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Chevrolet Volt Owners Get Plugged-In

Chevrolet Volt owners from across United States gathered at nine Chevrolet dealerships Saturday to celebrate going electric.

During the event, Chevrolet hosted an online live-broadcast where the Volt’s chief engineer, Andrew Farah, who answered owner questions and discussed topics ranging from the electrification of the Volt to the future of the electric vehicles.

“Our Volt owners are our best brand ambassadors, and we wanted provide them the unique opportunity to interact with and have their questions answered, and who better to do that than the chief engineer of the Volt,” said Cristi Landy, Chevrolet small cars marketing director. “With our Volt owners having driven approximately 80 million miles on electricity alone, National Plug in Day was the perfect time to say ‘thank you’ for their support.”

Participating dealerships include:

• Capitol Chevrolet – San Jose, Calif.
• Capitol Chevrolet – Austin, Texas
• Ferman Chevrolet – Tampa, Fla.
• Harry Criswell Chevrolet – Gaithersburg, Md.
• Hendrick Chevrolet – Cary, N.C.
• Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet – San Diego, Calif.
• Keyes Chevrolet – Los Angeles
• Phillips Chevrolet – Frankfort, Ill.
• Serra Chevrolet – Southfield, Mich.

National Plug in Day was created to bring attention to the environmental, economic and other benefits of plug-in electric vehicles.

For the first 38 miles, the Volt can drive gas and tailpipe-emissions free using a full charge of electricity stored in its 16.5-kWh lithium-ion battery. When the Volt’s battery runs low, a gas-powered engine/generator seamlessly operates to extend the driving range another 344 miles on a full tank. Volt owners have travelled more than 65 million miles since the vehicle launched late 2010. Roughly two-thirds of those miles were powered by grid electricity.

*Courtesy of GM News United States

GM set to unveil 9 new or redesigned Buick, GMC models by 2013

General Motors executives said today they will reveal nine all-new or redesigned Buick and GMC models by the end of 2013.

The automaker separately said that it would soon introduce a new version of the GMC Canyon mid-size truck.

The all-new or redesigned models included the already introduced 2013 Buick Encore crossover, which will be priced at $24,950 with combined average fuel economy of 28 miles per gallon, GM said today. The other models: Buick Enclave, Buick Regal, Buick Lacrosse, GMC Acadia, GMC Sierra, GMC Sierra HD, GMC Yukon and GMC Yukon XL..

“Our dealers have a lot momentum in the marketplace right now,” Tony DiSalle, U.S. vice president of marketing for Buick and GMC, said in a conference call. “During the next 12 months we’ll continue to give them new reasons for customers to visit their showrooms.”

GM’s decision to produce a new version of the GMC Canyon reflects a commitment to the mid-size truck segment, which some analysts believe is losing ground to the full-size segment.

But GM said it believes the Canyon will fill a niche in the market.

“We know there’s a group of customers that want the functionality of a truck but may not need a full-size pick,” DiSalle said.

DiSalle declined to provide timing or other details on the Canyon, but he said it would be produced at GM’s assembly plant in Wentzville, Mo.

After 2013, the GMC Terrain and recently introduced Buick Verano will be the oldest models in the brands’ lineups, reflecting an increased pace of new product introductions, the automaker said.

GMC attracts the youngest average buyer of GM’s four brands, and its larger vehicles deliver big profits for the automaker in the U.S. For both brands, 40% of sales are so-called “conquest” purchases, industry jargon for vehicle buyers who previously owned a different brand.

GM is also investing in showroom renovations to attract customers. The two brands often share a roof.

*Courtesy of Detroit Free Press

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General Motors Named Green Corporate Citizen

General Motors was named a Green Corporate Citizen Wednesday for its efforts to reduce its environmental footprint. The recognition by Waste & Recycling News and Republic Services in the large company category came at the annual Corporate Recycling & Waste Conference.

 “Forward-thinking companies realize that sustainability and ‘being green’ aren't just ways to market their brands; they are ways to cut costs, boost profits and help the environment along the way,” said John Campanelli, editor of Waste and Recycling News. “GM continues to lead in waste reduction and creative recycling in a way that benefits their business and inspires other companies and suppliers.”

 All of GM’s global facilities combined recycle or reuse more than 90 percent of the waste they generate and 102 of them are landfill-free. In 2011, the automaker recycled or reused 2.5 million metric tons at its facilities worldwide – equivalent to the contents of more than 38 million trash bags. GM recycles more waste from its worldwide facilities than any automaker. Last year, its recycling and reuse efforts last year avoided 10 million metric tons of CO₂-equivalent emissions.

“We look at how we can effectively design out waste first, and then seek out direct reuses and innovative recycling projects,” said John Bradburn, manager of waste-reduction efforts at GM. “Whether it’s repurposing shipping crates into urban garden beds or generating revenue from recycling our scrap, our efforts often result in significant community and bottom-line impact.”

