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.

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!

2011 Chevrolet Cruze Earns IIHS Top Safety Pick

New model gets highest possible ratings in all Insurance Institute safety tests

    

The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze received the highest possible of ratings of "Good" in front, side, rear and rollover crash protection by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, which recognized Cruze as a 2011 Top Safety Pick.
"The new Cruze was clearly engineered from the ground up to meet the highest standards in safety performance," said IIHS President Adrian Lund. "The Top Safety Pick award means that buyers of the Cruze will know they're getting state-of-the-art protection in the most common kinds of crashes."

The 2011 Cruze offers more standard safety features than any vehicle in its class and represents Chevrolet's commitment to continuous safety- before, during and after a crash. Standard features include StabiliTrak Electronic Stability Control with Traction Control, anti-lock brakes, Panic Brake Assist and Enhanced Smart Pedal/Brake Override.

The Cruze is the first car in its class with 10 standard air bags, including dual-stage frontal air bags, seat-mounted side-impact air bags and head curtain side air bags in the front and outboard rear seating positions and front knee air bags- a first for the segment. OnStar's standard safety and security package is included.

"The IIHS Top Safety Pick Award builds on the already strong global safety reputation of the Cruze," said Chris Perry, vice president of Chevrolet Marketing. "Cruze delivers the level of comfort, quality and safety that customers expect in larger, more upscale vehicles with the fuel economy of a compact."

Cruze continues to be a strong contributor to Chevrolet's sales momentum, helping the brand increase retail sales by 13 percent in November. The new Cruze Eco arrives in showrooms in January with segment-leading fuel economy, beating its non-hybrid competitors. Cruze Eco delivers an EPA-estimated 42 mpg on the highway, and 28 mpg city fuel economy. The model will carry a suggested retail price of $18,895.

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!

MyChevrolet

Chevrolet has just announced the release of its mobile phone owner application, myChevrolet. This great new app allows Chevrolet owners access to many of the common tasks they perform with their vehicle, in the palm of their hand and within the convenience of their iPhone or Android. With just a few keystrokes, you can schedule a service appointment, find your nearest Chevrolet dealer, summon Chevrolet Roadside Assistance, and more.

When myChevrolet is coupled with the connectivity of the OnStar MyLink app, owners with an active OnStar account can receive updated on key vehicle operating systems instantly so they always know the operating condition of their Chevrolet.

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- A Real Star

By Cleo Simmons, ALDA Chicago Style

I told Linda Belice, our wonderful editor; about my new car having OnStar with a TTY and that the TTY was the first one that the car dealer, Phillips Chevrolet, had ever installed! Linda asked if I would write and explain about OnStar and the TTY.

I never knew anything about OnStar. When I picked up my new Chevy Malibu, David, my son-in-law, actually drove my car. They said to press the blue button which is on the rear view mirror and an Advisor will explain all about the service. Well, David got to hear about all of the features and what it does. Having this little problem of being deaf, I still knew nothing. When we got home, David explained as much as he could. The dealership said they would send me an email and that I could go online to read about all of the features. I thought great but it better tell me how I can “hear” what the OnStar 24/7 Advisor is saying.

If you have never heard of OnStar or only know it by name, I’ll tell you what it does. If I have an accident (bit my tongue), the 24/7 OnStar staff will automatically send the police and an ambulance to the accident site. If I have not had an accident but need help, I can push the red OnStar button on the mirror and they will send help. If I lock my keys in the car, I can call and they can unlock the car. If my car is stolen, they know where it is and can slow the car down or even stop the car from starting.

If there is something wrong with my car, OnStar will email me a notice. I also receive a monthly email with a diagnostic test report on my car. In the first email, they advised me that my tires needed air, how much air was in them and what it should be. They also will tell me when it’s time to change my oil or any other maintenance that is needed. Can you imagine—I don’t even have to take the car in to know if it needs service!

On the email that I received, it said if you are deaf, hard of hearing or speech-impaired, click here. Needless to say, that was me so I “clicked.” It explained that there is a 24/7 connection to an OnStar TTY Advisor available through the GM/Ultratec Compact TTY. We contacted the special number listed and they explained everything about the TTY and that the car dealer where I bought my car would handle everything, including the installation.

