The first generation Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra hybrids are just arriving at dealerships; however, GM is already thinking about the next-generation two-mode hybrid pickups and is promising outstanding improvements.

According to Gary White, GM North America vice president and vehicle line executive for GM full-size pickups, the next generation hybrid trucks from the General should boost 50 percent more towing power than today’s models. 

The 2009 Silverado Hybrid and Sierra Hybrid offer over 40 percent greater efficiency in city driving and a 25 percent overall increase in fuel economy. Both have a 6,100-pound (2,767 kg) towing capacity.

Power for today’s two-mode hybrid pickups comes from a 332-hp 6.0L V8 engine mated to GM’s two-mode hybrid system. Fuel-economy for the 2WD comes in at 21/22 mpg (city/highway) while the 4WD model is rated at 20/20 mpg.

Source: PickupTrucks

GM announced today that it will launch its annual Red Tag sale earlier this year. The event, which usually kicks off just before Thanksgiving weekend, will start tomorrow and will run through Jan 5. GM will also launch a very aggressive ad campaign across all of its divisions to market the event.

The Red Tag sales event means that customers will get almost the GM supplier price on most GM products, that is equivalent to 4 percent more than the employee pricing. GM will also offer $7,250 in customer cash under the plan on select 2008 and 2009 models. This will also be the first time that Cadillac, Saab and HUMMER really get involved in the Red Tag sales event.

Mostly all 2008 to 2009 model year vehicles are eligible excluding the Cadillac CTS-V, Chevrolet Camaro ZR-1 and medium-duty trucks. You can check out http://www.gm.com/vehicles/currentoffers/ for more details.

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

It was pretty inevitable and now it’s confirmed that GM has canceled its CXX program – a program designed to develop the next-generation Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban SUVs along with siblings GMC Yukon and Cadillac Escalade.

According to The New York Times, vice chairman Bob Lutz has confirmed that the next-generation of these products have been canceled. He said: “It would have been very difficult in today’s environment to spend a couple of billion dollars to do a replacement.”

The next-generation Tahoe/Suburban along with the Yukon and Escalade were set to arrive in 2011 as 2012 models. GM had originally planned to spend a total of $2 billion on completely redesigning the SUVs and retooling the plants that build them.

It is still unclear whether the current models will continue in production until 2011 or will be eventually phased out. It’s been previously reported that the Cadillac Escalade could move to the Lamda platform used for the GMC Acadia, Saturn Outlook, Chevrolet Traverse and the Buick Enclave.

Source: InsideLine

GM is expected to announce a couple of more plant closings this week. Today the executives have confirmed that the Janesville, Wisconsin assembly plant will close by on Dec. 23. Of course, the decision comes due to the rapidly decreasing demand in the full-size SUV segment.

GM had previously planned to close the plant in 2010, but has decided to act sooner due to the sharp drop in large-SUV sales. The plant currently employs 1,200 hourly workers represented by the UAW. They are all responsible for making the GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Suburban SUVs.

Earlier this month, GM announced that it will also be closing its Moraine SUV plant in Ohio by year-end. That plant is responsible for making the Chevrolet TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy and the Saab 9-7X.

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

Employees at GM’S Moraine SUV plant in Ohio are pretty disappointed today. GM has announced that it will be closing the plant, which produces the Chevrolet TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy and the Saab 9-7X, in late December – two years earlier than originally planned.

The decision to close comes early as sales continue to decline in the SUV segment. Sales of the TrailBlazer were down 37 percent in the first nine months of 2008. Envoy and 9-7X sales are down 44 percent and 30 percent respectively.

The TrailBlazer and Envoy were introduced in 2001 and were never really fully redesigned. Saab dealers said that they only sold 308 units of the 9-7X SUV this year.

Source: InsideLine

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety gave GM’s four Lambda based crossovers Top Safety Pick designation after testing the GMC Acadia. The IIHS said that the GMC Acadia aced the front, side and rear crash tests.

