GMC CANYON WINS CARS.COM MIDSIZE PICKUP CHALLENGE

By General Motors, Detroit - The all-new GMC Canyon was the top pick by the editors of Cars.com in a midsize pickup comparison test posted today.

The editors praised the Canyon SLT - the segment's only premium entry - for its road manners and performance with a full load in the bed, as well as its design and "high-end materials", in a side-by-side challenge with Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro and Nissan Frontier PRO-4X.

"The GMC Canyon scored well throughout our tests, and offered a capable and luxurious ride and feel that clearly separated the GMC from the rest of the pack," said Cars.com Pickup Truck Editor Mark Williams.

The trucks were tested for a range of capabilities, including performance, seating and erognomics, tech and entertainment, ride quality, visibility, value and off-road capability.  The trucks were track-tested for braking and acceleration performance, subjected to a true off-road course, and took part in a 320-kilometre-mile fuel-consumption evaluation.  Additionally, a pickup truck shopper unaffiliated with Cars.com tested each of the trucks for overall ride, comfort and features.

"Establishing a benchmark for a premium mid-size pickup was our goal with the Canyon and PickupTruck.com's insights affirm our instincts," said Duncan Aldred, vice president of GMC Sales and MArketing.  "The Canyon's quiet cabin, premium design and materials make it a maneuverable solution for customers who want the capability of a pickup with the modern amenities customers expect from GMC."

In addition to Cars.com's recognition, Canyon was named Autoweek's Best of the Best Truck for 2015.

Canyon in Canada starts at $20,600, plus a $1,695 destination freight charge and is available in four-door extended- or crew-cab models.  It offers the segment's best horsepower and fuel consumption rating: 200 horsepower (149 kW) and 8.8 L/100 km highway (2WD) from a standard 2.5L I-4; and 305 horsepower (227 kW) and 9.6 L/100km (2WD) from an available 3.6L V-6.

Canyon V-6 models offer a segment-leading maximum trailering rating of 3,175 kilograms (7,000 lbs), as well as the G80 locking rear differential, for sure-footed traction in slippery conditions and when trailering.

UPDATED CHEVY SILVERADO SPIED, POSSIBLY WITH ALUMINUM COMPONENTS

By Steven J. Ewing, Autoblog.com - Chevrolet is readying a refresh for its trusty Silverado pickup, and these spy shots give us our first glimpse at what might be in store.  The front and rear fascias of this prototype are covered, obscuring some styling tweaks (with LED accents up front).

More interestingly, our spies suggest that many of the Silverado's body components could move to aluminum with this mid-cycle update.  The hood will go from steel to the lighter alloy, and it's possible the front fenders could benefit from the weight-saving material, too.

Ford's latest F-150 is extremely aluminum-intensive and by switching the construction, 700 pounds was trimmed off the truck's weight.  We've already heard that General Motors is working with a similar plan for its next-generation fullsize trucks.

Beyond that, expect the smaller 5.3-liter V8 to ditch its six-speed automatic transmission in favor of the eight-speed unit that's already mated to the larger, 6.2-liter V8.  Neither transmission will stick around very long, as the trucks will likely adopt a 10-speed automatic around 2017.

Look for the updated Silverado to debut later this year, likely as a 2016.5 model.

CHEVROLET TO OPEN RETAIL SALES OF SPARK EV IN CANADA

By General Motors Canada, Montreal - Today, Chevrolet builds on its position as the Canadian leader in plug-in electric vehicle sales, by expanding the availability of the 2016 Spark EV for retail customers.  Spark EV has been available for fleet customers for 2 years.  The Spark EV will be eligible for provincial incentives from the provinces of Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia.  Chevrolet also offers the best-selling electric vehicle in Canada, the Volt, and has recently announced plans to bring the next generation all-electric vehicle based on the Chevrolet Bolt EV Concept into production.

We're expanding our electric vehicle offerings to our customers by offering the 2016 Spark EV for retail sales in the growing EV markets here in Quebec as well as in Ontario and BC," said Chris Hay, regional director for Chevrolet.  "For city residents whose transportation needs can be met with an all-electric vehicle, Spark EV builds on Chevrolet's proven electric motor and battery development programs from the Chevrolet Volt."

The Chevrolet Spark EV is an all-electric urban mini-car designed for fun driving and easy ownership.  It offers the latest in technology and in-vehicle infotainment, including industry exclusive OnStar with 4G LTE and standard built-in Wi-Fi hotspot.

It uses no gasoline, yet its GM-built motor and drive unit deliver 327 lb-ft (444 Nm) of instant torque, enabling a 0-97 km/h (0-60 mph) time of 7.2 seconds.  Storing that energy from the charging process and the vehicle's regenerative braking capability is an 18.4-kWh lithium-ion battery pack.

When fully charged, Spark EV features a combined city-highway estimated range of 131 km and an estimated city/highway fuel consumption equivalent of 2.0 L/100kms.

Three available levels of recharging capability include the industry's first use of the recently approved SAE combo charger for DC fast charging, which charges 80 percent of the battery in just 20 minutes.

Pricing for 2016 Spark EV will be available at a later time.

CHEVROLET AND DISNEY SEE POSSIBILITIES IN 'TOMORROWLAND'

By General Motors, Detroit - At their core, Disney and Chevrolet are entities of optimism, believing that with a little ingenuity, anything is possible.  They will come together in the new Disney film "Tomorrowland" to imagine the possibilities.

The all-new 2016 Chevrolet Volt and EN-V concepts appear in the backdrops of the present day and Tomorrowland.  The film's U.S. debut is May 22.

In Disney's riveting mystery adventure "Tomorrowland", a jaded scientist and an optimistic teen embark on a danger-filled mission to unearth the secrets of an enigmatic place somewhere in time and space.

"Tomorrowland is a place where nothing is impossible, which is something that Chevrolet believes can exist in the here and now," said Tim Mahoney, vice president, Global Chevrolet.  "The Chevrolet spirit reflects the hopes and possibilities of tomorrow in real instruments of change for today like the next-generation Chevrolet Volt."

The first marketing efforts for the 2016 Chevrolet Volt will be tied to Tomorrowland.  A television spot and digital advertising will debut in early May.

The all-new Volt is an electric car with extended range, showcasing a sleeker, sportier design that offers 50 miles of EV range, greater efficiency and stronger acceleration.  The Volt's new, efficient propulsion system will offer an estimated total driving range of more than 400 miles.  With regular charging, owners can expect to average more than 1,000 miles between gas fill-ups.

Chevrolet and Disney have a long history of collaboration around the globe.

In December 2012, the re-imagined Test Track presented by Chevrolet opened at Epcot in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.  Test Track gives an authentic, inside-the-studio look at the actual automotive design process, while empowering guests to create their own designs, possibly inspiring the next generation of automotive designers.

Shanghai General Motors and Shanghai Disney Resort recently signed an agreement and announced that Shanghai General Motors is a Shanghai Disney Resort long-term strategic alliance participant.  As the resort's official vehicle, Chevrolet will help provide an unparalleled brand experience to the resort guests.

About Chevrolet in Canada

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world's largest car brands, doing business in more than 115 countries and selling more than 4.8 million cars and trucks a year.  Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value.

About Disney's "Tomorrowland"

From Disney comes two-time Oscar winner Brad Bird's "Tomorrowland," a riveting mystery adventure starring Academy Award winner George Clooney.  Bound by a shared destiny, former boy-genius Frank (Clooney), jaded by disillusionment, and Casey (Britt Robertson), a bright, optimistic teen bursting with scientific curiosity, embark on a danger-filled mission to unearth the secrets of an enigmatic place somewhere in time and space known only as "Tomorrowland".  What they must do there changes the world - and them - forever.

