FastLane

By Ed Peper
North America Vice President, Chevrolet

The Chevrolet Cruze won’t be officially revealed until the Paris Auto Show in October, but when the opportunity arose to give a sneak peek today to the people of Lordstown, Ohio who will be assembling the vehicle, we felt the occasion couldn’t be more perfect. This new global compact car will build on the already successful Chevrolet Cobalt, Cobalt XFE and Cobalt SS – and we’re also proud to be harnessing GM’s global design and engineering expertise. The Cruze was designed and engineered by our global teams in Europe and Asia Pacific and will be manufactured in those regions, as well as at the assembly plant here in Lordstown.

The early look accompanied an announcement by CEO Rick Wagoner that GM plans to invest more than $500 million to prepare for the Cruze product program for the U.S., including more than $350 million into Lordstown.

I look forward to sharing more details in the months to come, but for now, enjoy the newly released photos. And for even more images, check out LeftLaneNews.com.

View the complete release here.

By Jamie Hresko
GM Vice President, Quality

Type “one million miles” into a Google search and you know what comes up? Honestly, one of the first things on the list are Wisconsin residents Peter Gilbert and Frank Orsenick reaching one million miles in a 1989 Saab 900 SPG and 1991 Chevrolet Silverado, respectively. Pretty amazing stuff. What’s more amazing is word is spreading around here, GM, that another customer is about to reach one million miles in his Chevy Express. Call me superstitious, or a huge baseball fan, but I don’t want to jinx anything, so I’ll wait to mention the actual name of this Milford, Michigan resident… I also know that this guy is associated with a group of about 10 Chevy Express or GMC Savana drivers who all have more than 500,000 miles on their vans.

Obviously, because I’m closely connected to the quality world, I know that GM quality is good and getting better. I know this because in 2006 and 2007, we experienced a 13 percent reduction in warranty repairs each of those two years, and we’re on track to reach a similar number in 2008. Additionally, we back up our products with the industry’s best transferable powertrain warranty, five years/100,000 miles.

Why should the numbers matter to you? It means more time behind the wheel of your car or truck. It means we build vehicles that last. It means the real gap is not between GM quality and that of our competitors, the real gap lies between perception and reality. Who knows, maybe someone reading this is about to make the one million-mile milestone. The numbers are necessary, they help up keep focused and drive real improvement. The numbers also help to verify what a guy like me is saying. However, the numbers don’t tell the stories. Tell me your story … and maybe we’ll be hearing from another one million mile driver soon.

Larry Nitz
Executive Director, Hybrid Powertrain Engineering

With all of the excitement created by Bob Lutz’s first drive of the Chevrolet Volt test mule vehicle recently, some may have forgotten GM has another plug-in vehicle that is approved for production and progressing through early program development stages.

As I revealed to the audience today at the Plug-in 2008 Conference in San Jose, CA, we currently are testing 11 Saturn Vue plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles (PHEV) at the GM proving grounds in Michigan and Arizona. In fact, we brought one with us to San Jose.

We initially started testing with two early development vehicles using nickel-metal hydride battery technology. But now we’re using lithium-ion batteries. We’ve done extensive battery thermal management work in the lab and on the road, and plug-in charge integration is fully operational and undergoing refinement.

The Vue Plug-in Hybrid is expected to be one of the first commercially availably plug-in hybrids produced by a major automaker. So in many ways, we’re pioneers.

However, we do have an advantage over others working to develop a plug-in hybrid.

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The production version of the 2009 Chevy Camaro will be revealed today at 4:00 P.M. Eastern - watch for yourself at GMNext. Included: specifications and details, as well as a history of the model. - Will Stewart, blog editor

By Ed Peper
North America Vice President, Chevrolet

A few months ago, we showed you some official “spy shots” of the pre-production version of the new Camaro coupe.

To say the least, response to that post was overwhelmingly enthusiastic - something that was extremely gratifying to all of us here at Chevrolet, who have been hard at work testing and retesting the Camaro development models.

As a reward for your interest - and your patience - here’s a sneak peek of the convertible version of the Camaro, which is also undergoing a similar evaluation as we ready it for full production later next year. (Preproduction models shown. Actual production models may vary.)

By Jamie Hresko
GM Vice President, Quality

2008 Chevrolet Malibu

There are many gate-checks, so to speak, here at GM when it comes to quality. However, the ones that matter most to you, the customer, the driver, are the external measures that tell you if we’re all wet or if we’re running hard and clean. Today, J.D. Power & Associates announced its Initial Quality Survey results. I won’t re-iterate the content of the press release.

I will take the opportunity to point out that J.D. Power is not only a third party source, but the data comes from vehicle owners - the people who drive the cars day in and day out. Essentially, they’re sharing their hindsight. Confirming they made a great purchase or admitting that they were oversold. You can read the release for yourself, here.

Now, I do want to share with you the story behind the numbers. As I mentioned in my last post, there is far more to the quality story than initial quality. However, today is about initial quality …

2008 Chevrolet Silverado

We’re very excited to lead the ultra-competitive mid-size car segment, large pickup segment and the large car segment with the all-new Chevrolet Malibu, the Chevrolet Silverado LD and the Pontiac Grand Prix. Additionally, we’re also excited for the Fairfax Assembly Center and its Bronze Plant Quality Award win. This award represents great commitment and hard work by the team in Kansas. In the case of the Chevrolet Silverado and Pontiac Grand Prix, these are two solid products that are serving their brands well.

