vLane Blog

Articles Matching “General Motors”

• Upcoming: #carchat 34; October 28 @ 8PM EST

  Banovsky on October 28, 2009

  This week: Jalopnik's Bob Lutz duel, do fuel economy figures matter, GM sales are up, and picking cars for Mad Max.

  If you'd like to participate, check out the #carchat How-To. Anyone can join us at 8 PM EST October 28, but you'll need a Twitter account to ask questions.

  However, if you'd like to follow things live, go here at 8 PM EST.

  And if you'd like to suggest topics and questions for the discussion, please leave a comment below, tag articles on Delicious.com with "carchat," or email me at michael [at] banovsky.com.

  Topics:

  • Discussion: Jalopnik challenges Bob Lutz to a duel…tomorrow!
  • Discussion: Do fuel economy figures matter that much?
  • Discussion: GM sales are up…
  • Discussion: Mad Max is back…What should he drive?

  So click through and read a few links, and see some photos related to the discussion.

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under GM, General Motors, Future, Mustang, Ford, Ford, Discussion, Social Media, carchat, Cadillac, Twitter, Bob Lutz, Original

• Recap: #carchat 31; October 7 @ 8PM EST

  Banovsky on October 8, 2009

  Social media is such a cool thing that we're constantly evolving how we communicate. Take #carchat: the first few originated out of a spirited conversation.

  
  Anyone can join us each week at 8PM EST on Twitter. And if you'd like to suggest topics, please tag articles on Delicious.com with "carchat."
  
  
  
  
  

  We had:

  • Discussion: Chevrolet's return to police cars
  • Discussion: Toyota is going to make sports cars again…
  • Discussion: Mark LaNeve to leave GM…How would you turn sales around?
  • Help-a-shopper: Phil Herlihy

  So? What are you waiting for? Click through to the recap.

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under General Motors, Toyota, This week, Discussion, Social Media, carchat, Twitter, vLane, police, LOL

• Upcoming: #carchat 31; October 7 @ 8PM EST

  Banovsky on October 7, 2009

  Yup, another #carchat. This week, Chevrolet is bringing back the Caprice…but only if you're wearing a badge, Toyota will be making sports cars again in a joint effort with Subaru, we discuss how to improve sales at General Motors, and we'll be helping out a shopper!

  If you'd like to participate, check out the #carchat How-To. Anyone can join us at 8 PM EST September 30, but you'll need a Twitter account to ask questions.

  However, if you'd like to follow things live, go here at 8 PM EST.

  And if you'd like to suggest topics and questions for the discussion, please leave a comment below, tag articles on Delicious.com with "carchat," or email me at michael [at] banovsky.com.

  Topics:

  • Discussion: Chevrolet's return to police cars
  • Discussion: Toyota is going to make sports cars again…
  • Discussion: Mark LaNeve to leave GM…How would you turn sales around?
  • Help-a-shopper: Phil Herlihy

  So click through and read a few links, and see some photos related to the discussion.

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under General Motors, Sports car, Toyota, This week, Social Media, carchat, Chevrolet, Twitter, vLane, Caprice

• Upcoming: #carchat 30; September 30 @ 8PM EST

  Banovsky on September 30, 2009

  Well, some big news today to discuss on #carchat! First, Saturn is no more, after Penske couldn't secure a source of vehicles past their contract with GM. Second, the GM and eBay Internet experiment is finished…and it wasn't that positive. Third, Volvo buys ad space to complain about distracted driving! Oh, and Toyota's got a recall they can't sweep under the rug…

  If you'd like to participate, check out the #carchat How-To. Anyone can join us at 8 PM EST September 30, but you'll need a Twitter account to ask questions.

  However, if you'd like to follow things live, go here at 8 PM EST.

  And if you'd like to suggest topics and questions for the discussion, please leave a comment below, tag articles on Delicious.com with "carchat," or email me at michael [at] banovsky.com.

