I think we all know how much I love Facebook, Twitter and the like. Let’s think about this though… Do I Facebook while driving? No! Well maybe if I am in dead stop traffic not moving. Under normal circumstances I am paying attention to the road. I came across an article today from AutoBlog that was very interesting. GM has decided to combat Ford’s popular Sync System with a system of their own. I never thought about voice texting or updating your Facebook status while driving but this could be very interesting. The question is…. Could it be safe? What are your thoughts on this. Would updating your Facebook “safely” while driving be something that you would like to do?
Here’s the story:
General Motors is ready to bring the fight to Ford’s Sync system with a reworked version of OnStar, but the salient details won’t be revealed for another seven days. However, we’ve gotten word from the General that it’s testing two new features: Audio Facebook updates and voice texting.
On the Facebook front, GM is the experimental phase of integrating OnStar with the 800-pound social media guerilla, allowing users to verbally update their Facebook status via audio recordings, with the possibility of utilizing the OnStar Virtual Advisor feature to read off Facebook status updates and news feeds.
Voice texting works in a similar manner, pairing the driver’s Bluetooth mobile phone to OnStar and allowing the system to read received SMS messages and reply using a voice command to select four pre-set messages. That’s not true voice-to-text functionality, but it’s similar to what’s being offered by other automakers.
Well, what do you think? Something you might like?
I would have sworn on my life that the state that had to most Chevy’s would be Texas…. Well, good thing I didn’t cause I would have been dead wrong! The team at Edmunds.com using their expertise and skills put together some data that allowed them to figure out which states had the most Chevy’s in them. I think maybe some of the states that reached the top may surprise you. However, as you can tell by the map above it is evident that more Chevy’s are in the southwest! Where does your state lie on the list? If you are interested in test driving a new Chevy make sure you stop by your local Dallas Chevy dealer and we’ll take you for a take a test drive!
The talented Edmunds.com Data Department is constantly producing inspiring graphics to help illustrate the complex dynamics of the auto industry. And sometimes they just make up these cool maps for us. Next in our continuing series of pointing out where brands live is Chevy. The bowtie brand sells especially well in the “hourglass” mid-section of the country, or anywhere trucks make up a high percentage of sales.
So that you can see how these listings of current car registrations over the past five years rank state to state, the over-achieving Edmunds Data folk has also included a (now colored-coded) numeric ranking by state (after the jump).
I am sure you all know our Camaro guru Mr. Eric Hall (@TheSSEric) right? Well he has asked me to let you guys know about the upcoming Lone Star Camaro Club event set for September 11, 2010. So below is all the information! If you have any questions please let me know! We hope to see you out there!
Saturday, September 11, 2010 You’re the driver when Texas Motor Speedway opens the Speedway to the public for the first time this year. Experience the thrill of driving your car around the 1.5-mile super speedway all to benefit the Texas Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities.
Polish up your special vehicle and come on out to “The Great American Speedway!®” on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010 for Laps for Charity II. Take three laps on the 1.5 mile Super Speedway behind a pace vehicle for just a $30 donation and have your picture taken in Victory Lane for an additional $10. Once again our fan favorite VIP Laps Experience will be offered for $250. Laps will be conducted for Car Clubs (by reservation) ours is 5:30, but we need to be there by 4:00pm and for the General Public from 7-10 p.m. No reservation is needed for the General public time. We will be arriving at TMS around 3:30 in order to take a large group photo.
So, I am sure everyone out there understands and knows the significance of our Laps for Charity day. It is indeed on 9/11 and I really felt the need to honor and pay respect to an event that so heavily impacted our country. I know there are a lot of members out there that served or currently do serve in our armed forces or risk their lives daily as a firefighter or a police officer. 9/11 may have been horrific, but the way America handled it is a testament to these peoples’ courage, determination, and unwavering nerve. With that said, LSC had to be involved and as a non-profit organization, had to also give back.
On the recommendation of Eric Hall with Classic Chevrolet (thank you Eric!!), I contacted the 9/11 Flight Crew Memorial Foundation with the intent of organizing a large scale photo-op. Well, after speaking with Dean Thompson (who is the CEO of the organization and the designer and sculptor of the beautiful bronze statue) I was left blown away by his level of commitment to the foundation and his excitement of having 50-80 Camaros arranged in front of his memorial. Therefore, LSC will be making a pit stop on its way to Texas Motor Speedway.
