While the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid was suitable for the long journey from Detroit to D.C., GM CEO Rick Wagoner is not giving up the chance to show off the company’s progress being made on the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid. According to Automotive News, Wagoner will make an obvious attempt to impress lawmakers tomorrow morning by driving from his hotel to the Senate in one of the Volt prototypes.

As our favorite GM executive Bob Lutz recently announced, the Volt prototypes are now using vehicles from the next-generation global compact car architecture seen on the Chevrolet Cruze.

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In the past couple of days when you’ve seen the name ‘GM’ in the news it’s been about the automaker’s financial troubles, government loans or Congress criticizing CEO Rick Wagoner. Well Bob Lutz is making an attempt to move media attention away from all that negative press to the Chevy Volt and its “next phase.”

GM moved the Volt test mules that previously used old Malibu bodies to test vehicles using vehicles from the next-generation global compact car architecture - the Chevrolet Cruze. After taking a test drive at the company’s Milford Proving Grounds, Lutz said that the Volt is making “great progress.”

Lutz ended putting up 30 miles on the Volt-Cruze test mule and said that he couldn’t be more please with the vehicle.

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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:

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While the stateside Chevrolet Cruze has been delayed until 2011, GM launched its new global sedan in Korea under the Daweoo Lacetti badge.

The Daweoo Lacetti is powered by a 1.6 liter engine that produces 114-hp and is mated to a 5-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic as an option. Pricing for the Lacetti starts at 11.5 million won which is $7,948 USD - which by no way will be the pricing of the Chevrolet Cruze when it hits showrooms in the U.S.

Originally, GM had planned to launch the Chevrolet Cruze in the U.S. in April 2010 as a replacement to the Chevrolet Cobalt. It has now been delayed to early 2011 to help GM save some cash. Production of the Cruze will take place in Gunsan, South Korea; Lordstown, Ohio; and St. Petersburg Russia.

Click through for the high-res image gallery.

2011 Chevrolet Cruze:

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The U.S. Chevrolet Cruze has been delayed to 2011, but the European market will get its allocation starting March 2009. According to Hans Demant, vice president of engineering for GM Europe, the Chevrolet Cruze sedan could spawn other variants including a hatchback and station wagons.

Don’t get too excited as these variants may only be offered in Europe (at this time we’d be happy to get our Cruze on time). Demant said that GM executives want the Chevrolet Cruze to accommodate the ‘individuality’ of each market around the globe.

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Just yesterday we got a taste of how bad things are really getting for GM. Cash is so tight that the company is not only delaying production model world premieres but is even scrutinizing over electricity and utility bills.

As times get worse, GM is doing all it can from laying off salaried workers, selling brands and closing plants. Latest reports from sources say that the much anticipated 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, which was supposed to be GM’s major opportunity to lure in fuel-efficient conscious customers, will be delayed almost a year.

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Chevrolet of Europe has released the first pictures of its 2009 World Touring Car Championship contender. The new 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, which made its premiere at the 2008 Paris Motor Show, will continue Chevrolet’s presence at the WTCC.

Chevrolet has won twelve world championship raced in the WTCC and will hope to continue winning with the new Cruze.

Testing of the new Chevrolet Cruze WTCC race car has already begun with the first car ready to take part in Brazil at the opening round of the 2009 WTCC in Curitiba. In 2009, the WTCC will again visit twelve tracks, in South and Central-America, Africa, Europe and the Far-East.

Chevrolet Cruze WTCC Race Car:

While issues like HUMMER and its cash troubles still give GM some negative press, GM has come out strong at the 2008 Paris Motor Show bringing with it four significant production cars and two concepts, one of which it will offer in Europe later next year.

GM’s car-studded stage includes the production 2010 Chevrolet Camaro, 2011 Chevrolet Volt, 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010 Cadillac CTS Sportwagen and the Chevrolet Orlando and Saab 9-X Air BioHybrid Concepts. Oh, and let’s not forget the Opel Insignia.

Check out the info on each model by following the links below:

2010 Chevrolet Camaro
2011 Chevrolet Volt
2011 Chevrolet Cruze
2010 Cadillac CTS Sporwagon
Chevrolet Orlando Concept
Saab 9-X Air BioHybrid Concept
Opel Insignia

Follow the jump for more live images from GM’s stand at the 2008 Paris Motor Show.

Live from Paris 2008: GM shows Camaro, Volt, Cruze and CTS Sportwagon:

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We’ve pretty much seen the 2011 Chevy Cruze in every angle there is to see, however the car is making its European debut tomorrow but on the eve of the 2008 Paris Motor Show, GM has decided to hold a special premiere event at the Le Pavillon Dauphine. Sadly enough, we’re not attending Paris this year; however GM has dropped two interior images of the Cruze.

The new Chevy Cruze will go on sale in European markets next year in March. Europeans will get a choice of a 112-hp 1.6L 4-cylinder and 140-hp 1.8L. Both engines return an estimated 35 mpg. A 150-hp 2.0 liter turbo-diesel that returns 41 mpg is also available to the European market. After the launch a 125-hp version will also be added.

U.S. will get the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze in April with a choice of a 100-hp 1.4L 4-cylinder Turbo engine.

Click through for some new high-res shots of the Cruze.

2011 Chevrolet Cruze:

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GM announced today that it will be doubling its global production of small 4-cylinder engines by 2011 with more than half of that increase coming from the US. CEO Rick Wagoner announced that GM will be investing $370 million in a new manufacturing plant for its global 4-cylinder in Flint, Mich. Production is scheduled to kick off in 2010 - just in time for the Cruze and the Volt.

The plant will produce a 100-hp 1.4L 4-cylinder Turbo engine for the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. That is expected to give the Cruze leading fuel-economy in its segment when it launches in mid-2010.

The plant will also produce a non-turbocharged 1.4L 4-cylinder engine for the 2011 Chevrolet Volt. The engine will kick in after 40 miles of electric-driving and will generate enough electricity to power the Volt for at least 300 additional miles until you recharge the battery.

GM said that the 1.4L 4-cylinder turbo will also find its way in two other U.S. GM models by 2011.

Click through for the press release and high-res galleries of the Chevrolet Volt and Cruze.

2011 Chevrolet Cruze:

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Bob Lutz says that it’ll be worth the wait and Chevrolet’s General Manager Ed Peper says it’ll get close to 40 mpg - but when the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze arrives in the North American market in April 2010, it may cost more than its Japanese rivals, the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla.

According to Peper, the GM needs to get more money per unit sold than its Japanese competitors. He said that car prices in general will rise because vehicles will have more technology and fuel-efficiency. Makes you think why go ‘green’ anyway.

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It’s no surprise that there is a strong demand for compact cars. But with strong demand comes weak supply which is eventually followed by high-prices. The General is enjoying that fact and says that the prices and profitability of the 2008 Chevy Cobalt are on the rise.

According to Brian Brown, Chevrolet’s marketing manager, the average Cobalt price is up $775 since mid-April - up from $13,519 in April to $14,294. Brown says that while GM is generally losing money on many small cars, the Cobalt is now more profitable than ever.

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You would think that with all the hype about fuel-economy and compact cars, GM would bring out the Chevrolet Cruze before the end of 2010. But there is a pretty good reason why GM is waiting. According to Bob Lutz, most of the time is being spent on developing the new 1.4 liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that will power the Cruze.

“We expect to get more than 40 mpg highway, better than with some hybrids,” said Lutz.

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