GM strives for continuous improvement. It committed to achieve 25 more landfill-free sites and reduce total waste another 10 percent by 2020.

GM also demonstrates environmental progress in resource preservation and energy efficiency:

• Received ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year award for energy management.
• Earned ENERGY STAR certification for superior energy efficiency at two facilities.
• Developed 21 habitat programs around the world certified by the Wildlife Habitat Council — more than any other automaker.
• Matches 8,500 students each year with mentors from all U.S. GM manufacturing facilities in its GM GREEN watershed education program, now in its 23rd year.
• Hosts nearly 30 megawatts of solar power, with plans to double it by 2015 and further increase renewable energy use to 125MW by 2020.

For more information on GM’s environmental commitment, visit its sustainability report and environmental blog.

*Courtesy of GM USA Newsroom

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Chevrolet IndyCar V6 Teams and Drivers Ready for Season Finale at Auto Club Speedway

After 14 races; 14 battles for wins – it comes down to this weekend’s MAVTV 500 at Auto Club Speedway for Chevrolet IndyCar V6 teams and drivers to settle both the IZOD IndyCar Series coveted Driver’s Championship, as well as the Oval Track Championship. 

“It is hard to believe that we are heading to the final race of the 2012 season,” said Chris Berube, Chevrolet Program Manager, IZOD IndyCar Series. “It has been an extraordinary year for Chevrolet as we made the return to IndyCar competition with the all new 2.2 liter twin turbo Indy V6 engine. The results stem from the passion, skill and experience applied via the collective effort of the Chevy Teams, our technical partners and internal resources.  But, there remain a couple pieces of unfinished business as we prepare for the weekend at Auto Club Speedway - the driver's championship and the oval track championship.  We feel very fortunate that there are Team Chevy drivers mathematically in the mix for both titles.  We wish all of the Team Chevy drivers and teams the best of luck this weekend in Fontana. It is sure to be a nail-biter.”

The top-three drivers in the battle for the Driver’s Championship are all members of Team Chevy. Team Penske’s Will Power heads to the two-mile oval track with a 17 point lead over Andretti Autosport’s Ryan Hunter-Reay. Helio Castroneves, also from Team Penske, sits 35 points behind Hunter-Reay. 

Tied atop the standings for the Oval Track Championship are Hunter-Reay and KV Racing Technology driver and former Series Champion (2004) Tony Kanaan.  James Hinchcliffe, Andretti Autosport, is sitting in third position in the Oval Track Championship standings.

"Having a 500-mile race as the season finale is a great way to close out the IndyCar season,” concluded Berube.  “It requires a significant effort from everyone involved; the race teams and drivers, Firestone tires, Sunoco fuels, the Somatro safety team and countless others that make the race a show of skill, strategy and grit.  It is also good practice for another piece of unfinished business - that other 500-mile race in May."

Chevrolet clinched the Series Manufacturers’ Championship following the 13^th race of the season at Sonoma Raceway.  That same weekend, Power was crowned the Road Course Champion for the third consecutive season.

Saturday night’s 250-lap/500-mile race will be the first appearance for IndyCar at the Fontana, California track since 2005.  Chevrolet competed previously in Indy-style competition as an engine manufacturer in 1986-93 and 2002-05 with V-8 engines, winning 105 races which included two victories at Auto Club Speedway, 2002 and 2003.  The wins powered Chevrolet to six driver champions, and included seven Indianapolis 500 victories.

The IndyCar season finale is scheduled to start at 5:45 p.m. PT (8:45 p.m. ET) Saturday night with live television coverage on NBC Sports Network.

The live radio coverage will air on the IMS Radio Network on SiriusXM (XM 94 and Sirius 212). In addition, IndyCar live timing and scoring with the radio broadcast can be found at www.indy.car.com.

*Courtesy of Chevrolet USA Newsroom

Today we remember those we lost 11 years ago today and all of those who gave their lives to protect ours.

Zora Arkus-Duntov’s racing-bred development legacy continues to improve Corvette

It’s been said that racing improves the breed, and when it comes to the Chevrolet Corvette, nearly six decades of checkered flags are the proof. As Corvette marks its 60th anniversary in 2013, the design of the chassis, suspension and other drivetrain features are rooted in the rigors of competition.

“Candidly, Corvette was not a high-performance car until Zora Arkus-Duntov fitted it with a V-8, and began campaigning Corvettes in racing,” said Tadge Juechter, Corvette’s vehicle chief engineer. “Today, the Corvettes competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans use many of the same components as Corvettes rolling off the assembly line at Bowling Green.”  

