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GM cutting Chevy Sonic, Buick Verano production by more than 20%

General Motors' Orion Assembly plant in Michigan is seeing even more production cuts this year to further reduce inventories of the Chevrolet Sonic and Buick Verano. These latest adjustments mean layoffs for about 100 workers in phases starting in July. "GM Orion Assembly will adjust plant production capacity to better align with market demand," the company said in a statement announcing the change. Through May, sales of the Sonic are down 28.5 percent to 29,082 vehicles, and the Verano is off 15.6 percent, with 15,279 sold this year. According to unnamed plant insiders speaking to Automotive News, the assembly rate is slowing at Orion Assembly from the current 33 cars an hour down to 26 an hour, a 21-percent reduction. GM is also reportedly going to keep the plant idle for three weeks during the normal summer shutdown, rather than the usual two. Earlier in the year, the factory was idled for two weeks due to excess supply of the Sonic and Verano. In March, it was closed again for several days for the same reason. The Orion Assembly plant is the future home to the line for the Chevy Bolt EV. GM Statement: GM Orion Assembly will adjust plant production capacity to better align with market demand. A phased layoff of approximately 100 employees will begin in July 2015 and conclude by year-end. Related Video: News Source: Automotive News - sub. req.Image Credit: Bill Pugliano / Getty Images Plants/Manufacturing Buick Chevrolet GM Hatchback Sedan buick verano orion assembly

KBB 2013 Brand Image Awards has some obvious and oddball winners

The sixth edition of the Kelley Blue Book Brand Image Awards have crowned a wide range of winners - in a couple of cases the recipient of the laurels might say more about KBB users than they do about the actual winner. Compiled from the responses of more than 12,000 shoppers on KBB.com over the past year, there are 13 categories broken into non-luxury, luxury and truck segments "representing the combined wisdom of the American car-buying public."
The award categories have been revamped this year, with some dropping off, some new ones appearing and at least one other given a new term. What isn't surprising is that Honda won Most Trusted Brand for the second year running, Best Value Brand for the third year in a row and took Best Overall Brand, which wasn't on last year's list of awards.
On our own shores, in the non-luxury categories Chrysler got Most Refined Brand and Buick took Best Value Luxury Brand. Neither one of those marques won anything in last year's Brand Image Awards, while Cadillac, which won Best Interior Design Brand and Best Comfort Brand last year - those awards disappeared this year - went home without a single accolade.

2018 Buick LaCrosse Avenir gets dash of flash

The 2018 Buick LaCrosse Avenir continues the rollout of the top-trim Avenir line, joining the Enclave. They use the same strategy: package some extra features as standard and give the vehicles more design flair. On the outside, the LaCrosse Avenir gets shiny chrome mesh grilles and Avenir badging, just like the Enclave. Two types of wheels are available on the LaCrosse, either 19-inch pieces finished in "Pearl Nickel" or 20-inch versions finished in "Midnight Silver." Inside, there is exclusive chestnut brown leather interior. The Avenir logo is stitched into the headrests of the seats and is displayed on the door sill plates. Aside from the visual tweaks, the Avenir trim adds a bunch of standard features. Among the convenience items are navigation, a sunroof and a Bose sound system. It also features the nine-speed automatic transmission hooked up to the 310-horsepower V6. But items such as the trick all-wheel-drive system and continuously adjustable suspension are still options. Pricing hasn't been announced yet, but expect it to be more than the $42,090 of the next highest-trim LaCrosse Premium with the V6. And Buick expects it will sell plenty of these cars, since it also revealed that 90 percent of LaCrosse buyers choose the top two trims out of the four available. The car goes on sale early next year. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2018 Buick LaCrosse Avenir View 10 Photos Image Credit: Buick Buick Luxury Sedan buick avenir