The TTY is now installed in my glove compartment. To connect to OnStar, I push the OnStar button and a TTY Advisor asks, “How can I help you?” Amazing! The guys at Phillips Chevy thought “this is cool.” Me too.

As far as cost, I paid the GM dealer $1,000 for the equipment and installation. I will be reimbursed through the GM Mobility Program. I already received a letter that it is being processed and I should receive my reimbursement check within six weeks.

There is also “icing on the cake.” Most new GM vehicles today come with one year of OnStar service free. My vehicle automatically qualifies for two additional years of the OnStar Safe & Sound Plan at no cost to me through the GM Mobility Program. This is approximately $400 in service costs FREE to me.

(Sales Consultant: Louie Hatzis)

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 Encourages Hands-Free Calling Choices

OnStar is launching a Bluetooth/Hands-Free Calling awareness campaign to help simplify the process of pairing cell phones to the hands-free technology.

An analysis of random, anonymous data collected from thousands of vehicles indicates only 45 percent of Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac owners are pairing their cellular phones to a vehicle's Bluetooth system, raising concerns that customers are unaware of the feature in their vehicle or believe connecting to be too difficult a process.

"What we're learning is that many customers simply do not understand the technology, or they're confused by how to pair their cell phone to a Bluetooth device," said OnStar President Chris Preuss. "It's about both educating the customer and alleviating technical challenges."

A new website, www.gm.com/handsfree, has been launched to provide clear instructions on how to pair specific devices. The site offers two ways to stay connected in most Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles: OnStar Hands-Free Calling or built-in Bluetooth connectivity. Through interactive features, consumers select their vehicle and mobile device to receive specific instructions on how to pair their device to the vehicle.

"There's no question that cellular device use in the vehicle is and will continue to be one of the biggest safety challenges facing society," Preuss said. "Technology will play a key role in mitigating this impact, but we cannot over-assume engagement just because we provide the capability. This education and awareness campaign is designed to encourage use of hands-free technology because we take driver distraction and safety very seriously."

It's easy for Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac customers to use hands-free technology. Bluetooth allows users to connect their mobile device to their vehicle and place and receive calls using steering wheel controls and voice recognition. The vehicle audio system allows users to hear the call through the speakers and respond using the built-in microphone. Once a phone is paired with Bluetooth, a customer's mobile device will automatically connect to the vehicle when the ignition is turned on.

OnStar Hands-Free Calling allows OnStar subscribers to make calls from their vehicle using voice-activated dialing. Subscribers simply press the white phone icon button to dial a number by saying the number aloud or to answer an incoming call. Hands-Free Calling, with its externally mounted antennae, is specially designed for better reception and fewer dropped calls in remote areas and pockets of limited cellular reception.

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 Opens Crisis Assist Emergency Services to Those Affected by Hurricane Earl

OnStar is offering Crisis Assist services to its active subscribers in areas affected by Hurricane Earl. With a simple push of the OnStar button in GM vehicles, subscribers will be put in contact with specially-trained crisis advisors. Crisis Assist services are currently being offered to subscribers along the coastal areas of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina and Virginia. Since evacuation began on Aug. 31, OnStar has seen a 40 percent increase over typical call volume in these evacuated areas.

OnStar’s Crisis Assist capabilities include specially trained crisis advisors, who will help with:

· Emergency Services: Advisors can contact emergency responders if needed and direct them to the subscriber’s exact vehicle location, using OnStar’s embedded cellular system and Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite technology. OnStar advisors can also use GPS technology to provide subscribers with evacuation routes.

· Central point of contact for assistance: Advisors can provide crisis information and centralized assistance for evacuation routing, food, water, shelter locations and hotel accommodations along with information on road closures, power outages, and weather updates.

· Keeping subscribers connected: Subscribers who are without power in their homes or cannot recharge cell phone batteries can push the OnStar blue button to stay connected.

· Reporting new incidents: OnStar encourages subscribers to act as Good Samaritans and contact an advisor whenever they witness someone with an emergency need, so that the advisor can inform appropriate public safety officials of the location of the incident.

