Phillips Chevrolet's Blog: March 2011

Monday, March 28, 2011

Phillips Chevrolet Breaks Ground

(Pictured left to right: Frankfort Administrator- Jerry Ducay; Mayor of Frankfort- Jim Holland; President of Phillips Chevrolet- Curtis Pascarella; Frankfort Trustee- Cynthia Corso-Heath- Zone Manager of Chevrolet Motor Division: Paul Whiteside; Frankfort Trustee- Mike Stevens; and Frankfort Clerk: Bob Kennedy)

The Frankfort village elected officials attended Phillips Chevrolet's ground breaking ceremony on Monday, March 28, 2011. Phillips Chevy is renovating and expanding its showroom, service area and storage lot to better serve its customers. Phillips Chevy will be open for business throughout the entire remodeling process.

Phillips Chevrolet has Illinois’ Largest Chevy Inventory! We have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, and are one of the Largest Chevy Dealers in the United States. Visit us at www.phillipschevy.com. View our specials! Follow Phillips Chevrolet on Facebook and Twitter to receive coupons, special offers and prizes!

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Only Chevy Volt in Illinois Arrives at Frankfort Dealership

Fox Chicago News- Given the pain at the gas pump, a new car at a southwest suburban dealership is likely to be very popular. Phillips Chevrolet in Frankfort is the only Illinois dealership so far with to have the electric Chevy Volt in their showroom.

The electric car can go about 35 miles on one charge before its gas generator kicks in.
At the Frankfort showroom you can look at the Volt, but you can't drive it home. If you want to buy one you'll have to get on a waiting list.

GM is manufacturing only 10,000 Volts this year. Each costs $41,000.
Phillips Chevrolet has Illinois’ Largest Chevy Inventory! We have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, and are one of the Largest Chevy Dealers in the United States. Visit us at www.phillipschevy.com. View our specials! Follow Phillips Chevrolet on Facebook and Twitter to receive coupons, special offers and prizes!

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Chevrolet Unveils Colorado Show Truck

Boldly styled show truck previews next-generation midsize pickup

Chevrolet today revealed the Colorado Show Truck in advance of the Bangkok International Auto Show, where it is making its global public debut. The concept previews the next-generation Colorado midsize pickup truck, which will build on Chevrolet’s strong truck DNA and award-winning heritage. The Colorado goes on sale in Thailand later this year.

“Thailand is the world’s-largest market for midsize pickups, so this was the perfect location in which to unveil our new Colorado,” said Susan Docherty, vice president, GMIO Sales, Marketing and Aftersales. “Trucks have been part of Chevrolet’s core for nearly all of its 100-year history. The Colorado reinforces that heritage with expressive design, refinement and uncompromising capability.”

The show truck features an extended-cab body atop a high-stance AWD chassis and rides on large, 20-inch wheels and off-road tires. Power comes from an efficient 2.8L turbo-diesel engine, which produces a broad torque band for excellent cargo and towing capability.

“Although this is a show vehicle, the basic proportions and form convey the vision for the next-generation Colorado that we will bring to market,” said Brad Merkel, GM's global vehicle line executive. “It reflects a stylized version of the new truck, one that takes into account rugged dependable truck capabilities for commercial use as well as sophisticated refinement for personal-use needs.”

While the new Colorado was developed within GM’s global product development organization, engineers took careful steps to ensure it would meet local market needs. Roberto Rempel, GM's global vehicle chief engineer, lived in Thailand for several months during the truck’s development, immersing himself in the market and observing how the Thai people use their trucks and the road conditions they experience.

“Pickups are instrumental in the vibrant Thai economy and owners take great pride in their trucks, which are used for both work and personal driving,” he said. “These customers ask a lot of their trucks, so the powertrains and chassis must be very robust to earn their trust – and that’s exactly what we’ve delivered.”

