chevy Archives | Page 10 of 11

Video: Chevy Vega development film yields priceless look at 1970s auto design

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Etc., Videos, Chevrolet

Chevrolet Vega Car & Track segment – Click above to view the video after the jump

“The goal is to be nifty.” Quite a gem of a quote from Car & Track’s look into the work behind bringing the Chevrolet Vega to market. C&T was among the first national television shows that covered both auto racing and road tested the cars of its day, and their videos remain fun to watch and offer a glimpse into the past to see cars that have become both famous and infamous in their original context.

Looking at the Vega’s design, testing, engineering and construction, C&T calls it “the most precisely engineered car built in America.” Uh-huh. Thankfully, ‘precisely engineered’ means something rather different today, and even if we don’t lust after the Vega like other cars from its era, we can still enjoy a glimpse inside some of General Motors’ vehicle development and testing methods from some forty years ago. Check out the video after the jump – and be sure to scroll down to see what C&T has to say about the one-and-only 1971 AMC Gremlin, too! Top tip, Tom!

[Source: Car & Track via YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Chevy Vega development film yields priceless look at 1970s auto design

Video: Chevy Vega development film yields priceless look at 1970s auto design originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Video: Chevy Vega development film yields priceless look at 1970s auto design”

AutoTrader Classics unveils Fireball Tim’s 1951 Chevy 3100 “Redster” ahead of SEMA

Filed under: SEMA Show, Classics, Hybrid, Performance, Truck, Marketing/Advertising, Technology, Chevrolet, Celebrities, Specialty

The Redster by Fireball Tim Lawrence – Click above for high-res image gallery

Any time Hollywood’s current go-to car guy, Fireball Tim Lawrence, is involved in a project, you know it’s going to be a rolling masterpiece. So when AutoTrader Classic invited us to see Fireball’s latest creation ahead of its public debut at the SEMA show in November, we jumped at the chance. Make the jump for yourself to get up close and personal with The Redster.

Gallery: Fireball Tim’s Redster Unveiling

Continue reading AutoTrader Classics unveils Fireball Tim’s 1951 Chevy 3100 “Redster” ahead of SEMA

AutoTrader Classics unveils Fireball Tim’s 1951 Chevy 3100 “Redster” ahead of SEMA originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “AutoTrader Classics unveils Fireball Tim’s 1951 Chevy 3100 “Redster” ahead of SEMA”

Video: Translogic tests Chevy Volt, reveals Mountain Mode and 0-60 time

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

2011 Chevrolet Volt

Translogic Episode 5.4 – Click above to watch video after the jump

Our brothers from another mother over at Translogic just released their latest episode yesterday, episode 5.4 for whoever’s counting. Host Bradley Hasemeyer spent a day with General Motors at the automaker’s Milford Proving Ground driving the 2011 Chevrolet Volt and came away with some heretofore unknown tidbits of information about the series hybrid.

For one, in addition to Eco, Normal and Sport modes, the Volt will have what’s called Mountain Mode that allows it to climb any grade in the country. A GM engineer says they checked to be sure its Mountain Mode was adequate for any grade in the States and we have proof of at least one major mountain the Volt can climb. When Mountain Mode is selected, ideally about ten miles out from any big hills you want to climb, the Volt will kick on its on-board generator and create extra energy for the batteries. This allows the Volt’s drive system to draw more power than normal from the battery packs while climbing a grade. If the battery packs are drained and the generator’s already on, Mountain Mode will then increase the engine’s RPM to make up the difference.

Bradley also performed an impromptu 0-60 miles per hour test in the Volt, completing the run to highway speeds in 8.53 seconds while the car was in Sport mode. Not earth shatteringly quick, but plenty spry to feel normal in everyday driving conditions. Over the course of the day, Bradley drove the Volt a total of 59.7 miles, 16.1 of which occurred with the gas-powered range-extending on. During that time, 0.59 gallons of gas were consumed, which means the Volt achieved about 100 mpg for the day and 27.3 mpg while the engine was operating.

The rest of the video is full of Volt information of which we’re already aware, including how it interacts with mobile devices, charging options and the like, though we can’t say we’ve seen anybody throw around the Volt yet like Bradley did. Follow the jump to view episode 5.4 for yourself and visit the Translogic blog here.

[Source: Translogic]

Continue reading Video: Translogic tests Chevy Volt, reveals Mountain Mode and 0-60 time

Video: Translogic tests Chevy Volt, reveals Mountain Mode and 0-60 time originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Video: Translogic tests Chevy Volt, reveals Mountain Mode and 0-60 time”

Video: Chevy engineers get into the sound collage thing with 2011 Cruze

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Etc., Videos, Chevrolet

Chevrolet Cruse sound engineers

2011 Chevrolet Cruze mixes it up – Click above to watch video after the jump

Development engineers rarely get to have the same kind of fun as, say the guys out flogging the crap out of prototype mules on the test track, but that doesn’t mean they can’t have a good time. A few of the lab coats behind making sure the audible quality of the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze is up to par have gotten together to work up a sound collage featuring all of the moving bits on the new compact.

