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Fans Can Win by Sharing Next Chevrolet Super Bowl Ad

Independent film makers from 32 countries are offering their interpretations of Chevrolet’s “Everyday Hero” for a chance to have their 30-second ad aired during the telecast of Super Bowl XLVI. Now, fans can cash in by sharing with their friends their favorite spot among the top 35 entries featured on ChevroletRoute66.MSN.com.

Chevrolet and MOFILM, a global creative community, received 197 entries from film makers across the globe. The best spot as determined by Chevrolet will be shown during the big game on Feb. 5, 2012.

“With Chevrolet Route 66, we wanted to tap into the talents of creative people from every corner of the Earth to discover our next Super Bowl ad,” said Joel Ewanick, GM vice president and global chief marketing officer. “The submissions we received show that people from around the world share many of the same values and how Chevrolet plays a role in helping them along life’s road.”  

Beginning today Dec. 22 and running through 6:59 p.m. EST on Jan. 25, 2012, eligible fans from Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Mexico, the United Kingdom and United States can watch, rate and share their favorite Chevrolet Route 66 film. Those who share their personalized link to the videos most often and give the most creative answer to the question “if you could drive to any destination in your home country, where would you go?” could win up to $10,000.

To engage fans, Chevrolet turned to Microsoft Advertising to create a contest hub to house and share the videos that offers a personalized experience with the ability to localize and share the global films.

 “Because Chevrolet is sold in many countries, ‘crowd-sourcing’ content globally is a great way to find creative advertising that resonates with consumers,” said Ewanick. “Using that same concept, we hope to have fans identify their favorite ads for us by voting with their ‘clicks’ and sharing with friends.”

The Microsoft hub will identify registrants with unique user codes that will allow them to accumulate points every time they share with another fan. The top fans as measured by sharing will be tracked by the contest site leader board. To be sure the contest is won by a real person and not a web “bot,” the contest site will ask viewers to  “confirm” by entering a valid email address.

Fans can enter the contest and view complete program details by visiting the contest website. Winners will be announced the within two weeks following the conclusion of the contest.

 

**  Courtesy of Chevrolet Media

Watch as Rob Dyrdek Does a Kickflip in a Chevy Sonic

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Turbocharged 2013 Chevrolet Sonic RS Pushes Performance

A hotter Chevrolet Sonic is about to sound off – the 2013 Sonic RS. It goes on sale in late 2012, after making its public debut at the North American International Auto Show Jan. 14-22.

The new RS amplifies the Sonic’s youthful style and driving experience with unique exterior and interior features matched with a 138-horsepower (103 kW) Ecotec 1.4L turbo engine. Sonic is the only vehicle in its segment to offer a turbocharged powertrain.

“The new Chevrolet Sonic RS pushes Chevrolet’s performance heritage in a new direction, for a new generation of drivers,” said Chris Perry, vice president of Global Chevrolet Marketing. “It takes the Sonic’s great design and latest connectivity features and combines them with a more performance-oriented look and feel.”

The Sonic RS is offered exclusively in the five-door body style. Chevrolet’s exclusive MyLink infotainment system is standard. It enables navigation directions downloaded through a smart phone to be shown on the radio’s large display, and offers the personalized connectivity of Pandora and Stitcher Internet radio.

Sonic RS exterior features

• New front fascia with new fog lamp design
• New RS-specific grille
• New rear fascia
• New rear spoiler
• New rocker moldings
• Unique mirror cap finish
• Retuned sport exhaust with chrome outlet
• Unique 17-inch five-spoke wheel design
• Lowered and stiffened suspension with performance-tuned dampers
• RS badging.

The more-aggressive look of the Sonic RS is inspired by the concept that debuted in Detroit in 2010. The Sonic RS will be available in Victory Red, Summit White, Cyber Gray Metallic and  Black Granite Metallic, which is a new exterior color for the 2013 Sonic.

“The Sonic RS remains true to the progressive spirit of the concept and brings an unmistakable attitude to the segment,” said John Mack, design director for the Sonic. “From every angle and every touch point, it is a car that is unabashed in its performance statement – and one that drives Chevrolet’s performance legacy into its second century.”

One of the most-dramatic cues from the concept carried into the production model is the Sonic RS’s front fascia, which has a deep air dam design that enhances the car’s road-hugging stance. Vertical intakes at the edges of the fascia reinforce the wide, low proportion and house the fog lamps.

