2014 SILVERADO AND SIERRA SCORE A SAFETY FIRST FOR TRUCKS

By General Motors, Detroit - The 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and High Country and the GMC Sierra and Sierra Denali 1500 are the first pickup trucks to receive the highest possible five-star Overall Vehicle Score for safety since the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration changed its New Car Assessment Program for the 2011 model year.

NHTSA only tested the crew cab models of Silverado and Sierra.  Chevrolet and GMC expect crew cab models to account for 60 percent of their 2014 light duty full-size pickup truck sales.

"Safety is as important to truck buyers as it is to car buyers," said Gay Kent, GM general director of Vehicle Safety and Crashworthiness.  "Silverado and Sierra set a benchmark for pickup truck safety by offering a full array of advanced features designed to protect occupants before, during and after a collision."

Silverado and Sierra offer fully boxed frames, extensive use of high-strength steel, and several segment-exclusive safety features are available, including Forward Collision Alert, Lane Departure Warning, and Safety Alert Seat.

• Safety Alert Seat warns the driver of potential traffic danger using directional vibration pulses from the seat cushion.  The patented warning approach is tied to all of the on-board crash avoidance systems.
• Forward collision alert technology helps prevent frontal crashes by alerting the driver when the truck is closing in on a vehicle ahead too quickly, giving him or her additional time to react and avoid a crash.
• Lane Departure Warning technology alerts the driver when the truck drifts over a lane line when traveling at least 35 mph.
• Rear Vision Camera with Dynamic Guidelines allows the driver, when in reverse, to view objects directly behind the vehicle via the radio screen in the center stack, allowing for easier parking and backing maneuvers.
• New, standard lap belt pretensions in the front-seat outboard safety belts.
• Six standard air bags and 360-degree sensor system, including dual-stage frontal air bags, head-curtain side-impact air bags with rollover protection, and seat-mounted side-impact air bags.
• Trailer-sway control that works with StabiliTrak to provide the driver with additional assistance when towing a trailer.  When it senses trailer sway, it intervenes with braking and/or reduced engine power to bring the trailer under control.
• Four-wheel, four-channel, antilock disc brakes (ABS) that help provide straight, more controlled stops by preventing wheel lock-up in most road conditions.
• OnStar is available, using GPS and cellular phone technology to automatically call for help in the event of a crash.  OnStar service also includes MyLink mobile apps, which offer vehicle information and OnStar services via the customer's smartphone. 

NEW STINGRAY IS BY FAR THE BEST

2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is a knife-edge-styled,
rubber band-tired, corner-conquering, weapon of
destruction that showcases the very best GM has to offer.

By John Leblanc, Postmedia News - As the American alternative to fancier foreign sports cars, it's been "us against the world" for Chevrolet's Corvette since the first model debuted in the early 1950s.  And now, six decades and seven generations later, the new 2014 Corvette is once again targeted at both the 'Vette faithful and snobby sports-car buyers who won't buy anything but Porsches and Jaguars.

As one of the most anticipated new car debuts this year, you may already have the basic intel on the all-new (Chevrolet says only two parts carry over from 2013 model) 2014 'Vette.  The seventh-generation (or C7) Corvette sports new carbon-fibre body panels, the return of the Stingray name for the base models, a more upscale interior, new gearboxes and an all-new eight-cylinder gas engine that offers more oomph, yet sips less fuel.

And as General Motors' technological showpiece, the two-passenger, rear-wheel-drive 2014 Corvette Stingray comes packed with world-class high-tech goodies that any sports car snob should appreciate.

In an attempt to keep the new Stingray as light as possible, there's a lightweight carbon-fibre hood and removable roof panel (that stows neatly under the rear glass hatch), and a lighter aluminum body frame.  Other standard kit includes Michelin tires, electronic limited-slip differential, rev-matching on the manual gearbox and an exclusive technology that senses tire temperature to fine-tune the Corvette's chassis.

In the past, sports car snobs looked down on the 'Vette's Toys-R-Us plastic interiors and gaping gaps between its Fiberglass body panels, but Chevrolet has amped up the C7 Corvette's perceived quality both inside and outside the car.

An all-leather interior upgrade is available, but even the base model's interior is nicely trimmed and finished with real materials such as aluminum, leather and carbon fibre.  The combination of a new power tilt/telescopic steering wheel and eight-way power buckets (modeled after Porsche and Recaro thrones) also offers plenty of adjustments to fit any driver.  On the outside, Chevy is bragging that the new Corvette's composite panels are now only separated by three-millimeter gaps, comparable to metal-body cars.

