Indy 500

Simona_De_Silversto_indy_500_2010

“Ladies & Gentleman, Start! Your! Engines!” Those iconic words have been spoken 98 previous times from the podium at the famous speedway, and this past Sunday, 32 brave drivers, 16 of which have a Chevy in the engine bay, were led over the yard of bricks for the 99th time. Scott Dixon sat on pole with hopes of holding off defending past winner Ryan Hunter-Reay who starts back in 16th, and claim his 2nd Indy 500 victory.

Neither Dixon or Hunter-Reay got to drink to the traditional milk this weekend because that honor went to Juan Pablo Montoya of Team Penske Chevrolet.  He made a brilliant pass on his teammate, Will Power, going into turn 1 with only 4 laps remaining.  Power tried to claw his way back but fell short of victory by only 0.1046sec.  Will Power said shortly after the race, “Anywhere else I’d be happy with second, but here it sucks.”  Montoya with a 2nd victory joins an elite and exclusive group of drivers such as: A.J. Foyt, Al Unser, Al Unser Jr., Helio Castroneves, Dan Wheldon, and Rick Mears. Team Penske Chevrolet claimed 1st, 2nd, 7th & 10th and achieved their 16th Indy 500 victory.

Chevrolet certainly has reason to celebrate with their engines in nearly every car finishing in the Top 11. IndyCar racing and Chevrolet began their relationship nearly 100 years ago starting with Mr. Chevrolet’s (Louis), passion for motorsports. He and his brothers, Arthur and Gaston, entered the famous race back in the 1920’s in a state-of-the-art machine they designed and built. They achieved back-to-back victories in 1920 & 1921 with Gaston as the driver in 1920 and Louis as the owner in 1921.

Danica_Patrick_on_track_2006_Indy_500

April is Car Care Month

April-Car-Care

April is car care month, which reminds driver to give their vehicle a thorough checkup, before the summer driving season.

“We encourage our customers to take care of their vehicles year-round and the onset of spring is a perfect time to inspect vehicles for wear and damage caused by winter driving,” said Alan Gamblin.

Many services are best left to the pros, while customers can do others themselves. Along with routine services like an oil and filter change, brake check and fresh wiper blades, ACDelco experts – General Motors’ original equipment and independent aftermarket parts brand – recommend the following:

Go with the pros:

  • Oil change– Having the oil and oil filter changed, at least as often as recommended by the manufacturer, is likely to generate the single biggest return on your investment in routine auto service and maintenance. Replacing the dirty oil and filter will help protect the internal parts of the engine from premature wear. It’s important to use the recommended grade of oil for your vehicle for the best protection and fuel mileage.
  • Spark plugs– Many are designed to last 100,000 miles, but they can get dirty or fail prematurely. Ignition wires lose insulating ability over time, and the connection to the plug or ignition coil can degrade. Having plugs checked and, if necessary, replaced, can improve vehicle performance and fuel economy.
  • Examine belts, clamps and hoses– Tighten or replace as necessary.
  • Replace worn or damagedsuspension components – Like struts, shocks, tie rods and bushings, which take the brunt of spring potholes and bumpy gravel roads.
  • Test the battery– Heat can tax a battery as much as cold. Modern batteries are about more than cold cranking amps. ACDelco batteries also provide optimum reserve capacity – for all the electronic devices used in today’s vehicles.

Do it yourself:

  • Sunroof– Inspect weather strips and remove debris from drains before they leak into vehicle. Wipe the sunroof seal and roof sealing area with a clean cloth, mild soap and water.
  • Cabin air filter– Replace this filter to improve airflow through the interior climate control system and help remove pollen, allergens and stale odors. Most owner’s manuals explain how to do it.
  • Radiator and condenser– Sand and salt can corrode and damage these elements, which are what you see through your vehicle’s grille. With the engine off, use a garden hose (do NOT power wash) with medium spray or open flow to wash away dirt and salt. This simple step can improve engine cooling and air conditioning performance
  • Spare tire– Make sure it’s properly inflated and that you have a portable compressor, a jack and a tire iron in the event of a flat.

You can call Gamblin Motors at (877) 459-1449 to set up an appointment for their vehicle’s springtime services.

