Introducing the 2014 Chevrolet Malibu

•     Fuel-saving start-stop technology added to standard model
•     Rear knee room improved by 1.25 inches
•     Chassis and suspension developments enhance drive experience

DETROIT – Chevrolet today unveiled the 2014 Malibu – a roomier, more refined and more efficient execution of its midsize sedan. Updated styling, a revised interior, a new 2.5L standard engine and suspension enhancements highlight the changes. It goes on sale this fall.

“The 2014 Chevrolet Malibu builds on the strengths established by the all-new 2013 Malibu to make it a stronger choice for customers,” said Mark Reuss, president, General Motors North America. “The midsize sedan segment is the most contested in the industry and we’re not sitting still with the 2014 Chevrolet Malibu.”

The new and enhanced features include:

•     Revised front-end appearance
•     Roomier rear seat with 1.25 inches (31.7 mm) more knee room
•     Redesigned center console
•     New 2.5L engine with variable valve lift control and start/stop technology helps deliver estimated fuel economy of 23 city / 35 highway – a 5-percent improvement in city mileage and 3-percent greater highway efficiency
•     Nearly 14 percent more torque from the available 2.0L turbo engine – 295 lb-ft of torque (400 Nm) – engineered for a greater feeling of power on demand
•     Suspension enhancements derived from the all-new 2014 Impala engineered to contribute to a more refined driving experience
•     New available Side Blind Zone Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Alert safety features

Malibu’s revised front-end appearance is influenced by the all-new Impala, creating a more cohesive look across Chevrolet’s sedan lineup. The front fascia features a new, more prominent lower grille and the hood extends down and over the leading edge of a narrower upper grille. The grille openings – with black grille texture – are wider and accented with chrome.

Inside, redesigned seats contribute to greater rear-seat space and greater comfort. The front seatbacks are shaped to improve rear-seat knee room, while new cushion sculpturing and revised cushion material allow passengers to sit deeper in the rear seats. Approximately half an inch was trimmed from the front of the rear seat cushion, for greater comfort behind passengers’ legs.

The Malibu’s redesigned center console has a longer armrest designed for greater comfort, along with a pair of cup holders and dedicated storage for two cell phones.

“We made changes within 18 months, demonstrating an unprecedented commitment to make the Malibu the best car it can be,” said Ken Kelzer, executive chief engineer, global full-size and midsize cars. “The 2014 Malibu has been engineered to deliver more precise ride and handling that is on par with more expensive sports sedans.” 

More efficient, powerful powertrains
An all-new Ecotec 2.5L Intake Valve Lift Control DOHC four-cylinder engine with direct injection is the 2014 Malibu’s standard engine. Its variable intake valve actuation enhances efficiency and helps lower emissions, while also enhancing low-rpm torque, for a greater feeling of power at lower speeds. When the iVLC system operates in low-lift mode, the engine pumps only the air it needs to meet the driver’s demand. The system switches to high-lift mode at higher speeds or under heavy loads, providing the full output capability of the engine.

New start/stop technology shuts down the 2.5L engine to save fuel when the Malibu stops momentarily, such as at stoplights, contributing to an estimated 5-percent increase in city fuel economy. The engine automatically starts again when the driver takes his or her foot off the brake. An auxiliary battery powers electric accessories such as the climate system, power windows and radio during engine restarts.

The new 2.5L is SAE-certified at 196 horsepower (145 kW) and 186 lb-ft of torque (253 Nm). Revised transmission shift points and quicker shifts also enhance the feeling of performance – while delivering greater refinement.

Additionally, the 2014 Malibu’s available 2.0L turbo engine delivers nearly 14 percent more torque than its predecessor. It is SAE-certified at 295 lb-ft (400 Nm). New engine calibration and tuning account for the improvement, making the Malibu 2.0L turbo’s torque the best in the segment, even among competing six-cylinder-engines. The result is a stronger feeling of acceleration from a stop and a greater feeling of power on demand in almost all driving conditions.

