Chevrolet

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com November 12, 2013 The Chevrolet SS when it becomes available later this year will be available with one engine (6.2L V8 with 415 horsepower), six-speed automatic, five colors, two options, and that's about it. A lot of us should be happy that GM decided to give the Holden Commodore in the U.S. idea another shot. But a good amount of people are wondering why GM isn't doing more with SS. Automotive.com got to the bottom of this and chatted with Chevrolet Performance Cars Marketing Manager John Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick explained that the reason for the simple SS offering comes down to volume. When Pontiac was selling the G8…

By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com May 5, 2013 General Motors and Holden are instating a new plan for the new Chevrolet to help to protect Holden’s South Australian workforce and making sure the critical export program has a “bullet proof” long-term future. The plan outlined by GM's North American President Mark Reuss to Drive.com.au has Holden's factory in Adelaide building an SS once an order is placed and then shipped off to the U.S. This process means a ninety-day wait for the vehicle to arrive, but it also means there will not be a fire sale due to the abundance of vehicles sitting on dealer lots (see Pontiac GTO and G8). “It’s all about building…

Previous Page Next Page We weren't expecting this, but Chevrolet has revealed the all-new 2018 Equinox tonight in Chicago. The exterior borrows heavily from the Cruze and Malibu designs. Up front is a revised grille (similar to the one seen on the Cruze) with new headlights and LED daytime running lights. Around the side is a character line that swoops down and 'Equinox' name on the front doors. The back features a restyled tailgate, blacked-out pillars to give the impression of wrap-around glass, and horizontal taillights. The interior matches up with newer Chevrolet models with a floating screen (either seven or eight-inches) and eithe…

The big news about the Ford F-150 is how it's constructed from aluminum which allows for improved fuel economy and massive weight loss. Chevrolet is going to be taking aim at this with a new social media campaign and ad. Automotive News reports that the ad features a focus group asked the question if a grizzly bear lumbers into the room, which cage would you take? The aluminum or steel one? Most of the group goes for the steel one. "Our trucks are built with high-strength steel. We think that's a tactical advantage and an important differentiator. We have a pretty healthy sense of humor about it," said Sandor Piszar, the marketing director for the Silverado. This ad br…

General Motors is planing a range of updates for their full-size trucks starting in the 2021 model year, beginning with updated interiors. Also coming is a Silverado ZRX aimed to take on the likes of the Ford F-150 Raptor and the Ram 1500 Rebel. The ZRX would come with an improved off-road suspension, special DSSV Dampers like on the Colorado ZR2, rear and front locking differentials, and improved approach and departure angles. If Chevy uses the same recipe they did on the ZR2, the ZRX will likely also get unique front and rear fascias. One thing that isn't changing though is the powertrain. It's rumored that the ZRX will continue to use the same 6.2 liter V8 with…

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com November 1, 2013 By all accounts, the 2014 Chevrolet Impala is a much improved model over the previous model. In fact, the Impala currently is the highest rated sedan by Consumer Reports. But not everyone wants the new Impala. By 'everyone', I happen to be talking about fleets. Back in March, Chevrolet announced that the last-generation Impala would be sold to fleets only in 2014. After that, the new Impala would take its place. Now, Chevrolet will continue building and selling the old Impala, known as the Impala Limited, till 2016. "The Impala Limited has done extremely well. Our fleet customers know the car and like i…

The age of the connected car is here as General Motors announced that 14 vehicles from Chevrolet's 2016 lineup will offer Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility through the MyLink infotainment system. This means GM is one of the first automakers to offer both systems, giving owners a relief when it comes to choosing one over the other. “For most of us, our smartphones are essential. Partnering with Apple and Google to offer CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility across the widest range of models in the industry is a great example of how Chevrolet continues to democratize technology that’s important to our customers,” said Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors. T…

Drew Dowdell - March 28th, 2012 - CheersandGears.com Not wanting to be outdone by Ford's announcement today of the Ecoboost V6 powered 2013 Ford Explorer Sport, Chevrolet release a full photo spread and press release of the refreshed 2013 Chevrolet Traverse crossover. The new Traverse sports a new face that steps away from Chevy's traditional horizontal split grill design. Along with gaining the industry wide standard traditional trapezoid grill with 3 horizontal bars and chrome ring, the traverse gains new front fender sculpting and new tail light treatments. The refreshed interior gets a new dash and a 6.5-inch color touch screen radio and available MyLink system. …

By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com February 11, 2013 Chevrolet has cut the price of the 2013 Malibu as part of an effort to entice consumers to look at it and not competitors such as the Toyota Camry. The base price of the base Malibu LS saw its price drop $345 to $22,805 (including shipping), which undercuts the base Camry’s price by $235. The Malibu 2LT and Eco trims dropped $300, while up to $770 was cut from the LT. "We did it in order to try to generate more potential traffic on the car both on the websites as well as dealers but I can't tell you that January itself was a big change just because of that. It recognizes the competitiveness of the s…

Let it be said the team charged with the Chevrolet Camaro isn't one to take a rest. Despite launching a new generation of the model last year, they have been hard at work on new and updated variants. Case in point is the 2017 Camaro ZL1. Like the last-generation model, the 2017 ZL1 packs a Supercharged 6.2L V8. But engineers have boosted power from 580 horsepower and 556 pound-feet of torque to 640 horsepower and 640 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual transmission with rev-matching comes standard and a new ten-speed automatic - developed with Ford - that offers close gear ratios and fast shifts. The powertrain also boasts eleven heat exchangers, an auxiliary tra…