The Corvette C6.R is built on the same aluminum frame rails that underpin production Corvette Z06 and ZR1 models. Other production chassis structures in the race car include the windshield frame, the hoop around the rear of the passenger compartment, the door hinge pillars, the drivetrain tunnel, the firewall and the floor pan. Corvette C6.R also uses the production steering column out of the ZR1, with a fully adjustable steering wheel, as well as production rack-and-pinion steering.

For the production Corvette ZR1, the racing influence is also evident in the rear transaxle design that helps achieve a near-perfect 51/49 weight distribution, as well as the racing-developed carbon ceramic brake rotors and Michelin^® Pilot^® Sport Cup Zero Pressure tires (developed by the same Michelin engineers who developed tires for Corvette Racing in the American Le Mans Series). These features contribute to the ZR1 running Germany’s legendary Nürburgring in 7:19.63.

Here’s an overview of the chassis technologies that have shaped Corvette performance on and off the track:

C2: Independent suspension, disc brakes and aluminum wheels
First-generation (1953-62) Corvettes used a modified passenger car frame and live rear axle, which worked well with the cars’ comparatively modest performance output. Substantially greater power was on the horizon for the second-generation Corvette and racing-derived development spearheaded by the legendary Zora Arkus-Duntov – Corvette’s first chief engineer – highlighted the need for a dedicated chassis system.

When the “C2” (Corvette second generation) launched in 1963, it featured a sturdy, ladder-type frame design that was 90 percent stiffer than the sedan-based “X”-frame of the first-generation models. It also featured an independent rear suspension held in place by a unique transverse leaf-spring design. Besides offering greater handling capability, the independent rear axle was lighter than the previous solid axle design.

The C2 also introduced disc brakes and aluminum wheels, based on designs Duntov refined on Corvette race cars.

“Duntov pioneered the model of technology transfer by applying what was learned on the race track to improve the production cars,” said Juechter, “That philosophy continues to play an integral role in vehicle development at Chevrolet.”  

C4: Unitized structure, composite springs, antilock brakes and traction control
The C4 generation (1984-96) represented an even bigger leap in chassis technology than the C2. The ladder frame that had served the Corvette for about 20 years was replaced by a unitized “backbone” chassis that, again, was inspired by racing cars. It eliminated several cross members, allowing direct mounting of the rear differential and other components, which enabled greater interior room. It was also lighter than the previous ladder frame.

Integrated on the backbone chassis was a “cage” incorporating the windshield frame, door frames, rear wall of the “cockpit,” rocker panels and more. The Corvette’s body panels were attached to the chassis and cage, marking the first time in the car’s history that it didn’t use a conventional body-on-frame design.

When it came to the suspension, the C4 again used unequal-length upper and lower A-arms in the front suspended by a new, transverse spring design similar to the rear suspension. At the rear was another transverse composite spring, but used with a new five-link independent suspension design vs. the previous three-link setup. The reinforced fiberglass springs were exceptionally strong yet compliant, and they worked in two ways: They flattened as they flexed, but when the vehicle rolled in a turn, they effectively formed an S shape. That added roll stiffness, which minimized the size – and weight – of the stabilizer bars.

Additional C4 chassis/drivetrain innovations included rack-and-pinion steering (1984), aluminum driveshaft (1984), aluminum disc brake calipers (1984), antilock brakes (1986) and traction control (1992).

The C4 was an unqualified success on the track. In its first year of competition, the C4 Corvette went undefeated and captured the SCCA Showroom Stock GT-class championship. That launched a renewed effort on racing and the benefits of technology transfer.

C5: Hydroformed rails, rear transaxle, magnetic ride
The C5 generation (1997-2004) built on the success of the C4 with a new, unitized backbone chassis design, but it was lighter and stronger. Its construction employed a comparatively rare process called hydroforming, which used water pressure and heat to turn six-inch steel tubes into side rails for the Corvette chassis. Each tube replaced what formerly had comprised 36 separate, welded components in the C4 chassis.

The other big advancement with the fifth-generation Corvette was the use of a rear transaxle, which moved the transmission to the rear of the vehicle rather than the traditional position directly behind the engine. The tunnel between the engine and transaxle was enclosed with a panel that contributed to the chassis’ strength and rigidity.

“Weight distribution was a primary motivator,” said Juechter. “We were trying to get to 50/50, balancing the work load on the front and rear tires, which is extremely challenging to do with the front-engine, V-8 powered car. Moving to a rear transaxle dramatically improved the weight balance, as well as enabling a smoother ride and greater interior space.”

Additional C5 chassis/drivetrain innovations included run-flat tires (1997), Active Handling System (1998), magnesium wheels (2002) and Magnetic Selective Ride Control (2003).

The strength and performance capability delivered by the C5 chassis paid huge dividends on the race track. During six years of competition, Corvette Racing – the first factory-backed Corvette team in the car’s history – led the C5.R to an overall victory at the Daytona 24-hour race and three 1-2 finishes in the GTS class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. During the 2004 season, Corvette Racing won every race the team entered and captured every pole position in the American Le Mans Series.

