GMC auto news

REPORT: Workers with union desk jobs being sent back to factory floor

In an action that is symbolic of the changes America's auto industry is undergoing, the cushy "union desk job" is reportedly about to disappear for many. According to The Detroit Free Press, UAW bosses at post-bankrupt Chrysler and General Motors plants are informing hundreds of elected and appointed colleagues that their desk jobs are being sent back to the factory floor.

The Detroit 3 have always paid for union workers at each plant to support labor-management initiatives, conduct union elections, and handle grievances. Most of these "desk jobs" were not at the plant, and they were reportedly enved by those required to do labor-intensive work in the factories. As such, the news is welcomed by those on the assembly line. "These people had cushy jobs," said Zeigler Johnson, a worker at Chrysler's Warren Truck plant. "Some of them could use a taste of life on the floor to remind them we still make trucks around here."

All told, the UAW is eliminating about 300 positions at Chrysler, while GM expects the change to impact less than 500 workers. The new positions are expected to take effect within the next 60 days.

Officially Official: GMC adds hybrid model to Yukon Denali SUV

General Motors has finally added the 2-Mode Hybrid powertrain to its top-level GMC Yukon Denali. There aren't any mechanical changes to the gas-electric drivetrain that's been available since 2008 in the standard-grade Yukon and its platform mates, the Chevrolet Tahoe and Cadillac Escalade. All of which means we'll see a 6.0-liter Vortec V8 engine with 332 horsepower and 367 lb-ft of torque and up to a 6,200-pound towing capacity.

According to GM, the hybrid hardware is mostly contained in the 2-Mode Electrically Variable Transmission, which features twin electric motors powered by a 300-volt nickel metal hydride battery pack. Expect EPA fuel economy ratings of 21 city, 22 highway for two-wheel drive models and 20/20 when equipped with four-wheel drive.

As far as mechanical changes go, the Denali Hybrid will bring the first application of GM's MagnaRide suspension system to the Yukon. As you'd expect in a top-level SUV, the Denali Hybrid will come fully loaded straight from the factory - the only three options will be a sunroof, rear-seat entertainment DVD system and side blind spot alert mirrors. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Gallery: 2010 GMC Yukon Hybrid and Denali Hybrid

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Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 7.8.09

	Review: 2010 Cadillac SRX Cadillac wants the all-new SRX to be more expressive inside and out with state-of-the-art technology and superior driving dynamics. Does the 2010 SRX have what it takes?		Spy Shot: Redesigned Lincoln MKX Lincoln's new split-wing grille debuted on the MKS, has migrated to the MKZ and was expanded for the MKT three-row crossover, and now it's set to appear on the redesigned MKX crossover.
	Michael Bay made Megan Fox wash Ferrari for audition Since the role of Mikaela Banes required Fox to act as sexy as she already looks, we can see why Bay chose for her to wash a Ferrari as part of the audition, but the fact that the 'audition' took place at his home and the tape has gone missing does seem a bit "casting couch" to us.	Other news of import 2010 Hyundai Sonata spied with little camo Second New Grand Bentley teaser released BMW 5 Series GT may push out 5 Series Wagon Jay Leno filming Top Gear UK? Chevy targets gay demo with Camaro marketing Lexus IS convertibles selling like hot cakes

Numbers Don't Lie: Silverado beats out F-150 as America's best-selling light-duty pickup

Quick - What's the best-selling light-duty pickup truck in America? Did you say the Ford F-150? Not so fast. According to the J.D. Power Information Network (via our friends at PickupTrucks.com), General Motors sold more Chevy Silverado 1500 pickups (119,959 units) in June that Ford sold F-150s (107,778 units), and that's not a fluke.

It seems that the automakers don't actually break out the sales of each pickup line when reporting overall figures, so Ford lumps all F-Series (F-150, F-250, F-350...) sales together when it correctly lays claim to the title of Best-Selling Pickup Line in America. Ford's Super Duty series commands nearly 50-percent of the HD pickup market, which puts the Blue Oval on top of the overall sales race.

Interestingly, all three American automakers picked up full-size pickup market share at the expense of Nissan and especially Toyota, which saw sales of its Tundra plummet from 76,516 units to just 36,106 units in June of 2009 compared to one year ago. Click here for the full breakdown of full-size truck sales data.

