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COLORADO

The future is uncertain for the Colorado since in 2012 GM is closing the Shreveport, La., plant that assembles the Colorado and GMC Canyon pickups.

While GM do Brasil is developing a global compact pickup platform, it currently isn’t known whether GM will sell a pickup from that platform in the U.S. as an import, will assemble it in North America or will not produce a compact pickup at all.

CORVETTE

The Corvette vision concept was unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show in in February. The vehicle was the character Sideswipe in the DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures release, "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen." The vehicle was dreamed up by the Corvette designers at GM and is influenced by the original Stingray racecar introduced in 1959.  If the 2013 C7 has a body redesign, you might thank the moviemakers for their inspiration. (photo by Steve Fecht for General Motors)

Once thought to be delayed until 2014, production of the C7 Corvette will begin in April 2012 for the 2013 model year. Despite earlier rumors that the design might be changed to a mid-engine layout, GM says it will keep the front-engine configuration the Corvette has had for 57 years.

Although few details are known at this time and the design is sure to evolve over the next three years, the C7 is certain to use materials like carbon fiber, aluminum and magnesium to help keep weight down while retaining rigidity.

CRUZE

The 2011 Cruze is aimed to take on the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla combining a good-looking, comfortable interior with good ride and handling.

It will be powered by GM’s new 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine and is expected to get more than 40 mpg. A turbocharged version is also planned.

The Cruze was developed on GM’s global front-wheel-drive Delta platform. Beginning in April, the North American version will be assembled at the Lordstown, Ohio, plant.