To qualify to be a Top Safety Pick, a vehicle must earn the highest rating of good in front, side and rear testing. It must also be equipped with electronic stability control as standard. IIHS says the Top Safety Pick designation applies to 2008-2009 Acadia, Enclave, and Outlook models built after March, 2008, and the new 2009 Chevrolet Traverse.

The crossovers have also been given the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s 5-star rating for driver and front passenger crash tests and for the rear passenger in side crash tests.

Source: IIHS

GM today announced XFE (Xtra Fuel-Economy) versions of the 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Yukon and GMC Sierra. Gm added a combination of aerodynamic, mechanical and weight reducing features to increase EPA-estimated fuel-economy by 5 percent on the highway and 7 percent in the city.

The 2WD XFE models are powered by a 5.3L FlexFuel V8 engine that produces 320-hp and 340 lb-ft of torque in the Tahoe and Yukon and 315-hp and 338 lb-ft of torque in the Silverado and Sierra. All models are mated to a Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed automatic transmission. EPA-rated fuel-economy increases to 15/21mpg (city/highway) compared to the 14/20mpg of the base models. Yes – a whole 1mpg increase.

No idea why GM wouldn’t just add these features on the base models.

Click through for more pictures and the press release.

2009 Chevrolet Tahoe XFE and 2009 GMC Yukon XFE:

GM Full-Size Pickups And SUVs Deliver Better Fuel Economy And Same Great Capabilities With New ‘XFE’ Models
    – EPA-rated fuel economy increases to 15 city and 21 highway
    – Silverado and Sierra have the best aerodynamics in the class
    – Towing capacity on Silverado and Sierra increases to 7,000 lbs (3,175 kg)
    – 2009 GMC Sierra Hybrid Delivers 25-Percent Improved Fuel Economy With All Of GMC’s Professional Grade Capability
    – 2009 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid Delivers 25-Percent Improved Fuel Economy And Delivers Chevy’s Rugged Capability

DETROIT – General Motors is building on the segment-leading fuel economy of its full-size pickups and SUVs with new XFE models of the 2009 Chevy Silverado, Chevy Tahoe, GMC Sierra and GMC Yukon. The vehicles use a combination of mechanical, aerodynamic and mass-reducing enhancements to deliver a 5-percent increase in EPA-estimated highway fuel economy and more than 7-percent improved mileage in city driving.

The aero enhancements make Silverado XFE and Sierra XFE models the most aerodynamic full-size pickups in the industry, with a “Best in Class” 0.412 coefficient of drag (cd). The pickups join the Tahoe Hybrid and Yukon Hybrid as the most aerodynamic full-size SUVs at 0.349 (cd).

The new XFE – Xtra Fuel Economy – models reflect GM’s quick adaptation to an evolving market that remains a very important segment. They are available on 2WD vehicles equipped with the 5.3L V-8 and six-speed transmission. They achieve 15 city and 21 highway mileage ratings versus comparable non-XFE models’ 14/20 ratings. Most importantly, the increased efficiency does not come at the expense of capability. Towing ratings for the Tahoe and Yukon are unchanged, while the Silverado and Sierra increase from 6,600 pounds (2,994 kg) to 7,000 pounds (3,175 kg) due to the new, six-speed transmission and high-capacity cooling package.

“We are pulling out all the stops to deliver a more efficient package for customers who need the capability of full-size pickups and SUVs and want the very best fuel economy,” said Gary White, GM North America vice president and vehicle line executive for full-size trucks. “Our pickups and SUVs are already the fuel economy leaders of their respective segments, but our engineers knew greater efficiency was achievable. We fast-tracked the XFE models to get them into dealer showrooms as quickly as possible.”

All models carry the XFE name badge and are offered in the LT trim for Silverado and LS and LT trims for Tahoe. Sierra XFE comes with SLE trim and Yukon XFE is offered with SLE and SLT trim. Most regular-production options for all models are available. Silverado XFE and Sierra XFE are offered in 2wd crew cab body styles only. Production begins this fall.

