GM announced earlier this morning that it is key vehicle launch for 2009 and 2010 are on track. While eight brands may have sounded like a good idea at one time, GM will now focus on four core brands including Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC and Buick.

Those four brands will be responsible for the launch of eight new models starting this summer and through the end of 2010. If somewhere in your heart you still have love for GM products (and we’re not ashamed to say that we do), we’re wondering which of the new eight model you’re looking forward to the most.

The list includes the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro, 2010 Buick LaCrosse, 2010 Cadillac SRX, 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon, 2010 Chevrolet Equinox, 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, 2011 Chevrolet Volt and the 2010 GMC Terrain.

Have your say by casting your vote in the poll below.

Follow the jump to see the high-res image gallery of each model.

2010 Buick LaCrosse:

2010 Chevrolet Camaro:

2010 Chevrolet Cruze:

2010 Chevrolet Equinox:

2010 Chevrolet Volt:

2010 Cadillac SRX:

2010 Cadillac Sport Wagon:

2010 GMC Terrain:

- By: Kap Shah

In all of the statements released today by General Motors, the now bankrupt automaker said that its new products and technologies are on track. It said that that the New GM will continue with key vehicle launches in 2009 and 2010 including the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro, 2010 Buick LaCrosse, 2010 Cadillac SRX and CTS Sport Wagon, the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox, Cruze and Volt along with the 2010 GMC Terrain.

“Our products are our future, and our lineup of new cars and crossovers are a great foundation for success,” said CEO Fritz Henderson. “The New GM is here to stay, and our brands position us to compete well in profitable segments with vehicles that are second-to-none.”

GM said that it will launch the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid by the end of 2010 and expects to have 14 hybrid models in production by 2012. It said that 65 percent of its vehicles will be alternative-fuel capable by 2014.

“The New GM will become a long-term global leader in the development of fuel-efficient and advanced-technology vehicles,” said Henderson. “In doing so, the New GM will contribute to the development of advanced engineering and manufacturing capabilities in the United States, which are critical to the future of the U.S. economy.”

- By: Kap Shah

Chevrolet has announced that its new 2010 Chevrolet Equinox crossover is expected 32 mpg on the highway. Originally Chevrolet predicted 30 mpg.

City mileage for the 2010 Equinox is estimated at 22 mpg, 1 mpg better than the previous estimate.

The figures released here are for the base front-wheel-drive 4-cylinder model. The 2.4L Ecotec direct-injected 4-cylinder produces a total of 182-hp.

Comparing those figures to its rivals, the Honda CR-V gets 20/27 mpg (city/highway) while the Toyota RAV 4 and the Ford Escape get 22/28 mpg and 20/28 mpg respectively.

The 2010 Chevrolet Equinox will go on sale later this June with prices starting at $23,185.

2010 Chevrolet Equinox:

- By: Omar Rana

Source: KickingTires

GM today announced that pricing details on the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox crossover. Ready to go on sale in June, the 2010 Equinox will start at $23,185 for the FWD LS models ($1,800 less than the outgoing 2009 model.

The 2010 Equinox will be available in three trim levels including LS, LT and LTZ, with available all-wheel-drive. The base Equinox will carry a 2.4L Ecotec direct-injected 182-hp 4-cylinder engine which helps return an estimated fuel-economy of 21/30 mpg (city/highway). For those that want a little more power, the range-topping 2010 Equinox comes with a 264-hp 3.0L DOHC direct-injected V6 which allows the crossover to return an estimated 18/25 mpg.

Full pricing details on other trim-levels and options will be announced closer to launch.

2010 Chevrolet Equinox:

Press Release:

Chevrolet Announces Pricing For The 2010 Equinox

All-new Equinox base model $1,800 less expensive than 2009 base model

DETROIT – Chevrolet announced the 2010 Equinox crossover will carry a MSRP of $23,185, including a $745 destination charge, for the FWD LS model. It goes on sale this June.

“Offering the fuel economy of a sedan with the functionality of a crossover, the Equinox is a superior value for our customers,” said Ed Peper, GM North America vice president, Chevrolet.