Featuring a screenplay by "Lost" writer and co-creator Damon Lindelof and Brad Bird, from a story by Lindelof & Bird & Jeff Jensen, "Tomorrowland" promises to take audiences on a thrill ride of nonstop adventures through new dimensions that have only been dreamed of.

The film also stars Hugh Laurie as brilliant scientist David Nix, Raffey Cassidy, Tim McGraw, Judy Greer, Kathryn Hahn, Keegan-Michael Key and Thomas Robinson.

"Tomorrowland" is produced by Damon Lindelof, Brad Bird and Jeffrey Chernov and directed by Brad Bird, with John Walker, Brigham Taylor, Jeff Jensen and Bernard Bellew serving as executive producers.  "Tomorrowland" opens in U.S. theaters on May 22, 2015.

2016 CHEVY CAMARO TO DROP 200 POUNDS

By Chris Bruce, Autoblog.com - The sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaro makes its grand debut on May 16 at a big celebration on Detroit's Belle Isle.  Until then, Chevy's strategy seems to be showing off the pony car's new components piece by piece.  With the exhaust headers and front end already on display, the Bowtie is now giving a glimpse at some of the upcoming model's aluminum components.

The Camaro is going on a diet for its latest generation, and Chevy claims that the switch to the Alpha platform and other new components shed over 200 pounds compared to the current model.  That will put the pony car at around 3,500 pounds.  The lower weight will contribute to better fuel economy, quicker acceleration and more direct handling, according to the automaker.

Among the changes are aluminum front and rear suspension assemblies (pictured above) that weigh 21 percent less than the current units.  Also, Chevy promises in its announcement "links on some models feature an intricate, structurally optimized design made with a rigid composite material that's even lighter than aluminum."  In addition to these improved parts, the Camaro uses the lightweight metal for the beam that supports the instrument panel to save 9.7 pounds more.

The only two pieces reportedly carrying over to the latest design are Chevy's bowtie and SS badges, and at least one engine in the range is known to be a version of the 6.2-liter LT1 V8.  With over a month until the next Camaro's debut, we might get a glimpse of even more of the car's new parts in the coming weeks.

2016 Camaro Does More with Less

DETROIT - For the all-new, 2016 Chevrolet Camaro, the team was challenged to improve the handling, acceleration and fuel economy of the award-winning current model.

To meet all three objectives, the team focused on a singular mission: reduce mass.  By obsessively searching for opportunities to save ounces, the team pared more than 200 pounds off the Camaro compared with the fifth-generation model.

As a result, the Camaro does more with less, according to Al Oppenheiser, Camaro chief engineer.

"We kept the cornering confidence and control that make the Gen 5 Camaro 1LE so fun to drive, and added a greater sense of agility," he said.  "The new Camaro brakes harder, flicks into corners more quickly, and drives out of the corner faster.  We expect it will set the benchmark in the segment and give many sports cars a challenge."

A new architecture, one of the most mass-efficient ever from General Motors, is responsible for much of the weight savings.

Additionally, dozens of small changes cumulatively contributed to shedding pounds.  For example, the beam that supports the instrument panel is now made of aluminum, saving 9.7 pounds (4.4 kg) over the steel beam on the current generation Camaro.

In addition, the front and rear suspension assemblies are now aluminum, and links on some models feature an intricate, structurally optimized design made with a rigid composite material that's even lighter than aluminum.  As a result, the total weight for the suspension is 21 percent lighter compared to current steel-intensive assemblies.

Chevrolet will introduce the all-new 2016 Camaro on Saturday, May 16, during a special public event at Detroit's Belle Isle Park.

NEW MALIBU TECH HELPS PARENTS TEACH KIDS SAFE DRIVING

 

 

By General Motors, Oshawa - It's hard to hand the keys to a teenager for their first drive alone.

Parents know that coaching a teenager on how to learn safe driving skills is vital.  According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, in the United States, the fatal crash rate per mile driven for 16- to 19-year-olds is nearly three times the rate for drivers ages 20 and over.

The all-new 2016 Chevrolet Malibu will debut Teen Driver, a system that provides parents with a tool to help encourage safe driving habits for their kids, even when they are not in the car with them.  Teen Driver supports safe driving habits by muting the audio of the radio or any device paired with the vehicle when front seat occupants aren't wearing their safety belts, and it gives audible and visual warnings when the vehicle is traveling faster than preset speeds.

This feature is the first in the industry with a built-in system that lets parents view on a display how their teenager drove the vehicle.  Maximum speed reached, distance driven and number of times active safety features were engaged can all be confirmed.

"We developed this system so parents could use it as a teaching tool with their kids - they can discuss and reinforce safe driving habits," said General Motors safety engineer MaryAnn Beebe.  "As a mother of two, I know anything that has the potential of keeping one's family safer is of great value to parents."

Malibu can keep track of the following:

• Distance driven
• Maximum speed traveled
• Over-speed warnings issued
• Stability control events
• Antilock brake events
• Forward Collision Alerts, if equipped
• Forward Collision Braking events, if equipped

To use Teen Driver, a parent needs to enable the feature by creating a PIN in the Settings menu of their available MyLink system, which then allows them to register their teen's key fob.  The system's settings are turned on only to registered key fobs.

When active, Teen Driver automatically mutes the radio until front safety belts are fastened.  Additionally, the radio system's maximum volume can also be set to a lower level.  If the vehicle is equipped with active safety features like Forward Collision Alert, they are automatically turned On.  Parents can select a maximum speed (between 65-120 km/h), which, if exceeded, activates a visual warning and audible chime.

If equipped, these are the safety features that are automatically turned On and incapable of being manually turned off when Teen Driver is activated:

• Stability Control
• Front and Rear Park Assist
• Side Blind Zone Alert
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert
• Forward Collision Alert
• Daytime Running Lamps / Automatic Light Control
• Forward Collision Braking
• Traction Control
• Front Pedestrian Braking

"The intent of the Teen Driver feature is to ensure that all drivers and passengers in the vehicle are safe," said Shane Peever, brand manager, Chevrolet Cars and Crossovers in Canada.  "The all-new 2016 Malibu will feature stunning design advanced connectivity and efficiency, in addition to innovative safety technologies."

Teen Driver is not a subscription-based service, so it remains with the vehicle permanently and will be standard on the Premier trim and optional on LT models if equipped with the Convenience Package and up-level radio.  The 2016 Malibu debuts at the New York Auto Show in early April and is expected to go on sale at the end of 2015.

CHEVY KEEPS TEASING NEXT CAMARO, 70 PERCENT OF PARTS UNIQUE TO IT

 

By Chris Bruce, Autoblog.com - Have no fear that the next-gen Camaro's switch to the Alpha platform is just going to make it a Cadillac ATS with a different look.  After a few recent teasers of the future pony car.  Chevy is finally dropping a few technical details, and they make the sixth Camaro sound even more intriguing.

Over 70 percent of the new Camaro's architectural components are unique to it and not shared with other General Motors vehicles.  In fact, the only two parts carrying over from the previous model are the brand's bow-tie emblem at the back and the SS badge.  The pony car uses a modified front structure to create a wider track and has changes to the front and rear suspension.  The interior and exterior dimensions are also altered compared to other Alpha vehicles.

Even the company's 6.2-liter LT1 V8 gets some tweaks.  Chevy claims that the mill is 20 percent different than other applications, including new tubular exhaust manifolds (pictured above).

The next Camaro makes its grand debut at a big party at Detroit's Belle Isle on May 16.

