A Whole New Volt
A few months ago in Detroit, GM introduced an an electric-dominant plug-in hybrid that would recharge overnight when you plugged it into a regular household outlet. Currently, GM has announced a new breakthrough in Shanghai. This is a hydrogen fuel-cell approach for the Volt, which it’s dubbing the second variant of the E-Flex system. That’s a mouthful. It would combine “GM’s new fifth-generation fuel-cell propulsion technology” and a lithium-ion battery. For those of you who’ve been following the Volt story, you know GM hasn’t quite got that battery yet. It’s betting it will be developed in time for the Volt to be delivered around 2009 or 2010.
The big difference with the fuel cell is that this car will not use any gas; the earlier version used a gas engine to charge the battery when the electric charge ran out. The fuel-cell version, GM says, will still plug in to a household outlet and should go about 300 miles of, as they say, “petroleum- and emissions-free electric driving.”
GM describes this as the fifth-generation fuel-cell system is only half the size of its previous fuel-cell system, something that offers even more hope for the future as engineers find ways to make these systems smaller, lighter and more efficient. GM further adds that these advancements mean fuel cells should be taken seriously as a power source for the future.
For more info on this one, check out http://www.worldcarfans.com/
Awesome mini-cars!
Chevrolet has recently presented its three minicar concepts at the New York Auto Show. Through www.vote4chevrolet.com, GM will get to know which concept car that people would like to see in production.
Here are a few pictures of these exciting concept cars and bits of information.
Chevrolet Beat: Designed by GM’s South Korean design studio, the Beat is a two-door hatchback aimed at the Scion crowd with a decidedly import look. It’s powered by a 1.4 liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and rolls on 17-inch wheels.
Chevrolet Groove: The Groove again looks to steal customers from Scion with its four-door design. It too runs on 17-inch wheels but features a 1.0-liter diesel engine for power.
Chevrolet Trax: The first minicar we saw still seems the most original and features more American styling. It runs on 16-inch wheels and a 1.0-liter gasoline engine.
Check out http://www.autobloggreen.com for more exciting details!
2010-The Year Of The Volt
2010 is going to be a big year for Chevy fans like myself! The concept car that quickly became the talk-of-the-town at the 2007 Detroit auto show is finally going to be available at your local Chevrolet dealer by 2010.
The Chevrolet Volt concept is the first vehicle to use GM’s new E-flex family of propulsion systems. GM claims the Volt delivers triple-digit fuel economy and can travel up to 640 miles without a fuel fill-up or a battery recharge.
The Volt features a front-mounted electric motor that generates 120 kilowatts of power (160 horsepower) and 236 pound-feet of torque. Lithium-ion batteries are housed beneath the Volt’s floor. Also onboard is a 53-kilowatt electric generator. The turbocharged, 1.0-liter three-cylinder gasoline engine also fits up front, while the 12-gallon fuel tank is in the rear.
The latest update regarding the Volt? It is not entirely electric, despite recent reports. The main issue holding the vehicle back is the development of the lithium-ion batteries that will power the car’s electric motor. GM’s main product guru, Bob Lutz, says a working prototype is expected by the end of this year. Ford is already running a similar hybrid prototype that uses a hydrogen fuel cell as a back-up generator, as opposed to the Volt’s gasoline generator. Either one acts as a backup to recharge the batteries. GM won wide media praise for the Volt concept. It’s time to see the real thing!
Find out more about this car on www.edmunds.com/insideline
The 2008 Corvette: Hot, Hot, Hot!!!
It’s time to make way to an all-new and better version of one of the best cars of all time-The Chevrolet Corvette.
The new 2008 Corvette retains the same look from last year but the good news is yet to come. Under the hood is an impressive new 6.2-liter V-8 engine called the LS3. It produces 430 hp, 424 pounds-feet of torque and can even pump out 436 hp with an optional exhaust system. More exciting things to expect for are improved steering, manual transmission feel, and the optional paddle shifting automatic transmission. Hopefully, the paddle-shifters and new engine will get you to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds, the fastest for a base Corvette ever.
Because of comments regarding the new Corvette’s seemingly basic interior, Chevrolet decided to upgrade a few elements. These new improvements include the keyless access system, new sill plates, an MP3 jack and standard OnStar and XM satellite radio.
Check out http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/chevrolet/ for more sizzling info!
