Thursday, March 29, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Fans, Spring has set in and we wanted to give you a little something for a fluid and filter check.
Hurry in while this offer lasts.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
2013 Chevrolet Camaro: What's Changed
For the 2013 model year, the Chevrolet Camaro gets a new performance package that makes it ready to hit the racetrack. 
The LT, SS and ZL1 models are now available with a 7-inch touch-screen (shown above) and the MyLink multimedia system, which adds a better voice-recognition system as well as Pandora and Stitcher internet radio streaming functionality when paired with a smartphone.
In addition to the 1LE package (shown below), the electric power-steering system, which was first developed for the ZL1 and found on the 1LE, is also standard on all 2013 SS models. The SS trim also gets an available dual-mode exhaust system for the model year.
The new Camaro lineup goes on sale this fall. Pricing will be released later this year, according to the carmaker.
Source: Chicago Tribune.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Spring is here and we wanted to share this useful tip with our fans.
During spring, pay close attention to your fluid levels. You may need to top them up before a problem happens. Fluids to watch for include: oil, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, windshield washer fluid, and especially the brake fluid. These fluids are crucial for the safe operation of your vehicle.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Chevy Sonic Turbo Now Available with Six-Speed Automatic
Good news for the stick-shy: Automatic-equipped turbos are on their way to dealers
The Chevrolet Sonic’s fuel-efficient Ecotec 1.4L turbo engine will now be available in either manual or automatic transmission, bringing the increased torque of turbocharging to drivers of automatics.
“Providing the option of a turbocharged engine to our non-stick driving Chevy customers allows us to offer everyone the thrill and power of a fuel-efficient Ecotec 1.4L powerplant,” said Jim Danahy, vehicle line director and vehicle chief engineer for North American small cars. “Both in the Sonic and Cruze, the engine enables better fuel economy without sacrificing power or performance. It’s really a winning combination.”
Sonic’s Ecotec 1.4L turbocharged engine and six-speed manual transmission achieved a 0-to-60 mph time of 7.8 seconds, according to independent AMCI testing – faster than the comparable 2012 Ford Fiesta, Honda Fit and Hyundai Accent. The Sonic with the turbo-automatic combination went from 0 to 60 in about eight seconds.
“Traditionally, turbocharging was used to enhance the performance of engines, but today it is as much about fuel economy as a 0-to-60 time,” said Bob Benedict, assistant chief engineer for the Ecotec 1.4L engine. “The turbocharger provides high-pressure airflow for high torque to boost the vehicle and give the driver a fun driving experience with improved fuel efficiency.”
The 2012 Chevy Sonic Ecotec 1.4L turbo six-speed automatic delivers an EPA-estimated 37 mpg highway and 27 mpg in the city, while the manual gets 40 mpg on the highway and 29 in the city.
Article and image courtesy of Chevy News.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
More Chevy Cruze Diesel Details Emerge
For 2013, Chevrolet will add a diesel powertrain to its already-popular Chevy Cruze compact sedan.
Today we confirmed with GM Powertrain spokesman Tom Read that the diesel engine will have a 2.0-liter displacement and be turbocharged. In Europe, the Cruze already has a turbocharged 2.0-liter VCDi diesel inline-four that makes 161 horsepower and 266 pounds-feet of torque. This could very well be the engine that ends up in the U.S. model, but with some modifications.
The U.S. version of the motor is currently undergoing rigorous testing in Michigan, Italy and Germany, GM said in a press release. The automaker wants to make sure the engine can operate under a wide range of conditions — including extreme temperatures between minus 40 degrees and 158 degrees. The engine will have direct injection and a particulate-capturing filtration system to reduce emissions, GM says.
The carmaker says the motor will offer outstanding fuel efficiency, torque figures and a quiet ride. GM hasn't publicly commented on whether the diesel will eke out better fuel-efficiency figures than the Cruze Eco, which gets 42 mpg on the highway.
Source: Cars.com Blog
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Chevrolet and Billboard are Cruze-ing to Vegas
Chevrolet has teamed up with Billboard to hit the road to the 2012 Billboard Music Awards.
This year’s Billboard Music Awards start with you.
Music and driving go hand in hand. Which is why Chevrolet is proud to help new artists get discovered and help fans hear some great new music.
We’re giving you the opportunity to play judge in a Battle of the Bands featuring some fantastic up-and-coming artists. The winner of the contest will get to perform live at the 2012 Billboard Music Awards and hopefully go on to share the same success Gentlemen Hall has had.
Last year’s winner, Gentlemen Hall, made their television debut at the 2012 Billboard Music Awards and have since had their music featured on TV shows, performed shows with some of the biggest names around and even had Ben & Jerry’s name a smoothie after them.
Visit the Billboard website to get to know all 18 bands and vote for your favorite band to Cruze-to-Vegas to have a shot at performing at the awards show. Chevrolet will provide the six most popular bands with a Chevy Cruze to drive to Vegas the week of May 14. On the trip, the bands will document the journey and share through their social networks.
