General Motors has started the expansion of its Wentzville, Missouri plant, essentially taking the first steps toward brining the new Chevrolet Colorado to the U.S. 

The $380 million expansion to the assembly plant will retain or create 1,260 jobs as GM starts to build the next generation of its midsize pickups at the location. No details have been given on when the plant expansion will be completed or what products will be built at the plant, but we’re confident that the new Chevrolet Colorado will be built there.

However, the midsize pickup might not be called the Chevrolet Colorado as it is now, when it launches. Currently, GM is working on completing its refresh of all its full-size pickups as 2014 model years before bringing the new midsize to market.

“This is the first of many of what we hope are many good news announcements” at the plant, said GM spokeswoman Stephanie Jentgen.

[Source: Detroit News]

General Motors, one of the largest advertisers in the U.S., seems to be pulling out of big ad campaigns like it’s the new hot trend.

“We understand the reach the Super Bowl provides, but with the significant increase in price, we simply can’t justify the expense,” General Motors Global CMO Joel Ewanick said.

His statement comes only days after the company also announced its immediate withdrawal of all paid ads from social media titan Facebook, which went public today. Earlier this year we also reported that the company had consolidated most of its ad budget to a single company, slashing scores of smaller players out of its books.

Over the last three months, in fact, it looks like GM is trying to change its advertising tack, though what that means is still unclear.

One GM spokesperson commenting on the Facebook pullout played the decision down, saying the company regularly reviews its ad spending and makes adjustments, suggesting that the move wasn’t a big deal.

That might be true, considering the $10 million represents a tiny fraction of Facebook’s overall income, but the automaker’s decision not to buy ad time during the king of American TV events represents a break in tradition that will take many by surprise, especially after spots like the Chevy post-apocalyptic piece that poked fun at Ford, seen below.

Chevrolet Volt owners who bought their cars to save the world can finally rejoice: they’ve saved a collective 2.1 million gallons of gas and counting according to the company.

Of course that figure still whimpers next to the 208 million gallons burned on a daily basis by the U.S. alone, but it’s still a nice number to make hybrid crusaders feel good about their decision. It’s true that those are still 2.1 million gallons (roughly a supertanker’s worth) that wouldn’t be here today, and there’s no arguing that delaying when that fuel gets burned is a good thing.

“With each click of the odometer, Chevrolet Volt owners are measuring their contribution to reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil and to preserving the environment,” said Cristi Landy, Chevrolet Volt marketing director. “Volt owners are also saving at the fuel pump with more than $8 million in combined savings.”

It’s going to be a long time before anything saturates the market enough to make a noticeable impact on gas consumption, but in certain areas the Volt’s gas savings combined with state subsidies actually makes it an economically wise choice.

In Colorado, for example, the maximum refund brings pricing down to $18,145, before destination fees, which is sub-compact car pricing.

Today’s cars all seem to be focused on delivering fun driving experience that’s still friendly on gas. Those two elements are often an important factor in a car purchase, but sometimes you just want to feral thrill of a big, loud engine.

Lets take a look at our top ten list of the most affordable cars with big V8s. Just about all of these cars have at least 300 horses under the hood, and have the personality of old-time muscle cars. The range here includes sports cars, sedans and luxury vehicles, so you might see something out of place while looking through this top 10. The price range also starts off pretty steep, but ventures into real bargain-bin prices near the top three.

At the end of our list is the new Chevrolet Camaro.  ZL1At $54,095 The Camaro ZL1 might not sound like value. That is, until you consider that it has 580-hp and makes a whopping 556 lb·ft of torque. The supercharged 6.2-liter V8 helps you get to 60 mph in under four seconds, and this hopped-up Camaro is also capable of lapping the famous Nurburgring in 7:41.27. The ZL1 accomplishes this thanks to its high-tech Magnetic Ride Control, which you’ll find in some high-class exotics like the Ferrari 458 Italia.

Straight from the other side of the world, Chevrolet announced its SS Performance sedan today: a rebadged next-generation Holden VF Commodore, as expected.

For the first time in 17 years, Chevrolet will offer a rear-wheel drive sedan, though it will really just be a returning Pontiac G8. Still, the car will enjoy more fanfare than the Pontiac did because its new badge will also herald the Aussi car as its new entrant as a NASCAR Sprint Cup racecar, replacing the Impala.

