Chevrolet Wins Three J.D. Power APEAL Study SM Segments

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Chevrolet Wins Three J.D. Power APEAL Study^SM Segments

More than any other brand

DETROIT – Chevrolet has more segment award recipients in the 2012 J.D. Power and Associates Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study ^SM than any other brand, with Chevrolet Volt, Sonic and Avalanche customers praising their purchases after three months of ownership.

The Volt electric car with extended range, the Sonic subcompact, as well as the Avalanche were each named segment award recipients.

“This stamp of approval from our owners is the best kind of recognition we could hope for and drives us to ensure all of the vehicles in the Chevrolet lineup meet the highest expectations,” said Chris Perry, Chevrolet vice president of global marketing.

The Volt ranked highest in its segment for the second year in a row with high marks for fuel economy and range as well as in engine/transmission performance. The Sonic, the only subcompact built in the United States and one of the brand’s newest products, got high marks for exterior styling, storage and space, and seats. And the Avalanche’s unique ability to convert from SUV to pickup truck has attracted a loyal customer group.

The APEAL study is based on responses from more than 74,000 purchasers and lessees of new 2012 model year vehicles surveyed at 90 days of ownership. The study examines how gratifying a new vehicle is to own and drive based on more than 80 vehicle attributes.

Chevrolet’s commitment to quality and the steady introduction of new, fuel-efficient products with the technology and features that more customers want helped the brand achieve all-time record global sales in the second quarter of 1.3 million vehicles.  Chevrolet is in the midst of launching the all-new Spark mini-car and Malibu mid-size sedan and will launch an all-new Impala early next year.

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world's largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design and high quality. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

‘Diamond Rings’ Shine on Chevrolet Sonic, Cruze

Extra-hard, low-friction carbon coating prolongs life of piston rings, aids fuel efficiency

The diamond-hard technology that enables razor blades to shave closer and last longer also allows the piston rings of the Ecotec 1.4L turbo engine, available on the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic and Cruze, to operate with less friction for better fuel efficiency and durability.

This use of diamond-like carbon coating, or DLC, on a General Motors powertrain component marks a first for Chevrolet. Although the advanced synthetic surface treatment is relatively new to automobiles, it can be found on a variety of high-end products, such as computer hard drives, orthopedic implants and semi-conductors. GM also is testing its use on machining tools.

In general, piston rings seal an engine’s combustion chamber, support heat transfer from the pistons to the cylinder wall and regulate engine oil consumption. In the Ecotec 1.4L turbo engine, the slick, synthetically hardened steel rings do these things with minimal wear and tear.

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“Thanks to diamond-like carbon coating, we can use lower tension on the Ecotec’s piston rings to reduce friction, which improves fuel economy,” said Rich Ricchi, GM Powertrain technical specialist. “DLC also reduces oil consumption in high-mileage driving, due to the favorable wear properties associated with the DLC coating.”

With the Ecotec 1.4L turbo engine and six-speed transmission, Sonic delivers an EPA-estimated 29 mpg in city driving and 40 mpg on the highway. When similarly equipped, Cruze delivers up to 26 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway.

Depending on its intended use, diamond-like carbon coating can be chemically engineered to resist wear, control friction or avoid adhesion. In industrial applications, such as those being tested at a GM powertrain facility, a specially formulated DLC coating on metal hole-drilling tools helps avoid aluminum adhesion that can “gum up” machinery and cause production delays.

Having “cracked the code” of diamond-like carbon coating chemistry on Ecotec’s piston rings, GM is looking to use DLC on other powertrain components, such as rocker arms, as early as 2014.

“Through years of lab research, we’ve acquired an understanding of how to work with DLC at the atomic level,” said Michael Lukitsch, GM senior researcher. “It holds great promise for future applications, both in advanced manufacturing processes and improved production parts that save our customers money.”

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2013 Chevrolet Spark Drops CD Player, Signals End of Era

The 2013 Chevrolet Spark is the first postmodern Chevy without a factory-installed CD player.

The move signals Chevrolet's desire to attract a younger buyer such as those Generation Y consumers who grew up using the Internet.

The Spark's 1LT and 2LT versions sport the MyLink infotainment system, which has a 7-inch color touchscreen, which allows the driver to use the apps and music on a mobile device.

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  2013 Chevrolet Spark Picture

  This is the first Chevrolet in years that will not offer a standard CD player. | July 06, 2012 | General Motors Corporation

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Just the Facts:

• The 2013 Chevrolet Spark is the first postmodern Chevy without a factory-installed CD player.
• The move signals Chevrolet's desire to attract a younger buyer such as those Generation Y consumers who grew up using the Internet.
• The Spark's 1LT and 2LT versions sport the MyLink infotainment system, which has a 7-inch color touchscreen, which allows the driver to use the apps and music on a mobile device.

DETROIT — What isn't included in the dashboard of the 2013 Chevrolet Spark is as interesting as what is.

The Spark mini car is the first postmodern Chevy without a factory-installed CD player, ending a 20-year tradition since the automaker widely introduced the music players in its vehicles in the 1990s.

The move signals Chevrolet's desire to attract a younger buyer, the "digital natives" — those Generation Y consumers who grew up using the Internet and have no experience using a record player or cassette tapes.

"It isn't so much about eliminating the CD player as it is offering to consumers the type of connectivity and technology they are interested in," said Chevrolet spokeswoman Afaf Farah, in a telephone interview with Inside Line.

"Millennials are attached to their mobile devices and they do everything on them, so this was a way to offer the connectivity in their vehicles they are looking for because they will be able to use their apps and the music they've stored," she added.

Rather than include both, Chevy omitted the CD player to contain costs, even on the basic LS Model, with a starting price of $12,995, Farah said.

The Spark's 1LT and 2LT versions sport the MyLink infotainment system, with its 7-inch color touchscreen, a three-month trial of SiriusXM Satellite Radio, Bluetooth streaming audio for music and select phones, and the ability to play music through Pandora Internet music service.

The 2013 Chevrolet Spark hatchback is expected at dealerships in August.

Inside Line says: It was only a matter of time before that big CD slot gave way to the smaller, less intrusive USB port. Expect to see more of this in the next few years as the CD player goes the way of the cassette deck.