When the 2010 GMC Terrain begins rolling out of General Motors' CAMI assembly facility in Ingersoll, Ontario and into dealerships this September, the new CUV will be clutching a $24,999 sticker price (including a $745 destination charge). For that sum, buyers will get GM's latest direct injected four-cylinder engine, in this case displacing 2.4-liters and producing 182 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque.

Perhaps more importantly, this engine manages to deliver an EPA-estimated 32 miles per gallon on the highway, a class-leading figure. Also available will be a 3.0-liter direct injected V6 engine with 264 horsepower and 222 pound-feet of torque, a GPS navigation system and a rear-seat DVD infotainment system. The least expensive all-wheel-drive model will go for $26,745.

Standard safety equipment includes six airbags, StabiliTrak vehicle stability control and GM's excellent OnStar service. On the technology front, every GMC Terrain will come equipped with a rear-view camera system, six-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system with USB connectivity and XM satellite radio. Stepping up a few notches to the top-rung SLT2 trim will bring leather seating surfaces, an upgraded sound system from Pioneer, power liftgate and a sunroof for $29,995. Click past the break for an official press release.

Episode #131 of the Autoblog Podcast is here. Chris, Sam, and Dan sat down and kicked the ball around. The most important news when we rolled our recorders was the Supreme Court's staying of Chrysler's deal with Fiat. Staying with Fiat, we also kibbitzed about the nameplate's showing in a new J.D. Power satisfaction study. Ferrari's green efforts are next in our bombsights before we touch on GM's winding down of its medium-duty trucks and the call from some politicos to boycott General Motors. Wrapping up, we cover a few questions and call it a night. Thanks for listening, and as always, shoot us a note at Podcast at Autoblog dot com.


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According to The Detroit Free Press, the U.S. Treasury has dumped another $7.5 billion into GMAC's coffers just two weeks after the bank was told by federal regulators that it needed billions in order to survive. In another government-backed boost, GMAC is now allowed to issue FDIC-insured debt. Both actions are reportedly designed to help restore faith in the damaged U.S. credit markets.

Founded in 1919, and traditionally a longtime lender to General Motors dealers and customers, the government recently ordered GMAC to extend the same lending offers to Chrysler dealers and their customers. "This new arrangement with GMAC will help provide a reliable source of financing to both auto dealers and customers seeking to buy cars," said Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. Approximately $4 billion of the new infusion will support go to support dealer and retail loans for the Chrysler brand, while the remaining $3.5 billion is designed help GMAC address its capital needs in order to survive.

[Source: The Detroit Free Press]

General Motors and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have announced a suite of recalls for the Chevrolet Camaro, Traverse and various body-on-frame SUVs and pickups (Cadillac's Escalade, Chevrolet's Avalanche, Colorado, Suburban and Tahoe, along with GMC's Canyon and Yukon).

The Camaro recall has been discussed before, but now we have the official language and affected unit numbers to share with you. The recall of 1,243 Camaros is due to the possibility of the positive battery cable rubbing against the starter motor housing. When the insulation is worn through because of that chafing, the system can short out and the car won't start (or continue running if the motor is already going). Dealers will reroute the positive cable to fix.

15,393 2009 model-year Traverse crossovers are being recalled for a parking brake cable link that is not to federal specifications. According to the official press release, the parking brake pedal may cause the cable link to snap. Dealers will replace the cable link connector for free. Oddly, the recall does not make mention of GM's other Lambda-based three-row crossovers, which include the Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, and Saturn Outlook.

Finally, 27,189 GM SUVs and pickups are being recalled due to potential faults with their fuel system control modules. The modules might have a seal problem that allows water in, which could then cause a short- or open- circuit, a development that could potentially trigger a host of warning lights or render the vehicle inoperable. Dealers will install a new fuel system control module unit at no cost. You can read all of the notices after the jump.

[Source: NHTSA - Camaro, Traverse, GMT900]

With Pontiac's death official, Holden stands to lose around $1 billion annually with the demise of the Pontiac G8. However, Holden doesn't plan to go quiet into night. The Aussie automaker has drawn up plans to offer the rear-wheel drive Commodore platform to Cadillac and GMC.

Although GM's CEO, Fritz Henderson, has confirmed that the G8 won't live on, there's a chance it could be used by law enforcement in the States, and with Cadillac's recent attempts to inject more RWD models into the mix (save the Epsilon II-based sub-CTS), the Zeta architecture could be used for a new line of Caddies.

More interestingly, with GMC safe – for now – from sharing a grave with Pontiac (not to mention the inevitable liquidation of Hummer, Saab and Saturn), Holden could make a case for importing the stillborn G8 ST 'ute to the U.S. as a fuel-efficient alternative to GMC's otherwise big and thirsty pick-ups. Where there's a niche, GM normally likes to fill it, and while the case for the Zeta-based Cadillacs could be made -- particularly as GM seeks to downsize the platform to aid its survival -- the G8 ST's revival seems far less plausible.



