Abandoning any pretense of discretion, GM CEO Rick Wagoner has reportedly been engaging in lengthy discussions with the U.S. Treasury Department in pursuit of funding for what is still be referred to as a “possible” merger with Chrysler LLC. While no official comments on the matter have been made by either Chrysler or General Motors, government officials have confirmed that GM has indeed been actively panhandling on Capitol Hill. Apparently, under the mistaken impression that they are the only automakers experiencing the worst market crisis in decades, GM has been actively campaigning to hasten the disbursement of the $25 billion loan granted by the Energy Department in September. The loan, which is generally regarded as Detroit’s bailout bill, is currently undergoing the final phases of revision and a spokesperson for the Department of Energy said that “it would be premature and speculatory to estimate a timetable” for the loan’s availability.

While Corvette sales continue to tank, the media-drenched, over-hyped 2010 Camaro is reporting record success. According to sales figures, a whopping 6,000 2010 Chevy Camaros have already been pre-ordered, 84% of which have been for the high-performance Camaro SS V8. To break down the numbers of orders by model, the sales percentages are as follows:

Camaro LS: 2%
Camaro 1LT: 4%
Camaro 2LT: 10%
Camaro 1SS: 7%
Camaro 2SS: 77%

While the enthusiasm for the 2010 Camaro is music to the ears of ailing Chevy dealerships, the overwhelming demand for the Camaro SS and the resulting number of “sold” orders already received are rapidly threatening to exceed the number of SS models that have been allocated through September of 2009.

This week, GM announced that it will be temporarily idling production at both its Detroit-Hamtramck and Bowling Green, KY assembly plants. The Hamtramck plant, which builds both the Buick Lucerne and Cadillac DTS, will experience a one-week hiatus beginning Nov. 24. The Bowling Green plant, which is responsible for the production of the Chevrolet Corvette and Cadillac XLR, will be idled during the week of Dec.1. Generally viewed as the quiet before the storm, GM has also revealed that temporary production halt will also be followed be a fresh round of layoffs. Beginning January 12, GM will release 500 of the 1,700 employees currently on the Detroit-Hamtramck payroll followed by an as-yet-undisclosed number of the 800 employees currently working at its Bowling Green facility.

Speaking of the impending production changes, GM spokesman and apparent horsepower whisperer Tony Sapienza explained, “The market is telling us we don’t need that many cars.”

Photo Source: LeftLaneNews.com

Recently, the 2010 Chevy Equinox, was spotted taking its next-gen wheels for a spin. Perfectly situated between the Traverse SUV and Malibu sedan in Chevy’s model line-up, the crossover utility Equinox is scheduled to hit dealer showrooms in early 2009. While no formal plans have been confirmed as to its official debut to the scrutinizing public, judging by the lack of any significant camouflage in this most recent batch of spy photos, the 2010 Equinox will most likely make an official appearance in January at the Detroit Auto Show.
Full gallery after the jump

2009 Buick LaCrosse

General Motors announced on Friday that as a cost-cutting measure, it would delay the unveiling of a new Buick LaCrosse model that it had planned to show at the Los Angeles auto show next month.  This is In addition to a similar halting of plans to display the coupe version of its Cadillac CTS.  Speculation as to whether GM will eliminate or sell the Buick brand altogether to cut costs has dogged the company since at least last spring.  That decision, at least for the moment, seems to be off the table.

An automaker’s environmental impact is usually interpreted to mean emissions or fuel efficiency.  Though many may ask, “What took them so long?” GM is pledging publicly to implement a number of measures over the next couple of years in which to better protect the planet.  Better late then never.

Holden Coupe 60 concept

The Coupe 60 honors Holden’s 60th diamond anniversary in the car building business.  Given that Holden is the Australian arm of the GM giant, many wonder aloud why something that looks absolutely menacing could not make an appearance in the U.S. with a Chevy or Pontiac badge on the front.  In fact, the Coupe 60 may not even see the light of day in Australia. 

Planning to strut their stuff next to other SEMA-bound souped-up rides like the Dodge Challenger SRT10 Concept, Chevy has revealed the 2010 Chevy Camaro Black that they will be lugging to Vegas next month for the 2008 SEMA show. After teasing us with a few video clips of the 2010 Camaro Black under construction, GM showed us today an artist rendering of the 2010 Camaro Black we can expect to see at SEMA next month. According to GM, the Camaro Black will feature several of the latest GM Performance Parts as well as what have been referred to as “a few interesting twists.”

On Thursday, the famously objective Consumer Reports released its Annual Car Reliability Survey and official named Ford Motor Company as the most reliable automaker in the United States. Given the current calamity the Detroit 3 are experiencing the distinction might seem like an empty honor, but Ford’s newly acquired accolade is nothing to be scoffed at. Based on survey responses from more than 1.4 million print and digital subscribers, the published results revealed that “Ford’s reliability is now on par with good Japanese automakers.”

Meanwhile, Ford’s Michigan brethren, GM and Chrysler, fared poorly in the survey. While GM models were ultimately found to be plagued with spotty performance and notable inconsistencies, Chrysler posted the most abysmal showing of the three, delivering invariably sub-par results.

Armed and suspected at the time of being under the heavy influence of ecstasy, a man behind the wheel of a red Saturn led police on a high-speed pursuit from Orange County, CA clear into North LA County. According to authorities, the pursuit began in Lake Forest after the man phoned the police to report he had just attempted to burn his parents’ house down. When officers arrived at the scene the man apparently fled, attempting to evade officers via a few obscure California backstreets alternatively known as the “Hollywood” and “Golden State” freeways.