Sonic RS interior features

• New front sport seats
• New sport steering wheel with thicker rim and racing-inspired flat-bottom design
• New shifter knob (manual transmission)
• New aluminum sport pedals
• Specific instrument panel cluster graphics
• RS-specific interior trim color for the instrument panel and door trim inserts.

“Like the exterior, the Sonic RS’s interior looks and feels the part of a true performance car,” said Mack. “The seats are firm and provide great lateral support during quick cornering and the feel of the thick, flat-bottom steering wheel is a feature driving enthusiasts will truly appreciate.”

The Sonic RS’s interior is a connected environment, with the Chevrolet MyLink infotainment seven-inch color touch screen radio. This system allows customers to bring customized music libraries into the vehicle and use their smart phones and Bluetooth connectivity to access Pandora and Stitcher Internet radio and navigation. Navigation directions downloaded through a smart phone can be displayed on the screen and, when the vehicle is stopped, users can project video and even personal photo albums onto the screen from their phone.

Sonic RS performance

The Sonic RS is powered by a standard Ecotec 1.4L turbo engine that is rated at 138 horsepower (103 kW) and 148 lb.-ft. of torque (200 Nm) – and provides an immediate feeling of power that is sustained across the rpm band, for a greater feeling of performance at lower rpm. It’s matched with a six-speed manual transmission or six-speed automatic.

Unique gear ratios for the six-speed manual transmission and unique final drive ratio for the automatic give the Sonic RS a sportier feel than non-RS models.

Complementing the segment-exclusive turbocharged powertrain is MacPherson strut front suspension with coil springs and stabilizer bar, and a semi-independent, torsion beam axle-mount compound link-type rear suspension – featuring a robust, tubular V-shape beam – with gas-charged shocks. The front and rear tracks are identical at 59.4 inches (1,509 mm), for well-planted stability and balance.

The new RS is the only Sonic model offered with four-wheel disc brakes, which are partnered with a four-channel anti-lock braking system. The four-sensor system – one at each wheel – incorporates electronic brake force distribution, which balances braking performance based on such factors as road conditions and the weight of passengers and/or cargo.

Electric power steering is standard and features a wear compensator that continually adjusts the system interaction with the steering gear to ensure precise steering action over the life of the system. 

Sonic lineup at a glance

The Chevrolet Sonic is offered in two body styles: a four-door sedan and a five-door, with a starting price of $14,495 (including destination charge). Each body style delivers class-leading, rear-seat roominess and cargo space. Vehicle highlights include:

• Standard Ecotec 1.8L engine (non-RS models) paired with five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmissions
• Standard electric power steering and StabiliTrak electronic stability control with rollover sensing
• Sedan offers trunk capacity that is greater than most compact cars; hatchback and sedan offer better rear-seat roominess than Ford Fiesta. With a rear seat that folds nearly flat, the Sonic hatchback has greater cargo capacity than Fiesta
• Connectivity includes OnStar with six months of Turn-by-Turn navigation. Available features include XM Satellite Radio, USB and Bluetooth functionality and MyChevrolet mobile application
• Remote start, heated front seats and sunroof – all rarities in the segment 
• Ten standard air bags, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist and OnStar with Automatic Crash Response.

Sonic is built at the General Motors’ Orion Assembly Center in Michigan, which received a $545-million investment in upgrades and retooling and helped restore approximately 1,000 jobs in the metropolitan Detroit area.

 

**  Courtesy of Chevrolet Media

2012 Chevrolet Sonic Subcompact Named IIHS Top Safety Pick

It used to be that going green meant giving up something, whether it was size, safety, or features in a car.

Well, smaller cars still get better gas mileage. That's just physics. But just as you no longer have to sacrifice features, smaller and greener cars also now have safety ratings just as good as their larger, thirstier counterparts.

The latest case in point is the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic, which the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has just designated a Top Safety Pick in both of its body styles, the four-door sedan and five-door hatchback.

The subcompact Sonic, which will be the only subcompact built in the U.S. when it hits dealerships later this year, improves greatly on the 2011 Aveo model it replaces.

The IIHS had given the Aveo an "acceptable" rating in only one of four crash tests (frontal collision), with "marginal" ratings for the other three.

The IIHS gave the 2012 Sonic top ratings for all of its new, tougher tests for the 2012 model year. Those include front, side, and rear crash protection, as well as rollovers.

To qualify for the rating, a car must also have electronic stability control as standard, as is Federally mandated for all cars built starting this month.

