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Chevy Volt owners get OnStar-powered website

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

MyVolt.com

Electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids like the 2011 Chevrolet Volt (and we’ll let you decide which of those two categories General Motors’ green halo car fits into…) promise to save drivers money on fuel bills. But, just as operating expenses for traditional cars rises and falls with the price of gas, so too will battery-powered cars vary in their running costs as electric utility rates fluctuate.

GM has announced a new website for Chevrolet Volt owners called MyVolt.com that seeks to help consumers keep their electric charging rates in check. Statistics for battery usage and fuel economy will be transferred to the user’s Facebook and Twitter accounts, and utility companies are expected to use this data to help owners choose times to plug their cars into the grid. These utility companies can also make sure their power grids are up to the challenge of keeping EVs on the road.

Other techy benefits offered to Volt owners include a display to show whether the car is plugged in (and whether it’s charging at 120 or 240 volts), the creation of a charging schedule to make use of the best rates and the ability to monitor current battery state of charge and predicted range. One intriguing feature will allow OnStar to create its own charging schedule where the program will choose the lowest rates possible in order to achieve a full charge by a set time.

There will also be a provision to remotely start the Volt to get the interior up to a set temperature, and future updates will allow further customization of the car, such as setting radio presets. Want to know more? Check out the official press release after the break.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Volt

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading Chevy Volt owners get OnStar-powered website

Chevy Volt owners get OnStar-powered website originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official MSP Numbers: Chevy Caprice is quickest, fastest police car… barely

Filed under: Sedan, Government/Legal, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, GM, Police/Emergency

2011 Chevrolet Caprice police car

2011 Chevrolet Caprice PPV — Click above for high-res image gallery

The numbers are in, folks. This year’s Michigan State Police Vehicle Evaluation pitted Ford’s Jurassic Crown Victoria Police Interceptor (the new Taurus-based Police Interceptor was reportedly on hand, but its numbers won’t be included until next year), Chrysler’s 2011 Dodge Charger Police Pursuit model and General Motors’ Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle against each other in a no-holds-barred fight to the finish. And let’s just say the results are closer than you might think.

For instance, as pointed out by the proud parents at Chevrolet, the Caprice did, in fact, manage to set the best acceleration times to 60 miles per hour and 100 mph. But… and there’s always a but… the 2011 Charger was pretty much neck-and-neck with the Caprice. In fact, the Charger was quicker to 20, 40, 50, 70 and 80 mph. So, which one is really quicker? Pretty much a photo finish, if you ask us.

Also, top speeds between the two competitors were within spitting distance: 148 mph for the Caprice and 146 for the Hemi-powered Charger. There’s plenty more intriguing data as well, such as the fact that the new Pentastar V6-powered Charger was, on average, almost exactly as fast around the race track as its more powerful V8-powered sibling, and both were about a second behind the Caprice in the lap time derby.

And what of the old stalwart? Ford’s age-old Crown Victoria did its best, but was still over two seconds behind at 60 mph and a woeful 10 seconds afield by 100. Top speed for the Vic was 129 (with a 3.27 rear end, which was even slower in acceleration tests than its 3.55-equipped brother), and its lap times were well behind that of the Caprice and Charger.

Braking tests also favored the new Caprice and Charger. Chevy’s entry posted a projected 60-0 stopping distance of 128.3 feet and the Charger managed to come to a halt in 133.9 feet (133.2 with the V6). For comparison, the Crown Vic needs 141.6 feet to haul itself down from speed.

One final note: If acceleration is really what an officer is into, perhaps he should consider a switch to two wheels. Kawasaki’s Concours 14 ABS Police bike hit 100 mph in under 10 seconds and the BMW R1200 RTP did the deed in under 12. See the complete preliminary testing results here at the link below.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Caprice Police Car

[Source: Michigan State Police Vehicle Evaluation]

Official MSP Numbers: Chevy Caprice is quickest, fastest police car… barely originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Oct 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM confirms $145M investment in Orion, ponders new name for Chevy Aveo?

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Hatchback, Chevrolet, GM, Rumormill

2012 Chevy Aveo show car

Chevy Aveo show car – Click above to enlarge

General Motors was happy to show off its revamped Chevrolet Aveo at the Paris Motor Show last week. The car is a fresh change of pace from the last generation Aveo, and a strong step forward for Chevrolet in the subcompact segment. It may be a good car, but word on the street around the company’s Orion Township plant suggests that The General might be ditching the Aveo moniker. Apparently, GM wants to distance itself from the lackluster last generation car. A new name could go a long way in helping the car get off on the right foot, but seeding a new name in this industry among potential consumers costs tens of millions of dollars, so it would likely be a very costly decision.