“In addition to the XFE models, GM already offers hybrid versions of the Tahoe and Yukon that achieve up to a 50-percent improvement in city fuel economy and coming in the first half of 2009 are the Silverado and Sierra Hybrids,” said White. “These hybrid pickups offer up to 25 percent overall increased fuel economy and greater than 40-percent improved mileage in city driving.”

XFE efficiencies

GM’s more efficient full-size pickups and SUVs are powered by a 5.3L FlexFuel V-8 (LC9) engine that’s built with a mass-reducing aluminum cylinder block and heads. It is rated at 320 horsepower (238 kW)* and 340 lb.-ft. of torque (461 Nm)* in Tahoe and Yukon and 315 hp/235 kW and 338 lb-ft/458 Nm in Silverado and Sierra. The engine is backed by a Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed automatic transmission (with high-capacity cooling on Silverado and Sierra).

A rear axle equipped with a fuel-saving 3.08 ratio is also standard on all XFE models. Lightweight aluminum wheels and low rolling resistance tires (with higher tire pressure) also are included on all models.

Other unique content and features for Silverado XFE and Sierra XFE include:

    – Soft tonneau cover (improves aerodynamics)
    – Extended front lower air dam (improves aerodynamics)
    – Lowered suspension and revised chassis tuning (improve aerodynamics)
    – Aluminum lower control arms (reduce mass)
    – Aluminum spare wheel (reduces mass)
    – Seventeen-inch aluminum wheels (reduce mass)
    – Automatic locking rear differential
    – Trailering package
    – Low rolling resistance tires

Other unique content and features for Tahoe XFE and Yukon XFE include:

    – Lowered suspension and revised chassis tuning (improve aerodynamics)
    – Aluminum lower control arms (reduce mass)
    – Aluminum spare wheel (reduces mass)
    – Eighteen-inch aluminum wheels (reduce mass)
    – Automatic locking rear differential
    – Trailering package
    – Low rolling resistance tires

The new XFE models reinforce GM’s commitment to full-size truck leadership, which continue to the industry’s best and deliver the fuel economy, capability, quality and choice that are important to customers.

GM is planning to offer some big cash incentives for its GMC pickups and SUVs and Pontiac models. In a memo to its dealers earlier today, GM said it plans to offer incentives on most of its new crossovers and cars starting tomorrow (August 1st, 2008) through August 19th.

The Pontiac G8 sedan will see a $1,000 bonus while the GMC Yukon, Yukon XL and Yukon Hybrid will get $4,000 cash bonuses. The Yukon Hybrid will also see a $2,000 customer cash for a a maximum $6,000 discount.

The Lambda based GMC Acadia, Buick Enclave will see a $750 cash bonus along with the Pontiac G6 sedan, GMC Sierra HD Buick LaCrosse and Lucerne sedans. A $500 bonus is being offered on the Pontiac G5, Vibe and Solstice roadster.

Other incentives include a $6,000 cash bonus on the 2008 GMC Envoy; a $1,500 to $3,000 cash bonus on many versions of the GMC Sierra. A 0 percent 72 month financing incentive will be available with the purchase of the Sierra LD and 2008 Yukon and Yukon XL.

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

GM said today that it will cut 2008 production by another 117,000 vehicles bring its total just under 300,000 units. The General said that the cut comes as – surprise – consumers shift away from pickups and SUVs to more fuel-efficient and compact cares.

According to spokesman Tony Sapienza, GM will make the cut by eliminating one shift at its Moraine, Ohio, and Shreveport, La. plants. The cuts will mainly affect the production of pickups and SUVs.

GM’s Moraine, Ohio plant is known for making the Chevrolet TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Ranier, Saab 9-7x while the Shreveport, La. plant produces the GMC Canyon, Chevrolet Colorado and HUMMER H3.

Sapienza said that GM is also looking at the possibility to halt production at other truck and SUV plants to realign its lineup with consumer demand.

Source: CNNMoney