The Latest Crisis Threatening Automakers? A Critical Resin Shortage
A delivery of 2013 Chevy Malibu Eco sedans. Image: © GM Corp.
On March 31, an explosion at an Evonik Industries AG chemical plant halted production of a material called cyclododecatriene, which is used to create PA-12 resin. PA-12, in turn, is used for a wide variety of automotive applications, including the production of brake lines and fuel lines.
In the days before just-in-time manufacturing and economics, the crippling of one plant worldwide would hardly have been a big deal. Manufacturers would simply have gravitated towards another supplier, who in turn would have happily sold of his excess production while ramping up to make more product.
Only that’s not possible in this case. As Left Lane News (via Automotive News) reports, the largest Asian supplier of PA-12 resin is already at capacity, and can’t ramp up production beyond existing levels. The shortage in material, which will likely be ongoing until Evonik Industries can rebuild the damaged facility, will likely impact automotive production within the next few weeks.
While other suppliers (like DuPont Automotive) are scrambling to come up with alternative products, they may or may not be a direct replacement for PA-12. If they’re not, and if the industry can’t source sufficient material from other suppliers, look for inventory shortages to hit the major automakers just in time for the summer buying season.
Categories: Chevrolet Tags: Automakers, Crisis, Critical, Latest, Resin, Shortage, Threatening
Customizing Your Medium Duty Truck
With the economy starting to show a few definite signs of life and independent truckers working more regularly, it is far from uncommon to find that a driver of a medium truck is looking into spiffing up their vehicle. Custom truck parts are becoming a more common purchase for medium duty truckers than they have been in several years. It’s definitely a positive trend for the automotive aftermarket field, not to mention mechanics and retailers. Moreover, spending money on keeping your vehicle in top condition is undoubtedly a wise investment for independent truckers. Nevertheless, not all purchases fall into that category.
On the one hand, there are obviously few investments wiser for an independent trucker than making sure that his or her medium truck is fully operational and in peak condition. If you need to spend several thousand dollars on custom truck parts to make your vehicle run better, it doesn’t matter whether your needed purchase is for an exhaust system or specialized tires, it is money very well spent. On the other hand, purchases that really do not prevent problems or add any particular value to your vehicle may well be best delayed, perhaps permanently, if they are beyond your means. That obviously applies to spending money on products or work that is more a matter of cosmetics than ensuring the tip-top operation of your vehicle. Read more…
Categories: Chevrolet Tags: Customizing, Duty, Medium, truck
Chevrolet Equinox SUV 2012 Review
Standard equipment for the LS includes 17-inch alloy wheels, air-conditioning, cloth upholstery, a partial power driver seat (height adjustment οחƖу), a sliding and reclining rear seat, cruise control, full power accessories, a tilt-аחԁ-telescoping steering wheel with audio controls, Bluetooth, OnStar and a six-speaker sound system with a CD player, satellite radio and an auxiliary audio jack.
2012 Chevrolet Equinox SUV
Tһе LT trim level is divided into two different models, with the 1LT adding tinted rear windows, roof rack side rails, heated outside mirrors, a rearview camera, premium cloth upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and an upgraded sound system with a 7-inch touchscreen and iPod/USB audio interface. Stepping up to the 2LT adds foglamps, remote ѕtаrt, automatic climate control, heated front seats, an eight-way power driver seat, an auto-dimming mirror and an eight-speaker Pioneer sound system. Spring for the top-οf-tһе-line LTZ and уου′ll get automatic headlights, a power liftgate, rear parking sensors, perforated leather upholstery and driver memory settings.
Eνеrу 2012 Chevrolet Equinox comes standard with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 182 hp and 172 pound-feet of torque. Eνеrу Equinox regardless of engine comes standard with a six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive; аƖƖ-wheel drive is optional. Iח Edmunds testing, a front-drive Equinox went from zero to 60 mph in 9.3 seconds, which is an average number for this segment. EPA-estimated fuel economy is 22 mpg city/32 mpg highway and 26 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 20/29/23 with аƖƖ-wheel drive. Tһеѕе estimates are very impressive; һοwеνеr, in real-world testing we found that it falls short of tһеm, especially on the highway.
Chevrolet Cruze 2012
Tһе 2012 Chevrolet Cruze is a small sedan that comes in four main trim levels: LS, Eco, LT and LTZ.
Tһе LS includes 16-inch steel wheels, OnStar, a tilt-аחԁ-telescoping steering wheel, air-conditioning, a six-way (manual) adjustable driver seat, a 60/40-split rear seat, a trip computer, full power accessories and a six-speaker stereo with a CD/MP3 player, satellite radio and an auxiliary audio jack. A Connectivity package adds Bluetooth, a USB port and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls.
