Phillips Chevrolet's Blog

Friday, October 21, 2011

2013 Chevy Malibu Expected to Have Best Ride

The all-new 2013 Chevrolet Malibu sedan is expected to have the best ride and handling in its segment when it’s launched next year. The Malibu will ride on an award-winning global architecture that’s been tweaked for European-style precision with comfort tailored to North America’s diverse range of driving conditions.

“Our development team has been everywhere with the new Malibu, tuning the ride on rural back roads, suburban boulevards, urban freeways and just about every other type of road imaginable,” said Mark Moussa, global chief engineer. “The result is the most finely tuned Chevrolet mid-size sedan ever, with controlled dynamics in all driving conditions.”

Aside from finely tuning the Malibu’s platform, engineers also incorporated a number of elements to enhance the sedan’s driving dynamics even further including:

* A solid body structure as stiff as any in the global mid-size sedan market

* Proven and refined MacPherson strut front and four-link rear suspensions

* Hydraulic ride bushings and isolated lower A-arms

* A premium, ZF rack-mounted electric power steering gear

* Chassis control technologies include StabiliTrak electronic stability control, with full-function traction control, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist system, corner brake control, and hydraulic brake assist

Powering the Malibu is a potent but fuel-efficient Ecotec 2.5-liter engine with direct injection, ensuring the vehicle has the power to match its responsive handling. The Malibu will also be available with GM’s advanced eAssist light-electrification technology, which saves fuel without compromising drive performance. With this system, the Malibu will be able to get 38 miles per gallon on the highway.

“Whatever the surface, you feel connected to the road in the new Malibu, while also being comfortably isolated from the imperfections and noise of the road,” said Moussa. “The feel behind the wheel is like that of premium sedans that cost thousands more, with a great feeling of control at highway speeds and excellent maneuverability at low speeds.”

The 2013 Chevy Malibu will be available for viewing at Illinois Largest Chevy dealer in the beginning months of 2012.

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 http://www.phillipschevy.com/. View our specials! Follow Phillips Chevrolet on Facebook and Twitter to receive coupons, special offers and prizes!

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

2012 Chevy Volt Demand Continues to Grow

As demand for the groundbreaking Chevrolet Volt continues to grow, so does the number of owners who are letting Chevy know just how far they can go on a gallon of gas—or no gas at all.

Kory Levoy, who had been spending $50-$60 every week putting gasoline in his Audi TT roadster purchased his new Volt, he has covered 7,500 miles and had to fill up the tank just three times. Today, Levoy—like many other Volt drivers—is averaging 40 miles of driving range on a single charge, allowing him to cover his 25-mile round-trip commute entirely on electricity. “I was tired of spending roughly $200 plus a month on gas,” said Levoy. “The ability to not even consider finding a gas station or worry about fuel pricing is a phenomenal experience.”

Big-time fuel savings are part of the package for Volt owner Carey Bailer, too. Bailey has a 75-mile daily commute that used to cost him about $500 a month in gasoline. Now, driving his new Volt, Bailey has sliced that to just $100 per month—and he expects his fuel costs to come down even further.“Each day, I use about a quarter of a gallon of gas to get to work, which is hardly anything,” Bailey said. “Being able to charge at work is an added benefit, and I love the fact that I am reducing my carbon footprint by not consuming as much gas.”

PhillipsChevy has 5 in stock right now! We can also order you a Chevy Volt that fits your needs.

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 http://www.phillipschevy.com/. View our specials! Follow Phillips Chevrolet on Facebook and Twitter to receive coupons, special offers and prizes!

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Chevy Camaro ZLI Convertible

Fresh from posting a Nurburgring lap time of just 7:41.27—nearly 40 seconds faster than the modern-day Camaro SS and quicker than supercars like the Porsche 911 GT3 and Nissan GT-R—the high-performance Camaro ZL1 will soon set another benchmark. Already the most powerful production Camaro ever, the ZL1 is now slated to launch as the most powerful Chevrolet convertible ever. In fact, with the same supercharged 6.2-liter LSA V8 as the coupe, rated at 580 hp and 556 lb.-ft. of torque, the ZL1 convertible will deliver more power than exotic drop-tops from a lot of manufacturers.

Simply put, according to Al Oppenheiser, the Camaro’s chief engineer: “The Camaro ZL1 convertible will be one of the most powerful and most capable convertibles available at any price. This is a car that is guaranteed to put a smile on your face every time you drop the top—or hit the gas.”

That’s partly because Oppenheiser and his team specifically designed the current Camaro’s body structure to provide superior convertible performance right from the start, then added significant bracing and reinforcements to up the ante even further. But not only do these improvements reduce the unwanted body motions that plague many other open-air cars, they also reduce noise and vibration in the ZL1 convertible to create a more satisfying driving experience.

