GM Recalls Chevrolet Cruzes for Safety Modifications

DETROIT - General Motors will recall 413,418 Chevrolet Cruzes in the United States for the 2011 and 2012 model years to modify the engine shield under the vehicle. This change will help prevent any liquids from being trapped in the engine compartment, where a fire could start and spread.  
In a separate safety recall, GM will inspect certain cars included in the first recall to assure all welds in the rear compartment were properly applied. Omitted or partially completed welds in up to 249 cars may affect the fuel tank strap secondary brackets attachment to the floor structure and a sub assembly to the rear floor pan.

There are no known crashes, injuries or fatalities related to either recall. Only Cruzes built in Lordstown, Ohio, and sold in the United States and Canada and several hundred exported to Israel are affected.  

"The most important thing for our customers to know is that we are proactively working to assure the Cruze is the safe and durable car they purchased," said GM vice president of Global Quality Alicia Boler-Davis. "We are sorry for any inconvenience caused by these actions."

All Cruzes with manual and automatic transmissions built in the United States from September 2010 through May 2012 are included in the engine shield modification. 
 
Improper engine oil change procedures on these vehicles can result in the spilling or dripping of oil. If oil contacts hot engine or exhaust system surfaces, and the engine shield, the shield may ignite and burn, resulting in a possible engine compartment fire.  

In Cruzes with manual transmissions, continuing to drive with a completely worn clutch may cause hydraulic fluid to be expelled from the clutch housing vent hole. Under certain circumstances, the fluid could be burning as it exits the vent hole. If it contacts the engine shield, the shield may ignite and a fire may spread to the engine compartment.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened a preliminary investigation in April of this year as a result of two engine compartment fires in 2011 model year Cruzes and later added the 2012 model year. 

Modifying the engine shield will take about 30 minutes in a Chevrolet dealership service department and will be conducted free of charge. No parts are involved and customers are encouraged to make an appointment with their dealer at their earliest convenience. Owner letters will mailed be beginning July 11. Inspection for the possible missing welds takes only a few minutes. In confirmed cases, the repair would take about three hours.



FINAL Q&A for 2011-2012 Chevrolet Cruze Underhood Fires and Potential Missing Rear Compartment Welds Safety Recalls.

Q&A

Q1. What is the proposed fix for the underhood fires?
A1. The engine shield, also known as the belly pan, can "catch" oil or other hot fluids that might drip from the engine. This occurs most often if an oil change is done improperly or improper parts are used. If these fluids make contact with hot engine parts, such as a manifold or catalytic converter, and then contact the engine shield, a fire could start and spread. Modifying the shield will help prevent any liquids from being trapped in the engine compartment. In Cruzes with manual transmissions, continued driving with a worn clutch may cause extremely hot or burning hydraulic fluid to leak from the manual transmission vent.  Modifying the shield should also help prevent the hydraulic fluid from becoming trapped in the engine compartment, where a fire could start and spread. 

Q2. How many fires have occurred?
A2. GM engineers are aware of about 30 fires ? most traced to improper oil change procedures and parts.  

Q3. What about the missing welds? How did this happen?
A3. A welding process error in one body shop station created a condition in which up to 249 cars may be missing some welds in the rear of the vehicle.  

Q4. So what will you do to cars found missing welds?
A4. The first step is to inspect.  Corrections will be made with mechanical fasteners (bolts and rivets) if necessary.

Q5. What if a customer with a car missing welds doesn't want it anymore? Will GM repurchase the car?
A5.  We are always happy to work with customers.  We believe the repair more than adequately addresses the missing welds issue. 

Q6. So are these Cruzes safe to drive?
A6. The Cruze meets or exceeds all federal safety standards. We ask owners to be sure that oil changes on the Cruze properly follow the procedure outlined in the GM Service Information (SI) system. We are communicating with dealers, aftermarket oil change shops and certain suppliers to urge careful following of oil change procedures. 

