chevrolet Archives | Page 7 of 11

Opinion: Chevrolet Volt debates leave out that whole “Vision Thing”

Filed under: Hybrid, Hatchback, Chevrolet, GM, Electric

2011 Chevrolet Volt – Click above for high-res image gallery

A lot of ink is being spilled over the Chevrolet Volt. There are arguments over whether it is worth even the $33,500 it costs after the Federal tax credit kicks in, or the $350.00 per month lease price (after $2,500 downpayment). There are debates over its real fuel economy, and range. There are debates about whether any vehicle should get a $7,500 rebate to make it decently affordable. The market should decide, the argument goes.

We know the market will decide in the end. Even as the federal government has imposed “Corporate Average Fuel Economy” rules in the hopes of forcing manufacturers to make more fuel efficient vehicles, new vehicle sales show that consumers in the U.S. still like their pickups and SUVs.

What most of the arguments over the Volt don’t take into consideration is what I call “The Vision Thing.”

What most of the arguments over the Volt don’t take into consideration is what I call “The Vision Thing.”

General Motors board member Steve Girsky, who is a former Wall Street analyst and consigliere to the United Auto Workers, says he has been a voice arguing inside the automaker to make a greater commitment to Volt and extended-range electrics. He also says that CEO Daniel Akerson is another voice pushing for the vehicle and technology despite its high cost.

“GM hasn’t had a leadership vehicle like this in a long time. And Ackerson is insistent that we have that,” says Girsky.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Volt: First Drive

2011 Chevrolet Volt

Continue reading Opinion: Chevrolet Volt debates leave out that whole “Vision Thing”

Opinion: Chevrolet Volt debates leave out that whole “Vision Thing” originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Opinion: Chevrolet Volt debates leave out that whole “Vision Thing””

Motor Trend Truck of the Year? The 2011 Chevrolet Silverado HD

Filed under: Truck, Marketing/Advertising, Work, Chevrolet, GM

Chevrolet Silverado HD named 2011 Motor Trend Truck of the Year

GM CEO Dan Akerson being presented Motor Trend’s 2011 Truck of the Year award

Motor Trend is following up its somewhat controversial decision to crown the Chevrolet Volt as its 2011 Car of the Year with a safer call for its 2011 Truck of the Year award. The 2011 Chevrolet Silverado HD was announced as the magazine’s TOTY during a ceremony before the 111th Army-Navy Game at Philadelphia‘s Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday, giving General Motors’ volume brand a pair of golden calipers to crow about all next year.

Chevy’s heavy-duty version of its Silverado pickup truck was significantly upgraded this year, though it faced a tough pair of competitors in the equally improved 2011 GMC Sierra HD and the also-upgraded 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty. The Sierra HD looks almost identical on the outside compared to the 2010 model, but Chevy engineers worked magic on all the mechanicals beneath the surface. A significantly more powerful Duramax turbodiesel, excellent six-speed transmissions, reworked suspension and fully boxed frame were enough to put the Silverado HD ahead of its corporate cousin and crosstown rival in the minds of Motor Trend editors.

Curiously, the magazine claims it doesn’t often have an apples-to-apples fight for its Truck of the Year award, but this year just happened to line up a trio of new-enough heavy duty pickups. The only truck missing was the Ram Heavy Duty, which was new for 2010. Chevy should probably be glad the Ram HD missed the cut off mark, as Dodge’s heavy hauler holds the crown as Motor Trend‘s 2010 Truck of the Year.