Buick Verano teaser Speaking of costly, as expected, GM confirmed yesterday that it will spend $145 million on its Orion plant to build both the Aveo (or whatever it ends up being called) and Buick’s first premium small car in over 20 years, the Verano (teaser at right). The investment, GM says, will save 1,500 jobs. The Orion plant, you may recall, was earmarked to produce the U.S. version of the Chevrolet Orlando, a three-row MPV that was subsequently canceled for the States.

You can read about GM’s investment in the company’s official press release after the jump (note that while GM talks of the Buick Verano by name, it only refers to “Chevrolet’s new small car,” adding fuel to the name-change fire).

Gallery: Paris 2010: Chevrolet Aveo

Paris 2010: Chevrolet Aveo

Sources: Detroit Free Press]

Continue reading GM confirms $145M investment in Orion, ponders new name for Chevy Aveo?

GM confirms $145M investment in Orion, ponders new name for Chevy Aveo? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Oct 2010 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chevy Volt home charger priced at $490 or nearly $2K with installation

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

Voltec 240V home charging unit Sure, the sticker price for the 240V Voltec home charging unit designed to quickly and efficiently recharge the Chevrolet Volt is a wallet-friendly $490, but this is a case where reading the fine print is important. That’s because the cost to install this charger in your garage is slightly more. General Motors estimates that installation of the Voltec unit will cost you around $1,475, so we’re talking about a near $2,000 premium to have your Volt suck down electrons faster than it would if just plugged into a wall.

The Volt can charge just fine from a standard outlet and comes with a 120V-to-J1772 charger. Using that method will take around ten hours to reach a full charge from empty, while using 240V charger Voltec charger will cut that down to around four hours. For people who have short commutes or plan to leave the Volt plugged in every night, a 240V system might be overkill since the Volt has a gasoline-powered generator on board to extend its range should the electrons dry up.

The Voltec system’s $2,000 overall cost, however, is in line with the Aerovironment 240V charge station for the all-electric Nissan Leaf. Nissan says that charger will cost $2,200 installed, though Leaf fans began complaining that Nissan was forcing owners to use just one installer and the automaker has since pointed out that there are cheaper alternatives available.

Of course, there are ways to get free chargers (i.e. luck out and live in place with local incentives or be one of the first Volt buyers), but most people looking to add a Volt to their garage will need to cough up an extra $2,000 to receive quick-charging functionality. For an in-depth look at Chevrolet’s Volt chargers, click here.

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading Chevy Volt home charger priced at $490 or nearly $2K with installation

Chevy Volt home charger priced at $490 or nearly $2K with installation originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Oct 2010 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: 2012 Chevy Camaro spotted with polarizing lights, mirrors

Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Chevrolet, GM

2012 Chevrolet Camaro spy shot The big news for the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro is indeed the highly anticipated Z28, but that doesn’t mean the base cars are moving forward without a few small tweaks. Our friends at Camaro5.com landed a set of spy shots that depict the Chevrolet muscle car sporting a new ~~and improved~~ set of taillamps and mirrors.

Out back, the revised lamps use a full-LED design that mimic the shape of sunglasses. And if we’re honest, we much prefer the standard bulb-lit units found on the current car, though we’re sure that the LED setup will be a hit amongst the gee-whiz crowd. As for the side mirrors, they’ve grown quite substantially and now include turn indicators. At first glance they look a bit awkward, though this should help remedy one of the largest complaints we have about the Camaro: outward visibility.

We’re still scratching our heads to decide if we’ll put our stamp of approval on these design tweaks, though we’ll have to wait until the finished product shows up before making any final judgments, as these could just be early prototype parts. Expect to see the slightly restyled Camaro debut sometime next year as a 2012 model. Hat tip to Luke!

[Source: Camaro5]

Spy Shots: 2012 Chevy Camaro spotted with polarizing lights, mirrors originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Oct 2010 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hennessey building ZR1-powered HPE700 Chevy Camaro Convertible

Filed under: Aftermarket, Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet

2011 Hennessey HPE700 Camaro Convertible

2011 Hennessey HPE700 Camaro Convertible – Click above for high-res image gallery

The 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible is getting ready to take the stage at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show, but John Hennessey and his band of tuners can’t wait that long. Hennessey Performance has announced plans and specs for its upcoming, limited-edition 2011 Hennessey HPE700 Camaro Convertible.

