GM Says Volt Battery System Will Have 8-Year, 100,000-mile Warranty

General Motors Co., preparing to launch the first U.S. mass-market plug-in hybrid, will offer buyers of its Chevrolet Volt an eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty on the lithium-ion battery's 161 components. The warranty also includes the battery's thermal management system, charging system and electric-drive components.

The Volt, which goes on sale in October or November, can run for up to 40 miles on battery power before it switches to power from a gasoline-powered engine. A battery can charge in 8 to 10 hours on 120-volt power or about four hours through a 240-volt hookup. GM intends for the warranty length to give customers confidence in the Volt's unfamiliar plug-in technology, said Micky Bly, GM's executive director of global electrical systems, today at GM's battery plant in Brownstown Township, Mich.

“It's one less question for the dealer,” Bly said. GM has not announced the warranty for the Volt's gasoline-powered engine, but Bly said it would be at least as long as GM's standard five years or 100,000 miles.

The Volt battery's longevity stems in large part from the liquid heating and cooling system that keeps the battery at optimal temperatures. The Volt is the only such mass-market vehicle with a liquid-powered thermal management system, GM said.

The Brownstown plant has been building prototypes for Volts since January and will soon start batteries that will go on vehicles destined for customers' garages.

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!

Chevrolet Takes Showroom App to iPhone, iPad, and iTouch

Full Lineup, Color Choices, Payment Calculator, Social Network Sharing Featured

Chevrolet is among the first automakers to create a shopping app for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad which allows users to research and locate the vehicle they desire.

The Chevrolet Showroom app, available now for free on the App Store, features the entire line of Chevrolet cars, trucks and crossovers. It allows users to pick interior and exterior colors and search for a matching vehicle in a nearby dealer’s inventory.

“The Chevrolet Showroom app allows customers to shop nearly anywhere and share their virtual vehicle with their friends,” said Jim Campbell, U.S. vice president, Chevrolet Marketing. “This is a natural addition to the ways people shop online for vehicles today.”

Once a vehicle has been located, users can save it to their device and share it with friends and family via e-mail or Facebook. The click-to-call feature also easily allows customers to call their local Chevrolet dealer for more information. Users also can request a quote from the dealership through the app.

The current version of the app includes a Featured Gallery with historical photos and highlights of the 75 years of Suburban and some of the most memorable Corvettes.

The application also incorporates a dealer locator, current offers and incentives down to the trim level of the chosen vehicle as well as a convenient payment and affordability calculator.

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!

CNG Process for Full-Size Van Nears Completion

General Motors has finalized the production process for its Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) powered Chevrolet Express full-size van, allowing the company to deliver fleet customers complete vehicles with a fully integrated and dedicated CNG fuel system starting this fall.

GM announced in May that it would be the only manufacturer to offer a one-source van CNG option, allowing its customers to focus on their business rather thn on contracting the conversion of their vehicles.

“Our focus from the beginning has been to offer fleet customers a simple 'check the box' approach with our CNG Chevrolet Express vans,” said Brian Small, general manager, GM Fleet and Commercial Operations. “Our robust production process is a key enabler and certainly separates us from any competitive offering.”

The van will meet all Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California Air Resources Board (CARB) emission certification requirements, and will b e fully compliant with applicable motor vehicle safety standards.

Each CNG Chevrolet Express van also will be covered by GM's three-year, 36,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty and five-year, 100,000-mile limited Powertrain warranty.

GM's Global Powertrain and Vehicle Engineering Centers are being leveraged to bring their global expertise in gaseous fuel systems together for this vehicle system. Providing fleets with a convenient, all-in-one CNG vehicle begins with GM's Vortex 6.0L V8 engine. Gm engineers modified this proven power plant with hardened exhaust valves, and intake and exhaust valves seats for improved wear resistance and durability with gaseous fuel systems.

These hardened engines will then be assembled into the Chevrolet Express vans at GM's Wentzville, MO. plant.

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!

Corvette Buyers Build the Engine for Their Cars

Chevrolet Corvette buyers can already take delivery of their car at the National Corvette Museum, get professional driver training and watch their cars being built. Now, General Motors Co. will let them build the engine.

