GM opens doors to Global Battery Systems Lab in Michigan

General Motors today opened the doors to its 33,000 square feet battery research and development plant in Michigan. GM says that the facility will play a major part in accelerating its move to electric-vehicles such as the upcoming 2011 Chevrolet Volt.

Known as the Global Battery Systems Lab, the Warren, Michigan plant will be used to test and build lithium-ion batteries for GM vehicles.

GM CEO Fritz Henderson and Jennifer Granholm were at the opening ceremony for the plant, which will employ 1,000 engineers.

“The new global GM battery lab will benefit consumers across America by helping us advance the development of battery technology in the United States and put cleaner, more efficient vehicles on the road more quickly and affordably,” Henderson. “Our new lab improves GM’s competitiveness by speeding the development of our hybrid, plug-in and extended-range electric vehicles, including the Chevrolet Volt.”

GM said that it will use supply lithium-ion battery cells, electronic components and control hardware provided by LG Chem for the Chevrolet Volt.

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Press Release:

GM Opens Most Technologically Advanced Automotive Battery Lab In The United States

* Reinforces the New GM’s commitment to advanced technology leadership
* Will accelerate the domestic development of advanced battery technology and lead GM’s network of existing battery labs in Honeoye Falls, N.Y.; Warren, Mich.; and Mainz-Kastel, Germany
* Capable of testing all current battery systems, including lithium-ion, as well as new energy storage technologies such as ultracapacitors for GM’s extended-range electric, plug-in, hybrid and fuel cell vehicles

WARREN, Mich. - General Motors expanded its significant battery research and development capabilities today by opening the largest and most technologically advanced battery lab in the United States on its Technical Center campus here.

The new Global Battery Systems Lab will lead GM’s global advanced battery engineering resources and expedite the introduction of electrically driven vehicles, including the Chevrolet Volt, as well as plug-in hybrid and hybrid-electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles.

“The new global GM battery lab will benefit consumers across America by helping us advance the development of battery technology in the United States and put cleaner, more efficient vehicles on the road more quickly and affordably,” said Fritz Henderson, GM president and CEO. “Our new lab improves GM’s competitiveness by speeding the development of our hybrid, plug-in and extended-range electric vehicles, including the Chevrolet Volt.”

The Global Battery Systems Lab spans 33,000 sq. ft. - four times larger than GM’s previous Tech Center battery lab - and will be used by GM’s growing team of more than 1,000 engineers working on advanced batteries and electrically driven vehicles.

Planning began in December 2007 and construction started in August 2008. Operations began in January - nine months ahead of schedule. The lab became fully functional in May, equipped with 160 test channels and 42 thermal chambers duplicating extreme real-world driving patterns, hot and cold temperatures and calendar life. The lab’s maximum power capacity is 6 megawatts, or enough electricity to provide power to approximately 1,400 homes.

“This facility is state-of-the-art and represents one of the largest and most capable battery test labs in the world,” said Jim Queen, GM group vice president, Global Engineering. “More than half of the lab is dedicated to testing the electrochemical battery cells and their enclosures, known as modules, a capability not available in GM’s previous battery lab. The lab’s remaining floor space is committed to evaluating completed battery packs.”

The Global Battery Systems Lab was built within GM’s Alternative Energy Center facility, and includes many environmentally friendly features such as a center hallway with high-efficiency LED lighting and a floor made from recycled tires. Approximately 90 percent of the electricity used for battery testing can be returned to the local energy grid for use by homeowners and businesses.

Additional new benefits offered by the Global Battery Systems Lab include a thermal shaker table for battery structural integrity testing, a battery teardown area for failure analysis and competitor benchmarking, an integrated test automation system and improved Design of Experiments methodology - an information-gathering exercise that allows GM to perform more thorough battery tests more quickly.