[Source: Motor Trend]

Continue reading Motor Trend Truck of the Year? The 2011 Chevrolet Silverado HD

Motor Trend Truck of the Year? The 2011 Chevrolet Silverado HD originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 12 Dec 2010 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Motor Trend Truck of the Year? The 2011 Chevrolet Silverado HD”

Aveo No More: New Chevrolet small car to officially be called ‘Sonic’

Filed under: Budget, Hatchback, Chevrolet, GM

2012 Chevrolet Sonic

2012 Chevrolet Sonic – Click above for high-res image gallery

General Motors has officially announced that its all-new B-segment car will be called Sonic, marking the end of the Aveo nameplate here in the United States. We first saw the 2012 Aveo at the Paris Motor Show earlier this year, and the vehicle will officially start production sometime in 2011 at GM’s Orion Assembly Center in Michigan.

The Sonic nameplate will only be used in the United States, Canada and Mexico; the car destined for other markets will retain the Aveo name. Chris Perry, GM’s vice president for Chevrolet U.S. marketing explains the reason for the name change here in North America:

“The Sonic represents a new beginning for Chevrolet in the small car segment and so we felt it was time to give it a new name. The new car is roomy, stylish and fun to drive, and Sonic is a youthful, energetic name that helps convey what this vehicle is about.”

If GM really wants to capture some youth, we suggest offering the Sonic in “Hedgehog Blue.” Follow the jump for the official press release.

Gallery: 2012 Chevrolet Sonic

2012 Chevrolet Sonic

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading Aveo No More: New Chevrolet small car to officially be called ‘Sonic’

Aveo No More: New Chevrolet small car to officially be called ‘Sonic’ originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Aveo No More: New Chevrolet small car to officially be called ‘Sonic’”

Report: Chevrolet considering new high-end Silverado

Filed under: Truck, Chevrolet, GM

Pickup truck sales are on the rise in the U.S., and that’s good news for Detroit since trucks tend to come with big price tags and hefty margins. Truck owners can be a different breed, often padding their bedded beauties with high trim levels and copious quantities of options. Ford has made this task easy with F-150 variants like the Platinum and King Ranch, while Chrysler has upped their game with the Dodge Ram Laramie Longhorn. If you want a high-end General Motors truck, right now the best bet is to opt for the GMC Sierra Denali, while Bow Tie-branded trucks top out at the LTZ model.

Pickuptrucks.com is quoting GM sources who claim that a higher end Silverado is on the way. The new model would build on the high levels of standard equipment already present and accounted for in the LTZ, and we’re betting that likely additions would include upgraded interior materials and unique wheels and trim. The rumored branding for this top Silverado trim is the Scottsdale; a name that hit the scene in 1975 before it was discontinued in the 1990s.

[Source: Pickuptrucks]

Report: Chevrolet considering new high-end Silverado originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Report: Chevrolet considering new high-end Silverado”

Chevrolet Volt production officially begins today, GM auctioning first one for charity [w/video]

Filed under: Hybrid, Videos, Chevrolet, GM, Electric

chevy volt charity auction

First Chevrolet Volt gets built – Click above to watch the time-lapse video

Want to be like Lance Armstrong and get the first available production model of one of the most eagerly-awaited vehicles of the decade? You can, if you’re willing to bid some money to help the Detroit Public Schools – more specifically the Detroit Public Schools Foundation, which supports math and science education.

The “first Chevrolet Volt available for retail sale” will be auctioned on Bidonthevolt.com through 6 p.m. (EST?) December 14, with the winner announced on December 16. The actual first retail Volt will be kept by General Motors, so the Viridian Joule auction car will have a vehicle identification number ending in BU100002. The car includes the Light Neutral interior with dark accents, has the Premium Trim Package, Rear Camera and Park Assist Package and polished wheels. The auction starts at $50,000 and comes with a 240-volt charging station installed in the winner’s home. No word on whether of not winning the auction still qualifies you for the $7,500 federal tax credit.

As you might expect, GM is highlighting the connection between all of the advanced technology in the Volt and the math and science needed to create it. General Motors North America president Mark Reuss said in a statement that, “By encouraging Detroit-area students to pursue these topics, we hope to cultivate the next generation of engineers who will build upon the Volt’s innovative technologies.” To this end, GM will also hire 1,000 engineers and researchers in Michigan within the next two years. You can read about these jobs on AutoblogGreen, but before you go anywhere, check out an official time-lapse build video of the first Chevy Volt after the jump.