If you’re looking for an up close and personal look at just how tomb-like the sedan’s doors actually are or you have a thing for watching an engineer stomp and clap his hands at the same time, you’ll want to check out the video after the jump. If you like what you hear, the Cruze starts at a meager $16,995. Thanks for the tip, Mike!

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze: First Drive

[Source: Chevrolet via YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Chevy engineers get into the sound collage thing with 2011 Cruze

Video: Chevy engineers get into the sound collage thing with 2011 Cruze originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Video: Chevy engineers get into the sound collage thing with 2011 Cruze”

Exploded view of Chevy Cruze “shutter” grille [w/video]

Filed under: Sedan, Technology, Videos, Chevrolet

Click above to watch the video after the jump

While we’d all love to see 1,000-horsepower supercars that effortlessly reach 100 miles per gallon, the pace of fuel economy improvement is far less aggressive. Automakers are scratching and clawing for every mpg they can find by doing things like downsizing and turbocharging engines, adding direct injection and variable valve timing, utilizing electric power steering and cutting weight. Another great way to save fuel is through improved aerodynamics, as evidenced by an enhancement made to the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco that helps the new C-segment sedan reach 40 mpg on the highway.

The Eco Cruze utilizes an innovative automatic air shutter system that closes the grill vents at higher speeds to reduce drag by .016 – adding .5 mpg and helping push the Cruze to the magic 40 mpg number. The shutter system is fitted to sensors that measure changes in speed or temperature. If the temperature drops or the sensors measure sufficiently high speeds, the vents will be closed by electric motors, cutting down the amount of air that enters the engine bay. Why not simply keep the grill vents closed all the time? Because added airflow is needed to help cool the engine at lower speeds. Follow the jump to read the General Motors presser and watch a minute-long video that shows how the shutter system works.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading Exploded view of Chevy Cruze “shutter” grille [w/video]

Exploded view of Chevy Cruze “shutter” grille [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Exploded view of Chevy Cruze “shutter” grille [w/video]”

Report: Rush Limbaugh tears into Chevy Volt, fails to understand how it works

Filed under: Hybrid, Etc., Chevrolet, GM, Celebrities, Electric

It has long been apparent that the more successful a talk radio host is, the less relevant the facts become. Case in point is this week’s apparent tirade by Rush Limbaugh against the 2011 Chevrolet Volt. No doubt the Volt’s sticker price came in higher than most of us had hoped at $41,000, and Limbaugh may have had a slight point there. However, suggesting that the federal $7,500 tax credit for plug-in vehicles like the Volt and the Nissan Leaf was there as an admission that no one wants these vehicles strikes us as disingenuous at best, especially when you recall the tax write-offs that were available to people buying Hummers and other large SUVs just a few years ago. As far as we know, Limbaugh also made no mention of the more palatable $350-per-month lease deal available for the Volt.

Limbaugh also ripped into the Volt’s 40 mile range, implying that the 40 miles of range from the battery is all that is available. He was either unaware of or chose to ignore the fact that in charge-sustaining mode, the car’s onboard engine-generator can keep the battery going for another 300 miles on a tank of gas. If you don’t have time to sit around while the battery charges, you can just take a couple of minutes to fill the tank and be on your way again, just as you would in a normal car.

Perhaps we should just give Limbaugh the benefit of the doubt and assume his cochlear implant was on the fritz.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Volt

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

Report: Rush Limbaugh tears into Chevy Volt, fails to understand how it works originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Report: Rush Limbaugh tears into Chevy Volt, fails to understand how it works”

BREAKING: General Motors to announce Chevy Volt pricing/ordering on Tuesday [w/poll]

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Hatchback, Chevrolet, GM, Earnings/Financials, Electric

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

The three-year-long wait for the 2011 Chevrolet Volt’s official U.S. price tag will finally be over in less than 24 hours. At the Plug-In 2010 Conference in San Jose, California on Tuesday, GM VP of Marketing Joel Ewanick will announce pricing details and the ordering process for the Volt. Following the announcement, there will be a live online webchat with Volt Marketing Director Tony DiSalle.

While we’re waiting for the official announcement, you can through to the jump for a brief press release and then take our poll below.