Chevrolet unveiled the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado today at an event in Ft. Worth, Texas. The new Silverado features new, more aerodynamic styling, and will offer a broader range of powertrain options. While details have not yet been released, expect the 10-Speed automatic co-developed with Ford to be available. GM will increase its use of mixed materials combining steel and aluminum "in the right place" according to GM. This is a subtle dig at crosstown rival Ford's all-aluminum body F-150. Chevrolet and GMC are also expected to begin offering a carbon-fiber bed option, for additional strength and "added lightness". One of the eight new Silverado models will be…

In light of fresh competition in the form of the refreshed Toyota Tacoma and new Honda Ridgeline, Chevrolet has announced some updates for the 2017 Colorado. First is a new 3.6L V6 producing 308 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque (up 3 horsepower and 6 pound-feet). Changes to the engine include a revised direct injection system, updated variable valve timing, and cylinder deactivation. We can't help but wonder if this is the same engine that resides in a number of Cadillac models. A new eight-speed automatic transmission is hooked up to the V6. The transmission features a higher first gear (helps with towing or hauling a heavy load) and lower rear axle ratios wil…

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an investigation into the safety of lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles after a Chevrolet Volt caught on fire after a crash test three weeks earlier. The agency has asked all manufacturers who currently have electric vehicles on the road or plan to introduce one to provide information on the protocols they have established for discharging and handling their lithium-ion batteries, including how to lower risk of a fire. This is to NHTSA said it had investigated an incident involving a fire in a Chevy Volt after a crash test on May 12. The test involved a Chevrolet Volt crashing into a pole which caused t…

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com June 11, 2013 At the moment, Chevrolet is currently sitting on a 140-day supply of Volts, more than double the amount supply analysts say is healthy. How is General Motors going to cut down the supply? By piling on incentives! Chevrolet spokeswoman Michelle Malcho tells The Detroit News the company will be offering $4,000 off on 2013 Volts and $5,000 off on 2012 models. Alternatively, you can do a 36-month lease on a Volt for $269 with $2,399 down at signing or can be purchased with zero percent financing for 48 months and receive $3,000 off. Total Volt sales for the year stand 7,157 units, an increase of 1.4 percent. H…

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com August 29, 2012 For a second time this year, General Motors is putting the brakes on Volt production. According to Automotive News, the company plans to shut down the Detroit-Hamtramck from September 17 until October 15. Why? Well there are two reasons as to this. A GM spokesman tells Motor Trend, "the plant will be idled to match inventory with production, as well as retooling to get ready for 2014 Impala production." The 'match inventory with production' most likely is in reference to the Chevrolet Volt. Through July, 10,666 Volts have been sold, which more than triple the 2,870 Volts sold last year. However, the 10,…

Drew Dowdell Managing Editor - CheersandGears.com General Motors announced today that starting in 2016, Chevrolet will no longer compete as a mainstream brand in Europe, instead focusing only on what GM calls "Iconic vehicles". GM's mainstream role will be carried by the Opel and Vauxhall brands. Most of Chevrolet's mainstream vehicles sold in Europe are produced in South Korea. GM expects Chevrolet to maintain its mainstream position in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States. The remaining Chevrolet vehicles in Chevy's EU portfolio will be models such as the Corvette and Camaro. Cadillac is continuing its 3 year plan for an expanded presence in Europe. G…

Last month, Chevrolet announced the 2019 Blazer would begin at $29,995, undercutting the likes of Ford Edge and Nissan Murano. But Cars Direct has gone through the order guide and did some analysis. What they found out is that Blazer isn't as a good deal as Chevrolet is promoting to be. Let's start with the base the Blazer L which begins at $29,995. CarsDirect believes this model "is likely intended mainly for advertising purposes." This is something we saw before when Buick launched the Regal TourX. The L model is also excluded from factory discounts. Most buyers will likely be pushed towards the 1LT which begins at $33,495 - $1,700 more expensive than the Murano S …

Chevrolet announced today that July 18th will the day they drop the curtain on the 2020 Chevrolet Blazer EV.  This will be an all-new, all-electric midsize crossover built on GM's Ultium platform.   Ultium is a joint venture between General Motors and LG Energy Solutions to provide flexible battery and powertrain solutions for any size of vehicle.  Ultium was initially released in the GMC Hummer pickup. The Blazer EV is set to go on sale in Spring of 2023. That same year, Chevy will also launch the Silverado EV and Equinox EV while Cadillac is launching the Celestiq ultra-luxury sedan. In addition to the Blazer EV trims, Chevy is …

Back in 2014, Chevrolet introduced a small delivery van called the City Express. The new little can was the result of a marketing agreement between Nissan and General Motors for Chevy to rebadge Nissan's successful NV200 small delivery wagon. But where Nissan did well, Chevrolet faltered and the City Express languished on lots. Typical sales months for the CE were in the triple digits while by comparison, Ford moved as many as five times that amount with its direct competitor the Transit Connect. Automotive News reports that back in September, dealers were told to stop ordering them and as of February this year the last City Express rolled off the line and has alr…

When Chevrolet initially took the wraps off the Silverado EV last year, GM had estimated up to a 400 mile range based on its own calculations. As the Silverado EV has made its way through development, it went for EPA certification and came back with 50 miles more than GM's estimate. With this new EPA certification, the Silverado EV has an over 100-mile advantage over its only on-sale competitor the F-150 Lightning Extended Range (320 miles). The Silverado EV will launch first in WT trim with this 450-mile range in the next few weeks. Soon after, a less expensive WT model will launch with a 350-mile range. All Silverado EVs will be available with DC Fast Charging up to …