The Global Battery Systems Lab complements GM’s other battery labs in Mainz-Kastel, Germany, Honeoye Falls, N.Y., and the Warren Technical Center’s Research Chemical Engineering facility. The opening of the Global Battery Systems Lab is the latest move in GM’s comprehensive battery strategy, which includes ramping up “in-house” responsibility for advanced battery technology and a broad portfolio of supplier partners.

At the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, GM:

* Announced plans to establish the world’s first lithium-ion battery pack manufacturing plant operated by a major automaker in the U.S.
* Selected LG Chem to supply lithium-ion battery cells, electronic components and control hardware for the Chevrolet Volt
* Signed a joint engineering development contract with Compact Power and LG Chem to further expedite the development of the Volt’s lithium-ion battery technology
* Joined with the University of Michigan to create a new automotive advanced battery lab in Ann Arbor, Mich., and a specialized curriculum within U of M’s College of Engineering to develop automotive battery engineers.

Energy alternatives and advanced technologies that reduce dependence on petroleum, improve fuel economy and reduce emissions are keys to developing sustainable transportation. GM is pursuing several options to best meet the varied needs of customers around the world - from advanced gasoline, diesel and biofuel technology to electrically assisted vehicles such as hybrids, plug-in hybrids and - ultimately - electrically driven extended-range electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. GM believes that electrically driven vehicles, based on battery and hydrogen fuel cell technology, offer the best long-term solution for providing sustainable personal transportation.

Facts: Global Battery Systems Battery Lab

Location

Alternative Energy Center, GM Technical Center, Warren, Mich.

Timing

* Battery system test area operational January, 2009
* Cell and module test area May, 2009

Size

Total floor space: 33,000 sq. ft.

* 14,400 sq. ft. - pack testing and development
* 17,400 sq. ft. - cell and module development
* 2,000 sq. ft. - technical support

Benefits

* Increased pack testing
o 32 cyclers (serve as treadmills for batteries)
o 64 test channels (available for individual battery tests)
o 25 thermal chambers (duplicates extreme temperature conditions)
* New cell and module testing
o 32 cyclers
o 96 test channels
o 16 small thermal chambers
* Environmental control capability - to allow for test correlation and repeatability
o New humidity-controlled walk-in chambers
o New air flow benches to provide specific temperatures and levels of humidity to test air-cooled battery packs
o New coolant chillers to cool or heat liquid-cooled battery packs

Enhanced capability

* Integrated test automation system enables around-the-clock standardized testing, customized test schedules and monitoring tests from desk or at home
* New thermal shaker table for structural integrity testing
* Improved Design of Experiments methodology - an information-gathering exercise that allows GM to perform more thorough battery tests in a shorter period of time
* Battery teardown area for failure analysis and competitor benchmarking

New Mustang gets the virtual Mach 1 treatment

2011 Ford Mustang Mach 1 renderings by Edmundo Cano

Few Mustang variants are as legendary or desirable as the classic Mach 1. Introduced in 1969 as a high-performance package to slot below the range-topping models from Shelby, the Mach 1 was the every-man's Mustang, and after the pony car lost its way in the late '70s, the Mach 1 wasn't seen again until 2003, when Ford reintroduced the package as the top performing 'Stang this side of the GT500.
We already know there's no Mach 1 for the 2010 model year, but there's at least a little speculation that the historic moniker could be revived for 2011, coinciding with the expected launch of Ford's latest 5.0-liter 400-horsepower Coyote V8 engine. What better excuse could there be for a performance edition? Fortunately for us, Edmundo Cano put mouse to Photoshop and created an enticing rendering of what a factory 2011 Mach 1 might look like.
We're particularly fond of the flat black paint running down the center of the Mustang's hood, which now features the obligatory shaker scoop. Similarly blacked-out 20-inch Torq-Thrust-style wheels look the part, and the whole package is rounded out with Hugger Orange paint and Mach 1 graphics package. We wholeheartedly approve and can't wait to see what Ford has in store in 2011.

