Tag Archives: Chevrolet Traverse

Report: GM Lambda crossovers are the most American Made according to new index

April 12, 2013 Bartle Doo Leave a comment

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There are plenty of reasons to appreciate the Chevrolet Traverse, Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia, but it seems that these crossovers have what it takes to wear the title of America’s most American vehicle. And who better to determine this than Washington, DC-based American University? Frank DuBois, an associate professor at this university’s Kogod School of Business, has come up with a new model for determining which cars have the highest content of US-sourced labor and parts, and he named the General Motors Lambda-platform triplets as the most “American made.”

Digging a little deeper than Cars.com did in naming the Toyota Camry at the top of its American-Made Index last year, the Kogod list factors in profit margin (where the automaker is headquartered), research and development, and information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration American Automobile Labeling Act (AALA). Each vehicle was given a percentage score based on seven criteria, and the Traverse, Enclave and Acadia had the top Index Score of 88.5 out of 100.

Unlike the Cars.com top 10 list that had five “import” cars, the university’s top 10 (which actually consists of 34 vehicles) only has one, the tenth-place Toyota Avalon. Oddly enough, the six-way tie for tenth place also included the Buick Regal, which was given a full score for research and development despite being derived from a European-designed Opel. Head on over to the Kogod website to see the full list of vehicles on the American Auto Index, and let us know what you think in the comments below.

GM Lambda crossovers are the most American Made according to new index originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Apr 2013 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

Housing Recovery Helps Boost March Auto Sales

April 2, 2013 Bartle Doo Leave a comment

By Reuters

Filed under: General Motors, Transportation, Automotive Industry, Ford, Manufacturing, Auto Loans

Nati Harnik/AP

By Ben Klayman and Deepa Seetharaman

DETROIT — U.S. sales of sport-utility vehicles and pickup trucks jumped in March, spurred by rising home prices and an increase in housing construction, major automakers said on Tuesday.

The performance of SUVs and trucks outpaced gains in the broader U.S. auto market, but March is still expected to be the fifth straight month that the auto industry’s annual sales pace will be above 15 million vehicles.

General Motors Co. (GM) said the stronger housing market helped its sales to small businesses climb by nearly a third. The largest U.S. automaker also posted a 31 percent sales gain in crossovers vehicles, such as the Chevrolet Traverse, while its overall sales were up 6.4 percent.

Ford Motor Co. (F), the No. 2 U.S. automaker, posted a 16.3 percent rise in sales of its F-Series pickup trucks and a 15.4 percent spike in sales of SUVs, such as the Escape.

“The housing sector recovery is in full swing,” Ford economist Jenny Lin told reporters and analysts.

The U.S. housing sector is starting to contribute to growth after years of dragging down the broader economy. Rising home values are helping U.S. consumers feel more confident about buying a new vehicle, GM and Ford executives said.

Home prices in 20 metropolitan areas rose 8.1 percent in January from a year earlier, the biggest 12-month rise since June 2006. Meanwhile, U.S. home builders are breaking ground on more new houses this year, boosting sales of pickup trucks.

In about a month, GM will launch two new truck models, the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra. Ford is planning an overhaul of its F-150 next year.

Executives said pent-up demand also continued to fuel sales gains in March. The average age of vehicles on U.S. roads is more than 11 years, an all-time high, and many consumers can no longer put off buying a replacement.

“The economic picture looks pretty similar to the last couple of months, which helps explain why the industry has stayed in a relatively healthy range,” Kurt McNeil, head of GM‘s U.S. sales operations, said during a conference call.

“Business spending has picked up and pent-up demand for vehicles is offsetting any drag from tax or federal spending issues,” he added.

Ford Beats, GM Misses

Auto sales each month are an early indicator of economic health. The auto industry is in the midst of its fourth year of recovery from an economic downturn that pushed GM and Chrysler into bankruptcy in 2009.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters were expecting an annual sales rate of 15.3 million vehicles in March. GM estimated the rate would come in around 15.2 million.

GM‘s results fell short of the estimates of at least three …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Automobiles

2013 Chevrolet Traverse LTZ FWD Review & Test Drive

March 14, 2013 Bartle Doo Leave a comment

By Malcolm Hogan

The decision for GM to utilize their Lambda SUV platform for the Chevrolet brand has paid off well as the new 2013 Chevrolet Traverse ventures into its 4^th year to receive new front and rear end styling and interior refreshing to further refine their 8-passenger crossover utility vehicle.

The all-new 2013 Chevrolet Traverse gets a restyled front fascia that somewhat mimics the brand’s new language rolling out to many of the new 2014 Chevrolet models. Moreover, the inside of the new 2013 Traverse gets new interior materials and re-worked infotainment system. Sharing its Lambda platform with the well-perceived GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave, the Traverse sets forth a great combination of a cavernous cabin with 116 cubic feet behind the first row of seats, a willing 288 horsepower V6 engine in the LTZ trim getting up to 24 mpg on the highway, and versatile seating arrangements for up to 8 adults.

The formula that remains in the Chevrolet Traverse ever since its introduction as a 2009 model, is a crossover utility vehicle that does not compromise interior room, fuel efficiency or desired pulling power. All of these entities find themselves working in harmony to offer the consumer an excellent alternative to large truck-based SUVs without the wallet-sapping costs that come with it.

The new 2013 Chevrolet Traverse, with a total of three trim levels (LS, LT and LTZ) gives you the versatility of configuring the large SUV to your specific needs. Front row passengers enjoy plenty of head and legroom while the second row get the option of captain chairs that slide forward and backwards with a reclining feature. Opting for the comfortable second row captains chairs brings the seating capacity down to 7 passengers. The easily accessible third row seats tend to be a bit low to the floor but still provide enough space for 3 adults.

Cargo space is plentiful and easy to access. Although the 2^nd row seats do not fold into the floor, they can easily be folded out of the way or completely removed to open up the full 116 cubic feet of cargo space behind the front row seats. The 3^rd row seats easily fold flat through rear latches. The power liftgate and relatively low loading surface is also an inviting aspect of the Traverse’s hauling abilities. Towing is rated at a maximum of 5,200 pounds while the payload rating is just over 6,400 pounds.

Adding an extra dash to the luxury equation when opting for the top-ranging LTZ trim, the new Chevrolet Traverse offers up eight-way power perforated leather heated and ventilated front seats, heated leather steering wheel, power-folding mirrors, power rear liftgate, tri-zone automatic climate control, and the MyLink infotainment interface featuring Bluetooth streaming audio, smartphone app integration and voice activation.

The new MyLink infotainment system in …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Automotive Addicts

Automobiles

Official: Toyota confirms 2014 Highlander is in a New York state of mind

March 13, 2013 Bartle Doo Leave a comment

By Steven J. Ewing

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Toyota has confirmed that it will be showing off the all-new 2014 Highlander at the New York Auto Show later this month. It’s been a while since we’ve heard about the updated Highlander, but given just how long this thing has been on the market, we certainly hope that the list of changes will be more extensive than the new 2014 Toyota Tundra that debuted in Chicago last month.

Currently, the Highlander is offered in both naturally aspirated and hybrid versions, with front- and all-wheel drive. We don’t expect the formula to change too much, since sales of the Japanese CUV are still steady – well in line with newer players in the segment like the Ford Explorer, Nissan Pathfinder and GM’s Lambda triplets (Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave).

We’ll have the full skinny on the new Highlander in the coming weeks. For now, scroll down to read Toyota’s incredibly brief press blast.

Continue reading Toyota confirms 2014 Highlander is in a New York state of mind

Toyota confirms 2014 Highlander is in a New York state of mind originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.