DETROIT — Chevrolet plans to make a splash at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show with the U.S. debut of the production Cruze — and an announcement regarding which retail outlets will be the first to get the eagerly awaited Volt.
The Volt will be available in "select markets" in late 2010, GM says. The auto show will also be the stage for the naming of a winner in the contest to name the silver-green color of the brand-new EV. The short list of finalists was announced on Monday, and individuals can still vote online for their favorite until December 1.
The Chevrolet Cruze is already out in Europe and Asia but has "undergone refinement" for the U.S. market, GM said. It will go on sale in late 2010 here. The new car is significant for GM as being on the leading edge of cars with small-displacement turbo engines designed for a blend of fuel efficiency and fun-to-drive qualities, the company said.
From November 27-29, GM will park a Volt at the Westfield Century City shopping mall in Los Angeles ahead of the L.A. auto show's December 4 opening to the public. As part of the interest-building exercise, GM will give free tickets to the auto show to visitors on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Inside Line says: With still a year to go, Chevrolet works to continue Volt and Cruze buzz, perhaps coming soon to a shopping mall near you. — Laura Sky Brown, Correspondent
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thechevyguy says:
11:02 AM, 04/28/2010
I think it is awesome that GM is adding depth to their bloodline of great products. The Cruze ( http://www.2011-chevy-cruze.com/ ) and the new Chevy Volt ( http://www.chevy-volt-2010.com/ ) will be a huge success for local commuters
2001regalls says:
05:27 PM, 11/29/2009
I have to agree with you efinils2... Take the "all new" Camaro for instance. They were hyping the car up for about 3 years before they finally started hitting dealerships! Its old news by the time you see one. I used to live near Milford, Michigan...(home of GM's proving grounds) and got a kick out of occasionally seeing a test mule of a new car out and about. But it also gives the general public a sneak peek of whats up and comming. Perhaps too much to be honest... GM just needs to keep a tighter lock on releasing shots of new vehicles and keep them under wraps right up to when they are to debut. Nothing is more exciting than going to check out the new models at a dealership, but if you already know what to look for...whats the fun in that?
efinils2 says:
05:43 PM, 11/17/2009
What always bothers me about how GM advertises its cars is that it shows the production spec models 2-3 years before they are actually released; thus, by the time the car actually goes for sale, is almost as if the car had been around for 3-4 years! That's one thing they should learn from others like BMW, who are still camouflaging their 5-series a week prior to the debut!