2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 Hd Crew Cab 4x4 on 2040-cars

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GM is quietly slashing prices on base models

While General Motors' fourth quarter financial figures haven't yet been released, the automaker seems to be weathering a potentially rocky time well, even beating third-quarter projections last year. To keep the climb going, the company is launching new base trims for several popular models that make them cheaper than ever but with tight dealer margins. The new entry-level trims are the Chevrolet Cruze L, Equinox L, GMC Terrain SL and Buick LaCrosse 1SV. Buyers lose some content by picking them, but the prices are slashed. According to Cars Direct, the biggest savings are on the LaCrosse, where customers pay $31,065, plus $925 destination, $2,570 less than the previous base 1SB trim but must accept things like 17-inch wheels and no cargo net in the back. If you're wondering how Buick can remove only a little equipment but cut the price so much, it's because the company also slashed dealer margins. According to Cars Direct, the difference between the invoice and MSRP for the LaCrosse 1SV is only around $150, compared to around $1,350 before. The disparity is even greater for the Cruze with an $81 difference in the prices, compared to about $600 for the LS version. Showrooms are expected to keep very low stocks of these trims, though. "Dealers use such vehicles to get people in the door, but they do not generally want to do high volumes of these strippers. The margins are next to nothing; they don't make much money off these cars," said Ed Kim, Vice President of Industry Analysis for AutoPacific to Autoblog. Dealers are also expected to advertise that these new base trims undercut major competitors. For example, the Cruze L rings up for about $2,320 less than a Honda Civic LX, according to Cars Direct. One potential drawback for buyers is that these models might not be eligible for incentives. While the attractive prices might get customers into dealers, folks may not actually end up driving home with these entry-level models. Kim indicated base trims also make up a small portion of the sales mix. "Consumers aren't asking for stripped out vehicles, even at the low end of the marketplace," he said. Featured Gallery 2015 Chevrolet Cruze View 9 Photos News Source: Cars DirectImage Credit: Chevrolet Buick Chevrolet GM GMC Car Buying Car Dealers Crossover Sedan gmc terrain cheap cars

GM investing $167m in Spring Hill for new midsize vehicles

General Motors has announced a large investment in its Spring Hill, Tennessee facility. The former home of Saturn production will be getting a $167 million addition to a previously announced $183 million, to cover a pair of new midsize vehicles. The investment is expected to create 1,800 jobs at the factory.
That $350 million is being divvied up for a pair of programs at Spring Hill. The first will take the bulk of the money ($223 million) and create 1,000 of the 1,800 jobs, while the other will take the remaining $127 million and generate the leftover 800 positions. But GM says the investment will cover "midsize vehicle programs." So what could they be?
The leading candidate in our minds is a new crossover for Buick, called the Anthem, that will slot between the Encore and Enclave, but will be slightly smaller than the Equinox and Terrain. As we've explained, the new model will likely be the first product to sport GM's new D2UX platform, which will eventually replace both the Delta and Theta platforms. Spring Hill is already building the Equinox, so there could be some credence to this theory.

Chevy Colorado Z71 Trail Boss 3.0 concept heads to SEMA

Chevrolet is presenting a new take on the Colorado pickup at the SEMA show this year. The show truck picks up where the Colorado Z71 Trail Boss Edition leaves off, with numerous accessories from the parts catalog as well as several custom additions. The SEMA truck is based on a Crew Cab model with four-wheel drive, painted red with rally stripes. Among the features added from the catalog are a sport bar with LED auxiliary lighting, mounted to the cargo bed. It's also stylistically augmented with fender blares, Bowtie emblems, and rocker steps all done up in black to match the 17-inch alloys shod with Goodyear DuraTrac all-terrain tires. Chevy has also equipped this truck with an automatic locking rear diff, a transfer case shield, recovery hooks at the front, a spray-in bedliner, projector-beam headlamps, fog lamps, and all-weather floor mats. Chevy has also fitted this pickup with color-keyed door handles and mirror caps, upgraded exhaust and air intake, rubber floor liners, brushed metal interior trim, and an illuminated grille badge. Public reception will determine how many of these and other additional features will be considered for production. Colorado Z71 Trail Boss 3.0 Concept Shows Off-Road Style New styling accessories, performance parts enhance trail-ready capability LAS VEGAS – The Colorado Z71 Trail Boss Edition is designed for those who want to blaze their own trails and Chevrolet's new Z71 Trail Boss 3.0 concept vehicle enhances its off-road style with new Chevrolet accessories and performance parts. Chevrolet introduced the new concept vehicle at the SEMA Show today, where it joined concept versions of the Silverado 1500 and HD models to demonstrate the depth and breadth of the brand's three-truck lineup. "The Colorado Z71 Trail Boss Edition is made for tackling the tough terrain required to get away from it all and this concept version does it with rugged style," said Sandor Piszar, director of Chevrolet Truck Marketing. "And whether it's the Colorado, Silverado 1500 or Silverado HD, there's a Chevy truck to take you where you want to go, regardless of whether there's a road leading there." The production 2016 Colorado Z71 Trail Boss is offered in extended and crew cab configurations, with a choice of a long or short cargo bed and available 4WD – as well as the all-new 2.8L Duramax turbo-diesel, which takes the maximum trailering rating up to 7,700 pounds.