Unveiled General Motors

Tough Guys Love Chevy Trucks

Chevy brandished its trucks under the marketing tag ‘A Legacy Built on Dependability’. For the 2008 model year, three distinctly outstanding models were introduced in the market. Silverado, Avalanche and Colorado are simply the best in their own class.

Tough guys want their trucks to be durable enough to stand the country dirt roads. Silverado’s rock-solid body is a favorite choice. Owners bragged that this truck model can outlive them and would even fit as their son’s inheritance. Power and driving comfort adds up to the excellent features of this Chevy truck. Silverado’s extremely powerful 6.6L V8 Turbo diesel engine matched with a six-speed automatic transmission can hurdle long dirt road and highway trips with ease. Its versatile passenger cab with a rear door capable of opening at 170-degrees takes care of easy cargo handling.

For guys who love sporty vehicles but still prefers the power and carrying capacity of a truck, the Avalanche is their preferred model. It is endowed with an innovative midgate system that allows the extension of the pick-up bed in the back seat area. When the midgate is folded down, it converts the pick-up’s rear bed as a comfortable sleeping quarter. This is why the Avalanche is an outdoor-lover’s favorite. Two sleeping bags nicely fit in this ‘convertible’ truck, so mountaineers do not need to pitch a base camp tent when the Avalanche joins the trek.

Economy conscious fellows would love a truck who can offer the same hardworking performance. The Colorado is Chevy’s mid-sized truck powered by a smaller 3.5L I5 engine. As a model co-developed with the Japanese manufacturer Isuzu, this pick-up truck has all the much sought after features such as durability, flexibility, comfort and power all rolled into one.

Mindful that trucks usually haul cargo in long trips, entertainment and information connectivity are two important considerations. All 2008 model Chevy trucks are equipped with CD and MP3 capable entertainment package and state-of-the-art Radio Data System compatible radio. The Avalanche went beyond this by integrating a Navigation Radio.

General Motor’s patented Active Fuel Management technology is also common to all new models of Chevy trucks. This revolutionary technology installed the engine’s capability to shift between eight cylinder full power and fuel-saving four cylinder mode. This process is fully automated and electronically controlled.

Some models are adapted to E85 ethanol-blended fuel as an expression of Chevy’s commitment to alternative energy utilization and development. Ethanol burns more efficiently that fossil-fuel based gasoline and thus, minimizing carbon gas emission in the atmosphere. True to its commitment to the American Revolution, Chevy is contributing in the global initiative to reverse the trend of climate change.

You have all the reasons to be a proud owner of a Chevy truck. Dress up your key with a Chevy Truck Keychain. Remember, that little rod gives you access to all the wonderful goodness stored in your Chevy. Your key is the lucky charm capable of activating all the powers of the greatest truck in the planet.

Bernabe Almirol is a writer for Wholesale keychains. Check out the intricate designs of these Chevy Truck Keychains, they are crafted in stainless steel, metal, chrome, and leather and comes with a lifetime guarantee against flaws in the material.


Chevy Volt Moves Closer To Production

The auto industry has been investing heavily on the development of alternative fuel vehicles as the demand for these vehicles increases. The increasing prices of gasoline and global warming awareness have led car manufacturers to dedicate efforts in exploring the different technologies which can be used on cars of the future. These technologies are aimed at reducing petroleum fuel consumption and thus reducing the emission of greenhouse gases.

One of the car manufacturers aiming to build a zero-emission vehicle is the Detroit-based car manufacturing giant General Motors. In the companys drive towards the development of the cars of the future, they have introduced a propulsion system for the much-awaited Chevrolet Volt at the Shanghai Auto Show. The said propulsion system is in support of the companys E-Flex electric car architecture.

The propulsion system unveiled by General Motors is the fifth generation fuel cell technology and comes using an advanced lithium-ion battery pack. The combination of the two is expected to power a Chevrolet Volt for 300 miles or 483 kilometers. That distance can be covered with no petroleum fuel ever being burned and thus no greenhouse gases are produced.

The fuel cell configuration allows the Chevrolet Volt to run on the electricity produced by the fusion of hydrogen fuel and oxygen that it gets from the surrounding air. The only by-product of this reaction is water. The Volt is also a plug-in vehicle which means its lithium-ion battery pack can be recharged via a common household electrical outlet. The battery pack is capable of powering the car for 34 kilometers or 20 miles on a full charge.

This plug-in capability means that the Volt can be used on shorter trips without consuming hydrogen fuel. Since electricity is cheaper than hydrogen fuel, the plug-in capacity of the vehicle adds to the convenience of the car for consumers. Scarcity of hydrogen refueling stations is a problem for cars such as the Chevrolet Volt but with its plug-in capability, consumers can make use of grid electricity for short trips.