Design Details

The Colorado show truck’s purposeful design conveys strength through bodywork that appears tightly wrapped over the chassis and a wide, confident stance. In the front, Chevrolet’s internationally recognized gold bowtie and dual-port grille are framed by large headlamps that flow into the front fenders, and an extractor vent on the hood.

“Around the globe, pickup trucks are associated with strength, capability and function – and that’s exactly what the Colorado show truck embodies,” said Ed Welburn, GM vice president of Global Design. “Its broad-shouldered proportions are derived from nearly a century of Chevrolet truck heritage.”

Pepperdust Metallic exterior paint is accented with polished aluminum details in the fascias, as well as integrated side steps and black-masked projector-style headlamps with LED lighting elements. At the rear is a full-width LED-lit taillamp, which creates a striking appearance when illuminated.

Additional exterior details include:

- A streamlined “cab collar” design with a body-color hard tonneau cover on the bed
- Gray accents on the side, front and rear lower moldings
- 20-inch aluminum wheels featuring a “liquid metal” finish, with Stone Gray color wheel ports
- Cooper 285/50R20 ZEON LTZ tires
- Outside mirrors with LED turn-signal indicators.

Inside, there’s another signature Chevrolet cue: a dual-cockpit instrument panel design. It flows into the doors, with continuous lines that create a floating, wraparound effect, amplifying the Colorado’s feeling of spaciousness. Ice-blue lighting and high-quality, “double-faced” leather-trimmed seats add sophistication and refinement.

“The interior is designed to deliver a premium and inviting environment, with a greater feeling of spaciousness than is typically found in midsize trucks,” said Welburn. “There’s also great attention to detail in the execution of the features you see and feel.”

A brace of motorcycle-inspired, three-dimensional gauges stand out on the instrument panel, projecting a sporty appearance.

Contrasting trim used with the light-colored leather seating, dark wood trim accented with chrome and low-gloss and soft-touch materials are used throughout for a premium feel. A number of storage compartments are located throughout the interior, including a covered center bin for concealment of valuable items, and a large, dual glovebox.

Additional features include a dual-zone, digital climate control system and the latest in “infotainment” technology. The show truck highlights an ergonomically positioned 7-inch LCD display in the center stack, for easy viewing and intuitive control of Web access, navigation, music and hands-free phone features.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Phillips Receives GM Accessories Award

(From left to right: Jeff D'Ambrosio- GM Accessories Digital Solution; Kelly Ryan- GM Accessories Account Executive; Bill Featherston- Phillips Chevrolet Service Director; Harry Mays- Phillips Chevrolet Aftermarket Manager; Mike Maheras- Phillips Chevrolet General Manager; Michael Pekarscik- GM Accessories Field Manager; Joel Holden- GM Accessories Digital Solution; Philip Fallis- GM Accessories Director)

Phillips Chevrolet received an award for Top in Store Process in the North Central Region in General Motors Accessories for 2010 on March 17, 2011!

2011 Chevrolet Volt Arrives at Phillips Chevrolet

The 2011 Chevrolet Volt arrived at Phillips Chevrolet on the morning of Friday, March 18. Come in today for a test drive!

Monday, March 14, 2011

Chevrolet Captiva Sport announced for U.S. fleet customers

Do you miss the Saturn Vue? If so, General Motors is ready to wipe your tears away. Meet the new Chevrolet Captiva Sport, a shockingly familiar crossover being offered for fleet sales here in the United States. GM is quick to point out that the Sport is a variant of the popular Captiva CUV sold in other markets, though its Saturn-badged kin can still be found all over the nation.

The 2012 Chevrolet Captiva Sport will be available in three trim levels – LS, LT and LTZ – with two different powertrain choices. The base engine is GM's Ecotec 2.4-liter direct-injected four-cylinder, while the uplevel powerplant is The General's 3.0-liter direct-injected V6. Having experienced both of these units in the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain crossovers, we found the four to be far smoother and more refined than the anemic V6. In any case, both engines are mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive is optional on LTZ models.

