Cadillac’s beautiful plug-in hybrid concept car will remain a great idea, but nothing more. According to a report by Automotive News, GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz wrote in a text message that the Converj, first shown at the Detroit Auto Show in 2009 and well-received by the media, won’t be headed for production.

Lutz wrote that, “priorities and the conviction that the Volt and Ampera will use all available capacity for years to come,” mean that the Converj project has been canceled. This comes as somewhat of a surprise, as it was thought that a higher output version of the Volt’s motor, fitted into a Cadillac, would not only be appealing to consumers, but would also make for a profitable business case. The higher profit margins and higher dollar value of a Cadillac would help cover the cost of the expensive high-technology powertrain.

Instead, Chevy and Opel will mark forward with the Volt and Ampera, while the Cadillac brand seems poised to tackle the lower end of the market, with plenty of resources being poured into the brand’s upcoming rear-drive BMW 3 Series competitor.

[Source: Automotive News via Autoblog]

With the seventh-generation Corvette due out soon, Chevy is reportedly already looking ahead to the C8 model with major changes planned. General Motors had planned a major revamp of the Corvette for the C7 model but when the economy took a turn for the worse, it was decided that less ambitious changes had to be made. As a result the C7 is to follow after previous Vettes, but with improvements. In other words, it’s more of a stop-gap, to keep the iconic sports car alive until the C8 arrives to usher in a new era of the Corvette.

“That [the C7] will be the last of the traditional, old-style Corvettes,” said a senior GM representative to AutoWeek. Reportedly under consideration for the C8 is a light-weight aluminum platform with a mid-engine layout. It is may also be smaller in size and could even use a V6 engine. That might sound crazy, but if a V6 is planned, you can expect a few turbochargers to also be a part of the package.

We’ve already seen reports mentioning GM’s plans to make the Corvette a more global car with improved youth-appeal, and as much as cosmetic changes to the C7 platform are expected to head in that direction, the C8 is now looking to update every aspect of the car.

[Source: Autoweek]

We’re not exaggerating when we say that the Corvette Z06 Carbon Edition might just be the sexiest looking Vette ever created. That’s why when Chevy released a new selection of photos of the stunning Supersonic Blue sports car, we thought it warranted a whole new post.

Created to celebrate 50 years since a Corvette first competed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 2011 Corvette Z06 Carbon Edition gets brake and suspension upgrades, as well as a lighter overall weight thanks to plenty of carbon fiber. The changes, says Chief Corvette Engineer Tadge Juechter, are enough to shave up to 3.0 seconds per lap off a standard Z06 on a track like Laguna Seca.

“For track use, the Z06 Carbon is the best balanced Corvette yet. It combines the lightweight and naturally-aspirated Z06 engine with the road-holding and braking of the ZR1,” he comments.

Upgrades include Brembo carbon ceramic brakes, straight from the ZR1, as well as 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels, coated in Michelin PS2 tires. Upgraded engine and transmissions coolers are part of the package, as is a Magnetic Selective Ride Control system. And let’s not forget a special carbon fiber hood (lighter than the one used on the ZR1), as well as a carbon fiber engine cover, carbon fiber rocker panels and front splitter. There’s even a ZR1-inspired rear spoiler, plus black headlights and mirrors.

The body of the Carbon Edition Vette will be offered in two colors (either, Inferno Orange or the all-new Supersonic Blue, pictured above), while the interior gets ebony leather and suede with blue or orange stitching. Suede is used for the steering wheel, shifter, seat inserts, armrests and doors. Unfortunately, we can also tell from some of the photos that there’s still some el cheapo plastics used on places like the steering wheel.

Just 500 Carbon Edition models will be made, although Chevy will make some of the items available in packages for Z06 models. A Z07 Performance Package includes the performance upgrades, while a CFZ Z06 Carbon Fiber package includes many of the carbon fiber components (but not the hood) as well as a rear spoiler.

The Z06 Carbon Edition will be available this summer.

Now you’ve probably heard all this before (when we posted the original story earlier this week), so stop reading and get to the gallery.

GALLERY: 2011 Chevy Corvette Z06 Carbon Edition

Fiat has announced an agreement with Russian automaker Sollers to bring its newly-acquired Jeep brand to Russia. Two automakers have formed a partnership that will see Sollers produce Jeep models in Russia, where there is significant demand for small SUVs.

Two models said to be part of future production plans include the Compass an Patriot, which will come with 2.0-liter and 2.4-liter gasoline and diesel 4-cylinder engines.

The Fiat-Sollers plant, located 600 miles east of Russia is where the Jeep models will be assembled. With a total production capability of 500,000 units, Jeeps are expected to account for roughly 150,000 units annually.

The move is part of a larger plan by Fiat to introduce Chrysler brand products to new markets throughout the world in order to eventually take full control of Chrysler.

[Source: InsideLine]

Over the past year, Chevy has been proud of the success of the new Camaro, with sales exceeding targets. The Camaro sold 61,648 units in 2009, just shy of the Mustang with 66,623, despite the fact that the Camaro wasn’t even on sale for a whole year. But now it appears as though the Camaro’s success has come at the expense of another Chevy, the iconic Corvette. Surprisingly, according to Wards Automotive data, the Camaro is the most cross-shopped vehicle with the Corvette, despite the significant price difference ($18,000) and performance potential.