View Poll

Gallery: 2011 Chevy Volt

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading BREAKING: General Motors to announce Chevy Volt pricing/ordering on Tuesday [w/poll]

BREAKING: General Motors to announce Chevy Volt pricing/ordering on Tuesday [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “BREAKING: General Motors to announce Chevy Volt pricing/ordering on Tuesday [w/poll]”

Jay Leno a Chevy Volt intender? Umm… not so much

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Technology, Chevrolet, GM, Celebrities, Electric

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

As America’s most recognizable celebrity car guy, you might expect that Jay Leno is anxious to put what might be America’s most recognizable and highly anticipated game-changing new car in decades in his Big Dog Garage. Apparently, you’d be wrong. The late night comedian spoke with The Detroit News about the upcoming extended-range electric car and, surprisingly enough, said he doesn’t plan to be one of the first in line to drive away in a 2011 Chevrolet Volt:

“If you didn’t know, you might think it’s a Cobalt or a Camry… I don’t think there’s a lot of cachet in having the first one. It’s meant to be a people mover, not a people impresser.”

If we’re all being honest with ourselves, Leno makes a fine point. For the generation of Americans who grew up on hot rods and muscle cars, the Chevrolet Volt is something of an appliance meant to be safe, efficient and environmentally friendly. Those aren’t exactly the kind of attributed that stir up the emotions of petrolheads. But that’s kinda the point.

As Leno himself points out of the Chevy Volt, “I think it’s great technology.” And it clearly is. In fact, it’s the likely future of automotive transportation. “There is a particular audience that is all about advanced technology and green transportation,” responded GM spokesperson Rob Peterson. “For people like that, the Volt has that cachet. It’s kind of like an iPhone. An iPhone is still a cell phone with a lot of capability in it.”

Perhaps that’s an apt comparison. Telephones and even mobile phones started out as appliances meant only to perform a basic function. Just as the iPhone revolutionized what the general public thought could be done with a phone, the Volt has the potential to revolutionize the kind of efficiency Americans have come to expect from their daily drivers… and it will certainly attract plenty of attention. With or without a glowing recommendation from Jay Leno.

Oh, and for what it’s worth, Leno says he’s excited about the Volt’s launch later this year and may in fact buy one. Just maybe not from the first batch, we surmise.

Gallery: 2011 Chevy Volt

[Source: The Detroit News]

Jay Leno a Chevy Volt intender? Umm… not so much originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Jul 2010 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Jay Leno a Chevy Volt intender? Umm… not so much”

Get A Grip: Chevy UK sponsors research to find perfect handshake

Filed under: Etc., Chevrolet, UK

Homer-Barney butt handshake

Just like Toyota Australia does things differently than “our” Toyota, Chevrolet Europe does things that make us go, “That’s not the Chevy we know…” The latest example is a handshake study, headed by a professor of psychological sciences at the University of Manchester, that seeks the formula for the perfect handshake. And what is the driving force behind such obscure academia? Creation of a “handshake training guide for [Chevy] staff to prepare them ahead of the launch of the new 5 Year Promise offer, which aims to offer peace of mind and reassurance to its customers.”

Alrighty then. This is the formula:

PH = (e² + ve²)(d²) + (cg + dr)² + π{(4<s>2)(4<p>2)}² + (vi + t + te)² + {(4<c>2 )(4<du>2)}²

If you need more help figuring out how to apply it – hint: pay close attention to the ‘dr’ part – follow the jump for the press release, which explains the formula’s gobbledygook in detail, lists ~~useless~~ related facts like the Top 10 Handshake Turn-Offs, and somehow manages to work in a Frankie Valli reference.

Note that the Top 10 Handshake Turn-Offs rundown doesn’t include, “Absurd and contrived scientific formulas on how to correctly shake hands.” Maybe it ought to be a Top 11.

[Source: Chevrolet UK]

Continue reading Get A Grip: Chevy UK sponsors research to find perfect handshake

Get A Grip: Chevy UK sponsors research to find perfect handshake originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 18 Jul 2010 11:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Get A Grip: Chevy UK sponsors research to find perfect handshake”

SEMA Preview: CGS prepping custom 2011 Chevy Camaro

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet

GCS Camaro

CGS Camaro for SEMA 2010 – Click above for high-res image

CGS is a lock to bring something unique to the annual SEMA show, and after the ReFlex and FlatBack Mustang of the last two years, the tuner has left the Ford family for GM. This year, a 2011 Chevy Camaro will step into the modification chamber, getting a body kit that includes a ZR1-style hood. Under the window you might get a glimpse of the Whipple twin-screw blower that helps boost output to 500 horsepower. 22-inch wheels wrapped in Pirelli rubber bands help complete the look. Follow the jump to read the press release, and check out the high-res image below.

Gallery: CGS Camaro at SEMA 2010

[Source: CGS Motorsports]

Continue reading SEMA Preview: CGS prepping custom 2011 Chevy Camaro

SEMA Preview: CGS prepping custom 2011 Chevy Camaro originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 17 Jul 2010 12:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “SEMA Preview: CGS prepping custom 2011 Chevy Camaro”