Fixing Cars

GM sales are up, and it looks like things are starting to look good for Detroit. There’s battery plants which are getting ready to start hiring, and you can just sense the excitement coming from the company. I’d be willing to bet that they could emulate the likes of Apple when a new iPhone goes on sale and a line of people are waiting outside for the doors to open should the Volt get more publicity in social media.

I reached out via Twitter with an idea that would potentially create that kind of buzz, and the idea was to literally sell Chevy Volt’s door-to-door. It would blow people away that a car company like GM would be so willing to connect with their customers, visit their homes to see how they’d get their charging station integrated and talk with them about how they can expect their lives to change when driving an electric vehicle.

Here’s the news from GM on their increase in sales:

read more »

The 2009 and 2010 Pontiac Vibe has been recalled and GM has stated that the Pontiac Vibe is safe to drive. There have been no reported incidents from customers in the 99,000 Vibe’s that have the CTS gas pedal.

[GM Press Release]
Amid the media attention over the Toyota recalls for possible unintended acceleration that include the Pontiac Vibe, many customers are wondering whether it is safe to drive their 2009 and 2010 models of the Vibe.

Based on GM’s experience, the Vibe is safe to drive.

Prior to the Toyota accelerator pedal recall of Jan. 21 and the inclusion of the Vibe in the October 2009 recall for floor mat entrapment, GM had not received any relevant customer complaints in the 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe. Nor were there any complaints found in a search of U.S. and Canadian databases.

However, since it was announced that the Vibe was included in the two Toyota recalls, we have received several complaints of alleged sticking accelerator pedals. To the best of our knowledge, the Vibe vehicles were safely brought to a stop. We are investigating each of the claims.

GM will communicate with the approximately 99,000 Vibe owners in the United States and Canada as soon as we receive additional information to share about the recall from Toyota.

Any customer who experiences any accelerator pedal issue should immediately park the vehicle, and have it towed to their GM dealer for an inspection.

The Vibe was built through August 2009 at the New United Motor Manufacturing (NUMMI) plant in Fremont, Calif., which was a joint venture of GM and Toyota.

[Source: GM]

More details about the Vibe recall can be found at NHTSA http://www.nhtsa.gov/

DETROIT – General Motors and Spyker Cars NV today confirmed that they have reached a binding agreement on the purchase of Saab Automobile AB.

“Today’s announcement is great news for Saab employees, dealers and suppliers, great news for millions of Saab customers and fans worldwide, and great news for GM,” said John Smith, GM vice president for corporate planning and alliances.

“General Motors, Spyker Cars, and the Swedish government worked very hard and creatively for a deal that would secure a sustainable future for this unique and iconic brand, and we’re all happy for the positive outcome,” Smith said.

As part of the agreement, Spyker intends to form a new company, Saab Spyker Automobiles, which will carry the Saab brand forward. The sale will be subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of applicable regulatory, governmental and court approvals. Other terms and conditions specific to the sale will be disclosed in due time.

The Swedish government is at present reviewing the transaction and the related request for guarantees of a Saab Automobile loan that has been requested from the European Investment Bank. Assuming quick action, the transaction is expected to close in mid-February, and previously announced wind down activities at Saab will be immediately suspended, pending the close of the transaction.

“Throughout the negotiations, GM has always had the hope to find a solution for Saab that would avoid a wind down of the brand,” added Nick Reilly, president, GM Europe. “We’ve worked with many parties over the past year, including governments and investors, and I’m very pleased that we could come to such a good conclusion, one that preserves jobs in Sweden and elsewhere. GM will continue to support Saab and Spyker on their way forward.”

[Source: GM Media]

More:

Saab Has Sold To Spyker - Saab Saved
GM - Saab - Who’s running the show pencil pushers or product evangelists
What can Spyker Do with Saab That GM couldn’t?

The bean counters, you know, the financial guys, the ones that are over there tallying up all the debits and credits, and trying to figure out what makes financial sense, what pencils out, what’s going to make them a profit.

The Saab - Spyker deal went down and now there seems to be a question of who’s behind this act of nobility to save the Saab name.

Then there’s the product guys who are the evangelists, the car guys and gals, the passion and inspiration of the vision, but both have to be in harmony in order for the company to be a success right?

So was the Saab deal a financial decision or was it a product decision?

Sure, it could be both but what’s more important to the success of a company like GM?

In other words, who’s calling the shots over there? Is it guys like Bob Lutz who clearly has a passion for the product, the guy loves his Cadillac CTS-V and I love it too. But even if Bob loves it, does that mean they can make them if the bean counters don’t love it equally as much?