Chevrolet has announced that for 2020, the Chevrolet Bolt will have a longer range between charges. The new maximum range on a full charge is now 259, a 21 mile increase over previous year cars. Chevy achieved this by making a small change in the battery cell chemistry. This allowed the team to increase range without changing the structure of the battery pack. The change increases the battery pack's capacity from 60 kWh to 66 kWh. The drivetrain itself has not changed and remains a 200 horsepower / 266 lb-ft unit. Chevy is also offering two additional colors for 2020, Cayenne Orange Metallic (additional cost option) and Oasis Blue. View full arti…

Chevrolet has canceled the Malibu Hybrid for the 2020 model year. What? You forgot they even offered one? It's not surprising. It's tough out there for slow selling sedans these days and the Malibu Hybrid was probably one of the slowest selling of the General's current lineup. The move leaves GM with no full hybrid vehicles at all in the lineup. This comes after the cancellation of the plug-in Chevy Volt earlier this year. The only electrified vehicle, for now, is the diminutive Chevy Bolt. GM is rumored to be working hard on an electric or electrified truck, and has plans to electrify most of the Cadillac lineup, even going so far as to promise the UAW that the L…

The Chevrolet Malibu will follow the likes to the Ford Fusion and Chrysler 200 by following them into that great nameplate junkyard in the sky after 2024 according to a report by Automotive News. There is a possibility of an electric successor to the Malibu, but nothing is certain at this point. An electric replacement would fit with GM's timeline to build 20 new EVs by 2023. Before the ax falls in 2024, the Malibu could get one last face lift for the 2022 model year to help it through the final stages before retirement. The Malibu is built in the Fairfax KS plant where the Cadillac XT4 is built. This follows on reports that the Chevrolet Camaro will also …

Decemeber 21st, 2011 black-knight CheersandGears.com There's reason to believe that the folks over at Chevrolet may have a huge New Year's party soon. The storied marquee turned 100-years old this year and, proving that age will not slow it down, is within reach of surpassing it's all time global sales record. At the end of November, 4.8 million cars worldwide were sold wearing the Bowtie badge and December doesn't show any signs of that pace slowing down. It's very impressive, no doubt, but the gravy train doesn't stop there. All of those sales equaled up to Chevrolet increasing it's global market share by one half of a point and sixty percent of all Chevy models are…

Ahead of the 2019 SEMA show in Las Vegas, Chevrolet gave us a preview of the 2021 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2. After the refresh, the Colorado will show greater differentiation from trim to trim. All Colorados will feature embossed Chevrolet tailgates instead of the rear bowtie badge. The bowtie up front will be revised. The WT, LT, and Z71 will get updated center bars, lower fascias, and front skid plates for 2021. The WT and LT get gold bowties while the Z71 gets a black one. The ZR2 off-road variant gets a new look (shown above), and will be the only Colorado to get a lettered front fasica. The ZR2 continues to get Multimatic DSSV Position senstitive da…

Chevrolet has revealed its new Cruze station wagon today, ahead of its scheduled reveal at the Geneva Auto Show next month. Set to go on sale this summer, the new wagon (or estate, if you'd prefer) adds a third bodystyle to the Cruze lineup to go alongside the sedan and hatchback in European showrooms. Chevy's new small wagon is 184 inches (4,675 mm) long, making it longer than either the sedan or hatch. Inside, the wagon offers 17.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the seats up and a nice 52 cubic feet with the seats folded down. Outside, new taillights flank the wagon's rear and the Cruze's new schnoz will make its official debut on this newest variant. Buyers get a choi…

In some ways, old-school General Motors is still around. This time it is over the tone-deafness of placing a Mexican built product on display at Comerica Park in Detroit just months after announcing the shutdown of GM two plants in Michigan. GM said in a statement that it picked the Blazer, along with the Silverado, for display because the vehicle is brand new and the Blazer is an iconic American nameplate. However, people are upset with GM for the pick of a Mexican built vehicle when two plants in Michigan, Warren and Detroit-Hamtramck will be closing and thousands of jobs will be lost. Now, just days after being installed over centerfield at the park, GM i…

First added to the gas Silverado in 2019, the Trail Boss trim is one of Silverado's most popular trims. Adding Trail Boss to the Silverado EV is just a natural evolution for the model. Trail Boss Off-Road Upgrades Silverado EV Trail Boss comes with a factory 2-inch lift with coil spring and hydraulic shocks giving the truck a 24% higher ground clearance than the standard EV. Exclusive to the Trail Boss is a new Terrain mode that unlocks sharper 4-wheel steering allowing for extra maneuverability at low speeds. Sidewinder mode from the RST model allows all four wheels to turn the same direction to move the truck diagonally at low speeds. Special looks include…

If you're currently a Ford Mustang owner or lessee, until the end of October there is $3,000 waiting for you on the hood of any 2019 Chevrolet Camaro. Chevy's Camaro has consistently ranked third in sales behind the Dodge Challenger and Ford Mustang ever since the 6th generation model debuted for 2016. Sales fell further in 2019 after a disastrous redesign of the front fascia on SS trim models, down 7.6% year to date. This despite the greater availability of 4-cylinder models and packages that put the V8 in easier reach. While the Camaro is down 7.6 percent, the Mustang has also fallen 10.1 percent and Challenger is down 11 percent year to date. The Ford and the …

Chevrolet has released pricing of the new Trailblazer crossover that is coming to the U.S. market in early 2020. The base L model is the one that will start below $20k at $19,995. It comes with a 1.2-liter turbocharged 3-cylinder, front wheel drive, and a continuously variable transmission. Inside it carries a 7.0 inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. Standard on the L are 16 inch steel wheels with wheel covers. All-wheel drive is not available on the L. Moving up to the LS model which starts at $22,495 allows you to option into all-wheel drive for an additional $2,000. Opting for all-wheel drive also means you get a 0.1-liter engi…

