Chevrolet Ranked Highest in Three J.D. Power and Associates APEAL Study Segments

DETROIT – Chevrolet has more segment award recipients in the 2012 J.D. Power and Associates Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study ^SM than any other brand, with Chevrolet Volt, Sonic and Avalanche customers praising their purchases after three months of ownership.

The Volt electric car with extended range, the Sonic subcompact, as well as the Avalanche were each ranked segment award recipients.

“This stamp of approval from our owners is the best kind of recognition we could hope for and drives us to ensure all of the vehicles in the Chevrolet lineup meet the highest expectations,” said Chris Perry, Chevrolet vice president of global marketing.

The Volt ranked highest in its segment for the second year in a row with high marks for fuel economy and range as well as in engine/transmission performance. The Sonic, the only subcompact built in the United States and one of the brand’s newest products, got high marks for exterior styling, storage and space, and seats. And the Avalanche’s unique ability to convert from SUV to pickup truck has attracted a loyal customer group.

The APEAL study is based on responses from more than 74,000 purchasers and lessees of new 2012 model year vehicles surveyed at 90 days of ownership. The study examines how gratifying a new vehicle is to own and drive based on more than 80 vehicle attributes.

Chevrolet’s commitment to quality and the steady introduction of new, fuel-efficient products with the technology and features that more customers want helped the brand achieve all-time record global sales in the second quarter of 1.3 million vehicles.  Chevrolet is in the midst of launching the all-new Spark mini-car and Malibu mid-size sedan and will launch an all-new Impala early next year.

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world's largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design and high quality. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

SOURCE Chevrolet Media

Smart Headlights Let Drivers See Through Rain and Snow

Ever wonder why your headlights seem to make it even harder to see in the rain or snow? Well, researchers are in the process of developing "smart headlights" that prevent this from happening by anticipating the movement and velocity of the drops or flakes and shining into the spaces between them!

Here you go, surf fans!

Check out the US Open of Surfing live! Click here to view: http://bit.ly/MuUpcR

We sincerely appreciate our customers' feedback!

"Drove in to just get new tires for my 2500 gmc truck and found the truck that i had been looking for so i walked into the dealership and spook with the internet sales member Bruce and no hassle or high pressure sales questions just made me feel like one of there family members not just another sale. After test driving the truck we worked on the numbers and one hour later it was sitting in my driveway great APR and good service is what sold me on buying from them and they have free popcorn and water there all you can eat and drink. so go see Bruce and get the hook up on your next truck and free popcorn to. THANKS TO ALL OF YOU GUYS SEE YOU IN A FEW YEARS" -David

2012 Chevrolet Volt Becomes Centerpiece of Smart Community

AUSTIN, Texas — Maybe it should be renamed "Chevrolet Volt-ville." The largest concentration of Chevrolet Volts in the country will play a key role in helping Texas residents in a 700-acre planned community as they test the impact of "smart homes" and other green technology, like electronic vehicles.

GM calls it the greatest concentration of Chevrolet Volts in the world.

"This partnership provides us with a unique opportunity to observe charging details with many real customers in a concentrated setting," said Nick Pudar, an OnStar vice president, in a statement.

OnStar and General Motors have become official partners of Pecan Street Inc., the country's first nonprofit research and development consortia, where residents agreed to be part of a clean-energy smart grid test for sustainable living. The Mueller community, 3 miles outside Austin, provides a real-life lab for the automaker to observe charging patterns and how consumers and clean-energy technologies interact and support electric-vehicle charging. The project runs for five years.

While Chevrolet made 100 Volts available, only 55 of the community residents took advantage of the various tax credits, including a $7,500 federal tax credit and a $7,500 rebate from Pecan Street on their Volt purchases. Those leasing a Volt for three or more years received a $3,000 rebate.

"We're gathering information from families' vehicles throughout this community to find out the direct impact the Volt has on the grid and how to get drivers the lowest possible charging rates," said Pudar. "This project will also help us develop future capabilities of the Volt and other plug-in electric vehicles."

Pecan Street is funded by a $10.4 million grant from the Energy Department and more than $14 million in matching funds from project partners. Although Pecan Street oversees the consortia, it also includes researchers from the University of Texas, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the Environmental Defense Fund. It's housed in the University of Texas at Austin.

Besides the Volt, residents will use smart appliances in conjunction with home-management systems and smart electric meters, energy storage that optimizes the use of solar power, clean energy distribution and green building construction.

