GMC CANYON WINS CARS.COM MIDSIZE PICKUP CHALLENGE

By General Motors, Detroit - The all-new GMC Canyon was the top pick by the editors of Cars.com in a midsize pickup comparison test posted today.

The editors praised the Canyon SLT - the segment's only premium entry - for its road manners and performance with a full load in the bed, as well as its design and "high-end materials", in a side-by-side challenge with Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro and Nissan Frontier PRO-4X.

"The GMC Canyon scored well throughout our tests, and offered a capable and luxurious ride and feel that clearly separated the GMC from the rest of the pack," said Cars.com Pickup Truck Editor Mark Williams.

The trucks were tested for a range of capabilities, including performance, seating and erognomics, tech and entertainment, ride quality, visibility, value and off-road capability.  The trucks were track-tested for braking and acceleration performance, subjected to a true off-road course, and took part in a 320-kilometre-mile fuel-consumption evaluation.  Additionally, a pickup truck shopper unaffiliated with Cars.com tested each of the trucks for overall ride, comfort and features.

"Establishing a benchmark for a premium mid-size pickup was our goal with the Canyon and PickupTruck.com's insights affirm our instincts," said Duncan Aldred, vice president of GMC Sales and MArketing.  "The Canyon's quiet cabin, premium design and materials make it a maneuverable solution for customers who want the capability of a pickup with the modern amenities customers expect from GMC."

In addition to Cars.com's recognition, Canyon was named Autoweek's Best of the Best Truck for 2015.

Canyon in Canada starts at $20,600, plus a $1,695 destination freight charge and is available in four-door extended- or crew-cab models.  It offers the segment's best horsepower and fuel consumption rating: 200 horsepower (149 kW) and 8.8 L/100 km highway (2WD) from a standard 2.5L I-4; and 305 horsepower (227 kW) and 9.6 L/100km (2WD) from an available 3.6L V-6.

Canyon V-6 models offer a segment-leading maximum trailering rating of 3,175 kilograms (7,000 lbs), as well as the G80 locking rear differential, for sure-footed traction in slippery conditions and when trailering.

UPDATED CHEVY SILVERADO SPIED, POSSIBLY WITH ALUMINUM COMPONENTS

By Steven J. Ewing, Autoblog.com - Chevrolet is readying a refresh for its trusty Silverado pickup, and these spy shots give us our first glimpse at what might be in store.  The front and rear fascias of this prototype are covered, obscuring some styling tweaks (with LED accents up front).

More interestingly, our spies suggest that many of the Silverado's body components could move to aluminum with this mid-cycle update.  The hood will go from steel to the lighter alloy, and it's possible the front fenders could benefit from the weight-saving material, too.

Ford's latest F-150 is extremely aluminum-intensive and by switching the construction, 700 pounds was trimmed off the truck's weight.  We've already heard that General Motors is working with a similar plan for its next-generation fullsize trucks.

Beyond that, expect the smaller 5.3-liter V8 to ditch its six-speed automatic transmission in favor of the eight-speed unit that's already mated to the larger, 6.2-liter V8.  Neither transmission will stick around very long, as the trucks will likely adopt a 10-speed automatic around 2017.

Look for the updated Silverado to debut later this year, likely as a 2016.5 model.

CHEVROLET TO OPEN RETAIL SALES OF SPARK EV IN CANADA

By General Motors Canada, Montreal - Today, Chevrolet builds on its position as the Canadian leader in plug-in electric vehicle sales, by expanding the availability of the 2016 Spark EV for retail customers.  Spark EV has been available for fleet customers for 2 years.  The Spark EV will be eligible for provincial incentives from the provinces of Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia.  Chevrolet also offers the best-selling electric vehicle in Canada, the Volt, and has recently announced plans to bring the next generation all-electric vehicle based on the Chevrolet Bolt EV Concept into production.

We're expanding our electric vehicle offerings to our customers by offering the 2016 Spark EV for retail sales in the growing EV markets here in Quebec as well as in Ontario and BC," said Chris Hay, regional director for Chevrolet.  "For city residents whose transportation needs can be met with an all-electric vehicle, Spark EV builds on Chevrolet's proven electric motor and battery development programs from the Chevrolet Volt."