LT and LTZ models use the 3.0-liter V6 and come standard with OnStar and Bluetooth connectivity. LTZ standard equipment also includes leather-trimmed seats (heated for front passengers), a rear-view camera and premium audio system.

Fleet companies can take delivery of the Captiva Sport as early as the fourth quarter of 2011.

Phillips Chevrolet has Illinois’ Largest Chevy Inventory! We have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, and are one of the Largest Chevy Dealers in the United States. Visit us at www.phillipschevy.com. View our specials! Follow Phillips Chevrolet on Facebook and Twitter to receive coupons, special offers and prizes!

OnStar offering Crisis Assist services to tsunami victims

OnStar customers who live in areas affected by the tsunami warnings are getting help from their cars. General Motors has announced that those who live in affected areas can push the OnStar button their vehicle and be connected with a Crisis Advisor, who will help them get through the situation as safely as possible.

The Crisis Advisors can contact emergency services; provide points of contact for assistance, including food, shelter and hotel accommodations; help subscribers without power to access the internet or charge phones so they can stay in contact and receive weather and incident updates.

According to GM, OnStar can also be used to funnel information from subscribers to federal emergency management agencies to get assistance to people in need.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

GM Plans to Add Second Shift at Volt Assembly Plant

General Motors Co. will add a second shift at its Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant early next year to bolster production of the Chevrolet Volt, according to a newspaper report.

The second shift would add about 900 to 1,000 jobs at the plant, Teri Quigley, plant manager for the Detroit-Hamtramck factory, told the Detroit Free Press today. Laid-off GM workers would get first opportunity to apply. Workers will begin training later this year with full production ramping up in early 2012.

“Detroit Hamtramck has started some of the pre-work related to adding an additional shift at the plant,” spokesman Chris Lee said.

Lee said the plant “wants to be in a position to bring on a shift as quickly as possible when we are asked to increase production to meet market demand.”

“At this point in time, it is too early to tell how many employees would be required or when an additional shift will start -- we are just doing some pre-planning to ensure we can respond quickly to market conditions,” he wrote.

GM has said it wants to build 25,000 Volts this year, up from the original 10,000-unit target. Bloomberg, citing sources familiar with GM's plans, reported in January that the automaker intends to produce 120,000 Volts a year starting in 2012.

The plant will back up GM’s Fairfax, Kan. plant on production of the redesigned Chevrolet Malibu when it debuts next year. The plant currently has 1,048 employees.

The Volt sells for $41,000 with delivery, although a federal tax credit of $7,500 for the first 200,000 units sold reduces the cost. Since its debut in December and through February, GM sold 928 Volts.

Friday, March 4, 2011

Oscar Prediction Winner

Gina Crusius won a 50" Plasma TV from Phillips Chevrolet last week! Gina was 1 of 18 who predicted the 2011 Oscar winners correctly. A drawing was held to determine the final winner. Congratulations, Gina! Enjoy the new TV!

$5 Used Car Sale at Phillips Chevrolet

It's baaaaack! Phillips Chevrolet is giving one lucky winner to purchase this 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS for $5.00! No purchase necessary.

Visit http://www.phillipschevy.com/contest.htm to enter!

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Avalanche Named Consumer Reports Top Pick

Chevrolet Avalanche was named among the six new Consumer Reports Top Picks. One review described Avalanche as a “versatile crew-cab model with a unified bed and cab that helps give it a steady, comfortable, quiet ride. And the innovative partition between the cab and the bed can be folded to extend the cargo area into the back of the cab.”

Chevrolet earned Top Picks in the pickup truck category for the past four years. Silverado was the 2010 Top Pick.

Phillips Chevrolet has Illinois’ Largest Chevy Inventory! We have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, and are one of the Largest Chevy Dealers in the United States. Visit us at www.phillipschevy.com. View our specials! Follow Phillips Chevrolet on Facebook and Twitter to receive coupons, special offers and prizes!

Phillips Chevrolet's Blog