Even a good problem could be bad when it comes to the Detroit Three. Take for example the story of the highly successful Chevrolet, Malibu.

The good part of the equation for General Motors is that the retooled family sedan, which has won rave reviews, is basically out of stock. It seems like a good supply of the Malibu’s will not appear on showroom lots until we hear birds chirping and flowers blooming again in the spring.
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The Indianapolis 500 has lost most of its storied luster, but some excitement is still generated by marketeers eager to align with the historic value of the event.

On Memorial Day weekend in 2008, General Motors is taking their ethanol promotional campaign to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. For the tenth time, a Chevrolet Corvette will be leading the open wheel field around the track for the Indy 500.
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Don’t expect Ford or Chrysler to suit up for the Super Bowl. The automotive teams have been set and two of the Detroit 3 did not make the playoffs.

Chevrolet, Toyota and Audi will advertise during the Feb. 3 Super Bowl telecast.

Chevrolet plans a 60-second commercial during the game’s second quarter, said General Motors spokeswoman Ryndee Carney. That spot will be GM’s only ad in the game, although Chevrolet and Cadillac will air multiple spots during the pre-game and post-game shows, respectively.
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When I think about vintage adds I remember many of them from watching the single TV station we had when I was growing up on my parent’s ranch. The ones that seem to stand out after all these years were the Kodak commercials that were always on during the Wonderful World of Disney show and the Chevrolet commercials that were on during every Bonanza. Both of those shows appeared every Sunday night and back in those days watching a TV show was a family affair. (Boy have things changed.) How many of you remember the Chevrolet theme song sung by Dinah Shore?

See the USA in your Chevrolet
America is asking you to call
Drive your Chevrolet through the USA
America’s the greatest land of all

On a highway, or a road along the levy
Performance is sweeter, nothing can beat her
Life is completer in a Chevy
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There was chatter at the LA Auto Show that GM’s top talker, Bob Lutz, was starting to distance himself from the original design of the upcoming Chevy Volt. The appealing design for the battery operated Volt, caught the eye of many.

It seems, and rightfully so, that if you are building an eco friendly vehicle it should get the best gas mileage possible. It appears Lutz’s coif started blowing in the wrong direction when he heard the wind tunnel results for the current concept design.

The analysis showed that a different shape and aerodynamic configuration could produce better results.

“Test vehicles will be running in the first quarter of 2008 with 40 to 45 miles of electric drive, ” Lutz said. GM is currently in the process of dropping the bottom out of old Malibu’s and have them fitted with Volt battery packs. Testing is expected to begin in 2008.

Lutz said that the Volt will be on sale by November 2010. Cost is expected to be in the 30 grand range with the hope of selling an impressive 60,000 units in the first year of production.

Want America’s lowest priced car with amenities that rival a hotel in Sadr City? Then the new Chevy Aveo 5 might be for you. Unveiled at the LA Auto Show, the Aveo can be had for around 10,000 bucks.
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As one who takes my auto blogging very seriously, I keep a sharp eye on my inbox watching for the many tips and referrals that filter in each day. One day last week, I received one that just about knocked me off my chair. General Motors was inviting me, along with a lot of other auto bloggers to Santa Monica for the launch of the 2008 Chevy Malibu! I actually had to read it twice to be sure I had read it correctly. Conveniently, the to list was left public and what a list it is, a veritable who’s who of the blogging world.

So why is some press junket big news?
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