In terms of financial guys running the show, which seems to be the case up until the government had to step in. Now that the product guys, who are in tune with the public, knowing what people want, they’re realizing that making a few dollars more here and there isn’t a way to run a successful company.

It simply isn’t a long-term strategy, but getting buy in from the people and building things that people love is.

Take the Chevy Volt -

Claims have been made that GM isn’t creating a cash cow with the Volt. So if that is true, then for a company like GM who’s in dire need of cash, and putting out something that isn’t a gold mine for them suggests that it’s the product guys who are at the helm.

Now, back to Spyker.

Spyker doesn’t have a lot of money, they don’t have a lot of resources, they certainly don’t have the vast engineering capabilities that GM does, but GM isn’t just getting a few bucks for Saab and running out the back door. They are also going to help Spyker rekindle the brand.

So Spyker ponies up $75 million in cash into this deal, but what they’re buying is the brand and on top of that, they have GM to help back them in keeping it alive.

Now all Spyker-Saab or Saabyker “Sah-bi-ker” needs is the Saab Evangelists, the people who love their Saab to come out and speak about their love for the car.

Ask them, what made you buy Saab, and why is it that you will never buy another car, why are you hooked?

Why do these people who buy a Saab become so obsessed that it’s all they’ll ever drive. Figure that out and you got yourself a winner.

Read the news of Saab and Spyker coming together as one, in holy matrimony.

GM has found a buyer for Saab, that buyer is Spyker, a company that sold 43 cars in 2008. Who can we thank for this decision, and what’s GM going to do about the Saab-Spyker or Saabyker deal?

Saab is a Swedish company that employees a few thousand workers, all of which have not been laid off yet. With Spyker taking over, they will need structuring from a company such as GM to be able to keep the Saab brand going.

This deal with GM and Saab is another example of how these international and global vehicle operations and manufacturing is coming together, similar to the way Chrysler and Fiat are working together, to produce vehicles that are currently unavailable in the US, but could be very, very popular.

Spyker has not made a profit, they sold about 40 cars in 2008, probably won’t sell 100 cars in 2010 who knows but now with Saab they have the potential to see where this goes.

Saab’s been around since 1937 and GM bought them in the late 80s, bought a stake in the company and ever since then they’ve been a niche brand that appeals to unique tastes, the vehicles have very notable trademarks to them.

When you get into a Saab the key is in the strangest location. It’s between the seats, front driver seat and passenger seat, where you might find the emergency brake handle. Yep, that’s where the key goes. Who are the people that come up with this strange stuff?

But key positioning isn’t just a Saab thing, a Porsche has the key up on the dashboard and it’s sort of to the right of the instrument panel in the 928 or at least that’s where it used to be in the 928 a long time ago. That stuck with me, it was very cool to have the key up in that location, there’s something about where you put the key that is intriguing.

Obviously the thing about Porsche, isn’t where you put the key, it’s what happens after you put the key and turn it and start driving.

So Saab might have had something kind of unique going on, but they never really finished the story, I mean what does Saab do, is it their performance, is it a sports car, whats so unique, does it have certain characteristics interior wise or is it a special design, what makes a Saab a Saab and why should we buy one.

These types of unique vehicles are interesting because they attract, or they should attract people that like unique things that are customized and they have a certain message inherent in the features they offer. I don’t know what that is for Saab, I’m trying to figure that out, maybe its the brand the fact that its made in Sweden or maybe there’s some other unique characteristic.

When I think of GM, I think of Chevy, I think of the new Chevy Volt, I think of electricity and I think of lowering carbon output and I think of changing the whole dynamics of the way people live and the way people drive and connecting your vehicle and plugging it in overnight and not buying gasoline and just doing different things and making a big positive change. So that’s what I think of when I think of GM, but I can’t think of anything for Saab.

The only thing I can think of with Saab is I envision that funny looking logo that they have. So I’m thinking why would I buy a Swab what is it all about, whats the story?

I’m very happy to hear that Saab is still breathing but what is it about this quirky brand that’s gonna make people want to buy the cars I mean Spyker hasn’t sold any cars yet, so whats the game plan here.

Jan. 26 (Bloomberg) — General Motors Co. is close to announcing a deal to sell its Saab division to Spyker Cars NV, said two people familiar with the negotiations.

An announcement may be made as early as late afternoon in Sweden after an agreement is final, said they people, who asked not to be named before official news releases. Spyker shares were suspended in Amsterdam trading at 1:45 p.m. local time.

