The Chevrolet Volt is Coming

By all accounts, General Motors is moving in the right direction. And the upcoming unveiling of the Chevrolet Volt should do more to help their stock prices and their business output.

With “The Future is Green Conference” in Long Beach, California, running a full clip, General Motors is expected to make the unveiling tomorrow at the event in front of a horde of journalists and curious onlookers. The start of what is known as the “Traditional Automobile Season” is coming up and all of the various new releases will hit markets around the world, with the biggest unveilings taking place in Paris, Los Angeles, Detroit, and Geneva. So it makes perfect sense for Chevy cars like the Volt to see the light of day for the first time at a “green” conference like the one in Long Beach.

Chevy’s Volt, released via General Motors of course, is expected to hit the market for an official wide release by the end of 2010. It is a battery powered subcompact with a big upside in the fuel-economy department, giving Chevrolet a car that will finally be able to compete with some of the other environmentally-friendly giants.

General Motors is putting a lot of stock on the Chevrolet Volt and hopes that the car will be the catalyst required to get consumers to start buying from Detroit again and realize that North American cars can also play along in terms of fuel economy and environmental issues.

The Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell Prototype

General Motors has delivered the Chevrolet Equinox fuel cell prototype to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The intention is for the EPA to run a series of tests on the Equinox and to determine if the vehicle meets the high standards of the organization.

General Motors is stating that the tests will take part as part of the EPA’s normal vehicle fleet evaluation activities. The EPA testing is all part of the continuing program from GM and Chevrolet to try to bring fleet vehicles on to the market that pass high environmental standards. The idea is for GM and Chevrolet to be able to take a spot at the top of the ladder in terms of environmentally responsible companies.

“Our organizations have learned a great deal about hydrogen fuel cells and we look forward to furthering the commercialization of this important technology,” Elizabeth Lowery, GM’s vice president for Environment, Energy and Safety Policy said in a statement.

As GM and Chevrolet continue to explore the options in terms of fuel efficiency, their level of competitiveness in the markets should improve. Their goal of being able to take on the giants of Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai in the environmentally friendly sector may be met as long as they continue to pour research and time into the facilitating of earth-friendly technology. As long as Chevy cars continue to advance in this direction, it bodes well for GM.

How to Buy A Corvette

It’s been well said that there are two kinds of people in the world: people who used to want a Corvette, and those that will want to own one.

The Corvette is an amazing vehicle, with a rich history and a diverse community surrounding it. Here are some tips for buying Corvettes from different eras of Corvette history:

1953-1962

This era was the straight-axle era. When you are looking to buy this car, you’re not looking to rive it daily. You want to read up on these cars, and spend some time looking into their market value and their mechanical considerations. Know what original equipment looks like, and recognize it when you see it.

1963-1967

The so-called “mid-year” Corvettes are some of the most popular. Study the brakes on these cars closely, and make sure it’s got the correct engine. Watch for faulty weatherstripping, as well, as this leads to rust.

1968-1982

The “Shark” Corvettes of this era have just as much, if not more, rust than the previous era. Have a keen eye out for rust on these, as well as bad seals or weatherstripping. In addition, wiring can be a big issue, so be careful of buying one of these with electrical problems.

1984-1996

The computer in these later cars can tell you if there are any problems in the systems. Try to give the car a test drive in different conditions, to see if the Service Engine Soon light comes on. Try out the electronic controls, as well.

1999-Present

The latest version of the Corvette sould be in the best conditions. Still, look for overspray, or wrench marks, to see if it’s ever been in an accident. Check the convertible top’s window alighment, and have the VIN number checked to see if it’s still under warranty.

The Chevrolet Concept Cars Roll Out

When the Paris motor show kicks off, Chevrolet will be there to unveil its Orlando concept car for the world. The Orlando is a seven-seater and is based on the Delta platform, which will also be used on a few other new Chevy vehicles. The overall design is bolder and more exciting than any of the current Chevrolets on the market. The wrap-around headlights and new two-tier grille are key to this.

