Labor Day Weekend!

Labor Day is this weekend! Are you planning a road trip? Remember to plan ahead for one of the busiest highway holidays:

Getting Your Car in Shape

The last thing you want on Labor Day is a car that breaks on the road. A routine check of the engine, radiator and fluids will go a long way. Tires should be well inflated and wiper fluid should be replenished. Also, check that the steering wheel and brakes work properly. A car emergency kit should include, at a minimum, jumper wires, a tire gauge, a flashlight, a tool kit with wrenches and screwdrivers, duct tape, rags and an emergency stop sign. Add a first-aid kit, a bottle of water, a blanket and some energy bars in case something happens and you're stranded for some time.

Staying Safe

There are two major reasons for accidents on highways: losing concentration while driving and ignoring the risk of big trucks. If you are tired, had a drink or feel sick, either give the wheel to somebody else or postpone the driving. This is especially important coming back home on Labor Day, as many spend the day drinking and having fun, and chances are people are tired and moody. Monitor yourself and learn your limits, so you can head to a rest stop if you start feeling dizzy, confused or sleepy. Big trucks are especially dangerous if you cut in front of them quickly and unexpectedly, as trucks cannot brake fast enough to avoid a collision if things get tight. Also, trucks drivers have lots of blind spots, where they are unable to see you and thus avoid you. As a general rule, if you can't see the truck's mirror, the driver can't see you either.

Avoiding the Madness

The most important thing you can do is leave early. Take on the highways early Saturday morning or before rush hour on Friday. If you're driving on Labor Day, follow the same rules. Most people will brave their return home in the early evening or late afternoon. Try getting to the highways before 4 p.m. or after 10 p.m. and you should be in much better shape. Another important thing you can do to prepare for Labor Day driving is to plan your route well. Look for alternate routes, program your GPS or use a map to get you where you need to go as fast and efficiently as possible. You also can check online to see if the road you're planning to take is undergoing repairs or has scheduled lane changes, so you can search for alternatives or plan for additional driving time.

Check out the full article here. Where will you be headed?

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GM’s Humanoid Robot At The International Space Station

Last week, GM’s humanoid robot, Robonaut 2 (R2), was brought to life aboard the International Space Station.

R2 was jointly developed by scientists and engineers from General Motors and NASA. GM was eager to see how this robot would make GM’s plants around the world safer. R2’s hands feature extraordinary dexterity and sensitivity, making it suitable for performing a number of manufacturing-related tasks.

NASA’s use of R2 has helpful GM test it in the real-world. Both teams will share what they’ve learned from R2 to make it even more useful in the future. So far, R2 is performing well in space, and should be a helpful addition to the crew of the International Space Station.

“Everything came alive,” said Nic Radford, Robonaut deputy project manager. “We started getting video out of Robonaut’s eyes. Everything worked exactly as we expected it to. It was a very, very exciting time.”

To read more and see the video visit: http://www.chevroletinthenews.com/gms-humanoid-robot-comes-to-life-in-outer-space/#more-1929

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Get Ready For The 2012 Transformers Special Edition Bumblebee Camaro Coupe!

Get ready for the 2012 Transformers Special Edition Bumblebee Camaro Coupe!

To celebrate the Camaro’s appearance in this year’s “Transformers: Dark of the Moon,” Chevrolet will release an eye-popping 2012 Transformers Special Edition Camaro Coupe that features Bumblee’s aggressive black-and-yellow design scheme.

The Bumblebee bonus package is available on the 2LT and 2SS Camaro Coupe with Rally Yellow paint and offers:

• Black rally stripes stretching over the hood, roof, rear decklid and model-specific high-wing rear spoiler
• 20-inch black-painted wheels with Autobot “Shield” logos and high-performance summer tires
• Black leather interior accents with yellow stitching
• Autobot “Shield” badging on the front quarter panels, with similar embroidered designs stitched in yellow into the front headrests and center console lid
• Two dealer-installed options—bigger 21-inch black-painted wheels and a black ground-effects kit
• All content from the Camaro RS appearance package, including high-intensity discharge headlamps with integrated LED halo rings and unique taillamps

Also significant: To continue building Camaro’s popularity around the world, the new Transformers Special Edition will be sold in Canada, China, Japan, Europe, South America and the Middle East. Available for ordering in the U.S. right now, the Bumblebee Camaro will reach American dealerships in September.

Read more: http://www.chevroletinthenews.com/fans-already-buzzing-about-new-camaro-bumblebee-edition/#more-1920

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2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 One Of “Best-Handling Performance Coupes.”

The 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 one of the “Best-handling performance coupes.”

Chrysler’s innovative Fuel Saver Technology would have to be one of the most attractive features on the 2012 Challenger. On models equipped with automatic transmissions, this system allows the engine to operate economically on four cylinders or use the power of all eight cylinders when needed. Despite its powerful engine, the Challenger can still achieve as much as 23 miles per gallon on the highway.

The optional five-speed automatic transmission features new, standard steering wheel mounted paddle shifters, adding yet another race-track inspired feature. The new paddle shifters, as well as the console-mounted Auto Stick, allow drivers to manually select specific gears on the transmission.

Sitting a half-inch lower than non-SRT models, the 2012 Challenger SRT8’s suspension is also an advanced system that adds nimble handling characteristics. An adaptive damping suspension (ADS) system allows derivers to select different driving modes, such as “Sport” or “Auto,” to change suspension calibration on the fly. With 20 x 9-inch lightweight forged aluminum wheels and performance tires, the SRT8 is cable of achieving .90g on the skid pad.

The 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 is powerful, but it’s also one of the world’s best-handling performance coupes. With innovative technology under the hood, drivers can enjoy competitive fuel economy while enjoying the car’s rapid acceleration.

Read more: http://www.dodgeinthenews.com/high-tech-features-boost-dodge-challenger-srt8s-performance/

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2013 Chevrolet Malibu Will Be Quieter Than A Mouse

The 2013 Chevy Malibu will be quieter than a mouse thanks to Chevrolet noise engineers. 

Thanks to unrelenting perfection when it came to sound, the all-new 2013 Chevrolet Malibu should be one of the quietest sedans on the market when it arrives in showrooms in early 2012.

“To tune the sound properties to appeal to the widest possible audience, we need to make sure everyone hears the same thing,” said Kara Gordon, Malibu’s lead acoustic engineer.

Gordon and her team used pre-production Malibus with a mannequin-like recording device called an Aachen HEAD, a digital recording tool that closely matches the way humans process sound with both their ears. As the test Malibus were driven on a variety of road surfaces, sound engineers were able to listen to and evaluate the Malibu’s interior noise recordings and find the “sweet spot.”

“The typical acoustic memory of the human ear to discern subtle yet important differences is about 10 seconds – or about the time it takes to go from one vehicle to another. The Aachen HEAD, our Jury Room and high-tech headphones make it possible for us to give our Malibu customers the quietest, most pleasing interior sound quality possible,” said Gordon.

Thanks to Gordon and her team, the next-generation Malibu will be able to prevent tire, wind and road noise from creeping into the cabin. In addition to precision testing, engineers employed features like noise-reducing outside rear view mirrors, laminated side glass and noise-absorption pads throughout the cabin to help reduce noise.

Read more: http://www.chevroletinthenews.com/sound-experts-help-make-2013-chevy-malibu-cabin-ultra-quiet/#more-1890

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Play The Dodge Challengerize Game!

 

Play the Dodge Challengerize game and then tell Dodge what you think about it. Simply go here: http://www.facebook.com/dodge?sk=app_165842920123166 play the game and then cast your vote on how it could be better. Happy driving!

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OnStar Introduces New Service, Family Link

Pretty cool service. Check out the details below:

OnStar has launched a new optional service called Family Link, linking subscribers to their loved ones when driving an OnStar-equipped vehicle.

This new service enables users to log onto the Family Link website to view a map with their loved one’s exact location at any time (pictured above). Subscribers can set up email or text message notifications to let them know the location of their loved one’s vehicle. They can choose the day, time and frequency of the alerts.

“Our subscribers have asked us for a solution to help them stay connected to their family when they’re on the road,” said OnStar President Linda Marshall. “What parent hasn’t asked their teenaged driver to call or send a text when they arrive somewhere, only to not hear from them? Family Link’s Vehicle Locate feature lets a parent check on their child’s progress or help determine when he/she might be home safe and sound.

The OnStar Family Link service is currently in a pilot phase and is accessible by invitation only. Approximately 10,000 active U.S. OnStar subscribers will be invited to the program.

Subscriber interest and comments from the pilot program’s users will guide decisions for launch and pricing of this service. Regardless, OnStar believes the service will provide greater peace of mind for subscribers while their loved ones are on the road.

Read more: http://www.chevroletinthenews.com/onstar-connects-family-members-while-theyre-on-the-road/

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Dodge Wins 3 Segment Awards In J.D. Power and Associates 2011 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study

 

Dodge wins 3 segment awards in the J.D. Power and Associates 2011 APEAL study.

The Dodge Challenger, Charger, and Durango, led their respective segments, while Jeep and Chrysler brand vehicles saw significant improvement in this year’s study.

“We’ve listened to our customers and made significant improvements across the product line, launching 16 all-new or extensively updated vehicles in the past year,” said Doug Betts, Senior Vice President—Quality, Chrysler Group. “We worked very hard to make our vehicles truly competitive with the best vehicles in their respective segments. It’s nice to see this effort being recognized by our customers.”

The APEAL Study identifies consumer likes and dislikes about their vehicle during the first 90 days of ownership, particularly regarding vehicle design, content, layout and performance. According to J.D. Power and Associates, vehicles with high APEAL scores generate faster sales, higher profit margins, and less need for cash incentives. A higher APEAL score also means that a vehicle is more likely to be recommended by a customer.

“Different customers have different opinions about what makes a quality vehicle,” Betts explained. “At Chrysler Group, we define and measure six different types of quality. We’ve set aggressive internal targets and our progress is starting to show up in third-party surveys as well.”

Read more: http://www.dodgeinthenews.com/three-dodge-models-prove-their-apeal/

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The 2012 Chevy Cruze Will Get 39 MPG

The 2012 Chevy Cruze will get 39 MPG highway! Good news for anyone in the current economy.

 

Thanks to a revised axle ratio, the 2012 Cruze Eco with its standard 1.4-liter turbocharged Ecotec engine and available six-speed automatic transmission will be able to achieve up to 39 mpg highway, while the standard Cruze with the same powertrain will be able to reach 38 mpg highway.

Said Rick Scheidt, vice president of Chevrolet marketing: “Fuel economy is the top reason customers buy a compact and the Cruze’s greater efficiency for 2012 makes it all the more attractive.”

But that’s not all that’s new for the new model year. In addition to increasing the Cruze’s fuel economy, Chevy also is increasing its value by incorporating one of 2011’s most popular option packages into the car’s already long list of standard features. The new content includes:

• Bluetooth phone connectivity
• A USB port
• Steering-wheel-mounted audio controls
• Cruise control
• A leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob

And remember, this is on top of standard equipment like air conditioning, remote keyless entry, an AM/FM/CD/MP3 sound system with a three-month complimentary subscription to SiriusXM satellite radio, power windows, a fuel-saving rack-mounted electric power steering system and a segment-best 10 air bags.

“Chevrolet is committed to responding to what customers want and making it easier for them,” said Scheidt. “Adding these previously optional features streamlines the ordering process and answers the call of what our customers told us should be standard.”

The 2012 Chevrolet Cruze will go on sale later this year.

Read more: http://www.chevroletinthenews.com/chevy-boosts-cruze-fuel-economy-for-2012/#more-1865

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Solar-Powered Charging Stations Coming to 24 U.S. Chevrolet Dealerships

 

Solar-Powered Charging Stations Coming to 24 U.S. Chevrolet Dealerships

Chevrolet is taking sustainability to a whole new level with the installation of solar-powered charging stations at Chevrolet dealerships. These new chargers are to be installed at two dozen U.S. dealerships to generate electricity equivalent to 12 full vehicle charges per day. Excess energy will be used to supplement the dealerships’ daily power needs.

American Chevrolet in Modesto, California, and Al Serra Auto Plaza in Grand Blanc, Michigan, are the first U.S. dealerships to complete their solar charging capability. Each solar canopy generates enough electricity for up to 4,500 charges per vehicle annually.

“The question isn’t whether to install a solar canopy, it’s where and how many,” said Joe Serra, president of Serra Automotive. “It’s a win for us because the electricity generated will help reduce operating costs, and it’s a win for the environment since solar power helps reduce our carbon footprint.”

The installation of solar chargers has been dubbed the Green Zone initiative. The initiative is part of GM Ventures’ recent announcement to invest $7.5 million in Sunlogics, a solar panel manufacturing and development company that will supply the panels and install the dealer charging stations.

“The beauty of this program is that there is no capital cost required from the dealership,” said Dave Halvorson, president of American Chevrolet in Modesto. “Not only do we generate the solar energy to increase our reliance on renewable electricity, but the Green Zone is a billboard of our commitment to the environment.”

Read more: http://www.chevroletinthenews.com/chevrolet-harnesses-sun-to-power-dealerships/#more-1859

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2012 Corvette ZR1 Breaks Record At Nürburgring

The 2012 Corvette ZR1 Breaks Record At Nürburgring. 

After an absence of four years, the Chevrolet Corvette once again returned to Germany’s famed Nürburgring racetrack for performance testing, and once again it came home with a record. Corvette engineer Jim Mero drove a stock 2012 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 through the 12.9 miles and 154 turns of the ’Ring’s Nordschliefe course in a time of just 7:19.63—the fastest confirmed time ever recorded by a stock production vehicle.

But that was just a bonus for the Corvette team, which was at Nürburgring to validate some key performance upgrades on the ZR1 for 2012, including its available Michelin Pilot Sport Cup Zero Pressure tires. An important factor in helping the Corvette set its new Nürburgring benchmark, these competition-oriented tires are optimized for warm, dry conditions to provide enhanced cornering and handling capabilities. In fact, working in concert with the Corvette’s exclusive torque-management system, the net result for the 2012 model year is an 8 percent gain in maximum lateral acceleration—now increased to more than 1.1g—as well as decreased braking distances.

It’s no wonder the 2012 model year also will bring one more significant addition to the Corvette roster—a seventh trophy for winning its class at the grueling 2011 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race.

Read more: http://www.chevroletinthenews.com/2012-corvette-zr1-makes-record-setting-nurburgring-debut/

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