The company confirmed that it will only be a limited-run car, manufactured next year to be sold as a 2014 model. Few other details are currently available, but the car will make its official debut in next year’s Daytona 500 in February.

Still, with a 6.2-liter V8 likely to sit under the hood with well over 400 hp, the transmission will probably be what makes or breaks Chevrolet’s latest performer. If it follows the G8′s mundane automatic mainstay, the limited production will probably be a good thing, but with a six-speed manual, this could be the four-door beast to marry power with everyday practicality the Camaro can’t have.

Guy Fieri of Food Network fame, among many other things, will officially be the pace car driver piloting the 2013 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 pace car at the upcoming Indy 500.

“There are races and then there are races,” Fieri said. “And without a doubt, the Indy 500 is the race that I’ve always wanted to attend. And now, to be driving the Corvette Pace Car … this is going to be unbelievable.”

Fieri is probably most readily known for the show he hosts: Diners Drive-Ins and Dives, the seven restaurants he co-owns and operates in Northern California, or the books he’s authored on food.

Sandwiches aside, he’s also a certified car fanatic. With a collection including his recently recovered Lamborghini Gallardo and a host of classic Chevorlets including his 1968 Camaro SS, which appears on his show.

“We look forward to welcoming Guy Fieri to the Indianapolis 500,” said Jeff Belskus, Indianapolis Motor Speedway president and chief executive officer. “He’s full of energy and is a longtime ‘car guy’ – a perfect match for ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.’ I’m sure he’ll remember forever the moment he fires up the incredible 2013 Corvette ZR1 and paces the field to the green flag.”

And incredible it is. With a 638-hp 6.2-liter LS9 engine, this will be the fastest car to ever pace the race, which will run on May 27.

One of the most wonderful sensations come when you command a whole handful of power just with the flexing of your right foot. Horsepower is an intoxicating element when it comes to driving, but that doesn’t mean that it’s saved for the most expensive vehicles out there.

Check out the list of the top ten most affordable vehicles with 300 (or more) horsepower. You might be surprised at the deals here, with our leader having a price-to-pony ratio of $73-per-horsepower.  Most of the vehicles here are coupes, but a trio of sedans squeezed in, proving fun can come in four-doors.

First on our list is the rally-tested Subaru WRX STI. The performance-oriented vehicle is the first of three sedans that made the top 10, and features Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel drive and a turbocharged 2.5-liter Boxer engine, which pumps out 305-hp. The cheapest WRX STI is the four-door model, which also has the STI’s instantly recognizable rear spoiler. With a top speed of 160 mph,  the four-door also has a slightly higher top-speed than its five-door counterpart. The WRX STI can get to 60 mph from a standing start in under 5 seconds, and it’s all-wheel drive helps it gobble up the road as fast as anything else on this list. It starts at $34,095.

Chevrolet has unveiled plans for an all new small SUV, called the Chevrolet Trax, that will be introduced to the world at the 2012 Paris Auto Show in September. 

The Trax will launch first in Mexico at the end of 2012, and into 140 other global markets in 2013, with no plans as of yet to come to America because of its similarity to the Chevy Equinox. The Equinox would be a competitor, but a more likely reason is the Trax’s similarity to the much more akin Buick Encore.

Trax is a classic crossover, with seating space for five occupants, along with small size and car-like gas mileage and handling. The Trax will likely offer the 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine out of the Equinox as its base powerplant. This small four-cylinder has been the most popular engine in the Equinox here in the States, and will be an even better fit in a smaller vehicle like the Trax.

Styling on the vehicle is directly influenced by the Buick Encore, the one major difference being the front grille, which follows in line with the rest of both respective brands styling.

“The Trax provides Chevrolet an entry into a growing small SUV segment and delivers the flexibility, great fuel economy and car-like handling that urban explorers around the world require,” said Mary Barra, GM’s senior vice president of product development.

Just announced as the pace car for the 96th Indy 500, the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 will be the most powerful to fulfill the role in history. 

While there really isn’t anything new about the ZR1 itself, there’s little doubt that Chevrolet’s supercar featuring a 6.2-liter LS9 V8 will dazzle the crowd. To date, Chevrolet has provided the race with a pace car 23 times, 11 of which were Corvettes.