So the 2014 Corvette Stingray seemingly has all the latest sportscar "must haves" checked off, but after a day spent driving pre-production manual and automatic transmission models in and around Monterey, Calif., it's safe to say that the latest version of America's sports car is by far the best.

Feel free to pooh-pooh the fact that the Corvette Stingray's "new" 6.2-litre V8 still sports pushrods instead of overhead cams, but the addition of direct fuel injection and new combustion chambers means the Chevy's 460 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque out-spec a Porsche Cayman S, 911 Carrera or Jaguar F-Type S.  And the result is a zero-to-96-km/h time of just 38 seconds, whether with the stick or the auto - more than a second quicker than all the above foreign sports cars.

With new cylinder deactivation technology (that effectively turns the V8 into a 126-hp four-cylinder), the Corvette Stingray can also claim "best in class" fuel economy estimates of 12.2 L/100 km in the city and 6.9 on the highway.

At the heart of the Corvette Stingray's driver-focused high-tech package is the cockpit-mounted Driver Mode Selector.  Via five settings - Weather, Eco, Tour, Sport and Track - you can tune the Chevy for a variety of driving desires.  For drivers more interested in chasing Porsches and Jags, the Stingray's optional Z51 performance package (which includes larger-diameter wheels, bigger front brakes, dry sump, lubricant coolers, more-aggressive gear ratios and an electronic differential) and magnetic-ride control system with performance traction management will come to your aid.

Let's skip right to Track model, where the Corvette Stingray's electronic diff, stability control, magnetic shocks and traction control are set at the car's most aggressive levels.  Add to the mix the huge grip found on the standard Michelin Pilot Super Sport rubber, and Chevrolet claims the Stingray will post a 1.08-g cornering score, which is the same as the outgoing (and track tire-equipped) Z06 and ZR1.  (I'd opt for the Z51 package if only to get its Brembo calipers and grooved rotors.  Compared to the non-Z51 Stingray I drove, the Z51 stops were shorter and more confidence-inspiring.)

While the six-speed autobox-equipped Stingray worked best employing its manumatic mode, the new seven-speed manual is more engaging.  For those who don't know their toe from their heel, the big news is a rev-matching feature that can be turned on or off, but improved gear synchros and a dual-mass flywheel make the 'Vette's seven-speeder relatively easy to manage, save for the shift from seventh to sixth, which can be tricky.

Admittedly, steering aficionados will find the Corvette Stingray's new electrically assisted steering could use more feel, but its responses are crisp and accurate, especially in Sport or Track models.  And when you're not out Porsche or Jag hunting, the new Stingray can be tuned to be a comfortable, all-day kilometer muncher.

The GM media people purposely mapped out a route that had us driving over untypically rough California pavement, and the new 'Vette was rock solid, relatively quiet, comfortable and rattle free.  That said, one dip into its throttle and the Corvette Stingray's two-way mufflers will create a boastful blast of good ol' American muscle.

Despite the abundance of high-tech gear and a huge increase in quality, comfort, features and gains in performance and fuel economy (whew!), the Corvette remains a stunningly good value.  The base 2014 Corvette Stingray starts at $54,454 - an almost $8,000 reduction from last year.  Even with the Z51 package and magnetic-ride control system, the price is still less than $60,000 - a big discount over a $74,885 Porsche Cayman S, $98,215 Porsche 911 Carrera or $91,043 Jaguar F-type S.

Perhaps the best news for 'Vette fans (and those who may be considering the Chevy sports car for the first time ever) is that the base model Stingray is just the appetizer.  This fall, a full convertible Stingray arrives, and we can look forward to the higher-performing Z06 and ZR1 replacements.

More than a number on a GM sales chart, the 2014 Corvette Stingray is a knife-edge-styled, rubber band-tired, corner-conquering, weapon of destruction that showcases the very best General Motors has to offer.  Foreign sports car fans can keep their noses upturned at America's sports car, but they'll be missing out on one of the most sophisticated and capable rides you can buy - regardless of the price.

 

COUPLE AIMS TO SET FUEL ECONOMY RECORD

Lisa Calvi and her husband Garry Sowerby
aim to drive exactly the speed limit during their journey.

By Lisa Calvi, Postmedia News - People pause when I tell them what the coming week involves.  Over the phone, there's a hesitation - silence - then, "You're doing what?"

