Monthly Archives: March 2015

Chevy Confirmed Production on the Bolt EV

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Chevy Bolt

Chevrolet confirmed production of its next-generation pure electric vehicle, based on the Bolt EV concept. The Bolt EV concept was introduced a few months ago at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. “The message from consumers about the Bolt EV concept was clear and unequivocal: Build it,” said Batey, GM North American President “We are moving quickly because of its potential to completely shake up the status quo for electric vehicles.”

Using the industry-leading battery technology found in the Chevrolet Volt and Spark EV, the Bolt EV was developed as a game-changing, long-range pure electric for all 50 states, designed to offer more than a 200 miles of range at a target price of around $30,000. This exciting announcement signals Chevrolet’s commitment to meeting customer demand by delivering an affordable, long-range all-electric vehicle to market.

What’s the difference between AWD, 4WD, RWD, and FWD?

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Your Wheels

Vehicles act differently on snow and ice depending on whether they have front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive and four-wheel drive. With winter in full swing, We’d like to provide you with a brief spin through the options. Remember, almost every new vehicle from Chevrolet and Buick includes an electronic traction control system that intervenes automatically to improve performance in slippery conditions.

Front-wheel drive (FWD): Simply put, engine power is channeled to the front wheels to propel the vehicle. FWD is the most popular and prevalent system in the market because its compact setup enhances fuel efficiency and frees up more room inside the vehicle. Plus, the weight of the powertrain is concentrated over the driving wheels, so it offers good traction when it’s slippery.

Rear-wheel drive (RWD): As the name implies, engine power is sent to the rear wheels to propel the vehicle. In passenger cars, RWD reigned until the advent of FWD in the early 1980s. But RWD can more effectively handle higher engine power and higher vehicle weights, which is why it’s still favored in large trucks, larger performance vehicles, purpose-built race cars and law-enforcement pursuit use.

All-wheel drive (AWD): Don’t confuse all-wheel drive with four-wheel drive. Both engage all four wheels, but they’re designed and operate differently. Generally, an AWD drivetrain operates as a FWD or RWD system – most are FWD. AWD system pre-emptively sends power to front and rear axles on every launch to prevent wheel slip, then backs down if no slip occurs. Power is transferred automatically via a single-speed transfer case. (A transfer case connects to the transmission to split power between the front and rear wheels.) The beauty of AWD is no driver effort is needed to activate the system.

Four-wheel drive (4WD or 4×4): Four-wheel drive typically features a two-speed transfer case with high and low ranges for maximum traction. 4WD vehicles typically operate in RWD until four-wheel traction is required; and while most systems are driver-activated, many offer a setting that automatically engages the high range when it’s slippery. The driver must still engage the low range. Found in large, rear-wheel-drive trucks and larger SUVs with additional ground clearance compared to passenger cars and crossovers, 4×4 still provides the best traction and capability in off-road.

 

Buick’s New Reveals: Avenir and Cascada

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At the North American Auto Show in Detroit, Buick unveiled two new stunning cars. The first to roll down the red carpet was the 2016 Buick Cascada Convertible. Buick has not manufactured a convertible in over a quarter of century, and this car is worth the wait. This new convertible four leather seated car offers Buick’s attention to detail and advanced technologies.

Cascada

The Cascada will come equipped with OnStar 4G LTE with Wi-Fi hotspot to keep you connected on the go. The top is a traditional fabric roof that can be lowered in 17 seconds while the car is moving at up to speeds of 31 mph. Heated steering wheel and seats will allow the driver to extend the top-down season. A turbo four-cylinder engine and automatic transmission will allow for a sporty drive. Duncan Aldred, vice president of Buick said, “It’s a car that will delight customers with its fun spirit and help drive the momentum that’s fueling Buick’s success.” The Cascada is expected to hit our showroom in early 2016.2016-buick-cascada

Everyone loves a surprise at an auto show and Buick delivered with the Avenir concept car. Avenir is French for future and this concept car suggests a future for the Buick brand that is exciting and luxurious. Building on Buick’s 112-year heritage, the Avenir concept strikes the pose for the future of Buick. The sedan was designed to catch your eye and it caught the eye of the auto show.

2016-buick-concept-avenirThe Avenir was presented with the 2015 Eyes on Design Award for “Best Concept Vehicle” at the North American International Auto Show. “Avenir embodies Buick design, which enters on effortless beauty and presence without pretense,” said Ed Welburn, vice president of General Motors Global Design. Production information is still to be released, but we are looking forward to selling this beautiful car.

Avenir

Stay Connected with GM’s new 4G LTE Wi-Fi

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4G-wifiweb

Internet in your car? It’s here. GM is the first and only car company to bring you 4G LTE Wi-Fi to cars, trucks, and crossovers. OnStar ushers in a new generation of connected vehicles. The industry’s deployment of 4G LTE equipped vehicles enables owners to explore new features like a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot capable of pairing seven devices. This hotspot pairs laptop computers, smartphones, video game consoles or tablets in and around the vehicle. 4G LTE Wi-Fi is the most reliable internet access on the go with a more powerful connection than smartphones and great signal quality and bandwidth. “Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac will be the first vehicle brands to market with 4G LTE connectivity offered on such a broad scale, and we’re excited to give millions of customers an opportunity to explore the technology without paying extra for a data plan for three months or three gigabytes,” said OnStar President Mary Chan. “We will begin to offer data plans and our customers will be able to connect for as little as $5 per month.” OnStar’s 4G LTE and Wi-Fi hardware come as standard equipment on the following 2015 models: Spark, Sonic, Cruze, Volt, Malibu, Impala, Corvette, Equinox, Tahoe, Suburban, Colorado, Silverado, Encore, Verano, LaCrosse, Regal. Get ready for a whole new way to stay connected!

4G-LTE-WifiWeb