Chevy Cruze Hatch in the Works - US Bound?

Chevy Cruze WTCC race car - image source Motortrend.com

Holden is in the news again, this time allegedly cooking up a hatchback version of the Chevy Cruze. The handsome (yes, legitimately handsome … especially next to a Cobalt!) product of a union between Suzuki and GM, the Cruze looks to be a hit in Europe, where it has already debuted. Destined to replace the Cobalt, the Holden hatch version has a slim chance of sales here, where hatchbacks generally do poorly. Of course, with a turbocharged Ecotec motor and some tuned suspension, it could be a Mazdaspeed 3 or GTI killer. Are you listening, GM?

Cruze sedan.

That being said, with the Saturn Astra leaving these shores for the Undying Lands as the orcs begin to ravage the countryside, ( Ed. - wait, this is Ridelust, not Tolkien fan fiction - get back on point!) maybe GM’s new post-bankruptcy form will determine that us ‘Mericans might benefit from a hatch in the linuep. Who knows? If you have a seeing stone … oh, nevermind.

[Source: Autoblog]

Transformers fan transforms Chevrolet Cruze into Bumblebee

Michael Bay’s Transformers series gets the best of most of us nerds and auto enthusiasts. The thought of our cars turning into robots to save mankind is not only out of this world, but something only ‘geeks’ can imagine. GM will be offering a limited-edition 2010 Chevrolet Camaro Bumblebee Package, which we expect will go for a hefty price tag.

And what do you do when you don’t have the money to pay for an exclusive limited-edition Bumblebee Camaro? You build one yourself for. Take this huge Chevrolet Camaro and Bumblebee fan in China.

Story goes that he couldn’t afford the U.S. equivalent of $200,000 for a brand new Camaro in China and decided to buy the Chevrolet Cruze instead. He then ‘transformed’ his car into a ‘Bumblebee Cruze’ instead of the ‘Bumblebee Camaro.’

GM to become more discreet with releasing financial information to the public

After filing for bankruptcy reorganization that will be largely financed by U.S. taxpayers, General Motors said that as a private automaker (that will emerge from its Chapter 11 filing) it will release less financial information to the public.

“As a privately held company, it’s likely we’re not going to disclose information except to the shareholders,” Ray Young, GM chief financial officer, told reporters on Tuesday.

Young said that the ‘New GM’ is expected to eventually go public again and will resume releasing financial reports as it once did.

“We do not have to file all of the same documents that we do when we are a public company,” GM Chairman Kent Kresa said on the day the company filed for bankruptcy. ”We’re going to keep that transparency exactly the same.”

GM has lost more than $80 billion in the past four years and is surviving on the $19.4 billion in government loans. It recently received $15 billion of the $30 billion it will get in bankruptcy reorganization.

2011 Chevrolet Viva

While the Aveo is the most fuel efficient car in Chevrolet’s current lineup, it is about as exciting—in both styling and behavior—as mowing Iowa with nosehair trimmers. Chevy will seek to rectify that with the next generation of the car, due in 2011 and discarding the Aveo moniker in favor of something a little zestier.

The 2011 Chevrolet Viva—the name isn’t settled just yet and could still change—appears as if it will bring actual style down to the compact-car level, both inside and out. Although heavy armor covers most of the mule seen here, details like the sharp bodyside crease, multi-element taillights, and the camo flap concealing a vertical handle for the rear door suggest that elements of the smaller Spark’s design will be incorporated into the Aveo replacement.