[Source: Chevrolet]

Continue reading Chevrolet Volt production officially begins today, GM auctioning first one for charity [w/video]

Chevrolet Volt production officially begins today, GM auctioning first one for charity [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Chevrolet Volt production officially begins today, GM auctioning first one for charity [w/video]”

LA 2010: 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible drops its top in sunny SoCal

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Convertible, Performance, Chevrolet

2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible

2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible – Click above for high-res image gallery

Earlier this morning, Chevrolet let loose with official details, pictures and even a few videos of the 2011 Camaro Convertible just ahead of the car’s official debut at the LA Auto Show. The droptop pony car hasn’t been a secret for some time now, but this is our first real look at a standard production model.

Perhaps it’s because the concept version debuted nearly four years ago in Detroit or because we’ve seen dozens of spy photos, but for some reason, the Camaro Convertible hardly seems like a new car. The front end is essentially unchanged from the coupe, so if you like the hardtop then you’ll likely enjoy the looks of the convertible, as well. Even so, the folks at General Motors are excited about having a second model to help improve their sales lead over the Mustang, and we’re sure that they’ll soon be popping up all over the place in warmer states and rental car fleets across the country.

It was a typically warm Southern California day without a cloud in the sky, and we would have loved to take the Camaro Convertible out for a spin. Unfortunately, we aren’t able to get behind the wheel just yet, but we did take plenty of photos that can be found in the high-res gallery below. You can also hit the jump for the official press release from GM in case you missed it this morning.

Gallery: LA 2010: Chevrolet Camaro Convertible

2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible

Continue reading LA 2010: 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible drops its top in sunny SoCal

LA 2010: 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible drops its top in sunny SoCal originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Nov 2010 21:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “LA 2010: 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible drops its top in sunny SoCal”

The Chevrolet Volt is out there on the test drive circuit, too

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Chevrolet, Event Alert

Chevrolet Volt

Chevy Volt Tour hits L.A. Fashion Weekend – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Nissan Leaf is on a nationwide tour to spread the electric gospel, and it turns out the Chevrolet Volt is also making a national round to pitch its “More Car than Electric” mantra. We swung by its L.A. stop more interested in the L.A. Fashion Weekend show that was going on behind the test drives. This particular blogger had never been in the Volt and hadn’t thought much of it beyond the three years of headlines it’s been making – especially because our tastes tend more toward words like Gumpert Apollo and Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport and Aston Martin DBS Carbon Black and Lamborghini Murciélago.. and Fisker Karma.

But then we drove it. Twice. Once with the engine juicing the battery, once on battery power alone. They were short drives, just around a few blocks. And, um, we hate to go all Volt homer with this, but we have no choice: it was fantastic. As coincidence would have it, we rocked up to the event in a Honda Insight and discovered that the Volt is at the opposite, highly enjoyable pole of hybrid driving. We characterized it as “the best hybrid experience we’ve ever had.”

Of course, we can’t pass judgment on the car as a complete proposition because we had just a moment of seat time. Yet it was long enough to know that we’re going to get in one again as soon as we get the chance. And it was long enough for us to recommend that if the Volt tour comes your way and you’re into cars at all, then take our advice: drive it. For dates and cities, have a look at the info after the jump.

Gallery: Chevy Volt tour in LA

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading The Chevrolet Volt is out there on the test drive circuit, too

The Chevrolet Volt is out there on the test drive circuit, too originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 24 Oct 2010 14:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “The Chevrolet Volt is out there on the test drive circuit, too”

Drop Top Customs creates Chevrolet Camaro T-Top

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Coupe, Etc., Chevrolet, GM

Drop Top T-Top Camaro

Drop Top Customs, an aftermarket customizer which typically creates convertibles, has created a T-Top kit for the Chevrolet Camaro. The Drop Top T-Top Camaro will make its debut at SEMA show this November and the company says most of its creations will come equipped with a supercharger, but Drop Top assures us that chassis flex isn’t an issue. Sales begin shortly after its debut in Vegas next month and carry a sticker of $6,500.