Chevy expects its Equinox to have best-in-class fuel economy at 30 MPG with its advanced 4-cylinder, direct injected engine. It is available in LS, LT and LTZ trim, with available all-wheel-drive. Two new engines are offered, each with fuel-saving direct injection and variable valve timing technology. Vehicle highlights include:

- New 2.4L Ecotec direct injected I-4 engine estimated at 182 horsepower (135 kW), which delivers an estimated 30 mpg highway, 21 mpg city (EPA certification pending)
- New 3.0L DOHC direct injected V-6 engine estimated at 264 horsepower (190 kW), which delivers an estimated 25 mpg highway, 18 mpg city (EPA certification pending)
- Driving range of more than 500 miles (800 km) with both engines, for less-frequent fill-ups
- Six standard air bags: dual frontal air bags; head curtain side air bags and pelvic/thorax seat-mounted side air bags
- Standard four-wheel disc brakes with StabiliTrak electronic stability control and traction control
- Standard OnStar and XM Satellite Radio
- “Advanced” remote starting system that also activates the HVAC system and optional heated seats depending on the outside temperature

Inside, the Equinox features attention to detail, including standard tilt and telescoping steering wheel, standard driver seat power height adjustment and power lumbar, and a number of storage bins: an oversized glove box, a closed storage bin in the instrument panel above the center stack, and closed storage under the center armrest large enough for a laptop computer.

“Getting best-in-class fuel economy and great storage for less than $24,000 is significant,” Peper added. “In fact, the starting price for this all-new model is $1,800 less than the previous generation Equinox.”

While the all-new Equinox carries a smaller price than its predecessor, the list of standard content is larger – including more airbags, power lumbar support, and 17″ wheels. Combine this added content with the improvements in fuel economy, driving performance and available features, and the value proposition improves even more with the 2010 Equinox.

- By: Kap Shah

Over the weekend, GM dropped the official details and images of the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox prior to its debut at the 2009 North American International Auto Show next month in Detroit.

Today the GM team has released a video of a “walkaround” the 2010 Equinox with commentry from some of the executives that worked on the new Chevy SUV.

Refresher: 2010 Chevrolet Equinox will be offered with a 182-hp 2.4L Ecotec direct-injected I-4 or a 255-hp 3.0L DOHC direct-injected V6.

Click through for the video.

2010 Chevrolet Equinox:

2010 Chevrolet Equinox:

• •  Design inspired by the Chevy Malibu sedan and Traverse crossover.
• •  2.4L Ecotec direct injected I-4 making 182-hp; 21/30 mpg. 
• •  3.0L DOHC direct injected V6 producing 255-hp; 18/25 mpg.

Sunday is usually the most boring day of the week. However, with some government bailout money and General Motors ready to make significant changes to their lineup, Sunday’s can be fun again. Today GM has released the details and pictures of the new 2010 Chevrolet Equinox that will make its debut at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show next month. Make no mistake – GM will advertise and flaunt fuel-efficiency on all future vehicles.

“At a time when customers are so concerned about the fuel efficiency of their vehicle, the Equinox delivers,” said Ed Peper, GM North America vice president, Chevrolet.

Click through to read more and view 13 high-res images.

2010 Chevrolet Equinox:

The 2010 Chevrolet Equinox will go on sale in mid-2009 in LS, LT and LTZ trim levels with all-wheel-drive available as an option. As mentioned above, the 182-hp 2.4L Ecotec direct-injected engine with a maximum torque of 174 lb-ft will return an estimated fuel-economy of 21/30 mpg (city/highway). The 255-hp 3.0L direct-injected V6 producing a peak torque of 214 lb-ft, will return 18/25 mpg. Both engines offer a driving range of more than 500 miles.

The inside of the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox is heavily influenced by the new Chevrolet Cruze interior. The upgraded interior gets a new “floating” center console, a number of storage compartments, MultiFlex rear-seat capability allowing the seats to be moved fore and aft nearly 8 inches, 31.4 cubic feet cargo area and ice-blue ambient lighting to make it all look good.

