Let's Hope This is What the 2014 Corvette Looks Like

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There have been some exciting versions of the current C6 Corvette, including the Z06, ZR1, and for us regular workin’ Joes, the Grand Sport. But anticipation for the next-generation C7 Corvette has been running high, as evidenced by the off-the-charts pageviews we got from some spy shots of a mule testing a few months ago. Well, Trinity Animation, a graphical animation firm based in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, did one better by combining all the publicly-available knowledge, photos and renderings of the upcoming C7 and synthesizing all the information into a two and a half minute video giving us an idea of what it might look like in the flesh.

Among some of the noteworthy details show in the video are rectangular taillights similar to those on the Camaro, center-mounted quad tailpipe tips, LED accent lighting in the headlamps, and aggressive front fender vents. Another cool feature, if it makes it to production, are the LED lights on the outer rear edge of the rear wheel wells. Also, rather than the domed glass hatch on the current C6 Corvette, this rendering of the C7 shows side rear-quarter windows, and a flat glass rear hatch.

How close will Trinity’s animation be to the real deal? We’ll have to wait a few more months until the production C7 Corvette is unveiled. Possibly as early as the 2013 Detroit Auto Show in January.

The all new Chevy Spark is on sale now!

 

Chevrolet is taking the guesswork out of the car-buying process with a new, simpler approach to pricing and packaging for the 2013 Chevy Spark. When the mini car goes on sale later this year, TheChevy Spark will be available in three well-equipped trim levels starting at $12,995 including destination.

The Chevy Spark is a sporty, fuel-efficient, four-passenger, five-door hatch designed to excite first-time car buyers and city dwellers with bold styling, attention-grabbing colors - including Salsa, Jalapeno, Denim, Lemonade and Techno Pink - engaging driving dynamics, the personalized connectivity of MyLink, and the safety of 10 standard air bags.

The Chevy Spark also offers more passenger and cargo room than other mini cars such as the Fiat 500, Smartfortwo and Scion IQ.

"With the Chevy Spark, Chevrolet has the opportunity to connect with a new generation of car buyers who expect more from every product they purchase," said Chris Perry, vice president of ChevroletGlobal Marketing.  "So we wanted to make the process of choosing a Spark as simple as possible by reducing the number of stand-alone options and providing more standard content to each trim level at a competitive price."

What colors does it come in?

 

Chevy Spark LS starting at $12,995 includes:

• Standard 1.2L Ecotec engine and five-speed manual transmission
• Standard convenience features including air conditioning, power windows, rear window wiper, auxiliary input jack, outside temperature display and trip computer
• 15-inch alloy wheels
• 60/40 split flip-and-fold rear seat
• Comprehensive safety package including 10 air bags, electronic stability control with traction control and brake assist
• OnStar Directions & Connections plan standard with six-month introductory subscription

Chevy Spark 1LT starting at $14,495 includes LS standard content and adds:

• Standard 7-inch color touch radio with Chevrolet MyLink, Bluetooth connectivity for select phones, steering wheel audio controls, USB port and Sirius XM Radio with three-month trial subscription
• Other standard convenience features include power door locks with remote keyless entry, theft deterrent system, outside power mirrors, floor mats, visor mirrors, and cruise control

Chevy Spark 2LT starting at $15,795 includes all 1LT standard content and adds:

• Unique 15-inch alloy wheels
• Fog lamps
• Exterior appearance enhancements including silver painted roof rails; chrome lift gate handle, exhaust outlet and beltline molding; body-color lower rocker molding; front and rear body-color sport fascias with unique front upper and lower grille inserts
• On the interior, leatherette seats and heated front seats and leather-wrapped steering wheel

A 4-speed automatic transmission is available on all models for $925.  The only other available options include an engine block heater for $75 and Black Granite paint for $195.

Chevrolet MyLink in the Chevy Spark will include Pandora internet radio and Stitcher Smart Radio apps. Later in the model year, the recently introduced GogoLink - an embedded smartphone application that delivers full-function navigation including live traffic updates - will be available. Pricing for GogoLink will be announced later.

The Chevy Spark is the only car in its segment to provide the added value of a five-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty and the safety and security of OnStar.

The Chevrolet Sonic's List of Features Makes it one of KBB's 10 Best Back-to-School Cars of 2012

Students can get all the basic necessities with the Chevy Sonic's design, space, visibility, easy to drive, good fuel economy and eager but not overwhelming engine they need from a car with the Chevy Sonic at a great price, which is why it was named in Kelly Blue Book's KBB.com 10 Best Back-to-School Cars of 2012 list today.


For a complete list of the 10 Best Back-to-School Cars of 2012, please visit http://www.kbb.com/car-reviews-and-news/top-10/best-back-to-school-cars-2012/.

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.”

Chevy Confidence "It's Back"- Chevy Confidence

Chevy Confidence is back. Chevrolet has had the greatest year in its history and they want to tell everyone that the Confidence is back. With Chevy's Love It or Return It Guarantee and Total Confidence Pricing, the price on the tag is the price you pay. We're going the extra mile to ensure you're satisfied long after you drive your Chevy home. Learn more by calling us at 1-888-390-6497.

                         

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

2 Photos | See more photos in this gallery »

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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.