Michigan wllz

By BRYAN LAVIOLETTE
FLINT – Making a factory landfill free is obviously a great for the environment, but apparently, it’s good business as well.
John Bradburn, who is in charge of GM’s efforts to improve it’s environmental footprint, said that the company’s efforts have added $2.5 billion to its bottom line since 2007.
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By BRYAN LAVIOLETTE
AUBURN HILLS — The announcement Tuesday that Gibbs Technologies has selected a software firm to help it manage the launch of its vehicle production may sound pretty dry, but there is a nugget of news there for enthusiasts looking forward to the production of the company’s amphibious vehicles.

“It’s a clear indication that they’re now moving forward rather rapidly to get vehicles into production,” Gibbs spokesman Larry Weis said.

Read the full story on Amphibious wllz.

Ever think about trying to put a tasmanian devil on a leash? That’s about what it’s like to drive the Mazdaspeed 3.

Read the full review on mlive.

By BRYAN LAVIOLETTE

I used to laugh at the folly that was General Motors. Time after time, GM would follow a familiar pattern with ground-breaking products.

- Some of GM’s best and brightest come up with a ground-breaking new product, something that truly could change the automotive industry.

- Bean counters force the designers and engineers to cobble the thing together with parts-bin pieces and then push them to get it on the road before it’s ready.

- Continue fine-tuning the vehicle after it has gone on sale, essentially turning customers into final development engineers.

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By BRYAN LAVIOLETTE

AUBURN HILLS – It’s March, the ice is all but gone from area lakes here in Michigan and those who love summer are starting to dream of warm weather fun.

In the coming weeks, Gibbs Technologies is expected to announce production of the Quadski, its long-awaited amphibious all-terrain vehicle.
Continue reading Gibbs Quadski announcement expected soon

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Make no mistake, General Motors officials believe the Chevy Volt will change the world when it goes on sale late this year.

“There is a strong desire to go to electrically driven transportation,” said Cristi Landy, GM’s marketing manager for the Volt, speaking to Michigan wllz via Skype from the floor of the Washington Auto Show.
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By BRYAN LAVIOLETTE

Mike Davis of the Detroit Bureau thinks antique military World War II DUKWs or “Ducks” as they were commonly known could help aid workers deliver supplies to Haiti following the earthquake.

http://www.thedetroitbureau.com/2010/01/wwii-ducks-could-aid-haiti-relief/

But in the future, Gibbs Technologies has a better idea. Among other vehicles, Gibbs is working on some first responder rescue vehicles as well as amphibious military vehicles which would be ideally suited to the task.
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By BRYAN LAVIOLETTE
Michigan wllz

DETROIT — Maybe last year’s show set this year’s up for a letdown.

At the 2009 show, General Motors went on the offensive with major announcements about its plans for a battery research facility, Chevy Volt production plans, partnership programs with battery manufacturers and a new Cadillac concept using the Volt’s technology.

It was exciting because GM, facing the toughest trials of its existence, went on the offensive and actually wrested the fuel economy lead away from Toyota.

But on Monday, Toyota and Ford went on their own offensives. Jim Lentz, head of Toyota’s U.S. sales arm, said that the company planned to develop a “family” of Prius hybrid vehicles. It also announced that there are eight new hybrid models in the pipeline and that the company plans to increase global hybrid production from 530,000 in 2009 to 1 million within the next couple of years.

Lentz went on to say that the company is approaching what it calls “sustainable mobility” with a four-prong approach that includes the company’s hybrids, plug-in hybrids, fuel cell vehicles and battery electric vehicles.

Toyota has already announced a new plug-in Prius that the company will build in limited numbers later this year. Lentz also said that the company plans to market a fuel cell vehicle by 2015.

So what was on GM’s agenda regarding fuel economy? GM showed production versions of the Chevy Spark and Cruze, vehicles it has shown previously. It also showed a sporty concept of the next generation Chevy Aveo and of course the Volt.

It also showed an urban utility vehicle concept for GMC called the Granite,  a Denali version of the GMC Acadia and a Buick Regal called the GS.

As for big announcements about advanced powertrains, GM officials didn’t offer much. It still has a press conference scheduled for Tuesday to talk about plans for Cadillac, but no major announcements on fuel economy are expected.

At last year’s show, GM showed the Cadillac Converj concept using the Volt’s high-tech powertrain. Some had hoped that GM would announce that the Converj was a go, but right now, all that is expected is for Cadillac to show the CTS-V Coupe.

Ford also stepped up with some major announcements. The Dearborn automaker announced plans to invest $450 million and create 1,000 jobs to build lithium ion batteries for hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

“This investment underscores how serious we are about delivering a range of electrified vehicles to customers — including hybrids, plug-in hybrids and pure electric vehicles,” Bill Ford Jr., Ford’s executive chairman, said in a statement.

DETROIT — Add David Cole to the list of automotive experts who think a modern amphibious car is going to be a tough sell.

Cole, chairman of the Center for Automotive Research, said he’s not sure the market for amphibious cars that Gibbs Technologies is counting on is going to be very big.

To read the full story, visit Amphibious wllz