1998 Gmc Jimmy Sle 4x4 on 2040-cars

Auto blog

GM taps Honeywell's Quality Control System for Ultium battery plant

The Chevrolet Bolt recall has been so frustrating for General Motors that the automaker made an unexpected show of public hopelessness in saying it was "not confident" that LG — which produces the Bolt's batteries — could produce batteries without defects. Even though the remark came before investigation teams founds the source of the Bolt battery issue, it was even more strange considering GM and LG are still in bed together, the two having invested more than $2.3 billion in a 2.8-million-square-foot plant to make GM's Ultium batteries in Lordstown, Ohio. Now that GM has even more motivation to keep its Ultium batteries free of scandal, GM has tapped Honeywell for that company's Quality Control System at the Lordstown facility. The Honeywell QCS will monitor four of the production lines at the facility using "high-precision scanners and basis weight sensors." One of the parameters measured will be electrode coat weight, a key stat in battery performance. Another measurement and control company wrote, "Improving the electrode coating process is a significant part of the equation to delivering better quality and better performing cells – and coating uniformity is seen more and more as a critical requirement." Honeywell says it has more than 20 years of experience with lithium-ion technology, and the firm is already found throughout the green economy. A GM spokesman made sure to say that "the awarding of the Ultium contract to Honeywell has nothing to do with the Bolt recall." Yet in the Honeywell press release, a company director spoke words that could have come straight from GM, with, "Given the opportunity at hand, battery manufacturers such as Ultium Cells must be able to bring new solutions to market with confidence." The new Lordstown facility is scheduled to open in the first quarter of next year. It will employ more than 1,100 workers building the prime movers for coming EVs like the new Hummer and the Cadillaq Lyriq. Ideally, before then, GM will have found and fixed all of the Bolts with issues, and can begin its Ultium era under sunny skies. The automaker started accepting LG batteries again last week, the new batteries should begin reaching dealers around the same time Bolt production resumes on October 11. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Green GMC Safety Technology Electric

2020 GMC Acadia AT4 priced just a little more than the SLT trim

Cars Direct has seen the order guide pricing the 2020 Acadia AT4 at $42,495 after destination; that means a $41,300 MSRP plus $1,195 for shipping and handling. GMC has left a lot of pricing room between the rugged, all-wheel drive AT4 and the dressed-up, top-shelf Acadia Denali with AWD, the latter costing $49,495, a $7,000 difference. The spread's blown out some by what appears to be an $800 increase for the 2020 Acadia Denali with all-wheel drive. The 2019 model costs $48,695. On the other hand, it looks like the 200 Acadia SLT trim has gone down in price. Cars Direct says that model will run $41,995, which is $300 less than the 2019 version that goes for $42,295 after destination. The new price leaves a $500 gap between the SLT-1 model with all-wheel drive and the AT4 trim, a figure that's a no-brainer to justify for any buyers trying to get a more butch curb appeal.     The Acadia AT4 package comes standard with all-wheel drive and the 3.6-liter V6 with 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque, puts black chrome on the grille, and nabs a set of exclusive 17-inch wheels on all-terrain tires. The other two engines in the lineup are a new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 230 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and cylinder deactivation. That motor will be the standard kit on the SLT and Denali trim levels, supplanting the 3.6-liter that's standard on the 2019 models. The entry-level engine carries over, a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder making 193 horsepower and 188 pound-feet of torque.

We talk Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz, and we bought Suburbans! | Autoblog Podcast #703

In this episode of the Autoblog Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore is joined by Consumer Editor Jeremy Korzeniewski and News Editor Joel Stocksdale. It's a truck-heavy podcast as it starts with Korzeniewski and Stocksdale talking about the '90s GMC Suburbans they both bought this year. After that, the editors shift to discussing the compact trucks of the moment, the 2022 Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz. Then there's a detour to the Lexus UX 200. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. They wrap up the show with a discussion of highlights from this year's SEMA show from electric conversions to massive crate engines. And of course, they spend someone else's money, this time with very interesting criteria. Send us your questions for the Mailbag and Spend My Money at: Podcast@Autoblog.com. Autoblog Podcast #703 Get The Podcast Apple Podcasts – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes Google - Subscribe to The Autoblog Podcast in Google Podcasts Spotify – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast on Spotify RSS – Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator MP3 – Download the MP3 directly Rundown What we're driving: 1990s Chevy Suburbans  2022 Ford Maverick 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz 2022 Lexus UX 200 SEMA 2021 Highlights Spend My Money Feedback Email – Podcast@Autoblog.com Review the show on Apple Podcasts Autoblog is now live on your smart speakers and voice assistants with the audio Autoblog Daily Digest. Say “Hey Google, play the news from Autoblog” or "Alexa, open Autoblog" to get your favorite car website in audio form every day. A narrator will take you through the biggest stories or break down one of our comprehensive test drives. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.