HPE had a hit on its hands when it announced the 2010 HPE700 Camaro. That 725-horsepower coupe was limited to just 24 examples and they were all quickly spoken for. Since Chevrolet is bringing out the droptop Camaro, Hennessey has decided to produce another 24-car limited-edition run with the 2011 model. The 2011 Hennessey HPE700 will be available in both coupe and convertible form, and the cars stats are staggering.

The HPE700 ditches the LS3 mill found in the standard Camaro SS and in its place sticks the supercharged LS9 from the Corvette ZR1. Hennessey says the motor has been tweaked to produce 755 hp and 763 pound-feet of torque. The 6.2-liter V8 is able to hit those numbers thanks to revised boost levels and a more robust fuel system. Thanks to all that power, Hennessey has listed a 0-60 mph time of just 3.3 seconds. A trip down the quarter-mile happens in 10.9 seconds at 130 miles per hour. Those figures are for the hardtop version when fitted with optional Nitto drag radials.

It’s not just a straight-line shooter though, as Hennessey adds more than power to its HPE700. The car is fitted with lightweight HPE wheels, 15-inch brakes with six-piston front calipers, larger sway bars and an adjustable coilover suspension setup. The exterior is fitted with numerous carbon fiber trim pieces. Inside, the HPE700 Camaro receives Hennessey logos on the headrests and floor mats, an HPE race shift knob and upgraded shifter, a numbered dash and hood plaque and an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel.

Currently, there is no set allocation plan for the coupe and convertible in the 24-car run. Pricing has been set at a stout $132,500, but that includes the cost of the base vehicle. It also includes a one-day performance driving course at Lonestar Motorsports Park. The quarter-mile dragstrip, which has been featured in many of Hennessey’s videos, is located next door to the company’s production facility and showroom.

Full details can be found in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: 2011 Hennessey HPE700 LS9 Camaro Convertible

[Source: Hennessey]

Continue reading Hennessey building ZR1-powered HPE700 Chevy Camaro Convertible

Hennessey building ZR1-powered HPE700 Chevy Camaro Convertible originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Oct 2010 12:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: GM, UAW clash over Chevy Cruze repairs

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Plants/Manufacturing, Chevrolet, UAW/Unions

GM’s Lordstown plant builds the Chevrolet Cruze, but when plant management needed the cars coming off the line repaired, it didn’t use plant workers; it sent the cars to an outside repair shop. That didn’t make UAW leadership happy. The union’s response was to draw up a leaflet telling workers that “management is not your friend,” and to take their discontent to the press with the message that things haven’t really changed.

Local 112 president said the issue was resolved the next day. For its part, General Motors says it has met with the UAW and a “resolution [is] expected soon.” The situation was blamed on the pressure that management and labor are under to get the Cruze right. From the outside, this doesn’t look like a productive way to achieve that end.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze: First Drive

[Source: Automotive News – sub req’d]

Report: GM, UAW clash over Chevy Cruze repairs originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 02 Oct 2010 09:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chevy Volt’s first customers will be 15-person Customer Advisory Board

Filed under: Car Buying, Hybrid, Sedan, Chevrolet, Electric

2011 Chevrolet Volt

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

Lyle Dennis. Bill Nye. Jim Woolsey. Brian Wynne. What do these people have in common, besides being featured at one time or another on AutoblogGreen? They are all members of the new Chevrolet Volt Customer Advisory Board that General Motors announced today (disclosure: AutoblogGreen columnist Chelsea Sexton is also on the panel).

So, what will the 15 people who make up the board actually do? Basically, they’re getting a Volt before you do and will tell GM what’s working and what isn’t. More specifically, they will be the first people who get to, “experience the Volt every day under real-world conditions during a three-month vehicle and charging evaluation program starting in late October.”

