Tag Archives: GM

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GM Refuses to Let the V8 Die

Not long ago, it felt like the V8 was being quietly escorted out of the building. Stricter emissions rules, turbocharged fours, and electrification all seemed to be writing the obituary for the eight-cylinder. But General Motors, never one to give up on horsepower without a fight, is doing the opposite—doubling down with an all-new generation of small-block V8 engines that will power Chevrolets, GMCs, and Cadillacs well into the next decade.

This sixth-generation V8 family isn’t just a mild update. GM is retooling multiple plants to support it, confirming production at facilities in Flint, Michigan, and Buffalo, New York, and now adding St. Catharines, Ontario, to the mix. That Canadian plant has already returned to two shifts as it ramps up for V8 production, underscoring just how serious GM is about keeping the internal-combustion flame alive.

The investment behind it is massive. GM says it has poured more than CA$2.6 billion into its Canadian operations over the past five years, including $280 million specifically allocated to support next-generation full-size pickups—vehicles that will be among the first to benefit from these new engines.

While GM hasn’t yet released official specs, the rumor mill is already running hot. The new V8 may revive the storied LS6 name and is expected to come in several flavors, including 5.7-liter and 6.6-liter variants. Sitting at the top of the food chain could be a 6.7-liter flagship, reportedly using an aluminum block and a dual fuel-injection setup that combines both direct and port injection—an arrangement that typically improves both power delivery and emissions performance.

And no, these engines aren’t just for work trucks and big SUVs. GM plans to drop them into sports cars too, starting with the Corvette lineup. That includes the long-awaited return of the Grand Sport, which has already been spotted during an official photoshoot wearing a familiar Admiral Blue paint job and red quarter-panel stripes, a visual callback to the beloved C7-era model.

If the rumors are accurate, the Grand Sport’s 6.7-liter V8 could make around 550 horsepower. That would slot it neatly between the standard Stingray and the more extreme E-Ray and Z06, creating a true sweet spot for buyers who want big power without stepping into full-blown track-weapon territory.

In an era when many automakers are shrinking engines or eliminating them altogether, GM’s new V8 push feels almost rebellious. It’s a reminder that while the future may be electric, the present still has room for thunderous exhaust notes, tire-shredding torque, and the kind of engines that made Detroit famous in the first place.

And if this new small-block delivers on its promise, the V8 won’t just survive—it might just be getting started again.

Source: GM

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GM Energy Is Quietly Becoming the Power Company of the Future

General Motors isn’t just making electric cars anymore—it’s building the grid that will power them.

As part of its all-electric future, GM has been quietly expanding its energy arm, GM Energy, into one of the most ambitious electrification efforts in the auto industry. What began as a support division for EV owners has evolved into a full-fledged energy ecosystem—one that’s growing at a pace Silicon Valley startups would envy.

Over the past 18 months, GM Energy has reported 30 percent month-over-month revenue growth and a fivefold increase in sales of charging and energy products since January. Nearly seven out of ten GM EVs are sold with at least one GM Energy product, from home chargers to power adapters. That’s close to 100,000 adapters sold—numbers that hint at more than just convenience; they show an automaker turning into a genuine energy brand.

Charging Ahead

GM Energy’s core mission is to knock down the barriers that make EV ownership intimidating. A year ago, the company rolled out its energy management tools across all 50 states. Today, the lineup has expanded to 10 products, headlined by two key innovations:

  • Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) charging – GM’s take on bi-directional power lets compatible EVs feed electricity back into your home during a blackout.
  • The GM Energy PowerBank – a stationary home battery system that stores power from the grid or solar panels, giving users a backup reserve or off-peak savings.

In simpler terms: your Silverado EV might keep the lights on, and your house battery could save you money on the next stormy night.

GM’s also producing a range of charging adapters, smoothing the transition toward the North American Charging Standard (NACS). The upcoming 2026 Cadillac Optiq and 2027 Chevrolet Bolt will be the first to feature a native NACS inlet, signaling that GM’s plug future is fully aligned with Tesla’s.

Building the Network

Beyond your garage, GM is betting heavily on public charging. Through partnerships with EVgo, Pilot, and ChargePoint, plus a joint venture called IONNA (with other major automakers), GM Energy plans to deploy 35,000 fast chargers by 2030.

At present, GM drivers already have access to over 250,000 charging stations across North America, and GM-backed chargers rank among the top three networks for user satisfaction on PlugScore—a useful metric in an industry where “plug and pray” still feels all too familiar.