Malibu Hybrid

Malibu-Hybrid

The next generation Chevy Mailbu 2016 will include a hybrid that offers an estimated combined fuel economy rating exceeding 45 mpg. Using technology from the 2016 Chevrolet Volt propulsion system, Malibu Hybrid will offer a higher combined mileage rating than the Ford Fusion, Toyota Camry, and Hyundai Sonata hybrid variants.

“Besides leveraging innovation from the Chevrolet Volt, the Malibu Hybrid also has unique features that help improve aerodynamics, like upper and lower grille air shutters to improve airflow and a reduced ride height, all of which help reduce fuel consumption,” said Jesse Ortega, Chevrolet Malibu chief engineer.

An 80-cell, 1.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack provides electric power to the Hybrid system. The advanced lithium-ion based chemistry can power the Malibu hybrid at up to 55 miles per hour on electricity alone. The gasoline-powered engine will automatically come on at higher speeds and high loads when necessary to provide additional power.

Chevrolet revealed the 2016 Malibu Hybrid at the New York International Auto Show.

When The Stars Align

Alignment (2)

Just as a Chiropractor can align your spine to relieve a back ache, the suspension on your vehicle needs an alignment from time to time to prevent premature wear on tires as well as steering and suspension components.   There are a handful of easy ways to determine whether our vehicle is in need of an alignment.  If you have noticed one or more of these key indicators you should have your alignment checked by a licensed service technician immediately.

–          Uneven tread wear

–          Vehicle pulls to the left or right under braking

–          Your steering wheel is off center when driving straight

–          Steering wheel vibration

* Low tire pressure can also create some or all of these symptoms.  Be sure to always check your tires for proper inflation. 

Chevy Confirmed Production on the Bolt EV

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?

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.

 

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

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

 

Silverado Midnight Edition is the New Black

2015 Chevrolet Silverado Midnight special edition

Truck fans know that nothing adds presence to a pickup like basic black. And Chevrolet is taking black to the next level with the Silverado Midnight special edition, on display starting today at the National Automobile Dealers Association Convention & Expo in San Francisco, and making its public debut February 14 at the Chicago Auto Show.

Beginning with a black Silverado Z71, the Midnight special edition adds:

  • An all-black front end with body-colored grille, bumper, headlamp bezels, tow hooks and fog lamps;
  • Black side moldings and beltline moldings;
  • 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.

2015 Chevrolet Silverado Midnight special edition

Like all 2015 Silverado 1500 Z71s, Midnight special editions include off-road suspension, a locking rear differential, Hill Descent Control and a trailering package. Midnight special editions also include rear park assist and heated, power-adjusted outside rear-view mirrors.

Chevrolet will offer the Silverado Midnight special edition in either 1500 double-cab or crew-cab models. Up to 5,000 Midnight special editions will be produced for the 2015 model year. Gamblin Motors will be able order the trucks starting in February 2015. Package prices be $1,595 to $1,995, depending on the model. Give us a call to order yours today.

Take a Peek at the New 2016 Equinox

2016 Chevy Equinox

Chevrolet’s second-bestselling vehicle in North America is the Equinox. A lot of attention is giving to Chevy’s number one selling and award winning Silverado, but the Equinox accounts for over 9% of US sales in the compact SUV market. More than 242,000 were sold last year, so we shouldn’t be surprised that Chevy gave the Equinox a whole new look.

Chevy revealed the newly made over Equinox at the Chicago Auto Show in February. The all new 2016 Chevrolet Equinox is ready to step out with a whole new look, safety features, and connectivity options. Updates include new styling with premium accents, new wheel designs and new available safety features, as well as a larger color touchscreen radio and a standard rear-vision camera for entry-level models.

Most of the new design focuses largely cosmetics and tech options. The front fascia is now accented with a chrome dual-port grille design, new premium projector-beam headlamps, and new daytime running lamps. The engine choices for the Equinox are unchanged, and that is fine because the 2.4 liter direct-injection four–cylinder engine still makes it the most fuel-efficient engine in its class. The Equinox will still get its 32-mpg EPA highway rating, which is great for the family on the go.

Another great feature on the 2016 Equinox is OnStar with 4G LTE connectivity and built in Wi-Fi is offered across all models. This is the first compact SUV on the market to offer built in 4G LTE connectivity. To keep those kids happy, a new universal table holder is available to mount on the rear of the front seats. 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. The 2016 Equinox is expected to hit our showroom in the fall. We will keep you updated on its arrival.

