2005 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 Z71 Crew Cab Pickup 4-door 5.3l on 2040-cars

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Next-gen Chevy Cruze caught cruising in the cold

Spy photographers have caught what looks like the next-generation Chevrolet Cruze out on snow patrol. The camo could be tricking our eyes, but it look like it has an even tidier, more rounded front end and even lower fenders in relation to the top of the hood. And either a chunk of camo has been wedged between the side mirrors and the doors, or the mirrors are up for revision, too.
The door handles have been moved up the side of the car, leading the way to a rear end that grows a bit in length. If the rumors are true, the coming second-generation Cruze sits on the new D2XX platform that will replace the Delta and Theta platforms at General Motors. A global architecture, the Cruze will be the first to get it, but it will underpin everything from next Chevrolet Volt to the Equinox and could be responsible for 2.5 million units by 2018. The next Cruze is expected to begin production in GM's Lordstown, Ohio plant in the third quarter of 2014.

China's rise, global restructuring wither GM's Korea division

An article in the Daily Kanban suggests the sun is setting on GM Korea, and it could already be well into dusk. GM Korea came about when General Motors, along with co-investors SAIC and Suzuki, bought Daewoo Motors from parent company Daewoo Group in 2001; it had a previous tie-up with GM, a joint venture that ended in 1992, although Daewoo cars were based on GM cars until 1996. Over the decade following the purchase, it became such an important part of operations that it was renamed GM Korea in 2011, "to reflect its heightened status in [the] global operations of GM." Just two years later, the printed rumors were that the subsidiary responsible for a fifth of Chevrolet's global production could be shutting down. The division's sales were down almost 21 percent through November of last year, counting domestic South Korean sales, exports, and CKD – Complete Knock Down – products. That makes the labor strife, already an issue for four years, even more acute, reports say the subsidiary will lose $36 million a year if it can't get the job and wage cuts it wants, and government concessions can't make up for the losses. And it gets worse, so head over to Daily Kanban to read the rest of the story.

Chevy to resume engine-building program for 2015 Corvette Z06

One of Chevrolet's most popular and unique customer features is set to return for 2015, as the company has announced that the Engine Build Experience is back. Interested owners will be able to screw together their engines beginning in March. The $5,000 option (which does not include the cost of travel) will give future owners of the 2015 Corvette Z06 the chance to screw together their car's actual 6.2-liter, supercharged V8. Available on each of the Z06's three trims, the Engine Build Experience includes a day at the Performance Build Center, instruction from an engine assembly tech, photographs of the experience and a personalized engine plaque. Once the build process is completed, the engine will (eventually) be fitted under the hood of the customer's personal Z06. "Chevrolet recognizes the passion customers have for Corvette and the Engine Build Experience offers them a truly unique opportunity for hands-on involvement in the creation of the heart of their new car," Corvette product manager Harlan Charles. "It's important for customers to understand their engine won't be installed the day after they built it. It will flow into the scheduling process for vehicle assembly, which depends on a number of logistical variables." Scroll down for the official announcement of the Z06's Engine Build Experience, available below. Exclusive Corvette Engine Build Experience Returns Program renewed for supercharged LT4 engine at new Bowling Green build center 2015-01-07 BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Chevrolet announced today it is resuming the exclusive Engine Build Experience for Corvette Z06 customers – the only program of its kind for supercar customers. Starting in March 2015, Corvette Z06 customers will be able to assemble the 650-hp supercharged LT4 engine for their cars at the new Performance Build Center inside the Bowling Green Assembly Plant. "Chevrolet recognizes the passion customers have for Corvette and the Engine Build Experience offers them a truly unique opportunity for hands-on involvement in the creation of the heart of their new car," said Harlan Charles, Corvette product manager. "It's a chance to bond with their new car." The Engine Build Experience is selected with order code PBC and is offered on all Z06 trim levels.