CRUZE OWNERS WARM UP THANKS TO REMOTELINK APP

By GM Canada - The Polar Vortex over most of eastern North America sent outdoor and coolant temperatures plummeting during most of January.  Chevrolet Cruze owners with OnStar's RemoteLink Mobile application avoided some of the chill because they could check their car's status and warm the interior from any distance.

RemoteLink set single-day and single-hour request records last month.  January 7 saw upwards of 200,000 requests sent through the mobile application across all General Motors' brands, setting the one-day record.  Later in the month, when the frigid air returned, the single-hour record was set on January 28 with more than 20,000 requests.  Chevrolet Cruze owners used the app more than any owners of any other GM vehicle did.

For all of January, Chevrolet owners made 2,909,674 requests through the app.  Of that total traffic, 1,603,107, or about 55 percent, of requests were for remote start.  The vehicle stays locked after a remote start, so it is secure, even when in a public space.  A key in the ignition turn is required for the vehicle to move.

More than 15 percent of RemoteLink requests were to check the car's vehicle data, such as tire pressure or oil life.  Owners of Volt extended-range electric vehicles queried how the frigid temperatures affected charging levels.

Existing RemoteLink users were just part of the record month.  Historically, most customers download the RemoteLink app to their smartphones in January.  This January saw more downloads than any previous January on record.

"Chevrolet, paired with the RemoteLink app available through OnStar, offers one of the most winter-weather ready lineups of any manufacturer," said Philip M. Abram, GM chief infotainment officer.

Remote start is available on most Chevrolets with automatic transmissions and is a part of the free RemoteLink Key Fob service for 2014 and newer model year vehicles.  On-demand vehicle diagnostic information and the ability to send directions from your phone to your vehicle requires an active OnStar subscription.

LIGENFELTER CHEVY REAPER IS READY TO MAKE FORD'S RAPTOR GO EXTINCT

By Brandon Turkus, Autoblog.com - Ligenfelter and Southern Comfort Automotive piqued our interest late last month with the digital unveiling of the Chevrolet Reaper, a customized Silverado designed to tackle some seriously rough terrain.  While that vehicle made its original debut at the North American Dealers Association show, the 2014 Chicago Auto Show marks our first in-person viewing of it, as well as the truck's public debut.

The Reaper's suspension sports Fox Racing shocks and lifts the truck three inches, providing an increase in both ground clearance and suspension travel.  The truck rides on 20-inch wheels that are wrapped in General Grabber tires, while both the 5.3-litre and 6.2-litre V8s benefit from a Lingenfelter exhaust.  A Magnuson TSV1900 supercharger is an optional goodie on both engines, as are 17-inch beadlock wheels.

SoCo and Lingenfelter have also made some modifications to the truck's overall appearance, giving it new bumpers, hood, grille and fender flares.  LED driving lights come standard, as do integrated off-road lamps.

 

AT CHICAGO AUTO SHOW

 

DECATUR, Ind. - Lingenfelter Performance Engineering and Southern Comfort Automotive have teamed up to answer the demand from General Motors truck enthusiasts for a specialty performance pickup model with the release of The Reaper (tm).

The Reaper will be displayed in booth SH13 in the Greater Chicago Area Chevy Dealers exhibit at the Chicago Auto Show.  The official launch of the vehicle will take place during a Lingenfelter-hosted press conference Feb. 6 at 3:50 p.m. at the Grand Concourse Media Stage.

A mean, muscular and expertly tuned Limited Edition 2014 Chevy Silverado 1500, the Reaper represents the launch of a joint venture grounded in the automotive experts' long-time business relationship

"Lingenfelter's strong brand in the performance arena and decades of engine-tuning expertise coupled with Southern Comfort Automotive's 35 plus years as a vehicle upfitter with a strong dealer network and worldwide distribution channels makes this venture ideal for both parties," said Ken Lingenfelter, CEO/owner, Lingenfelter Performance Engineering.

Michael McSweeney, managing partner of McSweeney Holdings, agrees  "This project is a great launch-point for a long-term relationship between Lingenfelter and Southern Comfort Automotive.  Our capabilities and resources thoroughly complement one another, and we plan to proactively pursue other projects to further our joing venture."

Melding Lingenfelter's legendary performance-tuning capabilities and suspension know-how with Southern Comfort Automotive's virtuoso automotive design and graphics wizardry, the unstoppable Reaper features an aggressive, custom-lifted design sure to appeal to the off-road truck aficionado.

"We designed the Reaper to fill a void in the market for Chevy enthusiasts seeking a stand-out, supercharged off-road vehicle with head-turning curb appeal," said Matt McSweeney, president, Southern Comfort Automotive.