You’ll be able to see the 638 hp ZR1 which can run from 0-60 mph in 3.4 seconds on May 27 when the race starts at noon, Eastern Standard Time, but until then there’s a video fo it below.

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It’s common practice for regional auto journalist associations to gather, usually once a year, and vote on which cars they like most. 

Recently, the Texas Auto Writers Association had a mind meld to decide which cars qualified as the best of the year in the Lone Star State. The biggest news from their think tank? Chrysler pretty much won the whole thing.

The Nissan GT-R was named the “Car of Texas,” and the best supercar which might be surprising because it’s an import, but then again the 545-hp beast isn’t to be trifled with and Texans love anything fast.

Beyond that, the Chrysler Town & Country also got the “Car of Texas” title, though for different reasons more aimed at family practicality. Its interior,storage capacity and comfortability were big  factors.

What’s more interesting than either of  the big winners was the fact that Chrysler won the eight of the total 18 awards with its diverse lineup — the most of any automaker. The Fiat 500 Cabrio won best sub-compact while the Chrysler 300 was the favorite for both luxury car and full-size sedan.

Despite not having launched yet, the Dodge Dart scored the top spot in three categories too as Compact Car of Texas, best new feature, and best vehicle. Finally, the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8 was named the best performance utility vehicle.

GM came in second place with four vehicles winning awards including the Chevrolet Volt as the green car of Texas.

GALLERY: 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8

It might be hard to believe, but the 96th Indianapolis 500 already has a new record set before the race has even begun. With 638 hp, the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 will be the most powerful production car to ever pace the famous race.

This will be the 11th time a Corvette has served as the pace car for the Indianapolis 500′s storied history, and Chevrolet’s 23rd time overall – both marking event records. It will also mark the last time we’ll see this generation Corvette, as the 2013 model year will be the final year of production as Chevy also celebrates the Corvette’s 60th anniversary.

“This is a truly momentous year for Chevrolet when it comes to performance, with our continued success on and off track, and especially with our return to the IndyCar Series, powering some of the fastest cars on the circuit,” said Jim Campbell, GM vice president of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports.  ”I can’t think of a better way to mark the 60th Anniversary of Corvette than having it lead the starting field of the Indianapolis 500.”

As a quick refresher, the Corvette ZR1 packs a 6.2-liter LS9 under the hood with 638 hp and can run from 0-60 mph in just 3.4 seconds. Thanks to plenty of carbon fiber, the ZR1 weighs in at just 3,353 pounds and has a top speed of 205 mph. The particular car (shown above) for the Indianapolis 500 will have an Arctic White exterior with Pearl Silver Blue accents similar to the 60th Anniversary Package.

Catch the 96th Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 27 when it starts at noon Eastern Standard Time.

Depending on where you live, a hiccup in GM’s truck supply lines might make buying a pickup from your local Chevrolet of GMC dealer difficult.

With its current line of Silverados and Sierras remaining unchanged since 2006, GM is falling behind the pack. There will be a new RAM pickup in the fall and Ford’s F-Series came on the scene two years after the current GM line. That line will be refreshed to remain competitive, but that means a full production halt for a total 29 weeks between all the plants affected.

Of course in that time, there will be a lapse in normal production, something the company tried to soften by ramping up production in anticipation. While that might seem like a solution in theory, problems started to rise when it became apparent that dealerships wouldn’t all have a positive disposition to bulking up truck supplies ahead of time.

Some dealerships are going with the plan, but according to Automotive News, there are also stores saying no to the trucks. As AIS Rebates, an Ann Arbor, Mich., firm that provides incentive data to dealers reports, there is a $3,000 incentive for dealers on crew cab versions of the Silverado and Sierra 1500, but anything beyond that is unlikely because the gap in production will already be squeezing GM’s profits.

That leaves dealerships in one of two places, which inevitably affects the consumer. Dealers will either find a stockpile of trucks that might not move given the impending approach of improved trucks, and those turning the vehicles away may find customers flowing to new dealerships or brands over the unavailability.

Either way, it could spell out a sweet situation for customers who play their cards right. On the one hand, your local dealer might put cash on the hood if there are too many trucks getting sun tans on the lot. In the other scenario, where that dealership runs dry, you might find another dealership eager to sweet talk new customers away from the competition.

[Source: Automotive News]