• The new Chevrolet Cruze is designed to replace the Cobalt in the compact car segment.
• The new Cruze features a dramatic design that "proves exciting design and value are not mutually exclusive," according to a press release following its debut at the Paris Motor Show in August 2008.
• The Cruze goes on sale in Europe in March 2009.
• The Cruze is "wider and longer than most of its competitors" and it has a "purposeful stance."
• Chief designer of the Cruze, Taewan Kim, had this to say about the new Chevrolet model: "Our goal in designing Cruze was to be bold, not evolutionary." He also said, "We wanted to take a big step forward, making a strong design statement for Chevrolet products around the world."

Check out one of these new Chevrolet cars at your local dealer once they hit the North American market. You’ll appreciate the style, affordability and fuel efficiency all in one vehicle.

The first of the Chevrolet cars he has up for sale is his 1956 Chevy 210. It is maroon-colored and is also a “Pro Street hot rod built by customizer Jim Van Gordon.” It has a 454 big block engine and more than 600 horsepower. As such, it’s street legal AND ready for the drag strip.

He also has a 1956 Chevy Nomad station wagon. The exterior color is a classic “Cashmere Blue” with white and it once belonged to The Harrah Collection of Reno Nevada. Both cars are being auctioned with “matching, one-of-a-kind EVH Brand ‘Wolfgang’ guitars and a pair of red, white and black EVH striped sneakers.”

“Rock ‘n’ roll and collector cars go hand in hand,” said Steve Davis, president of Barrett-Jackson. “And Eddie’s cars, although from the same year, represent the diversity of the collector car hobby.”

“I hope the new owners enjoy these cars as much as I have and keep the guitars and cars in their families for a long time, because they are all one-of-a-kind,” said Eddie Van Halen about the sale.

Without a shadow of a doubt, the word “bankruptcy” rings some bells. This would allow automakers to slash costs, reduce unnecessary dealers, and scrap union contracts until there’s no tomorrow. Naturally, the downside is that consumers will experience even less confidence on the automakers and sales may slump even further. A bankruptcy may allow some companies to cut their losses, though.

On the other hand, the “bailout” process is enticing for some. The bailouts, which will likely come with a host of preconditions, could offer the car companies a much-needed injection of cash. The conditions will likely be related to quality control and the creation of new green technology, something that will sell well in the eyes of the consumer. If car companies accept the bailout cash and do what they’re supposed to do, they could recover nicely.

Naturally, one wonders where the bailout money will come from (the consumer) and what will happen if bankrupcty is the option (jobs lost, contracts torn up). In the end, are we seeing a new era of Chevy cars and Ford trucks? Is the idea of conventional dealerships a myth to be remembered in the past only? Only time will tell.

Currently, General Motors is studying whether or not to drop a few of its associated brands. Under examination is Saturn, Saab, Pontiac, and Hummer. GM also owns Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, and Buick.

The idea to drop some of the brands would be to save money and to reduce overlap, as GM’s market saturation may in fact be hampering overall top profits. By limiting the company and streamlining some of the associated brands, or at the very least the brands that aren’t particularly popular, GM can limit its market presence in tough times and can release vehicles under its more established product lines.

GM Chief Executive Officer Rick Wagoner is under a deadline set by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Congress has scheduled a December 5 hearing on a $25 billion auto industry rescue and may vote the week of December 8.

For more information on the bailout, Chevy cars, or what General Motors will try to do next to earn the Senate-led rescue, stay tuned.

It certainly doesn’t seem like a good time to be in the automotive industry.

Yet some companies are handling the struggles better than others, I guess. Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and Hyundai all seem to be able to open up new factories despite the turmoil. And GM, Ford, and Chrysler are struggling to roll out new plans that may have customers thinking twice about domestic American cars. But is that really what is needed from the Detroit Three? They’re banking on a bailout, it seems, and may face collapse if something doesn’t happen soon.

GM, especially, seems locked in a fight to survive the times. With another factory facing cuts in Canada in Oshawa, Ontario, it seems like there’s no end in sight. GM is banking a lot on the Chevy Volt, which is coming in a couple of years, and will need every ounce of its resources to survive these tough times. How that will impact sales of Chevy cars and trucks in the long-term remains to be seen, as does any news about this bailout.

One thing’s for sure, though. GM is going to keep fighting.