Keep Reading: 2011 Chevrolet Viva - Spied

GM to get tough with dealers during bankruptcy

General Motors is going to right-size its dealer body as part of its bankruptcy, and the Detroit automaker is going to ask plenty of dealers that make the cut to remain with the "new" GM. The General has already announced that 1,124 dealerships wouldn't be renewed in October 2010, and another 200 franchises will receive similar notices this week.
GM VP Mark LaNeve told Automotive News that the remaining GM retail outlets would need to sign a participation agreement to stay off the endangered species list. The agreement will guarantee that the dealers will make required facility upgrades and reach customer satisfaction objectives. Surviving dealers will also need to remove all non-GM vehicles from the showroom. If the dealers refuse to sign the participation agreement by a mid-June deadline, they will be cast into the "old GM" bin, and the dealerships will be terminated in a manner similar to the 789 Chrysler dealers that will cease to exist on June 9.
The 1,324 dealers that are scheduled to go away in 17 months will also need to sign an agreement to avert an early closure. The "wind down" agreement will enable the dealerships to receive money from GM for inventory for unused inventory and leftover parts and signage. In return, the dealers will not be able to sue the General. Some dealers will even be paid up front for their loss, while others will receive money closer to October 2010. Dealers that refuse to sign the wind down agreement will lose their franchise soon after the mid-June deadline.
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req. | Image Source: Mark Ralston/Getty]

2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS races a 1968 Camaro SS and Shelby GT500

Ever wonder how the new muscle car generation compares to their classic predecessors? So did these people that decided to drag race a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS against a 1968 Camaro SS. Both models have the RS packages.

However, the 1968 Camaro SS is not stock. It has a 406 cubic inch V8 with a 5-speed manual and a 3.73:1 posi rear end. The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS is stock with some nice looking GM Performance Parts accessories.

There is also a video of the 2010 Camaro SS racing against a 1972 Chevelle big block and a Mustang GT500.

Oh, and did we mention that all these races take place on a bridge? Very daring.

Source: YouTube (via Camaro5)

1969 Camaro gets ZR1 heart transplant

The 1969 Camaro is one of the most iconic pony cars, and there are plenty of '69s on the road, many of which have been tweaked to provide more power than the impressive stock 427 big-block V8. However, none have been outfitted with the most powerful production GM engine in its 100-year history; the 638-hp LS9. That was true until the Jackass was completed.
The Jackass was constructed by GM engineer and Pro Touring stud Mark Stielow in 20 months. And the modified '69 Camaro is more than just a supercharged V8. Stielow added the wheels, tires, and carbon ceramic brakes from the ZR1, along with an Art Morrison subframe and a Tremec T56 tranny from a Dodge Viper. The result? 511 horsepower at the rear wheels, and a price tag that surpasses a loaded ZR1. While that's quite a bit of coin, but someone had to do it first and it appears Stielow's done it right the first time.
[Source: Inside Line]

2010 Camaro RS/SS drag races its 1968 counterpart... on a bridge?!

It's a classic case of old versus new, classic versus current, father versus son. A 1968 Chevy Camaro RS/SS lines up against a 2010 Camaro with the same options packages. According to the comments on YouTube, the '68 is anything but stock, with a 406 cubic inch small-block V8 mated with a five-speed manual Tremec transmission and a 3.73:1 posi rear end. This powertrain combination helps level the odds against the newer and more powerful (in stock form, at least) 2010 model, though we can't say if the new car has is fitted with a six-speed manual or automatic transmission.
In any case, the race is a close one and, as often is the case with such feuds, the winning driver is probably the one that can make the best use of the available traction. Speaking of which, racing cars out on public roads is never a good idea - even if there isn't any other traffic - and posting the law-breaking antics on YouTube probably isn't a particularly smart move either, given that the authorities seem to be combing the website for lawbrakers these days. In any case, click past the break to watch it all go down on video. As an added bonus, we've included a second video of the same 2010 Camaro lining up against a 1972 big-block Chevelle. Thanks for the tip, Khanh!
[Source: YouTube]

