One of the stand-out cars at this year’s North American International Auto Show, the Cadillac ATS looks extremely promising. In the 4th installment of Cadillac’s “The Journey” series, we witness GM’s commitment behind this product, from conception, to development, to its debut at the Detroit Auto Show.

Tuned during Nurburgring shakedown testing, the ATS aims to take on the best of what Germany has to offer– the luxury compact sedan segment. Weighing less than 3,400 lbs, the ATS is expected to carry 100 lbs less than either an Audi A4 or Mercedes-Benz C-Class. What’s more, the ATS will also possess an all-original chassis attaining 50/50 weight distribution, must like the segment leading BMW 3-series. But most of all, the party piece of the ATS’ handling dynamics will be its magnetic ride shocks– a first in this segment.

The Cadillac will come with as many engine trim options as its German rivals, offering a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder base power plant producing 200-hp, a 270-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder and a 318-hp 3.6-liter V6. Expect a diesel engine offering later in the ATS lifecycle as well.

A lot rests upon the ATS as its success will draw implications to Cadillac’s future in the global market. GM North America President Mark Reuss is confident, boldly introducing the ATS at the Detroit Auto Show as, “this is the car to finally challenge the German cars at their own game and win.”

GALLERY: 2013 Cadillac ATS

Watch the 4th video of “The Journey” series below and look out for an appearance by AutoGuide’s very own Editor-in-Chief Colum Wood!

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At present, save from slight trim and equipment (such as the Denali trim package shown above) there really isn’t much to differentiate the GMC Sierra from it’s Chevy Silverado counterpart. However, that’s set to change.

During an interview in Detroit, Mark Reuss, GM’s North American President said that for the next generation of GM full-size pickups, due for launch as 2014 models, the plan is to move the Sierra more upmarket with a greater list of standard equipment, more distinctive sheetmetal and corresponding higher sticker prices; a similar strategy has so far proved quite successful for GMC’s line of SUVs.

Such a move finally sweeps away the last vestiges of badge-engineering at America’s biggest automaker, something the “old” General Motors was notoriously known for.

“I think you will see equipment and models attacked very differently,” Reuss declared. “If we are going to carry two brands, we are going to make them pay their way.”

[Source: Autoweek]

With the craze for new smart phone apps continuing unabated, Chevrolet has jumped in with both feet releasing one that ties in with this year’s Superbowl.

Dubbed the Game Time App, it allows users of smart phones and tablets to play trivia related to the game, Tweet each other and participate in polls or contests while watching the Superbowl; with the chance to win prizes from Chevrolet and other game sponsors such as Bridgestone, Motorola, the NFL, Papa John’s Pizza and Sirius XM satellite radio. Among the prizes up for grabs are no fewer than 20 Chevrolet vehicles.

According to GM’s marketing chief Joel Ewanick, the Chevy Game Tim app, “is the first time any company has attempted such a large-scale app, which will enhance the game watching experience and help them engage in the online conversation about the Super Bowl.”

Chances to win a prize, begin the moment a viewer downloads the app to their smart phone or tablet. Upon doing so, each player receives a unique license plate number. If their particular plate appears on a Chevy commercial during the game, or online, they win a new vehicle.

The Game Time App is just one of several Superbowl initiatives being put together by GM’s Bowtie brand; others include game day live stream coverage with advertiser exclusivity on NBCSports.com, teaming up with the NFL and Twitter on the former’s NFL Huddle Site and Twitter’ s “Road to the #Superbowl,” plus automotive exclusivity for the branded USA Today Facebook Superbowl Ad Meter and additional interactivity via Chevy’s own social media channels.

“With these initiatives, the traditional ads on the Super Bowl broadcast and additional initiatives we will announce soon, we expect more than 1.5 billion impressions of our message on game day and beyond,” declared Ewanick.

To download the app, visit the Chevy Game Time site here

Earlier this month a new reports noted that Chevrolet Volt sales were more successful in its first year than the sales numbers of the Toyota Prius hybrid on its first year back in 2000. What little optimism Chevrolet might have had on the Volt’s sales performance were quickly silenced when data revealed that Toyota dealt a quick knockout as its new Prius v wagon (also in its first year) out sold the Volt. And it did so with just 10 weeks on sale.

Official numbers for Chevrolet Volt’s 2011 sales are 7,671 units delivered. Toyota managed to sell 8,399 hybrid wagons, which did not arrive to U.S. dealerships and showrooms until the last week of October.