Follow the bands on their journey and vote for your favorite. For every vote, you will be entered into a sweepstakes2 for a chance to win a trip for two to see the 2012 Billboard Music Awards in person. Voting ends on March 27.
Adding more fuel to your love for music, we’re also inviting fans to check out our First Look Concert Tour. As every music lover would agree, nothing compares to seeing a live concert. There is no charge for the concert, and the concert series will be headlined by Asher Roth. The concert dates are as follows:
Chicago, March 20 at the Riviera Theatre from 8-11pm
Dallas, March 22 at the Palladium from 8-11pm
L.A., April 17 at the Avalon Hollywood from 8-11pm
San Francisco, date and time coming soon
Tickets for the First Look Concert Tour are on a first come first serve basis so get yours now.
Source - Chevrolet.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Chevy working on new car for 2013 NASCAR entry and for public
Chevrolet is developing a new car with a new name for its 2013 NASCAR entry, replacing the Impala used by Team Chevy, and plans to eventually market and sell the new model to consumers.
The dealership and racing versions of the car will be unveiled this year, after the New York auto show in April, spokesman Monte Doran said. The new car will use a nameplate not currently in Chevy's lineup. Neither the car nor its name will be a derivative of another model in Chevy showrooms, such as the new Malibu or the upcoming redesigned Impala, Doran said. General Motors wouldn't reveal details.
"We are keeping the wraps on the new car for now and will continue to prepare for next season by testing camouflaged vehicles," Jim Campbell, vice president of Chevrolet performance vehicles and motorsports, said in a statement. "We know that Chevrolet fans are eager to see the new race car, and we hope that the prospect of being able to own one just like it will make the wait a little more bearable."
The new car may resemble the Chevy Caprice currently imported from Australia for U.S. police forces. Inside GM, a plan to develop a Chevy performance sedan like the Caprice for consumers was on-and-off in recent years because of concerns that it wasn't a high-profit vehicle, people familiar with the situation said.
Australia's Holden brand currently offers the rear-wheel drive Caprice. In addition, a closely related, shorter vehicle called the Commodore, which doubled as the now-discontinued Pontiac G8, could also inspire the new car.
"It's the only thing they can get out there quick enough that we haven't seen in camo at Milford yet," said Jim Hall, a consultant with 2953 Analytics.
Along with developing the new performance sedan, GM is redesigning the current Impala, which will be built at the Detroit-Hamtramck plant and is expected to hit showrooms by spring 2013.
In choosing performance concepts to reveal at January's Detroit auto show, GM executives pointed to a perceived need in their lineup. GM conducted a two-year study of 9,000 members of the millennial generation -- 80 million Americans ages 11 to 30 -- and on the strength of the findings decided to design some hot-rod concepts.
The results: the red, rear-wheel drive Code 130R four-seat coupe, with fender flares that recalled Chevy's heritage of affordable performance cars, and the low-slung, front-wheel drive Tru 140S two-door hatchback, with chrome wheels bearing Chevy's cross-flag racing emblem.
Source: Detroit Free Press.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
OnStar Brings the Power of 4G LTE to the Chevy Volt.
Combined with the power of 4G LTE, OnStar is looking to take vehicle connectivity to a whole new level in the future with Skype, Twonky and others being demonstrated in a Chevrolet Volt research vehicle.
The conceptual in-car infotainment system, developed by OnStar in partnership with Verizon, provides access to the Cloud through the Verizon 4G LTE network and allows for direct access to streaming content from a home computer or via a popular streaming service.
The research vehicle has three different content ‘zones’; the driver can stream music, while rear passengers can control their entertainment from screens mounted on the headrests. With everyone in their ‘zone’ passengers can create the ride they are looking for, or share content with other passengers. It doesn’t come more custom, or cool than that.
Additionally, OnStar built on its work with Smart Grid technology to create an at home control system. The connection provides control of a home thermostat, lights, garage door and other systems through the in-vehicle energy management app.
While the applications shown in the Volt research vehicle are only conceptual, they demonstrate future opportunities powered by OnStar.
“These applications are just a glimpse of what is possible when you combine the cloud computing capabilities of OnStar and the power of the Verizon 4G LTE network,” said Nick Pudar, OnStar’s vice president of business development. “Moving forward we want to continue to provide a comprehensive suite of connected services and create a seamless and safe in-vehicle experience.”
Already today, OnStar® RemoteLink™ 1 mobile application gives owners of select Chevy models the opportunity to access remote vehicle information and services from their phone. You can start your vehicle remotely, control the door locks, check the diagnostics and more from nearly anywhere – a totally connected world that puts you in control.
Monday, March 12, 2012
12 Mar 2012 COPO Camaro ready for the racetrack.
At last year's SEMA show, Chevrolet showed off a concept version of the 2012 Camaro in COPO drag racing trim. Now, the company has announced it will produce it--but in very limited numbers.