The supercharged Reaper delivers Lingenfelter's epic maximum performance while preserving drivability and reliability.  Standard features include a three-inch lift with long travel off-road suspension, Fox Racing performance remote reservoir chocks, 20-inch Reaper wheels mounted on General Grabber light truck tires and a Lingenfelter Performance exhaust system.  The Reaper occupies its own superior-style class, with a custom hood fitment and grill assembly, high-clearance bumper, wide-body fender flares and a wheel-to-wheel rock guard with removable side steps.  Its custom lighting design includes integrated LED driving lights, side front fender marker lights and an integrated off-road flood light system.  Available in red, white, gray or black through select Chevrolet dealers, the vehicle interior has Reaper embroidered headrests, door panel accents, Reaper gauge package, an auxiliary switch panel for flood light system and future accessory upgrades.  The Reaper also displays interior and exterior co-branded Lingenfelter/Southern Comfort Automotive Reaper badging.

"Off-road enthusiasts can count on Lingenfelter to deliver the rugged, super-charged, high-end pickup package they crave, and this new Reaper is that and more," said Mike Copeland, Vice President and General Manager, Lingenfelter Performance Engineering.  "With Southern Comfort Automotive's restyling and graphics expertise, the performance-tuned Reaper is expected to dominate in the custom-designed luxury pickup class."

Optional upgrades include: a Magnuson TSV1900 Supercharger available on either the 5.3L or 6.2L V-8 engine, 17-inch beadlock wheels mounted on General Grabber Red Letter tires, Reaper graphics and a frozen matte paint finish.

The Reaper carries Lingenfelter's three-year/36,000 mile warranty in addition to Southern Comfort Automotive's three-year/36,000 mile warranty on all parts restyled.  Production will be scaled to meet demand  For information on ordering the Reaper visit www.reaperperformanceusa.com.

NEXT CHEVY CRUZE SPOTTED AGAIN

By Jonathon Ramsey, Autoblog.com - CarPix spy photographers have caught the 2015 Chevrolet Cruze under a little less camouflage than the last time we saw it.  The shape of the two part grille is no longer a mystery and we finally see the foglights that flank it -- the details of the slimmer headlights are obscured by stickers, though.  In back, some family familiar taillights bring the rear into production spec, and beneath them a clean rear diffuser goes uncovered.

We've seen the interior shots before, the cockpit featuring a larger touchscreen under a stitched dashboard and a new steering wheel.  There are also fewer buttons, those who've seen them saying there's one for Eco, Park Assist sensors and voice recognition, and the extra cruise control buttons on the left side of the steering wheel could be for a lane departure warning system.

After having been delayed until the end of 2015 here, it's still so far out that we haven't got any info on what other changes might lurk under the hood and skin.  

CAMARO Z/28.R SENDS HISTORIC NAME BACK TO THE TRACK

By General Motors of Canada - The Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 returns to its racing roots this week when the all-new Camaro Z/28.R race car debuts in a 2.5-hour endurance race ahead of the 52nd Rolex 24 at Daytona.  It will be one of the most production-based competitors on the track, sharing aero, engine and even axle components with the new 2014 Camaro Z/28.

Stevenson Motorsports and CKS Autosport will campaign Z/28.R race cars in the GS class of the IMSA Continental Tires SportsCar Challenge.  The Daytona race begins at 1:45 p.m. EST, on Friday, January 24, kicking off the 12-race 2014 season.

"The original Camaro Z/28 was designed for racing and became an iconic performance car through its hard-fought victories," said Mark Kent, director of racing for Chevrolet.  "A new chapter in racing begins this week, as the new Camaro Z/28 makes its competition debut in one of the most hotly contested series in motorsports."

Developed alongside its production counterpart, the Z/28.R incorporates the same performance elements that make the 2014 Camaro Z/28 the most track-capable Camaro ever.  To enhance grip, for example, the Z/28.R's body shares the same downforce-generating aero package as the production model, including:

• Front splitter
• Rear spoiler with wickerbill
• Hood extractor vent
• Rockers, wheel-house extensions and front tire deflectors
• Belly pan

The Z/28.R is also powered by the same LS7 7.0L V-8 engine as the production Z/28 and employs the unique, helical-gear limited-slip rear differential found on the production model.  It is standard in the Z/28, helping the driver put down more power to the pavement when exiting corners.

"Apart from series-mandated equipment and the specialized suspension components needed for endurance racing, the Z/28.R is as close to a production-spec race car as you'll find," said Kent.

Advancing the Z/28 legacy

As Stevenson Motorsports and CKS Autosport kick off a full season of racing in the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge with their new Camaro Z/28.R race cars, they'll advance the legacy of Camaro endurance racing that dates to the original Z/28's 1967 introduction, when it was developed for the Trans-Am series.  More recently, the Camaro GS.R won six races from 2011 to 2013 in the Continental SportsCar Series Grand Sport class, helping Chevrolet achieve a runner-up finish in the GS championship last season.

"The new Camaro Z/28.R is a significant advancement from the GS.R that won multiple races in the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge the last three years," said Lisa Talarico.  Chevrolet program manager for the Continental Tire series.  "We expect the new engine package, suspension components and aerodynamic improvements to help our teams to further successes in the 2014 GS class.  The GS class is full of great competitors, and we believe the performance level of the new Z/28.R will provide us the opportunity to contend for a championship."

The 2014 Camaro Z/28 goes on sale this spring.