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!

NFPA collaborates with Chevrolet and OnStar to provide Electric Vehicle Safety Training

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has announced a joint effort with Chevrolet and OnStar as NFPA provides electric vehicle safety training for first responders to the scene of an accident. The announcement was made at the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Fire Rescue International Conference in Chicago where Chevrolet and OnStar demonstrated safety techniques on the all-new 2011 Chevrolet Volt – an electric vehicle with extended-range that will be on sale late this year.

The collaboration with Chevrolet and OnStar stems from an electric vehicle safety training initiative NFPA is developing to support the growing number of electric vehicles in the United States. The NFPA initiative, funded by an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, will include a series of electric vehicle emergency response safety programs available to first responders. The training programs will provide first responders with information they need to most effectively deal with emergency situations involving electric vehicle technology.

NFPA will be reaching out to other auto manufacturers in an effort to include vehicle-specific information in training as more electric vehicles enter the marketplace.

“With the Chevrolet Volt and other electric vehicles about to hit the streets, it is important to know that first responders are trained and ready to respond,” said Andrew Klock, NFPA’s senior project manager for this initiative. “First responders have a long history of successfully adapting their response to new automotive technologies in order to protect the public as well as themselves. We are excited to be working collaboratively with Chevrolet and OnStar to combine their knowledge of the vehicle with our leadership in emergency response preparation.”

The collaboration with Chevrolet and OnStar includes the co-development of safety resources, including web-based training materials, vehicle extrication video and shared resources for instructor-led safety presentations. NFPA will be developing training and course curriculum to ensure that first responders know how to respond to incidents involving electric vehicles.

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! Become a fan of Phillips Chevrolet on Facebook or Twitter to receive coupons, special offers, and prizes!

Smart Phones Do GM Key-Fob Job

Drivers of most 2011 General Motors Co. vehicles will be able to use a smart phone to carry out functions usually found on a key fob, such as remote starting, activating the horn and lights, and remote locking and unlocking of doors.

Using a mobile phone means features can be controlled regardless of the driver's distance from the car. For instance, a traveler who forgets to lock the car at the airport can send a locking signal from the terminal. OnStar subscribers will be able to get diagnostic information via phone, such as fuel tank level, remaining oil life, recommended tire pressure and average mile per gallon driven.

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!

You Can't Predict a Tornado, but You Can Prepare for It

During a tornado or other natural disaster, count on OnStar Crisis Assist to provide you with a central point of contact, assistance, and information to help you navigate your way out of danger. Simply push your red emergency button, and you'll connect with a live OnStar Advisor—available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our OnStar Crisis Assist Team can:

-Use GPS technology to direct emergency help to your exact location
-Guide you to local shelters and help you find distribution centers for food, water, and medical supplies

-Connect you with loved ones

In a tornado or other crisis, you'll have access to any and all OnStar services at no extra cost, regardless of your subscription plan. To learn more about OnStar's Crisis Assist service, click here.

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 or specials!

GM's Onstar will tap Google to Guide Chevy Volt

General Motors Co.'s OnStar telematics unit is bringing Google mobile navigation technology into the car.

Chevrolet Volt drivers whose smartphones use Google's Android operating system will be able to use their phones to pinpoint their vehicle's location on Google Maps. They can then request a destination by speaking it into the phone, and have the desired destination sent directly to the car.

OnStar would then guide the driver to the destination using turn-by-turn spoken directions.

The new feature builds on a Volt smartphone application that OnStar announced in January. The previously announced application offers mobile control of battery charging, remote locking and unlocking of doors, and other features.

The application will be available when the Volt plug-in hybrid launches in the fall. It works on the Motorola Droid, which is an Android phone, as well as on Blackberry Storm and the Apple iPhone. The new navigation “tab” will debut later and is only for Android phones.

Industry observers believe GM will extend the smartphone functions beyond the Volt.

A senior analyst with the research firm Strategy Analytics called the development a daring, but revolutionary move for OnStar. He said GM's objective is to eventually allow third-party applications to run on OnStar.

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.