Remember the Saturn Outlook? Well, soon you’ll be able to say the same about the GMC Acadia.

Both based on GM’s Lambda platform, the Acadia will join the history book soon as GM has reportedly axed the mid-size crossover to avoid too much product duplication. Offering too many versions of essentially the same thing is part of the reason GM got into its former financial mess and it’s looking to avoid any such issues in the future. And with Buick and GMC sharing dealership space, the product overlap was more than obvious, and shoppers overwhelmingly chose Acadia’s sister, the Buick Enclave, which just last year hit record sales for the luxury crossover despite having been on sale for four years already.

The Acadia is likely to soldier on for a few more years with the next generation model not due out until 2015. At that time, GM will deliver a new Chevy Traverse, as well as a new Buick Enclave. Cadillac has also been rumored to get a version, something which still might happen.

[Source: GMI]

General Motors has announced a recall of more than 50,000 Cadillac CTS models due to rear suspension issue. The recall affects 44,000 vehicles in the U.S. from the 2009 and 2010 model years.

According to GM, several nuts in the rear suspension could loosen resulting in the rear wheel to become unstable. This could cause a steering or handling issue and even result in a crash. No injuries have been reported so far.

Owners will be notified and can call Cadillac at 866-982-2339 with questions.

Helping change the image of Buick, the new Regal is a different sort of car from what we’re used to from the old-man brand and that’s because it’s actually based on the very German Opel Insignia. Already available as a 4-cylinder and a Turbo model, current Regal models are made in Germany alongside their Opel counterparts. That will change next month, however, when production of the car is moved to the Oshawa Assembly Plant in Ontario, Canada.

In addition to the current two versions, Buick is set to add two new models to the lineup, including the high-performance Regal GS and the Regal eAssist mild-hybrid. With a 26/37-mpg rating, the Regal eAssist will be the first hybrid ever manufacturer in Canada.

“The award-winning Buick Regal is proof of this company’s capabilities on the car side of the business, and the addition of the Regal with eAssist shows just how serious we are about offering consumers a range of sophisticated powertrain options from green to mean,” said Kevin Williams, president and managing director of General Motors of Canada. “Integrating such advanced fuel-saving technology into our Oshawa Assembly Plant is a natural fit given the plant’s flexible manufacturing system and its longstanding quality leadership, and we’re proud to lead the way in terms of green technology production in Canada.”

The Oshawa Assembly Plan already builds the Chevrolet Camaro and Chevy Impala.

The Regal eAssist will go on sale in the U.S. and Canada this Fall.

Read AutoGuide’s 2011 Buick Regal Review Here

Tomorrow a Russian-led expedition will attempt to drive from their country’s north shore to Canada, across the North Pole, a dangerous journey that is expected to take months to complete.

If successful it will be the first time anyone has driven (yes, driven) from Russia to Canada, thanks to special vehicles with over-inflated tires that will allow the arctic trucks to float on water.

The group of Scientists, including two Canadians, plan to study polar bear populations and climate change, but the bigger goal is to test Russia’s GLONASS satellite navigation technology – a rival to GPS that the Russian government wants to make the basis of cell-phone and navigation technology in the country and beyond. It’s also a chance for Russia to exert its claim on arctic lands, in an increasingly heated battle to solidify ownership of the oil-rich region

The journey begins February 17th and is expected to take until the end of June, crossing in to Canada some time in May.

[Source: Reuters]

Land Rover will unveil the next step in its mission to become a ‘greener’ automaker at the Geneva Auto Show in just a few weeks time. Set to take the stand alongside the new 3-door and 5-door Evoque models is the Range_e Range Rover Sport.

Powered by a turbo-diesel V6 engine, mated to a plug-in hybrid setup, the Range_e can travel up to 20 miles on pure electric power and reach a total distance of 690 miles.

While an excellent solution to fuel economy and environmental concerns, hybrid diesels are prohibitively expensive for most automakers. That rule may not, however, apply to Land Rover, as many customers purchase the vehicles particularly because of their exclusivity and price.

Still just a concept at this point, Land Rover may make a production announcement for the hybrid diesel SUV in Geneva, with previous reports suggesting it would see production in 2013.

[Source: AutoExpress]

Porsche‘s new Panamera sedan has been a tremendous success and now the German sports car company has revealed a new hybrid version of the car, combining performance and fuel economy.