"We hope Pecan Street's research will speed up the innovation cycle around smart grid and consumer electronic technology," said Pecan Street Inc. Executive Director Brewster McCracken, in a statement. "Electric vehicles represent a significant addition to a home's energy profile, and understanding that impact and how consumers use and charge their vehicles is critically important."

SOURCE Edmunds Inside Line

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Chevrolet released a photo showing the 2013 Camaro's new navigation system, which will also include the company's MyLink app and voice command systems.

Chevrolet should be making this LCD standard in the 2013 Camaro LT, SS, and ZL1, with navigation an optional add-on.

(Credit: GM)

When we saw demonstrations of Chevy's MyLink system last year, it looked like the company finally had a solid competitor to Ford Sync. MyLink not only offered advanced voice command over phones and MP3 players, but also integrated smartphone apps.

However, as we saw in the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, Chevy hadn't built a MyLink head unit that was compatible with a navigation system. The result: buyers had to choose between having advanced voice command or onboard navigation.

The 2013 Camaro seems to solve that little problem. A press release notes that the new car will come standard with "MyLink and color-touch radio" on LT, SS, and ZL1 models. The release goes on to say that buyers will be able to option navigation into that system, although the parenthetical "late availability" suggests Chevy engineers still have some work to do on the system.

 

It may be coming out later than the car, but that did not stop Chevrolet from posting a photo of the new navigation system on Facebook. The image shows a very clean interface, something Chevrolet has done well with in the past. The maps look bright and clear, while a translucent information bar along the top shows the current music playback. Along the sides of the LCD are what look like touch buttons, another nice feature for a clean interface.

We have few details about this system, but it seems likely the maps would be stored in flash memory. Without the navigation option, it seems like the screen will still be present in the car, used only for the stereo, phone system, and apps. MyLink supports Pandora and Stitcher initially, and the LCD should support functional interfaces for these apps, such as being able to select stations and give current tracks a thumbs-up or thumbs-down. MyLink can coexist with satellite radio, so it is possible that the navigation system will rely on this source for traffic data.

This new MyLink/navigation system also represents the first instance of an onboard navigation system for the Camaro, which until now has relied on OnStar turn-by-turn directions. With all the bugs and integration worked out in this system for the Camaro, we should see it roll out into other models as they receive updates, and find its way into Buick-brand models, as well, which use a MyLink-parallel system called IntelliLink.

We're confident you'll love your next Chevy!

And now with the Love It or Return It Guarantee,(1) we'll give you a full 60 days to make sure of it. Buy any 2012 or 2013 Chevy, and if you're not happy, you can bring it back. Consider it an extended test drive — one we're confident you won't want to end. That's Chevy Confidence. It's that simple.

Or, if you already know you'll love your new Chevy, take advantage of Chevy Confidence Cash.(2) That's an additional $500 off most 2012 and 2013 Chevrolet vehicles and $250 off the Chevrolet Sonic and 2013 Chevrolet Spark.

Whether you choose the Love It or Return It Guarantee or Chevy Confidence Cash, combine one of these offers with your GM College Discount(3) and most current incentives for even greater savings.

Sign into gmcollegediscount.com and follow the prompts to obtain an authorization number. Take the authorization number to a participating Chevrolet Dealer to get your vehicle discount.

Go to chevrolet.com/confidence for limitations and details.

Stay Clutch: Sonic Challenge

We have HUGE Camaro specials going on right now at DeLillo Chevy!

To view some of the specials, visit http://bit.ly/MIX6H1

Is anyone joining in for dineLA Restaurant week?

Going on now until the 27th, you can enjoy awesome lunch or dinner specials at some of your favorite restaurants in the area. For more information and a list of participating restaurants, visit http://bit.ly/Ocjmw2

We're going the extra mile to ensure you're satisfied long after you drive your Chevy home.

Chevy Confidence is back. Chevrolet has had the greatest year in its history and they want to tell everyone that the Confidence is back.

Hey fans, here is a Monday car care tip:

Rotate tires every 6,000 miles to prevent uneven wear, replace them when they become worn and have the alignment checked if the car pulls to either side when driving or if you notice uneven tire wear. This way your tires will be running smoothly at all times!

Wow, look how much the Camaro and commercials in general have changed since 1967. Here's the first Camaro commercial ever!

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