The Institute also noted that in its rollover tests, the Chevy Sonic's roof withstood forces of more than 5 times the car's weight (against just over 3 times for the Aveo). A "good" rating in that IIHS test is a ratio of 4 or higher.

Other green cars that have received top ratings from the IIHS include the 2012 Chevrolet  Volt and 2011 Nissan Leaf, both plug-in electric cars.

 

**  Courtesy of Green Car Reports

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Chevrolet Cruze Goes ‘Shields Up’ for Max Protection

When it comes to making sure the Chevrolet Cruze is as durable as it can be, Dave Schoener and his teammates are all wet.

As a General Motors splash test engineer, Schoener helped develop an innovative splash shield for the Chevrolet Cruze that protects the engine compartment from water and potentially harmful contaminants.

In addition, the splash shields, a segment exclusive in the Cruze, help prevent underbody corrosion by repelling water, dirt and mud. They also contribute to the Cruze’s fuel economy – an EPA-estimated 42 mpg highway for Cruze Eco – by reducing wind drag.

“With the Cruze, you have a very comprehensive splash protector on an entry sedan that you typically wouldn’t see except in high-end luxury vehicles,” said Schoener.

Schoener recommended adding underbody shields to the Cruze after observing repeated splash tests in GM’s new $1.4-million Flooded Road Lab at the company’s Milford, Mich. Proving Ground.

There, engineers drove the Cruze through a submerged roadway filled with two to 12 inches of standing water – at speeds ranging from five to 35 miles per hour – to ensure long-term quality and dependability. Schoener and his team used the lab learning to find solutions to keep water, grit, salt and other contaminants away from the Cruze’s engine and transmission.

Facilities such as the Flooded Road Lab demonstrate GM’s commitment to vehicle quality, where thousands of miles of simulated abuse provide opportunities to improve vehicles before they reach customers.  Underbody splash shields are among many improvements added to GM’s vigorous long-term durability testing.

A long-distance runner, Schoener compares long-term durability testing to preparing for a marathon.

“Just as I train to build endurance before each race, achieving long-term vehicle durability comes from putting the Cruze through its paces here at the Proving Ground,” he said. “We do intense durability testing to ensure our customers get top-quality vehicles they will enjoy for many years.”

 

**  Courtesy of Chevrolet Media

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LSX Challenge Series Heats the Tires for 2012

The Chevrolet Performance LSX Challenge Series is back for 2012 – and more competitive than ever. It is the premier racing series for street-based vehicles powered by Chevrolet’s LS and LSX engines. 

Along with supporting the LSX Shootout series, Chevrolet Performance enables racers to compete and win with a growing range of LSX maximum-performance crate engines and engine parts, including the LSX454R racing engine (part number 19257880). Chevrolet Performance also offers LSX Bowtie blocks – with the tall-deck version for building large-displacement engines of up to 500 cubic inches – as well new drag-race six-bolt cylinder heads, intake manifolds and forged rotating components.

Chevrolet Performance personnel will be on hand at all events to answer tech questions and explain the key attributes of the latest parts.

It pays to win

Chevrolet Performance will award the fastest LS-powered racers at the LSX Shootout event and pay a $250 bonus to any racer who wins his or her category using an LSX Bowtie engine block. Chevrolet Performance will also supply awards to all racing class and show class winners.

LSX Series Champions

Chevrolet Performance will recognize the 2011 LSX Series Champions at the NMCA Awards Ceremony in Orlando on Friday, December 2, 2011. 

The champions of the landmark 2011 season – the first to feature the four-race format – include:

• Michael Meeks in the LSX Drag Radial class – who won by a slim five-point margin over runner-up Mark Carlyle
• Jud Massingill in the LSX All Motor class – his Camaro runs in the low-8-second range without a power adder
• Adam Preston in the Real Street class – his Camaro is mid-8-secord performer
• Rob Farley in the LSX Rumble class – who topped more than 80 racers who accumulated points in the competitive class throughout the season
• Shawn Calabrese in the 5th Gen Camaro Challenge class – his tuned Camaro SS ran low 12s at the start of the season and kept going quicker.

2012 LSX Series Schedule

The four-race LSX Challenge Series for the 2012 season includes stops in Bradenton, Fla., Atlanta, Ga. and Bowling Green, Ky. – with the championship again to be decided at the annual LSX Shootout, held in conjunction with the NMCA World Finals, in Indianapolis. The race dates and locations include:

• March 15-18 (NMCA season opener), at Bradenton Motorsports Park, Bradenton, Florida
• June 1-3 (Chevy High Performance Nationals) at Atlanta Dragway, Commerce, Georgia
• October 11-14 (NMCA World Finals/LSX Shootout), at Indianapolis Raceway Park, Indianapolis, Indiana.