Spyker, led by Chief Executive Officer Victor Muller, agreed to pay $74 million in cash and $326 million in preferred shares in the company that would emerge from the deal, said one of the people. GM would get $100 million of Saab’s existing liquidity, the person said. A deal also hinges on Sweden agreeing to guarantee a 400 million-euro ($563 million) loan from the European Investment Bank for the Swedish carmaker, people familiar have said.

Saab is among four brands, along with Pontiac, Saturn and Hummer, that Detroit-based GM is unloading to focus on Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac in the U.S. after its bankruptcy exit on July 10. A sale of Saab, which GM is in the process of winding down, may save many of the 3,500 jobs at Saab’s main factory in Trollhaettan in southwestern Sweden.

GM spokesman Tom Wilkinson declined to comment. Muller couldn’t immediately be reached for comment. Spyker spokesman Mike Stainton said negotiations with GM are still ongoing.

Other Saab bidders included Genii Capital, the private- equity firm that teamed up with Formula One tycoon Bernie Ecclestone; a group headed by former Swedish deputy Prime Minister Jan Nygren; and a Wyoming-based group led by Merbanco Inc. President Chris Johnston.

Koenigsegg Deal

Swedish sports-car maker Koenigsegg Group AB, backed by Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co., walked away from a deal to buy Saab in November. Beijing Auto later paid $200 million to buy some car technology from Saab to use in its own vehicles.

European and Swedish authorities may take a week to approve a loan for Trollhaettan-based Saab after GM and Spyker agree on a deal, Johnny Kjellstroem, a Swedish official who is negotiating the case with the European Union’s regulatory arm, said yesterday in an interview.

Saab would face a tough future under the ownership of Spyker, according to Sergio Marchionne, chief executive officer of Fiat SpA and Chrysler Group LLC.

“I like the Saab brand,” Marchionne said at an event in Stockholm today. “I think it’s very difficult to be a niche player and profitable.”

Saab’s sales in the U.S. slumped 59 percent to 8,680 vehicles last year. European deliveries also fell 59 percent, to 26,567 cars. The compact 9-3 sedan makes up a majority of Saab’s sales. A redesigned 9-5 model is due to launch this year.

Liquidators

Saab CEO Jan-Aake Jonsson handed over power to liquidators on Jan. 12 and the board was disbanded. The Swedish Companies Registration Office has named GM nominees AlixPartners LLP Managing Director Stephen Taylor and Peter Toerngren of Swedish law firm Toerngren Magnell, to supervise the wind-down.

“Marginal players will continue to be marginalized,” Marchionne said. The CEO said last year that he was interested in buying Saab while Turin, Italy-based Fiat was bidding for GM’s Opel division. GM decided to keep Opel in November, backing out of an accord to sell it to a group led by Magna International Inc.

Saab, which traces its roots to aircraft company Svenska Aeroplan AB, was founded in 1937 to secure production of Swedish warplanes. The first car left the factory a decade later. GM bought half of Saab in 1990 and took full ownership in 2000.

Spyker shares last traded at 3.91 euros, valuing the company at 84.8 million euros. The stock is suspended until further notice and pending a press release, Dutch securities regulator AFM said in a statement on its Web site.

To contact the reporters on this story: Jeff Green in Southfield, Michigan, at jgreen16@bloomberg.net; Ola Kinnander in Stockholm at okinnander@bloomberg.net

[Source: Bloomberg]

http://www.google.com/finance?q=SPYKR.AS

Shares of Spyker were halted pending a press release that should be to announce the purchase of Saab from GM.

The announcement should be made sometime today, and Spyker shares had climbed substantially with this news.

Read more:
http://www.tuneyfish.com/blog/saab-sold-to-spyker-gm-deal-to-sell-saab-announced-today/
http://www.tuneyfish.com/blog/gm-saab-deal-pencil-pushers-or-product-evangelists/
http://www.tuneyfish.com/blog/saab-gm-lets-go-but-what-can-spyker-do-for-the-saab-brand/

And even more:
WRAPUP 1-Saab snapped up by Dutch firm Spyker for $400 mln
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2010/01/saab-saved-gm-sells-brand-off-to-spyker-nv/1

The Designers of the GMC Granite Answer Your Questions

The GMC Granite Concept debuted at the 2010 NAIAS. The dash looks like the Starship Enterprise but I’m not seeing the “warp speed” button.