The 15 (see all the names after the jump, and note the number of electric vehicle enthusiasts included) volunteered for the position and Chevy picked people who knew the most about electric vehicles and also happen to live in one of the initial markets where the Volt will be available. Besides getting a three-month test vehicle, board members will get a free 240-volt charging station, “for the duration of the vehicle evaluation program.” Sexton is excited about the group, and said in a statement that:

It’s great to see Chevrolet tap into both experienced and new electric vehicle enthusiasts for real-world feedback. This is a great opportunity to not only provide meaningful input to the Volt team, but also to raise awareness using a real, available electric vehicle instead of a PowerPoint slide.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Volt

[Source: GM]

Continue reading Chevy Volt’s first customers will be 15-person Customer Advisory Board

Chevy Volt’s first customers will be 15-person Customer Advisory Board originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Sep 2010 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chevy Caprice outperforms Ford and Dodge police cars in official test… or does it?

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Ford, GM, Specialty

Chevrolet Caprice PPV

2011 Chevrolet Caprice PPV — Click above for high-res image gallery

The police vehicle market is flush with new iron from all quarters, making the results of this year’s Michigan State Police Vehicle Evaluation hotly anticipated. Ford brought its new Taurus-based Police Interceptor, Chrysler had the 2011 Dodge Charger Police Pursuit model, and General Motors showed up with the Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle. Preliminary results of the performance and dynamics testing put the Caprice PPV on top of its rivals, says GM, but there’s a catch.

Chevrolet is touting the unofficial test outcome (final results will be released later this year) as proof of the Caprice PPV’s superiority. Being quicker to both 60 and 100 mph and offering shorter stopping distances are performance attributes that officers appreciate, as is a 6.0-liter V8 and a chassis that handled Grattan Raceway with the best average lap time. Thing is, despite the fact that Ford’s forthcoming Taurus-based cruiser was on-hand and competed in the tests, GM only compares its new Caprice to the ancient Crown Vic. The reason? The Blue Oval’s new PI won’t be available for more than a year. According to the blokes at Jalopnik who were on-hand for the shootout, the Caprice was actually bested by the AWD Taurus PI in braking and lap times, but GM has fashioned the ‘not available yet’ loophole to create victory (nevermind that the Caprice isn’t on the streets yet either).

Of course, good performance numbers aren’t all there is to police work, or departments would patrol in Corvettes. Chevrolet says the Caprice PPV leads in interior space and thoughtful touches like seats designed to accommodate officers’ equipment belts. All of this, GM says, adds up to an open-and-shut case for the Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle. You’d expect no less from a press release (posted after the jump), but clearly, the real victory in the race to replace the Crown Victoria has yet to be determined.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Caprice Police Car

[Sources: General Motors, Jalopnik]

Continue reading Chevy Caprice outperforms Ford and Dodge police cars in official test… or does it?

Chevy Caprice outperforms Ford and Dodge police cars in official test… or does it? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Sep 2010 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chevy Volt’s “maintenance mode” will burn gas to prevent aging

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

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

When General Motors conceived the electric powertrain for the Chevrolet Volt, the 40-mile electric driving range was specified so that most drivers would rarely, if ever, have to use any liquid fuel. Components like the battery were then sized to match the performance and range specifications. However, the whole point of incorporating the range extending engine was so the Volt could keep going without the driver having to continuously monitor the battery level, even though GM once told us that the Volt would move without gas in the tank.

Regardless, leaving the same gasoline in a tank for months or even years creates a new set of problems. One reason is there’s no such thing as pure gasoline. What’s sold at the pump is a blend of numerous hydrocarbon compounds like octane, heptane and other additives that lubricate valves and fuel injectors, along with a range of assorted chemicals. Many of these compounds will eventually evaporate, reducing the performance of the fuel and could possibly lead to engine damage.

To address this, the Volt has a completely sealed and pressurized fuel tank. Pressurizing the tank helps minimize evaporation from the liquid fuel, forcing it to stay in liquid form. Before the fuel filler can be opened to gas up the Volt, the tank has to be depressurized, which takes a few seconds after pressing the release button. The engine management system also monitors the time between when the engine runs and will periodically prompt the driver to run past the 40-mile electric range before recharging. If the driver doesn’t force the Volt to run on gas, the system will eventually start the engine to consume some of the aging fuel and circulate the fluids within the engine. Once this maintenance mode is complete, the engine shuts down until it’s needed again or enough time has passed. GM hasn’t revealed what the time intervals are, but with Volt production right around the corner, we’ll find out soon enough.

Gallery: Quick Spin: 2011 Chevrolet Volt

[Source: Plug-in Cars]

Chevy Volt’s “maintenance mode” will burn gas to prevent aging originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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