Maximum Bob would have run as a Republican, under the platform of revitalizing the state’s sagging economy. But once he realized how much money is thrown at such a campaign, he abandoned the idea: he, like GM and the entire state of Michigan, was strapped for cash. Coupled with the endless meetings with advisors and a campaign trail where he’d have to both deal with journalists and kiss babies—and possibly Michael Moore—and he presumably pronounced the entire idea as a “total crock of sh-t.”

The Japanese earthquake disaster and the resulting supply disruption mixed up the Top 10 best-selling vehicles in June, allowing the Chevrolet Cruze compact to top the chart in the US, a spot usually reserved for the Toyota Camry.

Cadillac is getting ready to reveal a new infotainment system, and while details are tightly under wraps, the system is expected to be introduced in its 2013 models. Some sources have claimed that the luxury brands infotainment system is far more advanced then what BMW, Mercedes-Benz or Audi has to offer.

A class-action lawsuit, brought on behalf of a Pennsylvania women, claims that GM knew about a defective rear spindle rod problem on it’s full-size 2007-08 Chevy Impala which caused excessive tire wear. While GM addressed the issue on police spec vehicles,it apparently chose to ignore the matter on some 400,000 examples owned by civilian motorists.

General Motors has recalled 6,800 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon pickup trucks. Apparently the transmission shift lever was not properly finished and as a result, might not display the correct gear on the PRNDL bar. NHTSA said the pickups do not comply with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 114, “Theft Protection”. This may appear to be minor but the automatic adjustment clip is out of adjustment and the fault will allow drivers to remove the vehicle’s key when the lever isn’t fully engaged in Park. The truck could potentially roll away or the driver might not be able to restart the pickup.

GM is recalling 10,000 trucks and SUVs that have been impacted by two safety issues worldwide. The majority of the recalls are for the 2011 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon (9,215 combined) that could roll away when shifted into park due to a faulty part manufactured in China. The recall will be officially issued out on July 19th, and GM will install new automatic transmission adjustment clips. This recall impacts 6,700 vehicles sold in the United States.

According to research, one in every two smart phone owners, utilizes their device as a shopping tool. In an attempt to get in on the action, GMC has now added a shopping App, which allows consumers to search its range of vehicles via their phones, accessing photos, videos, specifications as well as pricing, dealer quotes, comparison with competitors and even scheduling test drives.

Although originally postponed due to the automaker’s bankruptcy and subsequent re-structuring, GM‘s next generation full-size truck program is now reportedly back on track. Sources within the corporation say that the new trucks, internally coded K-2 will begin rolling off assembly lines in 2013 as ’14 model year vehicles.

A recent list highlighting the most American Made-in-America cars list both the first and spots as belonging to Japanese automakers. ( See here for why). But when it comes to what automakers offer the most vehicles manufactured or assembled right here in the U.S. of A., it’s the domestics that come out on top.

Over the last decade, this Aussie racing series has expanded beyond its island home, having staged races in China, New Zealand and the Middle-East. Now it is looking at the United States to stage a race, and it will probably be at the new Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. This circuit is being built especially to host Formula-One races in the coming years, and since the Australian V8 Supercars are an FIA sanctioned race series, it makes sense to race at this new circuit.

It might come as a surprise to some that it’s possible to purchase a six-passenger sedan, but in previous decades, large sedans with front bench seats and space for an extra passenger in the middle were mainstays of the American automotive landscape.

Nothing has been officially released but General Motors is not denying that the American automaker may introduce a two-door version of the Chevrolet Cruze. One source has suggested that the compact coupe maybe built in the Detroit suburb of Orion Township. The plant is getting ready to build the Chevrolet Sonic, a smaller car in the third quarter.

In hot rodding circles, GM Performance Part’s E-ROD, a 1955 Chevrolet powered by modern 6.2-liter LS3 V-8 has been generating a lot of buzz.

GM Daewoo has changed its name to GM Korea and its brand of choice to Chevrolet last March.  Since the name change, customers want to replace the old GM Daewoo emblem with the Chevrolet golden bow-tie.

Satellite radio operator Sirius XM Radio Inc. has decided to offer purchasers of pre-owned vehicles a free three month subscription at more than 1,000 participating GM dealerships across the U.S regardless of the vehicle manufacturer.

