Classic Cars Chevrolet

There have been all sorts of rumors floating around about Chevrolet’s brand new Corvette. Many have stated that the next-generation C7 Chevy Corvette will include a dual-clutch version, for instance, or that it will be able to fly through the air. Okay, so maybe that last one doesn’t have much of a basis in reality.

But I digress.

One of the rumors floating around about the C7 Chevy Corvette that is gaining some steam is that its release will be delayed because of current economic problems and because of a little something known as the CAFE regulations. The upcoming CAFE regulations are in regards to fuel economy standards. The regulations were passed by the United States House of Representatives and will serve to be part of a long-range energy bill that could threaten the production of vehicles that have less than desirable fuel economy standards.

Many are suggesting that the new Corvette might struggle in this area. The economic woes of Chevrolet and General Motors are perhaps also to blame for the rumors of delayed release.

There is more to this story than just rumors, sadly. A report from AutoWeek magazine has stated that Chevrolet has put production of the new C7 Corvette on “indefinite hold.” What that will mean for the car company and for other Chevy cars remains to be seen, but we will keep our eyes on the story and bring you all of the updates.

With the economic downturn, many car companies are cutting back. Chevrolet is not immune to the changing economic climate and has had to make some changes to its strategy, which has included some changes in production and some shifts in advertising.

Bloomberg recently reported that Chevrolet’s next move was to cut back on sports sponsorships. This cutback comes in light of falling sales and the economic situation, as the car company attempts to even out its financial forecast. The cutback involves Chevrolet cutting back spots for college sports and broadcasting advertisements only during games.

General Motors and Ford have reduced sports marketing as a way to cut costs in light of falling sales and plummeting stock prices. U.S. auto sales slid 27% in September. Deteriorating consumer confidence and a slowing economy may erode them further, which means these changes are necessary. Car companies like GM and Ford won’t survive if they can’t figure out a way to regain the lost ground.

Luckily, the economic downturn can benefit you as a consumer. Drop on by your local dealer today for more information on Chevy cars and trucks promotions. There are plenty of opportunities to save money now buying or leasing a new Chevrolet or GM car. Talk to your dealer today and see how you can benefit from the changing economic tide.

When you drive a Chevrolet you can get just about anywhere you want to go. Whether you’re driving through the woods or across town, a Chevy truck is the best vehicle to be in.

When you do take your Chevy truck off road, however there are some important things that you need to keep in mind:

• Look ahead. Always keep an eye out for what’s coming. Survey the road before you enter it, if possible. You want to make sure that there’s not a cliff, or just a dead end before you get there.
• Drive straight. Driving diagonally down hills or steep terrain will increase your likelihood of a rollover.
• Always drive within your ability. Make sure you take your time driving on the trail, so that you can pick a smooth path and you can react to changing terrain. If you go too fast, you could cause all sorts of problems, from a hole in your oil pan to knocking off your oil filter.
• Try to cross obstacles like logs or ditches so that only one wheel is going over the obstacle at a time. This helps the vehicle to be able to climb over.

By keeping just these few basic tips in mind, your off-road experience can be a much safer and more successful one.

If you are looking for a new Chevrolet truck to go off-roading, come see us today. We’re your local Chevrolet dealer, and we’ve got the right truck for you.

The Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid has scooped the 2008 Green Car of the Year Award from Green Car Journal.

The Tahoe won the award in large part due to its fuel economy, as the mileage on the vehicle is better than other vehicles in the V8 category. And it isn’t just mildly better. No, the Chevy Tahoe offers mileage that is 30% better than any of its competitors.

While that is doubtlessly impressive, it is important to note that the Tahoe’s mileage improvements are really seen in an area where most mileage suffers: the city. In the city, it consumer nearly half the fuel of many of its closest rivals. 

The Green Car of the Year Award from Green Car Journal seeks to bring awareness to cars and vehicles that are using the best in new technology to improve fuel economy and help provide better cars and trucks for the environment. By winning the award, Chevrolet can, in part, ditch some of their reputation for being a less than responsible automaker. The Tahoe Hybrid represents a big step in the right direction for Chevy, providing a vehicle that is durable and driveable for customers.

Hopefully other Chevy cars will follow suit.

If you have a mullet and make no apologies for it, yesterday was probably a good day for you. Yes, it was the 50th Birthday of the Chevrolet El Camino.

The 1959 El Camino made its debut 50 years ago yesterday, marking the beginning of an era that would spark half of the redneck jokes ever written and introduce the concept of the truck-car hybrid to the public. Sure, today we have different concepts of hybrids, but perhaps more is owed to the El Camino than any other entry in the early hybrid category. After all, who can beat a truck AND a car? That’s right: nobody.

It’s easy to discard the El Camino as a terribly ugly entry and, in all truth, it is not an attractive vehicle given today’s standards. Often featured in rather obnoxious or less-than-flattering colour schemes and gobbling up plenty of gas, even for its time, the El Camino stood apart from other Chevy cars in that it represented one core group of potential customers more than any other.

And yet, having one of these babies in today’s world could raise your cool factor ever so slightly in that ultimately ironic way. Over the years, Chevrolet has produced plenty of magical moments. As to whether the El Camino was one of them remains to be seen, of course, but for the time being it sure is a lot of fun to remember that the truck-car is 50 years young.

General Motors is preparing to start taking orders for the brand new Chevrolet Camaro. The order-taking process will commence on Thursday, October 16, at dealerships across the country.

