Monday, May 30, 2011

Happy Memorial Day!

How are you planning to celebrate/ honor Memorial Day weekend?  Is the holiday a chance to barbeque and hang with friends, or is it a more solemn occasion as you remember a loved one?  Share with us!

But no matter how you choose to spend your weekend, we want you to stay safe.  Here are some tips for grill safety this weekend:

  • Keep food covered or refrigerated until ready to be cooked.  Cook meat to 170 degrees Farenheit as a minimum. 
  • Cooking (by any method) of meats (particularly red meat and chicken) at very high temperatures until surface charring occurs can cause cancer causing substances (Heterocyclic Amines (HCA)) to form.   To avoid this, use marinades and turn frequently.
  • Inspect your grill before you ignite to ensure everything is in working order.
  • Don't use a grill indoors including garages, overhangs and canopies.
  • When using a grill, you should use a 10-foot perimeter from anything combustible, including your house.
  • Do not allow children and pets to play near a grill.
  • Only use approved ignition fluids – don't use gasoline to ignite a grill.
  • Keep a fire extinguisher, garden hose or bucket of sand nearby to douse a grill fire.

These tips are from: http://bbq.about.com/od/grillinghelp/tp/grillsafety.htm

Monday, May 23, 2011

The 10 Most Noteworthy Chevrolet Car Designs Of All Time

Ed Welburn, GM’s global vice president of design, took a look back at the brand’s long history, and here are his picks for the 10 most noteworthy Chevrolet designs of all time:

Chevrolet Classic Six (1912)—Designed by Louis Chevrolet and the very first car to wear the Chevrolet name, the Classic Six was unveiled late in 1911 and went on sale early the following year as one of America’s most powerful and luxurious cars, with the biggest engine Chevy was to offer until 1958.

Chevrolet Deluxe Sport Coupe (1932)—This curvy compact was an early example of Chevrolet’s efforts to design cars that offered contemporary styling and affordable pricing. According to Welburn, “Customers felt they were getting a lot of car for their money, something that still holds true today.”

Chevrolet Suburban (1936)—To come up with the Suburban, Chevy designers mounted a station wagon body on the chassis of a small truck, and the result was what many consider to be the world’s first SUV.

Chevrolet Pick-Up (1948)—Setting the tone for its ongoing commitment to the truck industry, Chevrolet made this pick-up its first vehicle to be fully redesigned after World War II. Said Welburn: “The shape was just beautiful, but it still did its job well.”

Chevrolet Corvette (1953)—Harley Earl’s classic design boasted an early use of fiberglass construction and an unforgettable appearance. It was launched to compete with the sudden flood of European sports cars that started reaching the U.S. market in the post-war years.

Chevrolet Bel Air (1955)—Leveraging what Chevy called its “Motoramic” design language, the Bel Air was a flamboyant performer offered in coupe, convertible and station wagon body styles.

Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray (1963)—With its hallmark split rear window and electrically operated pop-up headlamps, the Sting Ray was based on a show car designed by Bill Mitchell. “Every Corvette since then has been influenced by it, even the current models,” according to Welburn.

Chevrolet Pick-Up (1967)—Showing off a powerful, more purposeful design for the new model year, the ’67 Chevy pick-up was one of the first to be marketed as a daily driver and not just a work truck.

Chevrolet Pick-Up (1989)—As more and more customers began turning to pick-ups as “lifestyle” choices, Chevy began turning out the rugged 1989 models with features like stacked headlamps and a customer-satisfying “sports” package.

Chevrolet Camaro (2010)—Welburn himself owns a 1969 Camaro, but he put the re-born 2010 version on the list because “It connected with people worldwide. When we introduced the car as a concept, there were grown men and women with tears in their eyes.”

This article can be found at: http://www.chevroletinthenews.com/chevy-celebrates-a-century-of-design-leadership/#more-1570

Thursday, May 12, 2011

GM To Offer Special Edition Camaro For Troops

GM to offer the 2012 Camaro Honor and Valor model for members actively serving in  the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard.