General Motors has announced that it will be idling it’s Flint, Michigan and Fort Wayne, Indiana assembly plants in an effort to clear out  it’s current high inventory of full-size pickups.

Oliver Gavin, British racing driver of the No.74 Corvette C6.R, and four time winner of 24 Hours of Le Mans takes us on a lap around the infamous track in his race car. This well done video allows the viewer to experience the track as Gavin explains the technique and driving style required to execute a lap on this 8.3-mile complicated track. The viewer observes from the driver seat and street level along with Gavin’s narration.

Check out the pro-drivers lap after the jump!

In North America, GM has replaced the Chevrolet Cobalt compact with the new Cruze sedan. However in South America, an all-new Chevy Cobalt has been revealed in pre-production form at the Buenos Aires Auto Show in Argentina(June 17-26).

General Motors has officially announced pricing for the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. The sedan has been priced to start at $14,495 and the five-door model will start at $15,395.

Chevy’s next generation global Colorado pickup was first revealed at the Bangkok Motor Show back in March; now a, striking double cab ‘Rally Concept’ version has made an appearance on the other side of the world, this time at the Buenos Aires International Motor Show in Argentina.

The all-new 2012 Buick Regal GS arrives this fall and will pack a serious punch. The GS has ow officially been rated at 270-hp and 295 lb-ft of torque and achieves a 0-60 mph time of 6.7 seconds. For the record, that’s 15 more horsepower than originally claimed.

The Corvette hasn’t been doing too well in sales. So what does GM do? It increases the price for every model.

To be fair, GM’s excuse is that…well, they didn’t give one. Blame the economy, I suppose. But depending on the model, the Corvette will see a price jump of anywhere between $480 to $1,150 for model year 2012s. Trim levels will also cost more, with 2LT Coupe packages rising from $1,195 to $2,095, 3LT from $4,205 to $5,995, and the top-dog 4LT package jumping by as much as $9,495.

The program including Chevrolet, Buick and GMC names will continue to offer the 12-month/12,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty as well as a five-year/100,000 mile limited powertrain warranty with 24-hour roadside assistance and courtesy transportation. Other standard features will include a more thorough 172-point inspection improved from 117 points as well as reconditioning, free trials of OnStar and Sirius/XM Satellite Radio.

Given its recent financial performance and the fact that that GM’s CEO isn’t happy about the situation, nor the time it’s taking to re-structure Vauxhall/ Opel; rumors have been flying once again that the General’s European operations might be up for sale.

Chevrolet vehicles will appear throughout the season as product placement, as well as the usual barrage of ads. X Factor differs from American Idol in that there will be a lot of traveling involved, and “a lot of telephoning of judges and discussions of the groups they represent,” says Keith Hindle, CEO of producing company FremantleMedia Enterprises. “That gives us the ability to amp that up a bit and feature in-car technology. That was one of the key hooks.”

The 2012 Chevrolet Volt will now be available in all 50 states, priced at $39,995, including an $850 destination charge. The price reduction comes as in-dash navigation is now offered as part of an option package rather than standard. Some customers will qualify for a $7,500 tax credit, bringing the effective price to $32,495.

Hyundai is taking the fight to  General Motors‘ OnStar System by offering its Blue Link system as standard equipment. The Blue Link system is capable of providing direct connection to emergency services but also delivers traffic and weather updates as well as allowing owners easy access to roadside assistance. The system also lets users pair their smartphones to locate the vehicle in crowded parkinglots. The system will also keep track of the vehicle position and how fast it’s being driven.

Cadillac is recalling 50,500 SRX crossovers due to the passenger side airbag functioning differently than the owners manual states. SRX air bags are programmed to disable the right side roof-rail airbag if the front passenger seat is occupied.

When it comes to rental cars, one doesn’t think of fun or sexy vehicles. Realistically, rental cars are boring, slow and silver. The Chevrolet Aveo or the Ford Fusion comes to my mind.

General Motors CEO Dan Akerson is looking forward to the day when he can relax on his yacht, sipping Mai Tais on the deck…and knowing full well that the federal government has finally sold its stake in GM, and has completely divulged itself from the company as it did with Chrysler.

In a report released today by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, drivers of sport-utility vehicles, had the highest instances of death in crashes because of rollovers, however they are now those with the highest probability of survival.