Last year all sports cars saw a big dip in sales, but the Corvette really got rocked, with units sold down 48.3 percent compared to the year before. It’s not yet clear if this trend will continue as many factors may have contributed to potential Corvette buyers opting for a Camaro instead. The economic downturn is an obvious factor, as is the fact that the Camaro boasts a brand new style and is new on the market, while the current C6 Corvette has been around for over half a decade. Then there’s the obvious fact that a base Corvette and a top-level Camaro SS have roughly the same horsepower.

Supporting the Camaro cannibalization theory, however, is the fact that while sports cars often rely on high-volume V6 sales, up to two-thirds of Camaro buyers opted for the V8. How many of them were really interested in a Corvette we’ll never known.

[Source: Wards Automotive]

Back in 1980, General Motors toyed with the idea of producing a 4-door Corvette America. A prototype was built but the project was later dropped. As absurd as the concept sounds, GM now appears to be revisiting the idea and with Porsche seeing great success with its Panamera, the 4-door Vette might very well see reality three decades later.

According to a report by Wards Automotive, news of the rebirth of the Corvette America comes from none other than soon-to-retire GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz, although its not clear that a 4-door Vette would actually wear the Corvette name. In fact, we’d think such a model would make more sense as a Cadillac, although considering the CTS-V, there might not be enough to differentiate the two.

Creating a 4-door Corvette would also allow Chevy to introduce a higher-volume V6-powered version, an idea it has debated in the past with the 2-door Corvette as a way to attract female buyers and those less interested in the car’s V8 performance and more its stylish good looks.

Aficionados of the car will no doubt have great disdain for the idea, but it may help GM reduce costs, increase profitability and offer a unique product. Would it devalue the Corvette name? Probably not, considering the Panamera doesn’t seem to have hurt the Porsche 911. Would it be hideous? Quite possibly. But again, that hasn’t seem to hamper sales of Porsche’s new 4-door.

[Source: Wards Automotive]

Not only does Ford’s new 5.0-liter V8 for the 2011 Mustang GT make incredible amounts of horsepower, but it also achieves best-in-class fuel economy. Thanks in part to a new six-speed transmission and Ford’s Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT), it gets 17/26 mpg (city/highway) with the automatic and 18/25 mpg with the manual.  This is an improvement over the 15/22 mpg (auto) and 15/23 (manual) rating for the old 4.6-liter V8, while delivering almost 100 more horsepower. The V6 Mustang also gets a class-best rating of 19/31 mpg (automatic)

In comparison, the new 2011 Mustang GT edges out the Camaro SS which has a rating of 16/25 mpg with the auto and 16/24 mpg with the automatic.

We’re sure most Mustang GT shoppers won’t be too concerned with fuel economy numbers, but less money spent at the pumps is always a good thing – especially if you’re looking to throw on a few aftermarket parts.

Official release after the jump:

Originally scheduled for use in the SRT and Ram Heavy Duty pickups, a newly developed 6.4-liter V8 gasoline engine is now only headed for high-performance car duty. According to Joe Veltri, Chrysler’s VP of product development, the new engine is designed for high performance and not the sort of physical labor that a truck requires. While no specifics have been provided on the engine, it is believed that the 6.4-liter Hemi (which is set to replace the 6.1-liter Hemi) will get Fiat’s Multiair variable valve timing technology as well as cylinder deactivation to significantly improve fuel economy.

Instead, Chrysler appears to be looking at ways to improve the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 currently available to give it added capability. While Veltri sees a need for continued availability of a gasoline engine in the HD trucks, Chrysler is also currently in talks with Cummins to produce a smaller diesel engine that could be used in both the standard Ram 1500 models and as an alternative base engine in the heavy duty trucks.

Being that Chrysler is now owned by Fiat and the importance European automakers place on diesel technology, we expect to see more diesels pop up in the Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep range in the future. A while it’s still not likely that diesel cars will catch on in North America, more diesel engines on the truck side could help Chrysler to become a more competitive player with the other big-two.

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Chrysler is moving ahead with plans to deliver its light-duty Ram pickups with a diesel option, sourced from none-other than the automaker’s long-time heady duty diesel partner, Cummins.

Joe Veltri, VP of product planning at Chrysler told PickupTrucks.com that they are currently in discussions with Cummins, commenting that, “There’s no contract [with Cummins], but [a light-duty diesel] is in our plan.”

Chrysler had planed to introduce a diesel for the Ram 1500 already, but any existing contracts were voided when Chrysler filed for bankruptcy over the summer. The rumored new engine is said to be a 5.0-liter V8 that Veltri says could also be used in the heavy duty pickups as well, something that would certainly give Dodge (or the new Ram brand we should say) a unique offering in the light-duty truck segment.

With talks ongoing, there’s still no word on when a light-duty diesel Ram could make it to market.

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Ahead of its official reveal later today, Ford has released several images of the Taurus-based Police Interceptor. Ford will offer a Taurus cruiser to take over for the Crown Vic, which is set to finally be eliminated for the Ford fleet in September of 2011.

Ford still hasn’t released any info on the new car, but we’re excited about the potential of an SHO version, using Ford’s powerful and efficient EcoBoost twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6. Interestingly, unlike the Crown Vic and pretty much most police cruisers, the Taurus isn’t rear-wheel drive. Standard Taurus models are front-drive, while the SHO comes exclusively in AWD.

This new Taurus Interceptor is just the latest domestic model to join the competition for police fleet sales, with Dodge’s Charger Interceptor and Chevy recently announcing an all-new cruiser, based on the Australian Zeta rear-drive platform.

GALLERY: Ford Taurus Police Interceptor