The fourth event will be the LS Fest, Sept. 7-9, 2012, in Bowling Green, Ky., at Beech Bend Raceway. As in the past, LS Fest organizers will allow racers to follow the rules and classes of the LSX Challenge Series, with points awarded during it applying to the championship.

Racers competing for the championship must participate in three of the four races, including the LSX Shootout. The results of each race will be tracked throughout the season in NMCA’s Fastest Street Car.

The LSX Challenge Series features five racing classes:

• LSX Drag Radial
• LSX All Motor
• LSX Real Street
• LSX Rumble (index)
• 5th Gen Camaro Challenge.

 

**  Courtesy of Chevrolet Media

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Ten Trucks That Built Chevrolet's Global Brand

Chevrolet captured the spirit of 20^th Century America, with its “work hard, play hard” ethic.  And perhaps no Chevrolet represents this spirit better than the Chevy truck.

Founded in Detroit on Nov. 3, 1911, Chevrolet produced only cars through 1917. The company added its first truck models in January 1918, and has built tens of millions since.

“From the beginning, Chevrolet has offered dependable, long-lasting trucks that help people make a living, enjoy life and get things done,” said Chris Perry, vice president, global marketing and strategy for Chevrolet. “These core values are represented today by our successful Silverado, Tahoe and Suburban models, and by our all-new global mid-size trucks, which build on Chevy’s strong truck DNA.”

Chevrolet has built an amazing variety of trucks for individual and commercial customers over the decades. Here are 10 noteworthy examples through the decades:

1.         1918 Chevrolet 490 Half-Ton Light Delivery “Cowl Chassis”

Two four-cylinder models marked Chevrolet’s entry into the truck market in January 1918. Both were “cowl chassis” units that came from the factory with only frontal sheet metal. It was customary at the time for the buyer to obtain a wooden cab and cargo box or panel van body to suit their purposes.

Priced at $595, the half-ton Light Delivery cowl chassis was essentially a body-less Chevrolet 490 car equipped with stronger rear springs. Mounted with a pickup box or panel body, it provided an agile and economical light-delivery truck for ‘Main Street’ businesses.

The one-ton capacity 1918 Chevrolet “Model T” (presumably for “Truck”) cost $1,125 without body and was built on a truck frame than was longer and stronger than that of the half-ton model. A 37 horsepower engine gave the larger truck the power to haul heavier loads at a governor-limited top speed of 25 mph.

During the “Roaring ’20s,” trucks and trucking came of age, as commerce, construction and road building boomed. Chevy truck sales soared during the decade to new annual records through 1929, when 187,103 were sold.

For 1929, Chevrolet introduced the six-cylinder engine that became the legendary “Cast-Iron Wonder.” From that point until mid-1955, all Chevy light trucks would be powered by six-cylinder engines. After 1930, most light-duty Chevrolet trucks were delivered with a factory-built cab and cargo box or body.

2.         1925 Chevrolet Half-Ton Panel Van – Brazil

In the United States, any decades-old Chevrolet truck is rightly considered a piece of genuine Americana. But Chevrolet trucks run deep in the cultural heritage of other countries as well, especially in rest of the Americas. The trucks’ global presence dates back to the early 1920s, when General Motors established a worldwide network of 18 plants to assemble Chevrolet cars and trucks. The first plant, located in Copenhagen, Denmark, built its first Chevrolet -- it was a truck – on Jan. 7, 1924.

While customers worldwide developed an affinity early on for Chevrolet trucks, the brand has enjoyed a   passionate following in Brazil for more than 85 years.

The first Chevrolet truck was assembled in Brazil was fitted with a locally made panel van body and completed in September 1925. Brazil had one of the most rapidly expanding economies in the world at the time, and it took little more than a year for the  GM do Brasil subsidiary to book its first 25,000 vehicle sales. Millions more have since followed.

By the late 1950s, GM do Brasil was manufacturing Chevrolet Amazonas pickups and other truck models designed for that nation’s truck buyers. They were also exported regionally.

Today, Brazil represents Chevrolet’s second-largest market globally. Only in the United States are more Chevrolet cars and trucks sold each year.