Along with the Orlando, one of the first models Chevy will spring will be the Chevrolet Cruze. It will be Chevy’s new small family car. The Cruze will be the first in a long line of new Chevy cars that will be introduced to the world via the Paris motor show. We’d love to be there in person to, um, cover the motor show but we have time constraints that won’t allow us to make the flight.

Nevertheless, Chevy cars should make a big splash at the presentation.

The Cruze is the first of several new Chevy cars that will include the Volt electric car, the new Camaro and a small city car based on the Beat concept. The Cruze will be built on the new Delta platform and will take the company in a new design direction with bolder styling cues and a more vibrant overall design.

The Chevrolet HHR Recall

General Motors is recalling about 300,000 Chevrolet HHR due to a faulty storage bin latch.

As is sometimes the case, production errors can make it to the sales models. In the case of the Chevrolet HHR, the mistake results in a recall. The recall doesn’t appear to have any major safety implications, however, and does not put the Chevrolet HHR in a bad light overall.

The HHRs under rule of the recall are from the 2006-2008 model years. The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration found that the lid on the instrument panel storage bin was prone to unlatch during a crash, causing the lid to open. This failure of the latch is against regulations from the NHTSA that provide vehicle owners protection from interior mechanisms in the case of a crash.

GM is sending owners of HHRs a kit that will allow them to fix the faulty latch. Vehicle owners can also drop by a local dealership to have the proper repairs done and to have the vehicles brought into compliance with the NHTSA regulation.

There are have been no injuries or accidents linked to the problem and the latch kits should be available for motorists within the next month.

Chevy cars and trucks are no strangers to recalls. As a matter of fact, it is extremely rare for any car company to avoid recalls altogether. But if GM’s handling of the situation is any indication, it seems that the car company is well in control of its vehicles and in the protection of its customers.

The 2009 Chevy Aveo5

The 2009 Chevrolet Aveo5 is, by all accounts, a less than powerful little machine that will get the job done.

The Aveo5 has been described as an important car for Chevy and GM and one that is expected to make an impact in the 2009 model year. It is the smallest offering from the car company and is expected to get in the ring with the other small cars from Honda and Toyota to compete for the consumer’s attention and, hopefully, to compete for overall small car sales.

The entire focus of the Aveo5 is based around GM’s premise that American buyers will be ready to buy small cars soon and will follow in the footsteps of Europe. I’m not sure if the GM heads have been paying all that much attention to the markets, but the American consumers are ALREADY buying smaller cars. GM continuously insists on being behind the times, even within its own consumer base.

Nevertheless, the Aveo5 is their answer and it is a satisfactory little car. A 1.6-litre DOHC four-banger lies at the heart of the beast. There isn’t much horsepower to speak of (106), but the car should work well for those who don’t mind a lack of force. Some reviews have the Aveo5 as the slowest passenger car in the 2009 model year.

But does that matter in today’s world? Perhaps if you have the need for speed, it does. But most people with such a desire won’t find themselves in the small car market to begin with, so the notion is almost superfluous on its head. Regardless of the so-called lack of power for the car set, the Aveo5 is an impressive vehicle. It stands among Chevy cars as a sign of a new direction and, seemingly, now is as good a time as any.

The Corvette Club of America

As just about any fan of the Chevy Corvette can tell you, Bowling Green, Kentucky, is the home of the Corvette. There, you will find the Corvette Museum, featuring dozens of corvettes, all the way from the first models in the early 1950s through the latest model year.

What you may not know is that Bowling Green is also the Home of the Corvette Club of America.
What is the Corvette Club of America? Well, the CCA is the fastest growing Corvette Club in the United States. In addition, this growth has made the CCA one of the largest Corvette Clubs in the United States. The Corvette Club of America is comprised of members from all over the world. There are literally hundreds of Corvette enthusiasts involved in the club.

One mission of the Corvette Club of America is to keep its members aware of the latest news in the Corvette world. In addition, the club serves to connect Corvette lovers from all over with each other. The Corvette Club of America creates an environment in which Corvette lovers can get together and share their love for the American sports car.