Chevrolet's littlest crossover, the Chevy Trax will launch in January 2015 with a base price of $20,995. Front-wheel-drive is standard and all-wheel-drive will be a $1,500 stand alone option on all trim levels. The Trax shares its platform with the already on sale Buick Encore and will likely share that vehicle's 5-star front and side crash test ratings. The only engine offered is the familiar 1.4 litre turbo unit producing 138 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque and EPA rated for 26 mpg city and 34mpg highway in front wheel drive models. EPA estimated fuel economy for the AWD model was not officially announced, but we expect it to be about the same or slightly better as the Bui…

Chevrolet has updated the Camaro for 2020 with some new styling updates and packaging changes. Most notable is the updated front fascia which received much criticism. The new front end appearance comes for the SS model based on the Camaro Shock show vehicle that debuted at the SEMA show last fall. The Bowtie emblem is now higher on the grille, and the bar between the upper and lower grilles is now body color. Also new is a new LT1 model that takes the Camaro LT trim and adds the 455 horsepower LT1 engine. This makes the LT1 trim the most affordable V8 Camaro with a starting price of $34,995 including destination charges. The LT1 will be offered in both hardto…

What matters is on the inside, right?  Luckily, the Corvette already sports a sexy exterior, but for 2026, Chevrolet updated the interior to address some of the common complaints in the latest iteration of their legendary sports car. The biggest news is that the wall of buttons between the driver and passenger has been moved to a more conventional location under the screen, though not all buttons make the jump.  Some functions such as heated/cooled seats are now controlled from the central touch screen. And screens they are aplenty! The updated infotainment screen increases in size to 12.7-inches diagonal, a larger 14-inch diagonal driver information cl…

December 1, 2011 - Drew Dowdell Of Volt owners surveyed by Consumer Reports, 93% of them replied that they would "definitely" buy another Chevy Volt. However, considering less than 6,300 Chevrolet Volts have been sold so far, that number could change. Another issue with the number is that the survey was complete prior to the NHTSA announced an investigation into potential Volt battery fires that can possibly occur in the weeks following a severe crash. Chevy announced a remarkable goodwill program to Volt owners offering them the option of a free loaner car, even a Corvette, while the NHTSA completed its investigation. Chevrolet had originally announced a goal of 10,0…

G. Noble Editor/Reporter CheersandGears.com April 7th, 2012 Without a doubt, the 2014 Chevrolet Impala probably turned out be one of the more pleasant surprises of the recent New York Auto Show. In a mighty effort to shed itself of the current model’s dowdy image as a car that you wouldn’t want to drive even if you rented it, the new car is certainly lightyears ahead of the outgoing model inside and out. It’s also millions of millennia ahead of the outgoing car with its option list too, which almost seems Xeroxed from some snooty banker’s big Mercedes. There is one option that, unlike its competitors from Ford and Chrysler as well as a banker’s Mercedes, won’t be app…

One thing that many Chevrolet Suburban customers have missed since 2013 is the availability of a 3/4 ton model. The last Suburban 2500 went out of production as the Suburban changed over to the 2014 model. We have uncovered a GM document showing that Chevrolet is planning on adding an HD trim to the Suburban for 2016. This new trim (available on 4x4, LS and LT models only) may not be a full 3/4 ton model however. From 2001 - 2006 Chevrolet offered an uprated Silverado 1500 HD that was powered by a 6.0 liter V8. That gave the Silverado 1500 HD a tow rating just 500lbs shy of a similarly engined Silverado 2500HD. Thus, our guess is that this new Suburban HD will be an up…

When the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette debuted a week and a half ago, there was some speculation that buyers might not go for it because of its mid-engine design or its outworldly styling. Well the nay-sayers might just have to start cooking up their crow. According to Michael Simcoe, GM's Design Chief, the orders have nearly hit the first year of production numbers. "It's nearly sold out. It's so close that it's bound to be sold out soon." Simcoe said. Now the caveat is that Simcoe has not revealed what the planned production numbers will be, so we have no idea if it will sell at a higher or lower rate than the C7 Corvette. The 2020 Corvette Stingray comes with…

The current Chevrolet Corvette Stingray's design cues will used on upcoming Chevrolet models. Automotive News had the chance to speak with GM's vice president of global design, Ed Welburn who said designers are hard at work trying to infuse the Corvette Stingray's DNA into newer Chevrolet models. "As Malibu and Cruze and Volt come to market, you'll be able to see a subtle link between some of the form vocabulary for all of them and Corvette," said Welburn. "I always look at the hood of the Corvette and the sectioning, the way it's taut, very lean, very sporty. That will be a part of really everything we do for Chevrolet." The hope with adding some of the Corvette's desi…

By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com January 23, 2013 Chevrolet appears to be taking some notes from SRT's playbook on how to sell the Corvette Stingray. According to Automotive News, General Motors told Chevrolet dealers that if they had sold four or more Corvettes in 2012, they would be able to sell the Stingray. This move will effect hundreds of Chevrolet dealers. "I don't anticipate getting the new Corvette this year, and many smaller dealers like me won't get it either," says Byron Hansen, a Chevrolet dealer in Brigham City, Utah. Dealers who did not hit the sales mark last year are very disappointed, since they used the Corvette as a way to bring …