2016 Camaro is all-New from the Bowtie Up 70 percent of architectural components unique to the Gen 6 Camaro

DETROIT - The 2016 Chevrolet Camaro will be a truly all-new car - from the grille's bowtie to the rear spoiler.

In fact, only two parts carry over from the fifth-generation model: the bowtie emblem on the taillamp panel and the SS badge.

The Gen 6 Camaro is based on General Motors' award-winning Alpha architecture.  Designed to compete with premium European brands, Alpha offers exceptional driving dynamics and refinement, as well as a balance of mass and stiffness necessary for a world-class performance car.

"Our global engineering team is incredibly passionate about Camaro, and they sweated all the details to make Gen 6 the best Camaro we could possibly put into the hands of our customers," said Mark Reuss, GM executive vice president, Global Product Development.

"Alpha provided a strong foundation, but more than 70 percent of the components are unique to the Gen 6 Camaro, including exterior and interior dimensions, an all-new interior, front and rear suspension, and powertrain components," he said.  "The minute you see - and hear - the Gen 6, you know it's a Camaro, from the stance to the driving experience to the sound of the Small Block V-8."

From the strong Alpha foundation, the Camaro team made the most of every component to create a worthy successor for the Gen 5 Camaro, which has been America's best-selling performance car for five consecutive years.

The front structure, for example, was developed specifically for Camaro.  It is lengthened, to create the dash-to-axle ratio necessary for car's iconic profile, and widened to provide the desired track width for stable, confident cornering.  In addition, 20 percent of the 6.2L LT1 V-8 engine has been tailored to fit the Camaro's packaging, including new, tubular "tri-Y'-style exhaust manifolds.

Chevrolet will introduce the all-new, 2016 Camaro on Saturday, May 16, during a special public event at Detroit's Belle Isle park.

GM'S CHEVROLET INVESTS BIG IN CARBON OFFSETS

 

By Greg Gardner, Detroit Free Press - Ball State University in Muncie, Inc. is applying the new carbon-reduction methodologies and selling some of the carbon reductions from installing the largest geothermal system at a U.S. college.

General Motor's Chevrolet brand was the leading corporate purchaser of carbon offsets in 2012 and 2013, buying credits representing the reduction of 4.6 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions in projects outside their own businesses, according to a report from an environmental research group.

The report by Forest Trends' Ecosystem Marketplace tracks carbon offset activity by more than 250 global companies.  Forest Trends is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to maintain, restore and enhance forests.

By the end of this year, Chevrolet will have spent $40 million to purchase 8 million tons of carbon dioxide offsets, said David Tulauskas, GM director of sustainability.

The second largest purchaser was the bank Barclays (2.1 million metric tons), followed by Pacific Gas & Electric and Brazil-based Natura Cosmeticos (both at 1.4 million metric tons).

A carbon offset is a reduction of one metric ton of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gas made in order to compensate for an emission of carbon dioxide somewhere else.

Last fall Chevrolet launched a program with owners of 11,000 acres of North Dakota grasslands that will remain in production for cattle ranching because the automaker purchased offsets for 40,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

Tulauskas said the idea of buying offsets came from a 2009 brainstorming session on how to make Chevrolet the industry's first carbon-neutral automaker.

"Our thoughts were that people who are interested in this probably were not buying Chevrolets at the time," Tulauskas said.  "Now it's part of what Chevrolet is."

While Chevrolet won't be completely carbon neutral, the initiative has built the brand's reputation among environmental organizations that track the offset market.

The most common type of offset project involves renewable energy, including wind farms, biomass energy or hydroelectric dams.

In one project, Portland State University in Oregon is selling carbon credits to Chevrolet to pay for sustainability projects.

Since 2013 more than 1,800 companies publicly disclosed climate change information to the CDP, formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project.

Companies buying carbon offsets tend to be large emitters of greenhouse gases, but the report disputes the perception among some environmentalists that they are "buying their way out of the problem."

"Across all categories, offset buyers are more engaged in direct emissions reductions activities compared to companies that don't offset," the report stated.

Companies buying offsets spent $41 million in 2013 to make their buildings and processes more energy efficient, install low-carbon energy, switch to cleaner transportation and design more sustainable products, according to the report.

CHEVROLET SILVERADO MIDNIGHT EDITION

 

By General Motors, Oshawa - Chevrolet is taking black to the next level with the official launch of the Chevrolet Silverado Midnight Edition.

Available on a black Silverado Double Cab 2LT or Crew Cab 2LZ, the Midnight Edition add:

• An all-black front end with body-coloured grille, bumper, headlamp bezels, tow hooks and fog lamps;
• Black side mouldings and beltline mouldings;
• 18-inch black painted alloy wheels with Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac all-terrain tires;
• Special Z71 badges on the doors;
• A spray-in bedliner (black, of course);
• And the finishing touches - black Chevrolet bowties front and rear.

The Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac All-Terrain is a workhorse tire for rugged off-road terrain - including snow - this tire is 3-Peak Snowflake rated for those regions that mandate winter tires.  The bold aggressive tread design is great for hard work off the beaten path but will require regular tire rotations.

The Midnight Edition includes off-road suspension, a locking rear differential, Hill Descent Control and a trailering package.  Midnight special editions also include rear park assist, heated power-adjusted outside rear-view mirrors, and they are available in any exterior paint colour, so long as it's black.

As a Silverado, Midnight Edition offers 4G LTE with Wi-Fi, Best in Class 5-Star Safety, Best in Class V8 Fuel Economy, Vincentric's Lowest Cost of Ownership, and Chevrolet Complete Care: the longest powertrain warranty in Canada, 2 years of complimentary oil changes, and 5 years of roadside assistance.

This special edition package provides a sinister appearance, with an MRSP of $2,295 on a Double Cab 2LT or $1,795 on a Crew Cab when ordering Midnight.

You will be able to order Midnight Edition by March 19th, and this limited 2015MY production run will ramp up soon after.

HEAD'S UP! CLEAN DISPLAYS HELP KEEP DRIVERS INFORMED

 

By General Motors, Detroit - In the days of wearable technology that connects you to the world around you, the automotive head-up display, or HUD, is a seasoned veteran.  General Motors pioneered the system decades ago, yet its design teams continue to refine both appearance and functionality to help reduce driver distraction.

"We know that keeping eyes on the road is critical to safe driving - and recent studies back this up," said Jeff Boyer, vice president of GM Global Vehicle Safety.  "Head-up displays can play an important role in maximizing 'eyes-on-the-road' time, and that's what we're striving for."

The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute's 100-car Naturalist study showed that the odds of a crash or near-crash more than doubled when a driver's eyes were off the road ahead for more than two seconds.  In 2013, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released a study that concluded that visual and manual distractions - such as dialing or texting on a handheld phone - increased between two and three times the risk of getting into a crash.

By projecting pertinent information onto the windshield and into the driver's line of sight, head-up display systems allow drivers to keep their eyes on the road ahead instead of glancing at gauge clusters, infotainment screens and other devices.  GM research shows drivers can spend 134 milliseconds shifting their gaze to a gauge cluster and back to the road.  At 110 km/h, a vehicle can travel 4 metres in that time, roughly the average length of a passenger car.

There's far more work involved with developing HUD systems than just creating hardware: careful attention is paid to how the display looks and how it interacts with both the driver and other systems within the car.

"We have to make smart decisions about what content goes into the HUD," said John Weiss, an interaction designer for HUD systems, "and how we can then present it to the driver in a manner that's easy to read and intuitive to use."

