Monday, November 5, 2012

2013 Chevy Malibu ECO

2013 Malibu Eco Earns America’s Top Safety Ratings

by Chevrolet in the News on June 6, 2012
 
 
 
 
 

Continuing to set new standards for mid-size sedans, the 37-mpg Chevrolet Malibu Eco recently became the first 2013 entry from that segment to achieve both Top Safety Pick status from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and a five-star overall vehicle score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Los Angeles Chevy explained the first honor only goes to vehicles that post the highest possible grades in the IIHS’ evaluations for front, side, rear and rollover impact protection; the NHTSA seal of approval, based on front and rear crash protection as well as rollover resistance, uses a mathematical formula to combine results from all three tests to come up with one “overall vehicle score.”
Malibu Eco safety highlights include:
  • A robust body structure made from 65 percent high- and ultra-high-strength materials
  • Eight standard airbags, along with a rollover sensor that can deploy head-curtain side air bags when a rollover situation is imminent
  • The StabiliTrak electronic stability control system
  • Four-channel anti-lock disc brakes
  • GM’s OnStar service, complete with an Automatic Crash Response System capable of automatically contacting emergency advisors after an air-bag deployment
And while notching double safety wins isn’t an everyday occurrence—at least, not for most brands—Chevy has four other entries from its current lineup that have garnered both prizes: Chevrolet Cruze, Chevrolet Sonic, Chevrolet Traverse and Chevrolet Volt. According to Seattle Chevrolet, the Chevy Equinox and 2012 Malibu are also Top Safety Picks, and the Chevy Camaro Coupe has notched a five-star overall vehicle score from NHTSA.
“We are now seeing the results from our commitment to design the highest-rated vehicles in the world in safety performance,” said Gay Kent, GM executive director of Vehicle Safety. “Earning these top safety ratings demonstrates the strength of the Malibu’s advanced structure, overall crashworthiness and effectiveness of the vehicle’s state-of-the-art safety technologies.”
For more information on the Malibu Eco, visit Chevrolet Louisiana or your local Chevrolet dealer.

























 

Volt’s Range Extender Is Global Green Engine of the Year

by Chevrolet in the News on June 15, 2012

Chevrolet is making a major effort to establish itself as a global brand, and this is something that should help: The thrifty 1.4-liter I4 engine that acts as an onboard range extender for the Chevy Volt (and Opel Ampera, built by GM in Europe) has just beat out 45 other rivals to win the “green” category in the International Engine of the Year Awards. It adds to a growing list of global awards shared by the Volt/Ampera, including the 2012 European Car of the Year honor.
According to Temple Chevrolet, a 16-kWh lithium ion battery and 111-kW electric motor can power the 2013 Volt for up to 38 miles of all-electric, zero-emissions travel—an 8.5 percent improvement over 2012—but if/when drivers do want to go further, that’s when the award-winning range extender comes into play. It provides more than 340 miles of additional range while returning 35 mpg city/40 mpg highway/37 mpg combined. Waukomis Chevrolet pointed out these are the exact same ratings achieved by the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid.
“Until the Volt and Ampera, the short range of battery electric vehicles has limited their suitability for everyday use,” said Uwe Winter, Opel vehicle line director and chief engineer, who accepted the prize. “Our revolutionary propulsion system removes this obstacle by uniting the environmental friendliness of electric drive with the long range of a combustion engine. And the Best Green Engine Award is the highest recognition of this achievement.”
The International Engine of the Year Awards are presented annually by Engine Technology International magazine and this year were chosen by a jury of 76 automotive journalists from 35 different countries.
Test drive a Chevy Volt at Sheboygan Chevrolet or your local Chevrolet dealer.

2013 Chevy Spark First Look

New Spark Now on Sale

by Chevrolet in the News on August 3, 2012

A brand-new vehicle added a little Spark to Chevy sales in July: With the Chevrolet Spark mini-car joining the lineup for the first time, the Bowtie brand’s roster of fuel-efficient small cars enjoyed a 41 percent jump in deliveries last month.
The Spark brings a big, bold presence to the growing field of mini-cars in the U.S., thanks to a vibrant design, spacious cabin, competitive fuel-economy ratings, and an extensive range of standard and available features. According to Chevrolet Dealers Indianapolis, the Spark has a segment-exclusive MyLink Radio that boasts a seven-inch color touchscreen, embedded apps for Pandora Internet radio and Stitcher Smart Radio, and the ability to leverage the owner’s smartphone to stream music, video, photos and contact lists for hands-free calling. And later this year, Spark owners will be able to add the BringGo app for full-function, GPS-enabled navigation.
Also, the Spark’s interior can hold up to four in a fair amount of comfort, with more passenger and cargo volume than rivals like the Fiat 500, Scion iQ or Smart ForTwo. According to Car Dealers In Wisconsin, with its rear seats folded down, the Spark provides more than 31 cubic feet of space for gear; the Ford Fiesta hatchback, a significant 15 inches longer than the Chevy, offers just 26.
A price tag that starts at $12,245 at dealers like Chevrolet Metairie makes the Spark the perfect choice for first-time buyers, but they’re not the only ones who can benefit from the fun-sized Chevy’s many benefits. Added Chris Perry, Global Chevrolet vice president for marketing: “Spark is ideal for active city dwellers because it is easy to drive, easy to park and easy to own. For these customers, Spark is their key to the city.”
Check out the hot new Spark at Dayton Chevrolet or your local Chevy dealer.