2012 Chevrolet Cruze
Tһе Eco is equipped similarly to the LS but is optimized for maximum fuel efficiency with aerodynamic improvements, lightweight alloy wheels, low-rolling-resist Read more…
Novo Chevrolet Cobalt–Preço e fotos
A Chevrolet divulgou hoje que já está lançando no Brasil um novo sedã da marca, desta vez o Chevrolet Cobalt. O modelo será oferecido nas versões LS, LT e também LTZ, com um preço de 39.9 ml na versão mais simples e até mais de 45 mil na versão topo de linha. Segundo informações da própria Chevrolet, o Chevrolet Cobalt começa a ser vendido ainda este mês.
Categories: Chevrolet Tags: Chevrolet, Cobalt–Preço, Fotos, Novo
Video: Chevrolet Teases New 2012 Malibu Exterior Design
I remember my brother’s old 1968 Chevy Malibu which was, well, an awesome looking car that simply needed more power from its deceivingly big 5.0-liter V8 engine. I know, he should have opted for a Chevelle SS. Since then, the Malibu has become a watered down mid-sized-4-door slush box that would otherwise be completely overlooked until you end up at the rental car counter. The upcoming 2012 Chevrolet Malibu will be taking a totally different direction, one that hopes to bring some life back into the name from the looks of the exterior design teaser video below. We expect the new 2012 Malibu will be something along the lines of a bigger and more refined Chevy Cruze, something that is universally styled for several world markets. Read more…
2011 chevrolet suburban Review
The interior of the 2011 Chevrolet Suburban is spacious and comfortably seat up to 8 with plenty of cargo room left over. Put the third row down and enjoy expanded cargo space for all your hauling needs. Get all the information you need with the driver information center which puts you in the right place to see engine oil life, tire pressure, fuel range, fuel mileage and all your warning lights. Take advantage of the personalized settings for even more control over the life of your SUV. The option of heated and cooled leather 12-way power front bucket seats put you in the lap of comfort.
Chevy KODIAK C4500-9500 03-09 1 PC Upper Biller Grille
Chevy KODIAK C4500-9500 03-09 1 PC Upper Biller Grille, Brand new (in retail package) polished billet grille(s) insert made from 6061-T6 aircraft grade aluminum with shinning polished face and black satin powder coating on sides and back. 1 Hardware kit and 1 installation instruction included in package. Each grille is professionally manufactured in our factory with more than 30 years of aluminum products experience.
Chevy KODIAK C4500-9500 03-09 1 PC Upper Biller Grille
Chevy KODIAK C4500-9500 03-09 1 PC Upper Biller Grille guarantees a black satin powder coating with a shining polished face. Bolt-over grilles are very easy to install with no cutting and no drilling needed. Most replacement grilles normally let you working DIY within 1 to 2 hours depending on your handyman skills.
Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback Debut at 2011 Geneva Auto Show
General Motors will introduce the Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback production model at the upcoming Geneva Auto Salon Show 2011, but has no concrete plans to bring to this version to the U.S. market.
“There are no plans to come to the U.S.,” spokesman Chevrolet Lesley Hettinger said in a telephone conversation with Inside Line on Tuesday. “It’s a maybe. The beauty of a global vehicle that we can make adjustments quickly. So that’s not to say that it ever not come here. ”
The Cruze is a virtual clone of the Chevrolet Cruze Concept, which debuted last September at the 2010 Paris Motor Show.
The new model is essential to the success of the compact Chevy’s in Europe, where hatch accounted for two thirds of sales. Since the spring of 2009 Chevrolet Cruze sold 500,000 vehicles worldwide. The Cruze launched in the U.S. in September last year with the Cruze Eco-model on the market in December. Read more…
Categories: 4autochannel, Chevrolet Tags: 2011, Auto, Chevrolet, Cruze, debut, Geneva, Hatchback, Show
2011 Chicago Auto Show: 2012 Camaro ZL1 Revealed
Image: © GM Corp.
After months of speculation, the new uber-Camaro was revealed today at the Chicago Auto Show. To the surprise of many, the car didn’t carry the expected Z/28 nameplate; instead, Chevy opted to label the car the Camaro ZL1. Don’t feel bad if you don’t know the significance of that name, since it was used only once, as an internal order code for an aluminum-block racing engine option on the 1969 Camaro. Only 69 were ever built with the ZL1 order code, and their performance and value is the stuff of legend. What better way to honor the name than by building the most powerful and most capable Camaro in Chevrolet’s history?
Image: © GM Corp.
As rumored, the ZL1 gets powered by the LSA, 6.2 liter supercharged V8 from the Cadillac CTS-V. The ZL1 loses a few ponies in the translation, since the CTS-V is a Cadillac and the Camaro is a Chevy. If you want specifics, the ZL1 gets rated at 550 horsepower versus the Caddy’s 556, while torque drops to 550 ft lb from the CTS-V’s 551. It’s academic, really, and I suspect that both cars would put out nearly identical numbers on a dyno. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised to find that the ZL1 has a similar zero to sixty time (3.9 seconds for the Caddy), but Chevy isn’t publishing those numbers just yet. Read more…
Categories: AutomotiveAddicts, Chevrolet, Chicago Auto Show, Chicago Motor Show Tags: Auto, Camaro, Chicago, Revealed, Show