Notably, GM isn’t just dropping chargers in parking lots—it’s improving the experience. Many sites include restrooms, food, retail, and even weather-protected awnings for longer hauls or truck owners towing trailers. In other words, the EV rest stop is getting a much-needed glow-up.

Grid Games

The biggest play here isn’t about convenience—it’s about control. GM Energy’s collaborations with utilities could reshape how cars and power grids interact. Programs in Texas are already experimenting with free overnight charging, while California pilots test vehicle-to-grid tech that lets EVs return power to the system during peak demand.

That’s not just smart—it’s revolutionary. It turns millions of parked EVs into potential micro power plants, a concept energy analysts have long touted but few automakers have delivered at scale.

A Seat at the Table

To make all this possible, GM has joined the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) and taken an active role in standardizing EV infrastructure. From charging connectors to grid integration, GM Energy is now influencing the rules that will govern how electric mobility fits into the broader energy landscape.

GM’s vision goes well beyond selling cars. It’s about selling energy independence, reliability, and resilience—values that resonate just as strongly in your driveway as they do on Wall Street.

If this trajectory continues, GM Energy might one day be as recognizable as OnStar—a quiet background service that ends up defining an entire generation of GM ownership. The difference this time? It’s not just about connecting your car. It’s about connecting everything that runs on electricity.

Source: Chevrolet

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GM’s “Shift to Park” Saga Finally Shifts Into Neutral — With a $500 Payout

After years of dashboard rage, glovebox paperwork, and the occasional swear word muttered in a dealership parking lot, General Motors’ infamous “Shift to Park” saga has finally found its gear — and it’s neutral.

Yes, that “Shift to Park” message. The one that refused to disappear no matter how many times you jiggled the shifter, pressed the button, or gave the console a stern talking-to. For thousands of GM drivers, it became a ritual of frustration — an electronic ghost light that simply refused to die.

Now, after enough legal back-and-forth to fill a soap opera season, The General has agreed to a settlement that’ll see affected owners walk away with a cool $500 (and maybe a bit of vindication). But as with most things involving lawyers, fine print, and Detroit, the story’s a little more complicated than that.

The Gears of Justice

The problem — or “Shift to Park” issue, as it’s politely known — haunted several GM models built between 2016 and 2019. Owners of vehicles like the GMC Acadia, Chevrolet Malibu, Traverse, Blazer, and Volt complained that their cars often refused to recognize when the transmission was in Park.

The result? A relentless warning message that prevented them from shutting off or locking the car. Nothing like a late-night driveway moment where your SUV insists it’s still in Drive.

Drivers grumbled, dealerships shrugged, and lawyers took notes. Eventually, lawsuits from Ohio and Tennessee merged into one, claiming that GM sold cars with defective gear selectors and failed to properly address the issue.

Now, after years of legal idling, a federal judge has approved a settlement. GM won’t admit fault — as carmakers rarely do — but the money’s real enough.

The Payoff

Here’s the deal:

If you bought or leased one of the affected models in Ohio or Tennessee and experienced the issue while the vehicle was still under warranty, you could get $500. Co-owners will have to share that, so maybe flip a coin for who gets the gas money.

If you paid for a repair yourself, GM will also reimburse up to $375 — assuming you have the paperwork and patience to prove it.

Leading the charge were plaintiffs Rilla Jefferson and Mark Riley, who each pocket $10,000 for their trouble. And in true courtroom tradition, the real winners might just be the lawyers — their cut totals a whopping $2.035 million.

Lessons From the Shift Gate

While the payout might seem modest, it’s a rare case where irritated drivers actually get something back for their grief. The “Shift to Park” saga underscores a modern automotive truth: the more we digitize, the more little gremlins can creep in.

A gear selector used to be a simple lever and a cable. Now it’s a networked node in a computer system that occasionally forgets how parking works.

GM’s not the only automaker to face tech-induced headaches, but this one struck a chord — because it wasn’t about performance or luxury or some optional extra. It was about turning your car off, the most basic function of all.

Final Shift

So, after years of stubborn warning chimes and dealership déjà vu, the “Shift to Park” story is winding down with a settlement, a check, and perhaps a collective sigh of relief.

It’s not a recall. It’s not a revolution. But for a few thousand GM owners, it’s at least an acknowledgment that — for once — the system really was stuck in the wrong gear.

And hey, $500 might not buy much these days, but it’s enough to fill the tank and take a long, well-deserved drive… just don’t forget to actually put it in Park this time.

Source: Automotive News