New Corvette Stingray Debuts at Detroit Auto Show

Touted "Best Corvette Ever" By GM

It has been touted the “King of American sports cars”  and after much anticipation, on the eve of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, during a special preview at the city's Russell Industrial Center, the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray was unveiled. The 2014 Corvette Stingray is the first all-new version in nine years. It’s expected to arrive in showrooms this fall.

Through the Corvette’s long history, only three models have ever bore the “Stingray” name: the mid-'60s second-generation model, the third-generation model '70s and into the '80s and now the seventh-generation (C7) 2014 model. Chevrolet states that it decided to revive the Stingray name for the 2014 model year because it is, quite simply, the best Corvette ever.

The first thing you will notice is that the new Corvette looks smaller, lighter and faster than previous models. That is because the new 2014 C7 is equipped with lightweight materials designed to help keep the sports car light.

The chassis is made out of an aluminum frame that is 57 percent stiffer and about 99 pounds lighter than the previous generation. Also, the seats are with magnesium frames, and the hood and roof are made of carbon fiber, shifting the center of mass lower and rearward. The body is now more aerodynamic.

While the new exterior design definitely adds a lot of zing to the new Corvette, under the hood will give you goose bumps! For the 7^th generation Vette, this bad boy is now equipped with the new 6.2-liter, direct-injected V-8 which will be capable of producing an estimated 450 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque. Chevrolet estimatied that the new Stingray will be able to go from a 0-60 time under 4 seconds and has over 1G of cornering grip. Thanks to the new cylinder deactivation technology, Chevrolet is also claiming better fuel economy than any generation of Corvette before it.

The 2014 Corvette is mated to a seven-speed manual transmission that uses an Active Rev Matching technology very similar to that of the Nissan 370Z's. As the driver moves the shift lever into a gear, the cars internal computer adjusts the throttle to match the wheel speed for a smooth ratio change when the driver releases the clutch.

One fantastic upgrade to the next generation Corvette comes in the form of the new technology features. The C7 is equipped with a five-position drive selector that allows the drive to adjust 12 different vehicle systems including: throttle control, exhaust sound, magnetic adaptive suspension, economy, comfort, sport, track, and poor weather driving. Changing driving modes makes the Corvette's 8-inch LCD instrument cluster display information relevant to the driving style.

While GM didn’t go into detail as to what kind of infotainment system the new Corvette would feature, we're expecting some version of Chevrolet's MyLink system to come along with the 8-inch color touchscreen that occupies the center of the dashboard.

To make things even better, GM announced a Z51 package that adds an electronic limited-slip differential, an upgraded cooling systems for the differential and transmission, an upgraded aero package for high-speed stability, and more.

The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray will arrive at dealerships during the third quarter of 2013. Pricing and packaging have not yet been finalized or announced. 

Chevy Cruze Shows Off New Airbag Technology

I gotta give it to them, Chevrolet keeps impressing us with their innovations!

The Chevrolet Cruze was already one of the safest vehicles in its class, having earned five-star overall safety scores from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for both 2011 and 2012, however the engineers at Chevy decided to take it one step further for 2013.

For 2013, not only did was the Cruze once again able to achieve the five-star  rating its known for in NHTSA testing, but the popular compact vehicle can now boast its originality when it introduces a brand-new air-bag technology. This new technology is said to be more efficient and less expensive than any other system that has preceded it.

One thing that Chevrolet was very clear on is that the industry’s first flexible-venting air bag is just as safe as conventional dual-stage units.

What makes this system more efficient?

Most airbag systems work by using a complex system called a dual-inflator system, where one inflator goes off for low-speed crashes and one for high-speed crashes. The new system coming out for the 2013 Cruze replaces that system on the driver’s-side air bag with a simpler, flexible vent.  Once the airbag deploys, the driver’s forward momentum pushes unneeded air out through the vent, which automatically holds on the just enough air to provide crash protection that’s equivalent to that of traditional systems.

When speaking of the new system Gay Kent, GM general director of vehicle safety and crashworthiness said:  “This new air bag technology is a smart way to manage crash forces, and is an integral part of Cruze’s continued success in safety testing… The latest safety rating reflects the confidence we have in its new and carry-over safety technologies and overall crashworthiness.”

In other Chevy news, the Cruze isn’t the only Chevrolet model breaking through the market with new air-bag technology for the 2013 model year.

The 2013 Chevy Traverse will feature the auto industry’s first front center air bag. This new airbag, which is stowed on the inboard side of the driver's seat, works by inflating between the driver and the front passenger to keep the two within their own personal space when they are involved in an accident. This new airbag will help provide additional protection to front-row occupants in certain side-impact collision scenarios.

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2013 Chevy Sonic: Vehicle Profile

The Chevy Sonic is back for 2013! What is the buzz with this bad boy? Let’s take a look!

What's New for 2013

The Chevy Sonic gets some pretty good additions for 2013. First, it adds a new performance-based model to its lineup in the form of the RS model. Also all models get standard blind-spot mirrors plus Bluetooth phone connectivity that comes along with the option of loading up your Sonic with Chevrolet’s MyLink touch screen infotainment system, Bluetooth streaming audio, a navigation app and other smartphone services.