Yes, that's right.  By the time you read this, I'll be trapped in a car with my husband, Garry Sowerby, for 6,000 kilometres.  Over the next eight days, we will be feather-footing our way from Vancouver to Halifax, driving the speed limit - attempting to set a new record for lowest fuel consumption.  We'll be using the least amount of fuel on a cross-Canada drive.  We want to set a record that will be difficult for someone else to beat within the same parameters.

For us to succeed, we have to stick to the shortest route, barely veer off for food, libations and accommodations and, here's the kicker, drive exactly the speed limit.  We won't see much beyond the Trans Canada Highway and what it may (or may not) offer.

Obviously, the choice of vehicle is important.  We are driving a 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel.  We're hoping to see the on-board computer read an impressive highway fuel consumption rating, somewhere in the four-point-something L/100km set last year by Volkswagen and Shell using a 2012 VW Passat.

We'll have to be ever so light on the throttle, which won't let us experience the diesel's V6-like performance and torque, but we'll definitely be investigating its four-cylinder efficiency.

The Chevy Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel's 2.0L turbocharged clean diesel engine produces 151 horsepower and 264 pound-feet of low-end torque.

Diesel is catching on in Canada, especially with a new generation of diesel engines that are less noisy and don't have the traditional vibration or telltale black exhaust that may have turned some people off in the past.

Garry is excited.  He says how much he's looking forward to this "vacation".  The words "excited" and "vacation" are not what come to mind to describe what I'm feeling.  Certainly every once in a while I get a glimmer of "Oh, seeing our beautiful country this way might not be so bad."  But it's quickly overshadowed by the thought of how important a light suitcase will be.  Then my brain gets jittery thinking, "Good lord, I can only bring one pair of shoes!"

And while the topic of fuel consumption is top of mind for vehicle owners, let's face it, it's not very sexy.  Can it possibly be?  Maybe, so Garry and I want to have fun and get a bit silly driving across the country in a good old-fashioned, go-for-broke road trip.

During the 6,000-plus-kilometre Trans-Canada trek, starting August 22 and continuing to about August 30, we plan to interview Canadians who make the great highway tick.  We want to ask them questions such as: What's your proudest moment as a Canadian?  What's the wildest thing you've seen along the TCH?  How far have you driven along the TCH?  Why would you like to come with us?

We also want to ask you what those burning question you have for those Canadians who make the Trans Canada tick.  Send us your ideas.  Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, or on our blog (blogs.driving.ca).  Help us check the pulse of Canadians.

Our friends are placing bets on whether our marriage will survive.  Will one of us get dropped off somewhere between Kenora and Thunder Bay, never to be seen again?  Who needs enemies?  They're also subjecting us to corny comments such as: "Sounds sort of fuelish to me."

Speaking of corny, we'll also be capturing goofy roadside Canadiana: Big Thing of the Day.  Sign of the day.  Best music scene on the TCH.  Look for us out there on the road.

But our ultimate goal, of course, is to produce an excellent fuel economy number with the Chevy Cruze Diesel, as well as make a "boring" trip fun.

One of my secret goals is to see how I'll survive eight days with only one pair of shoes.

CHEVROLET RECEIVES MOST APEAL AWARDS AMONG AUTO BRANDS

By General Motors Canada - For a second year in a row, Chevrolet has three segment award recipients - more than any other brand - in the 2013 J.D. Power Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study.  The Chevrolet Volt ranks highest in its segment three years in a row, along with Sonic and Avalanche which both received awards for the second consecutive time.

Together with the Buick Encore, which ranks highest in its segment in its launch year, GM received four segment awards.  In addition to the award recipients, a total of seven General Motors' models placed in the top three of their respective segments.

The APEAL Study is based on more than 83,000 responses on how gratifying a new vehicle is to own and drive in the first 90 days of ownership.

"We are driven by the positive recognition from our customers on the things they love about our vehicles," said Alicia Boler-Davis, senior vice president Global Quality and Global Customer Experience.  "This is a key measure of how successful we are at exciting and delighting our customers."

The APEAL study complements the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study.  GM had two vehicles that ranked highest in their segment in both studies - the newly launched Buick Encore and Chevrolet Avalanche.

APEAL Study Highlights
GM Segment Award Recipients

Chevrolet Volt - Compact Car
Chevrolet Sonic - Sub-Compact Car
Chevrolet Avalanche - Large Light Duty Pickup
Buick Encore - Sub-Compact CUV

GM RECALLING 300,000 CHEVY CRUZES

By The Associated Press - General Motors Corporation is recalling some 300,000 Chevrolet Cruze compact cars in the U.S. and Canada because the power-assisted brakes can fail.