With the international automobile market heading rapidly towards smaller, more reliable vehicles, it was about time that GM came up with a model it could call its own. Honda, Toyota, and Hyundai were all expanding into the United States with new factories and new opportunities, but the local automakers all seemed to lag behind and came across as lazy or uncaring.

GM is hoping that its Chevy Volt changes all of that and is hoping for an image overhaul to go with it. General Motors wants the Volt to say “we care.” The idea here is to show the world that American automakers can be on the cutting edge as well, even if it took an economic recession and some serious fiscal tumult to bring out the spirit of invention that once rolled through Detroit with such vigour.

In the end, it may be the Volt or it may be one of the other Chevy cars planned for the future that saves General Motors. For the time being, however, the Detroit Three will have to cling to hope and will simply have to wait and see.

The Buick Enclave SUV, the Chevrolet Cruze sedan, and the Cadillac CTS-V are all arriving in China with high hopes. The idea is for the vehicles to cover the wide range of customers in China and offer each customer base something new. From wealthy sporting types to individuals looking to purchase their first vehicles, General Motors is banking on this line-up to appeal to the masses.

The idea is, roughly, to remove the focus from the United States with the struggling economy. By focusing on China, General Motors is focusing on a region with proven growth.

“We have to recognize that the U.S. is where the problem is now. We’re growing in these other areas,” said Robert Socia, vice president of Shanghai General Motors. “The problems in the U.S. are finite and are attributable only to the U.S., and a little bit, to Europe.”

With that sense of growth in areas like China, it’s safe to say that General Motors is aiming at moving in a positive direction regardless of the economy or perhaps even in spite of it. For information on growth in China or on other Chevy cars, keep your browser locked here for frequent updates.

The petition reads as follows: “Dear Volt enthusiast: The auto industry is at the brink of collapse, and the Chevy Volt is in peril.” There is a link back to the Save the Volt! website and a letter to the United States government on behalf of the group. It is signed “Thanks, Lyle.” Lyle is Dr. Lyle J. Dennis, founder of the Save the Volt! website.

The goal here appears to be twofold: first to draw attention to the possibility that the Chevrolet Volt may be under some pressure to scale down or draw back on production in light of the current economic climate. Second, that the automotive industry’s economic issues may impact the production of environmental cars on the whole.

Whether you’re interested in the Save the Volt! campaign or other Chevy cars, head on down to your local dealer today for more information.

With tough economic times, there’s nothing better than watching high-octane vehicles speeding around a track in circles doing things we could only dream of. The very fact that they can afford the gas prices alone is impressive, even for me. While I’m not a huge fan of NASCAR or most motorsports in general, I can appreciate why this is good news.

NASCAR boss Brian France, talking to reporters over the weekend at Phoenix International Raceway, acknowledged that the auto manufacturers “play a very important role in lots of ways with supporting teams, the branding and heritage.”

On Friday, GM and Ford revealed multibillion dollar losses for the third quarter of 2008. GM warned it could run out of cash in 2009 and, as such, also suspended acquisition talks with Chrysler. How this will impact the future remains to be seen, but it’s probably a good idea to take GM’s warnings seriously.

In the meantime, GM and Chevy cars continue to move off the lots at a relatively slow pace. Company execs are hoping for big-time turnarounds soon, as positive signs begin to come into focus about the economy, gas prices, and the general state of affairs in the country. With the goodwill still extended towards NASCAR, one can hope things start looking up real soon.

The Russian-made Chevrolet/General Motors plant has been in the works for quite some time and will represent a big boost in the European markets for the company. The plant is worth $300 million U.S. and is known as a “flexible assembly plant” in many circles because of its ability to construct a wide variety of vehicles with efficiency and speed.

The plant has 70,000 units of capacity, which is an impressive sum for the region and will help boost European production from Chevrolet/General Motors considerably. Other joint ventures and partnerships are said to be expected in the region, with the possibility of more Russian plants right around the corner.

While the American political world may not be friendly with Russia at this point and time, there is certainly nothing stopping Chevrolet/General Motors from opening the doors of commerce and exposing themselves to new markets ripe with potential. Business is business and these companies know how to play by the rules in order to benefit from economic situations.

Production of Chevy cars and trucks at plants like these help boost the international profile and, in turn, help local economies and dealers. Everybody wins.