President of Toyota U.S. Sales Jim Lentz says, “Prius v is off to a great start.” For 2012, Toyota aims to deliver 220,000 Prii to U.S. customers, a 60 percent increase from 2011. Toyota’s offensive includes offerings of the original Prius, the Pruis v wagon, and the Prius c subcompact that arrives in March.

GALLERY: Toyota Prius v wagon

[Source: Bloomberg]

Read AutoGuide’s 2012 Toyota Prius v Review here and watch the video review below:

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That’s according to a statement made by Don Chambers, chairman of the National Automobile Dealers’ Association (NADA) government relations committee.

Under the Obama administration, the plans to boost Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards to a fleet average of 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025 would require the adoption of advanced technologies for each vehicle, in order for automakers to achieve them. It would also mean that a portion of the costs in utilizing these technologies would end up being passed onto consumers, which could result in pricing a number of potential new vehicle buyers out of the market.

A study, which NADA plans to release in February will show that the costs associated with using new fuel saving technologies will be far in excess of government projections, by as much as 60 percent in fact, which means the sticker price of a new vehicle could increase by as much as $5,000.

Chambers’ comments were made during a hearing in Detroit, where members of the public are given the chance to voice their comments on the proposed CAFE regulations, before they’re finalized later this year. Two more hearings are scheduled for later this month, one on January 19 in Philadelphia, another on January 24 in San Francisco.

However, despite criticism from the NADA, the proposed CAFE regs have strong support, not only from environmental groups like the Sierra Club but also the United Auto Workers’ Union and no fewer than 13 automakers, including the Detroit triumvirate of Chrysler, Ford and General Motors.

In fact, many of those  who attended the Detroit hearing, believe that in the long run, tougher fuel economy standards will ultimately save motorists money thanks to fewer trips to the pumps, as well as reducing US dependence on foreign oil supplies.

However, German automakers Daimler AG and Volkswagen, which currently offer some of the most fuel-efficient vehicles on sale in the US, won’t back the CAFE proposal because there’s no incentive for diesel fueled vehicles.

Chambers says he supports the notion for more fuel efficient vehicles, but if it increases the price to the point that buyers can no longer obtain financing then “it makes no difference.”

Mitch Bainwol, who heads up the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers believes that, at the end of the day, consumer buying habits will ultimately decide whether automakers can actually meet the proposed Federal fuel economy standards, he also proposes a thorough mid-term review of the CAFE policy to see if the rules actually relate to fuel price trends, technological advances and consumer buying habits.

“Looking into the future, consumer purchasing patterns will be the biggest unknown,” he said, though given CAFE’s patchy track record, perhaps looking at lessons from the past could help paint a clear picture of what’s to come.

[Source: Automotive News]

Ohio Governor John Kasich and Missouri Governor Jay Nixon made a visit to Detroit this week during the North American International Auto Show in an effort to bring U.S. automotive manufacturing to their respective states.

John Kasich said, “Contrary to popular opinion, the auto industry is getting stronger.” Ohio currently possesses the second-largest automotive industry work force in the nation behind neighboring Michigan. Home to Chrysler Group, Ford Motors and Gerneral Motors, Michigan also is the home to most of the world’s automotive parts suppliers. It is also in Michigan where government regulators are tasked with policy making in auto safety, emissions and fuel economy.

The chief engineer of Honda Research and Development in Detroit, Toshiaki Shimizu said, “People may have the wrong idea. Detroit is not becoming less important. It is more important. It remains the center of the automotive industry. We all come here because we must.”

Well aware of Michigan’s relevance, Ohio Governor John Kasich and Missouri Governor Jay Nixon spoke to a number of auto executives to reach agreements that prove to be mutually beneficial. Ford committed to $1 billion over a span of four years to upgrade Ohio’s driveline manufacturing plants. Honda will invest $400 million in improvements to its Ohio facilities to prepare for the production of its new Acura NSX hybrid sports car. Chrysler will add another 1,100 jobs and invest $1.7 billion into its Jeep plants of Toledo, Ohio. GM continues to build its Chevrolet Cruze in the Lordstown, Ohio, plant and will put in another $204,000 to upgrade its Toledo transmission plant.

On his first day in office, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon assembled the Automotive Jobs Task Force to attract investments to the state. In October, Ford announced that it will spend $1.1 billion  and add another 1,600 workers to assemble the Transit van alongside the F-150 Ford pickup trucks at the Kansas City, Missouri plant. GM will also invest $380 million into its Wentzville, Missouri plant, adding another 1,660 jobs as it expands assembly to include the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon.