This means that dealerships will be able to submit customer orders on the Camaro for the first time, allowing the 2010 Coupe to fill orders across the land.

“Even before pricing in Canada has been finalized, Camaro enthusiasts are anxious to get their orders on the books,” said Marc Comeau, vice president of sales, service and marketing.

General Motors is saying that those who order the vehicle early will be given priority. The individual orders can be placed through any Chevrolet dealer, with information provided regarding vehicle packaging, design, and additional specifications. Consumers will also be able to find information online at the official Camaro website for Chevrolet.

Production on the 2010 Camaro Coupe is set to begin in the middle of February, so consumers will have plenty of time to wait before slipping behind the wheel of this beautiful car. For more information on the Camaro or any other Chevy cars, drop by your local dealer today.

When the 2009 World Touring Car Championship season takes off, Chevrolet will use its brand new 2009 Chevy Cruze to turn heads.

The Cruze was revealed as the company’s car of choice recently, showing onlookers that the car is based on the new model that recently premiered at the Paris Motor Show. Chevrolet has used the Lacetti since moving into the WTCC, but the switch to the Cruze for 2009 ought to be an exciting change of pace.

Sneak peeks of the Cruze had been circulating since before the Paris Motor Show, with various industry analysts getting an early glimpse at the car. It is a global compact car, one which may well become the flagship vehicle for Chevy cars around the world. Its sleek design and driveability add up to perfection behind the wheel.

The car is being built on the Chevrolet Cobalt, Cobalt SS, and the Cobalt XFE with hopes of leading the Cobalt line to higher sales as well.

Many critics are chastising Chevrolet and General Motors for bringing the Cruze around too late, but others are suggesting that the timing is just right. With the current economic crisis swelling over our heads, perhaps the time isn’t ideal for the introduction of a brand new vehicle. With the Cruze, however, heads will turn without much damage to the bank account. It is an exciting new entry for Chevrolet and General Motors.

Today, Chevrolet cars and trucks are much more complex than they were just twenty years ago. Advancement in computers, electronics, silicon chips, and even engines means that today’s vehicles need more care than ever.

The good news is, however, that basic car care doesn’t require an extensive mechanical knowledge. There are some things that anyone can do on a regular basis to keep their car in good working order.

The first thing you need to do to care for your vehicle is to inspect it regularly. You want to check for body or bumper damage, leaking fluids, warning lights, fluid levels, and tightness and good condition of belts. In addition, you need to watch for loose wires or other electrical connections, too.

Keeping your oil changed regularly is important, too. You need to get your oil changed around every 3,000 miles. In between oil changes, check the fill level to make sure that you’re not low.

You’ll also want to replace some other parts of your vehicle on a regular basis. These include the air filter, lamps in your lights, spark plugs and spark plug cables, the engine’s timing belt, and the windshield wipers.

The biggest thing to remember with ongoing vehicle maintenance is to address issues promptly, including engine knocking or other noises, and do your best to try to understand what may be going on before you visit the mechanic.

It wasn’t too long ago that we reported on the closing down of Bill Heard Enterprises. Now lawyers for a former company worker are alleging that Heard broke labour laws when thousands of employees were terminated before the company sought bankruptcy protection on September 28.

According to the lawsuit, Bill Heard Enterprises and about two dozen affiliates were required by the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act to give at least 60 days advance written notice of the employee terminations and continue paying certain wages, salary, and benefits during the notice period in accordance with federal law.

Edward Kratzel has brought the suit against Bill Heard Enterprises. Kratzel worked at a Las Vegas facility until September 24. He filed his lawsuit in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court District in Decatur, Alabama.

Kratzel’s suit seeks WARN Act required wages, salary, commissions, bonuses, holiday pay, vacation pay, pension and 401(k) contributions, and other benefits that would have been paid or covered during the notice period. The lawsuit also seeks attorneys’ fees.

Kratzel’s legal team is attempting to have the suit termed as a class action lawsuit that would include all persons terminated by Bill Heard Enterprises during the company’s march to bankruptcy protection. This includes those terminated at Georgia, Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Nevada, Tennessee, and Texas plants on or about September 24.

Those selling or building Chevy cars are important to, as John McCain would have it, “the fundamentals” of the American economy. Workers need to be treated fairly and if Bill Heard Enterprises is guilty of any wrongdoing, the workers will receive justice.

We recently told you all about the brand new Chevrolet Traverse and the expected impact the vehicle is going to make on the industry. Well, General Motors has begun production on the Traverse at its plant in Spring Hill, Tennessee.

The production of the 2009 Traverse began after General Motors performed a 12 month retooling of the plant and invested $600 million in the project.

Production of the brand new crossover from General Motors is heavily anticipated by Chevrolet execs, who claim that the Traverse will provide the perfect fit for today’s struggling markets.

“The all new Chevy Traverse is the right product for the market today, and we’ve got the right manufacturing team building it here in Spring Hill,” said Troy Clarke, president of GM North America.

General Motors has stated that the Traverse is one of the company’s most important volume market products, noting its fuel-efficiency as one of the top-drawer effects of the car’s potential for success. The car company is hoping that the Traverse’s fuel economy, with the 3.6-litre engine, will help provide a selling feature for the vehicle.

As with most other Chevy cars, promotion is a big factor. While the vehicle is beginning production, GM and Chevrolet have a long way to go in making the car popular among a public starving for a break from the economic turmoil.