Q7. How many cars are involved in the two recalls?
A7. The total population of Cruzes built in Lordstown, Ohio, from September 2010 through May 2012 is 475,179 vehicles. These cars were sold in the United States and Canada. There are up to 249 cars that may have missing or partially missing welds out of a population of 61,426.

Q8. Were any of these recalled cars exported?
A8. There were 701 cars were exported to Israel.   

Q9. Are Cruzes in other markets involved in the underhood fire investigation?
A9. This action only pertains to U.S.-built Cruzes. The involved engine shield and engine combination is only used in U.S.-produced Cruze models. About 10,000 Cruzes with similar design were built by Holden in Australia, but there have been no reported fires there. Other Cruze markets have a different design and there are no reports of underhood fires in other markets for this condition.

Q10. How long will it take to modify the engine shield and inspect for missing welds and repair if necessary?
A10. About 30 minutes to modify the engine shield. However, wait times may be longer depending on the dealership scheduling. For most cars in the weld inspection, the time would be only a few minutes. For the up to 249 vehicles being sought, a repair would take about three hours.

Q11. Will dealers provide loaner cars for customer inconvenience?
A11. There are no specific plans for loaners but we'll try to minimize inconvenience to customers. 

Q12. GM has talked about the engine shield helps aerodynamics and improves fuel economy. How does the engine shield modification affect Cruze fuel economy?
A12. There is no impact on current EPA fuel economy estimates. For 2013, additional air pressure to the tires will offset any aerodynamic/fuel economy changes.  

Q13. Does this action close the NHTSA investigation on the underhood fires in Cruze?
A13. We have not had any discussion with the NHTSA about its plans for the investigation. You will need to ask NHTSA what their intent in this case. 

VOLT, SONIC AND CRUZE MAKE FORBES LIST OF 10 SAFEST SMALL CARS

With nods to the standout safety features of Volt, Sonic and Cruze, it’s undeniable that Chevy is holding its own amongst the small car competition. In addition to delivering dependable safety, each of these cars comes loaded with the attitude and feel that connects with consumers.

Volt
As a car known for innovation, Volt goes the distance on electric, allowing you to drive gas and tailpipe-emissions free for up to an EPA-estimated 35 miles before a small gas generator kicks in to produce electricity so you can go up to 375 total miles with a full charge and a full tank of gas.

In addition to offering cutting-edge efficiency, Volt is designed to respond instantly with eight standard air bags–including head– curtain side–impact air bags for outboard front and rear occupants, plus frontal side–impact and new knee air bags for the driver and front passenger. In addition to the air bags, Volt comes with the security of OnStar® standard for three years which features Automatic Crash Response. It also doesn’t hurt that the car nabbed a IIHS 2012 Top Safety Pick designation and received a 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score for Safety.

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Sonic
As a subcompact known for appealing to those with an up for anything kind of lease on life, Sonic is a car that’s never been lacking in the attitude department. Luckily, Sonic comes loaded with the safety to match. Impressive safety features include being the first and only car in its class with 10 standard airbags4 that include front knee airbags for driver and passenger, along with the security of OnStar®, standard for the first six months, with Automatic Crash Response.

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Cruze

It’s the vehicle that embodies what consumers are constantly searching for in a compact car. From surprisingly sizable cargo space, sleek styling, right down to reliable safety, it’s indisputable that well-designed efficiency permeates throughout every inch of this vehicle.

Top-notch safety features include 10 standard airbags4 that include frontal side-impact and knee air bags for the driver and front passenger, a high-strength steel safety cage and roof crush resistance that outperform the requirements, available Rear Park Assist and the security of OnStar®, standard for the first six months with Automatic Crash Response. To further attest to the car’s reputation, Cruze was named a IIHS 2012 Top Safety Pick and received a 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score for Safety.

So whether you’re searching for a car with innovation, attitude, or all-around efficiency, Chevrolet has got your options covered while still offering you the kind of safety that delivers.