The E-Flex system used by the Chevy Volt is engineered to be powered by different means as long as it uses electricity. Another propulsion system to be used on the Chevrolet Volt is the use of a small bio-fuel internal combustion engine. This engine is paired with a generator which provides power to the battery pack of the vehicle. The power is then used to drive the electric motor used by the car just like in a hybrid electric vehicle.

Larry Burns, General Motors Vice-President of Research and Development and Strategic Planning, has this to say about the E-Flex system: The beauty of our E-Flex strategy is that it allows us to package various propulsion systems into the same space depending on what energy is available locally. It also provides flexibility in the sources of energy. We can obtain hydrogen or electricity from a myriad of renewable sources – wind, solar, geothermal, hydroelectric and biofuels – or from traditional sources such as natural gas, clean coal, nuclear or even gasoline. Burns explained further that: E-Flex provides flexibility in two ways: in the propulsion systems that can be used, and in the sources of energy that can be commercialized to compete with oil and meet global transportation growth in a sustainable way.

The new propulsion system unveiled by General Motors is made smaller than its predecessor but at the same time packs as much power. Its predecessor, the fourth-generation propulsion system is currently being used on the concept vehicle Chevrolet Sequel. The Sequel and the Volt may still be in their developing stages but the time is drawing nearer that these two vehicles will join Chevy pickups with Chevrolet pickup grill inserts in Chevys lineup.

In closing, Burns concluded that: Our progress has made us increasingly confident that our fuel cell propulsion system will be automotive-competitive. But before this technology can be made widely available, governments, energy suppliers and infrastructure companies around the world need to collaborate with GM and the auto industry to develop a market for fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen fuel. With that in mind, consumers will have to wait until such time that General Motors see it fit that the Chevrolet Volt is ready for production and ready for the market.

Anthony Fontanelle is a 35-year-old automotive.buff who grew up in the Windy City. He does freelance work for an automotive magazine when he is not busy customizing cars in his shop.You can also visit Chevrolet pickup grill inserts for more information.


2006 Chevy Impala SS: More Vroom!

Chevys flagship car, the Impala, finally has the power to match its heralded name. Ever since the car was redesigned in the late 1990s, the Impala has been more of a pretender than a performer. Now with an optional small block 5.3L V8 added to the mix, the 2006 Chevrolet Impala can go toe to toe with the Chrysler 300 and the Dodge Charger. The changes for the Impala are not all under the hood, Chevy took the time to redo the entire car and they did it with care. Lets look at some of the changes for 2006.

More Power A V6 is a great engine, especially in these times of high gas prices. Still, if you opt for a car of the Impalas size, at least having the option of purchasing a V8 makes sense, doesnt it? You better believe it. GM has sweetened the deal by plunking in a V8 that incorporates Corvette technology as the engine heads with their pentroof combustion chambers and flattop pistons deliver high horsepower, this according to Chevrolets promotional material. In addition, GMs displacement on demand technology allows the V8 to squeeze out a miserly 28 mpg on the highway [18 mpg city] with computer equipment that shuts down unneeded cylinders at the appropriate time. Cadillac tried this in the early 1980s with its V8-6-4 engine that failed to live up to the job as computing technology then wasnt what it is today. Fortunately, current GM technology makes this a reality for current models.

Better Looks When it comes to looks beauty is subjective. Yet, previous Impala models had a bit of a pedestrian look to them. In the highly competitive large sedan category, this can easily mean lost sales as the choices for similarly priced, but more aggressive looking cars is strong. All new sheetmetal, a more assertive nose similar to the Cobalts and updated headlights and tail lights gives the Impala a fresh and assertive look.

More Models 6 in fact. The return of the SS as the signature model should help sales. SS, or Super Sport is a term that was originally used for the 1961 Impala and by the mid 60s came to represent each of the performance models in the fleet. The Chevelle, Nova, and Camaro all had that designation then while the Impala, Cobalt, Malibu, and TrailBlazer wear it today.

Improved Interior If you are going to change the skin and what is found under the hood, you might as well dress up the interior, right? The LTZ model who the heck knows what that stands for has heated front bucket seats trimmed in leather. Throw in 8 way power and lumbar support for the driver and you are talking top of the line comfort. On select models new flip and fold rear seating is available side curtain air bags for the front seat is standard on all Impalas and keyless entry, power windows, tilt wheel, OnStar, cruise control, and a host of other features all come standard on the Impala.

Prices start in the low 20s and climb to nearly 30K for fully loaded SS models. How the SS sells remains to be seen, but its bold, fresh look will certainly appeal to those who previously dismissed the Impala.

Copyright 2005 — Matt Keegan is a contributing writer for Auto Parts Canada, a wholesaler of fine Chevrolet parts and Chevrolet accessories for your Chevy truck, van, SUV, or passenger car.

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