The 2.0L turbo also produces an SAE-certified 259 horsepower (193 kW). The Malibu ECO remains in the lineup and receives the exterior and interior upgrades as well as chassis and suspension updates.

Chassis refinements
Chassis and suspension updates inspired by the all-new 2014 Impala also contribute to the 2014 Malibu’s more refined driving experience, including rebound springs that are internal to the struts. They enable more refined calibration of the dampers for a smoother overall ride, while also improving body roll control and weight transfer during acceleration or turning. That helps keep the wheels planted, contributing to a more precise, controlled feel – especially while cornering.

Fuel-saving electric power rack-and-pinion variable-effort power steering is standard and enables nearly effortless low-speed maneuvers and a higher degree of steering feel at higher speeds. Revised, higher-effort calibrations for 2014 were engineered to improve the overall steering feel. Also, the Malibu’s brake system has been revised to provide a more confident feel.

Additional chassis control technologies include four-channel anti-lock brakes, full-function traction control, four-corner electronic stability control, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist system, corner brake control, hydraulic brake fade assist and drag torque control.

Enhanced safety
New Side Blind Zone Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Alert safety features are offered, and the Malibu also comes with 10 standard air bags and an available rearview camera system.

- Courtesy of GM

2014 Corvette Stingray Cranks Out 460 Horsepower

DETROIT – The 2014 Corvette Stingray’s all-new LT1 6.2L V-8 engine is SAE-certified at 460 horsepower (343 kW) at 6,000 rpm and 465 lb-ft of torque (630 Nm) at 4,600 rpm, with the available performance exhaust system, Chevrolet announced today.

The Stingray is SAE-certified at 455 horsepower (339 kW) and 460 lb-ft (624 Nm) with the standard exhaust system. They are the highest standard power ratings ever for the Corvette, delivered with efficiency that is expected to exceed 26 mpg on the highway.

“The 2014 Corvette Stingray’s LT1 engine is a triumph of advanced technology, delivering more power and torque than ever before with greater efficiency,” said Jordan Lee, Small Block chief engineer.

“The LT1’s performance complements the Corvette’s low mass with a tremendous feeling of power that builds as the rpm climbs. Drivers will experience more power and acceleration than ever before with the standard engine – in fact, its power and torque surpass many uplevel engines offered by competitors.”

At 74 horsepower per liter, the LT1 has greater power density than the C6 Corvette’s LS3 6.2L engine and even the C6 Z06’s racing-derived 7.0L LS7. It also produces comparable torque to the LS7 – up to 4,700 rpm – and its peak torque is within 5 lb-ft of the 7.0L engine. That torque is generated early and sustained across the rpm band, with 316 lb-ft available at only 1,000 rpm and 90 percent of peak torque available from 3,000 rpm to 5,500 rpm – giving the lightweight Corvette Stingray excellent acceleration at all speeds.

Chevrolet estimates the Corvette will run from 0 to 60 mph in less than four seconds.

The new LT1 engine’s high output, and high power density and efficiency are due to several advanced technologies, including direct injection, Active Fuel Management and continuously variable valve timing, which support an advanced combustion system.

Direct injection is a primary contributor to the engine’s combustion efficiency, ensuring a more complete burn of the fuel in the air-fuel mixture. That’s achieved by precisely controlling the mixture motion and fuel injection spray pattern. Direct injection also keeps the combustion chamber cooler, which allows for a higher compression ratio. Emissions are also reduced, particularly cold-start hydrocarbon emissions, which are cut by about 25 percent.

Active Fuel Management, or cylinder deactivation, is a  first-ever application on Corvette. It helps save fuel by imperceptibly shutting down half of the engine’s cylinders in light-load driving. Continuously variable valve timing is refined to support the LT1 AFM and direct injection systems to further optimize performance, efficiency and emissions.

These technologies support the all-new, advanced combustion system, which incorporates a new cylinder-head design and a new, sculpted piston design that is an integral contributor to the high-compression, mixture motion parameters enabled by direct injection.