Harley Earl's own '63 Corvette Stingray convertible on the auction block

Harley Earl's 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible

Legendary sportscar marques deserve their own dedicated auctions, and lately they've been getting what they deserve. RM Auction has been running a Ferrari-only event at the Maranello factory for a few years now, while Bonhams has been doing the same with Aston Martin at Newport Pagnell for even longer. But while the Corvette may technically be a model and not a brand, it has its own rabid following and its own history. Which could help explain why Mecum is holding a dedicated Corvette auction later this month in St. Charles, Illinois. The Mecum Bloomington Gold Corvette Auction will feature an array of Vettes from Chevy history, and this is undoubtedly the highlight: Harley Earl's personal Stingray convertible.
As the grand-daddy of American car design, Earl earned his place in history. And to help commemorate his achievements, General Motors presented him with this unique 'Vette in 1963, shortly after the car made its debut at the Chicago Auto Show. The car featured a unique metallic blue paintjob with white highlights and a blue leather interior, 300-horsepower fuel-injected 327, unique side exhaust and an array of special instruments in the glovebox.
Earl drove the car for two years - he even drove it at Daytona as the 500's Grand Marshall in 1965 - and then sold it to a war vet who drove it to California and back with local newspaper coverage. The car was then lost for decades before a group of amateur racers bought it at auction with the intent to drag race it before identifying it as something special. It then changed hands among Corvette collectors before receiving a full restoration. The car's status and storied history, more of which you can read about in the press release after the jump, are sure to fetch a pretty penny when this Vette crosses the auction block on June 26.

2011 Chevrolet Viva caught at the 'Ring

If General Motors has any real hope of emerging from Chapter 11 as a newly-viable automaker, it's going to need stellar products that will allow it to compete on a level playing field in every segment of the market it plays in. Of course, that's going to include small cars, and the current Chevy Aveo doesn't stand a chance against newer, more desirable models like the Honda Fit, Nissan Versa, and the upcoming Ford Fiesta (not to mention possible Fiat-based small cars from Chrysler). Execs at GM realize this fact just like the rest of us, which is what makes the automaker's recent announcement that it will build a new small car here in the U.S. so interesting.
In a speech to the Automotive Press Association in Detroit last week, Bob Lutz showed off some slides that included references to future GM products, and Todd Lassa from Motor Trend noticed a new model called the Viva. Could this perhaps be the next mainstream small car from Chevrolet? If so, the Viva probably wouldn't be built on an existing Daewoo platform (as is the case with the current Aveo and upcoming Chevy Spark hatchback), and would likely need to be a slightly larger upmarket model if it's going to make any profit being built in the States and sell anywhere near the 160,000 figure that GM bandied about last week. Stay tuned.
[Source: Motor Trend]

New products and technologies on track, 14 hybrid models coming by 2012

In all of the statements released today by General Motors, the now bankrupt automaker said that its new products and technologies are on track. It said that that the New GM will continue with key vehicle launches in 2009 and 2010 including the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro, 2010 Buick LaCrosse, 2010 Cadillac SRX and CTS Sport Wagon, the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox, Cruze and Volt along with the 2010 GMC Terrain.

“Our products are our future, and our lineup of new cars and crossovers are a great foundation for success,” said CEO Fritz Henderson. “The New GM is here to stay, and our brands position us to compete well in profitable segments with vehicles that are second-to-none.”

GM said that it will launch the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid by the end of 2010 and expects to have 14 hybrid models in production by 2012. It said that 65 percent of its vehicles will be alternative-fuel capable by 2014.

“The New GM will become a long-term global leader in the development of fuel-efficient and advanced-technology vehicles,” said Henderson. “In doing so, the New GM will contribute to the development of advanced engineering and manufacturing capabilities in the United States, which are critical to the future of the U.S. economy.”

Corvette Grand Sport launch control tested... in dealer lot

The Corvette Grand Sport features a launch control so simple your little sister could use it while she puts on her mascara at the light. It is also blisteringly effective and makes a whole lot of the right noises, as you can see in this video of a demo run in a dealership parking lot. How's that for a test drive? Follow the jump to check it out.

[Source: YouTube]