GM Officially Announces Pontiac's Death, Saab, Hummer and Saturn to be Gone by 2009

This is the end of the road for Pontiac as General Motors confirmed earlier media reports by officially announcing on Monday the death of the 83-year-old marque that will be phased out by the end of 2010. As part of its revised "Viability Plan" that accelerates the timeline for a number of important actions, GM said that it will speed up "the resolution of Saab, Saturn, and Hummer to the end of 2009, at the latest." The General will focus on four core brands in the U.S., Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC, offering a total of 34 nameplates in 2010 compared to 48 in 2008, a reduction of 29 percent.

"We are taking tough but necessary actions that are critical to GM's long-term viability," said Fritz Henderson, GM president and CEO. "Our responsibility is clear - to secure GM's future - and we intend to succeed. At the same time, we also understand the impact these actions will have on our employees, dealers, unions, suppliers, shareholders, bondholders, and communities, and we will do whatever we can to mitigate the effects on the extended GM team."

Other significant changes in GM's updated "Viability Plan" include the accelerated idling and closures of powertrain, stamping, and assembly plants while the firm will almost cut its U.S. dealer count in half, from 6,246 in 2008 to 3,605 by the end of 2010. This is a further reduction of 500 dealers, and four years sooner, than the previous plan submitted to the U.S. Treasury on February 17.

And how will all these measures affect U.S. workers? According to GM, the updated plan will see an additional reduction of 7,000 to 8,000 hourly employees. Overall, U.S. hourly employment levels are projected to be reduced from about 61,000 in 2008 to 40,000 in 2010, a 34 percent reduction, and level off at about 38,000 starting in 2011.

source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com

The (Rolls Royce) Phantom of the Hummer

This is so wrong, in so many ways that we've lost count. But admittedly it is comically hilarious. Actually it's probably the most ridiculous transformation of a Hummer we've seen to date. Now, why on earth would someone perform a Rolls Royce Phantom-like face transplant on an Hummer H2 is beyond logical comprehension. We'll just leave it at that...

source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com

Hummer Launches H2 Limited Dark Chrome Edition in UAE

Several months after its introduction in the States, GM has introduced the Hummer H2 Limited Black Chrome Edition in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The new special edition H2 that will be available to 1,300 customers globally features an array of black chrome details including the 20-inch alloys, front grille, hood latches and handles, fuel filler door, door handles, mirror caps, "H2" badges, side air vents and spare tire cover.

The Limited Dark Chrome Edition H2 is available on both SUV and SUT models with buyers offered the choice of three exterior colors including the new-for-2009 Silver Ice Metallic and the existing Sedona Metallic and Carbon Black Metallic.

Inside the special edition model gets new seats and a leather trim along with additional comfort and convenience features. Power is provided from GM's 'small-block' 6.2-litre V8 engine producing 441 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 454 Nm of torque at 4400 rpm.

Fresh /// Hummer officiellement vendu

En Juin dernier, GM et le chinois Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery avaient signées une lettre d’intention commune pour le rachat de Hummer. C'est chose faite aujourd’hui.

Concrètement, le groupe chinois se porte acquéreur de la marque à hauteur de 80 % des actifs, et l’homme d’affaires Suolang Duoji acquiert les 20 % restantes. Mais dans les faits, ce nouvel acquéreur devient, pour une durée maximale de deux ans, un sous-traitant dans l’assemblage et le maintien de la distribution des véhicules de la marque de 4x4. Cela signifie que les 3 000 employés des deux usines où sont assemblés ces véhicules pourront conserver leur emploi (le H2 est assemblé à l’usine de Mishawaka en Indiana, tandis que les H3 et H3T sortent de l’usine située à Shrevport en Louisiane.). Par ailleurs, l’actuel administrateur James Taylor demeure à la barre de la marque.

Le nouvel acquéreur entend offrir dès que possible une nouvelle gamme de véhicules dont les moteurs pourront utiliser du bio-carburant E85, ou soit un mélange essence/éthanol.

Source: GM, Hummer

[New] Hummer H2 Dark Chrome 2009

Dans cette période incertaine pour la marque, Hummer, qui cherche un repreneur, proposera une nouvelle série spéciale limitée de ses H2 et H2 SUT.

Les H2 et H2 SUT proposerons bientôt une nouvelle version Limited Dark Chrome Edition limitée à 1300 exemplaires. Cette série spéciale propose des éléments en chrome noir dont la calandre, les jantes, les poignées de portes ou encore les rétroviseurs. Cette série limitée est avant tout destiné au Moyen Orient.

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