We're just over 2 weeks away from the 2015 New York Auto Show where Chevrolet will take the wraps off the next iterations of the Chevrolet Malibu and Chevrolet Spark. We also know from Chevy's teaser picture of 5 in 2015 shown below that the Chevrolet Cruze will not be far behind. What we've uncovered however is that Chevrolet appears to be planning to go on building the current design of Cruze and Malibu right along side their newer-bodied versions. According to the General Motors Vin Decoder website, the current Cruze and Malibu will soldier on for at least another model year. For 2016, both the current Cruze and Malibu will gain the Limited moniker, just like big b…

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com September 7, 2013 Those hoping to see a Chevrolet SS at their dealer might be waiting for awhile. Edmunds is reporting that the first batch of SS sedans that will be arriving later this year is small. John Fitzpatrick, Chevrolet's marketing manager for the Camaro, Corvette, and SS says that about 900 SS sedans will be available to dealers. That brings forward a problem; there are about 3,000 Chevrolet dealers in the U.S. and with only 900 SSs available, this presents a big problem. How will General Motors dole out SS sedans? By looking at the sales of the Camaro and Corvette at each dealer. "If you have a niche selling …

By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com February 2, 2013 Read any review of the Chevrolet Malibu Eco and most, if not all will say the mild hybrid system used doesn’t provide enough improvement in the fuel economy to justify the price. Chevrolet dealers are saying the same thing with consumers skipping over the Eco model. "For most people, it's hard to justify the extra money based on the extra fuel economy of a combined 3 mpg more than the base model. You've got the base LS model sitting next to it that's just as nice and luxurious," said Jeff Tuckman, inventory manager at Castle Chevrolet in suburban Chicago. Another Chevrolet dealer in New Jersey puts i…

This evening at a event in Detroit, Chevrolet unveiled the second-generation Cruze. The new Cruze looks like a shrunken-down version of the Malibu with similar profiles. There is a reason to this as Cruze was styled only a few feet away from the new Malibu. The Cruze features such details as a lower front end, mesh grilles, and distinctive character lines. Size-wise, the Cruze is slightly larger than current model with overall length up 2.7 inches (183.7 inches vs. 181 inches) and the wheelbase is up 0.6 inches (106.3 inches vs. 105.7 inches). The interior has been updated with more soft-touch materials, and the latest version of Chevrolet's MyLink which offers co…

Two years from Chevrolet's introduction of the latest-generation Silverado, the company has unveiled the facelifted 2016 model. The big change is up front where Chevrolet designers transformed the clip. A new body-color strip across the middle of the grille is paired with new headlights. Higher trim models such as the Z71 get dual strands of LEDs. There is also new bumper and hood. At this time, we don't know what lower-tier models look like or even the rest of the truck. There is some good news as Chevrolet says the 8-speed automatic transmission will be expanded, but no mention as to what engines. The 5.3L V8 is a likely model. Also coming is a new version of Ch…

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com April 25, 2012 A few days after we caught wind of GM trademarking the SS nameplate, a blogger uncovered an interesting entry in a OnStar document. Christopher Price found on OnStar's vehicle compatibility guide that the 2014 Chevrolet lineup includes an "SS Performance" entry. Could this be the mysterious RWD Chevrolet sedan that we've been hearing about for the past few months? Source: christopherprice.net, Motoramic View full article

If there's one car that's been crucial to GM's recent sales success, it's the Chevrolet Cruze. Since it's global introduction in 2008, the compact Chevy has had healthy sales worldwide and has also handily outsold its competitors at times here in the U.S. market. GM is obviously intent on keeping the momentum going and knows that the only way it'll keep making sales progress is to update the Cruze for the immediate future. So, it comes as no suprise a spy photo of the Cruze's upcoming refresh has already surfaced over on Czech auto website AutoForum. The spy shot reveals that the shape of the grille opening will be modified slightly and the inserts will change from the c…

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com December 28, 2012 Back in 2010, Chevrolet introduced a new ad campaign with the tagline of 'Chevy Runs Deep'. The campaign was designed to emphasize the emotional connect between a person and a vehicle. However the campaign was met with mixed reactions. "I'm not sure that was appropriate for the mainstream market that they're in. They need to create a message that conveys some type of differential advantage, some benefit to the mainstream buyer that the Asians cannot offer," said Polk Automotive analyst Thomas Libby. General Motors and its advertising agency, Commonwealth are weighing whether to keep the campaign or go …

February 13, 2012 - Drew Dowdell - CheersandGears.com Earlier in January of this year, General Motors' North American President Mark Reuss tipped his hand a bit with regards to the upcoming Chevrolet Coloroado suggesting that it would be a "lifestyle sport truck" in the vein of the Honda Ridgeline but with all of the capability a buyer would expect of a Chevrolet truck. Though the Colorado won't be released in the US until around the 2013 time frame, it has already begun being marketed in Thailand where it is available with a drool worthy 2.8 liter V6 Duramax. Over the weekend, one of our readers, Ocnblu, sent us a tip about a few Chevy Colorado promotional videos that…

By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com May 28, 2013 General Motors looks to be copying Ford's playbook with pickups. The company is considering adding niche models to the Chevrolet Silverado lineup. "Ford does a lot with co-branding. I can't comment on anything going forward, but I will say our leadership is very aware of not only the (Ford) Harley-Davidson pickup, but also the Raptor. There are a lot of halo vehicles at Ford. They do sell well and they do set a tone for the vehicle. We definitely are looking into that," said Chris Hilts, manager of creative design for GM's full-size pickup truck interiors. General Motors has introduced the first niche mo…