THE NEW 2013 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE

The Chevrolet Traverse unveils with a new look and feel, inside and out
An aggressive and dramatic exterior appearance isn’t reserved for sports cars alone. Whether it’s hot laps or afterschool pickups, it’s all still driving and it all deserves a refined presence and feel. The Chevrolet Traverse has been the crossover utility vehicle for any lifestyle, a benchmark in cargo space and passenger comfort, and a leader in safety standards within its class. But there’s no rest for the iconic.

Rethought, reshaped and redesigned, the 2013 Traverse reveals with a new exterior design. Its lean, sculpted lines and dramatic accents include a front dual grille, reshaped headlamps and taillamps along with chrome accents and fog lamps on LT and LTZ.

A rethought interior

Beautifully tailored appointments redefine the 2013 Traverse interior. Upscale materials create soft-touch surfaces on the dash and door panels. Ambient lighting subtly illuminates the interior. Adjustable head restraints allow for personalized comfort while driving. Stunning details serve as accents throughout the interior such as contrasting stitching and interior wood trim on LT and LTZ. The 2013 Traverse elevates interior appearance and comfort without compromising the spaciousness it is known for.

Drivers will still enjoy best-in-class maximum cargo space, 116.3 cubic feet2, or seating for up to eight adult passengers on LS and LT models. There’s even more space behind the third row than any competitor in its class. And just as Traverse has always been engineered with the safety of drivers and their loved ones in mind, the 2013 Traverse continues to build on its award-winning predecessor with innovative safety technology and features.

Stay infotained while on the go

The intuitively designed center console keeps music, entertainment and information within the driver’s reach. The available Chevrolet MyLink3 Touch Radio accesses content from compatible smartphones and safely makes that content available with a simple touch through the 6.5-inch diagonal color touch-screen (available on 2LT and LTZ). Drivers can use voice commands or touch-screen controls to instantly access a variety of entertainment through SiriusXM Satellite Radio4 or from streaming sources like Pandora® and Stitcher SmartRadio™5,6. And rest assured the 2013 Traverse comes equipped for one year with the OnStar Directions & Connections®7 Plan with Turn-by-Turn Navigation and Automatic Crash Response to help stay safely on course.

2013 Chevrolet Volt Boosts EV Range to 38 Miles

We’re pleased to let you know that for the 2013 model of the Chevrolet Volt we are improving upon what many fans already love as well as adding some additional features including:  

• Increase in EPA-estimated EV range of three miles, to 38 miles
• Hold drive mode in addition to Normal, Sport and Mountain drive modes, allows owners to conserve battery charge for use in the most efficient manner
• Low-emissions package (e-AT-PZEV) makes Volt eligible for single-occupancy HOV-lane access in California and New York
• Body color roof and liftgate
• Pebble Beige premium cloth seats and leather-appointed seats with suede inserts
• Available audio system with GPS-based navigation, AM/FM/Sirius XM stereo with CD player and MP3 playback capability, navigation and USB port, seven-inch-diagonal touch-screen display and Radio Data System
• Removable rear center armrest with storage included in available Premium Trim Package
• Comfort Package includes heated driver and front passenger cloth seats and leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Available Safety Package 1 includes auto-dimming inside rearview mirror, rear park assist and rear vision camera
• Available Safety Package 2 includes front park assist, forward collision alert and lane departure warning systems

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Expanding on some of these points, the all-electric vehicle range of the 2013 Chevrolet Volt will be 38 miles on a single charge, a three-mile increase from the 2012 model. The miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) will increase from 94 miles to 98 miles and the total range, including extended range operation, will be 382 miles.

In addition, the storage capacity of the Volt battery will increase slightly from 16 kWh of energy to 16.5 kWh, and engineers have expanded the state-of-charge window to 10.8 kWh from 10.3 kWh in the 2012 model. The battery system maintains a buffer to ensure battery life, but that buffer has been modified.

