2011 Chevrolet Range with Hatchback Model

The five door model features a more attractive design than its four-door sibling thanks to the sweeping roofline and short overhangs at both the front and rear. Of course buyers will have to live with a smaller cargo capacity which has been reduced by 50 liters compared to the sedan for a total of 400 liters. The Cruze 5d will be offered with the same engine range as the sedan including 1.6L and 1.8L gasoline units and a 163HP 2.0-liter turbo diesel. Sales are to start this summer.

Reader Scoops 2010 Opel Astra Test Car in Michigan

This past weekend, eagle-eyed Carscoop reader Thomas Czarny picked up these shots of a heavily disguised 2010 Opel Astra hatchback prototype in a shopping mall parking lot in Traverse City, Michigan. The test car was fitted with manufacturer license plates and sported a GMPT (General Motors Powertrain) Engineering Vehicle sticker on the front windshield.

We're fully aware of the fact that new cars go through all sorts of tests in various places around the world including markets where they will not be sold, but we also know that GM is preparing an Opel Astra based small sedan for Buick which is scheduled to go on sale in the States by the end of 2011.

Earlier this year, our spy photographers snapped the Buick four-door sedan along with a five-door Astra prototype sporting Buick's corporate waterfall grille while undergoing testing in Germany.

Although the five-door model is said to be under development for Buick's Chinese market line-up, we can't entirely rule out the possibility that GM may also be considering the hatch for the U.S. where it would compete against the VW Golf and Mazda3.

This naturally brings us to the question, in addition to the sedan model, should GM also enhance Buick's U.S. range with a rebadged version of the 2010 Opel Astra hatchback?

Kudos to Thomas Czarny for the Scoop!

GM Kills Buick Vue SUV before it's (Re)Born after Negative Feedback

Only two weeks after announcing the rebirth of the Saturn Vue as a Buick that would also be offered as a plug-in hybrid, General Motors revealed that the compact SUV has been canned. The news was broken by GM's Vice Chairman Tom Stephens on Wednesday in a posting on the company's official blog. Stephens said that GM decided to cancel plans for the rebadged Vue after negative feedback about the vehicle from employees, potential customers, dealers, media and analysts at a recent preview in Michigan.

"The Buick crossover we showed received consistent feedback from large parts of all the audiences that it didn't fit the premium characteristics that customers have come to expect from Buick," said Stephens.

"We were all struck by the consistency of the criticism of the compact crossover. And what we decided to do in response is a good example of the essence of the new General Motors… acting quickly, and boldly, and listening to feedback from customers, employees, dealers, media and just about anyone else with an opinion."

Buick's version of the Saturn Vue was scheduled to be launched into the market with a 2.4-liter direct-injection four-pot and a 3.0-liter direct-injection V6 in late 2010, followed in 2011 by a plug-in hybrid model featuring a 3.6-liter flex-fuel V6 and two electric motors.

Stephens said that the "important" plug-in hybrid technology of the Vue would be applied to another vehicle "at no delay", with more details to be released in the very near future.

Pontiac Firebird Conversion for 2010 Chevy Camaro

The demise of the Pontiac brand killed off any dreams that General Motors might create a Firebird model out of the new 2010 Chevy Camaro, but fans of the car may find some comfort in the Trans Am conversions that are being readied by the crew over at "Trans Am Depot". The company said that it will unveil a one-off Kevin Morgan "Trans Am" Concept at the 2009 Trans Am Nationals at the end of the month with the production version kits set to be available for order later this year.

The Phoenix T/A project that is said to recall the '77 - '78 Trans Am will feature among other things, new front and rear fascias, unique alloy wheels, lowered suspension and turned aluminum inserts in the interior plus a series of performance upgrades.

Trans Am Depot said that the company will be offering everything from the body conversion only to the limited Phoenix Edition with details, pricing and delivery information to be released at a latter date.

Phoenix T/A Conversion Specs - Excluding Performance Upgrades

Exterior

• 1' - 1.5' Lowering Kit w/sway bar handling upgrade
  
• Wheels & Tires
  
• Front: 20x9.5x120 CB-66.9 Gold or Silver Machined Face Snowflake Wheels. PIRELLI PZERO 275/45ZR20
  
• Rear: 20x11.5x120 CB-66.9 Gold or Silver Machined Face Snowflake Wheels. PIRELLI PZERO 305/35ZR20
  
• Hood
  
• Shaker Scoop
  
• Fender Extractors
  
• Exhaust Conversion w/ splitter tips
  
• Rear Fascia Clip w/tail lamp lenses and bulbs
  
• Rear Spoiler
  
• TA Graphic Package
  

  Interior
  

• Embroded Head Rest and Console Lid - KM Graphic Punch
  
• Turned Aluminum Door Panel
  
• Turned Aluminum Dash Inserts
  
• Turned Aluminum Instrument Cluster
  
• Door Panel Badges
  
• T/A SN Badge and Designation

Link: Trans Am Depot , Via: Jalopnik