2008 Pontiac Grand Prix

As a parent, I never favor one kid over another - although my kids would probably disagree. However, I’d like to focus a little bit here on our new kid the Chevy Malibu. The Malibu’s win is significant. Looking at the industry, it’s true that the quality of new vehicle launches is improving. However, the quality of the new Malibu is exceptional - as evidenced by the distinction of being named a J.D. Power midsize car segment winner. This is big. It’s big because in its first year, the Chevrolet Malibu was right … straight out of the gate. So, what does this really mean? It means we are moving in the right direction. We know what to do, how to do it. Now, we need to apply it to vehicles. And we are …

In 2007, quite embarrassingly, none of our brands ranked above industry average. This year, however, Chevrolet, Cadillac, Pontiac and Buick - which represent 82 percent of the cars and trucks we sell — ranked above industry average. If you ask me, that’s pretty darn good! Is it enough? Is any of this enough? No, of course not. But it’s good progress. I’ll take it and keep forging ahead. Wouldn’t you?

Jamie Hresko, will hold a chat on GMnext.com today from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. to discuss GM results in the J.D. Power & Associates Initial Quality Study.

Jim Taylor
General Manager, Cadillac

We all have our favorites, our own loyalties and preferences. But in a survey of new vehicle buyers released today, only one brand can be at the top. The number one brand in the US in owner satisfaction in 2008 is Cadillac, according to AutoPacific’s annual Vehicle Satisfaction Awards (VSA) study.

This study is based solely on the opinions of actual new vehicle owners rating their new 2008 models. AutoPacific adds no “3rd party” opinion to the owner survey results, which are grouped into 28 car and truck segments. For more information, check out AutoPacific’s blog.

Cadillac’s overall win stems from the Escalade, Escalade EXT, the new CTS sport sedan and the DTS luxury sedan each winning the title as “most satisfying” in their individual market segments. Across all segments in the study, no auto brand (including BMW, Lexus, Mercedes and the others) was rated as highly by consumers as Cadillac.

And the good news from vehicle buyers doesn’t end there. GM had 11 overall segment winners, more than any other manufacturer. Chevy HHR, Chevy Silverado HD, Saturn Sky, Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, Saturn VUE and HUMMER H3 were also named “most satisfying” in their respective segments.

There are no higher accolades than those earned from real owners who have spent real money on new vehicles. Specifically in the luxury business, high levels of opinion and satisfaction of the most discerning consumers is the ultimate goal.

At Cadillac, Escalade has put together a record of desirability as the top large luxury SUV. This summer, we’re extending Escalade’s desirability with the most technically advanced Escalade models ever - the ultra-luxury Escalade Platinum and the Escalade Hybrid with our “two-mode” battery electric technology.

In the luxury car space, new CTS is earning a place among the highest-regarded luxury cars in the industry. The upcoming CTS-V launches this fall, elevating CTS into the ranks of the world’s highest performing cars.

It’s a terrific time for Cadillac, and for new vehicle buyers who have an unprecedented number of excellent choices. At Cadillac, we’re pleased that - according to the AutoPacific study of new vehicle owners - our brand is the most satisfying choice.

Jamie Hresko
GM Vice President, Quality

So, I’m watching the NFL draft a few weeks ago and it hits me. It occurred to me that there is a complete incongruity (thank you word-a-day calendar) between hope and reality.

Don’t get me wrong, hope is very important. Hope, however, is not active. It doesn’t drive results. Do you think any of the draftees just sat on the bench hoping to play … hoping to be spotted … hoping to be picked? Of course not. They worked hard. They had a plan. They actively pursued their goal of playing football well.

Same goes at General Motors. We have more than a plan and we’re intensely working toward flawless quality. Now, there’s no magical destination, or well, maybe there is a magical destination but it keeps moving. So, it’s impossible to actually reach the goal, but not futile to try. Make sense? No matter, the point really is that the quality of GM products is steadily rising. Sure, I’m biased, but have good reason to be …

In the past few years we’ve steadily improved our quality. Not just because I deem it so, but because of a lot of hard work by many people. Don’t take my word for it. Go ahead and look up third party references.

Our gains in quality are real and we’re doing more than just hoping they continue. For instance, on the new Chevy Malibu we drove 500 test vehicles a total of 3 million miles before a customer could drive it even one mile. Every day during this time, we used OnStar to do an on-board diagnostic test, which is similar to a daily check-up, to make sure that when customers get behind the wheel of the Malibu, they are completely satisfied with quality of this car.

Now, grab a cup of coffee or an energy drink ’cause here comes the “corp speak” … Our game plan to achieve leading quality in all our vehicle segments includes a number of common processes, across many functions and around the globe and increased discipline in the vehicle development process. That means everything from designing for aesthetics as well as manufacturability. It means we line up the best suppliers and follow standardized work processes. It even means that we take action to enhance the customer experience at the showroom.

If you haven’t lately, try some of our hot new products out such as the Chevrolet Malibu, Saturn Astra, Pontiac Vibe, Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, Cadillac CTS and Saab 9-5, among many, many others. You’ll like what you drive. Of course, again, I’m biased, but then I have good reason to be. I hope you agree.

Just a quick note to mention that our colleagues over at the Cadillac Driver’s Log have posted a very nicely done video of the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V running a sub-eight-minute lap around the Nordschleife at Germany’s famous Nurburgring raceway. The amazing run is believed to be the fastest ever by a production car and when you see the video, you’ll really get a sense of just how intense it was. - Will Stewart, blog editor

By Jill Lajdziak
Saturn General Manager

At Saturn, we’ve always liked to think of ourselves as innovators — from our products to our unique customers. In that spirit, we are proud to offer Saturn owners and enthusiasts a new to way interact with us and with each other.

It’s a first-of-its-kind blog and social network site, www.ImSaturn.com.

On ImSaturn.com, you’ll find news about Saturn and see photos and videos you haven’t seen anywhere else. You can also start your own blog or your own group, or join other groups, and upload your own photos and videos.

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