Additional engine features include:

•     Advanced oiling system with oil-spray piston cooling and available dry-sump oiling
•     Engine-mounted, camshaft-driven fuel pump to support the direct injection system
•     Intake manifold with “runners in a box” design that allows for high-efficiency airflow packaged beneath the Corvette’s low hood line
•     High-flow, four-into-one exhaust manifolds based on the design of the LS7 engine.

Small Block legacy

The 2014 Corvette Stingray’s LT1 engine is the fifth generation of the Small Block engine family, which debuted in the Corvette in 1955. It displaced 4.3L (265 cubic inches) and was rated at 195 horsepower, drawing air and fuel through a four-barrel carburetor. Five years later, Small Block power helped Corvette secure its first victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

In 2012, the Small Block-powered Corvette Racing C6.R beat Ferrari, BMW and Porsche to sweep the drivers’, team, and manufacturer championships in production-based American Le Mans Series GT class. These championships make Corvette Racing the most successful team in ALMS history, with a total of 77 class wins, eight drivers’ championships, and nine manufacturer and team championships since 2001.

The 2014 Corvette Stingray coupe goes on sale this fall, with a convertible following by the end of the year – each sharing an all-new aluminum frame structure and enhanced chassis, as well as completely new exterior and interior designs.

- Courtesy of GM

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2014 Chevrolet SS: Chevy's RWD LS3-Powered Flagship

Ages from now, when we look back at 2008–2013 with 20/20 hindsight, we'll likely deem GM's quick-rinse bankruptcy a blessing. Case in point: the 2014 Chevrolet SS sedan arriving later this year. This car is an amalgam of a once-revered nameplate (SS) and one of the best cars developed by pre-Chapter 11 GM, the Pontiac G8. Without GM's trip through the reorganization wringer, a rear-drive Chevy flagship might not have happened.

Way, way back in the company's rowdier days, Corvette patron Zora Arkus-Duntov affixed an SS badge (double-secret code for "super sport") to GM's first purpose-built racer. Thanks to a magnesium body draped over a steel-tube space frame inspired by the Mercedes 300SL's skeleton, the Corvette SS weighed a lean 1850 pounds dry. A front-mounted 4.6-liter V-8 equipped with fuel injection and aluminum heads delivered 310 horsepower at 6400 rpm. Piloted by the best shoes of the day—Fangio, Fitch, Moss, and Taruffi—the two-seat SS was quick, but a lack of development stopped it after only 23 laps at the 1957 12-hour Sebring Grand Prix.

The SS evolved into the more successful Sting Ray racer that begat the 1963 Corvette (C2) Sting Ray production model. In 1961, Chevy resurrected the badge for an optional ($54) Impala package consisting of various chassis, interior, and exterior upfits. Over the years, the double-S escutcheon has been hung haphazardly on Chevys ranging from convertible pickups to front-drive Impalas to current V-8–powered Camaros.

The new Chevrolet SS is an updated version of the Australian-built Pontiac G8, which thrived for barely 18 months before sinking, along with GM's "excitement" division, in 2009. When it knocked off Dodge's Charger R/T in our June 2008 comparison test, we dubbed the G8 GT "the BMW that Pontiac always wanted to build." When it perished the following year, GM's Bob Lutz said the full-size four-door G8 was too good to waste, and he pledged that it would reappear as a Chevrolet.

Lutz's forecast was dead-on accurate. The Chevy Camaro, essentially a shorter-wheelbase (112.3-inch) coupe version of the G8, arrived before the onset of Pontiac's death throes. In late 2009, Chevrolet announced a 118.5-inch-wheelbase Caprice PPV perp coach built on GM's large rear-drive platform, which was formerly code-named Zeta. The new SS is the meat in the sandwich. It rides on the size-medium 114.8-inch wheelbase of the old G8, but features a host of updates such as re-creased sheetmetal, a new electrical architecture, a retuned chassis, and contemporary Chevrolet interior and exterior earmarks. All Zeta siblings have unibody construction, front struts, and a multilink rear suspension.