[Source: Drop Top Customs via Inside Line]

Drop Top Customs creates Chevrolet Camaro T-Top originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Drop Top Customs creates Chevrolet Camaro T-Top”

Video: Chevrolet teases SEMA show cars

Filed under: SEMA Show, Coupe, Performance, Truck, Videos, Chevrolet, GM, Design/Style

Chevrolet previews its SEMA vehicles

Chevrolet teases vehicles ahead of the 2010 SEMA show – Click above to watch video after the jump

Chevrolet is getting ready to unload a slew of vehicles at the 2010 SEMA show and the Bow-Tie brand has released a teaser video to give us a taste of what to expect. Corvettes, Camaros and heavy-duty pickup trucks will be taking center stage in Chevy’s booth. The video is quick but features two designers discussing the event, quick cuts of vehicle close-ups and a Corvette prominently displaying the “Jake” logo inside and out. We previously saw the Jake logo make its way onto the 2009 GT1 Championship Edition Corvette, so we’re quite curious to see what General Motors has planned for an updated version.

Take a sneak peak at what Chevrolet has in store for this years SEMA show by watching the video after the jump.

[Source: Youtube]

Continue reading Video: Chevrolet teases SEMA show cars

Video: Chevrolet teases SEMA show cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Oct 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Video: Chevrolet teases SEMA show cars”

First Drive: 2011 Chevrolet Volt

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Hatchback, Chevrolet, First Drive, Electric

“She Blinded Me With Science”

2011 Chevrolet Volt – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Chevy Volt has finally, successfully, made the leap from science fiction to fact. Quite a bit has changed in the nearly four-year journey from the 2007 Detroit Auto Show to last week, when General Motors let us drive a production-spec car. The Volt may not be the stuff of Blade Runner, but it’s a technologically advanced showpiece for GM, and the first widely practical electric vehicle, ready and waiting for mainstream acceptance.

Give GM credit for building the Volt during the most miserable turn of events in the company’s long and storied history.

But first some basics: The Volt is a four-passenger, compact hatchback. While there’s considerable controversy over whether or not to call it a plug-in hybrid, that’s how we’ll be referring to it, following the lead of the Federal government. GM prefers “extended-range electric vehicle,” which is somewhat misleading, since the Volt is only an electric vehicle for the first 25-50 miles. In EV mode, the Volt’s electric drive system draws power exclusively from a 16 kilowatt-hour battery pack, at all speeds up to its 100-mph maximum. Once the battery gets drawn down to 35 percent of its capacity, the Volt’s gasoline engine fires up, spinning a generator to produce more electricity.

Of all the changes GM’s engineers have wrought since the first Volt concept, the most controversial has to be the design of the transmission, which GM kept a secret until last week. GM has been saying all along that the Volt was driven purely electrically, but as it turns out, this is not exactly the case. At highway speeds in extended range mode, the Volt’s gasoline engine is actually clutched together with the electric drive system inside the vehicle’s transaxle. There’s no point in belaboring the controversy beyond saying that the design is 10-15 percent more efficient, according to GM. Since efficiency is pretty much the whole point of the vehicle, we’re satisfied, even if we’re not happy that we (along with the rest of the media) were misled. However, it’s time to move on and focus on evaluating the Volt as a vehicle, and to that end, it’s an amazing piece of machinery.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Volt: First Drive

2011 Chevrolet Volt

Continue reading First Drive: 2011 Chevrolet Volt

First Drive: 2011 Chevrolet Volt originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Oct 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “First Drive: 2011 Chevrolet Volt”