In celebration of National Military Appreciation Month, General Motors announced the 2012 Camaro Honor and Valor model. The new package is essentially a stock 2012 Camaro SS,  but throws in several unique touches, including a painted body kit, white side stripes, black leather seating, a so-called “Honor” badge, and a grille insert and surround similar to that used on this year’s Indy 500 pace car.

Camaro Honor and Valor models will only be available in red, white, and –er, black. Production is limited to 99 examples, and much like Harley-Davidson’s police and firefighter edition models, cars will only be made available to buyers actively serving in the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard. Interested buyers can place an order through www.gmmilitarydiscount.com

The specialized Camaros are, admittedly, a small part of GM’s plans for the Military Appreciation Month. Through the end of May, the company is extending its military discount — which usually can shave anywhere between $500 through $4000 off the price of a vehicle — to spouses of both active and reserve members, along with retirees.

Additionally, those who order, purchase, or lease a Chevrolet this month will also receive a set of Honor badges (identical to those used on the aforementioned Camaro). GM will also donate $100 per transaction to Cell Phones for Soliders, a group that provides mobile phones to soldiers stationed abroad for free calls home.

 

Read more: http://wot.motortrend.com/2012-chevrolet-camaro-honor-valor-edition-built-troops-75295.html#ixzz1MA2bpjP0

Monday, May 9, 2011

GM’s Seatbelt Technology Improves Safety

 

The new GM Seatbelt Technology is expected to garner the 5-star safety rating.  

The Dynamic Locking Latch Plate (DLLP) is designed to provide the same level of comfort and convenience as traditional restraint systems, but it does much more during an accident. The DLLP is capable of holding the lower torso in place and reducing load on the occupant’s chest. This system also keeps the legs from impacting the dashboard.

“It helps us control the lower torso in a crash, it keeps the femurs from contacting the instrument panel and it also gives us better tuning and control capability for the upper torso,” said Larry Kwiecinski, engineering group manager-Vehicle Safety Integration at GM. “We can then tune the retractor pretensioners to better interact with the airbags during the crash event.”

The National High Traffic Safety Administration introduced stricter testing guidelines beginning with 2011 model year vehicles. This motivated GM to improve upon its existing safety technologies, particularly since vehicle safety remains one of the most important concerns among car buyers.

Read more: http://www.chevroletinthenews.com/gms-seatbelt-technology-improves-safety/#more-1515

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Chevrolet Donates Trucks To Alabama United Ways

 

Chevrolet has donated 12 Silverado pickup trucks to United Ways in Alabama to help recovery efforts in the tornado-ravaged region. The trucks, along with a GMC Savana van, will be used in in local relief efforts throughout western and central Alabama.

In addition to trucks, the General Motors Foundation announced that it would also provide a $100,000 grant to the American Red Cross to help disaster relief efforts in the southeastern states. The announcement comes after GM volunteers from that region helped acquire and distribute relief supplies such as tarps, flashlights and batteries.

“GM and its employees have a deep sense of responsibility and commitment to our country and the communities where we live and work,” said Bob Ferguson, GM Foundation chairman and GM vice president, global public policy. “At a time of great need, GM will always be there with its people and products to answer the call for help.”

GM’s OnStar division has also provided free hands-free calling minutes and directions for those in affected areas. OnStar’s Directions and Connections service is being provided for six months along with 1,000 hands-free calling minutes for each of the donated trucks.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Chevrolet’s Honor Badge

To Show Appreciation for your dedication, Chevrolet is offering a special Honor Badge when you purchase/lease an eligible Chevrolet vehicle during the month of May using your GM Military Discount.
This Honor Badge is at no cost to you and recognizes your service to our country.  Chevrolet will also make a $100 donation to Cell Phones For Soldiers, a program that helps our troops stay in touch with loved ones by enabling them to call home for free.

To receive your Honor Badge:
1. Register at gmmilitarydiscount.com and request your Go Code. Then Follow the prompts at Step 3 to complete your request.
2. Print and bring your Go Code with your Military I.D. to your participating Chevrolet dealer during May. After you take delivery of your new Chevrolet vehicle, your Honor Badge will be sent directly to you. 

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