Styling

The 2013 Chevrolet Sonic is a car that really does have it all. It's powerful, efficient, loaded with features and its safe too! To top it all off, the 2013 Chevy Sonic looks good too. It’s a car that has a little bit of everything.

The 2013 Chevy Sonic is available as a sedan or four-door hatchback. Aside from its comfort and performance the 2013 Sonic is equipped with high-tech features that you normally wouldn't expect at this price point. For example, the base Sonic trim comes standard equipped with Bluetooth, automatic headlights and OnStar. Also for 2013, Drivers can equip their Sonic with Chevy's new MyLink system that adds many smartphone app-based services to the car's other infotainment features and controls them all with a touchscreen.

Another new addition for 2013 is the aforementioned Sonic RS, a performance-tuned model that comes in the form of a hatchback. This bad boy comes standard equipped with the powerful and fuel-efficient turbocharged four-cylinder engine that Chevy offers on the LT and LTZ trim levels, but takes it a step further by adding upgraded brakes, a sport-tuned suspension, and sportier styling.

Trims

The 2013 Chevrolet Sonic is available as either a four-door sedan or a hatchback. Both models are available in three trims: LS, LT and LTZ trim levels. The Hatchback adds the sport-tuned RS model.

The 2013 Sonic LS includes standard keyless entry, automatic headlights, power locks, 15-inch steel wheels, an integrated blind-spot mirror, a height-adjustable driver seat, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, Bluetooth phone connectivity, OnStar, a trip computer and a four-speaker sound system with an auxiliary audio jack and steering wheel controls.

The LT has the above mentioned features and adds 15-inch alloy wheels, power windows, heated power mirrors, cruise control, remote ignition for automatic models, upgraded cloth upholstery and a six-speaker sound system that is available as an option on the LS that adds satellite radio, a CD player, Bluetooth streaming audio, and an iPod/USB audio interface. The hatchback also gets a rear cargo shelf. The LT model also has an available Wheels and fog lamp package that adds 16-inch alloys and fog lamps to your Sonic.

The Sonic LTZ is equipped with a chrome exterior, fog lamps, 17-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, leatherette upholstery, and the Chevrolet MyLink system that adds a touchscreen interface and connectivity to Pandora and Stitcher radio services through your smartphone.

The Sonic RS gets all the LTZ equipment but comes standard equipped with the above mentioned turbocharged engine, a sport-tuned suspension, four-wheel disc brakes, unique 17-inch wheels, sportier exterior trim, leather and faux-suede upholstery and a sport steering wheel.

Those who opt for the LTZ and RS trims will also have the option of installing a sunroof in their sonic.

Interior Design and Special Features

The great thing about the Sonic's cabin is that it is roomy enough to fit passengers over 6 feet and very comfortable to boot. One improvement we would suggest for next year is make the interior design a little nicer, however for the price tag of this vehicle it would be hard to imagine a more refined interior without increasing costs. However, we can always hope!  

The 2013 Sonic offers 19 cubic feet of cargo space. However with the second-row seat flipped down, the Sonic’s cargo capacity increases to 30.9 cubic feet. While this figure is a little smaller than some competitors, the sedan's trunk accommodates 14 cubic feet of luggage, making it among the roomiest in this segment.

The best part of the interior, which in my opinion is something that every Sonic owner should equip, is the available MyLink system. This bad boy replaces the already cool standard head unit with a touchscreen that provides a more advanced and customizable interface. To top it off, Chevy’s MyLink uses the car's Bluetooth system to connect the car via the driver's smartphone to services like Pandora, Stitcher radio and a navigation system app.

Under the Hood

The 2013 Chevy Sonic’s standard equipped 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine produces 138 horsepower and 125 pound-feet of torque. This engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission that includes a hill-holder feature. A six-speed automatic transmission is offered as an option. The standard engine for the Sonic gets an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 25 mpg city/35 mpg highway and 28 mpg combined for the automatic and 26/35/30 for the manual transmission.

The turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder produces 138 hp as well, but adds power to your Sonic by producing 148 lbs-ft of torque and can be mated to the above name transmissions. One cool tidbit about the performance based engine is that it adds power while actually INCREASING fuel economy. Fuel economy estimates for the turbocharged engine are 27/37/31 with the automatic transmission and 29/40/33 with the manual.

Safety

Every 2013 Chevy Sonic comes standard with the following safety features: integrated blind spot mirrors, front and rear side airbags, side curtain airbags and front knee airbags, and traction and stability control. One difference between the trims is that the LS, LT and LTZ feature antilock brakes with front discs and rear drums, while the RS has discs all around.

Also standard for every trim is OnStar, which equips your Sonic with on-demand roadside assistance, an emergency button, remote door unlock, automatic crash notification, stolen vehicle locator and active intervention.

The 2013 Sonic did very well on government tests, receiving a perfect five stars for overall protection, with five stars for overall frontal protection and five stars for overall side protection. The Sonic also received a top score of "Good" in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's frontal-offset, side-impact and roof-strength crash tests.

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