Simplified Screens

Today's head-up displays, offered on more than 30 percent of GM vehicles sold in North America, can provide far more information than the first production system introduced on the 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme.  To reduce clutter, drivers can select from screens that focus on navigation, audio information, a tachometer, or simply a speedometer.

"The HUD screens are tailored to the driver," said graphic designer William Thompson.  "We do lots of prototyping, where we mock up different arrangements or graphics and get feedback from users."

Fine Lines and Fonts
Compared to a gauge cluster or infotainment touchscreen, the head-up display space is constrained, forcing designers to work within a limited space.  Designers inherently "think small," but legibility restricts how far elements can be downsized.  Icons are simplified, and lines must be at least four pixels wide.  Fonts typically considered "grotesque," - meaning letters are distinct and discrete from one another - are used.

Choosing the Right Colours

The use of a full-colour screen allows designers more flexibility in selecting what colours to project.  Each hue in the display is carefully selected to ensure it projects well and appeals to the driver.

Real-world testing helped the design team finalize colour selections.  White - the brightest colour in the liquid crystal display, or LCD - is used for most fonts and displays.  Winter testing helped find a hue that didn't disappear against a snowy background.  "We've done quite a bit of legwork to see what colours work best on the road," said Weiss.  "Some colours might look good when viewed on a computer screen but appear quite different when projected on a windshield."

Simple Controls

Although the head-up display duplicates information shown elsewhere on the instrument panel, it doesn't require a second set of controls.  "You might have an incoming call notification pop up on both the gauge cluster's driver information centre and the head-up display," says Weiss, "but you don't have to dismiss each one separately.  We make sure the control interface on the steering wheel can interact with both displays."

In order to further reduce complication, HUD-specific controls largely focus on adjusting the screen's height and brightness to the driver's liking.

2016 CHEVY CAMARO COMING ON MAY 16

 

By Brandon Turkus, Autoblog.com - We officially have a date for the arrival of the sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaro.  Fans of Chevy's Mustang fighter should look forward to May 16, and if they're in the Detroit area, they'll want to make their way down to Belle Isle, home of the Chevy Indy Dual in Detroit.

We still don't have a great deal of information on the new Camaro, aside from what's been gleaned in spy shots and the like, although Chevy's press release was accompanied by the image shown above.  That, friends, looks a lot like the Camaro's badge of old.  Its presence here could be an indication that an old logo is set to return to production.

That's because what Chevy is planning could best be described as a jamboree, or Camaro-palooza, if you prefer, rather than a typical unveiling.  Chevy is inviting up to 1,000 Camaro fans to descend on Belle Isle for a day-long event that will offer up a lot more than their first look at the sixth-generation muscle car.  Fans can hot lap the Belle Isle circuit from the passenger's seat of a new Z/28, check out a Camaro "museum", featuring "the most significant vehicles from the brand's history," and chat with some of the Camaro's designers and engineers.

"This will be an event Camaro fans will not want to miss," Camaro marketing manager Todd Christensen said in a statement.  "This is only the sixth time we have introduced an all-new Camaro.  We wanted to share the moment with the customers and fans who have helped make Camaro both American's favorite performance car for the past five years, and a cultural icon since 1967."

We'll almost certainly be on hand for the debut (and you'll absolutely be able to get all the details here).  And as we said, if you happen to be in the Detroit area in mid May, you can register to attend the unveiling.  All you need to do is head over to Chevy's dedicated website for the sixth-generation Camaro and sign up for the big event, on Saturday, May 16.

Scroll down for the full press release.

2016 Camaro Drops Cover on May 16 in Detroit

DETROIT - Chevrolet is inviting fans to see the all-new 2016 Camaro on Saturday, May 16, in Detroit.  The sixth-generation Camaro will cap a day-long celebration on Belle Isle, the 982-acre island park that is home to the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix May 29-31.

"This will be an event Camaro fans will not want to miss," said Todd Christensen, Camaro marketing manager.  "This is only the sixth time we have introduced an all-new Camaro.  We wanted to share the moment with the customers and fans who have helped make Camaro both America's favorite performance car for the past five years, and a cultural icon since 1967."

Chevrolet expects approximately 1,000 people to attend the Camaro reveal, which will also include:

• A "Camaro Museum" display of the most significant vehicles from the brand's history
• Hot-lap rides in the 2015 Camaro Z/28 around the Belle Isle Grand Prix course
• Meet-and-greet opportunities with Camaro designers and engineers
• Camaro-only parking for owners

The event is free, however space is limited and registration is required.  Attendance will be allocated with priority given to fans who agree to bring their Camaros to Belle Isle.  For more information, or to register, please visit www.thecamarosix.com.

CHEVY REVEALS COLORADO Z71 TRAIL BOSS EDITION

 

 

By Chris Bruce, Autoblog.com - Chevrolet wants to make sure that if people are in the market for a midsize pickup, then there is a Colorado available to fit their desires.  For businesses, there's the recently unveiled box delet package and for those looking for a customized look, there's the GearOn Edition.  For the latest Z71 Trail Boss version, the automaker is going for folks planning to go off-road.

As the name suggests, all Trail Boss versions of the Colorado start with the already off-road-inlined Z71 trim level, including its 305-horsepower, 3.6-liter V6 and six-speed automatic, and the package can be added to practically any body variant: extended or crew cab, long or short bed and rear- or four-wheel drive.  To set things apart, there's a locking rear differential, front tow hooks, darkened 17-inch wheels that are shod with Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac tires and on the four-wheel drive models, a transfer case shield.

For some extra style, the Colorado Trail Boxx wears black parts for the fender flares, side steps and Bowtie badges.  The bed also gets a spray-on liner and a few parts from the GearOn accessory catalog, including the tie-down rings, load bar and cargo divider.

The Trail Boss goes on sale in the spring, and to add all of this equipment to a Colorado, it costs $3,320 in addition to the price of any Z71 trim model.

Chevy Colorado Z71 Trail Boss Edition: On Point, Off Road

CLEVELAND - For those who want to blaze their own trails, Chevrolet introduces the 2015 Colorado Z71 Trail Boss edition today at the Cleveland Auto Show.

The Trail Boss combines the capability of Chevrolet's Z71 off-road truck suspension package with more aggressive tires and additional appearance enhancements.  It is offered in extended and crew cab configurations, with a choice of a long or short cargo bed and available 4WD.

The Trail Boss goes on sale this spring with a starting price of $28,505US plus the package price of $3,320US.

"The Chevrolet Colorado Z71 Trail Boss Edition is equally at home blazing on urban trail or following one to a favorite remote campground," said Tony Johnson, Colorado marketing manager.  "It gives owners the gear-carrying ability and versatility they need to venture off-road, with segment-leading efficiency and capability."

In addition to Chevy's proven off-road truck suspension package, the Colorado Z71 Trail Boss Edition features Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac 265/65R17 all-terrain tires and 17-inch dark argent metallic painted cast-aluminum wheels: GearOn moveable cargo tie-down rings, load bar and cargo divider; with black fender flares and front and rear black Chevy bowtie logos.

Additional features include:

• G80 automatic locking rear differential
• Transfer case shield (on 4WD)
• Front recovery hooks
• Black, three-inch round rocker steps
• Spray-on bedliner
• Projector beam headlamps
• Front fog lamps
• All-weather floor mats with Z71 logo

The Trail Boss is the second Colorado special edition announced recently.  Last month, Chevrolet introduced the 2015 Colorado GearOn Special Edition, which blends the capability of the midsize pickup truck with the versatility of the GearOn accessory system - and additional popular features.  It also goes on sale this spring.