The CCA attends most of the major Corvette shows and car shows in the nation. In addition, there are local Corvette Club chapters that organize their own activities and events. The CCA provides a newsletter, Corvette Capers, in a bi-monthly format.

To learn more about the Corvette Club of America, visit their website here. Their website features a “For sale & wanted” section, a picture of the moth, information about upcoming Corvette shows, information about Corvette vendors, a Corvette Club of America shop, and even a blog.

GM Extends Employee Pricing Promotion

Good news for car buyers! General Motors is extending their employee pricing promotion by one month and is adding a few 2009 models into the mix. The idea is to boost sagging sales and to clear out some inventory All of us can benefit from GM’s attempts, can’t we?

The program, launched in late August, applies to almost its entire line-up of 2008 vehicles and has been expanded to include most 2009 vehicles at dealerships, including all Silverado and Sierra pickups. GM’s better selling cars, such as the Chevrolet Malibu, Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac Vibe are also included in the extended offer

General Motors had troubling sales in July, with numbers down almost 18%. There has been pressure on the American automobile industry to cut costs due to rising material prices and gas prices, but many companies haven’t been heeding the warnings. Sadly, General Motors has been one of those companies and their sales have suffered as a result.

The employee pricing promotion has always proved popular and GM is banking on its ability to move some of their more popular models before the next ones roll in. So Chevy cars, trucks, GM trucks, and Pontiac vehicles will all be, hopefully, sailing off of the lots in the coming months.

Why not head on down to your local dealer today and see what kind of offer you can make on your favourite Chevy cars before the promotion draws to a close?

2008 Muscle Car of the Year

For those of you who love the roar of the engine and the smoke from the tires, Chevrolet’s Corvette is probably the be-all end-all of muscle cars. The Chevrolet car is legendary, even in the Middle East where the legend won the award from Middle East Car magazine for Best Muscle Car of 2008.

Phillip Moore, the publishing director of Middle East Car magazine
explained: “The Corvette 2008 is saucy, powerful, and thrilling to
drive. Everything about it is a treat, including, and we’ll come back
to earth for a minute, the reasonable maintenance costs.”

The Chevrolet car finished ahead of the Dodge Charger and the Ford Mustang, picking up the award for the second consecutive year from the magazine.

The 2008 Chevrolet Corvette is available in three different models: the Coupe, the Convertible, and the big bad Z06, which features a terrifying 7.0-litre LS7 V8 engine rumbling away under the hood. For those brave enough to fill up one of these bad boys, the Corvette can be a pretty sweet treat. The rest of us will have to sit back and dream of the rumbling engine and the squealing tires.

In terms of the future, Chevrolet has big plans. A supercharged ZR1 models is prepping to join the ranks in 2009. The ZR1 will feature 638 horsepower and will rank as the most powerful Corvettes ever made. Chevy cars will have a lot of encouragement from the new Corvette, so start watching your dealership for changes in the coming weeks and months to reflect the new arrival.

2009 Chevrolet Corvette Lineup

The Chevrolet Corvette has long been an icon among American sports cars, and the 2009 ZR1 model comes in at the top of the Corvettes. The 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 is an ultra-high performance car, and represents the return of the ZR1 name to the Corvette line. The ZR1 previously was released from 1990 to 1995.

The 2009 Corvette ZR1 features a 6.2 liter V8 engine that can produce 638 horsepower. It also has a 6-speed manual transmission. The ZR1 is different from the rest of the Corvette lineup. The AR1 has lightweight carbon fiber in several places, including rocker moldings, roof bow, roof panel, fascia splitter, and the hood. In addition, it has a uniquely tuned suspension.

The base 2009 Chevrolet Corvette has a 6.2 liter V8 engine that puts out 430 horsepower, and can come with manual or automatic transmission. The Z06 model comes with a 7.0 liter V8 and can get 505 horsepower. The Z-6 model also has some extra performance features, such as specific brakes, tires, and suspension.

There are a number of safety features in the Corvette line. They include front side airbags, an antiskid system, traction cotrol, and ABS.

SEO Powered by Platinum SEO from Techblissonline