PickupTrucks.com is reporting that General Motors will be quietly dropping the light-duty full-size vans in the 2015 model year. That means the only vans you can buy at a Chevrolet or GMC dealer will be the 2500, 3500 and 4500 versions. GM sales spokesman Jim Cain said the 1500 models only made up 23 percent of the Chevrolet Express and 7 percent of the GMC Savana. "We recognize that the van space has changed radically. The 1500-series van was the last vehicle [of its type] that has been produced in North America that was under 8,500 pounds, and it had some very unique attributes to it," said Joe Langhauser, product manager for GM's full-size vans. GM isn't worried abou…

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com October 11, 2013 This week saw General Motors quietly announcing that Malibu Eco will not be returning for 2014. The reason given is that the 2014 Malibu 2.5 achieves the same fuel economy numbers as the Eco model (25 MPG City/36 MPG Highway) thanks to stop/start technology. The Chevrolet Malibu Eco was never a big seller in the Malibu. According to The Detroit News, the Eco model only made up of 10 percent of total sales last year. Add in the fact that many reviews criticized the Malibu Eco's real-world fuel economy didn't match up to the EPA ratings, and easy to see why the Eco was given the boot. Chevrolet spokesman …

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com March 23, 2012 Yesterday, General Motors announced they will replace the 120-volt power cords on the majority of Chevrolet Volt models the company has sold since 2010. This comes four months after a report from Yahoo Autos said Volt owners were complaining about their power cords overheating and in a few cases melting. At the time GM said the cords were safe and said the issue was the wiring of the charging outlet. GM spokesman Randal Fox says the replacement, which GM doesn't consider a recall or a safety issue, was meant to as meant to "offer a more consistent charging experience." Owners will be notified of the swa…

General Motors made a big deal about a new 2.7L turbo-four that would be available on the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500. This engine promises more power, better towing, and improved fuel economy when compared to the 4.3L V6 engine. But when the official fuel economy figures came out, the engine became somewhat less impressive. The EPA rates the 2.7L turbo-four at 20 City/23 Highway/21 Combined for the 2WD variant and 19/22/20 for the 4WD variant. That isn't a huge improvement on the V6s found in the Ford F-150 and Ram 1500. F-150 with 3.3L V6: 19/25/22 (2WD), 18/23/20 (4WD) F-150 with 2.7L EcoBoost V6: 20/26/22 (2WD), 19/24/21 (4WD) …

By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com April 1, 2013 Just to get this out of the way, this is not an April Fools story. Today, General Motors announced certain details on their new pickups. The details concern figures on the 5.3L V8 and the base prices for the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra. We'll start with the new EcoTec 5.3L V8 engine. The engine which will be a $895 option of the Silverado and Sierra produces 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque – increases of 40 horsepower and 48 pound-feet compared to the 5.3L V8 used in the 2013 model. This allows the Sierra and Silverado to have a max payload of 2,102 pounds and a max tow rating o…

GM has been teasing us for years about the possibility of a mid-engine Corvette. The confirmation of its existence came to light on Thursday when Corvette Chief Engineer and GM CEO Mary Barra took a spin in the camoflaged prototype through Times Square in NYC. The stunt was part of a promotion where GM will auction off the final C7 Corvette to benefit the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, a group that benefits fallen military members, first responders, and their families. All of the winning bid will go towards the foundation which builds mortgage-free, accessible homes for military members and first responders. GMC has raised more then $10 million for t…

Every Chevrolet Bolt that will be rolling off the assembly line will lose General Motors close to $9,000 once they are sold. This seems like madness, but according to a report from Bloomberg, there is some method to it. Thanks to new regulations done by California Air Resources Board, automakers have to sell a certain amount of zero-emission vehicles if they want to sell other vehicles - primarily crossovers, SUVs, and trucks - in the state. These new regulations say by 2025, zero-emission vehicles need to make up 15.4 percent of the market. Since then, nine other states including New York have adopted these regulations. All told, these ten states make up 30 percent…

Last month, speculation was going around after an trademark application was filed by GM for 'Badlands' to be used on a future model. The speculation was this was going to be used on the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra as competitors to the Ford Raptor. But according to Edmunds, GM has no plans for a direct Raptor competitor. "We have a lot of priorities. Capital is not endless. That is not one of our highest priorities in terms of spending capital right now," said Mark Reuss, GM's executive vice president of global product development. However, Reuss isn't fully against a performance off-road monster. He points toward the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 concept shown at LA Au…

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com January 27, 2012 The Chevrolet Volt has been getting a lot of negative press over the past few months dealing with the fire that happened a month after a NHTSA crash test and ensuing investigation. Because of this, General Motors has launched a new ad campaign talking about how the safe the Volt is. The campaign will include full-page ads in nineteen different U.S. newspapers including The New York Times, touting the safety of the Volt. Also, GM has a new television ad that calls the Volt "the car America had to build." The launch of the ad campaign coincides with Wednesday's Volt Hearing in D.C. Source: Bloomberg …

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com December 30, 2011 Today, General Motors issued a recall for 4,873 Chevrolet Sonics due to missing front brake pads. The Sonics in question were built between June 2 and November 21 at GM's Orion Township plant. GM says that out of the 4,873 Sonics, only 20 to 30 have no brake pads. Having no brake pads on your car doesn't mean you can't stop, it means the braking performance will suffer and could cause damage to other parts of the braking system. GM says they will notify all potentially affected Sonic owners and install any missing pads and, if necessary, replace any calipers or rotors free of charge. Source: NHTSA …

