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General Motors Recalls Nearly 780,000 Cars To Fix Deadly Problem

General Motors is recalling nearly 780,000 compact cars in North America because the engines can shut down unexpectedly and cause crashes. The company says six people have been killed in crashes related to the problem. The recall affects Chevrolet Cobalts and Pontiac G5s from the 2005 through 2007 model years. U.S. safety regulators say the weight of the key ring and rough roads can move the ignition switch out of the run position, cutting the engine and electricity. If that happens, air bags may not work. GM says there have been 22 crashes from the problem. All happened at high speeds. Dealers will replace the ignition switch for free. GM says owners should remove nonessential items from key rings until the problem is fixed. Related Gallery Chevy Impala Earns Highest Accolades From Consumer Reports Recalls Chevrolet GM Pontiac Cobalt

Opel's version of the Chevy Bolt will confuse people at Paris Motor Show

Two things are now official. First, Opel will reveal the Ampera-e, or the European version of the Chevrolet Bolt, at the Paris Motor Show in October. Second, General Motors has outdone itself in brand confusion, topping the Bolt/Volt ridiculousness. Opel isn't giving a single-charge range for the Ampera-e but the company is promising a "significantly longer range" than other electric vehicles. The Bolt is estimated to have a 200-mile range on the EPA scale, so whatever the Opel achieves on the European cycle will be done with the same batteries and motor as the Chevy. Opel is also looking to appeal to the auto enthusiasts with other factoids, which are basically just Bolt stats translated into metric. For instance, the Ampera-e will be able to go 0 to 50 kilometers per hour (which is 31 miles per hour to us Americans, but we're talking Europe here) in just 3.2 seconds. And for those looking to stay connected, as many as seven mobile devices can attached to the car's wireless hot spot. GM said in February that the European of the Bolt would be available across the pond next year, so the most recent bit of news isn't shocking. Still, General Motors continues to create confusion between all-electric Bolt and the extended-range plug-in Volt. It's already been reported that the Korean symbol and pronunciation of what is "B" in English is identical to the English "V," meaning that there is no difference between "Bolt" and "Volt" in that country (though there are no plans to sell the Bolt in South Korea as of yet). Now, in Europe, they're taking the name they used to use for the European of the Volt — Ampera — and merely adding an "-e" at the end of it. For those looking to be less confused, take a look at Opel's press release here. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2017 Opel Ampera-e: Paris 2016 View 11 Photos News Source: Opel via Hybrid CarsImage Credit: Live photos copyright 2016 Drew Phillips / Autoblog Green Paris Motor Show Chevrolet GM Opel Electric Chevy Bolt volt ampera opel ampera-e ampera-e

Chevrolet Captiva looks mildly refreshed and ready for family duty

We showed you Chevrolet's major debut yesterday, the 2014 Corvette Stingray Convertible, but General Motors is making a big push for Bowtie consideration in Europe, so it's also introducing the updated Captiva crossover here at the Geneva Motor Show.
While still based on the same platform as North America's fleet-only Captiva Sport (which is effectively a rebadged Saturn Vue), the Captiva is available in both five- and seven-seat iterations, and it looks far more modern. That's particularly the case with this updated model, which features revamped front- and rear ends that include restyled bumpers, grilles and LED taillamps, among other changes.
As before, the midsize Theta-platform CUV will be available in both front- and all-wheel drive, and is expected to carry a range of four- and six-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines. Important US programming note: Chevrolet sources tell us that America's Captiva Sport will not receive these updates.