GM to Stop Volt Production Again in July
The Detroit assembly plant, currently idle, will shut down for an additional week in July.
General Motors, continuing to face low demand for the Chevrolet Volt, is shutting down production for an additional week in July, according to a report today by the Detroit Free Press.
The Volt's Detroit assembly plant, which has been shut down since March 19, will be closed for an additional three weeks in July -- one week longer than the usual two-week shutdown, the report said. The plant and its idle 1,300 workers won’t resume production of the plug-in hybrid until April 23.
In March, Chevrolet sold 2,289 Volts, a 50 percent increase since December. But Chevrolet fell short of its 10,000-unit target for 2011, selling only 7,671 Volts. Nissan sold 2,003 more all-electric Leafs in the same period. Both cars are priced at more than $35,000.
GM said it expects to sell 45,000 Volts in the U.S. in 2012, despite a voluntary recall in January that addressed reports of battery fires and hampered sales.
[Source: Detroit Free Press, MSNBC]
You constantly talk about how great Japanese diesel engines are. Yet no performance diesel engines for sale. Why do they get a pass?
To be fair, a few weeks ago he was on here railing about how Toyota/Subaru weren't bringing the magical Subaru boxer diesel over in the FR-S/BRZ. Even went so far as to want a boycott of the companies for not doing so. Personally, I am likely to be at Scion in the fall with money in hand to buy an FR-S all the same. That or a FIAT 500 Abarth, it's a tough choice.
Annatar, if you want your diesel, you can have it in 2013. GM is putting a diesel in the Cruze.
No, no I can not! What I want is Cadillac CTS-V station wagon with that 4.5L Duramax V8 diesel and a manual transmission!Or the Opel OPC Tourer which GM brought over, homologated, than bragged about not selling it here!
They have to build what people will buy.
Oh, people would buy them, if only they were available. Just scour all the car forums for people asking how to do a Duramax drop-in. However, let us assume that you are correct: what people would most certainly buy is a clean diesel hybrid getting 60+ MPG and beating out TOYOTA Prius, priced no more than $20,000 USD. And where is GM with that? Nowhere! Why? Because they are too big and incompetent.I think the interior is nice enough, but I think the sedan is not attractive at all. Apparently I'm in the minority though, as I'm seeing lots of them around.
I am with you. For all the quality faults that GM has, the Cobalt coupe was a good looking car. Then they take away the Cobalt coupe, and the replacement has been hit with the ugly stick.
Annatar, who currently makes a diesel V8 performance car? Are there any?
There are not, and who is to blame for that? Who is responsible?When I think of V8 diesels, all I can think of is the Powerstroke and Duramax, but I don't see those powering cars, 800ft lbs might be a little overkill.
Well, why not have them power performance cars? Personally, I would love to drive a passenger car with 800 ft. lbs. of torque at 1,600 RPM and which gets 35 MPG.And I'd be all over the Cruz diesel, especially if they offer a hatchback varient.
I would seriously consider it as well, but GM did not, and they will not, at least not right away. So my question still stands: how can anyone say "way to go, GM!", considering the current state of affairs with regards to GM?Annatar, who currently makes a diesel V8 performance car? Are there any?
When I think of V8 diesels, all I can think of is the Powerstroke and Duramax, but I don't see those powering cars, 800ft lbs might be a little overkill.
And I'd be all over the Cruz diesel, especially if they offer a hatchback varient. I think the interior is nice enough, but I think the sedan is not attractive at all. Apparently I'm in the minority though, as I'm seeing lots of them around.
Annatar, if you want your diesel, you can have it in 2013. GM is putting a diesel in the Cruze. The replacement for the outgoing Colorado and Canyon compact truck is reported to have a diesel as well. As far as a performance V8 diesel, I don't think your going to see that anytime soon. I think your are in the minority as far as wanting a diesel. Not that there is anything wrong with it, but the majority of the US car purchasing public does not want a diesel or a stick shift. They have to build what people will buy.
Way to go GM!
Way to go GM? For a company that has consistenty refused to bring over their Opel clean diesel cars, and even bragged about it, for a company that has consistenly refused to build a performance V8 clean diesel car... a company that does not even have clean diesel hybrid technology (take a hint from Peugeot, GM), and to all of that, all you have to say is "way to go, GM?"Talk about drinking the GM get-on-the-hybrid-bandwagon-with-everyone-else kool-aid.
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