The Chevrolet Spark EV is an all-electric urban mini-car designed for fun driving and easy ownership.  It offers the latest in technology and in-vehicle infotainment, including industry exclusive OnStar with 4G LTE and standard built-in Wi-Fi hotspot.

It uses no gasoline, yet its GM-built motor and drive unit deliver 327 lb-ft (444 Nm) of instant torque, enabling a 0-97 km/h (0-60 mph) time of 7.2 seconds.  Storing that energy from the charging process and the vehicle's regenerative braking capability is an 18.4-kWh lithium-ion battery pack.

When fully charged, Spark EV features a combined city-highway estimated range of 131 km and an estimated city/highway fuel consumption equivalent of 2.0 L/100kms.

Three available levels of recharging capability include the industry's first use of the recently approved SAE combo charger for DC fast charging, which charges 80 percent of the battery in just 20 minutes.

Pricing for 2016 Spark EV will be available at a later time.

CHEVROLET AND DISNEY SEE POSSIBILITIES IN 'TOMORROWLAND'

By General Motors, Detroit - At their core, Disney and Chevrolet are entities of optimism, believing that with a little ingenuity, anything is possible.  They will come together in the new Disney film "Tomorrowland" to imagine the possibilities.

The all-new 2016 Chevrolet Volt and EN-V concepts appear in the backdrops of the present day and Tomorrowland.  The film's U.S. debut is May 22.

In Disney's riveting mystery adventure "Tomorrowland", a jaded scientist and an optimistic teen embark on a danger-filled mission to unearth the secrets of an enigmatic place somewhere in time and space.

"Tomorrowland is a place where nothing is impossible, which is something that Chevrolet believes can exist in the here and now," said Tim Mahoney, vice president, Global Chevrolet.  "The Chevrolet spirit reflects the hopes and possibilities of tomorrow in real instruments of change for today like the next-generation Chevrolet Volt."

The first marketing efforts for the 2016 Chevrolet Volt will be tied to Tomorrowland.  A television spot and digital advertising will debut in early May.

The all-new Volt is an electric car with extended range, showcasing a sleeker, sportier design that offers 50 miles of EV range, greater efficiency and stronger acceleration.  The Volt's new, efficient propulsion system will offer an estimated total driving range of more than 400 miles.  With regular charging, owners can expect to average more than 1,000 miles between gas fill-ups.

Chevrolet and Disney have a long history of collaboration around the globe.

In December 2012, the re-imagined Test Track presented by Chevrolet opened at Epcot in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.  Test Track gives an authentic, inside-the-studio look at the actual automotive design process, while empowering guests to create their own designs, possibly inspiring the next generation of automotive designers.

Shanghai General Motors and Shanghai Disney Resort recently signed an agreement and announced that Shanghai General Motors is a Shanghai Disney Resort long-term strategic alliance participant.  As the resort's official vehicle, Chevrolet will help provide an unparalleled brand experience to the resort guests.

About Chevrolet in Canada

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world's largest car brands, doing business in more than 115 countries and selling more than 4.8 million cars and trucks a year.  Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value.

About Disney's "Tomorrowland"

From Disney comes two-time Oscar winner Brad Bird's "Tomorrowland," a riveting mystery adventure starring Academy Award winner George Clooney.  Bound by a shared destiny, former boy-genius Frank (Clooney), jaded by disillusionment, and Casey (Britt Robertson), a bright, optimistic teen bursting with scientific curiosity, embark on a danger-filled mission to unearth the secrets of an enigmatic place somewhere in time and space known only as "Tomorrowland".  What they must do there changes the world - and them - forever.

Featuring a screenplay by "Lost" writer and co-creator Damon Lindelof and Brad Bird, from a story by Lindelof & Bird & Jeff Jensen, "Tomorrowland" promises to take audiences on a thrill ride of nonstop adventures through new dimensions that have only been dreamed of.

The film also stars Hugh Laurie as brilliant scientist David Nix, Raffey Cassidy, Tim McGraw, Judy Greer, Kathryn Hahn, Keegan-Michael Key and Thomas Robinson.

"Tomorrowland" is produced by Damon Lindelof, Brad Bird and Jeffrey Chernov and directed by Brad Bird, with John Walker, Brigham Taylor, Jeff Jensen and Bernard Bellew serving as executive producers.  "Tomorrowland" opens in U.S. theaters on May 22, 2015.

2016 CHEVY CAMARO TO DROP 200 POUNDS

By Chris Bruce, Autoblog.com - The sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaro makes its grand debut on May 16 at a big celebration on Detroit's Belle Isle.  Until then, Chevy's strategy seems to be showing off the pony car's new components piece by piece.  With the exhaust headers and front end already on display, the Bowtie is now giving a glimpse at some of the upcoming model's aluminum components.

The Camaro is going on a diet for its latest generation, and Chevy claims that the switch to the Alpha platform and other new components shed over 200 pounds compared to the current model.  That will put the pony car at around 3,500 pounds.  The lower weight will contribute to better fuel economy, quicker acceleration and more direct handling, according to the automaker.

Among the changes are aluminum front and rear suspension assemblies (pictured above) that weigh 21 percent less than the current units.  Also, Chevy promises in its announcement "links on some models feature an intricate, structurally optimized design made with a rigid composite material that's even lighter than aluminum."  In addition to these improved parts, the Camaro uses the lightweight metal for the beam that supports the instrument panel to save 9.7 pounds more.

The only two pieces reportedly carrying over to the latest design are Chevy's bowtie and SS badges, and at least one engine in the range is known to be a version of the 6.2-liter LT1 V8.  With over a month until the next Camaro's debut, we might get a glimpse of even more of the car's new parts in the coming weeks.

2016 Camaro Does More with Less

DETROIT - For the all-new, 2016 Chevrolet Camaro, the team was challenged to improve the handling, acceleration and fuel economy of the award-winning current model.

To meet all three objectives, the team focused on a singular mission: reduce mass.  By obsessively searching for opportunities to save ounces, the team pared more than 200 pounds off the Camaro compared with the fifth-generation model.

As a result, the Camaro does more with less, according to Al Oppenheiser, Camaro chief engineer.

"We kept the cornering confidence and control that make the Gen 5 Camaro 1LE so fun to drive, and added a greater sense of agility," he said.  "The new Camaro brakes harder, flicks into corners more quickly, and drives out of the corner faster.  We expect it will set the benchmark in the segment and give many sports cars a challenge."

A new architecture, one of the most mass-efficient ever from General Motors, is responsible for much of the weight savings.

Additionally, dozens of small changes cumulatively contributed to shedding pounds.  For example, the beam that supports the instrument panel is now made of aluminum, saving 9.7 pounds (4.4 kg) over the steel beam on the current generation Camaro.

In addition, the front and rear suspension assemblies are now aluminum, and links on some models feature an intricate, structurally optimized design made with a rigid composite material that's even lighter than aluminum.  As a result, the total weight for the suspension is 21 percent lighter compared to current steel-intensive assemblies.

Chevrolet will introduce the all-new 2016 Camaro on Saturday, May 16, during a special public event at Detroit's Belle Isle Park.

NEW MALIBU TECH HELPS PARENTS TEACH KIDS SAFE DRIVING

 

 

By General Motors, Oshawa - It's hard to hand the keys to a teenager for their first drive alone.

Parents know that coaching a teenager on how to learn safe driving skills is vital.  According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, in the United States, the fatal crash rate per mile driven for 16- to 19-year-olds is nearly three times the rate for drivers ages 20 and over.

The all-new 2016 Chevrolet Malibu will debut Teen Driver, a system that provides parents with a tool to help encourage safe driving habits for their kids, even when they are not in the car with them.  Teen Driver supports safe driving habits by muting the audio of the radio or any device paired with the vehicle when front seat occupants aren't wearing their safety belts, and it gives audible and visual warnings when the vehicle is traveling faster than preset speeds.

This feature is the first in the industry with a built-in system that lets parents view on a display how their teenager drove the vehicle.  Maximum speed reached, distance driven and number of times active safety features were engaged can all be confirmed.

"We developed this system so parents could use it as a teaching tool with their kids - they can discuss and reinforce safe driving habits," said General Motors safety engineer MaryAnn Beebe.  "As a mother of two, I know anything that has the potential of keeping one's family safer is of great value to parents."

Malibu can keep track of the following:

• Distance driven
• Maximum speed traveled
• Over-speed warnings issued
• Stability control events
• Antilock brake events
• Forward Collision Alerts, if equipped
• Forward Collision Braking events, if equipped

To use Teen Driver, a parent needs to enable the feature by creating a PIN in the Settings menu of their available MyLink system, which then allows them to register their teen's key fob.  The system's settings are turned on only to registered key fobs.