Read the entire press release from GM Media News after the jump.

read more »

• A new study re-imagining the luxury sedan, showcasing the progression of the Cadillac Art and Science philosophy
• Designed from the inside out, featuring a new concept for the interface between the driver and the auto electronics
• Plug-in hybrid system is matched with a 3.6L V-6 and all-wheel drive for dynamic and efficient performance

DETROIT – Cadillac unveiled the XTS Platinum Concept at the 2010 North American International Auto Show, suggesting a new paradigm for the luxury sedan of the future. The concept showcases Cadillac’s emerging top-of-the-line Platinum series of models, emphasizing new expressions of luxury and technological features, including a plug-in hybrid propulsion system.

The XTS Platinum Concept was designed from the inside out, re-imagining the luxury sedan as a personal headquarters, built for efficiency, luxury and connectivity. The concept introduces a new approach to in-car electronics that improves the form and function of the car’s entertainment, navigation and information systems.

“The XTS Platinum concept is the next expression of Cadillac’s Art and Science execution philosophy, reflecting our drive to deliver the latest innovations in the most artful manner,” said Bryan Nesbitt, Cadillac general manager. “We envisioned this concept as an automotive personal headquarters, using advanced technology to enable new levels of connectivity and luxury.”

The XTS Platinum Concept uses Cadillac’s 3.6L V-6 Direct Injection gas engine, paired with a plug-in hybrid system. The plug-in technology enables the battery to fully charge from a standard electrical outlet, enabling pure electric propulsion in many driving situations, especially urban commutes in which fuel efficiency may double that of a conventional hybrid.

Traditional luxury sedans were defined by elegant interiors and Cadillac’s XTS Platinum Concept propels that formula into the future. It delivers new approaches to luxury within a design that combines fine craftsmanship with customer-driven innovation. Like the current Platinum Edition products, such as Escalade Platinum and the STS and DTS Platinum sedans, the interior is based on hand cut-and-sewn materials. The XTS Platinum Concept injects more contemporary forms and themes into the interior design, including the use of Organic Light-Emitting Diode (O-LED) displays in place of traditional gauges and screens.

The concept previews a new integration philosophy guiding the development of future models with respect to in-car electronics. The intent is to progress Cadillac’s intuitive in-car electronics systems, typified by the deployable touch-screen navigation system that has been highly acclaimed in the brand’s CTS and SRX product lines. The XTS Platinum Concept previews this strategy via the minimization of traditional buttons and switches. Designers blended the display screens into a flowing instrument panel. They call it a “dead front” design, because the panels appear black until the car is turned on and the screens illuminate. The instrument panel itself reflects the XTS Platinum’s other focus – uncompromising luxury and attention to detail on the interior.

“The Platinum distinction in Cadillac means the fullest extent of luxury and technology and we’ve tried to reach even further with this concept,” said Clay Dean, Cadillac design director. “Just as the technology pushes the boundaries of what a Cadillac can offer, so do the details that make the XTS Platinum Concept an uncompromising experience.”

The interior takes inspiration from nature, specifically the intricate layers of petals that combine to form an orchid. Cadillac designers translated that into a layered and detailed interior. Light cream is the cabin’s primary color and is contrasted with darker elements, such as the steering wheel and an overhead console motif that runs the length of interior’s roof. The console is made of a richly finished wood and houses lighting features.

Premium leather seats include a new style of automotive suede, with a laser-etched pattern. The patterned material adorns the center sections of the seats and accents the door trim. Thoughtfully detailed stitching is used throughout the interior, including the seats, instrument panel and door panels. Passengers in the spacious rear compartment of the XTS Platinum Concept also have access to the car’s connectivity feature, along with a range of infotainment choices.

“We never lost sight of the fact that a large luxury sedan needs to be spacious and accommodating,” said Dean. “Passengers will find generous headroom, legroom and knee space, along with the technology elements that make the drive more productive.”

A new proportion

The XTS Platinum Concept has a distinctive proportion that transcends the traditional aesthetic of luxury sedans and carries the brand’s Art and Science design in a more progressive manner. The unique proportion supports the “inside out” design priority, while creating a sleek profile that complements the car’s advanced technology elements and necessary aerodynamics.

“The XTS Platinum Concept design artfully conveys its focus on functionality through technology,” said Dean. “It is the antithesis of the conventional three-box sedan, suggesting the active evolution of Cadillac’s design language.”

A sweeping profile culminates in a short, high deck lid that meets the XTS Platinum Concept’s aerodynamic needs – including a rear spoiler mounted on the deck lid, incorporating the center high-mounted stop lamp. A high, sloping beltline gestures the vehicle forward, suggesting motion, while the fenders flare outward wrapping tightly around 20-inch wheels and tires. The wheel-to-body proportion was carefully tailored to visually communicate the car’s all-wheel-drive chassis.