The recall affects Cruzes made in Lordstown, Ohio, from the 2011 and 2012 model years that are equipped with 1.4-litre turbocharged gasoline engines and 6T-40 six-speed automatic transmissions, the company said Friday.

It's the eighth recall of the car since it was introduced in September of 2010, according to records compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  Auto safety advocates say that's an unusually high number of recalls.

GM said that in the most recent recall, the power brake boosters can fail, and in rare cases, drivers may have to put extra pressure on the pedal to stop the cars.

The company said that Cruze brake problems have caused 27 low-speed crashes but no injuries.

GM says 44,789 vehicles are being recalled in Canada.

Dealers will replace a switch in the power brake vacuum pipe assembly for free.

The Cruze has been recalled previously for oil leaks that can cause fires, fuel tanks coming loose, transmission and steering problems and side air bag malfunctions.

Through July, the Cruze ranked No. 3 in U.S. compact car sales at 159,136, trailing only the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla.  Since 2010, GM has sold more than 650,000 Cruzes in the U.S., according to Autodata Corp.  The company has sold over 2 million worldwide.

Joan Claybrook, a safety advocate and former NHTSA administrator under President Jimmy Carter, said eight recalls in three years is a large number.  "It seems most unfortunate for the company, and for the car and for the consumer," she said.

The 2013 Cruze has not been recalled, an indication that someone at the top of the company has taken action to make sure the problems were worked out, Claybrook said.

GM spokesman Alan Adler said safety is a priority for the company.  "The recalls are indicative of our dedication to making sure that problems that are spotted are fixed and customers can have complete confidence and peace of mind driving," he said.

CORVETTE C7.R MAKES A CAMOD DEBUT RUN AT LAGUNA SECA

By Seyth Miersma, Autoblog.com - This year's Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion was a Corvette-heavy affair, to be certain.  Corvette had a giant pavilion to show off it's spanking new C7 Stingray along side examples of each of the other six past cars, and the 2014 'Vettes were also running demonstration laps on the track between events.  Both seemed popular with the crowds in Monterey.

But perhaps the most exciting Corvette of the day was the running of the C7.R racecar prototype with Tommy Milner at the wheel.  Still in development, and wearing standard-issue camouflage for this demonstration, the Laguna lap nevertheless presented our best look yet at the upcoming racer.  Carryover design from the standard C7 is clear even with the wrapper in place, but no one will mistake this as anything but a competition piece with that lofty wing out back.

Corvette hasn't given us any indication about the greasy bits yet, but rumors seem to indicate that the C7.R will run some version of the same 5.5-litre LS7 V8 that lives under the bonnet of the current C6.R GT2.  We've also heard that the car will debut with a traditional yellow Corvette livery. 

CHEVY MOSEYS MERRILY PAST THE PUMPS

By Graeme Fletcher, Postmedia News - I never thought I would hear the sound of a diesel engine emanating from beneath the hood of a GM car ever again.  In the late 1970s and early '80s, Oldsmobile produced an oil burner that was such a disaster it tainted the entire breed.  But here I was listening to the dulcet tones of the new diesel engine option beneath the bonnet of the Chevrolet Cruze.  It was, much to my surprise, music to my ears and, as the test proved beyond a doubt, a delight to my wallet.

The newest Cruze is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder clean diesel.  Like the units from Europe, it displaces a modest 2.0 litres, but thanks to a variable-vane turbo-charger, it produces better power than either of the Cruze's two gasoline-powered alternatives - without low-end turbo lag.

In this case, it develops 151 horsepower and 264 pound-feet of torque at a low 2,000 rpm - that's 13 hp and 116 lb.-ft. more than the 1.4L turbo-charged gasoline engine - pretty stout numbers for compact sedan.

This engine also has a neat over-boost mode that, for a span of 10 seconds, bumps peak torque from 264 to 280 lb.-ft.  That seems like a relatively short time advantage; however, it was actually beneficial any time I needed the additional twisting power.  You see, it takes the Cruze Diesel nine seconds to get from rest to 100 kilometres an hour and 7.5 seconds to complete the 80-to-120 km/h passing move.  As I say, the overboost is ready to do its thing just about any time it's called upon.

And aside from the overwhelming torque advantage it commands over its gasoline siblings, this diesel boasts outstanding fuel economy.  On the highway, it sips 4.2 litres per 100 kilometres - better than Volkswagen's highly respected TDI turbocharged diesel.