Nixon explains, “we are here not just to talk to the manufacturers, but also to the suppliers. As the manufacturers invest and production rises, we are asking the suppliers what we can do to help them make the investments they need to make to support this.”

[Source: Detroit News]

The Epcot Center, Walt Disney World’s theme park dedicated to human achievement, has renewed its long-term business relationship with GM and are making plans to overhaul GM’s “Test Track” amusement ride this year to re-open as the new Chevrolet Design Center. GM will also be involved with Walt Disney Imagineering of the development of the ride.

The Test Track ride opened for the public in 1999, and was intended as a ride that would educate the public of how prototype vehicles undergo a series of tests for evaluation as the visitors ride in futuristic cars rolling along inside a “GM testing facility.” The new Design Center amusement ride at Epcot will remain similar to Test Track but replaces the testing of a generic prototype with a new concept that allows visitors to design and create their own vehicles as well. Guests use interactive design and styling workstations to make up their own vehicles, and then hop aboard to experience their thrilling creation on the twisting and turning ride-course. This design workstation area is very similar to the queue elements that Walt Disney World has added to attractions in order to make waiting in line a more engaging experience. After the ride, riders can view the score their prototype received out on track to determine how well it did.

According to George Aguel, Senior Vice President of Corporate Alliances for the Walt Disney Company, “We are excited to renew our long-term alliance with General Motors. This unique agreement extends collaboration between two of the most recognized brands in the world, a relationship that spans over 30 years. The re-imagined Test Track Presented by Chevrolet will continue our shared goal of providing unique and innovative experiences that engage Disney guests in exciting and interactive ways.”

The GM Global Chief Marketing Officer Joel Ewanick adds, “As a global brand, Chevrolet is looking forward to welcoming Guests from around the world to the re-imagined Test Track. The best of Disney and the best of Chevrolet will come together to bring Guests an immersive experience in the design process of the vehicles they see on the road today and will see in the future.”

An official opening date for the Chevrolet Design Center at Epcot has not been announced.

GALLERY: GM at Epcot

The Chevrolet Volt ended the last month of 2011 with its best month of sales to date. Having sold 1,529 Volts in December, GM ended its full year of Volt sales at a total of 7,671 units for 2011.

While this figure is significantly lower than its 10,000 sales goal, Fox News noted that the Volt’s sales performance for its first year easily trump the sales performance of the Toyota Prius on its first year, which only managed to sell 5,600 units all the way back in the year 2000. Today, the Prius is the best-selling hybrid in America and Toyota has sold 136,463 units of Prius models in 2011.

Going forward, Chevrolet aims to sell 45,000 Volts for 2012 and reach a round 60,000 total units worldwide. An ambitious goal, Chevrolet will have to sell a lot more Volts for every quarter of 2012 than the total number of Volts it sold for all of 2011.

[Source: Fox News]

According to Chris Lee, a spokesman for General Motors, the automaker is planning a 21-week suspension at its assembly plants that build full-size trucks and SUVs, namely Fort Wayne Indiana, Flint, Michigan,  Arlington, Texas and Silao, Mexico.

The reason, is to allow time for the General to re-tool these facilities so they can switch over to the updated 2013 full-size pickups, of which production is scheduled to begin during the latter half of next year. The idle is slated to begin at the Fort Wayne plant in January, with a seven week idle schedule planned through October, while the Flint and Arlington facilities will start their idling process in June, with seven and five weeks planned through November and December respectively. As for the Silao facility that produces full-size trucks and SUVs, GM has said it will announce that plant’s idling schedule in the new year.

In preparation for the changeover and to ensure adequate supply for dealers, GM has been ramping up production of current Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra models, aiming for around 200,000 pickups inventory by the end of the year, giving dealers around 90 days supply of 2012 models.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Considering that many rumors have been circulating about the future of the Chevrolet Camaro, ranging from the fact that it might be axed, to it being based on a version of the same platform that will underpin the Cadillac ATS (which would essentially mean no V8 option, due to lack of space under the hood),  it now appears that through the end of the decade at least, the Camaro won’t likely change too much.

Yet, aside from information apparently gleaned from inside sources at the General that the next iteration of the Camaro will debut as a 2016 model and it will retain the 6.2-liter V8, not much else is currently being revealed.

However, given that tough Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards are looming and the fact that the current Camaro is rather heavy (more than 300 lbs heavier than the Mustang, which itself is  no bantam), don’t be surprised if the 2016 model goes on a diet; GM has stated previously that the next Camaro will be dimensionally smaller, which likely also means it will be significantly lighter too. Stay tuned for further developments.

[Source: GM Inside News]