Like the interior, the exterior elements are precisely tailored and elegantly detailed. Brushed billet aluminum trim is used selectively and the 20-inch, 11-spoke wheels feature a brushed aluminum face accented with bright inserts within the spokes. The wheels are wrapped with special Bridgestone tires that were created specifically for the XTS Platinum Concept.

Signature elements essential to Cadillac’s Art and Science design language include vertical headlamp and taillamps, with integrated light pipes and richly detailed lighting components. The headlamps feature light-emitting diode technology for bright illumination that requires less energy, as well as Cadillac’s Adaptive Forward Lighting technology, which turns the headlamps with the direction of the front wheels for greater visibility in turns.

Purposeful and efficient performance

The XTS Platinum concept’s plug-in hybrid electric propulsion system (PHEV) builds on the experience Cadillac has gained with the Escalade Hybrid and Escalade Platinum Hybrid flagship models. The plug-in capability boosts the car’s electric-only driving capability, offering additional battery energy capacity and enabling it to recharge from a standard external electrical outlet. The key benefit of external plug-in recharging is that in many situations – such as overnight parking – the battery can fully recharge in roughly five hours while the car is not in use. The plug-in system operates at maximum efficiency when operating on power the battery has drawn from the electric grid. In some conditions, such as urban commutes, drivers can experience efficiency that doubles that of conventional hybrids.

At higher speeds or when conditions demand it, such as brisk acceleration, a combination of engine power and electric power or engine power only, propels the vehicle. The combination of the Direct Injection V-6 engine and the PHEV system featuring fully electric variable drive provides a spirited driving experience. The system provides an estimated 350 horsepower (260 kW) and 295 lb.-ft. of torque (400 Nm).

Magnetic Ride Control (MRC) enables the XTS Platinum Concept to deliver superior road-holding performance while maintaining luxury car composure in “regular” driving conditions. It uses shocks controlled by advanced magneto-rheological technology, rather than mechanical valves, to greatly accelerate response time and precision.

MRC uses electronic sensors at all four wheels to literally “read the road” every millisecond, making constant adjustments to damping to create virtually instantaneous and extremely precise control of body motions.

An advanced, specially calibrated all-wheel-drive system ensures optimal traction in wet and slippery conditions, and helps deliver maximum traction while cornering. Four-wheel disc brakes, with four-channel ABS, StabiliTrak stability control and full-function traction control complete the drivetrain details.

“The XTS Platinum Concept was designed to deliver an engaging driving experience without compromising the functional features, space and comfort customers seek in a luxury car,” said Nesbitt. “It is a new vision of luxury that uses advanced technology to deliver functionality efficiently and rewardingly.”

[Source: Cadillac]

Watch the GM Live announcement beginning at 7:00am EST

At the GM Milford Proving Grounds.

The engineers take the Volt through some durability testing on their potholes course. 

Why not just go for a cruise through the metro Detroit area, you'll hit potholes all day long.

Posted via email from DIY Car Repair Blog

Over at AutoBlog.com reports that GM has finally seen year-over-year sales increases are signs that things could be getting better in Detroit.

Why am I not surprised that GM has seen an increase in sales, their performance packages are just unreal when you consider the engineering involved in the engines. A friend of mine who works as an engineer at GM showed up one day to a car event we had and just went on and on about what they were working on in the Performance side of the business. It was like hearing a kid at Christmas tell you all the stuff Santa had just brought him. I have to admit my envy for his job, his office being the GM Proving Grounds and all. I think what really was impressive was the fact that this guy was so enthusiastic about his work, the product was going to be fantastic.

There is no doubt a ton of competition exists for his job, because as a car guy it just seems like you’d want to go to work everyday. I’m sure some of it moved too slow and was a bit frustrating to get things developed, but my thoughts are it couldn’t be a better job.

Then the economy took a dump and everything started to look gloomy and dismal in the near future for the company. It couldn’t have come at a worse time because its right at the time these amazing vehicles were coming out of GM, like the Camaro SS, CTS-V, etc. These are the ones GM is so proud of, and should be because of the components they used. Used to be if you wanted that type of engine you’d be looking for a shop that builds engines to put together a quote. Sometimes the results were good, other times these deals went very bad and people lost tons of money waiting on the shop and listening to excuses.

For the enthusiast, the stuff being shipped by GM these days is nothing short of the highest quality materials one can pack into an engine, and they just proved it today with the CTS-V Challenge. I’m glad that they are doing well, and hope to see more positive news like this out of Detroit.