Of course, it also helps that the ZL1 coupe and convertible have some of the most sophisticated vehicle-performance systems in the world. Both showcase the latest generation of GM’s Magnetic Ride Control, which can adjust damping up to 1,000 times per second, as well as the company’s exclusive Performance Traction Management system. The latter integrates Magnetic Ride Control, launch control, traction control, and electronic stability control for dramatically enhanced off-the-line acceleration and cornering.

The new Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 drop-top is scheduled to go on sale early next year—just in time for the 2012 convertible season.

Chevy Spark Anticipated Arrival 2013

General Motors invited hundreds of international journalists to its hometown last week to unveil some small products for its biggest brand, Chevrolet.

GM said it will launch an electric version of its Chevy Spark minicar in 2013. It will be the first EV for GM, which became a leader in electrification with the EV-1 in the 1990s and then launched the Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid late last year.

The Spark EV will come after the gasoline version of the Spark, which is scheduled for a mid-2012 U.S. launch. Sonic, which went on sale in August. It will get a 1.2-liter, four-cylinder engine.

-- Chevrolet will introduce a new family of small-displacement gasoline engines through the end of this decade. The family will include three- and four-cylinder engines ranging from 1.0- to 1.5-liters in size. GM has no plans to sell the three-cylinder versions in the United States.

-- GM said that its personal mobility concept, the EN-V, will get a Chevy badge. GM has begun work on the second generation of the two-seat electric EN-V, which is short for Electric Networked-Vehicle. GM envisions the podlike concept as a long-range solution for traffic-clogged megacities.

Chevy Spark

Friday, October 14, 2011

2012 Chevy Cruze Gets Helps From Forensic Science to Eliminate Rust

General Motors Corrosion Engineer Christa Cooper and her team know that rust never sleeps, so they look for corrosion in places the typical automobile owner never sees – underneath welded brackets and joints and among the thousands of spot welds that help hold together a vehicle body.

The Crime Scene Investigation-style effort was performed recently on the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze. The outcome should mean years of little or no rust.

Cooper’s corrosion quest takes place inside the Vehicle Teardown Facility at GM’s Milford (Mich.) Proving Ground. Cooper and her team analyzed Cruze test vehicles subjected to extreme durability testing representing 10 years of wear, tear and elements.

“We test to the 95^th percentile environment, which is the most-severe customer environment we can replicate in our labs and road courses,” said Cooper. The cars are then disassembled piece by piece.

Skilled trade mechanics drill out 2,000 to 3,000 individual spot welds by hand seeking out corrosion in the sheet metal structure. It takes a two-person team two weeks to completely tear down a car to its base elements.

When Cooper and her team find even a trace of rust, they look for ways to prevent it. Rust is a natural result of steel contacting water and oxygen, and the corrosion accelerates when road salt is present. The solution most often is finding a way to keep water out. Sealers and alternative materials are often prescribed.

While Cruze was under development, Cooper and her team uncovered corrosion where the inner panel of the rear door is joined to the safety beam. The team recommended switching out an uncoated steel bracket with a rust-resistant coated steel stamping. The change eliminated corrosion in that area.

An auto morgue may seem like a grim place where vehicles sacrifice their bodies for science, but the benefit is future Cruze bodies that last longer and are more durable.

2012 Chevy Cruze on Sale at Phillips Chevy for 15,999!

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Chevy Spark Starting Production Soon

General Motors Co. said today it plans to introduce a pure electric version of the Chevrolet Spark minicar in select U.S. markets.

The Spark EV is an electric version of the upcoming 2013 Spark minicar that will be slotted below the subcompact Sonic in Chevrolet's U.S. product lineup.

The Spark is expected to go on sale in the U.S. market in late 2012, after the launch of the redesigned mid-sized Malibu sedan, the company said in a statement. GM officials indicated the Spark EV would go on sale in 2013.

"Our global demo fleets continue to provide insight into the needs of electric vehicle customers living in urban environments," Federico said. "The Spark EV is another step in Chevrolet's plan to provide customers with a variety of electrification solutions to address the lifestyle and transportation needs of people around the world."

GM will provide an estimated range for the Spark EV closer to launch. The automaker did not say where the Spark for the U.S. market will be assembled.

Monday, October 10, 2011

New Chevy Colorado

General Motors confirmed today that it will sell a new, mid-sized truck in the United States under the Chevrolet Colorado nameplate.GM wouldn’t release timing or product details. GM didn’t say today where the U.S. version would be built, but last month, the UAW disclosed that GM intends to build a new, mid-sized pickup at its Wentzville, Mo., assembly plant.