What was more remarkable, however, was the fact it's one of the very few cars I have ever tested that matched its official combined average fuel economy rating.  Officially, it is rated at 6.0 L/100 km.  During the test, the Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel averaged 5.9 L/100 km over a distance of 750 km.  My best economy during that time was a city/highway average of 5.1 L/100 km, which is phenomenal by any standard.  The fact diesel fuel was 10 cents a litre cheaper than gasoline underscored the diesel's advantage.

The power is relayed to the front wheels through a six-speed manumatic that, for once, has a real manual mode.  That this feature will see little, if any, use does not detract from the fact it works properly - unlike all other GM manumatics.  It also has a range of ratios that maximizes the diesel engine's sweetness.

When it comes to the ride and handling, the diesel does not feel any different from the regular model.  Part of it is thanks to a diesel engine that's relatively light (185 kilograms), which means it introduces no additional understeer when the Cruze is pushed toward the traction limit.  The suspension is tuned to deliver a comfortable ride and limits body roll when attacking a series of sweeping corners.  Factor in the P215/55R17 tires and a steering setup that's commendably poised and polished to the feel, and the diesel is a fun drive.  As a sporty ride, the diesel Cruze more than qualifies.

Inside, the diesel model comes pretty well loaded, with air conditioning, the usual power items and heated leather seating.  The test car also included Chevrolet's MyLink infotainment system with navigation.  How the buttons are arranged and the fact the seven-inch screen is touch-sensitive makes it one of the easiest systems to use.  It's not often the words "Chevrolet" and "best" are in the same sentence, but in this case it's true and well deserved.

As for the rest of it, the diesel model is all Cruze.  The back seat accommodated three teens without the usual whine factor and the trunk, at 13.3 cubic feet, swallowed a family of five's luggage easily.  The nit is the crush-anything-placed-beneath-it deck lid hinge design; I managed to mangle a misplaced rollie suitcase much to my annoyance.

I hate admitting I'm wrong, but in the case of the Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel, I am - simply because it does everything demanded of it so well.  The engine is quiet, composed and a very willing workhorse that delivers exceptional fuel economy.  When all is said and the diesel fuel pumped, you can't ask for much more.

2014 CHEVY CAMARO Z/28 GETS FIRST TEST DRIVE FROM JAY LENO

By Brandon Turkus,  Autoblog.com - The new Chevrolet Corvette Stingray may be hogging all the spotlight, but Chevy has another bit of excitement heading to dealers this fall: the new Z/28 Camaro.  We first reported on the Z/28 at the 2013 New York International Auto Show in March, and while we still haven't gotten to take it for a spin, it's no surprise that it's already on our 2014 must-drive list.

Jay Leno, the lucky dog he is, managed to snag the Z/28 that was shown at New York for the latest episode of Jay Leno's Garage, making the funnyman the first person outside of General Motors to drive the reborn performance car.

Jay gives the Z/28 a fairly thorough going-over, and discusses the new Camaro with GM's performance guru, Al Oppenheiser.  There's a wealth of technical details in here and plenty of sweet engine noise from the 7.0-litre V8 to listen to.

2014 CHEVROLET IMPALA IS CONSUMER REPORTS' HIGHEST-SCORING SEDAN

By ConsumerReports.org - With the release of our latest road tests, the 2014 Chevrolet Impala becomes the highest-scoring sedan in Consumer Reports' ratings.  Among all cars, its 95-point score falls short of just the Tesla Model S ultra-luxury hatchback (99) and BMW 1 Series coupe (97).  No other domestic car has topped the sedans ratings since we began tracking scores in that fashion over 20 years ago.

Consumer Reports' engineers found the Impala rides like a luxury sedan, with a cushy and controlled demeanor, while delivering surprisingly agile handling, capable acceleration, and excellent braking.  The Impala corners quite well for a large car, with prompt turn-in response and controlled body lean.  Steering is nicely weighted; it's light enough for parking maneuvers and provides decent feedback.  When pushed to its handling limits, the Impala proved secure, responsive, balanced, and easy to control.

Inside, the spacious cabin sets a new standard for Chevrolet fit and finish, with generally high-quality materials and trim.  The backseat is roomy and comfortable, the trunk is huge, and controls are refreshingly intuitive and easy to use.  The 22 mpg overall Consumer Reports measured with the Impala's 3.6-liter V6 engine and six-speed automatic transmission is competitive, but it's not the best in class.

Despite its high test score, this Impala is too new for Consumer Reports to have reliability data, so it can't be Recommended.  To be Recommended, a vehicle must perform well in CR's battery of tests, have average or better reliability in CR's Annual Auto Survey, and perform well in government and industry crash tests.

Along with the Impala, complete road tests were published online for the Acura RLX, Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorrento, and Jaguar XF.