WSJ Column: Higher gas taxes better strategy than CAFE to save GM

Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford and AutoNation CEO Mike Jackson were just two voices that spoke out in favor of a higher gas tax earlier this year. While we took the Cato Institute's Alan Reynolds to task for muddying the waters of the "Toyota-licensed hybrid Fusion", there's reason to look deeper at his argument (published in The Wall Street Journal) which maintains that a higher gas tax isn't just a good way to encourage sensible car purchases, it also stands to be helpful in saving troubled domestic automakers like General Motors. Reynolds writes:

The federal fuel tax is highest on the most efficient fuel (diesel) and below zero on the least efficient fuel (ethanol). Cars get about 30% better mileage on diesel than on gasoline, and cars running mainly on gasoline get about 30% better mileage than they would using 85% ethanol.

To stop distorting consumer choices, simply apply the same 24-cent-a-gallon federal tax to gasoline and ethanol as we do to diesel. This would add funds to the depleted federal highway trust. More importantly, it would remove an irrational tax penalty on buying diesel-powered cars -- arguably the most cost-effective way to improve mileage without reducing car size or performance.

Gallery: Paris 2008: Chevrolet Cruze

2010 GMC Terrain priced from $24,995*

When the 2010 GMC Terrain begins rolling out of General Motors' CAMI assembly facility in Ingersoll, Ontario and into dealerships this September, the new CUV will be clutching a $24,999 sticker price (including a $745 destination charge). For that sum, buyers will get GM's latest direct injected four-cylinder engine, in this case displacing 2.4-liters and producing 182 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque.

Perhaps more importantly, this engine manages to deliver an EPA-estimated 32 miles per gallon on the highway, a class-leading figure. Also available will be a 3.0-liter direct injected V6 engine with 264 horsepower and 222 pound-feet of torque, a GPS navigation system and a rear-seat DVD infotainment system. The least expensive all-wheel-drive model will go for $26,745.

Standard safety equipment includes six airbags, StabiliTrak vehicle stability control and GM's excellent OnStar service. On the technology front, every GMC Terrain will come equipped with a rear-view camera system, six-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system with USB connectivity and XM satellite radio. Stepping up a few notches to the top-rung SLT2 trim will bring leather seating surfaces, an upgraded sound system from Pioneer, power liftgate and a sunroof for $29,995. Click past the break for an official press release.

Gallery: 2010 GMC Terrain Live

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Autoblog Podcast #131

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Episode #131 of the Autoblog Podcast is here. Chris, Sam, and Dan sat down and kicked the ball around. The most important news when we rolled our recorders was the Supreme Court's staying of Chrysler's deal with Fiat. Staying with Fiat, we also kibbitzed about the nameplate's showing in a new J.D. Power satisfaction study. Ferrari's green efforts are next in our bombsights before we touch on GM's winding down of its medium-duty trucks and the call from some politicos to boycott General Motors. Wrapping up, we cover a few questions and call it a night. Thanks for listening, and as always, shoot us a note at Podcast at Autoblog dot com.

Follow the jump to subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, add the show to your RSS aggregator... or listen to it right now!

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REPORT: GMAC gets another $7.5B from U.S gov't.

Founded in 1919, and traditionally a longtime lender to General Motors dealers and customers, the government recently ordered GMAC to extend the same lending offers to Chrysler dealers and their customers. "This new arrangement with GMAC will help provide a reliable source of financing to both auto dealers and customers seeking to buy cars," said Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. Approximately $4 billion of the new infusion will support go to support dealer and retail loans for the Chrysler brand, while the remaining $3.5 billion is designed help GMAC address its capital needs in order to survive.

GM recalls Camaro, Traverse, SUVs/pickups for various issues

REPORT: RWD Commodore platform could underpin Caddies, G8 GT could make a comeback

With Pontiac's death official, Holden stands to lose around $1 billion annually with the demise of the Pontiac G8. However, Holden doesn't plan to go quiet into night. The Aussie automaker has drawn up plans to offer the rear-wheel drive Commodore platform to Cadillac and GMC.

Although GM's CEO, Fritz Henderson, has confirmed that the G8 won't live on, there's a chance it could be used by law enforcement in the States, and with Cadillac's recent attempts to inject more RWD models into the mix (save the Epsilon II-based sub-CTS), the Zeta architecture could be used for a new line of Caddies.

More interestingly, with GMC safe - for now - from sharing a grave with Pontiac (not to mention the inevitable liquidation of Hummer, Saab and Saturn), Holden could make a case for importing the stillborn G8 ST 'ute to the U.S. as a fuel-efficient alternative to GMC's otherwise big and thirsty pick-ups. Where there's a niche, GM normally likes to fill it, and while the case for the Zeta-based Cadillacs could be made -- particularly as GM seeks to downsize the platform to aid its survival -- the G8 ST's revival seems far less plausible.

Gallery: 2010 Pontiac G8 Sport Truck