Chevrolet News - Kelley Blue Book crowns four hybrids, one diesel with “Best New Family Vehicle” titles

Kelley Blue Book crowns four hybrids, one diesel with “Best New Family Vehicle” titles

Filed under: Hybrid, Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Toyota, Green Daily

We got to try out both the 2008 and 2009 Ford Escape hybrid models in the AutoblogGreen garage, and found both to be respectable rides for families who need the room. Kelley Blue Book thinks so, too, and named the 2009 model one of its “2009 Best New Family Vehicles.” The Escape hybrid is rated at 32 mpg for the FWD model, 28 mpg for the 4WD.

KBB included four hybrid models and one diesel car (the Jetta TDI) from five automakers in its list of ten family-friendly vehicles. Toyota and Chevy each had three models selected. The complete list is:

• 2009 Honda Civic
• 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
• 2009 Chevy Malibu
• 2009 VW Jetta SportWagen TDI
• 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid
• 2009 Toyota RAV4
• 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
• 2009 Chevy Tahoe Hybrid
• 2009 Chevy Traverse
• 2009 Honda Odyssey

[Source: KBB, Ford]

Continue reading Kelley Blue Book crowns four hybrids, one diesel with “Best New Family Vehicle” titles

Kelley Blue Book crowns four hybrids, one diesel with “Best New Family Vehicle” titles originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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[tags]chevrolet cars, chevolet news, chevrolet models[/tags]

Chevrolet News - GM will update the Chevy Volt throughout its life cycle

GM will update the Chevy Volt throughout its life cycle

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Chevrolet, GM

General Motors has said that it will continually update the software that runs its upcoming Chevy Volt. Unlike more traditional powertrains that center around an internal combustion engine, major parameters that govern how the Volt functions can and will be modified as real-world conditions require, and this process will not be dependent on new versions of the vehicle entering production.

This is a big change from what we’re used to today. It might take a few years to introduce an update in engine tuning with a conventional vehicle. With the Voltec powertrain that General Motors is planning to launch with the Chevy Volt, computer software will determine things like when the engine will kick on to recharge the batteries or how much regenerative braking the car uses under various circumstances.

When a second-generation of the Volt is finally offered, don’t expect GM to focus on extending its electric-only range. Instead, GM hopes to drastically reduce the size and cost of its battery pack, which should have the extremely desirable effect of allowing the vehicle to be profitable.

[Source: Reuters]

GM will update the Chevy Volt throughout its life cycle originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 12 Feb 2009 12:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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[tags]chevrolet cars, chevolet news, chevrolet models[/tags]

Chevrolet News - Chicago 2009: Goodyear and Bose help to boost Chevy Volt efficiency

Chicago 2009: Goodyear and Bose help to boost Chevy Volt efficiency

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Chevrolet, Chicago Auto Show

In order for the Chevy Volt to achieve both a 40-mile electric range and the 10 year/150,000 mile battery durability target, every aspect of the car must be optimized to minimize parasitic losses. We’ve already seen the car’s shape change allowing it to slice through the air with less resistance. Now, partners like Goodyear and Bose are stepping up to the plate to help. How much can tires do? Goodyear’s new Assurance Fuel Max tires are claimed to contribute an extra mile of driving range compared to similar performing tires. Goodyear cites a new tread compound that helps reduce rolling resistance.

Even in green cars, modern car owners like to be entertained on the way to wherever they are going. Bose has developed a sound system for the Volt that has more efficient amplifiers and speakers. Digital signal processing circuitry aims to provide concert hall sound while consuming half the energy.

Undoubtedly over the next 18 months,we’ll be hearing plenty more about new sub-systems that are designed to reduce the load on the battery pack but this is a good beginning.

[Source: GM]

Continue reading Chicago 2009: Goodyear and Bose help to boost Chevy Volt efficiency

Chicago 2009: Goodyear and Bose help to boost Chevy Volt efficiency originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 11 Feb 2009 07:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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[tags]chevrolet cars, chevolet news, chevrolet models[/tags]

Chevrolet News - Geneva Preview: More information on the 2010 Chevy Spark w/VIDEO

Geneva Preview: More information on the 2010 Chevy Spark w/VIDEO

Filed under: Chevrolet, Geneva Motor Show

It’s less than a month until the Geneva Motor Show and the unveiling of the 2010 Chevy Spark. For those of you that have been paying attention for the past two years, the Spark is the production version of the Beat concept that debuted at the 2007 New York Auto Show. Compared to the Beat, the Spark has grown two extra doors but otherwise looks very much like the original. The Spark is following the lead of other mini-cars by using a more upright stance and pushing the wheels out to the corners to maximize interior room. Inside, the design of the instrument panel appears to be a simplified evolution of the twin cockpit look that has been appearing on other contemporary Chevrolets, including the Malibu, Traverse and Equinox. Under the hood, buyers in Europe will get a choice of 1.0 or 1.2L four cylinder engines driving the front wheels when the Spark goes on sale early next year. At the Detroit Auto Show, GM announced that the Spark will indeed be sold in North America beginning about a year after its European debut. A video design overview with Dave Lyon is after the jump.

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading Geneva Preview: More information on the 2010 Chevy Spark w/VIDEO

Geneva Preview: More information on the 2010 Chevy Spark w/VIDEO originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 10 Feb 2009 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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[tags]chevrolet cars, chevolet news, chevrolet models[/tags]

Chevrolet News - GM racing manager proud to be building a greener Corvette

GM racing manager proud to be building a greener Corvette

Filed under: Ethanol, Chevrolet, Lightweight, Racing

Last year, at the same press conference where American Le Mans Series CEO Scott Atherton announced the Green Challenge, Chevrolet general manager Ed Peper announced that the C6R Corvettes would be running on cellulosic ethanol in the GT1 class. After a year of tearing up the tracks powered by non-food-sourced biofuel, GM Road Racing Group Manager Steve Wesoloski is proud of the team’s accomplishments. He also welcomes Michelin on board as the title sponsor of the Green Challenge for 2009. Ethanol obviously remains a controversial fuel, but Wesoloski said, “It’s going to be a long time before the auto industry finds the one magic solution. In the meantime we’re all looking for answers. This [cellulosic E85] is one. We’re saying you don’t have to be afraid of ethanol.” Lessons learned converting the race car to E85 are being shared with the production side at GM. Now, with a GT2 car under development for its debut later this year, the team is working on weight reduction by using the aluminum chassis of the production Z06 and ZR1 models. Hopefully, some of those weight reduction lessons will also make their way to production GM cars.

Photos Copyright (C)2008 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: American Le Mans Series]

GM racing manager proud to be building a greener Corvette originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 07 Feb 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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[tags]chevrolet cars, chevolet news, chevrolet models[/tags]

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