GM shrinks Volt's gas tank, range drops from 600 to 360 miles

One of the many things General Motors boasted about when it unveiled the Volt concept at the Detroit Auto Show in 2007 was its 600-mile range. This was achieved partially by the battery pack, which could sustain a (theoretical) charge allowing the Volt to run for 40 miles without reverting to the gasoline engine/generator, as well as a 12-gallon fuel tank. According to Kicking Tires, GM has shrunk the size of the tank by an unknown quantity and the result is a reduction in range from 600 to 400 miles – or 360 miles without the aid of auxiliary (read: grid-provided) power.

The General maintains that since most owners don't travel more than 40 miles in one day, it wasn't necessary to fit the Volt with a larger tank. That reduction in capacity will save some weight, but what will it cost in public perception? The hype surrounding GM's supposed savior and game-changer are based on two figures: range and cost. If GM can deliver on both counts, they might have a hit on their hands. If not, the Volt will be DOA the day it hits dealers.

General Motors swaps Hummers for mini-cars as fuel prices soar in the US

General Motors, the maker of the iconic off-road Hummer, may be gearing itself up to sell mini-cars in the US, in order to win back market share as soaring fuel costs turn Americans off gas-guzzlers.

Usually sold only in Asia and Latin America, GM is thought to be developing a version of the Chevrolet Beat for America’s highways, according to a report by Bloomberg. Not much bigger than the Daimler Smart car, the Chevrolet Beat does 40 miles to the gallon - making its fuel efficiency second only to hybrid cars in the US.

The consideration by GM comes after the company’s US sales tumbled 18.5pc last month, while rivals Ford and Toyota also reported dwindling sales, down 28pc and 11.5pc respectively.

Yesterday, shares in General Motors plunged to their lowest level since September 1954 as fears for the company’s future escalated. One analyst at Merrill Lynch told the market that a GM “bankruptcy is not impossible if the market continues to deteriorate”. The group’s shares closed down 15pc to $9.98.

Meanwhile, fellow motoring giant Ford reported a 27pc fall in truck sales for June, with 59pc of sales now secured by cars and cross-over vehicles.

advertisementIn a further sign that cash-strapped Americans are downsizing, sales of BMW’s Mini jumped 25pc in June. BMW introduced the Mini to the American market in 2002, reaching record sales of 42,045 cars last year. The German carmaker sold 26,400 Mini’s in the first six months of this year - putting it on course for another record. Sales of small cars across the US rose 31pc in the first six months of the year, with sales of the biggest SUV’s falling a corresponding 31pc.

GM has reassigned many of its engineers to its new mini-car project, and has reportedly suspended SUV and truck programs until demand returns to the market. A GM spokesman told Bloomberg: “We are looking at and reviewing our entire portfolio, not just because gasoline is $4 (a gallon) but because of stricter government fuel economy regulations”.

With crisis looming, GM may unveil Volt for 100th anniversary

Sales of General Motors' one time cash cow, full-size trucks, are declining faster than the value of the US dollar, but with a birthday coming, GM still wants something to celebrate. This September, the world's largest automaker will be celebrating its centennial under a financial pall unlike any it has faced since its early days under Billy Durant. The car that GM management hopes will represent a new beginning is the Chevrolet Volt, which has been locked in for production for November 2010 and the shape of the production car has reportedly been finalized. The Volt team is apparently planning to unveil the definitive Volt shape as the star of the big party this September.

Early powertrain development mules have been running for several months now and GM insiders claim the lithium ion battery packs are exceeding performance expectations so far. The big question at this point seems to be cost. With everyone focused on GM's cash burn rate, the company is hoping that showing the production version of the extended range electric vehicle will divert attention to something positive. However, without some serious cost reduction of the battery and some hefty tax breaks from the government, the Volt may just end up making things even worse. GM desperately needs the Volt to be successful, but with the current financial situation, one has to wonder how long they will be able to build Volts at a loss?

GM provides sneak peek of production Camaro Convertible

Just like it first did with "official" spy shots of the production Camaro coupe, General Motors has released a pair of small shots showing the production Camaro Convertible in its current state of development. We're told on the GM FastLane Blog that the pics are a reward for the overwhelmingly enthusiastic response to the first set of shots of the Camaro Coupe, which apparently meant a lot to the team of engineers testing the vehicle. While not much is revealed on these preproduction models that we didn't already know, the second shot shows the convertible's profile with the soft-top up, and it appears that the strong lines of the coupe have not been sacrificed by the retractable roof. Feel free to peruse both pics in our gallery below while we wait for larger ones to pop up.

GM wants tax incentives to build Volt in Detroit

With both hands extended, General Motors has asked Detroit City Council members for tax breaks to ensure the highly-anticipated hybrid electric-powered Chevrolet Volt will be built in their city. This news comes on the heels of GM asking Congress for a tax break to ensure the price remains near $30,000 when it arrives in showrooms in 2010. Enough already. Stuck in the turmoil of a $38 billion loss last year, pending job cuts, UAW strikes, and in the midst of an economy favoring fuel-efficient vehicles (as pickups and SUVs roll down the assembly line), GM is scrambling to survive. Whether it arrives as a hybrid, or in all-electric versions, the Chevrolet Volt can't come to market soon enough... regardless of who GM panhandles.

General Motors partially opens Heritage Center to the public

One of the most amazing collections of historic cars anywhere is also one that very few people have ever seen. Since it's inception, the General Motors Heritage Center has never been open to the public. The center has a collection of nearly 800 cars of which about 200 are typically on display at any given time while others are loaned out to other museums or car shows. The facility includes 15,000 feet of racks filled with millions of pages of corporate archives documenting the first century of the company's history. The facility has been used for company meetings and special events occasionally opens to friends and family of employees and now GM is partially opening the doors to the Heritage Center. However, it won't be open to just anyone who wanders up to the front door of the non-descript building in a Sterling Heights MI business park. GM is making the facility available for car clubs and groups of 20 or more people. If you've got an event that you would like to hold at the Heritage Center send an email to the center for more information at gmhc -at- gm.com.