3.         1937 Chevrolet Half-Ton Pickup

In the mid-1930s, as the U.S. economy began to recover from the Great Depression,

Chevrolet pushed for leadership in a reviving truck market with some of the strongest, most innovative and “modern” models produced to that point.

The Chevrolet Pickup for 1934 was designed from the ground up to withstand the rigors of truck service – prior  half-ton models had been built on chassis adapted from passenger-car designs.

During 1935, Chevrolet introduced the Suburban Carryall, built on a half-ton chassis. This ‘truck wagon’ could carry up to eight people, or a crew and all of their gear, just about anywhere there was a road. Its durable steel body made the new model easier to maintain than the wood-bodied station wagons of the period. With the 1935 Suburban Carryall, Chevrolet essentially invented the SUV.

For 1937, Chevrolet introduced new trucks with streamlined styling that many still consider the best designs of the era. The ’37 also featured a sturdier body and a larger and more powerful 78-horsepower engine, among other improvements.

A 1937 Chevrolet half-ton pickup was sent on a grueling 10,245-mile drive around the United States that was monitored by the American Automobile Association (AAA).  Carrying a 1,060 lb. load, the truck averaged 20.74 miles per gallon.

4.         1947 Chevrolet Advance-Design Half-Ton Pickup

In early 1947, Chevrolet introduced its Advance-Design trucks, the first completely redesigned GM vehicles to appear following World War II. Owners of earlier pickup models had asked for a roomier, more comfortable cab with improved visibility, and a wider pickup box. They got all of that and much more.

Designers sought to make the truck’s styling clean, brisk and attractive. Headlamps were now set wide apart in the front fenders and five horizontal bars made up the grille. The design was produced with few major changes from 1947 through 1953, and was then continued with a new frontal appearance into early 1955.

During the Advance-Design trucks’ run, there was a measurable shift among Chevrolet customers to trucks. Prior to World War II, the production ratio of the brand’s cars to trucks had been about 4:1. By 1950 – the year Chevrolet became the first brand to sell more than 2 million vehicles in a single year – the ratio of cars to trucks was closer to 2.5:1.

Today, the vintage Advance-Design models are   favored by collectors, hot-rodders and customizers. The  classic look was echoed in the designs of the 2003-2006 Chevrolet SSR roadster, and more recently, the HHR compact crossover SUV.

5.         1955 Chevrolet Cameo Pickup

Boldly modern styling gave the all-new “Task-Force” trucks introduced by Chevrolet in mid-1955 a fresh and modern look.  Under the hood, the new overhead valve Chevrolet “small-block” V-8 that was causing such a stir in the 1955 Chevrolet cars was an option in many of the brand’s new truck models.

New to the 1955 truck line was the Cameo pickup, a high-styled “gentleman’s pickup” more at home in a trendy suburban “California bungalow” driveway than on a farm or in a factory yard.

A major engineering advance with tremendous future implications was announced for 1957, when a factory-installed 4-wheel-drive system became available for the first time on select models.

Chevrolet continued the Task Force trucks with annual updates through 1959. During 1958, a new slab-sided Fleetside box option provided an alternative to Chevrolet’s traditional step-side pickup box.

6.         1959 Chevrolet El Camino Passenger-Car Pickup

The original   El Camino introduced for 1959 combined the dramatically finned styling of that period’s Chevrolet cars with half-ton pickup utility. After 1960, the El Camino went on a three-year hiatus.

Chevrolet revived the El Camino “personal pickup” concept for 1964, with a new version based on that year’s new mid-size Chevrolet Chevelle. During the ‘muscle car’ era that followed, El Camino buyers could order their truck with a Chevrolet high-performance big-block V-8 powertrain, creating a sport pickup that could “haul” in more ways than one. By 1968, a complete Super Sport package was available.

The Chevelle El Camino enjoyed a devoted following and was produced through two more styling generations (1968-1972 and 1973-1977).

For 1978, the El Camino was successfully transitioned to that year’s new, smaller Chevrolet Malibu platform. The final El Caminos were 1987 models. A quarter of a century later, requests and suggestions for a new El Camino are still received by Chevrolet.

7.         1967 Chevrolet C-10 Pickup with CST Package

It took only one glance at any of the 35 Chevrolet C/K models for 1967 to see that Chevy trucks had a new look that year. The exterior profile, which would characterize Chevrolet C/K models through 1972, featured a lower-silhouette cab and large, rounded wheel openings. The new chassis had coil springs front and rear.

A new-for-1967 Custom Sport Truck package was a trend-setting option that included deluxe, car-like upgrades inside and out. The package could even be ordered in combination with bucket seats.

Other emerging market dynamics were taking Chevrolet trucks in new directions.

By 1967, the Federal Interstate Highway System was giving Americans unprecedented access to the nation’s natural wonders and recreational areas. Customers who enjoyed such pursuits appreciated the small-block and big-block V-8 power choices that gave Chevrolet trucks torque to pull trailers up grades, and horsepower to cruise comfortably with a camper at Interstate speeds.

The mid-1969 K-5 Blazer was a pioneering SUV that put the emphasis on sport. Based on a shortened wheelbase version of the standard Chevrolet 4x4 pickup’s half-ton chassis, the original K-5 Blazer was made for off-road adventure.

8.         1973 Chevrolet Suburban with Super Cheyenne Package

The Suburban for 1973 featured a new and roomier 4-door body that replaced the 3-door style produced during 1967-1972. It could carry up to nine passengers and was bigger, longer and stronger than any car-based station wagon. A new Cheyenne Super option package added new luxuries and comfort, while a 350-cid (5.7L) small-block V-8 was standard.

Available in 2WD and 4x4 models, the 1973 Suburban was part of a newly redesigned C/K truck line that broke production records. By the end of 1973, Chevrolet had become the first brand to both produce and sell more than 1 million trucks in a single year.

The 1973 models set the style for Suburbans produced through 1991. During those 19 years, Suburban became America’s premier vehicle for recreational travel, especially when towing a trailer was involved. The Suburban developed a considerable international following during this period as well.

The Suburbans of the 1970s and ’80s expanded the public’s awareness of the capabilities and possibilities of the 4-door SUV, which led directly to a proliferation of smaller editions in the 1990s.

In 2010, Chevrolet celebrated the Suburban’s 75th anniversary. In continuous production since 1935, Suburban is the auto industry’s longest-lived vehicle nameplate.

The 2012 Suburban stays true to its unique heritage, with maximum passenger room, cargo capacity and towing power.  

9.         1999 Silverado 1500 Extended-Cab Pickup

Chevrolet’s 1999 full-size pickups were the first to carry the Silverado nameplate. They were the result of the most-intensive vehicle development initiative the American auto industry had yet seen.

The styling of the new Silverado pickups gave more definition to the tautness of line that so successfully characterized the preceding 1988-1999 Chevrolet C/K trucks. Inside, all the comfort and luxury features demanded by a growing personal-use market were available.

The biggest innovations   were under the skin. Beneath the evolutionary styling was   revolutionary  construction – a new, super-strong, hydro-formed, multi-section modular frame.

Tahoe and Suburban full-size SUVs based on the new pickup architecture followed as 2000 models. For 2001, the first Silverado HD models established new heavy-duty three-quarter- and one-ton truck benchmarks for trailer tow ratings.

At the end of 2006, the second-generation 2007 Silverado pickups launched. Their platform was tuned to provide a smoother ride and responsive, confident handling. Powerful “Gen IV” small-block V-8 engines helped the trucks deliver higher towing and payload capacity. Advanced engine management technologies, improved aerodynamics, and even details such as tighter panel gaps aided fuel economy.

In 2011, as Chevrolet celebrated its centennial year, the Silverado HD was named Motor Trend Magazine’s “Truck of Year.” It was the eighth Chevrolet truck, and fourth Silverado Pickup, to win the honor.

10.        2013 Colorado Global Pickup

Chevrolet’s new global mid-size Colorado Pickup represents a historic and pivotal bid by Chevrolet to extend the brand’s global product and sales resurgence to its truck business.

Developed under the direction of a truck-savvy team from GM do Brasil, the inaugural version of the global Colorado has entered production in Thailand and was officially launched there on Nov. 14, 2011.

Representing the world’s-largest market for mid-size pickups, Thailand allows  the new global Chevrolet truck to establish its bona fides in a globally competitive environment. 

The new Colorado will subsequently become available in Brazil and other regions around the globe.  Colorado will be built and sold in the United States as well, with product details and launch timing to be announced later.

Chevrolet has announced that it will also introduce an all-new midsize SUV carrying the TrailBlazer name into global markets, starting as a 2013 model. It will be based on the new global midsize truck platform and will combine the hauling and towing capability of an SUV with the ride, comfort and efficiency of a crossover.

 

**  Courtesy of Chevrolet Media

2013 Chevy Spark Delights Audiences at LA Auto Show