[Source: GoAuto]

When the president tells you to sharpen your pencil and improve your last-ditch survival effort, it's time to grab the big eraser. According to reports, General Motors may ditch its GMC and Pontiac brands to demonstrate just how serious it is. If the auto lines go, GM would be pared back to Chevrolet, Buick and Cadillac, a mere shadow of its former self, but the nameplates might become more clearly defined with the added breathing room. Ford's got its trifecta of Ford, Mercury and Lincoln, so GM would match that setup should it unload Pontiac and GMC in some way, as well as carry through with its ongoing process of shedding Saturn, Saab and Hummer.

While Pontiac actually has some unique offerings, GMC is rumored to stand a better chance of sticking around. It still wouldn't be cheap to do away with the brands. There are dealers who will not go quietly into the night, meaning GM will be looking at the possibility of finding a buyer for yet another piece of its puzzle. Of course, everyone's keeping mum about the possibility of life without Pontiac or GMC.

UPDATE: According to General Motors' sales chief Mark LaNeve, the automaker has no intentions of killing off Pontiac or GMC. LaNeve admits that GM is continuing to tweak its strategy, but reports that "GMC is going away are just unfounded, unsubstantiated and untrue."

[Source: Bloomberg]

The GMC Terrain is still getting ready for its New York Auto Show debut, but we've already been given a full dossier of the newest General Motors crossover over the weekend. The Terrain will share underpinnings and powertrains with the 2010 Chevy Equinox, including a direct injected 2.3-liter engine capable of 30 mpg on the highway. As much as the Equinox and Terrain are the same, though, the similarities end when the discussion turns to sheetmetal. The Equinox looks like a far more refined version of its predecessor, while the all new Terrain looks, well, decidedly different than anything in the GMC lineup (and anything on the road, for that matter).

GM has released a video walkaround where stylists and brand executives talk about the Terrain's bold new look, its packaging, and its performance. In addition, we came across some B-roll of the 2010 Terrain out on the open road, and we think it's worth a look. The video is nearly 10 minutes long, though, and the first six minutes are rolling shots of the GMC crossover out in the country. Things get more interesting after that with a detailed look at the Terrain's interior. If you're pressed for time, though, skip right to the eight minute mark to see some cool CGI video. It shows that the Terrain has some neat features, like a pull forward second row that enables more cargo space and a center console that can swallow a laptop whole.

As might reasonably anticipated, we've also detected a wide range of opinions in the comments section about the aesthetics of this latest GMC, and we've decided to put it to a vote... where do you see the Terrain stacking up on a scale of one to ten in terms of styling?

Hit the jump to see both videos and cast your vote!




[Sources: FastLane Blog via YouTube; GM TV]

While GMC's new-for-2010 Terrain crossover may be all but identical to Chevrolet's Equinox, one look at this bluff-faced polarizing design will tell you that badge-engineering wasn't part of the program at General Motors. Yes, both vehicles share the same platform, the same engine choices and even the same suspension calibrations, but the in-your-face look here is likely to inspire love-it-or-hate-it reactions. We'll let you decide on which side of the fence you sit, with one caveat: It is often the case that certain cars look better in the metal than on screen or in photographs. We were invited to GM's Design Dome for a media backgrounder, and after being in-and-around the vehicle, we profess that we can't make the same case.

Controversial aesthetics aside, the 2010 Terrain looks to have the goods, including a new 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine on the base model that delivers 182 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque. Like its Chevy stablemate, this model is tipped to deliver 30 miles-per-gallon on the highway, a very handsome figure for this class. Interestingly, the four-banger features noise-canceling technology to mute undesirable sound characteristics and a driver-selectable Eco button that remaps the throttle responses, shift patterns and torque converter lockup speed to improve fuel economy.

Click through to the jump for more details and the official press release.




Photos copyright ©2009 Chris Paukert / Weblogs, Inc.

Citing a defect that can cause a parked vehicle to roll away, General Motors is recalling 277,000 cars and trucks. The models involved, all built for the 2009 model year, may have a loose clip on their transmission shift cable. The failure of the clip to be locked into place may prevent the transmission from moving into Park – even if the driver moves the shift lever into the proper position. GM has told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that dealers will inspect the transmission shift cable and replace broken units. Affected models include the Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Cobalt, Chevrolet HHR, Chevrolet Malibu, Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, Pontiac G5, Pontiac G6, Saturn Aura and Saturn Outlook. NHTSA Safety Campaign after the jump.

[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd]