Chevrolet Malibu Eco Saves Gas with Fuel-Efficient Technology

 Giving up that cup of coffee for your commute because the cost of filling your gas tank just went up again?
 Not everyone is. Chevrolet Malibu Eco owners are well positioned to weather seasonal increases in fuel prices because the car features fuel-saving technologies that could help pay for their java fix.

One such solution is literally at their fingertips. Chevy’s most fuel-efficient midsize sedan ever features electric power assist steering, which helps to improve fuel economy by up to 2.5 percent compared to conventional hydraulic steering systems. This can help customers save approximately 12 gallons annually, or about 120 gallons in a 10-year life. At $4 per gallon, that saves about $50 per year or $500 in 10 years.

Electric power assist steering operates on demand, consuming power only during steering maneuvers instead of constantly draining engine power to operate a hydraulic pump. It also reduces CO₂ emissions and maintenance cost by eliminating the need to dispose of hydraulic fluid.

The system constantly measures the driver’s steering input, adapts to changing road conditions, and helps compensate for slight directional shifts caused by factors such as uneven road surfaces or crosswinds. It also makes low-speed parking maneuvers feel practically effortless, delivers a higher degree of steering feel at higher speeds, and can be tuned to various driving modes, such as “comfort” and “sport” in some models. It even helps reduce vibrations that transfer through the steering wheel.

“Electric power assist steering is just one example of how a system improvement can deliver not one but several benefits for customers,” said Mark Meyers, General Motors global vehicle performance manager. “By the end of the 2013 model year, more than half of all Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC vehicles will have electric power assist steering.”

Chevrolet Malibu Eco achieves an EPA-estimated 25 miles per gallon city and 37 mpg highway fuel economy.

It features GM’s fuel-saving eAssist technology that shuts down fuel delivery in certain deceleration conditions, further improving fuel economy. While in fuel shut-off mode, the motor-generator unit continues spinning along with the engine to provide immediate and smooth take-off power when the driver presses on the accelerator. As the vehicle comes to a stop, the motor-generator unit positions it properly for a smooth restart when the brake is released. The system also captures up to 15kW of energy that would be normally lost during braking and uses it to recharge the lithium-ion battery.

Because of electric power assist steering, eAssist, and other fuel-saving technologies, Malibu Eco can travel up to 580 highway miles (965 km) between fill-ups with a 15.8-gallon (59.9 liters) fuel tank. eAssist saves customers an estimated $1,950 in annual fuel costs or about $19,500 over 10 years.

Malibu Eco is on sale now and is priced at $25,595, less than competitor full hybrid vehicles. Chevrolet is scheduled to roll-out an all-new fuel-efficient 2.5L Ecotec engine on the full Malibu lineup this summer.  A new turbo model will be available this fall. All Malibu models will come with electric power steering standard.

“There is no silver bullet for improving fuel efficiency,” Meyers said. “It’s the many small improvements like electric power assist steering, as seen on the new Malibu that contribute to significant savings for our customers.”

Bale Chevrolet is one of the most respected automotive dealerships in Arkansas. Visit us to get your special internet pricing on a brand new Chevrolet or a quality used car in Little Rock.

Chevrolet to Debut All-New Impala and Traverse in New York International Auto Show

The total transformation of the Chevrolet passenger car lineup advances with the debut of the all-new 2014 Impala full-size sedan at the New York International Auto Show next month. Chevrolet will also showcase a more-refined version of the family-friendly Traverse crossover utility vehicle for 2013. 

“The momentum at Chevrolet continues to build with the debut of the 10th generation of the Impala, one of the brand’s most enduring and cherished nameplates,” said Chris Perry, vice president of Global Chevrolet Marketing. “The new Impala further strengthens Chevrolet’s passenger car lineup by giving consumers a full-size sedan that balances the desire for distinction with engaging driving dynamics.”

The Chevy Impala nameplate was introduced in 1958 and has been one of Chevrolet’s best-selling passenger cars for decades. The all-new version of the Impala builds on that strong heritage.

With the introduction of the new Impala, Chevrolet has revamped nearly every passenger car in the lineup in the past 24 months. The new cars helped Chevrolet become the top-selling passenger car brand in the United States in 2011.

The 2013 Chevrolet Traverse was designed to give families a new gathering space with elements of style and refinement inside and out, as well as new and industry-exclusive safety features.

Traverse is among the safest vehicles on the road today, previously earning top marks from leading third-party organizations and in government crash testing. For the 2013 model, the Traverse adds the industry’s first front center air bag . It is engineered to protect drivers and front passengers in far-side impact crashes. The air bag deploys in milliseconds and inflates between the driver and front passenger, providing added protection for both front occupants. 

“The new Traverse builds on the success of the current model offering a wide variety of improvements to ride and handling, interior materials and exterior styling without compromising the functionality and capability families need to support their busy lives,” said Perry.

In addition to the new Impala and Traverse, other Chevrolet vehicles on display at New York include the new Malibu Eco , Spark mini car, Tru 140S and Code 130R concept vehicles and Corvette 427 Convertible with 60th Anniversary package. 

Visit Bale Chevrolet in Little Rock, Arkansas for the best prices on new Chevrolet and quality pre-owned cars in the region.

Chevy Sonic Turbo Now Available with 6 Speed Automatic

General Motors's Chevrolet Sonic has a new fuel-efficient Ecotec 1.4L turbo engine that will now be available in either manual or automatic transmission, bringing the increased torque of turbocharging to drivers of automatics.

“Providing the option of a turbocharged engine to our non-stick driving Chevy customers allows us to offer everyone the thrill and power of a fuel-efficient Ecotec 1.4L powerplant,” said Jim Danahy, vehicle line director and vehicle chief engineer for North American small cars. “Both in the Sonic and Cruze, the engine enables better fuel economy without sacrificing power or performance. It’s really a winning combination.”

Chevrolet Sonic’s Ecotec 1.4L turbocharged engine and six-speed manual transmission achieved a 0-to-60 mph time of 7.8 seconds, according to independent AMCI testing – faster than the comparable 2012 Ford Fiesta, Honda Fit and Hyundai Accent. The Sonic with the turbo-automatic combination went from 0 to 60 in about eight seconds.

“Traditionally, turbocharging was used to enhance the performance of engines, but today it is as much about fuel economy as a 0-to-60 time,” said Bob Benedict, assistant chief engineer for the Ecotec 1.4L engine. “The turbocharger provides high-pressure airflow for high torque to boost the vehicle and give the driver a fun driving experience with improved fuel efficiency.”

 

The 2012 Chevrolet Sonic Ecotec 1.4L turbo six-speed automatic delivers an EPA-estimated 37 mpg highway and 27 mpg in the city, while the manual gets 40 mpg on the highway and 29 in the city.

 

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world's largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design and high quality.

 

Visits Bale Chevrolet in Little Rock, Arkansas to test drive the new Chevy car, truck or SUV today. 

CHEVY VOLT BECOMES THE NEW MPG KING

When it came to hybrid gas mileage, nothing could beat Toyota’s Prius. Hybrid cars from Honda and BMW are cool in body-line, but Prius was way ahead when mileage was considered. However, according to recent EPA rating, the Chevrolet Volt has eclipsed the hybrid king Prius with an estimated 60 mpg rating.  

The main issue with new hybrid or EVs is that most car buyers are unaware of the technology that works behind the vehicle. By creating fuel economy rating, EPA hopes to sort out this problem. 

EPA’s fuel economy ratings will represent battery-only, gas-only, or a gas and battery combination. For Chevy’s Volt, the familiar black and white sticker will display that car can get a mpg-e equivalent to 93 mpg and 37 mpg from the gas motor.

Although the highest performer in this category is Leaf’s electric-only delivering 99 mpg, Volt’s gasoline engine may lure many car buyers with its impressive mileage figures. Chevy is highlighting the fact that gasoline engine can relive range anxiety in drivers because there might not be reliable nationwide network of charging stations to back the electric-only cars. So if there is a void of charging stations, it is an obvious fact that the mobility of the driver will be restricted within a small radius of their home charging station. Thus the Volt with an impressive mileage is certainly expected to stay here for a long time. 

Visit Bale Chevrolet to test drive the new Chevrolet Volt in Little Rock, Arkansas. Don't forget to check out our online specials section for the latest offers on new and pre-owned vehicles! 

You can read the original article along with details information here -

 http://taintedgreen.com/green-cars/chevy-volt-leapfrogs-toyotas-prius-to-become-mpg-king/000844/kr-13 

Chevrolet COPO Camaro Goes to Production

Bale Chevrolet is excited to inform that Chevrolet will build 69 COPO Camaros for 2012, the brand’s first purpose-built Camaro drag-racing specialty car designed to compete with the quickest in NHRA’s Stock Eliminator and Super Stock classes. National records for quarter-mile times in these contests are in the nine-second range.

 

As such, the COPO Camaros are expected to be the quickest Camaro ever offered by Chevrolet.

 

“The COPO Camaro is going to shake up the sportsman drag racing ranks this summer and give Chevy fans a great new reason to cheer on the Bowtie,” said Jim Campbell, GM U.S. vice president of Performance Vehicles & Motorsports. “COPO builds off the strengths that have made the Camaro the best-selling sports car in America. And while it was developed strictly for the drag strip, the COPO Camaro is infused with the same performance pedigree that every Camaro shares.”

 

The 69-car production for the 2012 COPO Camaro matches the number of “ZL-1” COPO Camaros made in 1969. COPO stands for Central Office Production Order and was Chevrolet’s special-order system in used by dealers to build high-performance models in the 1960s.

 

The new COPO Camaros will be built using factory “body-in-white” body structures produced at the Oshawa, Ontario plant that manufactures regular-production Camaros. They are the same body-in-white body shells available to all racers under Chevrolet Performance part number 19243374.

 

Customers will order and complete the transaction for their COPO Camaro at their preferred Chevrolet dealer with delivery at the General Motors Performance Build Center in Wixom, Mich.

Deliveries will begin early this summer.

 

Highlights of the new COPO Camaro program include:

 

-A sequenced build number matched to the engine but sold without a Vehicle Identification Number and cannot be registered for highway use

-Three racing-class engine are available, including a naturally aspirated 427 (7.0L) and two supercharged 327 (5.3L) V-8 engines

-Engine assembly at GM’s Performance Build Center, where the buyer can opt to participate in the engine assembly similar to Chevrolet’s Corvette Engine Build Experience and the Chevrolet Performance Build -Your Own Crate Engine programs

-Engines pairing with a Powerglide automatic transmission designed for drag racing

-Five colors: Flat Black, Summit White, Victory Red, Silver Ice Metallic and Ashen Gray Metallic

-A COPO graphics package similar to the one introduced on the concept vehicle available in Metallic White, Semi-Gloss Black, Inferno Orange Metallic and Chevy Racing Blue

-Pricing starting at $89,000

-A special collector’s package offering the purchase of all three engines with the COPO Camaro – including one installed in the car at delivery – with each engine serial number matched to the car

 

Selection process

 

The COPO Camaro concept was first shown at the 2011 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas, where the overwhelming response by more than 2,000 racing enthusiasts shaped the decision to produce a limited number of COPO Camaros.

 

To ensure fair access to the limited number of COPO Camaros, an independent third party was used to identify the first individuals who would be offered the opportunity to buy one of the new COPO Camaros. Those selected will receive a confirmation letter with instructions on how to fulfill the purchase contract, choose the engine option for their intended racing class, and take delivery.

Designed to win

 

The COPO Camaro is designed to NHRA racing specifications including a solid axle and a full chrome moly roll cage. Inside, most of the standard sound deadening and power accessories have been deleted in order to optimize weight for NHRA racing. Also included is a pair of racing bucket seats (no rear seat), a safety harness for the driver, a competition floor shifter and Chevrolet Performance gauges.

 

The three engines offered in the COPO Camaro program were developed to align with the top classes in NHRA’s various Stock Eliminator and Super Stock ranks. They are:

 

-An LS7-based naturally aspirated 427 (7.0L) V-8

-A supercharged, LSX-based 327 (5.3L) V-8 featuring a 2.9L supercharger

-A supercharged, LSX-based 327 (5.3L) V-8 featuring a 4.0L supercharger

 

The 2012 COPO Camaro is being offered as a performance part, with a specific part number (P/N 20129562). It cannot be registered, titled, licensed, or driven on public roads or highways. COPO is specifically offered for off-highway, competitive NHRA use only.

Chevolet Camaro ZL1 Automatic - Faster TapShift

When the new 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 arrives this spring, performance car enthusiasts will experience the hands-on driving satisfaction of a “stick” with the ease of an automatic transmission due to General Motors’ newly improved TapShift technology. 

Since its introduction several years ago, TapShift has allowed drivers to control up- and down-shifts with paddle shifters. For 2012, GM powertrain engineers implemented a patent-pending software algorithm that improves tap response time by up to 60 percent compared to the previous system. No hardware changes were required for the upgrade.

“The faster you can get to the next gear, the better, and from the sound of it, the ZL1 automatic’s performance is going to make paddle shifting more exhilarating and satisfying for drivers of all skill sets,” said Eric Fedewa , director of Global Powertrain Forecasting at IHS Automotive. “We’re seeing a trend toward more manual-mode-capable, fun-to-drive automatic transmissions across all vehicle segments, and GM’s technology is leading the pack.”

The 2012 Camaro ZL1’s six-speed automatic transmission delivers a 0-60 time of 3.9 seconds – a tenth of a second faster than the manual transmission time.

By staging hydraulic pressure in the clutch for the next gear, the new control module algorithm reduces tap delay for the 1-2, 2-3, 3-4, and 4-5 up-shifts by 200-300 milliseconds. The system anticipates shift requests based on current gear, throttle, torque and speed. By pre-filling the clutch for the next gear, the tap up-shift response is near instantaneous.

“As great as the previous system’s performance was, we were driven to achieve even better results,” said Gabe Gibson, GM performance car calibration engineer. “Not only did we make the upgrade to Camaro, we implemented it on the 2012 Corvette as well, and will use it on all vehicles with TapShift control going forward.” 

Staged up-shifts will help drivers of the 2012 Camaro ZL1 – the most powerful production Camaro ever – get the most out of its supercharged 6.2L engine that is SAE-rated at 580 horsepower (432 kW) and 556 lb.-ft. of torque (754 Nm).

Camaro ZL1 customers’ choice of an automatic 6L90 transmission with TapShift manual mode or a six-speed manual transmission is unmatched in its class. With 0 to 60 taking 3.9 seconds, and a top speed of 184 mph, the power and acceleration of the ZL1 automatic rivals many supercars.

“We think Camaro drivers will really appreciate the performance improvement offered by staged up-shifts, whether they’re merging onto the freeway or putting their ZL1 through its paces at the track,” Gibson said.

The Camaro ZL1 Coupe will go on sale this spring as a 2012 model. The Camaro ZL1 Convertible will go on sale this summer as a 2013 model. Chevrolet expects the automatic transmission to command up to 50 percent of ZL1 sales.

Visit Bale Chevrolet to test drive the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro in Little Rock, Arkansas and experience the power.

2012 Chevrolet Volt Cleared for Carpool Lanes

A low emission model of the 2012 Chevrolet Volt electric car are on their way to California, where customers will qualify for a $1,500 state rebate and be allowed to drive solo in the state’s carpool lanes.

Chevy Volts with the Low Emissions Package, which is standard for California, began shipping from the General Motors Detroit-Hamtramck plant this week and should begin arriving at the more than 140 participating Chevy dealerships in California before the end of the month.

"The Volts with the Low Emissions Package are certain to be a strong draw for California commuters looking to travel the state’s notoriously congested freeways in the carpool lane,” said Chris Perry, vice president of Chevrolet Marketing.

Commuters who use carpool lanes in Southern California save an estimated average 36 minutes a day, or about a third of their total driving time.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles is making 40,000 Clean Air Stickers available for registered vehicles that meet the state’s emissions standards. Applications can be downloaded from the DMV’s web site at www.dmv.ca.gov
 
Additionally, the new Low Emissions Package makes the 2012 Chevrolet Volt eligible for owners and lessees to receive up to $1,500 in state rebates through the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project. This incentive is in addition to a federal tax credit of up to $7,500 Clean vehicle rebate applications can be submitted online at www.energycenter.org
 
California has more than 1,400 miles of High Occupancy Vehicle lanes. Originally restricted to vehicles with two or more occupants to help minimize congestion, the lanes are now open to single occupancy use by owners of advanced, low-emission vehicles. Chevrolet Volts registered in Georgia, New York and Florida also are eligible for single occupancy access to carpool lanes.

The 2012 Chevrolet Volt has a total driving range of up to 379 miles, based on EPA estimates. For the first 35 miles, the Volt can drive gas-and tailpipe-emissions-free using a full charge of electricity stored in its 16-kWh lithium-ion battery. When the Volt’s battery runs low, a gas powered engine/generator seamlessly operates to extend the driving range another 344 miles on a full tank. Volt owners have travelled more than 10 million miles since the vehicle launched late last year. Roughly two-thirds of those miles were powered by grid electricity.