Colorado, the 2015 Motor Trend Truck of the Year and Cars.com's Best Pickup Truck of 2015, offers the most horsepower and best highway efficiency in the segment, as well as the highest available trailering rating - 7,000 pounds (V-6 2WD) - and higher payload rating - 1,590 pounds (V-6 2WD).

A SPARK OF SOPHISTICATION

By General Motors, Oshawa, Ontario - The all-new 2016 Spark will debut on April 2 at the Seoul and New York auto shows, Chevrolet announced today.

A sleeker, more aerodynamic profile and a progressive take on Chevrolet's signature design cues will give the redesigned Spark a more sophisticated aesthetic that reflects the changing tastes of the global minicar market.

"The new Spark's design has evolved and grown up with the segment," said Michael Simcoe, GM International vice president of Design.  "The youthful whimsy of the original Spark is still in its genes, but it is conveyed in more traditional proportions that reinforce the customer's refined expectations."

Chevrolet has sold more than 1.1 million Sparks around the world since it went on sale as the Beat in India in late 2009.  Today, the Spark is available in 71 markets worldwide, selling the most in South Korea, followed by the United States and Mexico.

Spark is attracting younger and first-time new car buyers to Chevrolet with 26 percent being under the age of 35, and 35% reporting that Spark was their first new car.

GM CANADA FEBRUARY SALES UP 6 PER CENT

 

By General Motors, Oshawa - Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac dealers delivered 13,806 vehicles in February 2015, an increase of 6 per cent from February 2014.

"GM Canada's momentum is driven by strong customer demand for our Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles," says John Roth, vice president, sales, service and marketing.  "Chevrolet and GMC pickup trucks led the charge in February with an increase of more than 44 per cent for the month, including strong sales of the Chevrolet Silverado and Colorado, and GMC Sierra and Canyon.  In particular, the Colorado and Canyon in the midsize segment are attracting new customers to the Chevrolet and GMC showrooms with up to 40 per cent of new vehicle purchasers being new to the brands."

GM now offers customers 4G LTE technology on more than 30 Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac vehicles, the largest deployment in the automotive industry.  4G offers mobile data speeds up to 10 times faster than 3G, allowing GM vehicles to act as Wi-Fi hot spots, allowing customers to connect up to 7 different devices.

February 2015 Sales Highlights

• Chevrolet total sales were up 3 per cent for the month driven by sales of the Silverado, Colorado, Tahoe and Suburban
• Buick ranks second among all brands in JD Power's 2015 Vehicle Dependability Study.  In February 2015, sales of the Buick Lacrosse had an increase of 27 per cent for the month
• GMC finished the month of February up 32 per cent in its 8th consecutive month of sales increases
• Cadillac XTS sales were up 32 per cent and Escalade sales were more than 300 per cent for the month

CHEVY PREVIEWS 2016 MALIBU AHEAD OF NEW YORK DEBUT

By Noah Joseph, Autoblog.com - With everything going on in Geneva this week, it would be all-too easy to forget that there's still stuff going on back home in America.  And the upcoming new Chevy Malibu is a prime example.

Chevrolet has announced that it is bringing an all-new Malibu to the New York Auto Show next month, teasing us with this preview image and a few enticing details.

For starters, when we say it's all new, this time we mean it's all new.  The next-generation Malibu has been built on a new platform that uses more high-strength steel to cut 300 pounds off the curb weight compared to the outgoing model.  It's also got a wheelbase that's almost four inches longer, with shorter overhangs front and rear and a roofline that tapers stylishly and more gradually towards the tail.

We'll have to wait a little longer - but not too much longer - to find out more, but in the meantime you can read what Chevy's telling us so far in the press release below.

Born Again: Next-Gen Chevrolet Malibu Announced

Larger, lighter and more efficient Malibu to be unveiled at New York Auto Show

Detroit - Designed to deliver more efficiency, connectivity and advanced safety features than ever, the next-generation 2016 Chevrolet Malibu will make its public debut at the New York International Auto Show this April.

Using a blank slate approach, Chevrolet designers benefited from an entirely new architecture, which for Malibu includes a wheelbase nearly four inches longer than the outgoing model.  That, in turn, provides increased rear legroom and interior space.

Due to a higher-strength steel structure, the new Malibu is also expected to be 300 pounds lighter than the current model, which benefits the sedan's fuel economy and handling.

"Malibu's gorgeous styling is the result of a masterful understanding of proportions," said Ed Welburn, General Motors' vice president of Global Design.  "The roofline has been stretched rearward giving a more sleek profile, while the front wheels have moved forward and front and rear overhangs have been reduced.  Along with the sculpted body side, these cues help Malibu appear more dynamic and sophisticated."

More details about the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu will be shared each week leading up to the vehicle's global debut.  The 2016 Malibu is expected to go on sale by the end of 2015.

ALL GM BRANDS IN TOP 10 IN BENCHMARK DEPENDABILITY STUDY

 

• 13 GM models place in Top 3 of their segments
• Buick ranks second among all brands in study
• Chevrolet, GMC sweep Large SUV segment and rank first and second in both large truck pickup segments

By General Motors, Detroit - For the first time, Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac all rank in the top 10 among brands in the J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study.

"GM's customer-driven approach to quality and dependability is breaking through," said Grace Lieblein, vice president, Global Quality.  "Dependability is a top purchase consideration and key to customer loyalty.  These awards reflect our commitment to provide customers with the best overall experience in the industry."

The 2015 study tracks 2012 model year vehicles in their third year of ownership.

Buick ranks second among all brands, Cadillac ranks fourth with Chevrolet and GMC ranking 10th (in a tie).

Chevrolet ranks higher than ever in this study, led by Malibu as the segment leader in the highly competitive Midsize Car segment.  For the third year in a row, the Chevrolet Camaro ranks highest in the Midsize Sporty Car segment.

The GMC Sierra LD and Chevrolet Silverado LD rank first and second in the Large Light Duty Pickup segment and the Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD rank first and second in the Large Heavy Duty Pickup segment.

GMC Yukon, Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban all rank in the Top 3 of the Large SUV segment.  These models also filled the Top 3 positions in the Large SUV segment in the 2014 JD Power Initial Quality Study, where the 2014 Chevrolet Suburban and 2014 GMC Yukon ranked highest in a tie, along with the 2014 Chevrolet Tahoe.

Model Highlights by Brand

Chevrolet

• Malibu - Segment Award, Midsize Car
• Camaro - Segment Award, Midsize Sporty Car (3rd Year in a Row)
• Silverado HD - Segment Award, Large Heavy Duty Pickup
• Tahoe - Ranks Second, Large SUV
• Suburban - Ranks Third, Large SUV
• Silverado LD - Ranks Second, Large Light Duty Pickup

Buick

• Lacrosse - Segment Award, Large Car
• Enclave - Ranks Second, Midsize SUV

GMC

• Sierra LD - Segment Award, Large Light Duty Pickup (2nd Year in a Row)
• Yukon - Segment Award, Large SUV (2nd Year in a Row)
• Terrain - Segment Award, Compact SUV
• Sierra HD - Ranks Second, Large Heavy Duty Pickup

Cadillac

• SRX - Ranks Third, Midsize Premium SUV

CHEVROLET SILVERADO WORK TRUCKS GET BLACKED OUT

 

By General Motors, Oshawa, Ontario - Chevrolet is adding a $1,795 Black Out package for regular- and double-cab 2015 Silverado 1500 WT models.  It includes 20" black painted aluminum wheels, P275/55R20 all-season blackwall tires, deep tinted glass and black bowties.  The package is available for order now, and customers can have any colour they want, as long as it is black.

