnStar. Options range from navigation system, a Luxury Package with a memory driver’s seat, heated/cooled front seats and a premium audio system with surround sound and a Rear Comfort package with heated seats, side-window and backlight sun shades and Tri-zone HVAC controls.

For some reason I’m very excited about this one

- By: Omar Rana