General Motors will invest $117 million in the Oshawa Assembly Plant in preparation to build the all-new Cadillac XTS. This move will also solidify 400 jobs on the company’s felixble assembly line. The XTS has been designed to compete against other large luxury cars, and production should begin in the first half of 2012.

“This investment further extends the capabilities of the award-winning Oshawa Assembly Plant and pays compliment to the achievements of its dedicated workforce, one that consistently strives for excellence,” said Kevin Williams, president and managing director of General Motors of Canada. “Adding the Cadillac XTS affirms GM’s commitment to a strong manufacturing base in Canada, ensuring Oshawa will have a critical role in the ongoing transformation of Cadillac.

Last year, the plant underwent significant change to produce the Chevrolet Equinox, the Chevrolet Camaro Convertivle and the Buick Regal. This production change added two new shifts and 1,300 employees. The plant also builds the Chevy Impala and employs over 4,500 workers. GM Canada employs more than 10,000 people accross the coutnry.

The XTS concept car was unveiled last year and the final production model wil debut in the coming months.

The next version of the Chevrolet Impala won’t arrive until 2013 as a 2014 model. It will continue to be a front-drive only vehicle and will share a similar architecture to the upcoming Cadillac XTS flagship. Both vehicles will be built by GM Canada at the Oshawa, Ontario plant.

According to a report by GMI, GM’s new Executive Committee had approved these plans for a new Impala.

With the current Impala already long-in-the-tooth, there have been rumors that General Motors will release an updated version of the current car some time soon to keep it competitive. Chrysler is planning on releasing refreshed versions of the 300C and Charger, although all of these models have had long life cycles compared to the new Ford Taurus.

[Source: GMInsideNews]

The last time the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro was spied, it was outside the car’s production facility in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. These latest spy shots come from the other side of the world.

GMInsideNews forum member isszy captured two photos of eight of the drop-top Camaros at a Holden facility in Fisherman’s Bend, Australia.

The Camaro Convertible was originally scheduled to debut as a 2010 model, but due to GM’s recent financial troubles the project was put on hold. Now that GM is out of bankruptcy, the economy appears headed for a rebound and the Camaro coupe is such a big success for the still-struggling automaker, the Camaro Convertible is back on track for a 2010 debut as a 2011 model.

GALLERY: 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible Spy Photos

[Source: GMInsideNews]

General Motors can barely keep up with demand for the new 2010 Chevrolet Camaro, but that won’t stop the American automaker from bringing the car to less traditional markets. According to German car magazine Auto Motor und Sport, which cites and executive at Chevrolet Germany, the Camaro will go on sale in Europe in the near future

We don’t know how soon Europeans will be able to buy a Camaro, which models will be offered or what pricing will be.

Currently the Camaro is priced at $23,040 for the 306hp V6 model and $35,425 for th3 425hp SS. This works out to roughly 16,400 and 25,215 Euros, but due to shipping and importing costs (as well as numerous other factors), we expect pricing to be above that.

Presumably the European Camaro will be available as a 2011 model as some changes will be required to meet European regulations.

Currently GM has the Camaro’s Oshawa, Canada assembly plant running overtime to try and keep up with demand on this side of the Atlantic.

[Source: Auto Motor und Sport via WorldCarFans]

Cadillac’s replacement for the top-level DTS sedan is to be called the XTS and will be built alongside several other GM products at the company’s Oshawa, Canada plant. Production is expected to begin in December of 2011, making the DTS a 2012 model.

The XTS will be based on the company’s Epsilon platform, which will also underpin the new Regal and the upcoming Impala. All three vehicles will be built in Oshawa, which will give GM significant flexibility in production to meet market demands. Previously GM used a less flexible production plan with whole plants or lines dedicated to one vehicle.

The Regal will begin production in August of 2011, while the next Impala will start in February of 2013 – meaning that the current Impala is scheduled to hang on until then.

Along with the new Camaro, a hybrid offering will also be built in Oshawa and while there is no indication on what that hybrid model will be it is expected to be a version of one of either the Regal, Impala or XTS.

[Source: National Post]

The Camaro Convertible has been an on-again, off-again model for Chevy. Officially, it is now on-again and in case you don’t believe the rumors, here are a few pics of the car sitting outside GM’s Oshawa, Canada plant – where the new Camaro is assembled.

No doubt the decision to go ahead with the car as a 2011 model was made after the popularity of the hard-top, with 14,000 pre-orders. In fact, the Camaro plant in Oshawa is running at heightened capacity and the summer brake has been delayed in an effort to keep up with demand.

With few convertibles offered any more, GM is poised to grab a big portion of the drop-top market. We would also expect that fleet sales of the convertible to rental car agencies could be high, especially if Chrysler eliminates the Sebring Convertible.

Sales of the Camaro Convertible are also likely to be majority V6 models and as the hard-top gets 30 highway mpg, we can expect similarly high numbers for the open-air machine. No doubt the car’s fuel-economy factored in to the green-lighting of the project by GM’s new bosses.

After reviewing the hard-top, we’re certain a convertible version is a good plan. The car’s comfortable sedan-like ride will work well for top-down cruising and we definitely won’t be able to complain about a lack of head room. With the Camaro’s curb weight in excess of 3,800 lbs, however, expect the drop-top to weight in at over 4,000 lbs.

[Source: Autoblog]

[Photo Credit: Brad Miller]