Aimed at racers in NHRA's Stock Eliminator and Super Stock classes, the 2012 COPO Camaro will see just 69 units built. It will take on the likes of the Drag Pak Dodge Challenger and Ford Mustang Cobra Jet as a factory-built ready-to-race special.
The 69 cars to be built matches the number of 1969 ZL-1 COPO Camaros originally built.
Those interested in taking one of these Central Office Production Order Camaros home, and ultimately to the track, should probably get in contact with their nearest dealer ASAP--though if you miss the boat, the COPO models are built off the same body-in-white shell available to all racers as part no. 19243374--but there'll be a lot of work between getting the shell and racing it.
Deliveries of the COPO Camaro will start in early summer.
Key specs of the drag racers are below:
-A sequenced build number matched to the engine but sold without a Vehicle Identification Number and cannot be registered for highway use
-Three racing-class engine are available, including a naturally aspirated 427 (7.0L) and two supercharged 327 (5.3L) V-8 engines
-Engine assembly at GM’s Performance Build Center, where the buyer can opt to participate in the engine assembly similar to Chevrolet’s Corvette Engine Build Experience and the Chevrolet Performance Build Your Own Crate Engine programs
-Engines pairing with a Powerglide automatic transmission designed for drag racing
-Five colors: Flat Black, Summit White, Victory Red, Silver Ice Metallic and Ashen Gray Metallic
-A COPO graphics package similar to the one introduced on the concept vehicle available in Metallic White, Semi-Gloss Black, Inferno Orange Metallic and Chevy Racing Blue
-Pricing starting at $89,000
-A special collector’s package offering the purchase of all three engines with the COPO Camaro – including one installed in the car at delivery – with each engine serial number matched to the car.
Source: Fox News.
Friday, March 9, 2012
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Low-Mileage Lease for Qualified Lessees on the 2012 Camaro 2-door!
Chevrolet National Lease Offers, click here for details.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Chevrolet Cruze Wagon Shows off Tweaked Face, Larger Trunk.
The Chevrolet Cruze wagon also shows off a new version of its parent company’s corporate face, which will be applied to all European Cruze models starting this summer. Compared to the U.S.-market sedan, the Cruze gets a restyled fascia with new head- and foglights, along with new wheel designs and revised seat trims. The European version of the Chevrolet Cruze wagon can choose from five EuroV emissions-compliant engines: 1.6-liter and 1.8-liter inline-fours, a turbocharged 1.4-liter inline-four, and 1.7- and 2.0-liter diesels.
Although we think the Chevrolet Cruze wagon is smart and extremely practical, there is virtually no chance of the car being sold in the U.S. The market for station wagons on our shores is already incredibly small, and Chevrolet didn’t even see fit to sell the Cruze hatchback here. The one bright spark: a diesel-powered Cruze sedan will debut in the U.S. in 2013.
For more on the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, including videos, the latest photos, and more information, click here to visit our 2012 Geneva Motor Show homepage.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Friday, March 2, 2012
Thursday, March 1, 2012
New 2012 Chevrolet Volt Package Allows Carpool Lane Access, $1500 Rebate in California
Californian buyers of the 2012 Chevrolet Volt will enjoy two big benefits: the electric car will be eligible to drive in California’s over 1400 miles of carpool lanes, and also is eligible for an additional $1500 tax rebate from the state.
2012 Volts sold in California will be equipped with the Low Emissions Package, a no-cost option that qualifies the 2012 Chevrolet Volt as an AT-PZEV — Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle . To do so, the package uses an additional air pump to help the catalytic converters better filter exhaust particulates in order to meet strict Californian emissions regulations.
Though there is no extra cost to the consumer, adding the extra hardware and tweaking the software for the Volt does incur a cost to Chevrolet. That’s why the Low Emissions Package is only offered in California, where it will create a benefit (a larger tax rebate and carpool lane access) for the customer. A Chevrolet Volt spokesman also notes that the Low Emissions Package only has an impact if the Volt’s gasoline engine is running after the battery has been exhausted.
Although originally designed for drivers carrying passengers, California’s High Occupancy Vehicle lanes have for many years also been open to drivers of hybrid and other green vehicles — like the Toyota Prius and the natural gas-powered Honda Civic. Now Chevrolet Volt models equipped with the Low Emissions Package join those ranks; owners of the car can apply for one of 40,000 new HOV-lane stickers.
Chevrolet claims drivers using HOV lanes can cut an average of 36 minutes per day from their commutes. The Volt is already eligible for carpool lanes in various parts of Florida, Georgia, and New York.
California’s Clean Vehicle Rebate Project also will provide a $1500 state tax rebate for the 2012 Chevrolet Volt if equipped with this package. That’s in addition to the $7500 tax rebate offered by the federal government. Combined, those potentially reduce the cost of a new Volt to just $30,995 (the 2012 Volt starts at $39,9995 after an $850 destination charge).
Courtesy of Automobile Mag.
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