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com March 2, 2012 General Motors is putting their Detroit-Hamtramck assembly on a five-week shutdown due to the overabundance of Volts sitting on dealer lots. The shutdown will effect 1,300 workers. Currently, GM is on 6,319 Volts; 3,596 of those are sitting on dealer lots. That might not sound like a lot. But when you factor in the 1,023 Volts sold in February, then its a lot. GM usually tries to keep about two month's worth of inventory on dealer lots. The 6,319 Volts amounts to almost five months. The move comes after the plant came back online from an extended holiday break on February 6th. Source: Ward's Auto …

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com October 23, 2012 General Motors has announced that it will be doing a software upgrade on 4,000 2013 Chevrolet Volts due to glitch which could cause the electric motor to shut down. Kevin Kelly, manager of Electric Vehicle and Hybrid Communications told GM-Volt.com that problem lies in the software when a Volt is in the delayed time and rate charge mode. "We are notifying 2013 model year Chevy Volt owners about a customer satisfaction issue. We have received a few reports from owners that their electric motor has temporarily stopped working, resulting from a software anomaly when their vehicle is in the delayed time an…

Besides the Chicago Auto Show this week, there was another auto show that was taking place. The Delhi Auto Expo was taking place in India this week and General Motors showed off a concept that could be a possible entrant in the subcompact crossover marketplace. This is the Chevrolet Adra concept SUV and its the first vehicle to come out of GM's new technical center in Bangalore, India. The concept looks to be GM's interpretation of the Kia Soul with a similar tall wagon shape. The front features a large grille and headlights that extend into the fenders. The Adra's interior is very modern with unique materials on the dash and seats, flat-bottom steering wheel, and a MyLi…

Another piece of the puzzle has been announced for the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon. General Motors announced this afternoon pricing for their two new midsize trucks. The Colorado will come in at $20,995 (includes a $895 destination charge) and the Canyon will start at $21,880 (includes a $925 destination charge). Standard equipment on both models include a 2.5L DI four-cylinder engine with 200 horsepower and six-speed manual. The Colorado gets power windows with express up for the driver, a backup camera, and a locking tailgate. Canyon's standard equipment includes four-way power driver’s seat, CornerStep rear bumper, and sixteen-inch aluminum wheels. There w…

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com January 17, 2012 Mark Reuss, GM’s North America President recently dealt some dirt on the next generation Chevrolet Colorado, due out in the U.S. sometime in either 2012 or 2013. Reuss revealed the Colorado’s main target is the Toyota Tacoma. “Tacoma is the volume leader. We know that there’s a buyer for a really good Chevrolet lifestyle sport truck that’s quite different than the Tacoma,” Reuss told Car & Driver. How much different are we talking? Reuss and his colleagues didn’t say. Most likely Reuss brought up the Tacoma in reference to the Colorado being extremely capable in addition to it competing in the …

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com December 19, 2012 General Motors is moving production of the next-generation Camaro from its current home of Oshawa, Ontario to Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant in Lansing, Michigan according to a statement released today. GM cites “lower capital investment and improved production efficiencies” as the reason for the move. The Camaro is the only RWD vehicle built at Oshawa, so the move the Lansing Grand River to join alongside the Cadillac ATS and CTS makes complete sense. Also, the next-generation Camaro and CTS will move onto the Alpha platform which currently underpins the ATS. For the time-being, the current Cama…

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com March 21, 2012 Today, General Motors showed off the production model of the new Trailblazer at the Bangkok auto show in Thailand. Like the concept Trailblazer shown back in November, the production model uses GM's new global body-on-frame midsize truck architecture. Styling is the same as the concept; rounded and muscular. Engines include a base 2.5L four-cylinder diesel producing 150 HP and 258 lb-ft of torque, and a 2.8L four-cylinder diesel producing 180 HP and 346 lb-ft of torque. Both engines go through a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic. The Trailblazer will hit dealerships in Thailand in June, with mu…

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com July 30, 2012 Chevrolet has let loose the pricing on the 1LE package for the Camaro SS and Camaro ZL1 convertible. We'll start with the 1LE. Earlier this month, Chevrolet said the 1LE package would start under $40k. Well, it appears Chevrolet has kept that. The 1LE package adds $3500 to the base price of the 1SS and 2SS models, meaning the pricetag on a 1SS with the 1LE package begins at $37,035 (includes a $900 destination charge). As for the ZL1 convertible, that begins at $60,445 (includes a $900 destination charge). Like the ZL1 coupe, the convertible comes with the same 580 HP, 556 lb-ft of torque, supercharged 6.2…

Chevrolet has announced pricing for the new Malibu ECO due out in the first quarter of next year. The 26 City/38 Highway MPG Malibu will carry a base price of $25,995 including a $760 destination charge. The Malibu ECO is Chevrolet's first vehicle equipped with GM's eAssist mild hybrid system. The system uses a lithium-ion battery and electric motor to provide regenerative braking, electric assist and start-stop functionality. The system is coupled with a 2.4L Ecotec four-cylinder producing 180 HP and a six-speed automatic. Other changes to the Malibu ECO include active grille shutters, aluminum hood, aluminum rear bumper beam, lower final drive ratio, and low-rolling re…

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com September 3, 2013 The thought of hybrid Corvette could send a good amount of people into convulsions. But mention this to General Motor's North American President and he has a different take on it. "Actually, don’t laugh," said Mark Reuss to the Los Angeles Times. "I think it’s a very attractive idea, actually. I think it would be really fun to do, I think it would build capability inside our company and I think people would love it." Now don't take this as confirmation that General Motors is working a hybrid Corvette. Instead, Reuss' comments suggests that GM is at least thinking about the potential of hybrid systems i…