First Look 2014 Chevy Corvette

Chevy Shows First Glimpse of All-new 2014 Corvette
by Chevrolet in the News on October 18, 2012
 

Corvette fans better mark their calendars. On Jan. 13, 2013, Chevrolet will unveil the completely redesigned 2014 Corvette for the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. And although the Bowtie brand is keeping mum on most of the details, Chevy did introduce a key style element of the next-gen ’Vette—a new, more sophisticated take on the Corvette’s traditional “Crossed Flags” emblem—while in the midst of celebrating another benchmark for America’s homegrown super car.
“The all-new, seventh-generation Corvette deserved an all-new emblem,” said Ed Welburn, GM vice president of global design. “The new Crossed Flags design reflects the character of the next Corvette. The flags are much more modern, more technical, and more detailed than before—underscoring the comprehensive redesign of the entire car.”

Oh, and that other celebration? It was for another round of Corvette championships in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS). After winning this year’s driver’s, manufacturer’s and team titles, Corvette has solidified its position as the most successful entry ever to compete in the ALMS GT class. After campaigning in the motorsports series since 2001, Corvette Racing can now lay claim to 77 class wins, nine manufacturer’s championships, a like number of team championships, and eight driver’s titles. During the same time, Corvettes also scored seven class wins in the ultimate endurance race: the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
And the Corvette C6.R racecar isn’t done yet. With Chevy focusing on the production debut of the 2014 Corvette next year, the sixth-gen racer will once again be entered in ALMS competition for the 2013 season. The redesigned racecar is slated to enter the series for 2014.
“Winning the ALMS championships with the Corvette C6.R, against prestigious competitors from Ferrari, Porsche, and BMW, is the perfect send-off for the sixth-generation Corvette,” said Tadge Juechter, Corvette chief engineer. “The seventh-generation Corvette will build on that success.
“With the new Corvette, we set out to build a world-challenging sports car with design, refinement, efficiency and driver engagement that is second to none. The result is a truly all-new Corvette. There are only two carryover parts from the C6 used in the C7—the cabin air filter and the rear latch for the removable roof panel.”

2013 Chevy Sonic First Look

Sonic RS: High Performance with a Low Price

by Chevrolet in the News on August 22, 2012
 
 

Chevy is now putting the finishing touches on its hot new Sonic RS hatchback, with the brand recently announcing the car will start at $20,995 with a six-speed manual transmission—and that includes destination charges; the price of admission with a six-speed automatic will be $22,280, again with destination costs factored in.
Of course, in addition to the typical fees, those MSRPs also cover a 1.4-liter turbocharged engine that delivers 138 hp and 148 lb.-ft. of torque, enhanced by exclusive transmission gearing with the DIY cogswapper and a revised 3.53 final drive ratio for the automatic. According to Chevrolet Sterling, to help drivers fully enjoy the dynamic driving experience of the Sonic RS, engineers lowered and stiffened its suspension, deployed performance-tuned dampers, and wrapped it all up in an RS-only body kit with an exclusive grille, rear spoiler, rocker moldings and rear fascia.
The cockpit of the Sonic RS has been upgraded as well, highlighted by a standard Chevrolet MyLink setup. According to Chevrolet Dealer Los Angeles, the MyLink technology provides a unique approach to touchscreen infotainment by relying on paired smartphones to do the heavy lifting. The result is simple, inexpensive access to Bluetooth phone and audio-streaming capabilities, personalized playlists, interfaces for Pandora and Stitcher online music services, and much more. Also, the innovative BringGo smartphone app, able to provide comprehensive navigation functionality, will be available at a later date for MyLink users.
The Chevy Sonic RS—built in the U.S. like the rest of the Sonic family—is scheduled to go into production in October and reach dealerships like Bremerton Auto Dealers later in the fourth quarter of 2012.