For several years now, the public has been waiting for the launch of the Chevrolet Volt.  The Volt is an extended-range electric vehicle, a technology that has never been mass produced before.  The Volt will be charged by the owner over night, provided a 40 mile, electric only range from its batteries.  Once that charge is depleted, a small gas generator kicks in to power the car.

Once production was announced for the car, people began to wonder about the price.  The battery technology alone was said to cost close to $10,000, not to mention the car has two powertrains.  Well the wait is over, we finally know how much the Volt will cost the early adopters.  The purchase price for a Volt is $41,000, with a lease option pegged at $350 a month for 36 months with $2,500 down.  Not a bad price in my opinion, as costs will surely come down significantly with the second generation Volt, especially as production increases above the initial 10,000 units planned for the first year.  For more details, head on over to Autoblog.

Not only does the Chevrolet Volt feature a highly advanced propulsion system, but the braking system is highly advanced as well.  The transition between friction braking and regenerative braking needs to be imperceptible to the driver yet still provide maximum stopping power when needed.  The video above shows how one GM engineer worked (and is still working I’m sure) to provide the best performance and brake pedal feel possible.

The commercial above shows that GM (and America) are still building rockets.  Hopefully someday I will be able to afford the rocket you see in the video.  That would be the 2011 Corvette ZR1, and man does it rip!

If you are in the market for a new Corvette Z06 or ZR1 then you might want to consider the option that allows you to build your engine yourself.  That’s right, for the low price of $5,800 you can go to Detroit, Michigan and assist in the building of your very own piece of V8 American muscle.  For more details, check out the video above!

In a plan to promote branding consistency, GM decided to stop using the nickname Chevy. A memo with the plan was released to Chevrolet employees, tells them to stop using the name Chevy when working with dealers, advertisers, etc. The memo also references the use of branding-consistent names like Apple and Coke. Ironically, Coke is a nickname for Coca-Cola…someone didn’t think that example through.

Kind of stupid if you ask me…sounds like the genius at Chevy Chevrolet behind this idea needs to have his/her title changed to unemployed. Read the full article at The Detroit News.

Check out this video of a 2010 Camaro SS with hydraulics.  Can’t say it’s what I would do to my car, but everyone loves something different when it comes to cars, am I right???

Spy photographers recently nabbed shots of the next generation Ford Ranger and Chevrolet Colorado undergoing testing in various locations around Michigan.  These trucks both look bigger than the ones they replace but are still smaller than their big brothers, the F-150 and Silverado respectively.  The question that still remains is whether or not these trucks will be sold in the U.S.  Smaller trucks are very successful in basically every other part of the world, but as fuel prices creep back up, smaller, more manageable and also more fuel efficient, small trucks could come back in style.  Only time will tell, but for now, head on over to Autoblog for the pics.

Good news for GM and its customers – GM will be working with Google’s Android operating system to add new functionality and features via smartphones to its OnStar system. Currently, GM is relying on OnStar to provide various connected services, such as unlocking doors, calling emergency services in the event of an accident, and unlocking doors. With Google’s Android, GM will be able to expand those services to include things like navigation, mapping and routing, and using Google’s advanced search features. GM’s system will be similar to what Ford is doing with Sync, except GM will be developing its own applications as opposed to approving applications that work with the system.

The first vehicle to use Google’s Android is the Chevrolet Volt. The Volt is a perfect vehicle to incorporate this technology, allowing customers to review and change settings related to the battery, charge status, etc.

Read the full new story at The New York Times Blog.