The production SS due this fall will have an LS3 6.2-liter V-8 burbling under its hood, backed up by a six-speed automatic with standard paddle shifters. Packing 415 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque—as well as a 3.27:1 final drive—Chevy says the car should sprint to 60 mph in the five-second range.

Decelerative responsibilities fall on Brembo brakes; hardware includes 14-inch front rotors, 12.8-inch rear rotors, and four-piston fixed front calipers. Sticky Bridgestone performance rubber—measuring 245/40 at the front and 275/35 out back—cozies up to 19-inch forged wheels. The hood and trunklid are aluminum. There are, of course, LED daytime running lights.

SSs will be sold fully loaded with top-shelf infotainment gear, HID headlamps, stitched leather trim, the latest collision-warning equipment, and Chevy's first application of automatic parking assist. The only option will be a power sunroof, so expect a sticker crowding $40,000 when the car arrives in showrooms at the end of the year. Since the efficiency upgrades of the new LT1 V-8—direct injection, variable valve timing, and cylinder deactivation—are not included, factor some gas-guzzler tax into your budget.

The SS is Chevy's new nameplate hero in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series. After winning 10 straight manufacturers' championships with "Monte Carlos" and "Impalas" from 2003 to 2012, Chevy is now the only brand with a racer profiled after a pukka V-8, rear-drive production model. (Dodge withdrew its "Charger" from NASCAR after Brad Keselowski piloted one to the 2012 drivers' championship; Ford races "Fusions," and Toyota competes with "Camrys.") The Chevrolet SS race car debuts at this year's Daytona 500 as a 17-car phalanx fielded by Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, Furniture Row Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, Phoenix Racing, Richard Childress Racing, and Stewart-Haas Racing.

The SS is essentially a spear aimed at the hearts of the Chrysler 300 SRT8, Dodge Charger SRT8, and Ford Taurus SHO, but it's a stopgap measure. That could change in a couple of years when the production baton is expected to pass from GM's Elizabeth, Australia, plant to a U.S. assembly facility, and the heavy, elderly underpinnings of the old platform are replaced by a new large rear-drive platform engineered to serve under Chevrolet, Cadillac, and possibly Buick flagships. (More on GM's future RWD plans here and here.)

Meanwhile, for our role in pulling GM back from the abyss, we tax-paying enthusiasts deserve this street-fighting SS with LT1 power and a stick shift.

- Courtesy of Car and Driver

2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pickup first drive impresses

Chevrolet rolled out their new 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pickups for a first drive by the media in, no surprise, Texas where one in five pickup trucks are sold in the United States.

Following a first look at the new Silverado in December, we said that the new truck looked pretty good and appeared to have returned the Silverado to a competitive position in the segment, but that the proof would be in the first drives.
View slideshow: 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pickup first drive impresses

This first drive in Texas was staged as a strong show of confidence by Chevrolet in their new Silverado pickups - betting that they would show well in the largest truck market in the country.

And, just to be certain, Chevrolet boldly chose to do the first drive at the ranch location, near San Antonio, of the annual Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) prestigious Truck Rodeo.

This event is a ‘must win’ for pickup truck manufacturers as the winner of the Truck of Texas award leverages that recognition to sell a whole lot of trucks in Texas for at least a full year following.

For this writer, it seems that Chevrolet’s gamble on the venue was a good bet on these new trucks.

Having driven the competitor vehicles at the Knibbe Ranch venue each of the last three years as a member of TAWA, our early conclusion is that the new 2014 Silverado 1500 - on first drive - is going be competitive with Ford and Ram, winners over the last several years.

We did not get a chance to drive the complete line of the new Silverado 1500 trucks and power trains at this event, but did drive what would be considered the heart of the line in the LT and LTZ trim lines with crew cabs and short boxes.

Several of the trucks were 4WD while others were 2WD. Several of the LT and LTZ models had the Z71 package of performance and appearance enhancements.

The entry level WT (Work Truck) series have not gone into production as yet and the very impressive looking new premium level Silverado 1500 High Country model will not be available until well into the fourth quarter.