GM is offering buyers of the 2011 Corvette ZR1 and Z06 models the chance to build the engines for their cars. For a suggested retail price of $5,800, plus the cost of getting to Detroit, a Corvette buyer is welcome to GM's Performance Build Center in Wixom, Mich., where engines for the ZR1 and the Z06 are built by hand.

The Engine Build Experience package includes a concierge service that will set up most of the arrangements.

Buyers who select the option will work side-by-side with professionals at the Performance Build Center. Together they will build up an engine, starting with a bare block and moving through a series of assembly stations. Virtually all of the work is done by hand, with minimal automated assistance.

At the end of the line, the engine is test run on a dynamometer and the builder adds a personalized nameplate. Then the engine is sent to the Corvette assembly plant in Bowling Green, Ky., for installation in the car.

Another perk: Whether built by the customer or by the professional technician, the engine from the Performance Build Center is covered by a five-year/100,000-mile warranty.

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!

Great Finish for Phillips Chevrolet Car

Phillips Chevrolet of Frankfort, Illinois joined driver Mike Bliss and the Key Motorsports team for 200 laps of NASCAR Nationwide Series action at Chicagoland Speedway in last Friday's Dollar General 300 powered by Coca-Cola.

Mike Bliss's car was sponsored by Phillips Chevrolet. The number 40 car started the race in 31^st position. He was running in the middle of the pack the whole race and he said his car felt a little loose. Towards the end of the race he mentioned the car was running the best it had all day. Unfortunately, Bliss was involved in a large car wreck on the last lap where he gladly finished 18^th out of 43 drivers.

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!

Phillips Chevrolet Sponsors NASCAR driver, Mike Bliss

Phillips Chevrolet of Frankfort, Illinois joins driver Mike Bliss and the Key Motorsports team for 200 laps of NASCAR Nationwide Series action at Chicagoland Speedway in Friday's Dollar General 300 powered by Coca-Cola. Car number 40 is primed for an aggressive performance in the mid-west after a steady run at Daytona last week.

“We want to thank Phillips Chevrolet for stepping on board with Key Motorsports this weekend at Chicagoland,” team owner, Curtis stated. “They are quality people who represent a quality brand. We are excited to be working with them. The team has gone the extra mile this week preparing the car, and we are expecting a good showing for Phillips Chevrolet.”

Key Motorsports crew chief, Gary Showalter, hopes the additional effort will pay off on Friday. “The guys have worked hard, the car is ready, and Mike likes the Chicagoland Speedway. We want a top-10 this week,” said Showalter.

Key Motorsports performed well at Chicagoland in the series only 2009 appearance at the 1.5-mile tri-oval, finishing 15^th in the 43-car starting field. Bliss finished 9^th in the same event piloting a Phoenix Racing entry.

The Dollar General 300 powered by Coca-Cola will be shown live on ESPN at 7:30pm ET.

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!

Next Chevrolet Corvette to get 440-hp 5.5-liter small-block V8

According to Motor Trend, which is citing unnamed sources within General Motors, the next-generation Corvette will come with a brand-new engine. Despite rumors to the contrary, it seems that Chevrolet's halo vehicle will continue using its trademark V8 engine and not a V6. Still, the C7's powerplant will be downsized from its current 6.2 and 7.0 liters.

It's likely that this new engine will be the first application of GM's next-gen small block family, and we'd expect it to sport direct injection, E85 capability and a new combustion system design. One thing not to expect, though: overhead cams. You can bank on the fact that The General will stick to its tried-and-true overhead valve design, which serves to lower manufacturing costs and allows for comparatively small overall engine dimensions.

All of these technologies should make the venerable V8 more fuel efficient and cleaner, but also sufficiently powerful to uphold its sportscar heritage. In fact, Motor Trend reports that the C7's V8 will displace 5.5 liters while hammering out 440 horsepower. Though that significantly smaller in displacement, the power figure would actually be up from the current 430 ponies. We can hardly wait... but we'll have to anyway. We don't expect the next Corvette to bow before 2012 at the earliest.

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!