GM last tried to sell Opel in 2009 before giving the ailing brand another chance. But despite increasing its lineup with new vehicles, and even increased sales, the company continues to bleed cash. “[GM CEO Dan] Akerson is fed up with Opel, and the turnaround isn’t gaining traction,” said an anonymous source inside the company. Unsurprisingly, nobody is willing to comment on the situation—though Klaus Franz, head of Opel’s works council, called the sale “pure speculation.” So there’s that.

The 2012 Buick LaCrosse will start at $29,960 plus an $860 destination charge, when it goes on sale later this year. The eAssist, which features a 2.4L four-cylinder and a mild-hybrid system, is priced identically to a V6 powered model, but can get 37 mpg on the highway, an impressive figure for such a large car.

Saab halted production yesterday at its Trollhattan plant in Sweden after operations were disrupted by problems with supplier deliveries. Saab resumed production on May 27 after shutting down from April to May due to non existent operating capital. Suppliers became worried about receiving payment and stopped supplying the Swedish plant.

GM has just released a Chevrolet commercial, featuring  the upcoming Transformers 3 Bumblebee Camaro. This is the third version of the yellow Camaro to be featured in the Transformer movies.

The video shows some great action scenes of the bright yellow Camaro knifing through the city streets then turning into Bumblebee. Tim Allen’s voice in the background says, “You may never have to outrun a Decepticon invasion… it’s just nice to know you can.” The third edition to the series is set to hit theaters on June 29.

Check out the video after the jump!

General Motors may be testing the EN-V mobility concept vehicles in its Detroit hometown. GM North America President Mark Ruess said that Detroit would be a “perfect” area to test the futuristic machines.

General Motors CEO Dan Akerson discussed the future product line of his company in an interview and bashed the Lincoln brand while at it .

The famous Australian V8 Supercars series may be making the Trans-Pacific voyage to North America. Many world-renowned racing drivers like Dario Franchitti, Helio Castroneves, Jacques Villenueve and Sebatian Bourdais have moved to compete in the V8 racing. Furthermore, the international coverage of the series has grown immensely, prompting many international companies to invest in the series.

GM has been hiring marketers away from other companies for some time now, most notably Joel Ewanick—of El Camino infamy—from Hyundai. The first rule of automotive marketing: there’s no loyalty in the business.

A statement released today by the White House seemed to take credit for the resurgence of the American auto industry, with President Obama’s bailout plan credited as the driving force behind it.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, wants the U.S. embassy to cover the costs the president’s motorcade has racked up driving through the city’s downtown core. The U.K. capital has special traffic congestion fines for vehicles caught on the roads without the proper permission, and Obama’s limo (aka “The Beast”) falls in the group, as do the rest of the vehicles in his motorcade.

To meet new fuel economy regulations, General Motors will add a price premium to its line of full-size SUVs. Currently, the Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe get a combined average of 17-mpg. But new CAFE regulations will force GM to reach a company-wide average of 35.5-mpg by 2016, and there’s no time to waste.

Aiming to build hype behind its all-electric Leaf, Nissan has released a new ad, imagining a world where tiny internal combustion engines power everything that currently runs on electricity. The bleak and dirty existence portrayed in the new ad spot then steps to a new level to prove Nissan’s point, showing the sullen protagonist gassing up his Chevrolet Volt. Subtle it is not.

Understandably the folks at General Motors are none-too impressed and while in most cases silent indignation would be the correct course of action, GM product and brand communications chief Jason Laird chose a 140 character or less medium with which to toss back a cleverly worded barb.

“A carmaker poking gentle fun at our product ignores towtrucks they need and rental cars they recommend as backup to their product,” tweeted Laird, hinting at the Leaf’s limited range and reports that owners would be given free rental car days to help eschew concerns over range anxiety. Ouch!

In a brief online exchange Laird cited plausible deniability, commenting that he made no reference to anyone or anything, including the commercial, Nissan, or the Leaf. True, but we think you’ll forgive us for thinking we can make the assumption and hold on to our journalistic integrity.

“The commercial is cute, but its misleading and damaging to the EV movement,” says Rob Peterson, the man in charge of public relations for the Volt. His main issue with the ad, however, is in even comparing the two cars, which he sees as two very different vehicles based on their range capability.

“Many people are intrigued by electric cars but they don’t have the financial flexibility to own a second or even a third car. The Volt can be you only car.”