When active, Teen Driver automatically mutes the radio until front safety belts are fastened.  Additionally, the radio system's maximum volume can also be set to a lower level.  If the vehicle is equipped with active safety features like Forward Collision Alert, they are automatically turned On.  Parents can select a maximum speed (between 65-120 km/h), which, if exceeded, activates a visual warning and audible chime.

If equipped, these are the safety features that are automatically turned On and incapable of being manually turned off when Teen Driver is activated:

• Stability Control
• Front and Rear Park Assist
• Side Blind Zone Alert
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert
• Forward Collision Alert
• Daytime Running Lamps / Automatic Light Control
• Forward Collision Braking
• Traction Control
• Front Pedestrian Braking

"The intent of the Teen Driver feature is to ensure that all drivers and passengers in the vehicle are safe," said Shane Peever, brand manager, Chevrolet Cars and Crossovers in Canada.  "The all-new 2016 Malibu will feature stunning design advanced connectivity and efficiency, in addition to innovative safety technologies."

Teen Driver is not a subscription-based service, so it remains with the vehicle permanently and will be standard on the Premier trim and optional on LT models if equipped with the Convenience Package and up-level radio.  The 2016 Malibu debuts at the New York Auto Show in early April and is expected to go on sale at the end of 2015.

CHEVY KEEPS TEASING NEXT CAMARO, 70 PERCENT OF PARTS UNIQUE TO IT

 

By Chris Bruce, Autoblog.com - Have no fear that the next-gen Camaro's switch to the Alpha platform is just going to make it a Cadillac ATS with a different look.  After a few recent teasers of the future pony car.  Chevy is finally dropping a few technical details, and they make the sixth Camaro sound even more intriguing.

Over 70 percent of the new Camaro's architectural components are unique to it and not shared with other General Motors vehicles.  In fact, the only two parts carrying over from the previous model are the brand's bow-tie emblem at the back and the SS badge.  The pony car uses a modified front structure to create a wider track and has changes to the front and rear suspension.  The interior and exterior dimensions are also altered compared to other Alpha vehicles.

Even the company's 6.2-liter LT1 V8 gets some tweaks.  Chevy claims that the mill is 20 percent different than other applications, including new tubular exhaust manifolds (pictured above).

The next Camaro makes its grand debut at a big party at Detroit's Belle Isle on May 16.

2016 Camaro is all-New from the Bowtie Up 70 percent of architectural components unique to the Gen 6 Camaro

DETROIT - The 2016 Chevrolet Camaro will be a truly all-new car - from the grille's bowtie to the rear spoiler.

In fact, only two parts carry over from the fifth-generation model: the bowtie emblem on the taillamp panel and the SS badge.

The Gen 6 Camaro is based on General Motors' award-winning Alpha architecture.  Designed to compete with premium European brands, Alpha offers exceptional driving dynamics and refinement, as well as a balance of mass and stiffness necessary for a world-class performance car.

"Our global engineering team is incredibly passionate about Camaro, and they sweated all the details to make Gen 6 the best Camaro we could possibly put into the hands of our customers," said Mark Reuss, GM executive vice president, Global Product Development.

"Alpha provided a strong foundation, but more than 70 percent of the components are unique to the Gen 6 Camaro, including exterior and interior dimensions, an all-new interior, front and rear suspension, and powertrain components," he said.  "The minute you see - and hear - the Gen 6, you know it's a Camaro, from the stance to the driving experience to the sound of the Small Block V-8."

From the strong Alpha foundation, the Camaro team made the most of every component to create a worthy successor for the Gen 5 Camaro, which has been America's best-selling performance car for five consecutive years.

The front structure, for example, was developed specifically for Camaro.  It is lengthened, to create the dash-to-axle ratio necessary for car's iconic profile, and widened to provide the desired track width for stable, confident cornering.  In addition, 20 percent of the 6.2L LT1 V-8 engine has been tailored to fit the Camaro's packaging, including new, tubular "tri-Y'-style exhaust manifolds.

Chevrolet will introduce the all-new, 2016 Camaro on Saturday, May 16, during a special public event at Detroit's Belle Isle park.