Motivated by the same 333-hp 3.0L V6 engine and 47-hp electric motor combo as found in the Cayenne hybrid, the Panamera S Hybrid makes 380-hp and can achieve 41.54 mpg (Imperial and using the European test cycle). That should work out to slightly better than the 20/24-mpg rating of the Cayenne hybrid .That number is, however, achieved thanks to special low rolling resistance tires developed by Michelin and with standard tires the car is capable of 39.79 mpg.

Acceleration for this hybrid is brisk with the Panamera a few ticks quicker to 60-mph than its Cayenne hybrid cousin. Sporting an official 5.7 second 0-60 mph time it’s one fast hybrid.

Porsche’s two-mode hybrid system allows the Panamera S Hybrid to travel just over a mile on pure electric power and electric-only acceleration possible up to speeds of 50-mph. The drivetrain also switches off the engine at speeds of up to 103-mph when the driver lifts off the throttle to help deliver maximum fuel economy.

Standard equipment on the Panamera S Hybrid includes an adaptive air suspension with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM)

The Panamera S Hybrid will go on sale later this year with a price of $95,000.

Look for more on this car from its debut at the Geneva Auto Show in just a few weeks time. Until then, get full Geneva Auto Show Coverage here.

GALLERY: Porsche Panamera S Hybrid

Video after the jump:

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[Source: Autocar]

Read AutoGuide’s Lotus Evora Review

Back in October, we broke news of the WD-40 / SEMA Cares 2011 Ford Mustang GT that would be auctioned off with the proceeds going straight to charity. And now that the Mustang has been sold off at the Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Show and Auction, with WD-40 and SEMA Cares proud to announce they have generated the largest donation to date to SEMA Cares.

The final number came in at $225,000 with the vehicle itself receiving an online bid of $100,000. Another $125,000 in donations came from those who simply wanted to support the effort.

“We are overwhelmed and completely surprised with the results of the WD-40/SEMA Cares Mustang that was auctioned at Barrett Jackson,” said Mike Spagnola, president of Street Scene Equipment and SEMA Board member. “I am eternally grateful to Barrett-Jackson for their help with the auction, as well as the management staff at WD-40.”

The 2011 Ford Mustang GT features a 5.0L V8 that put out close to 600-hp thanks to Paxton Superchargers. The donated funds will be distributed between Childhelp and Victory Junction Gang Camp, both children’s charities.

Once upon a time, not so long ago, Cadillac was seen as an old fashioned car company with outdated ideas and products. Over the last few years they have been moving with the times, and now their new warranty program will match or exceed those offered by its German rivals.

General Motors has just announced that later this month, the Cadillac Shield program will be put in place. This is an extensive warranty service which includes oil changes and tire rotation for the first four-years or 50,000-miles, and a five-year, 100,000-miles powertrain warranty, including 24/7 roadside assistance.

OnStar’s Directions and Connections plan is also included for one-year and it now comes with its own smart phone app. Cadillac will also have its own special app, which will help owners locate their car in a parking lot, among other things.

Hit the jump to read the full press release:

Continue Reading…

Last year, the Obama Administration heavily backed Detroit’s automakers with a big helping of government funding. The bail-out money that was partly provided to General Motors and Chrysler, was for these companies to develop and sell hybrids, plug-in hybrids and pure electric vehicles. The end result was the hardly amazing Chevrolet Volt.

However, the Obama administration still wants to help the electric and hybrid car industry, and their latest move to help move such products is to cut funding for clean-diesel and fuel-cell technology.

So while $80-million was budgeted for clean-diesel development in 2010, for 2011 that budget is cut down to zero. Congress had originally promised $500-million over 5-years for this project. Similar cuts have been made towards the development of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles.

The money that is being cut from clean-diesel and fuel-cell vehicles will now go to plug-in hybrid vehicles. Under the new plan, the $7500 tax break will be given to the customer at the dealership, not when taxes are claimed at the end of the year.

So while this might be great news for anyone who is looking to buy a plug-in hybrid vehicle, this will have an effect on manufacturers who had invested in other technologies. Essentially, those who manufacture clean-diesel or hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles will see marketing their vehicles in North America pointless.

[Source: Bloomberg Photo Credit: egmCarTech]