Malibu ECO: Most Fuel-Efficient Chevy Midsize Ever

The 2013 Malibu ECO debuted at the New York Auto Show this week.  This Malibu boasts gas mileage at 26 miles per gallon city / 38 highway mpg highway making it “the best fuel economy of any Chevrolet midsize sedan ever in the company’s 100 year history.”

For starters, the ECO is equipped with General Motors’ eAssist system, which combines a state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery with an electric motor-generator to enable regenerative braking electric assist and start-stop functionality. The system also aids the Malibu’s fuel-efficient Ecotec 2.4-liter four-cylinder and six-speed automatic transmission.

Inside, the Malibu ECO features technology that should help to boost fuel economy even further. An ECO gauge in the cluster continuously responds to driving behavior and encourages fuel-efficient driving. Within the gauge cluster, the driver will also be able to see when the vehicle is in start-stop mode.

“The Malibu ECO is a smart choice for customers who want excellent fuel economy without the price premium of popular hybrid sedans,” said Rick Scheidt, vice president of Chevrolet marketing. “The Malibu ECO’s 38-mpg highway estimate is comparable with those hybrids.”

Readmore:http://www.chevroletinthenews.com/malibu-eco-most-fuel-efficient-chevy-midsize-ever/#more-1429

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Now All Vehicles Can Be Outfitted With OnStar!

The OnStar FMV (“For My Vehicle”) will be available this summer at retail stores like Best Buy.  Installation is a breeze by just taking out your current rearview mirror and replacing it with the FMV system.  This allows the system to be used on any make or model car.  After installation drivers will be able to access:

• Automatic Crash Response—Using an accelerometer located in the OnStar FMV mirror, the system can detect when a crash has occurred and automatically connect the driver to a trained OnStar emergency advisor. The OnStar FMV system also includes a GPS unit that allows advisors to provide the exact location of a crash to emergency responders, even if vehicle occupants are unable to communicate.
• Turn-by-Turn Navigation—A simple push of a button on the OnStar FMV mirror lets drivers ask how to get to a specific location or address, and the system will then provide spoken directions to get to the destination.
• Stolen Vehicle Location Assistance—Leveraging the system’s GPS feature, OnStar FMV can help law-enforcement personnel track a stolen vehicle just about anywhere.
• Roadside/Emergency Assistance—Other buttons allow drivers to quickly connect to appropriate advisors when they need roadside assistance or in emergency situations in which Automatic Crash Notification isn’t triggered.
• Hands-free Calling—Drivers get two different choices for hands-free calling with OnStar FMV, either through the OnStar service itself or via a Bluetooth connection to a mobile phone. In both cases, the system’s new external mic allows drivers to keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road when talking.

“OnStar FMV meets the same rigorous standards for safety, reliability and performance we’ve developed in 15 years of producing and perfecting OnStar for GM vehicles,” said Greg Ross, vice president of Business Extensions at OnStar. “Drivers of Fords, Toyotas and other vehicles now have the unique ‘blue button’ OnStar experience that brings together the best of technology with the best of person-to-person customer service.”

Read more: http://www.chevroletinthenews.com/gm-announces-upgrades-for-onstar-retail-service/#more-1405

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Insurance Institute for Highway Safety names Chevy Traverse a “Top Safety Pick” for 2011

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) names Chevy Traverse a “Top Safety Pick” for 2011.

It’s an important third-party recognition that can have a big impact on the shopping process, and it’s only given to vehicles with both electronic stability control and the highest possible scores in IIHS evaluations of front, side, rear and rollover impact protection. And passing was tougher than ever this year, since the IIHS instituted new, more rigorous guidelines for roof-strength as part of its 2011 rollover testing.

The Traverse comes with the General Motors 360-degree safety system which includes:

A body structure that showcases not only the use of high-strength steel, but also dual-phase steel, which is strengthened in the paint oven to deliver easier formability, less weight, more strength and better crash-energy absorption than most traditional high-strength steel.
A comprehensive system of six standard air bags—two dual-stage frontal air bags, two seat-mounted pelvic-thorax side-impact airbags and two head-curtain side-impact air bags that protect all three rows—mated to GM’s rollover-sensing technology. This system can detect an imminent rollover situation and then tailor air-bag deployment and safety-belt tension for optimum protection.

Read more: http://www.chevroletinthenews.com/three-gm-crossovers-earn-top-safety-pick-label/#more-1379

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Traverse, Suburban top family cars list by KBB.com

The Chevy Traverse and Suburban were named to the “Top 10 Family Cars of 2011” by Kelly Blue Books, KBB.com

For big, active families, no other mainstream rival can come close to offering the advantages of the Suburban. Able to hold nine passengers and tow up to 9,600 lbs., the Suburban boasts more cargo space behind its third row—a full 45.8 cubic feet—than the new Explorer provides behind its second row. But at the same time, it’s more fuel efficient than the Ford Expedition. Needless to say, all that room leaves plenty of space for amenities, too, with the Suburban offering such features as power-release fold-and-tumble second-row seating, remote start, first- and second-row heated seats, ultrasonic rear parking assist, a tri-zone automatic climate system, rearview camera, touch-screen navigation and a rear-seat DVD entertainment system with an eight-inch monitor.
The Traverse, which, like the Suburban, is a multiple-time member of the annual list, “remains among the most family-friendly vehicles on the market,” according to KBB.com. That’s thanks to a roomy interior that can hold up to eight people or 80.7 cubic feet of cargo, relatively strong fuel-efficiency numbers and a five-star overall crash-test rating from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). Also earning kudos from KBB.com were the Traverse’s style and “surprisingly nimble handling.”

Readmore:http://www.chevroletinthenews.com/kbb-com-picks-suburban-traverse-for-top-family-car-list/#more-1324

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Innovative Tech Helps The Chevy Volt Save Fuel

In this day and age saving gas is a must.  Chevy helps solve that problem with the Cruze.

The Chevy Cruze features a unique technology called Regulated Voltage Control or RVC. With this system, the power that runs from the alternator to the battery is reduced from 14 volts to 12.8 volts under normal driving conditions. The reduced load on the battery and alternator in turn reduces the alternator’s pull on the engine, which helps improve fuel economy.
“We estimate RVC improves fuel economy on the Cruze by up to 1.5 percent,” said Doug Dickson, an electrical engineering specialist with the GM Global Energy Center. “To a Cruze customer, RVC enables them to get more than eight additional miles of range on every tank of fuel.”

Read more:http://www.chevroletinthenews.com/innovative-tech-helps-the-chevy-volt-save-fuel/#more-1318

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