GM Halting Chevy Sonic, Buick Verano Production

GM Halting Chevy Sonic, Buick Verano Production
Watch the 2015 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona Live Streaming Online
MINI Minor Rebirth Under Consideration
GM Trademarks ‘Z71 Trail Boss’
Honda Civic Type R Spied on U.S. Soil

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GM is shutting down one of its plants for two weeks to help trim inventory levels for two of its models.

It is being reported that the American automaker will idle production at its Orion Assembly Plant in Orion Township the week of February 16 and April 6 as inventory levels for the Buick Verano and Chevrolet Sonic continue to increase. Both the Verano and Sonic are produced at Orion and dropping gas prices have hurt the sales of the compact luxury sedan and the subcompact Sonic.

According to LMC Automotive, GM had a 127-day supply of the Sonic at the beginning of the month while the Verano had an 84-day supply. Automakers tend to keep about a 60- to 65-day supply for cars.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Discuss this story at our Buick Verano forum

Watch the 2015 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona Live Streaming Online

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Get ready as the 2015 international motorsports season kicks off at Daytona.

The 53rd Rolex 24 at Daytona will start off the 2015 Tudor United SportsCar Championship season and if you aren't close to a TV to watch the action unfold on Fox Sports, you're in luck. Along with IMSA TV live streaming the event, there's another live stream which you can watch below, courtesy of Turner Motorsport.

The Rolex 24 at Daytona starts at 11:10 AM PT / 2:10 PM ET on January 24 and most of the overnight action will be live streamed on IMSA TV.

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Coverage on Fox Sports begins at 2 p.m. ET on January 24 and you can get full details of how to watch below:

January 24

2-4 p.m. FOX

4-8 p.m. FOX Sports 2

8-10 p.m. FOX Sports 1

10 p.m. to 7 a.m. IMSA.com (live video streaming)

January 25

7 a.m.-2:30 p.m. FOX Sports 1

To follow the race on Twitter, be sure to check out @IMSALive

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IMSA TV

MINI Minor Rebirth Under Consideration

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Years after the MINI Rocketman concept first debuted, the British automaker may finally bring a compact city car to market.

According to a recent report from Automobile, MINI is considering building a compact city car model with a source saying that new R&D board member Klaus Fröhlich had it on his agenda when he traveled to America earlier in the new year. The addition of a subcompact model to MINI's lineup also brings up the potential rejuvenation of the Minor nameplate.

It appears that the MINI Minor will be one of five new models the company is introducing as "pillars" for the brand. Joining the MINI Minor is the popular MINI Cooper, the all-new Clubman, the next Countryman due in 2016 and the Superleggera roadster, which is expected to head to production in early 2018. Expect the MINI Minor to cost between $14,500 and $16,000 while featuring styling elements from the Paceman and the Rocketman concept.

[Source: Automobile]

Discuss this story at our MINI forum

GM Trademarks ‘Z71 Trail Boss’

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A new GM trademark filing is hinting at a new off-road model.

The company has trademarked, "Z71 Trail Boss," presumably for a new off-road focused truck, as the trademark is specifically for "light-duty trucks." The Z71 package is available on GM's trucks and SUVs and boosts off-road performance with larger shocks, skid plates, a locking rear differential and more.

This new Trail Boss model could apply to GM's half-ton trucks or its new midsize twins, the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon. The company has already shown interest in leaving the pavement with the Colorado ZR2 Concept which was designed to tackle the trails.

With the recent reveal of the RAM 1500 Rebel and the new 2017 Ford Raptor, it seems like GM wants to get in on the fun and offer truck that can tackle the elements.

Discuss this story at our Chevy Colorado Forum

Honda Civic Type R Spied on U.S. Soil

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Honda has been caught testing a Civic Type R in the United States.

The pictures were taken in Ohio, close to the brand's Marysville assembly plant, by a forum user back in November of 2014. They clearly show the Civic Type R out on public roads, still covered in camouflage.

The car's new 2.0-liter turbocharged engine will be built at the Marysville plant, so it does make some sense to see this mule running around Ohio. Honda has yet to confirm or deny if this car is going to be offered in the US. "We've made no announcements on Type R for the U.S. market," Honda spokesman Steve Kinkade told Autoguide.com.

Even if the Type R is a Europe-only model, rumor has it that its small turbocharged engine will be sold on our shores in other applications. Power from that engine is said to be over 275 hp.