Saturn Vue Comes Back to Life as the Chevrolet Captiva Sport for Rental Fleets

Meet General Motor�s newest offering in the world of rental vehicles; the Chevrolet Captiva Sport. Even though GM makes no word of the Saturn brand in the press release, most of you will probably see the Vue hiding behind the Chevy bow-tie on the grille. And that�s about the only difference between the Vue and the 2012MY Captiva Sport, which is also sold under various nameplates in more than 50 markets across Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, the Middle East and South America.

However, unlike its Saturn twin, the Captiva Sport will only be sold to fleet customers in the USA, with deliveries set to start in the fourth quarter of 2011. The Captiva Sport will be offered in LS and LT models, with four trim packages, including an all-wheel-drive model (LTZ).

The base LS can be equipped with either an Ecotec 2.4-liter direct-injected four-cylinder or a 3.0-liter direct-injected V6 engine, both matched to a fuel-saving six-speed automatic transmission. The higher grade LT (FWD) and LTZ (AWD) models get the V6 engine as standard.

All models feature standard 17-inch alloys, XM Satellite Radio, six-speaker sound system, four-wheel disc brakes with antilock, traction control, StabiliTrak electronic stability control, air conditioning, power locks and windows (with driver�s express down) and remote keyless entry.

The LT adds OnStar and Bluetooth phone connectivity, while the LTZ also gets a rear-view camera, leather trim package, a 10-speaker sound system and a sunroof.

CHEVROLET CAPTIVA SPORT

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SATURN VUE

1989 Chevy Caprice Side-Step Proves Cute Utes Can Still Be Cool

Okay, you got me. �Cute utes� are not really my thing. I�m more of a Dodge Ram SRT-10 or an HSV Maloo man myself. Yes, they�re affordable and sure if you�re on a budget and need a reliable vehicle that can carry a whole lot of work gear and tools there�s really nothing better.

So here�s a �step-side� style ute pickup based on a 1989 Chevrolet Caprice. Step-side pickups have a step moulded into the body, typically between the passenger doors and rear wheel arch. They were popular in the 1950s though are somewhat rarer these days.

Apart from the obvious modifications (the removal of the rear bodywork and addition of the tray) this custom vehicle has also been lowered and fitted with 17-inch rims. The engine and transmission remain unchanged, however. The interior appears well maintained, and with a bit more work this step-sider could be a real looker.

There�s no reserve price, though I�d suspect around US$10,000 for a vehicle of this type. You can check out our gallery and leave your piece in the comments section below.

By Tristan Hankins

Link: eBay

PHOTO GALLERY

This Chevy Really Sticks to the Road: Meet the World�s Biggest Play-Doh Sculpture

If you�re looking for the most creative marketing campaigns, be that a pair of car-shaped roller skaters or a parade of seemingly nude commuters, then London is the place for you. This time it�s Chevrolet that has caught our attention with its life-size replica of the new Orlando MPV made from 1.5 tonnes of Play-Doh parked up in a London street today.

Crafted by a team of eight model makers over a two-week period to mark the UK launch of Chevy�s new seven-seater minivan, the world�s biggest Play-Doh sculpture measures 4.6 metres long and 1.8 metres wide.

�The new Orlando deserves another look and we believe this mould-breaking MPV is a real head-turner � especially when it�s made from tonnes of the nation�s most popular aqua-marine putty,� Les Turton from Chevrolet UK commented. �Hopefully our launch will appeal to the inner-child in every parent and it will become a firm family favourite.�

TOP TEN BEST NOSTALGIC TOYS

1. Play-Doh (19 per cent)
2. LEGO (17 per cent)
3. Kinder Egg (15 per cent)
4. Action Man (12 per cent)
5. Barbie (9 per cent)
6. Teddy bears (8 per cent)
7. Marbles (6 per cent)
8. Scalextric (5 per cent)
9. Subbuteo (2 per cent)
10. Rubik�s Cube (1 per cent)

* Other (6 per cent)

PHOTO GALLERY

Chevrolet Teases New Colorado Mid-Size Pickup Truck, Debuts at Bangkok Auto Show

Less than a week after the 2011 Geneva Motor Show press days and automakers are already getting ready for the next round of auto shows. Today, GM�s Chevrolet division issued a teaser sketch of its next-generation Colorado mid-size pickup truck that will be unwrapped in pre-production form at the 32nd Bangkok International Motor Show, which begins March 25.

General Motors said that Thailand was chosen as the site of the global debut of the Colorado because of the �popularity of pickup trucks and the growing importance of the Thai market to Chevrolet�. The company noted that in 2010, the truck segment accounted for a whopping 43 percent of all vehicles sold in Thailand.

�Trucks play a key role in most Southeast Asian markets,� said Susan Docherty, vice president, GMIO Sales, Marketing and Aftersales. �Nowhere is this more evident than in Thailand, where trucks like the Colorado are ingrained in the local lifestyle. Thailand was a natural place to give the public a first glimpse of our all-new Colorado.�

Those of you with a sharp memory may recall the patent drawings of a Chevrolet pickup truck that we showed in the summer of 2010. If you compare Chevy�s official rendering with the sketches, it is obvious that we are talking about the same vehicle.

GM noted the new Chevrolet Colorado will make its market debut in Thailand later this year, but did not say when (or if) the mid-size pickup will come to the States and other markets across the globe.

PHOTO GALLERY

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CHEVROLET PATENT DRAWINGS

Chevrolet to Sell Volt in Europe, Priced from �41,950 or �1,000 Less than the Opel Ampera

Chevrolet announced at the Geneva Motor Show that it will sell the Volt in Europe, with prices in Germany starting from �41,950 (US$58,560). It will be similarly priced in other European markets, where it will arrive in November 2011.

The Volt's sister car, the Opel Ampera, will also go on sale this year in Europe, at a slightly higher starting price. Unveiled in final production form at the Geneva Show, the Ampera will cost �42,900 ($59,885), but prices can vary in different countries depending on the standard equipment.

Chevrolet said the Volt would be fully equipped with all the usual safety and convenience features, plus leather seats. As in the US, European buyers will have an 8-year/160,000 km warranty (100,000 miles) on the powertrain and the lithium-ion battery.

"Our price in Europe is based on the U.S. Volt price adjusted for transportation cost, import duties, exchange rates and homologation," said Wayne Brannon, CEO of Chevrolet Europe.

The Volt and the Ampera are basically the same car, both being built at GM�s Detroit Hamtramck plant in Michigan, US. There are only minor differences between the two cars, mainly concerning the front and the rear styling. In battery-only mode, the EVs have a maximum range of 40-80 kilometers (25-49 miles) that can be extended to 600 km (373 miles) when the gasoline engine / generator kicks in to charge the battery.

The 111 kW (150 hp) electric motor delivers 370 Nm of torque (273 lb-ft), accelerating the car from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in around nine seconds while top speed is 161 km/h (100 mph). The battery can be fully recharged at any household 230-volt power outlet in three to four hours.

By Dan Mihalascu

PHOTO GALLERY