G. Noble Editor/Reporter CheersandGears.com March 14, 2012 Here’s a big chunk of unexpected news for you; the boys over at Chevrolet announced yesterday that the Impala will be bowing out of the grid for the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. That’s certainly interesting given that the Impala has earned Chevrolet 79 wins since 2007 after the Monte Carlo went out of production. As Jim Campbell, vice president of Chevrolet Performance Vehicles and Motorsports, said in Chevrolet’s press release yesterday, “The Impala has been a critical part of Chevrolet’s success in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.” That’s only the tip of the iceberg, though. When Chevrolet returns to NASCAR …

September 26th, 2013 Drew Dowdell Managing Editor - CheersandGears.com It is Texas State Fair time and that means it is Pickup Truck release time. Earlier today, Ford released information on its upgraded F-series Superduty trucks. General Motors has now released the updates for their 2015 Chevrolet Silverado HD and 2015 Sierra HD. Forget horsepower wars, this class of truck competes in a towing and payload capability war, and General Motors just upped the bar. Both of the General's HDs now boast a best-in-class payload rating of 7,374 pounds and a towing capability of 19,600 pounds for conventional trailering. Fifth wheel towing is up to 23,200. Under the hood, both …

The key problem with most electric vehicles is the lack of range. Currently, a number of electric vehicles only offer a range of under 120 miles. The general consensus is that for electric vehicles to take off, they would need at least 200 miles of range. Tesla made headlines earlier this year when it announced their upcoming entry-level model, the Model 3 would offer a range of 215 miles. But the Chevrolet Bolt, due out later this year will offer a longer range. This morning, Chevrolet announced the Bolt is rated by the EPA to deliver an estimated range of 238 miles. “While range is important, we knew Bolt EV owners would want more — more space and more power — …

Chevrolet has sold just 179 copies of their just launched, limited edition SS High Performance Sedan so far, and already the Australian built vehicle is threatened with extinction. ABC News in Australia (no relation to ABC news in the United States) is reporting that Holden is threatening to pull production out of Australia by 2016 if it does not get the government sponsored support package it is angling for. Adding to the pressure is Holden's apparent demand for a Government decision to be made before Christmas. Automobile manufacturing in Australia has been on the decline for years. After reaching a peak of 334k in 2007, production has dropped to 224k as of 2011 with …

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com July 9, 2012 Automakers try their best to keep their upcoming cars under wraps - literally and psychically. However, with a click of a shutter or a mouse, the secret they were try to keep is now out in the world. Such could the case with the next generation Corvette. Omega Tool Corp., a Tier One supplier for GM recently put out a video on how they mold the plastic bumper cover for the Corvette. This video normally wouldn't be making everyone go crazy, except this bumper cover isn't for a C6. The one shown in the video carries many of the cues shown on the Stingray concept in 2009. This has caused people to speculate that…

Back on January 21st of this year, we reported that General Motors had filed a trademark application for the name Z71 Trail Boss. Fresh off the heals of the Chevrolet Colorado Box Delete Option for commercial customers announced earlier this week; at the 2015 Cleveland Auto Show on Friday, Chevrolet took the covers off the bearer of Z71 Trail Boss badge, the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado Z71 Trail Boss. With a package price of $3,320, the Z71 Trail Boss package will be offered on both extended and crew cab configurations with either long or short beds. The package includes special 17" metallic painted aluminum wheels shod with Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac all terrain tires, blac…

Although both Ram and Toyota have shown they are ready and willing to give Ford's SVT Raptor supertruck a challenge, one notable truck maker still declines to join the fight: General Motors. That, however, could be set to change soon. GM registered the "Z71 Trail Boss" trademark with the US Trademark and Patent Office on January 14, 2015. The trademark filing states the name is to be used on passenger vehicles, specifically light duty pickups. The new trademark – the "Trail Boss" portion of the name especially – suggests that there could be new, souped-up versions of GM's Z71 spec Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups in the pipeline. How GM could upgrade its Z71 …

Chevrolet has been teasing it for awhile and at a event in Belle Isle - near Detroit, MI - Camaro Six or the 2016 Camaro has been introduced. Now if you were expecting a new style for the Camaro, then you'll be slightly disappointed as the basic shape is the same. Sure there are some slight changes to the front and rear, but Chevrolet played it safe. Don't mess with success. At least under the skin, there are some massive changes. The big story is the Camaro utilizing a modified version of the Alpha platform found under the Cadillac ATS and CTS. Chevrolet says the Camaro is 28 percent more rigid than the outgoing model thanks to the switch to Alpha. Also the Camar…

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com October 24, 2012 Earlier this morning, General Motors debuted a brand new 6.2L LT1 V8 engine that will be in the seventh-generation Corvette.The new LT1 is full of new tech and comes with some impressive specs. The new 6.2L V8 will produce 450 HP and 450 pound-feet of torque. That can propel the C7 to 60 in under 4.0 seconds, which puts it within a hair of the 2012 Corvette Z06's 0-60 time of 3.7 seconds. Fuel economy is impressive, with GM claiming that the C7 will deliver up to 26 mpg highway. The new technology on the new LT1 V8 includes direct injection with “on demand” adjustable pressure, variable valve timing, a…

If you were hoping that Chevrolet would bring the house down next month with the debut of the mid-engine Corvette at the Detroit Auto Show, we have some bad news for you. GM Authority has learned from GM that Chevrolet isn't planning to show anything car or crossover related at the show. Motor Authority was able to confirm this report by speaking to sources who know GM's plans for future vehicles. It is expected that the Cadillac XT6 crossover will debut at the show. Rumor has it that GM could debut the mid-engine Corvette at the New York Auto Show - the original 1953 Corvette debuted at the Motorama event that year in New York - or hold its own event to have th…