Chevrolet Sequel Finishes 300 Miles
Recently, the Chevrolet Sequel has become the first fuel-cell vehicle to travel 300 miles on one fill-up of hydrogen. The journey took place along a pre-defined route from the General’s named “Fuel Cell Activity Center” in Honeoye Falls, New York, a town slightly south of Rochester, to Tarrytown, roughly 30 miles north of New York City.
More importantly, the drive did prove to a certain extent that hydrogen fuel cells, which emit only water as emissions, could travel a range long enough for consumers to get on board with. The vehicles averaged the equivalent of 43 mpg. For more information on this record-breaking event, check out http://blogs.motortrend.com/6208030/green/hydrogen-hype-chevrolet-sequels-go-300-real-world-miles/index.html
The Chevrolet Sequel is a hybrid crossover SUV concept vehicle developed by General Motors and introduced at the 2005 North American International Auto Show. The Sequel is powered by a fuel cell powertrain, which includes an electronic control unit and a fourth-generation version of GM’s fuel-cell stack. The Sequel’s fuel-cell stack has a rated power output of 73 kW (98 hp), supplemented by a lithium-ion battery pack rated at 65 kW. One 65 kW electric motor drives the front wheels and individual 25 kW wheel-motors (outboard of the rear brakes) drive each rear wheel, providing total tractive power of 115 kW.
The Future Impala
The new 2010 Impala, although it is still currently under final designing and conceptualization, is already creating waves among car enthusiasts.
The future Impala is a rear-drive sedan to be built on the same Zeta rear-drive architecture as as the 2009 Camaro. It will also feature a unique sheetmetal from bumper to bumper.
What is in store for Chevy fans out there? This will be a 6.2-liter V-8 likely to be the top engine. Also expect at least 400 horsepower, with cylinder deactivation for improved fuel economy. GM’s high-feature 3.6-liter V-6 and a 5.3-liter V-8 will also likely to be available. Standard transmission is likely to be GM’s new six-speed automatic. Performance versions, badged SS, probably will be offered with a six-speed manual.
Chevy’s Best-sellers!!
Chevrolet has always been on top of the list when it comes to great vehicles. And to prove this, here are two of Chevy’s top-sellers of all time.
The Chevrolet Impala is an automobile built for the Chevrolet division by General Motors. Ed Cole, Chevrolet’s chief engineer in the late 1950s, defined the Impala as “A prestige car within the reach of the average American citizen”- this is the way Ed Cole,Chevrolet’s chief engineer in the late 1950s,defined the Impala. The Impala was the best-selling automobile in the United States for many years and its 1965 sales still holds the over one million units sales record.
The Chevrolet Tahoe (and similar GMC Yukon) is a full-size SUV from General Motors. It is currently the highest-selling SUV in the United States.
Origin of the Bowtie
Chevrolet’s famous logo is said to be created by its co-founder Durant, after being inspired by the wallpaper patern of his Paris hotel room.
In the issue of the Chevrolet story first printed in 1961, it was stated that, “This was also the year (1913) that the famous Chevrolet trademark was first used on the cars. The distinctive trademark has appeared billions of times on products, advertisings and sales literature as the mark of dependability, economy and quality in motor transportation. It originated
in Durant’s imagination when, as a world traveler in 1908, he saw the pattern marching off into infinity as a design on wallpaper in a French hotel. He tore off a piece of the wallpaper and kept it to show friends
with the thought that it would make a good nameplate for a car.”
This is now the very logo that marks all Chevrolet vehicles around the globe.
History of Chevrolet
The word “Chevrolet” is of French origin. It is an automobile brand produced by General Motors.
It also happens to be GM’s largest and best selling brand.
In 1911, Louis Chevrolet and William C. Durant joint forces and founded the Chevrolet Motor Car Company.
Chevrolet first entered the automobile market to compete with the Ford Model T. on November 3, 1911. A year later, the “Classic Six” was introduced. The Classic Six was a five-passenger touring sedan equipped with a 299 in3 (4.9 L), six-cylinder engine capable of taking the car to a top speed of 65 miles per hour (104 km/h). The succeeding years saw the rise of Chevrolet vehicles that captured the hearts of American consumers.
Famous Chevy models include the large and luxurious Impala (1958) and the innovative air-cooled rear-engined Corvair (1960 – 1969.) Chevrolet had a great influence on the American automobile market during the 1950s and 1960s. In 1963, one out of every ten cars sold in the United States was a Chevrolet.
Chevrolet is known as the manufacturer of some of the most famous American cars and trucks of all time, including the ‘57 Bel Air, the Corvette, the Camaro, the Blazer and the Suburban.
More of Chevrolet’s rich history in my next blog posts!
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