Standard features on the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox will include: six standard air bags, four-wheel disc brakes with StabiliTrak electronic stability control and traction control, OnStar and XM Satellite Radio and a fuel-saving electric power steering system that will save you approximately one tank of gas each year by saving 11 miles per tank of gas on 2.4L models.

Optional features include 7-inch touch-screen navigation system, Bluetooth, USB audio connectivity, DVD-based rear-seat entertainment system (with two independent screens to enable DVD viewing on one and gaming on the other), a hard drive to store all your songs, Power rear liftgate, rear-vision camera system, and a premium audio system with 8 speakers and 250 watts of output. You can also chose from a family of 17, 18 and 19-inch alloy wheels and the “Smart” remote starting system that also activates the HVAC system and optional heated seats depending on the outside temperature.

We’ll get more details at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show next month.

2010 Chevrolet Equinox:

GM announced today that the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox crossover will hit the streets next summer with an all-new engine lineup that will help consumers save both fuel and money. GM said that its 2009 domestic car and light truck lineup will save 700 million gallons of fuel over vehicle life when compared to its 2008 fleet.

The 2010 Equinox will be offered with two new direct-injected engines – a 2.4L 4-cylinder and a 255-hp 3.0L V6. The 2.4L 4-cylinder engine makes a total of 180-hp with a maximum torque of 172 lb-ft. GM says that the engine will help the 2010 Equinox average an estimated 30 mpg in highway driving, putting the new SUV at the top of its segment. The General says that consumers who drive 15,000 miles per year will save 134 gallons of fuel or about $270 to $400 annually when assuming gas prices of $2 or $3 per gallon.

The same direct-injected engines will also be offered in the new 2010 Cadillac SRX crossover and the 2010 Buick LaCrosse sedan which will both make their world debuts alongside the new Equinox next month at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show.

GM isn’t stopping there. The automaker said that for its 2010 model year lineup, GM will be offering more direct-injected models in North America than any other manufacturer with a total of 18 direct-injection models. Globally, GM will have 38 eight direct-injected engines in 38 vehicles.

All GM needs to do now is get all this information to the consumers interested in buying fuel-efficient vehicles and market the hell out of them.

Click through for more details from GM’s press release.

2010 Cadillac SRX:

GM’s fuel-saving lineup

GM’s direct injection push is part of a larger effort to implement multiple fuel-saving technologies across its 2009 portfolio. The all-new 2009 Chevy Traverse crossover, for example, enjoys best-in-class highway fuel economy (24 mpg for FWD models) of any eight-passenger SUV, thanks in part to its 3.6L direct injected V-6 engine with variable valve timing. In 2009, GM expects to sell 500,000 vehicles with gasoline direct injection. Here are additional fuel-saving facts about GM vehicles:

- Twenty models in GM’s 2009 lineup deliver EPA-rated highway fuel economy of 30 mpg or more – more than any other automaker. GM’s non-hybrid models rank first in highway fuel economy in both the midsize sedan and subcompact segments. (Chevrolet Malibu, Saturn Aura with 33 highway mpg; and Chevrolet Colbalt XFE and Pontiac G5 XFE at 37 highway mpg.)
- GM’s 2009 domestic car and light truck lineups will use 700 million fewer gallons of fuel than the 2008 lineup, during the life of the vehicles, saving $1.4 to $2.1 billion in fuel costs, assuming gas prices of $2 to $3 per gallon. It’s estimated that GM’s 2010 lineup will add another 1.1 billion gallons of fuel savings and $2.2 to $3.3 billion, relative to the 2008 lineup.
GM’s advanced engine technologies are already saving fuel today in vehicles on the road or expected to be sold in 2009. They include:

- More than 3.7 million vehicles with variable valve timing (VVT)
- 700,000 vehicles with direct injection
- 600,000 vehicles with Active Fuel Management cylinder deactivation technology, which automatically lets the engine run on half of its cylinders when full power is not needed
- 200,000 vehicles with turbocharged gas engines
- 42,000 vehicles with both direct injection and turbocharging
- More than 2 million vehicles with fuel-saving six-speed transmissions

2.4L DI details
The new 2.4L DI engine delivers an estimated 180 horsepower (134 kW) @ 6700 rpm and 172 lb.-ft. of torque (232 Nm) @4900 rpm. It uses technology based on GM’s other four-cylinder direct injection applications, but with unique features designed for its specific application. This includes an 11.4:1 compression ratio that helps build power, slightly dished pistons that increase combustion efficiency and injectors with an application-specific flow rate.

