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GM threatens predatory dealers with order cancellations, non-transferrable warranties

General Motors will launch a second salvo against misbehaving dealerships next week with a new set of policies aimed at curbing predatory markup strategies. With the new Chevrolet Corvette Z06, GMC Hummer EV SUV and Cadillac Escalade-V about to head into production, GM is putting its foot down yet again. Dealers that attempt to circumvent GM's markup restrictions by dealing directly with brokers or other resellers could find themselves in a particularly nasty spot, as the company is threatening to withhold future allocations and end the transferability of warranties when dealers facilitate the reselling of vehicles within 12 months.  While this may help curb some dealership chicanery, it's possible the real loser in such a deal could end up being the customer who unwittingly ends up with an un-warrantied vehicle. We suspect GM has accounted for that, but we'll have to wait until next week to find out exactly how these new policies will be enforced.

See the new COPO Camaro's awesomeness from many angles

Considering that the COPO Camaro exists solely to drag race, the action you'll see in this video comes as little surprise. Still, Chevrolet Performance wants to prove that the 2016 model, which uses on the sixth-gen body, is just as adept launching down the strip as previous COPOs. This example may still be testing, but its 427-cubic-inch V8 performs like a champ. The engine's raw muscle, at least when coupled with suitably wide and sticky tires, is enough to lift the front wheels when the driver puts the hammer down off the line. This video from Chevy Performance shows off all the drag-strip action from several unexpected angles. You can watch the rear axle at work and even see the engine under the hood during the run. Our personal favorite is the shot of the launch from underneath the car – it's a perspective you never usually get to see. And, naturally, there are lots of great angles showcasing the car's massive burnout potential. The 2016 COPO Camaro debuted at SEMA in 2015. Buyers have a choice of three V8s, and all of them come with a three-speed automatic gearbox, solid rear axle, and adjustable suspension. Relish this opportunity to see the 2016 COPO Camaro at work, but remember, it's a rare beast. As in years past, Chevy plans to build just 69 of them. Over 5,500 people applied to get one in 2016, and the first example brought $300,000 for charity. Related Video:

GM uses wind power to build SUVs, trucks

This week started with a chill, as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change issued a dire report with scientists warning, "The world we know today is not the world we will see in 50 years," with temperatures rising at their current rates. In the meantime, the trend toward purchasing more SUVs and crossovers continues. Most automakers, though, have set goals toward more sustainable production. That includes General Motors, which, somewhat ironically, plans to use wind power to produce many of its vehicles, including pickups and full-size SUVs. As the Detroit Free Press reports, several wind farms are coming online to support cleaner production as part of a partnership between GM and energy producer CMS Enterprises. At the beginning of October, the 100-megawatt Northwest Ohio Wind Farm began producing energy, supplying GM operations in Ohio and Indiana, where manufactured vehicles include the Chevy Cruze, Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra. Hilltopper Wind Farm in Illinois will begin producing another 100 megawatts for GM manufacturing in the region. In Texas, where GM builds the Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL and Cadillac Escalade, the automaker is getting 50 megawatts from Cactus Flats Wind Farm beginning October 9. Using wind power isn't just about being green, but also for the sake of price stability. As Rob Threlkeld, GM's global manager of renewable energy told the Free Press, "You don't get the price spikes this way, like you do with fuel, and it reduces the environment footprint of the vehicle you're driving." Threlkeld said that renewable energy has already meant "millions of dollars in savings" for GM. GM plans to power all of its global operations with renewable energy by 2050. This week, the automaker was ranked 76 on the EPA's "National Top 100 List" of green manufacturers. It was the only automotive company listed. Related Video: News Source: Detroit Free Press, GM, EPAImage Credit: GM Green Plants/Manufacturing Chevrolet GM GMC Truck SUV wind power sustainability