  Topics:

  • Discussion: Saturn is dead!
  • Discussion: GM and eBay…too soon for Internet new car sales?
  • Discussion: Distracted driving…should automakers take sides?
  • Discussion: Toyota's huge recall…over floor mats!

  So click through and read a few links, and see some photos related to the discussion.

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under General Motors, Saturn, News, Toyota, This week, Discussion, Social Media, carchat, Volvo, Twitter, Original

• Recap: #carchat 29; September 22 @ 3PM EST

  Banovsky on September 25, 2009

  Social media is such a cool thing that we're constantly evolving how we communicate. Take #carchat: the first few originated out of a spirited conversation.

  

  We had a special guest this week: Bob Lutz, General Motors Vice Chairman and marketing chief was our featured guest on #carchat, at a special 3 PM EST to 5 PM EST time slot. Our topics fell under a General Motors theme for obvious reasons… Anyone can join us each week at 8PM EST on Twitter. And if you'd like to suggest topics, please tag articles on Delicious.com with "carchat."

  
  
  
  
  

  We had:

  • Discussion: Buick's new tagline, why?
  • Discussion: The importance of marketing
  • Discussion: Is good design really "free"?
  • Discussion: How to change people's perceptions about GM

  So? What are you waiting for? Click through to the recap.

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under GM, General Motors, This week, Social Media, carchat, Chevrolet, Cadillac, Twitter, vLane, Buick, Bob Lutz, GMC

• Upcoming: #carchat 29; September 23 @ 3PM EST with Bob Lutz

  Banovsky on September 18, 2009

  Big news! Bob Lutz, General Motors Vice Chairman and marketing chief will be our featured guest on #carchat next week, at a special 3 PM EST to 5 PM EST time slot. Our topics will fall under a General Motors theme for obvious reasons…

  

  Bob Lutz

  If you'd like to participate, check out the #carchat How-To. Anyone can join us at 3 PM EST September 23, but you'll need a Twitter account to ask questions.

  However, if you'd like to follow things live, go here at 3 PM EST.

  And if you'd like to suggest topics and questions for Lutz, please do so in the comments below or email me at michael [at] banovsky.com.

  Note: Lutz will be tweeting from the @gmblogs Twitter account. Make sure you follow them on Twitter. Also, use the hashtag "#lutz" when asking questions, this will make the discussion easier to manage!

  Topics from 3 PM EST — 3:30 PM EST:

  • Discussion: Your best General Motors product experience
  • Discussion: Your worst General Motors product experience

  Topics from 3:30 PM EST onward:

  • Discussion: Buick's new tagline, why?
  • Discussion: The importance of marketing
  • Discussion: Is good design really "free"?
  • Discussion: How to change people's perceptions about GM

  So click through and read a few links, and see some photos related to the discussion.

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under GM, General Motors, Government, Future, Advertising, Advice , Discussion, carchat, Chevrolet, Cadillac, Twitter, vLane, Buick, Bob Lutz, GMC

• Recap: #carchat 24; August 19 @ 8PM EST

  Banovsky on August 25, 2009

  Social media is such a cool thing that we're constantly evolving how we communicate. Take #carchat: the first few originated out of a spirited conversation.

  

  Since #carchat is ever-evolving, we've included the recap here on vLane as a discussion thread, and we feel it suits the nature of the discussion well — and you can see that we had a huge response over two hours — despite Twitter being down for half of it!

  Anyone can join us each week at 8PM EST on Twitter. And if you'd like to suggest topics, please tag articles on Delicious.com with "carchat."
  
  
  
  
  

  We had:

  • Discussion: Can we give #GM credit where credit is due in listening?
  • Discussion: What other vehicles, from any manufacturer, would we kill via Twitter?
  • Discussion: Predictions for North American Car of the Year 2010
  • Discussion: Our first cars (thanks, @sassygirlzmom!)
  • Help-A-Shopper: Carl Acampado

  So? What are you waiting for? Click through to the recap.

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under GM, General Motors, Event, Future, Misc, Advice , Discussion, Social Media, carchat, Twitter, vLane, Opinion

• Upcoming: #carchat 24; August 19 @ 8PM EST

  Banovsky on August 19, 2009

  This week, we're talking about the amazing turn of events, apparently based in Twitter chatter, that led to the demise of the (lame) Buick CUV. We also talk about other models we'd kill with 140-character tweets, and our predictions for the North American Car of the Year 2010. That and more on this week's #carchat!

  If you're confused, check out the #carchat How-To. Anyone can join us at 8PM EST August 19, but you'll need a Twitter account to ask questions and participate.

  However, if you'd like to follow things live, go here at 8 PM EST.

  And if you'd like to suggest topics for next week, please tag articles on Delicious.com with "carchat."

  This week:

  • Discussion: Can we give #GM credit where credit is due in listening?
  • Discussion: What other vehicles, from any manufacturer, would we kill via Twitter?
  • Discussion: Predictions for North American Car of the Year 2010
  • Discussion: Our first cars (thanks, @sassygirlzmom!)
  • Help-A-Shopper: Carl Acampado

  So click through and read a few links, see some photos, and check out a video related to tonight's discussion.

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under GM, General Motors, Industry, Future, Green, WTF, Concept, Crossover, Advice , Humor, This week, Discussion, Social Media, carchat, Chevrolet, Detroit, Twitter, vLane, Buick, Bob Lutz, Fritz Henderson, LOL, Jalopnik

• Reviewed: 2010 Chevrolet Equinox

  Banovsky on August 14, 2009

  A few weeks ago, I panned the Camaro. And that's fine, because in the Chevrolet lineup, it's the good-looking high school football all-star who will eventually Jäger away his scholarship, find the love of his life on a brass rail, experience 'roid rage, and live out his life in a trailer with five satellite dishes on top.

  

  2010 Chevrolet Equinox

  Maybe that's too harsh, but it's where all the real Camaros seem to end up. And if that was the company's great hope, we should turn off the RenCen's lights now. Thankfully, the Camaro has a slightly younger, chunkier, and far more intelligent younger brother, the Equinox crossover SUV.

  It's a significant vehicle for two reasons. First, it's the first modern General Motors product you can choose on merit over the competition in the most crowded vehicle segment (small crossover vehicles.) (The 2008– Malibu sedan, FYI, was almost there; but not quite.)

  Second, it's proof that the company is committed to producing products that are relevant to the average consumer. It's not puffed up on navel gazing market research (Malibu Maxx, anyone?) but fits the needs of a large portion of the population.

  Highlights:

  • Best-in-segment highway fuel economy of 32 mpg
  • Standard 6-speed automatic
  • Fuel efficient 4-cylinder engine available on every trim level
  • Prices start at just over $22,000

  Click through for the rest…

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under GM, General Motors, SUV, Crossover, Review, Chevrolet, SUV, Photos, Detroit, 2010, vLane, Equinox

• Future Buick CUV to be a plug-in hybrid

  Banovsky on August 6, 2009

  Remember our Future of GM series? The one where we talked about the upcoming Buick CUV? Turns out, our analysis was pretty much dead-on.

  

  The as-yet-unnamed (rebadged Saturn Vue) 2010 Buick crossover SUV

  The teaser shot GM released along with some details shows a clearly reworked front-end from the current Saturn Vue. GM CEO Fritz Henderson's assertion that he's not a fan of badge engineering is getting weaker by the second, as this new model is undeniably a re-badged Saturn Vue plug-in hybrid.

  With that model due out in the market next year before Saturn was sold means the development work on the Buick must nearly be completed.

  Look for this mystery Buick early next year in showrooms.

  Click through for the GM release.

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under GM, General Motors, Saturn, Future, Green, SUV, Crossover, Technology, SUV, Detroit, 2010, 2011, Buick, Fritz Henderson