The improved EV range capability will result in slight increases to the Volt’s charge times. A full recharge using a 120V could take as little as 10.5 hours and as little as 4.25 hours using a 240V charging unit.

Volt offers an e-AT-PZEV specification that earns the Volt a coveted “green sticker” for single-occupancy HOV lane access in California and New York.

Volt also adds a Hold mode that allows owners to direct when the Volt uses its gas generator. This feature helps save money because owners who mix city and highway driving can save the battery charge for city travel, where the Volt’s EV mode operates most efficiently.

Other updates for 2013 include a body-color roof and decklid, available lane departure warning system and forward collision alert crash-avoidance technologies, as well as GPS-enabled navigation capabilities to Chevy’s MyLink infotainment system.

A new exterior color, Silver Topaz Metallic, and new interior color, Pebble Beige, also join the Volt lineup.

The Volt is built at General Motors’ Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant, home to the largest photovoltaic solar array in southeast Michigan. The facility can use the 516 kilowatts of solar energy generated by the 264,000-square-foot array (24,526 sq. m) to charge up to 150 Volts or help power the plant.

Chevy Launches Its Own Social Network: The Block

Just the Facts:

• Chevrolet has created The Block, which it describes as an "interactive community for car nuts."
• The online community enables members to view personalized profiles via QR codes.
• Chevy says The Block is "social media for gearheads."

DETROIT — Chevrolet has created The Block, which it describes as "social media for gearheads."
The so-called "interactive community for car nuts" also comes with a twist: It enables members to view personalized profiles via Quick Response, or QR, codes. Those member profiles can include photos, videos and more.
Developed by Chevrolet Performance, The Block also will contain the latest information on factory performance models, racing activities and performance parts and accessories, as well as industry news, personality profiles and events such as car shows and auctions.
General Motors engineers and insiders will be part of the online social community as well, offering advice and insight on a variety of topics.
Inside Line says: Interact socially with fellow car lovers.

McLaren MP4-12C vs. Factory Five GTM: Motoramic TV

Ah, the McLaren MP4-12C. It's McLaren's first in-house road car since the legendary F1. And while the 12C is far less expensive than the F1, its base price is still $229,400. The car we drove tallied $270,690 and options can push the sticker beyond $300,000. For that, you get an undeniably exquisite machine constructed by the pedigreed craftsman of some of the world's best race cars.

You get dihedral doors that open by sliding your hand along the bodywork. You get a twin-turbo, flat-plane-crank 3.8-liter V8 that howls out 592 horsepower and hurtles the car to 60 mph in about 3 seconds. And you get an ingenious suspension design that uses cross-linked hydraulic chambers in place of conventional shock absorbers, delivering both a shockingly supple ride and race-car roll control. In short, the MP4-12C is a lot of car for the money. But it's still a lot of money.

So what do you do if you want top-tier supercar performance and dramatic mid-engine styling, but you only have $50,000 to spend? Enter the Factory Five GTM. With a 420 horsepower GM LS3 V8 propelling only 2,400 pounds, this is one of the few cars that would hound an MP4-12C on the track. (A 505-horsepower LS7 is also available, but frankly the LS3 seems pretty adequate.) You do have to be handy with a wrench, since the GTM is a component car.

But GTM owner Gary Cheney has built 13 Factory Five cars, including three GTMs, and not only does he still have all his fingers, he insists that the building process is part of the fun. This particular GTM is set up for track duty, but it was surprisingly usable on the street, with deliciously communicative speed-sensitive power steering and Corvette Z06 brakes that are hugely overqualified for a 2,400 car. Plus, look at the thing. It just looks like it belongs in the supercar club.

However, $50,000 is still a considerable sum. Wouldn't it be great if you could have a screaming-fast, reliable, exotic-looking mid-engine sports car for something more like $15,000? Without spoiling the ending, we have a solution for that, too.