Ultimately, Peterson dismissed the spot, commenting that its, “long term effect will be relatively minimal.”

This isn’t the first such exchange between Chevy and Nissan either, with Chevrolet showing an ad at the Volt’s official world premiere at the LA Auto Show in which it’s referred to as more than just a “leaf blower”. The subtlety of that spot seems to have been replaced with a more explicit message and we have to wonder if it will continue to escalate as both Chevrolet and Nissan are vying to be recognized as the leader in new green automotive technology.

There’s a lot more at stake here than just hurt feelings or even the future of a single type of car. Both Nissan and Chevrolet have made commitments to the technologies used in their respective electrically-motivated vehicles, with the future of each automaker closely tied to the success of their flagship green product.

If you haven’t already, watch the Nissan spot after the jump:

The United States Department of Transportation has proposed a plan to require all light-duty vehicles to be equipped with data-recording black boxes. The 197-page proposed document was released yesterday by the White House.

The latest in a growing list of investments, General Motors has announced a $331 million cash infusion into its Arlington Assembly Plant in Texas.

UAW President Bob King is angling for seats on the Big Three’s respective Boards Of Directors, and will likely use this as a negotiating point when contracts are discussed with automakers this summer.

Looks like somebody at General Motors got the memo about Corvette owners being aging, denim-swathed lotharios. And to better target the sort of young trendsetters posing in Porsches, Ferraris, and Lamborghinis, GM is planning to give some European substance to the Corvette in the form of a smaller turbo V8.

Despite lofty performance at a discount price, the Corvette’s consumer base is aging at a rate that is worrying General Motors—particularly because young people aren’t snapping them up either. Sales of the current generation have been less than those of the fifth-gen, despite increases in power and decreases in weight and price.

General Motors will be adding two shifts and 2,500 hourly and salaried jobs to the Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant to build the new Chevrolet Malibu and the next-generation Impala alongside the Chevrolet Volt and Opel Ampera electric cars.

Could the motor city be turning into tech town usa? In a CNN Money special, Detroit’s automotive related technology boom is highlighted for its recent increase technology related jobs. Tech job openings rose 82% in Detroit, with companies like Google and Ford hiring engineers en masse.

In his book, “Car guys versus Bean Counters,” the indomitable Bob Lutz talks about many things relating to General Motors. He talks about how the company is now on track, giving credit to former CEO Ed Whitacre and his replacement Dan Akerson.

While GM’s new small rear-drive platform has been plagued with setbacks and controversy ever since we first heard about it in 2004the General’s next generation premium platform, has run into a further obstacle in the form of excess weight.

Due to the fallout from the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan, Toyota execs have admitted the auto giant is likely to cede the title of the world’s largest automaker to General Motors. But according to a new Bloomberg report, things may be worse than that, with Toyota poised to slip to third in the global auto sales race.

Outspoken curmudgeon and former GM badass-in-charge Bob Lutz has been popping up from retirement, serving as a consultant to General Motors and Lotus. And his former company’s bankruptcy restructuring left the company “in good hands,” he said.

The engineers from General Motors have miraculously managed to improve the Chevrolet Cruze’s fuel economy by an additional 2 mpg. The Chevy already has a Cruze Eco option that delivers 28 mpg city, 42 mpg highway when fitted with the six-speed manual transmission.

General Motors has confirmed that the 2012 Chevrolet Impala will be powered by a 302-hp V6 when it debuts later this year. The full-size four-door will come with a 3.6-litre V6 mated to a six-speed automatic transmission and puts out 252 lb-ft of torque in standard trim.

A 2011 Chevrolet Volt will be worth just over $17,000 after 36 months, the length of a typical lease, says Kelley Blue Book. That’s a 42 percent drop in price from the car’s $41,000 sticker price.

According to the Patent Board, General Motors is recognized as the top innovator among 182 companies, based on results from its quarterly released automotive and industry scorecard.

Car owners are more satisfied with independent shops for maintenance, according to a latest Consumer Reports Annual Survey. The survey was based on more than 92,000 reports on service visits to independent mechanics and 230,000 service visits to new car dealerships.

General Motors is pumping $109 million into its Ecotec program in Michigan, in order to support ongoing production of the 1.4-liter engine shared by three Chevrolet models as well as keeping/adding 96 jobs in Michigan.