GM's coming cars, trucks to target fuel efficiency

By Mike Colias, Automotive News

Detroit, Michigan -- Cars have dominated General Motors' vehicle-launch schedule lately. Expect more of the same for the next 18 months, as GM readies several key car launches across its four brands.

Trucks, though, will dominate in 2013. GM is expected to unveil both its next-generation of full-sized pickups and SUVs that year, as 2014 models.

On the car and truck fronts, fuel economy will be the overarching theme as the automaker prepares for the next round of fuel-efficiency standards.

GM is likely to add eight-speed transmissions and turbocharged engines on its next generation of pickups, for example. It also will roll out its eAssist light-hybrid technology across more of its lineup.

Chevrolet and Cadillac are gearing up for two key car launches next year: Chevy will roll out the next-generation Malibu mid-sized sedan in the first quarter and the Korea-made Spark minicar later in 2012. On Cadillac's schedule: the new ATS compact and XTS sedan, both due in the second half of 2012.

Here are GM's plans for the 2012-14 model years, according to sources inside GM and in the industry.

From Automotive News (A Crain publication)