2013 Chevrolet Malibu Technology Tacoma Cars

 Here at Art Gamblin Motors, your Tacoma Chevrolet Dealer, we are excited about the new 2013 Chevrolet Malibu—a vehicle that delivers outstanding performance, quality, efficiency, safety and stellar style coupled with an innovative design. The 2013 Malibu features an impressive array of personal technologies that ensure a great driving experience every time:

Connectivity

• Auxiliary input jack in the center console allows iPods and other MP3 players to be plugged in and used.

• USB port in center console allows USB-compatible iPods, MP3 players and audio files stored on a USB drive to be controlled and played through the Malibu’s audio system (Eco, LT, LTZ).

• Bluetooth for phone (LS) allows for hands-free calling.

• Bluetooth for phone and streaming audio with MyLink control (Eco, LT, LTZ) allows for wireless hands-free calling, download of your phone’s contact list and verbal phone, radio and MP3 file control. (See MyLink training on Chevrolet ProductSource for complete details.) 

Remote Start

• Operates from an extended range. Automatically starts the car and—depending on climate conditions—turns on Malibu’s HVAC system, defrosters and heated seats (if equipped). 

Rear Assist

Two different technologies warn drivers of objects behind the car when backing up. Both are available options.

• Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist – Uses ultrasonic triangulation to alert the driver with audible chimes if objects are behind the car. The system’s four sensors are located on the rear fascia (LS).

• Rear Camera Assist – When the car is backing up at low speeds, a camera above the license plate provides a real-time picture on the touch-screen display of the area immediately behind the car (Eco, LT, LTZ). 

Keyless Access/Pushbutton Start

• Key fob carried in pocket, purse or briefcase communicates with the driver’s door as the driver approaches the car.

• Unlock just the driver’s door (one click on the handle) or all four doors (two clicks on the handle).

• When the key fob is inside the car, engine can be started with the push of a button.

• Available on LTZ. 

Standard Audio System

AM/FM stereo radio with single-disc CD/MP3 audio playback. Includes:

• Internal 4-channel amplifier.

• RDS (Radio Data System) reads information, such as artist

and station name broadcast by participating FM stations.

• Six speakers. 

SiriusXM Radio

• Enjoy over 170 channels of entertainment. Standard on all models and includes three trial months of service.

Available Pioneer Premium Sound System

• Available on Eco, LT, LTZ. (Standard on Eco 2SA.)

• 250-watt amplifier.

• Nine speakers provide a premium listening experience.

Traffic and Weather

• XM NavTraffic is standard on models with a connected navigation radio. It enhances the navigation system by showing real-time traffic and weather data as you drive.

• XM Travel Link includes weather and is available on non-nav radios. 

Chevrolet MyLink Touch Radio

• Included with Eco, LT, LTZ. 2

• 7″ articulating color touch-screen. Designed to provide hands-free radio, music and phone operation.

• Controlled by radio controls, touch-screen soft keys, steering wheel-mounted audio controls or voice activation.

• Enhanced voice recognition powered by Nuance, world leader in voice technology.

• Integrated Bluetooth provides hands-free phone and audio streaming.

• Gracenote music recognition.

• OnStar integrated into system.

• Pandora Internet Radio play (requires smartphone with Pandora app).

• Complete details including operating instructions on MyLink website on Chevrolet ProductSource. 

OnStar Turn-by-Turn Navigation

• Directions & Connections Plan combines all the Safe & Sound Plan services, such as Hands- Free Calling and Remote Door Unlock, with Turn-by-Turn Navigation and eNav.

• Standard on all Malibu models for six months. Learn more at onstar.com. 

OnStar RemoteLink

• Mobile phone app lets you remotely connect with the vehicle through your iPhone or certain Android smartphones.

• Remotely check fuel level, oil level and OnStar vehicle diagnostics.

• Remotely start/stop engine, lock/unlock doors, activate horn and light—even from hundreds of miles away.

• Requires OnStar subscription and cell phone service area.

We invite you to come test drive a new 2013 Chevrolet Malibu here with us at Art Gamblin Motors in Enumclaw Washington; and experience something unexpected. We promise that you will enjoy our welcoming pressure-free environment, with plenty of expert sales associates available to handle all of your needs. Above all we are committed to treating you like family, something that is natural for us being family owned and operated for over 43 years. Come see the difference for yourself and see why we are the highest online rated Chevrolet dealer in the state!