The Silverado trucks tested were equipped with mostly the new 5.3-liter Ecotec V-8 engines delivering 355 horsepower and 282 lb.-ft. of torque. A few had the (also new) 4.3-liter V-6 that delivers 285 horsepower with its segment leading 305 lb.-ft of torque.

All of the trucks were equipped with the standard 6-speed automatic transmission.

Absent from the test was the new 6.2-liter V-8 engine (available in the Fall) for which performance figures have not yet been announced.

EPA fuel economy estimates for the 5.3-liter V-8 are 16/23 mpg city/highway for the 2WD and 16/22 mpg for the 4WD. EPA estimates have not yet been released for the V-6.

We were able to drive six of the 20 or so trucks on hand during the course of the day. From the V-8 power train group we drove a LTZ Crew Cab Z71 4WD, the special Texas Edition LTZ Crew Cab 4WD, LTZ Crew Cab 4WD, LTZ Crew Cab 2WD and, from the V-6 group, a LTZ Crew Cab 2WD and a 4WD.

We drove several on both the road and the off-road course and we drove two under cargo bed load on the road course only.

In every drive, we found lots of features and capabilities that excited us in these new Silverado 1500 pickup trucks that we think make the new Silverado a very worthy segment competitor.

The new styling with a stronger and bolder front end, that is both good and capable looking from all angles, gets in your face and, as one of the Chevrolet personnel present remarked, it looks like a “fist in the wind”.

The new line of Ecotec engines with the newly designed Active Fuel Management cylinder deactivation system, for efficient operation and fuel economy when not under load, performed well in this first drive.

We tested this feature in both the V-6 and the V-8 on the road and highways near the ranch.
The Ectotec engine shifts from 8 to 4 or 6 to 4 cylinders so quickly and quietly that you do not hear or feel it at all. If it were not for the very easy to see lighted symbol change from V-8 or V-6 to V-4 on the Driver Information Center screen, you would not have known the cylinder deactivation was working.

New interior designs and materials are high quality and feature style and luxury with productivity and convenience everywhere in the cabin. Things like good size knobs placed where you can easily reach them to push buttons large enough to easily see and operate, add to the ease of driving.

The change in the B-pillar placement in the crew cab enables a 4-inch larger rear door entry that also adds 2-inches to leg room in the back without taking anything from the front row cabin space.

The new front row bucket seating is exceptional. Just getting in and sitting down told you that this new Silverado was going to be a very comfortable ride for driver and passenger. The construction of the back and side bolsters matched with seat and butt bolsters almost cradle you in the seat - effectively isolating the driver from road condition and time-behind-the-wheel weariness.

Other details that make the new Silverado stand out include the hydraulic damper assisted tailgate which lowers or raises slowly with just a single hand, the built in step molded into each corner of the bumper coupled with a handhold in the top of the bed side make it easy to swing up onto the bed for working the load, the cargo bed LED lighting system accessory which is reasonably priced ($60) and the availability of a Driver Alert Package ($845) which includes Lane Departure Warning Forward Collision Alert, Rear Park Assist and the “butt rattler” Safety Alert Seat all make the new 2014 Silverado 1500 a good value.

Pricing for the 2014 Silverado appears to be competitive as well.

Base prices on the Silverado LTZ Crew Cabs are the same as 2013. The base prices on the trucks we drove ranged from $39,235 to $43,165.

Models we tested were all equipped with various package adds and accessory equipment to showcase the vehicle. As driven, the truck prices as tested ranged from $47,860 to $50,910 for the Z71, including delivery.

We are seriously looking forward to the 2013 Texas Auto Writers Association Truck Rodeo in October when the Silverado goes head to head with Ram 1500, Ford F-150 and the new Toyota Tundra.

And, oh yes, the new 2014 GMC Sierra will be there too.

In meantime, the new 2014 Silverado 1500 pickups will be in dealerships soon. Go drive one, you should be impressed also.