GM benchmarked the best fuel system and noise attenuation products to provide customers with quiet operation.

3.0L DI details
The new 3.0L DI engine is a variant of GM’s family of high-feature DOHC V-6 engines that also includes GM’s 3.6L DI engine in the Cadillac CTS – an engine named to Ward’s AutoWorld’s 2009 “Ten Best Engines” list for North America, for the second consecutive year.

The 3.0L is rated at an estimated 255 horsepower (187 kW) and 214 lb.-ft. of torque (290 Nm), for an impressive power-to-displacement ratio of 85 hp per liter. (Output will vary by model.) The 3.0L DI features an isolated fuel injector system that reduces the direct injection high-pressure fuel system pulses for quieter operation. Rubber isolators are used with the fuel rail to eliminate metal-to-metal contact that would otherwise transmit noise and vibration from the high-pressure fuel system.

Along with direct injection technology, both the 3.0L DI and 2.4L DI engines use variable valve timing to optimize power and fuel efficiency across the rpm band, as well as reduce emissions.

How DI works
In a conventionally port fuel injected engine, air and fuel are mixed before they enter the combustion chamber. With GM’s DI engines, fuel is sprayed directly into the cylinder where it is mixed with air. As the piston approaches top-dead center, the mixture is ignited by the spark plug; and when the fuel vaporizes in the cylinder, the air and fuel mixture is cooled. This enables the use of a higher compression ratio in the combustion chamber, which improves the engine’s power and efficiency.

On cold starts, direct injection can be controlled to create a richer air/fuel mixture around the spark plug, making it easier to ignite in a cold engine. This results in a smoother operation of the engine and lower emissions during the cold start and warm-up, when most harmful tailpipe emissions are typically created. GM’s direct injected engines reduce cold-start vehicle emissions by 25 percent.

Because the fuel is injected directly into the combustion chamber, direct injection uses higher fuel pressure than conventional fuel injected engines. This is enabled by a special high pressure pump driven by one of the engine’s camshafts.

While GM may be planning on cutting costs with job cuts and plant closings before it runs out of cash by mid-2009, it has no plans to stop introducing vehicles. The General said that it is still planning to reveal about 15 vehicles in the U.S. alone within the next two years – most notably the Chevrolet Volt.

Speaking of the Chevrolet Volt, GM said it will increase investment for the launch of the plug-in hybrid which will hit markets by Nov. 2010. Still on their way are the Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon, SRX crossover and the Cadillac CTS Coupe. The CTS Coupe and the 2010 Buick LaCrosse were supposed to make their debut at the 2008 LA Auto Show later this month but have been delayed. GM did not say whether the two will make their debut at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show in January.

The Chevrolet Camaro will still be available for delivery early 2009 followed by the Equinox crossover in late-2009 with the Cruze delayed until late 2010. Saab’s 9-4X crossover is also on its way in 2010.

2010 Cadillac SRX:

2011 Chevrolet Volt:

Cadillac CTS Coupe Concept:

2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon:

2010 Chevrolet Camaro:

2011 Chevrolet Cruze:

Two days ago we brought you details on the 2010 Buick LaCrosse courtesy of GMInsideNews. The guys have done it again today by revealing the details on the 2010 Cadillac SRX and the upcoming 2010 Chevrolet Equinox.

Both compact SUVs will be getting the 3.0L V6 that will be offered as the base engine for the 2010 LaCrosse. The engine is good for 250-hp. An all-new 2.3L 4-cylinder will serve as the entry-level option and will be good for around 210-hp.

We’ve already seen official images of the 2010 Cadillac SRX, but GM has yet to confirm when the SUV will arrive in dealerships.

2010 Cadillac SRX:

Source: GMI