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GM delaying additional Silverado EV and Sierra EV production to Q4 2025

This looks like more "Gotcha!" news about storms in the EV sector, but the word "additional" is key here. The Detroit News reported today that GM is pushing delaying production of the Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV pickups at the Orion Assembly Plant to late 2025, about a year behind expectations. The Silverado EV Work Truck is already in production at GM's Factory Zero in Detroit, which won't change. Retail versions of the Silverado EV are still planned for production at Factory Zero before the end of this year, and the Sierra EV is expected to enter production at Factory Zero early next year. This new plan simply means GM won't add more production of those electric trucks at Orion.  GM builds the Chevrolet Bolt at Orion right now, assembly of that groundbreaking car to end this year. GM's original idea was to spend $4 billion to convert Orion to EV pickup production in time to get its two giant profit makers rolling down lines in early 2025. The move to late 2025 could mean the plant is out of commission for about two years. The facility's 1,261 employees are being offered spots in other plants, including Factory Zero.  The automaker gave several reasons for the move, a spokesperson telling The Detroit News the company wants "to better manage capital investment while aligning with evolving EV demand," and telling the Detroit Free Press, "We're looking at EV demand and the trendline for EVs is stabilizing. ... It is not rising as fast as originally forecasted." On top of that, engineers "have identified engineering improvements that we will implement to increase the profitability of our products." The spokesperson also made it clear that the delay has nothing to do with the UAW strike, now in its 32nd day.  Factory Zero's working up to a near-term production capacity of about 600,000 units annually, GM saying it wanted to get capacity to 1 million EVs annually by the end of 2025. At the moment, the site builds the Silverado EV Work Truck, the GMC Hummer EV pickup and SUV, and the Cruise Origin shuttles — not the Bolt taxis, the autonomous pods. The Detroit News reported GM sold 18 Silverado EV Work Trucks in Q3 this year, GM Authority says GMC Hummer EV production has ramped up to about 3,000 units per month, and Cruise Origin is still waiting on approval from the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration to mass-produce the autonomous shuttles because the shuttles need an exemption for not having steering wheels.

Jeff Gordon to pace Indy 500 in Corvette Z06

The Chevrolet Corvette has served as pace car for the Indianapolis 500 more than any other vehicle in the century-long history of the race. And this year it'll be at the front of the pack again in the form of the Corvette Z06 driven by Jeff Gordon. With 650 horsepower on tap, the Z06 is among the fastest, most powerful cars ever to serve as pace car for the Greatest Spectacle in Racing – right up there, at any rate, with the ZR1 that led the field in 2012 and the Viper GTS from 1996. For this year's race, it's been decked out in white with special graphics, strobe lights and a red interior. The 99th running of the race will mark the 13th time a Corvette has been tapped for the honor. Gordon, a name better known to NASCAR fans, but certainly no stranger to the track, will handle driving duties. The four-time Sprint Cup champion has won the Brickyard 400 no less than five times, including the very first time it was held back in '94. No driver has won at Indy more than Gordon – a record he shares with Michael Schumacher, who won the US Grand Prix there five times. (AJ Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears share the record for Indy 500 victories at four apiece, in case you were wondering.) It'll be a busy Sunday for Gordon, who will also be competing in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte on the same day. Jeff Gordon to Drive Corvette Z06 Indy 500 Pace Car Five-time Brickyard winner will lead pack for 99th running of the Indianapolis 500 2015-04-29 INDIANAPOLIS – Five-time Brickyard 400 winner and four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Jeff Gordon will drive a Corvette Z06 pace car for the 99th running of the Indianapolis 500 mile race, May 24 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It is the 13th time a Corvette has served as the official pace car, dating to 1978, and the 26th time a Chevrolet has led the pack for "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing." Corvette has served as the pace car more than any other vehicle in the race's history. Gordon, who grew up in nearby Pittsboro, Ind., is no stranger to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In 1994 he won the inaugural Brickyard 400 – the first-ever NASCAR race at the Brickyard, and has visited the winner's circle there four more times. That makes him one of only two five-time winners at Indy in any series. Michael Schumacher won five Formula One races there. "It's great to have Jeff Gordon serve as this year's pace car driver," said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S. vice president of performance vehicles and motorsports.

2.0-liter turbo four reportedly returning to Chevrolet Equinox line-up for 2022

Chevrolet's popular Equinox crossover will enter the 2021 model year with comprehensive updates and a turbocharged, 1.5-liter four-cylinder as its only available engine. The 2.0-liter turbo four offered through 2020 is allegedly leaving the line-up, but it will be replaced for 2022 with a newer engine that produces slightly less power while returning better fuel economy, according to a recent report. Called LSY internally, the new 2.0-liter turbo four already powers the Cadillac XT4, among other models in the General Motors portfolio. Enthusiast website GM Authority learned it will deliver 237 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 258 pound-feet of torque from 1,500 to 4,000 rpm. For context, the 2.0-liter available through 2020 (known as LTG) made 252 horses and 260 pound-feet of twist, and the 1.5-liter posts figures of 170 and 203, respectively. As a trade-off for the slight drop in horsepower and torque, the LSY is smoother, quieter and cleaner than the LTG it replaces. Transmission options remain unconfirmed, but the four-cylinder will likely shift through a nine-speed automatic. Front-wheel drive will come standard, and all-wheel drive will be offered at an extra cost. Chevrolet hasn't commented on the report; it hasn't even confirmed the Equinox is losing the LTG engine for 2021. If the rumor is accurate, details about the 2022 Equinox should be released during the first half of 2021. GM Authority added the GMC Terrain, which is closely related to the Equinox, will receive the new engine for 2022 as well. Both should have gotten it for 2021, but the on-going global pandemic delayed its launch. Related Video: