VIRTUAL REALITY PERFECTS CHEVROLET COLORADO ACCESSORIES

 

By General Motors, Detroit - With a giant screen that has more pixels than an IMAX theater, the temptation is ever present to watch a movie or hook up a video game console.  At Chevrolet, however, this high-tech display is instrumental to refining vehicle design.

The 4K ultra-fine resolution PowerWall system, capable of displaying both 2D and 3D content, allows designers and engineers to compare versions of part designs and ideas without the need for expensive physical prototypes.  The team can quickly examine several concepts and speed a decision on the best solution.

The 2015 Chevrolet Colorado was a major focus of the PowerWall.  The 2015 MOTOR TREND Truck of the Year is customizable with accessories that match the owner's personality.  Making these features fit right and look good is time consuming.

For example, the Colorado's chrome assist step was designed with black treads in part to avoid the unslightly reflection of drain holes in the bottom edges of the cab.  The treads on the Colorado assist step were evaluated for this issue with the PowerWall more than a year before a physical prototype was available.

"That's the beauty of this kind of high definition.  Using the math data, we can render the vehicle as the customer will see it in the 'as manufactured state'", said Joe Guzman, engineering group manager for Global Virtual Design Process & Operations.  "Designers and engineers can then scrutinize every detail to make sure they are spot on."

In addition to the assist step, the GearOnTM, customizable and adjustable cargo system for the truck bed was evaluated on the PowerWall to assure it looked and performed as intended.

Guzman, who started as a wood model maker, said the PowerWall won't replace clay modeling or other physical prototypes anytime soon.  But for dozens of minor and major decisions, the technology's speed, precision and lifelike accuracy allow attributes like reflections, finishes, glare and lighting to be assessed many months or years before the first physical vehicles are built.

The PowerWall solution comprises a 240 square-foot solid glass screen, and two Christie Mirage 4K25 DLP 3D projectors, powered by eight computers and two Christie Spyder X20 video processors.  The team of virtual reality experts includes three visualization specialists, an IT technician and a Christie hardware engineer.

ONSTAR OFFERS REAL-TIME UPDATES ON SANTA'S PROGRESS

 



By General Motors, Oshawa - For the sixth consecutive year, OnStar is providing U.S., Canada and Mexico subscribers the opportunity to learn Santa's whereabouts on his journey across the globe Christmas Eve.  With a press of the blue OnStar button, subscribers can be informed of Santa's location at that moment in time.

Through collaboration with the North American Aerospace Defense Command's (NORAD) Tracks Santa program anyone with an active OnStar subscription can request a "Santa Update" between 7 a.m. on December 24 until 5 a.m. EST on December 25.  OnStar advisors will provide Santa's location based on NORAD's official Santa Tracker Map.

"My 2-year-old son has finally reached the age where he is excited about Santa," said Keitha Martin, a GMC Acadia owner and OnStar subscriber.  "This year we will be following Santa's journey to deliver his gifts through OnStar.  My husband and I are just as excited for this magical experience!"

OnStar is dedicated to the safety and security of subscribers year-round.  To accommodate the volume of calls seeking Santa's location, advisor staffing is adjusted to accommodate the extra traffic.

"We are happy to provide our subscribers with a special way to get into the holiday spirit," said Terry Inch, OnStar chief operating officer.  "OnStar's advisors enjoy responding to these calls and helping make the season a little more joyous."

Individuals without an OnStar subscription can follow Santa's journey via the NORAD Tracks Santa website, Facebook page, Twitter hashtag #NORADSanta or by calling the hotline at 1-877-HI-NORAD (1-877-446-6723).

NEXT-GEN CHEVY VOLT GETS CORVETTE LOOKS, ADJUSTABLE REGEN LEVELS

 

By Danny King, Autoblog.com - The hood may say "full speed ahead".  The regenerative braking system says "slow down a bit".  One person's automotive improvements is another's identity crisis, all in a day's work analyzing the new Chevrolet Volt.

The next-generation version of General Motors' first extended-range plug in will include design touches taken from the new Chevrolet Corvette, GM's iconic sports car.  Hexagonal taillights and a "taut" hood will be part of the new package, Automotive News says, citing General Motors design chief Ed Wilbur.

But does that mean the Volt is shedding any of its green-car cred?  Not at all, if one considers that the Volt will also let the driver adjust the degree of regenerative braking using steering-wheel paddles to dial up and recapture as much energy as possible and engage in "one-pedal" driving or turn it down for easier coasting.

GM will have more details for us when it unveils the 2016 Chevy Volt at the North American Auto Show in Detroit next month.  The new version is said to have a larger battery, a longer all-electric driving range and more power, but Chevy's been fairly mum on those sorts of performance details so far.

CORVETTE ENGINE REPEATS WIN AS WARDSAUTO 10 BEST

 

By General Motors, Detroit - The high performance, technology-packed LT1 Small Block 6.2L V8 that powers the 2015 Corvette Stingray is a Ward's 10 Best Engine for 2015.  The engine also was recognized with this award in 2014.

WardsAuto reviewed 37 engines and propulsion systems from 12 manufacturers in this year's competition, which looked at power, fuel efficiency, new technology and refinement and compared the attributes with data for similar engines.

"This recognition is another step in earning customers for life," said Dan Nicholson, vice president, GM Global Powertrain.  Having the WardsAuto experts choose the LT1 as one of the best in the industry two years in a row is proof of what this Powertrain team can deliver - uncompromised performance, durability and efficiency that helps make the Stingray one of the best sports cars in the world today."

The LT1 Small Block technologies contribute to making the new Corvette the quickest, most powerful and most fuel-efficient standard Corvette ever.  The engine delivers an SAE-certified 460 horsepower, helping propel the car from 0-96 km/h in 3.8 seconds and a quarter mile in 12 seconds while offering a fuel consumption rating of 8.1 L/100 km highway with an 8-speed automatic or 7-speed manual transmission.

"The 6.2L LT1 V-8 is the heart and soul of the seventh-generation Chevrolet Corvette, and it proudly upholds the 60-year legacy of small-block engines from General Motors," said Tom Murphy, executive editor of WardsAuto World digital magazine, based in the United States.  "This one's been re-engineered from head to torque converter, and the LT1 is the crown jewel of this massive engine family."

"In the Corvette, this 260hp V-8 barks with authority, delivering an exhaust note reminiscent of Detroit's finest muscle cars.  And it's efficient, too.  WardsAuto editors flogging the 'Vette for more than 300 miles managed better than 20 mpg with the new 8-speed automatic."

The LT1, part of the Gen 5 family of Small Block engines, combines several advanced technologies - direct injection, Active Fuel Management, or cylinder deactivation, and continuously variable valve timing - to support an advanced combustion system.

Direct injection is a primary contributor to greater combustion efficiency by ensuring a more complete burn of the fuel in the air-fuel mixture.  This is achieved by precisely controlling the mixture motion and fuel injection spray pattern.  Direct injection also keeps the combustion chamber cooler, which allows for a higher compression ratio.

Increased power and efficiency result from more than 10 million hours of computational analysis including computational fluid dynamics, to make the most of the combustion system, the direct injection fuel system, active fuel management and variable valve timing systems that support it.  The combustion system itself benefited from 6 million hours of dedicated CPU analysis time.

Other variants of the Gen 5 Small Block include the 4.3L V6, 5.3L and 6.2L V8 truck engines offered in the Chevrolet Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe, the GMC Sierra pickups, Yukon XL and Cadillac Escalade SUVs.  The LT1 is manufactured in Tonawanda, N.Y.

CHEVY WORKING ON PRODUCTION IMPALA MIDNIGHT EDITION

 

By Jonathon Ramsey, Autoblog.com - To put together the Impala Blackout concept for SEMA, Chevrolet didn't need to go much further than its accessories catalogue.  The in-house connection is what could make it possible for Chevy to get a production version of the Blackout into dealers this model year, with its few bits of chrome trim and dark detailing on the 19-inch aluminum wheels set into an abyss of gloss black paint, black Bowtie, grille surround, rear spoiler and mirror caps.  The interior is black leather, with stainless steel for the sill plates and pedals, and an 11-speaker Bose audio system, and it gets the optional 305-horsepower, 3.6-litre V6.

The brand's marketing director for cars and crossovers, Steve Majoros, told Edmunds that it could come in late spring, and that it will be called "Midnight Edition".  Majoros didn't give any indication of pricing or if the production car will be spec'd out like the concept.

If you simply don't want to wait for late spring, you could work your DIY mojo by putting one together the same way Chevrolet did: give the accessories catalogue a workout.

2015 CHEVROLET TRAX: SMALL SUVs GRABBING BIGGER MARKET SHARE

 

By Karl Brauer, Forbes - Entirely new vehicle segments don't materialize every day, but we're witnessing one in rapid blossom right now.  The subcompact SUV segment is about to go nuclear, jumping from three entries to eight in just the next 5 months.  If a segment averaging one new model a month sounds unprecedented it should, because it is.  Yet unprecedented doesn't mean unjustified.  At KBB.com we've witnessed increasing shopper activity in small SUVs for the past 18 months.  In fact, one could argue any mainstream brand not entering this segment before the end of 2015 is already late to the party.  GM's volume brand won't be tardy, jumping in this month with its 2015 Chevrolet Trax.

The Chevrolet Trax is based on GM's global subcompact platform and is already sold in over 60 markets across the planet.  The small SUV is built in Bupyeong, South Korea and shares much of its underpinnings with Chevrolet's other small car, the Sonic.  It's not hard to miss some borrowed styling elements between the two, but the Trax certainly has the popular crossover proportions buyers are seeking these days.  It's also got that magic combination of price, size, flexibility and fuel efficiency sought by everyone from millennials to small families to empty nesters and retirees.  Yet with so many subcompact SUV players entering showrooms by next summer how will the Chevy Trax measure up?

The folks at Chevrolet assembled an impressive list of segment-first/segment-only claims for the Trax, but let's start with the basics.  Constructed of 66 percent high-strength steel, and riding on a MacPherson strut front and torsion beam rear suspension, the Trax felt as solid as it looks while we drove one through downtown San Diego in pouring rain.  The electric rack-and-pinion power steering proved responsive, while its small exterior size made navigating heavy traffic and executing tight parking maneuvers easy.  It's this small exterior footprint, combined with 18.7 cubic feet behind the second row seat, and 48.4 cubic feet of space with the 60/40 second row seat folded down, that makes small SUVs like the Trax so appealing.

A fold flat front passenger seat, one of the Trax's segment-only features, further expands its functionality.  With that seat, and the second row, folded down the little SUV can haul big items measuring up to 8 feet long.  Smaller items can be placed in one of the Trax's 15 interior storage bins, including upper and lower glove boxes, a central storage bin above the dash and multiple door pockets.  The upper glove box features a standard USB port for connecting music players, and every Trax comes with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot (a 3 month subscription is included in the purchase price).  Chevrolet knows technology is important to much of the Trax's target demographic, so a 7-inch color touchscreen with MyLink functionality is standard.

The Trax also supports Siri Eyes Free voice control and the BringGo mobile app that mirrors mobile phone navigation on the Chevy's display screen.  Technology plays a role under the Trax's hood, too, where a 4-cylinder, 1.4-liter turbocharged engine provides 138 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of drive form and 3,208 pounds when equipped with all-wheel drive.  The turbo engine delivers peak torque at a low rpm and maintains it across the engine's rev range, giving the Trax capable forward trust while making smart use of the 6-speed automatic.  It's not a performance machine, yet target buyers will find the Trax's combination of acceleration and fuel efficiency (26 city mpg, 34 highway mpg and 29 combined on front-wheel drive models), exactly what they're after.

Everything mentioned so far is included on the base 2015 Chevrolet Trax LS, with front-wheel drive, for a starting price of US$20,995.  For another US$1,500 a buyer can add all-wheel drive, while everything from heated leather seats, rear park assist, a sunroof, 18-inch wheels, fog lamps and a Bose audio system are either standard or optional on the LT and LTZ trims.  Chevrolet reps told us even a loaded up Trax LTZ won't hit US$30,000, giving buyers looking for maximum luxury as well as maximum flexibility an affordable option in the 2015 Chevrolet Trax.  Of course, more subcompact SUV choices will appear in competing brands' showrooms over the next several months, so choose wisely.

SHAREABLE CHEVROLET HOLIDAY MESSAGE BENEFITS UNITED WAY

 



By General Motors, Oshawa - Chevrolet today released a holiday message that Facebook and Twitter users can share to brighten their friends' days while giving back to their communities through United Way.  Chevrolet will contribute $1 to United Way for each share and retweet of Chevrolet's Facebook post and Tweet of the video up to a total of $50,000.

"Along with our commitment to customers, our company is dedicated to giving back and supporting the communities in which we live and work," said Bob McClelland, brand director for Chevrolet in Canada.  "We hope Canadians will take a moment to share the spirit of giving with their friends and family while helping United Way."

This extends GM Canada's ongoing support of United Way and its mission to improve communities and individual lives by focusing on education, financial stability and basic needs, such as food and shelter.

FIRST 2015 CORVETTE Z06s ON THEIR WAY TO CUSTOMERS

By General Motors, Bowling Green, Ky - Chevrolet is now shipping the all-new 2015 Corvette Z06 coupe from Bowling Green Assembly and some early customers could receive the much-anticipated supercar later this week.

"It has been an incredible opportunity to work on Chevy's most capable model," said Jeff Lamarche, plant manager of General Motors' Bowling Green Assembly plant, "It truly is an amazing car, and we're thrilled to get them into the hands of our eager customers."

The new Corvette Z06 offers the most choice for customers in the model's history.  It is the first Z06 to offer an available eight-speed paddle-shift automatic transmission and, thanks to a stronger aluminum frame, a removable roof panel.  In addition, it is the first time since 1963 that the Z06 is available as a convertible - which will arrive in early 2015.

The new LT4 supercharged 6.2L V-8 engine is SAE-certified at 650 horsepower (485 kW) at 6,400 rpm and 650 lb-ft of torque (881 Nm) at 3,600 rpm - making the 2015 Corvette Z06 the most powerful production car ever from General Motors and one of the most powerful production cars available in North America.

To balance performance and efficiency, the LT4 leverages a trio of advanced technologies - direct injection, Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation) and continuously variable valve timing - with a new, more efficient supercharger.

The LT4 helps make the Corvette Z06 the most capable car in the brand's history.  The Z06 accelerates from a rest to 96 km/ in only 2.95 seconds when equipped with the all-new, available eight-speed automatic transmission - and achieves it in 3.2 seconds with the standard seven-speed manual transmission.

A quarter-mile sprint takes just 10.95 seconds with the eight-speed automatic and 11.2 seconds with the seven-speed manual.  With both versions, the Corvette Z06 hits 204 km/h at the end of the quarter-mile.

When it comes to braking performance, the Z06 can stop from 96 km/h in only 30 metres.  That's the best braking performance of any production car GM has ever tested.  Additionally, the Corvette Z06 achieves 1.2 g in lateral acceleration compared with the Corvette's previous best 1.13 g.

All test results were achieved with Z06 coupes fitted with the Z07 Performance package, which adds Brembo carbon ceramic brake rotors and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires.  The Z07 package also features the most aggressive aerodynamic package available on the Corvette Z06, which delivers the most downforce of any production car GM has ever tested.

The Z06 also offers the industry-first Performance Data Recorder - or PDR - which enables users to record high-definition video, with telemetry overlays, of their driving experiences on and off the track.  The racing-derived system is included with the available navigation system.

Pricing for the 2015 Corvette Z06 in Canada starts at $85,095 plus a $1,800 destination charge, while the convertible model will start at $90,595.

MOTOR TREND NAMES CHEVROLET COLORADO 2015 TRUCK OF THE YEAR

Midsize pickup outclasses competition in design,
engineering, efficiency, safety and more

 

El Segundo, Calif (Wednesday, December 3, 2014) - After its most comprehensive truck evaluation program in history, MOTOR TREND has selected the Chevy Colorado as its 2015 Truck of the Year.

MOTOR TREND's Truck of the Year program is only open to all-new or significantly updated trucks and vans for the upcoming model year.  For 2015, seven contenders were invited to compete; three competitors were asked to bring a powertrain and/or body style variant for a total of 10 vehicles overall:

• Chevrolet Colorado WT and Colorado Z71
• Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD
• Ford F150 2.7L EcoBoost and 3.5L Ecoboost
• Ford Transit 350 HR and Transit 150 MR
• GMC Canyon SLT
• GMC Sierra Denali 2500 HD

The 2015 Colorado emerged as MOTOR TREND's 2015 Truck of the Year by a rare unanimous vote.  The editors were particularly impressed with Colorado's handsome, clean-sheet design, "right-sized" package, excellent handling and overall capability.  Colorado's potent-yet-efficient powertrains also returned best-in-class fuel economy according to Real MPG and EPA testing.

"After days of testing, hundreds of miles on the road, and our most rigorous truck testing program to date, our editors unanimously selected the Chevy Colorado as our 2015 Truck of the Year," said Edward Loh, MOTOR TREND's editor-in-chief.  "Colorado is a smart, capable, and refreshingly honest truck that makes a strong value and efficiency statement.  It's perfectly sized and suited for the needs of many of today's truck users."

"The Colorado redefines the midsize truck segment, offering customers the versatility of a pickup in a powerful, refined, fuel-efficient midsize package, with an impressive 8.8 L/100 km highway fuel consumption," said Bob McClelland, brand director of Chevrolet in Canada.  "For Colorado to emerge from MOTOR TREND's thorough evaluation as the 2015 Truck of the Year shows how Colorado is changing the game by offering truck customers fresh new choices."

To determine which truck deserved top honors, the MOTOR TREND test team subjected all of the contenders to numerous instrumented and real-world road tests.  First up was standard MOTOR TREND testing, which included: 0-96 km/h (0-60 mph) and 1/4-mile acceleration, 96-0 km/h (60-0 mph) braking, and maximum lateral grip - all without payload or trailered loads.

A specific payload was then added to each truck and van, and the vehicles were then driven more than 400 kilometres (250 miles) to the Arizona/Nevada border to evaluate ride quality and loaded fuel economy.  The vehicles were driven up and down the famed Davis Dam in Bullhead City, Arizona for further assessment, including an instrumented test designed to simulate a passing situation while carrying a load.

The team then moved to a world-class automotive proving grounds for instrumented acceleration tests with nominal weight trailers.  Truck and trailer were also driven through a short handling course to evaluate acceleration, braking, maneuverability and outward visibility.  The final phase of evaluation involved a 3--kilometer (21-mile) road loop through hills of Arizona's Hualapai Mountains.

Following the team's intensive evaluation, the trucks were shipped to MOTOR TREND headquarters in El Segundo to undergo proprietary "Real MPG" fuel-economy testing.  Using advanced exhaust gas and flow-rate analyzers, Real MPG measures tailpipe emissions every second during a three-hour, 141-kilometre (88-mile) drive around the Los Angeles area to record accurate real-world fuel economy.

Once testing was completed, select MOTOR TREND editors convened to determine which truck would be crowned Truck of the Year.  The winner is not chosen from a direct comparison against the other contenders, but rather as a result of how each contender performed in testing and against the award's six criteria:  Design Advancement, Engineering Excellence, Efficiency, Safety, Value and Performance of Intended Function.

2015 CHEVROLET TRAX: MORE EMPTY NESTER THAN EMO KID

By Seyth Miersma, Autoblog.com - After the obligatory product presentation for the 2015 Trax, I caught up with Steve Majoros, Chevrolet's director of marketing for crossovers and cars, and asked him to elaborate on which markets his planners believe will be the hot starters for this tiny CUV.  Without much hesitation, Majoros began to click off traditional sales havens for Subaru, namely, New England and the snowy bits of the East Coast, Colorado and the Pacific Northwest.

That news might not surprise you, but it did me.  Perhaps it's something as basic as the Trax's tall-hatchback looks, or the emphasis Chevrolet put on the urban driving cycle during my test in San Diego.  But before my chat with Majoros, I'd considered this a crossover pointed at the Millennial city mouse more than his bumpkin cousin.

But a closer look had me re-examining the granola cred of Chevy's smallest crossover.  Having spent my fair share of time in New England and around New Englanders, I started by mentally listing the Trax's Subaru-like traits: practicality, thrift, all-weather ability and, well, just a dash of ugliness.  (I suppose a hatchback needn't always be ugly to sell in Maine, or Boulder or Portland ... but a 'distinctive' face doesn't seem to hurt.)

After a day of driving through sunny San Diego and its surrounds, I can say that Trax makes an interesting case for itself against the standard bearers of the L.L. Bean set, but I'm less sure of its argument for young urbanites.

The Trax looks a lot like an Equinox whose suit shrunk in the wash.

Chevy has downsized its own, rather conservative crossover styling to fit the proportions of the subcompact Trax; to my eyes, it looks a lot like an Equinox whose suit shrunk in the wash.  That's fine for offering a cohesive look for the Chevy family of crossovers, but it seems out of step with the rest of the segment.

If the Trax's current competitive set were the cast of a high school-based TV show, the Kia Soul would play the lovable nerd, the Nissan Juke perhaps the outsider musician and the Subaru XV Crosstrek the athletic outdoorsy kid.  Chevy may see the Trax as the hipster chick wearing intentionally ironic mom jeans, but to me the styling is a little too on the nose, more like an actual grownup trying to hand with the kids.  These mom jeans are genuine.

Per my earlier point, that quasi-conservative look may be just fast enough for staid New Englanders, but I have a hard time seeing the bluff, big-Bowtied front end playing in Bushwick or Wicker Park.

There's no part of the interior that feels youthful, or edgy, or otherwise indicative of must-have-it design.

Inside, the Trax is every bit as excitement-free.  Don't get me wrong, the styling of the cockpit is clean and refreshingly free of the kinds of faux-lux ornamentation that has turned many an entry-level GM vehicle into a gauche mess.  But there's no part of the interior that feels youthful, or edgy, or otherwise indicative of must-have-it design.

When viewed practically, though, the interior is the spiritual kinsman to a pair of duck boots paired with Carhartt cargo pants.  Visibility from the driver's seat is excellent, forward and side, though the smallish rear window and raked roofline detract a bit from the backwards visage.  The seat itself is cozy and upright, slightly flat, but not bad for a vehicle nobody will basically ever want to enter a hot corner in.  A raised ride height, relative to traditional hatchbacks, means getting into and out of the seat is a doddle, too.  Most importantly, cupholders and cubbies surround: there are two gloveboxes (lil' and big), and a pop-open nook at the top of the center console, goodly door pockets and four receptacles for front-passenger beverages alone.

The rear seats aren't nearly as commodious as the front, lacking especially in the headroom department, but there's still reasonable room for two adults back there.  (Assuming the adults aren't corn-fed Dutch boys like me.)

With the rear seats folded, the Trax will swallow 48.4 cubic feet's worth of stuff.

And, perhaps most important for the practical-minded, there's a great big load space to be found under the hatchbacked rear.  Even with the seats up, there seems to be enough room to lug a 3,000-watt generator and a week's worth of groceries up to the camp ... you know, as a general "for instance."

Chevy says that with the rear seats folded (something that seems to require the front seats to be far forward to accomplish), the Trax will swallow 48.4 cubic feet's worth of stuff.  That's a bigger hold than the Juke but smaller by 3.5 cubes than the Crosstrek's hatch, and way smaller than the clever Soul's 61.3 cubic feet of stowage.

As I mentioned at the top, Chevy seemed to be heavily pushing the urban-driver's car theme by way of our prescribed driving route.  Starting at the airport, we did some coastal commuting up to La Jolla, got in a few quick turns on stretches by the ocean, and then traversed downtown San Diego as though we were residents.

Getting into and out of tight parking spaces is second nature for the vehicle, and its excellent visibility was of use in downtown traffic.

The Trax proved plenty nimble in low-speed city driving, aided by its short wheelbase and reasonably quick steering.  Getting into and out of tight parking spaces is second nature for the vehicle, and those excellent sight lines certainly were of use in downtown traffic, too.

But I can't say that the powertrain - a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder making 138 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque that you'll recognize from the Sonic, Cruze and the Trax's upscale Buick Encore cousin - was much fun when threading through sleepy California commuters.  Routed to a six-speed autobox and pushing 2,805 pounds of curb weight in the front-drive configuration I sampled, the blown four sounded rough when the throttle was opened up and didn't have much in the way of guts, either.  I really had to kick the throttle in its proverbial nuts to get the Trax moving, that or make use of the horrible thumb-switch gear-change button on the side of the shiftlever.  If and when I did those things, my rewards were still-mild response times and an exhaust/engine soundtrack that would make an EK Civic sound like an F40.

Not that one should throw the baby out with the bathwater, though - a Trax buyer who couldn't care less about engine response might still be happy to hear that the fuel economy is expected to be excellent.  According to the EPA, a front-drive Trax is good for 34 miles per gallon on the highway, easily besting the competitors I've already named, including the far less torque Kia.  City and combined figures stand at 26 and 29 mpg, respectively, which are just about equal to the 27/29 of the lighter but more powerful Nissan, too.

It's hushed on the highway and so smooth over rough roads that I hardly noticed a bump after the one pothole I intentionally steered toward.

The ride and handling story is a near parallel to that of the powertrain, vis-à-vis fun vs practical.  This isn't a chuckable hatchback.  The suspension is soft, the steering pretty flavorless and the biggest dynamic plus is the chassis' wheelbase-aided ability to rotate quickly.  All of those same tuning choices do make the Trax a quiet, controlled and docile thing, too.  It's hushed on the highway and so smooth over rough roads that I hardly noticed a bump after the one pothole I intentionally steered toward (San Diego County is not rife with the things, I'll admit.)

For those of you keeping score at home, that brings us to four checkmarks for the Trax in the practical column and zero in the young/fun column.  Of course, the biggest deciding factor for the bulk of both groups is price.

Chevy asks $20,995 plus $875 in delivery and destination for its most basic, front-wheel-drive Trax model, and you'll need to add $1,500 to that for the all-wheel drive that lets this CUV play in the Snowbelt and mountain regions of our fair nation.  That $23k total rings up as about $500 less expensive than the always-all-wheels-driven XV Crosstrek with the Optional CVT, for the best apples-to-apples comparison.  A Juke S AWD is slightly cheaper than both of them, at $22,995.  Front-driver comparisons are less kind on the Trax, headlined by the base, 1.6-liter Soul that retails for just $15,900, delivered (the Kia doesn't offer all-wheel drive).

The parsimonious and the sensible buyer should love this small crossover, which excels in its reasonableness above all.

Don't forget, the newly announced Honda HR-V and Mazda CX-3 will have something important to say about this segment next year, too, as will the Fiat 500X and Jeep Renegade.

Whenever a small, affordable vehicle is launched, its automaker hopes a river of new, young buyers will flow into the brand.  Such is the case with Trax, and I'm sure that its size and low price point will bring some young 'uns into Chevy showrooms.

But I like Majoros' sales story better, based on both my test and my understanding of the (for lack of a better term) Olive Kitteridge demographic.  The parsimonious and the sensible buyer should love this small crossover, which excels in its extraordinary reasonableness above all.

SILVERADO ENGINES INTEGRATE ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY, DEPENDABLE DESIGN

 

• Engines operate on four cylinders to save fuel during light-load driving
• Best fuel efficiency of any gas V-8 pickup - as low as 10.3 L/100 km highway
• Proven dependability - more than 100 million Small Blocks built to date

By General Motors of Canada, Oshawa - When it comes to trucks, customers place dependability near the top of the list.  And when it comes to truck engines, more than 100 million engines' worth of continuous improvement and trillions of kilometres support the Chevrolet Silverado V-6 and V-8s claim to delivering on that requirement.

"The Silverado has become the most dependable full-size pickup truck through many generations of grueling durability testing and real world driving," said Michael MacPhee, brand manager, Chevrolet in Canada.  "The new generation of Small Block engines has benefited from many years of customer experience to improve the performance, refinement and efficiency valued by demanding truck customers."

The 2015 Silverado offers a trio EcoTec3 engines with advanced fuel-saving technologies enabling customers to choose the performance and fuel efficiency that best meets their needs:

• 4.3L V-6; 285 horsepower; 305 lb-ft of torque; 9.9 L/100km highway
• 5.3L V-8; 355 horsepower; 383 lb-ft of torque; 10.3 L/100km highway
• 6.2L V-8; 420 horsepower; 460 lb-ft of torque; 11.4 L/100km highway

 

Every EcoTec3 engine features advanced technologies such as direct fuel injection, continuously variable valve timing and Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation) to provide power, torque and efficiency across a broad range of operating conditions.

"The latest Small Block engines are ideally suited to Silverado and to the tough jobs that pickup customers do every day," said Jordan Lee, global chief engineer and program manager for Small Block engines.  "We give customers the power and torque of a full-size truck engine when they need it, then use Active Fuel Management and other advanced technologies to seamlessly shift to four-cylinder operation when the truck is under light loads, making the most of fuel efficiency."

Silverado's EcoTec3 engines are direct descendants of the original Small Block Chevy V-8, and benefit from more than 60 years - and more than 100 million engines' worth - of continuous improvement.

"Small Block engines have been used, abused, modified and raced in almost every type of car and truck imaginable," said Lee.  "Our engineers are able to draw on that experience to build stronger, more efficient, more dependable engines for Chevy truck customers."

The latest Gen 5 Small Block engine has endured tough testing, including a grueling performance durability procedure, where it was subjected to a high-speed/high-load torture session that simulated full-throttle blasts from the equivalent of 0 to 190 km/h.  With simulated transmission shift points inserted during the high-load test, the engine cycles non-stop between peak torque and peak horsepower for hundreds of hours.

Testing on the Gen 5 Small Block that contributes to the legendary durability of the modern Small Block engines include:

• Severe thermal cycle testing, which quickly cycles the engine between extreme cold and hot coolant temperatures to validate the durability of engine components such as the head gaskets, exhaust manifolds and more
• The "hot scuff" test, in which a brand-new engine - or "green" engine to the engineers - is run at wide-open throttle with no break-in period, helping test critical engine parts such as bearings, piston ring sealing and bore scuffing
• Active Fuel Management validation, which cycled the engine in and out of the cylinder-deactivating feature hundreds of thousands of times at a variety of engine speeds to ensure the performance and durability of its unique valve lifters.

 

Fuel-saving AFM technology reaches 10-year mark

2015 marks the 10th anniversary of Active Fuel Management (AFM), the cylinder deactivation technology that improves fuel economy in trucks by seamlessly switching to four-cylinder mode to help save fuel during light-load driving.

Introduced in 2005, it is currently available on the 2015 Chevrolet Silverado, Tahoe, Suburban, Camaro and Corvette.

STEPHEN K. CARLISLE TO LEAD GM CANADA

 

By General Motors of Canada, Oshawa - Stephen K. Carlisle has been named president and managing director of GM Canada succeeding Kevin W. Williams, who has led GM Canada since 2010.  Williams will assist in the transition through the end of the year.

Williams has elected to retire from General Motors, effective December 31, 2014.  Williams joined GM in 1983, holding progressively more senior roles in manufacturing, supplier quality and development, purchasing and service and parts operations in multiple locations around the globe including Canada, Mexico, Germany, and the United States.  Immediately prior to his Canadian assignment, Williams served as vice president and general manager, Service and Parts Operations where he led all GM's global aftersales businesses.  Williams also served as president and managing director of GM de Mexico; GM North America vice president of Quality and Global Quality Process Leader; and global executive director, Supplier Quality, Development and Supplier Diversity.

"I'd like to than Kevin for his leadership and significant contributions throughout a long and distinguished career with GM," said Mary Barra, CEO, General Motors Company.  "In his most recent assignment, Kevin helped rebuild GM Canada after one of our most challenging periods and has established a solid foundation for growth into the future."

In his new role, Carlisle will report to Alan Batey, president, GM North America, General Motors Company.  Carlisle most recently served as the vice president of global product planning and program management based in the United States, and previously, held positions as vice president, U.S. sales operations, responsible for dealer network, retail sales support and fleet & commercial; as well as president and managing director, GM South East Asia Operations in addition to leadership positions in Singapore and China.

"I'm honoured to have the opportunity to return to Canada and build on the winning foundation established by Kevin and the team over the past four years," said Carlisle.  "Having worked intensely on GM's world-leading new products and technology strategies, I am excited to bring my enthusiasm and product focus to Canada.  I look forward to working with our employees, dealers and other key stakeholders to continue to build an organization that puts the customer at the centre of everything we do."

HOW GM'S ONSTAR IS BUILDING A BETTER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT

Cars will warn of failures before they happen

 

By Chris Paukert, Autoblog.com - Soon OnStar will be used to mine your car's systems and compare its findings against vast pools of data in the cloud.
We've all become accustomed to our cars' dashboards warning us of an impending calamity, be it low fuel, low tire pressure or even the dreaded nonspecific "check engine" light.  But what if your car could tell you specifically that your alternator is going, or that your water pump is about to fail?  That technology is coming, says General Motors' executive vice president of global product development, Mark Reuss.  In a Thursday media luncheon, Reuss confirmed to us that GM is working on the technology using cars equipped with its OnStar communications network.  According to Reuss:

"Being able to predict about when that (a failure) is going to happen prevents walk homes.  If there's a problem with a brake rotor, if there's a problem with a brake system or a steering system - being able to predict that (failure) and inform the driver that they need to go to a dealer and have that service performed before it happens, that's really good R&D."
Today, OnStar is best known for its subscription services that help drivers deal with inconveniences and problems, from turn-by-turn navigation to automatic emergency services notifications in the event of an accident.  But soon, OnStar will be used to mine your car's systems and compare its findings against vast pools of data in the cloud.  If it finds variations in the performance of your vehicle's systems that are indicative of impending failures, OnStar will then be able to automatically notify you of the potential problem utilizing in-car screens, either via the infotainment system or gauge cluster display.  OnStar presently has the ability to notify owners of vehicle maintenance intervals using email, so conceivably notifications could be delivered in this way, too.

So, will this be yet another subscription-based service for GM?  Not necessarily.  Reuss says:

"We're figuring out the business model right now.  But theoretically, we'd like to offer that to all of our customers.  We already give away a ton of money on that equipment of OnStar in the car that nobody really pays for.  So we're going to use it."
So, is this pie-in-the-sky technology?  No, Reuss says.  "We're testing the system now with our employees," he says, which suggests it's coming soon.

Now, how long will it be before OnStar checks to make sure your preferred dealer has the required replacement part in stock and reserves a service appointment for you? 

CHEVROLET JOINS GRASSLANDS PROJECT

Auto manufacturing company Chevrolet is the first
corporate participant in an initiative that pays farmers
not to convert rolling grasslands, like those pictured
here in North Dakota's prairie pothole region

 

First corporate participant.  As part of program, carmaker has purchased carbon credits equal to taking 5,000 cars off the road.

 

By The Associated Press - Chevrolet is the first corporate participant in a public-private initiative that pays farmers not to convert natural prairie to large-scale crop production, which would release gases that are warming the planet, officials said Monday.

The automaker, a division of General Motors, said it has bought more than 39,000 metric tonnes of carbon credits from North Dakota ranchers in the prairie pothole region, a broad expanse of grasslands and wetlands reaching across the northern Great Plains and parts of Canada.

"The amount of carbon dioxide removed from our atmosphere by Chevrolet's purchase of carbon credits equals the amount that would be reduced by taking 5,000 cars off the road," U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said.

Grasslands store huge volumes of carbon dioxide, one of the gases most responsible for climate change.

Tilling the soil for agriculture releases the gases into the atmosphere.  Preserving grasslands keeps carbon bottled up and preserves habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife.

CORVETTE Z06 PARTS MAY BE COMING TO CHEVY CATALOGUE

 

By Chris Bruce, Autoblog.com - With 650 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque pumping out of a 6.2-litre supercharged V8 and starting at $78,995, the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is a performance powerhouse for its price.  However, not everyone wants to drop that much cash on a sports coupe, especially when the base 2015 'Vette is a pretty potent package already ... for tens of thousands of dollars less.  However, for buyers wanting a taste of the Z06 in their regular C7, the Chevrolet Performance catalogue might be more than ready to help in the near future.
According to Car and Driver, Chevy displayed one of these kitted up C7s at SEMA, although the brand still wasn't sure whether it would go through with actually offering the components.  The parts included many of the Z06s special suspension bits that sharpen its handling like the shocks, anti-roll bars, control arms, carbon-fibre underbody bracing and the whole transverse leaf spring rear suspension.  For better stopping, the quicker coupe's larger brakes and calipers were also available.  To keep things running cool during hard driving, there was the high-flow radiator and rear transaxle oil-cooler.  Finally, to get a little of the Z06's look, the model's front brake ducts, rear spoiler and rear vents were available, as well.

Bringing the parts from a limited-edition model down to something a touch more plebeian isn't a new move for Chevy.  The company also offered some bits of the Camaro Z/28 to customers, though on a restricted basis.  Even more components from the ZL1 could be ordered to hop up a lower-tire Camaro, too.  So while adding the Z06s parts to the Chevy Performance catalogue might just be an idea for now, it would hardly be a shock to see them for sale in there eventually.

CHEVY SHOWS CHAPARRAL VISION GRAN TURISMO CONCEPT

 

By Brandon Turkus, Autoblog.com - Well, this wasn't something we expected.  We knew Chevrolet was going to be getting in on the Vision Gran Turismo party, but it was kind of just assumed that the concept would be based on one of the brand's production performance cars, with the still-newish Corvette seeming like the obvious choice.  Instead, though, Chevy has thrown one hell of a curve ball with its teaser for the Chaparral Vision Gran Turismo.

For those not up on the history of racing cars of the 1960s and 1970s, Chaparral came from the combination of Hap Sharp, Jim Hall and Chevy race engines, and was a genuine innovator in one of the wildest eras in racing.  The team was particularly known for its pioneering work in ground effects, with its 2J, the so-called "sucker car," forcing rulebook changes eight years before the Lotus 79 arrived.

Now, Chevrolet has revived the name for 2X Vision Gran Turismo.  Penned by the GM Advanced Design Studio and with input from Jim Hall, the 2X looks to be extreme even by Vision Gran Turismo standards.

"It will serve as an example of what our designers are capable of when they are cut loose, no holds barred," GM design boss Ed Welburn said.  "A fantasy car in every send of the word."

We'll be on hand when the 2X Vision Gran Turismo makes its debut on November 19, at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show.  While you wait for that, check out the press release from Chevy, which provides a pretty thorough history of Chaparral, as well as a small gallery of three of the team's most distinctive cars, the 2, 2E and 2J.

Chevrolet to Show Chaparral Vision Gran Turismo ConceptBoundary-pushing, Chevy-powered race cars changed motorsports design

DETROIT - When racers Jim Hall and Hap Sharp founded Chaparral Cars in 1962, few could have guessed how they would shake up the conformities of the racing world - and fundamentally change it.

Through pioneering applications of aerodynamics and aerospace technology, and a partnership with Chevrolet Research and Development, Chaparral Cars advanced the science of racing cars.  It also triumphed on the track over well-established sports car companies from around the world, using Chevrolet horsepower.

It was that spirit of innovation that inspired the Chevrolet Chaparral 2X VGT concept race car developed for the Vision Gran Turismo project, which celebrates the 15th anniversary of PlayStation racing game Gran Turismo by inviting manufacturers to give fans a glimpse into the future of automotive design.  It will debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show, Nov. 19, and gamers will be able to race the Chaparral 2X VGT following the release of an online update for Gran Turismo 6 during the holiday season.

"Jim Hall and Chaparral blended the art of racing with science in an unprecedented way, changing the sport forever and inspiring a new generation to experiment with aerodynamics and unconventional materials," said Mark Reuss, GM executive vice president, Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply Chain.  "His race cars were four-wheeled physics projects that proved innovation - and a strong Chevy race engine - could drive you to the winner's circle."

GM's Advanced Design Studio, with input from Jim Hall, designed the Chevrolet Chaparral 2X VGT concept.

"It will serve as an example of what our designers are capable of when they are cut loose, no holds barred," said Ed Welburn, vice president of GM Global Design.  "A fantasy car in every sense of the word."

The first Chaparral, a conventional, front-engine race car, was built by Dick Troutman and Tom Barnes in 1961.  In 1962 Jim Hall and Hap Sharp - who had purchased one of the original Chaparral racers - formed Chaparral Cars, Inc. and immediately began the design and construction of Chaparral 2, a mid-engine car with an aerospace-inspired semi-monocoque fiberglass chassis.  It was powered by a 327-cubic-inch Chevrolet small-block V-8 engine and would later incorporate an innovative torque-converter transaxle.

In its first race at Riverside, in 1963, Hall qualified the Chaparral 2 on the pole position and set a track record in the process.  In 1964, he won the United States Road Racing Championship (USRRC) and, in 1965, the Chaparral 2 scored its biggest coup on the racetrack, winning the prestigious 12-hour race at Sebring - upsetting historically dominant international teams.

Chaparral Cars soon partnered with Chevrolet Research and Development to help develop the pioneering methods and materials Hall envisioned, including the composite monocoque chassis, lightweight-alloy powertrain systems, automatic transmissions for racing and progressive, active aerodynamics.  The partnership also spawned ground-breaking vehicle data acquisition technology.

In 1966, Chaparral introduced the radical 2E race car for SCCA's Can-Am series.  With a large, highmounted wing to produce downforce, it represented a milestone in aerodynamics applied to race cars, providing as much as 240 pounds of downforce at 100 mph.  Phil Hill and Hall scored a 1-2 finish that year at Laguna Seca.  A year later, the Chaparral 2F, a high-winged coupe built for World Championship Endurance competition, set the fastest lap in five of the eight races that season.

Hall's pursuit of handling-enhancing downforce, which allowed a race car to enter and exit corners faster, while ensuring high-speed stability on the straights, reached its zenith in 1970, with the introduction of the radical Chaparral 2J.  In addition to a thundering Chevrolet big-block V-8 engine, it featured a separate motor to drive a pair of fans that exhausted air beneath the car, essentially producing suction-derived downforce.

The Chaparral 2J's unconventional, fan-driven downforce system was as effective as it was controversial.  In four races it grabbed three pole positions - and then it was banned by the race series' sanctioning body.  Hall and Chaparral continued racing throughout the 1970s, including the 1970 season of the Trans-Am Series, when Hall drove a Chaparral-prepared Camaro Z-28.  The company scored a win at the 1978 Indianapolis 500, with Al Unser Sr. driving a Chaparral-prepared Lola racecar.  In 1979, Chaparral built its own Indy car, the 2K, which powered Johnny Rutherford to the Indianapolis 500 win in 1980, along with the USAC and CART series championships that year.

The Chaparral 2, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2H, 2J and 2K are displayed in the Chaparral Gallery of the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum in Midland, Texas.



GM CANADA RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF CANADA'S TOP 100 EMPLOYERS

Four Consecutive Year of Recognition
for GM Canada

 

By General Motors of Canada, Oshawa - GM Canada has been selected as one of Canada's "Top 100 Employers" by Mediacorp Canada Inc. in its annual survey of Canadian businesses.  This is the fourth consecutive year that GM Canada has been included.

"All of GM Canada's employees are working together to make GM the most valued automotive company by building great relationships both inside and outside GM and acting with integrity," said Kevin Williams, president and managing director, GM Canada.  "Our employees are encouraged to be accountable for results and driven to win.  Together we have all created a workplace where both what we achieve and how we achieve it matters."

GM Canada was recognized for a number of important initiatives benefiting employees and their families including:

• Career planning services and tools
• Tuition assistance program
• Professional association memberships
• In-house apprenticeships and skilled trade training
• Product evaluation program
• teamGM recognition program
• employee health and wellness programs

The Canada's Top 100 Employers competition is the largest editorial project of its kind in Canada, with thousands of employers taking part in each year's application process.  The distinguishing feature of the project is that its editors publish detailed reasons, providing transparency in the selection of winners and practical guidance for jobseekers about exceptional workplaces.  Each employer is graded by Mediacorp editors on eight key areas: (1) Physical Workplace; (2) Work Atmosphere & Social; (3) Health, Financial & Family Benefits; (4) Vacation & Time Off; (5) Employee Communications; (6) Performance Management; (7) Training & Skills Development; and (8) Community Involvement.  The same eight criteria have been applied since the competition was launched 15 years ago.

BEFORE, DURING, AFTER A CRASH: #CHEVY SAFETY

 

By Garry Sowerby, The Chronicle-Herald - "Are you OK?"  Hearing that question coming from the speakers of your vehicle means you've been in a car crash.  Hearing it also means you're conscious.  And alive.

Your vehicle has crashed and its airbags have deployed.  If you drive a Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick or GMC vehicle and subscribe to OnStar, GM's unique vehicle-integrated provider of safety, security and connectivity services, a signal has been sent to an OnStar Call Centre.

That voice asking 'Are you OK?' is one of OnStar's 2500 advisors and if he or she gets no response to that question, emergency vehicles are deployed to your exact location.

Catherine Bishop, OnStar's passionate Manager of Global Emergency Services Outreach and Strategy, tells us that upwards of 185,000 daily calls from all over North America are overseen here at the OnStar Command Center.

My visit here was the final stop on a busy two-day tour last week.  As part of National Teen Driver Safety Week, General Motors Company had invited a group of media to Detroit to show what the company does to keep vehicle occupants safe, with a particular focus this week on teen drivers, before, during and after a crash.

The U.S. National Safety Council released a list of the top 10 things most parents don't know about their teen driving.  Here are a few:  Car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens.  Teen passengers pose one of the biggest distractions.  Just one teen passenger raises a teen driver's fatal crash risk by 44 per cent.  More than half of teens killed in car crashes were not restrained by a seatbelt!

Our group discussed these sobering statistics with a panel of speakers which included Torine Creppy, Chief Program Officer for Safe Kids Worldwide and John Capp, Director Global Safety Strategy and Vehicle Programs for General Motors.

Safe Kids Worldwide and its partner Parachute Canada are organizations dedicated to preventing injuries in children.  Safe kids has been working with The GM Foundation for 17 years to support safe teen driving through education, promoting seat belt use and teaching ways to avoid driving distractions.

The best accident is one that doesn't happen.  John Capp talked to us extensively about the Active Safety Crash Avoidance systems that General Motors builds into their vehicles to keep eyes on the road, hands on the steering wheel and prevent a crash.

We saw some of these 'before' systems at GM's storied Proving Grounds in Milford, Michigan.  GM has been purposely crashing and collecting data on their vehicles here for 90 years.

Last week we got a sneak peak at their almost-completed Active Safety Test Area.  There are 130 miles of roads at the Proving Grounds, including a highway with eight lanes of varying widths and markings that represent countries around the world, like the blue lines used in Korea.

The new 16-acre test pad is where we tried out crash avoidance systems like Lane Departure Warning, Side Blind Zone alert, Adaptive Cruise Control (which adjusts your set speed if a vehicle appears in the lane in front of you), Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Forward Collision Alert and Automatic braking.

This last one was the most dramatic.  As an oncoming obstacle gets closer, the vehicle will stridently beep, flash red LED lights on the instrument panel and insistently vibrate the GM-exclusive haptic seat beneath you.  If there is no driver response, the vehicle will apply hard braking and bring itself to a complete stop.

Obviously, teens need to learn to drive the 'old-fashioned way', without all of these systems, and, like all drivers, should never rely solely on them but to know that your vehicle has these systems to help them avoid a collision can be reassuring to a parent.

After seeing these safety technologies in action, developed by GM's very smart engineers, we moved to the Vehicle Safety and Crash Worthiness Lab where we met some pretty amazing dummies.

The official name of this unsung hero, the crash test dummy, is Anthropomorphic Test Device, or ATD.  The original Hybrid III crash dummy, used all over the world, was designed by GM.

This lab is where crashes are executed and the 'during' of a crash is evaluated.  Because a crash happens so fast (150 milliseconds, approximately 1/7 of a second), every crash is photographed and filmed in order to collect data.  Each dummy records data through all the instrumentation they have installed in the 'bodies."  GM conducts over 2,000 dummy impact tests annually.

