Chevrolet is already on the move

THE 2010 Chevrolet Camaro's brisk sales are an encouraging sign as General Motors exits bankruptcy.

With General Motors out of bankruptcy almost quicker than you can say lickety-split, the company has to get down to the really tough job of selling cars and trucks.

Fortunately, GM had a revitalization program underway before it plummeted into government control, so it already has some promising new products on sale or on the way as it returns to business with only four divisions – Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac and GMC Trucks.

In the first of this three-part series, we’ll take a look at a few of the things Chevrolet will be offering beyond its almost new but already established Malibu sedan and its recently introduced Camaro sports coupe, which is out-selling its Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger competition.

See slide show, below, for pictures of all these new and upcoming vehicles.

2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX: Now on sale, the new generation of this five-passenger crossover vehicle has a redesigned body, a more upscale interior and two new motors. The base, 188-horsepower, four-cylinder engine qualifies the Equinox for bragging rights with its segment-leading EPA rating of 22 mpg city/32 mpg highway. Early testers report it offers a more car-like driving experience than its predecessor.

2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE: Due in showrooms next May, this roomy compact successor to the mostly unloved Chevy Cobalt has already been hailed as a worthy competitor to the vaunted Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. The featured engine in the Cruze is expected to be a 1.4-liter, turbocharged, four-cylinder engine that generates 140-horsepower and is capable of returning 40 miles per gallon of gas in highway driving.

2011 CHEVROLET VOLT: Much ballyhooed already, this compact, four-passenger, front-wheel-drive, extended-range electric vehicle is propelled entirely by electricity and is due to go on sale late next year. Its lithium-ion battery pack provides the equivalent of about 150 horsepower and can take the Volt up to 40 miles on a charge. That is the distance GM believes fills the daily driving requirements of 80 percent of motorists.

After that, the Volt can be plugged into a standard 120-volt line and its battery pack recharged in eight hours. A 240-volt line will cut charging time to three hours.
For extended driving, a 1.4-liter, four-cylinder gasoline engine kicks in after about 40 miles to power a generator that keeps the battery pack replenished.

At nearly $40,000, it may become more of a niche car than a big contributor to Chevrolet’s bottom line.

CHEVROLET ORLANDO: This small, five-door crossover vehicle, or mini minivan, is scheduled for introduction in the United States in 2011. Built on the same platform as the Cruze, it is seen as a competitor to the Mazda 5. The Orlando will have three rows of seating and the ability to carry up to seven passengers. In concept form, it is powered by a 150-horsepower, two-liter, four-cylinder turbodiesel engine.

CHEVROLET SPARK: Details are few, but this mini car is due out about the same time as the Orlando. The Spark will function primarily as a city car, ala the Smart, but it should be roomier inside and might get its power from a 1.2-liter, four-cylinder engine.

2010 CORVETTE GRAND SPORT: To be sold as a coupe and convertible, the track-ready Grand Sport combines the standard Corvette’s powertrain with a wider body, wider wheels and tires, upgraded suspension, recalibrated gearing and stronger brakes. The 430-horsepower V-8 engine can be paired with a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.