C6: Aluminum and magnesium structure
The success of the C5.R racing program directly influenced the design of the C6 Corvette (2005 – 2013) as designers and engineers further strengthened but lightened the proven backbone design.

At a glance, the C6 chassis looks similar to the C5, but it was shortened slightly and strengthened in key areas to enable greater performance and to enhance crashworthiness. And while it retained the same basic suspension design as the C5 – short/long arm front suspension and multi-link rear suspension with transverse composite springs – all of the components were redesigned. No C5 suspension parts were carried over to the C6. 

For the first time, different chassis were available with different Corvette models. The higher-performance C6 Z06 and ZR1 models received a unique, aluminum-intensive backbone structure rather than the steel backbone used on other models. It was developed as a lighter foundation, featuring a magnesium roof structure and engine cradle, and weighed only 278 pounds – 49 percent less than the steel backbone’s 414 pounds. Like the steel frame, the aluminum chassis was created via hydroforming.

Corvette Racing immediately employed the C6 chassis with its C6.R race cars. Corvette Racing has won the 24 Hours of Le Mans seven times since 2001, most recently beating Ferrari to the checkered flag in 2011.

*Courtesy of Chevrolet Newsroom USA

Harlan Charles, Corvette Product Manager, discusses everything important about the first generation of Corvette -- from the 1953 Corvette show car

Chevrolet Racing Revs Up Breast Cancer Fight

Chevrolet Racing will renew the brand’s fight against breast cancer this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway where every lap run under the caution flag will lead to a $200 contribution by Chevrolet to the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer initiative.

“For our 100^th birthday in 2011, Chevrolet began its support of the American Cancer Society, and the generous response from our dealers, employees and customers told us we needed to help the Society fight for more birthdays,” said Don Johnson, vice president of Chevrolet Sales and Service. “At Chevy, we believe everyday heroes can accomplish extraordinary things, and it is in this spirit that we work to achieve a world without breast cancer.”

On Friday, 30 breast cancer survivors and their guests will spend the day at Atlanta Motor Speedway and participate in Chevrolet Camaro SS pace car rides around the historic track with Team Chevy NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Jamie McMurray and four-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion Ron Hornaday Jr. NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Danica Patrick also will visit with survivors for photos and autographs.

On Sunday, Chevy will donate $200 for every caution lap run during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AdvoCare 500, paced by the pink Camaro SS featuring the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer logo. In 2011, 64 caution laps at Atlanta generated $12,800 for the American Cancer Society.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In September, Chevrolet will announce additional brand, dealer, employee and consumer activities in support of the American Cancer Society and Making Strikes Against Breast Cancer.

“Last year, contributions of more than $900,000 supported the American Cancer Society's mission to save lives by helping people stay well and get well, by finding cures and by fighting back against this disease,” said Roshini George, national vice president of health promotions for the American Cancer Society.  "As we approach National Breast Cancer Awareness month in October, we want thank the Chevrolet family for its support and remind everyone to take the steps that make a difference in our fight against breast cancer.”

*GM Newsroom United States

Chevrolet Racing Revs Up Breast Cancer Fight

Chevrolet Racing will renew the brand’s fight against breast cancer this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway where every lap run under the caution flag will lead to a $200 contribution by Chevrolet to the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer initiative.

“For our 100^th birthday in 2011, Chevrolet began its support of the American Cancer Society, and the generous response from our dealers, employees and customers told us we needed to help the Society fight for more birthdays,” said Don Johnson, vice president of Chevrolet Sales and Service. “At Chevy, we believe everyday heroes can accomplish extraordinary things, and it is in this spirit that we work to achieve a world without breast cancer.”

On Friday, 30 breast cancer survivors and their guests will spend the day at Atlanta Motor Speedway and participate in Chevrolet Camaro SS pace car rides around the historic track with Team Chevy NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Jamie McMurray and four-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion Ron Hornaday Jr. NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Danica Patrick also will visit with survivors for photos and autographs.

On Sunday, Chevy will donate $200 for every caution lap run during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AdvoCare 500, paced by the pink Camaro SS featuring the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer logo. In 2011, 64 caution laps at Atlanta generated $12,800 for the American Cancer Society.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In September, Chevrolet will announce additional brand, dealer, employee and consumer activities in support of the American Cancer Society and Making Strikes Against Breast Cancer.

“Last year, contributions of more than $900,000 supported the American Cancer Society's mission to save lives by helping people stay well and get well, by finding cures and by fighting back against this disease,” said Roshini George, national vice president of health promotions for the American Cancer Society.  "As we approach National Breast Cancer Awareness month in October, we want thank the Chevrolet family for its support and remind everyone to take the steps that make a difference in our fight against breast cancer.”

*GM Newsroom United States