CHEVROLET VOLT OWNERS GOT THEIR SAY IN NEXT-GEN MODEL

 

By General Motors, Oshawa, Ontario - To Sam Miller-Christiansen, his 2014 Chevrolet Volt is the best car he has owned.  And he was willing to tell anyone, including the team developing the next-generation Volt.

"I said that if they could improve the overall EV range, it would make one of my favorite cars even better," Miller-Christiansen said.  "To my amazement, they've done it."

It is just one example of how the 2016 Volt was engineered with input from the collective voices of loyal owners.

Shortly after launching the first-generation Volt, Chevrolet convened and met once a month with a customer advisory board of 12 owners from across the country to understand how consumers were operating their Volts.

"The Volt represented a completely new classification of electric vehicles, and we were unsure of how people would react or how this vehicle would fit in their daily lives," said Darin Gesse, Volt product manager.  "So we began asking simple questions like how and when the owners plugged in their Volt, which directly impacted the development of the next generation.

"We talk about putting the customer at the centre of everything we do, and we've literally done that with the 2016 Volt."

The Volt team also wanted to know what Volt features owners liked and what features might need improvement.  The team talked with Volt owners through social media, plug-in events and Internet panels.

The owners' constructive and candid feedback ultimately helped the engineering team decide what direction to take the next-generation Volt.

In addition to more EV range and improved fuel efficiency in extended range, customers also expressed a strong desire for a fifth seating position for short trips.  The new Volt offers those features as well as increased space and available rear heated seats.

The 2016 Volt offers a GM-estimated 80 kilometres of EV range that meets the daily commuting needs of most customers.  Additionally, the 33 litre fuel tank and an estimated fuel consumption rating of 5.7 L/100km ensure that the Volt can travel farther when needed.  The current-generation Chevrolet Volt has been Canada's best-selling electric vehicle for 4 consecutive years.

Chevrolet also learned customers wanted a more intuitive vehicle interface.  So the 2016 Volt center stack is easier to use, with fewer icons, separate climate control knobs, and buttons below the centre display designed to provide clear and convenient operation.

Customers also influenced these features:

1. Quieter engine at lower speeds
2. Light-emitting diode (LED) headlamps, providing a more visible, higher efficiency light
3. Reduced air dam scraping when entering or exiting driveways
4. Heated steering wheel
5. Regen on DemandTM - giving drivers more control over regenerative braking, which reclaims energy while the car slows
6. Customization of vehicle information depending on driver's preference
7. Location-based charging selection, making vehicle charging at multiple locations easier to manage
8. More discrete charging notifications
9. Charge door open reminder
10. Illuminated charge port
11. Available spare tire

The current Volt enjoys some of the highest customer loyalty and quality scores in the industry.  In just four years, Volt has earned more accolades and more "best buy" awards than any other electric vehicle, including the 2015 Kelley Blue Book's 2015 Best Buy Award and Top Safety Pick from The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

POWER PLAY: CAMARO ENGINES THROUGH THE YEARS

By General Motors of Canada - Chevrolet Camaro has tracked the rise, fall and resurgence of American performance for nearly 50 years, making it a bellwether of horsepower.

Since its 1967 introduction, the Camaro's engine output has ranged from a low of 88 horsepower to a peak of 580, as the pony car rode the highs of the muscle car era in the late-1960s and the lows of the oil embargo-influenced 1970s to the emergence of modern technologies in the 1980s and the unprecedented power and efficiency offered today.

"From the day it was introduced, the Camaro has been part of North American culture and a reflection of the state of the North American performance industry," said Dean Guard, General Motors executive director global gasoline engine engineering, whose first car was a 1982 Camaro with a 5.0L V-8.

"What has never changed was the Camaro's fun, attainable performance for a broad spectrum of customers, and the personal connection it inspired with generations of owners."

In the 48 years since Camaro's arrival, the engine families and the technologies supporting them have evolved dramatically, from the carbureted inline-six base engines and brawny range-topping big-block V-8s in the early years, to the sophisticated V-6 and V-8 engines of today that use advanced technologies to deliver a balance of power and efficiency undreamt of in 1967.

Technologies including direct injection and continuously variable valve timing in the 2015 Camaro's base 3.6L V-6 help generate 323 horsepower.  That's more than any Camaro V-8 engine offered between 1971 and 2000 - and it enables an estimated fuel consumption of 7.8L/100km highway.

As the Camaro closes out the final year of its fifth generation, Chevrolet has compiled a historic overview of the engines that have contributed to its icon status for enthusiasts around the globe.

First Generation - 1967-69The Camaro debuted in the burgeoning personal coupe market and at the height of the muscle car era.  Entry-level models offered two versions of Chevrolet's stalwart inline-six engine, with a minimum of 140 horsepower and 220 lb-ft of torque.

Higher-performing models were available with a smorgasbord of V-8 engines, ranging from 200 horsepower in the 307-cubic-inch Small Block to the 375-horsepower 396 Big Block.  Sixty-nine special-option COPO Camaros were built with 427-cubic-inch engines.  Intended for Stock and Super Stock drag racing classes, their respective 425- and 430-horsepower ratings were widely believed to be underestimated.

Second Generation - 1970-81The Camaro's second generation occurred during a tumultuous time in the auto industry as regulatory changes, including the change to unleaded fuel for lower emissions and an increased focus on fuel efficiency in response to Arab oil embargoes that led to lines at gasoline stations.  As engineers worked to meet these new requirements, the industry saw dramatic reductions in engine compression, horsepower and torque.

Camaro output peaked in 1970, with 375 hp and 415 lb-ft, but by 1975 the most powerful V-8 model offered only 155 hp.  The Camaro wouldn't see more than 200 horsepower again until the mid-1980s.

The Big Block engine family was dropped after 1972, while the venerable inline-six engine was replaced by more modern V-6 designs in 1980.  The Small Block was the only engine family to last through the entire second generation, ranging from a high of 360 horsepower for the 1970 Z28 to 115 horsepower by the mid- and late-1970s.

Third Generation - 1982-92
The third generation of the Camaro saw the introduction of new technologies, each progressively improving output and performance.

For the first time, the Camaro was offered with a four-cylinder engine.  Between 1982 and 1986, the 2.5L inline-4 produced 88 to 92 horsepower, depending on whether it was fitted with a carburetor or a new electronically controlled fuel injection system.

Fuel injection also spread to the V-6 and V-8 engine families, enabling engineers to balance efficiency with greater performance.  Early editions used Throttle Body Injection (TBI) and, later, the highest-performing models of the 305 and 350 engines featured Tuned Port Injection (TPI).

In 1990, the Camaro 350 TPI engine peaked at 245 hp and 345 lb-ft of torque - making it the most potent Camaro since 1973.

Fourth Generation - 1993-2002
A streamlined powertrain lineup greeted the Camaro's fourth generation, with a single V-6 and Small Block V-8 offered in each model year.

The base engine evolved from a 160-horsepower version of the 3.4L V-6 to a 200-horsepower version of the renowned 3.8L V-6.  The lightweight, compact powerhouse offered performance comparable to most of the Third Generation Camaro V-8 models.

The Small Block V-8 was available with up to 305 horsepower in the 1996-97 Camaro SS.

An all-new, Gen III "LS1" Small Block V-8 was available in the 1998 Camaro, delivering 305 hp and 335 lb-ft of torque, making the Camaro SS and Z28 models worthy rivals for anything from the muscle car era.

Fifth Generation - 2010-2015

After an eight-year hiatus, the Camaro roared back with more standard horsepower than ever - more than 300 horsepower from a sophisticated DOHC V-6.  By 2012, the Camaro V-6 had increased to 323 hp, and 278 lb-ft of torque, while enabling fuel consumption ratings as low as 7.9 L/100km highway.

The Camaro's new, 6.2L Gen IV Small Block V-8 was rated at 426 horsepower in SS models with the manual transmission - more than any regular-production Small Block or Big Block engine from muscle car era and rivaling the advertised output of the special-order COPO 427 engines from 1969.

The Camaro ZL1's introduction in 2012 reset the bar for horsepower and torque, delivering a staggering 580 horsepower and 556 lb-ft from a supercharged version of the 6.2L Gen III Small Block.  It remains the most powerful production engine in Camaro history.

In 2014, the Camaro Z/28 delivered the first factory-installed 427-cubic-inch engine since the legendary COPO models.  The naturally aspirated 7.0L engine was rated at 505 horsepower and 481 lb-ft of torque, helping the Camaro Z/28 power its way to Motor Trend's 2014 Best Driver's Car award - the first American-brand car to receive it.

FRESH FACE: CHEVROLET INTRODUCES RESTYLED 2016 EQUINOX

 

 

By General Motors Canada - Chevrolet today introduced the 2016 Equinox - a contemporized version of the popular compact SUV.  Updates include new styling with premium accents, new wheel designs and new available safety features, as well as a colour touchscreen radio and a standard rear-vision camera for entry-level models.

The enhanced Equinox goes on sale this fall, strengthening Chevrolet's broad sport utility lineup, which includes the Traverse, the Trax small SUV and the redesigned 2015 Tahoe and Suburban full-size SUVs.

"The Ontario-built Chevrolet Equinox is one of North America's favourite compact SUVs, thanks to value rooted in great style, efficiency, safety and connectivity," said Bob McClelland, brand director, Chevrolet in Canada.  "The 2016 Equinox has been updated to deliver a contemporary new look and new technologies to build on  its outstanding versatility and efficiency."

The roster of new and updated features available on the 2016 Equinox includes:

• New trim lineup: LS, LT and LTZ, a streamlining of the model lineup that eliminates the 1LT and 2LT trims.
• New front fascia and chrome-accented dual-port grille design - including specific chrome trim on LT and LTZ grilles
• New, premium projector-beam headlamps on all models helps make the Equinox more visible at night
• New daytime running lamps on LT and LTZ, with reflector-style lamps on LS, and light-emitting diode, (LED)
• New fog lamps on LTZ
• New, Chevy-signature dual-element taillamps, revised license plate applique and revised lower rear fascia on all models, with chrome trim on LTZ lower fascia
• New 17-inch aluminum wheels on LT and new 18-inch aluminum wheels on LTZ
• New chrome exhaust outlets on V-6 models
• Available Side Blind Zone Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Alert safety features on LT and LTZ
• Standard seven-inch-diagonal Colour Touch radio (including Bluetooth phone connectivity) and rear-vision camera on base models
• Revised instrument panel "centre stack" with new storage shelf and updated control graphics
• New, chrome-trimmed transmission shifter with Electronic Range Selector mode buttons relocated to the top of the shifter handle
• Enhanced interior fabric in LS designed for a premium look and feel
• New Saddle Up interior colour
• New universal tablet holders available through dealers from Chevrolet Accessories.  They mount on the rear of the front seats to provide convenient access for rear-seat passengers

"The new face of the Equinox is highlighted by a more expressive execution of chrome accents and premium lighting," said John Cafaro, executive director of design, global Chevrolet cars.  "The result is a modern exterior that's matched inside with premium features on all trim levels, complementing the Equinox's enhanced technology and functionality."

A compact SUV with big featuresThe 2016 Equinox seats five, with all-wheel drive offered on LS, LT and LTZ models.  Its roomy interior - with the GM-exclusive MultiFlex sliding rear seat - offers 889 litres (31.4 cubic feet) of cargo space behind the rear seat and 1,803 litres (63.7 cubic feet) with the rear seat folded.

The standard Ecotec 2.4L direct-injected engine is expected to deliver a fuel consumption rating of 7.3 L/100km highway (FWD models).  A direct-injected 3.6L V-6 is available with LT and LTZ models and delivers best-in-class 301 horsepower (225 kW) and 272 lb-ft of torque (369 Nm).  The V-6 engine also enables a trailering capacity of up to 1,588 kg (3,500 pounds) - capability unmatched by four-cylinder-only competitors.

Chevrolet MyLink is standard on LT and LTZ models, while OnStar with 4G LTE connectivity and built-in Wi-Fi hotpot is offered on all trim levels.  Equinox was the first in the segment to offer 4G LTE and it provides a mobile hub for drivers and passengers to stay connected.  The hotspot is on whenever the car is on and comes with a three-month/3GB data trial (whichever comes first).

In addition to available Side Blind Zone Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Alert safety features, Equinox also offers Forward Collision Alert and Lane Departure Warning as part of comprehensive safety packages.

Equinox fast facts 

• Chevrolet's second-best selling vehicle in North America, after Silverado
• First generation debuted as a 2004 model
• Second generation introduced as a 2010 model
• Second generation sales in the U.S. and Canada totaled more than 1 million through the end of 2014
• More than 1.4 million Equinox vehicles of both generations are on the road

The Chevrolet Equinox will be built at GM's CAMI Assembly Plant in Ingersoll, ON, the Oshawa, ON, Assembly Plant and the Spring Hill, TN, Manufacturing Plant.


CHEVY COLORADO, GMC CANYON GET UPDATED TACHOMETERS DUE TO GRAPHICAL ERROR

 

By Jonathon Ramsey, Autoblog.com - After James BEaring bought a Chevrolet Colorado, he noticed a discrepancy between the truck's spec sheet and the truck's tachometer: Chevrolet said 3.6-liter V6 in the little pickup produces 305 horsepower at 6,800 rpm, but the tachometer indicates a redline at 6,500 rpm.  So either he wasn't making as much power as he was promised, or the tachometer display was incorrect.  Bearing said he asked Chevy about it but got no response.

Until now.  A General Motors spokesman said the rev limiter is indeed set for 6,800 rpm, but the tach graphics "are slightly off" in the Colorado and the GMC Canyon, and submitted an SAE horsepower certification to back him up.  If you're wondering how such a thing got past quality control ... well, let's just say you're not alone.  GM is going to fix "the graphics on future trucks," which makes it sound like Bearing will just have to learn to live with the indicated redline he's got.  He could always pretend he's driving a sleeper, with four more ponies waiting to be unlocked in the danger zone for those who dare.

CHEVY BRINGING UPDATED EQUINOX TO CHICAGO

 

By Steven J. Ewing, Autoblog.com - An updated Chevy Equinox will be revealed at next week's Chicago Auto Show, the automaker confirmed Friday in a press release.  The debut of the updated, 2016 Equinox comes on the heels of the midsize crossover - pictured above in its current, 2015-model-year-form - posting its best January sales month ever.

No details have been released, but Chevy did send out a teaser image, showing an updated front fascia with new headlamps and LED running lights.

This update for the Equinox can't come soon enough.  The midsize crossover segment is huge right now, and Chevy's player has largely been unchanged since the second-generation Equinox debuted in 2009.  When asked about when we might see a tweaked version of the GMC Terrain - the Equinox's sibling - a General Motors spokesperson could not confirm any specific timing.

In any case, we'll bring you all the official details of the new Equinox when it shows its updated face, next week.