During a crash, the main goal is to maintain the integrity of the passenger department.  The energy of the crash needs to be absorbed by the engine compartment.  Airbags and seatbelts must work together.  When an airbag deploys, it's similar to the lift-off of a rocket.  Airbags need to deploy in the right instances and they must not harm the occupants.

The dummies that represent teenagers brought us back to the reason we were there:  National Teen Driver Safety Week and the hope that the 'during' and 'after' of a crash will become less and less frequent as education and technology work together to make teenagers aware of the dangers behind the wheel.

Studies show that teens involved in a visual or manual task are eight times more likely to be involved in a crash.  Put down that device.  Parents, we are our children's biggest influence in how they end up behaving in the driver's seat.

Buckle up.  Every ride, every time.  Device down.  Speak up.

ONSTAR 4G LTE WINS POPULAR SCIENCE 'BEST OF WHAT'S NEW'

By General Motors, Detroit - OnStar has been named "Best of What's New" by Popular Science for its high-speed 4G LTE connectivity, the third time the magazine has chosen OnStar for one of the annual awards.

"The Popular Science awards demonstrate OnStar's continued commitment to remain a platform for future innovations," said Mary Chan, president, Global Connected Consumer, GM.  "Our growing list of core services, more than 1 million active RemoteLink app users and upcoming expansion of 4G LTE services to China and Europe echo this."

Earlier this year OnStar announced its shift from a 2G cellular connection to high-speed 4G LTE connectivity, bringing improved advisor services and a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot to vehicles.  The new technology allows customers to connect up to seven devices to the vehicle and use simultaneous voice and data.  Currently, more than 30 Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac 2015 models are equipped with the technology.

"For 27 years, Popular Science has honored the innovations that surprise and amaze us - those that make a positive impact on our world today and challenge our view of what's possible in the future," said Cliff Ransom, editor-in-chief of Popular Science.  "The Best of What's New" award is the magazine's top honor, and the 100 winners - chosen from among thousands of entrants - each is a revolution in its field."

OnStar's first Popular Science award came in 1996, the year the brand launched, for its first-generation hardware.  OnStar earned its second award 10 years later for its Turn-by-Turn Navigation, the world's first off-board navigation system.  This year's award is for OnStar's 10th generation hardware equipped with 4G LTE.

Customers using OnStar with 4G LTE can keep in touch with family, catch up on work or stream movies from the backseat.  The service provides access to a powerful antenna that's stronger than that of a smartphone, along with a Wi-Fi hotspot that operates without draining a mobile device's battery.  To learn more about OnStar with 4G LTE, visit: https://www.onstar.com/us/en/4glte/.

2015 COLORADO TAKES PICKUP DRIVERS BACK TO BASIC

By Glen Woodcock, Autonet - After an absence of three years, General Motors' Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon twins are back, filling a void in the pickup truck segment that's existed since Ford also killed off the Ranger in 2012.

Until the return of Colorado/Canyon for model year 2015, Toyota Tacoma was the only compact or midsize pickup available to North American buyers.

The Colorado extended cab is about as basic a truck as you can buy these days, with a starting price of $22,800.  As tested at the recent Canadian Car of the Year (CCOTY) competition, it weighed in at $27,515.  Still, that was $9,750 less than the better equipped Canyon Crew Cab, $27,079 less than Ford's F-150 Crew Cab, and a whopping $35,255 under the price of the Ram 150 diesel Crew Cab that also were competing in the pickup category.

All of its rivals had four-wheel drive while Colorado competed in rear-wheel-drive form.

Many people - small tradesmen especially - don't want or need a truck equipped like a luxury car.  These are the folks among whom the Colorado (or Canyon) Extended Cab will find favour.

For CCOTY, GM replaced Colorado's standard 2.5L inline-four engine and six-speed stick with the optional 3.6L V6 and six-speed automatic.  That added $2,365 to the MSRP, but both options are upgrades that many buyers will go for.  So is the $275 trailering package.  Towing capability is a respectable 3,175 kg.

With the bigger 305-hp engine, anticipated fuel economy of 13.0 L/100 km city and 9.2 L/100 km highway beats all rivals except Ram diesel.

The interior is a little slim on creature comforts, and the rear jump seats are occasional use only, but Colorado's driver position, visibility, handling and ride comfort were not blown away by the opposition.

Colorado felt quick when I drove it and the official numbers recorded by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada confirmed that.  With a 0-100 km/h time of 7.8 seconds, the RWD Colorado was much quicker than the bigger and heavier Canyon and Ram, and beaten only by the new light-weight aluminum F-150.  And not even the Ford could come close to its 80-120 km/h passing time of 4.7 seconds.

If proof was needed that the days of the V8-powered pickup are numbered, all of the 2015 CCOTY contenders were powered by V6 engines.

Even in base form Colorado is no stripper, with four-wheel disc brakes, ABS, traction control, electronic stability control, rear-view camera, air conditioning, and power/windows/locks/mirrors/driver's seat.  It's exactly what a lot of pickup buyers have been looking for.



VOLT'S BATTERY OF UPGRADES

Battery and drivetrain improvements could make
next Volt cruise further and more efficiently than ever

 

By Glen Woodcock, Autonet - A new Chevy Volt is coming for 2016 which will incorporate improvements dictated by the car's nearly 70,000 owners since 2010.

The all-new version of Chevrolet's extended range electric vehicle will make its debut in January at Detroit's North American International Auto Show.  It is expected to be on sale by the second half of next year.

In a press conference in Warren, Mich. last week, General Motors revealed details of the new Voltec propulsion system which includes improvements to the battery, drive unit and range-extending gasoline engine.  The new Voltec system will be more efficient and offer greater EV range and fuel economy compared to the current generation.

Owners say they want more than the 70-km range from the existing Volt's electric drive.  So GM is working on improving that, but says we'll have to wait till the Detroit show to find out by how much.

For operating in extended range gasoline mode, the 2016 Volt is getting an all-new, high-efficiency 1.5L 4-cylinder engine.  It features a direct injection fuel system that burns regular gas, a 12.5:1 compression ratio, cooled exhaust gas recirculation and a variable displacement oil pump.

GM says the new car will have 20% greater acceleration at low speeds, partially due to technology that will enable both electric motors to drive the front wheels, rather than just one of them.

Revisions to the battery pack will mean fewer cells, but more storage capacity and lighter weight.

"The current generation Volt's battery has proven to provide our owners exceptional performance when it comes to quality and reliability," said Larry Nitz, executive director of GM Powertrain's electrification engineering team.

"It would have been simple for us to tweak our existing battery to provide nominally increased range, but that's not what our customers want," said Nitz.  "So our team created a new battery system that will exceed the performance expectations of most of our owners."

Nitz also said the 2016 Volt, built in Michigan, will feature approximately 70% U.S. and Canadian components within its first year of production, a nearly 20% increase from the first-generation.  The new 1.5L engine will be manufactured at GM's Toluca, Mexico engine plant for the first year of production, then shift to the Flint, Mich. engine plant.