DETROIT General Motors Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant, home of the Chevrolet Volt, will close for four weeks beginning in June for planned upgrades to prepare for a significant increase in the rate of Volt production, along with assembly of the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu midsize sedan.

A few blog posts ago, Serpentini of Strongsville told you about a secretive new Chevrolet the company had in the works. Now, we can tell you the name of that vehicle and even share a few specs. surrounding it.

A brand-new Chevrolet compact crossover, which goes by the name of the 2013 Chevrolet Trax will be hitting auto markets all over the world soon, but it will not make its way to the U.S. The new compact SUV is based on the GM Gamma II platform, which is also used for the Buick Encore. The Chevy Trax will slot above the current Chevy Equinox and will be revealed this fall at the 2012 Paris Auto Show.

Are you a pet owner who enjoys taking your pup or other pet on the road? If so, you should probably check out a new Chevy that caters to your needs. At the recent New York International Auto Show, Chevrolet showcased its pet-friendly vehicles and celebrated National Pet Day by inviting journalists' pets to share in the auto show fun. The American brand also held a pet-centered seminar at a special media breakfast.

The Chevrolet Volt might have made its debut only two model years ago in 2011, but that isn't stopping Chevy from giving it some stylish and powerful upgrades for the 2013 model year. The Chevy Volt is a plug-in hybrid vehicles that's known for being faster and going further than traditional hybrids (up to 100 mph and 25-50 miles with no gasoline).

Chevrolet has a secret, and it's not letting details fly anytime soon. The American brand is reportedly developing a brand-new model for 2013, and though its primary purposed will be for a NASCAR entry (to replace the current race-ready Impala), the vehicle will also eventually hit production lines to be sold to consumers everywhere.

Even if we try not to think about it, the price of gasoline continues to rise, and it's negatively affecting a lot of U.S. citizens as they scramble to find more fuel-efficient vehicles. The federal government has gotten in on this trend, as it has inspired automakers to search for more efficient fuel systems. One more effective fuel source is compressed natural gas (CNG). As the U.S. Dept. of Energy states on its website, "Natural-gas vehicles are an immediate solution to the nation's energy security needs. Most of the natural gas consumed in the United States…

Filed under: Motorsports, Chevrolet, GM, Racing

As more electronic and hybrid vehicles enter production around the United States, drivers are becoming more enamored with the gas-sipping vehicles-especially as the price of petroleum continues to rise. It also helps that state and federal incentives are being offered for many EVs as part of the U.S. EV Project. The newest state to join the ranks of this project is Tennessee- the sixth state to do so. The EV Project is a national study which focuses on setting up electric car charging stations and giving residents in participating states incentives for purchasing electric vehicles (in addition to already-established…