PERFORMANCE TESTING REVEALS BEST OF VEHICLES

 

By General Motors - To develop performance cars, automakers depend on fundamental analysis, but it's the test tracks and road courses that bring out the best in a vehicle.  The collection of roadways assembled at the 90-year-old Milford Proving Ground runs more than 225 kilometres and covers parts of two Michigan counties.

"The proof is in a powerful ride like the Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 that won Motor Trend's 2014 Best Driver's Car," said Dick Knoll, Chevrolet Camaro lead development engineer.  "Because of our Proving Ground, we can put the vehicle through the paces that a customer purchasing the car will put it through and then some."

To get these powerful cars ready for track days as well as day-to-day driving, Milford Proving Ground employs test tracks including:

• The North South Straight Away - Built in 1955, it provides a three-lane, 5-kilometre-long road without twists so that a car can reach its maximum speed.  There is a high-speed turnaround on either end of the straight away.
• The Milford Road Course - Developed in 2003 under the leadership of Bob Lutz, the former GM vice chairman who wanted the Proving Ground to have a road course to emulate specific sections of race tracks around the world.  The 4.5 kilometer course consists of 17 turns, each designed to test specific performance requirements along with significant elevation changes to ensure the vehicle performs under all suspension and aerodynamic-load conditions.  The straight away allows for testing at speeds above 240 km/h.

"I lobbied for it, all of a sudden it was approved," said Lutz.  "Look what happened to the ride, handling, steering, braking ... everything of GM cars.  We're better than the best of competition and part of the reason is we have that facility.  The lessons learned on steering, tire grip, braking, etc. that are learned on very high performance vehicles, some of that translates all across the line."

• Black Lake - Built in 1968, the 67-acre asphalt surface allows engineers to develop and refine traction control, electronic stability control and brake performance.  By moistening the lot with a water truck, engineers can replicate wet road conditions.
• Ride and Handling and Noise and Vibration roads include the Fenn Holden area (named after the first director of the Proving Ground), the Oval track, and the Ride & Handling/Noise & Vibration loop.

Driving on these tracks is about 1 percent of the performance testing.  The rest of the time consists of preparing for the drive to ensure the information gathered provides guidance for further refinement and not just a seat-of-the-pants thrill.  During a test trial, an engineering team can collect data on more than 220 channels at any given moment.

"To make the world's best vehicles, you need the world's best people along with the world's best facility," Knoll said.  "We are fortunate to have both."

Globally, General Motors has other Proving Ground facilities including in Lang Lang, Australia, Shanghai and Yuma, Arizona.

2015 FORD F-150 LONG-TERM ROAD TEST

 

By Travis Langness, Associate Editor, Edmunds.com - "The normal aluminum labor rate is $120 an hour, but since you're paying out of pocket I'm going to cut you a deal," the service advisor said, holding back the computer print-out.  "I'm only going to charge you our normal rate of $60 an hour but it's over 20 hours of labor."

When I dropped off our long-term 2015 Ford F-150 a week ago, I couldn't tell if the advisor was trying to soften the blow of a costly repair or if he was really taking pity on me.  There was no "Aluminum Body Rate" on their posted list of prices in the waiting room, just the "Body Rate per Hour" of $60.  Whether this was an exaggeration or not, it was a nice sentiment.  I lied to the service advisor, so in his mind, I was the victim of a hit-and-run accident and I deserved a bit of leeway.

The damage was actually a result of two blows from a sledgehammer.  We were testing the theory that aluminum is more expensive to repair than steel and I had lied about the damage to get the most realistic customer experience possible.  So far, it seemed to be working.  The repair would take "twice as long as steel" but I'd be paying half the standard rate.  It was time to break out the calculator and do some funky math.

He handed over the sheet and explained each item.  After straightening the panel as best they could, they'd apply a specialized aluminum paint filler, then primer, paint, color sand and buff the panel, replace the taillight and put on a new "Sport 4x4" sticker.

For "seven to 10 business days" worth of work, the price of labor and parts totaled $2,082.73.  My eyes went wide, but I signed the estimate, declined a rental car and handed over the keys.

As I mentioned in Part 2 of the story, the price went up quickly when the taillight turned out to be more expensive than previously thought.  Instead of the $106.28 for a standard taillight, our Lariat's LED light with the blind-spot sensor cost $887.25.  With the subsequent increase in sales tax, the repair bill totaled $2,938.44.  Ouch.

True to their word, the body shop finished the work a week after I dropped the truck off.  And to my eye, the did an almost-perfect job.

The panel is straight, it retains all the original character lines and the paint is matched perfectly.  The only real flaw is the placement of that "Sport 4x4" sticker.  It's about two inches too far to the left of where it should be.  Dan Edmunds came with me to check on the repairs and neither of us noticed at first, but it certainly stands out now that our more eagle-eyed co-workers have pointed it out.

Side not:  We've contacted the dealer and they've ordered a new sticker.  An outside vendor does the sticker placement and they'll come to us to fix it, free of charge.

I should note that repairing aluminum differs from repairing steel in several ways.  It requires special tools and it stretches in different ways than steel.  As a result it can require a more experienced hand.  It seems like the staff at Santa Monica Ford has that part covered.

But what about replacing body panels all together?  If we had been in a more serious accident, with another vehicle involved for instance, and we needed a panel replaced, could it take a shop longer to get that panel in stock?

According to Ford, the body panels aren't any more expensive now that they're made out of aluminum.  The price for a replacement right rear-quarter panel on a steel-bodied 2014 F-150 is $967.48.  And for the same panel on an aluminum-bodied 2015 F-150?  $967.48.  That's nice to hear, but what would it have cost to fix a steel panel rather than replace it?

 

As you'll notice in the above photo of the estimate, there are 24.4 hours of billed labor.  Of that, 20 hours are listed for the repair of the aluminum body panel.  The other 4.4 hours are things like removing the molding, taking off the bumper and uninstalling the tailgate.  Clearly, that labor wouldn't take any more or less time regardless of what the parts are made of.

If we go with the theory that our service advisor presented though, and assume fixing a steel panel would take half the time, it works out to just 14.4 hours of labor.  Work that in to the above estimate and you'll get a total of $2,338.44.

That's $600 less.

Let's take that a step further, though.  Assuming the labor rate for aluminum was the $120 an hour the service advisor told us, and going with our quoted time of 20 hours or body labor to pound that panel out, we're looking at $4,138.44.  That's a different of $1,800, a price increase of nearly 77 percent versus the cost of repairing a steel panel for 10 hours at $60 per hour.

To be sure we called our regular body shop, Golden Hammer in Santa Monica.  The shop has fixed dozens of dented, dinged and damaged Edmunds long-term test vehicles.  That shop charges $50 an hour to fix a steel panel and $105 an hour for aluminum.  Take it a little further down the rabbit hole and there's insurance to think about.  If we had gone through insurance to pay for this repair, my out-of-pocket cost for the repair might not have changed so much, but that's probably not where it would end.

Imagine you've got a $500 or even $1,000 deductible on your insurance policy.  You hit a tree, tell the body shop guy you have no idea what happened, but insurance is paying to fix it.  Your insurance premiums may go up, but the remainder of the cost is passed along to your insurance company.  In this scenario, the associated insurance cost for owning an aluminum-bodies vehicle likely goes up too.  Maybe it already has.

There's plenty to speculate about when it comes to the new 2015 Ford F-150, and we've got a year to keep testing our theories, but there are a few things we know for sure.  One: It takes more time, unique tools and specialized training to fix aluminum body panels.  Two: Those repairs, whether through higher labor rates or longer service times, cost more money than repairing steel.  And three: It's really fun to smash things with a sledgehammer.