- Courtesy of Examiner

Silverado Adds Rugged Luxury with New High Country

•     New crew cab model to compete in premium pickup segment
•     Unique exterior appearance, saddle brown interior
•     Standard 5.3L V-8 with 355 horsepower, up to 23 mpg highway

SAN ANTONIO – The 2014 Silverado High Country will further broaden Chevrolet’s portfolio in the premium pickup segment when it joins the LTZ and Z71 models in the Silverado lineup this fall.

Silverado High Country is distinguished by a unique chrome grille with horizontal chrome bars, halogen projector headlamps and body-color front and rear bumpers. Unique 20-inch chrome wheels with P275/55R20 all-season tires are standard, as are chrome body side moldings, door handles and mirrors.

Inside, Silverado High Country features an exclusive saddle brown interior, with authentic materials throughout. Features include heated and cooled perforated premium leather front bucket seats with High Country logos on the headrests, Chevrolet MyLink connectivity with an 8-inch touch screen, Bose premium audio and front and rear park assist.

“High Country will be the top model in the Silverado lineup, with a higher level of premium features and materials with a rich, Western themed appearance,” said Maria Rohrer, Silverado marketing director. “But at the same time, High Country is 100-percent Chevy truck, with the capability and dependability customers have relied on for more than 95 years.”

Standard engine for the Silverado High Country is the 5.3L EcoTec3 V-8, SAE-certified at 355 horsepower (250 kW), with class-leading V-8 fuel economy of up to 23 mpg highway (2WD models). The all-new 6.2L EcoTec3 V-8 also will be available. Both engines feature direct fuel injection, Active Fuel Management and continuously variable valve timing, proving the refined power and torque truck customers expect. Both seamlessly switch to four-cylinder mode to save fuel during light-load driving.

Because of the high level of standard equipment, Silverado High Country will offer only a few options. In addition to the 6.2L EcoTec3 V-8, they include a chrome rear bumper with CornerStep, integrated trailer brake controller, sunroof, navigation, and a rear-seat entertainment system as well as a High Country Premium Package which includes heated steering wheel, driver alert package, adjustable pedals and integrated trailer brake controller.

- Courtesy of GM

This Day in History: GM buys Chevrolet

On this day in 1918, General Motors Corporation (GM), which will become the world's largest automotive firm, acquires Chevrolet Motor Company.

GM had been founded a decade earlier by William C. "Billy" Durant, a former carriage maker from Flint, Michigan, whose Durant-Dort Carriage Company had taken control of the ailing Buick Motor Company. On September 16, 1908, Durant incorporated Buick into a new entity, General Motors, which by the end of that decade had welcomed other leading auto manufacturers--including Oldsmobile, Cadillac and Oakland--into its fold. In 1910, with GM struggling financially, stockholders blamed Durant's aggressive expansionism and forced him out of the company he founded. In November 1911, he launched Chevrolet Motor Company, named for his partner, the Swiss race car driver Louis Chevrolet.

Still the owner of a considerable portion of GM stock, Durant began to purchase more shares in the company as his profits from Chevrolet allowed. In a final move to regain control, Durant offered GM stockholders five shares of Chevrolet stock for every one share of GM stock. Though GM stock prices were exorbitantly high, the market interest in Chevrolet made the five-for-one trade irresistible to GM shareholders. With the sale, concluded on May 2, 1918, Durant regained control of GM. Just two years later, however, he was pushed out for good by Pierre S. DuPont, whose family's powerful chemical company had begun investing in the fledgling auto industry by buying GM stock in 1914. Pierre DuPont subsequently rose to the chairmanship of GM's board and became president in 1920. In an agreement made that same year, DuPont paid off all of Durant's debt; in exchange, the controversial founder left the company.

Durant refused to bow out of the automotive industry, however, founding Durant Motors in 1921 and producing a line of cars for the next decade. The onset of the Great Depression in the early 1930s put an end to Durant's career in cars, and he threw his entrepreneurial energy behind a string of bowling alleys located near the Buick complex in Flint, Michigan. When this venture failed as well, Durant faded from the public eye. He died on March 18, 1947, at the age of 85, just weeks before the passing of another automotive pioneer: Henry Ford.

- Courtesy of History.com