We will also be purchasing an engraved brick and making a donation to this great cause. Dean told me that his foundation is in the process of raising $3500 for lighting retrofits on the memorial and I would love nothing more than to come through for him. I know this is quite a bit of money, but I would love to see all of you step forward and help LSC meet that number. The brick that we are having engraved will be laid on the day we are out there, so it will be quite an awesome event to be a part of. We will have a donation jar at the next few meets and I have asked Dean to come out to our July event to talk about his foundation and the memorial.
For all that attend, you will receive a pin with the memorial logo as rememberace of this special day and you will be a part of a very large club photo. With as many people as we are anticipating making it out, the group picture should be a site to behold. I also want to mention that Dean is getting the Grapevine police and fire department out to the event to escort us over to the track from the site and he is organizing media coverage for us also.
The schedule will be as follows:
12:00-2:00 pm – We will meet at Classic Chevrolet on 9/11 to organize and yes (FREE FOOD)
2:00 pm – Head out to the memorial
2:15 to 3:30 pm – Organize the cars, take group photos, watch our brick get put in the ground, and celebrate the lives of our lost loved ones
3:30 pm – Head out to TMS for our track time at 5:30 pm (FIRST GROUP ON THE TRACK)
All in all, I think this is a very appropriate and much needed stop for our caravan to TMS. The photos will be fantastic and the memorial is a great way to honor this day. I emplore you all (sponsors and members alike) to help LSC meet our lofty donation goals and if you have any questions, feel free to get in touch with me.
I know this is super long, so here are some cliffs:
-Laps for Charity is on 9/11
-LSC would like to pay tribute to this important day
-We will be making a pit stop at the 9/11 Flight Crew Memorial on our way to the track
-LSC will also be making a donation to this foundation, so break open those piggie banks!
Summer and winter holiday’s are the perfect time for families to start traveling. Everyone loves a good road trip right? You also want to be comfortable. Especially if you have children. When my wife, kids and I are going on a road trip we pretty much pack up our entire house. With that said, I was glad that Consumer Reports made the Chevrolet Traverse one of the top 10 vehicles for family travel. Not only did the Traverse score well on the road test from Consumer Reports but it also has good seating and cargo arrangements. It’s more than comfortable to ride in, scored well in all crash tests, and has proven reliable in owner surveys.
Chevrolet Traverse LT ($39,920)
The quiet, steady-riding Traverse handles well and offers plenty of room for people and cargo. Among the larger of the “mid-sized” SUVs, the Traverse has a third-row seat that’s comfortable even for adults. Rear visibility could be better, and fuel economy of 16 mpg is mediocre at best. – Consumer Reports.
Have you made it out and test driven the new Traverse yet? If you’ve got a big family this may just be the car for you. Let your Texas Chevy Dealer take you for a test drive. I don’t think you will be disappointed by any means of the word.
The all new 2011 Chevrolet Cruze is on its way to your local Texas Chevy dealer. I wanted to give you a first look at how it drives, handles and let you know a little bit of what some of the critics are saying. The Chevrolet Cruze is going to be the replacement for the Chevrolet Cobalt and even though it is a smaller car, it has a big bite. Thanks to Consumer Reports for sharing their thoughts with us on the brand new Chevrolet Cruze. I don’t think you will be disappointed by any means of the word. Check out this story, watch the video and then weigh in with your thoughts on the brand new Chevy!
Chevrolet replaces the mediocre Cobalt this September with an all-new sedan, the Cruze. Already on sale in many markets around the globe, the Cruze will give the division a much more competitive small car in the States than in the past. We borrowed one recently to give our auto engineers a chance to preview this significant new model and share their impressions in this First Look video.
The Cruze will be offered with two engines: a base 1.8-liter, four-cylinder and an up-level 1.4-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder that has the potential to optimize performance and fuel economy. Both the automatic and manual transmissions offered are six-speed units. Much of the marketing attention will be on the 1.4-liter turbo, with its promised 40 mpg on the highway.
However, the bigger story is that all Cruzes, regardless of trim level or engine, are a marked improvement over the outgoing rental-ready Cobalt. Most of GM’s recent small cars have been underwhelming, but in our time with the Cruze, we found it to feel substantial and much more refined. We think the car handles well, with responsive steering and a well-controlled ride. Noise levels are relatively low, and the cabin feels roomy for the class. Price concerns aside, the Cruze has much promise, and we are looking forward to purchasing a production example and running it through our exhaustive test regimen when it goes on sale.
Yes, it is true that the Chevrolet Volt is one of the most anticipated cars in years. I for one am very excited about getting them here at Classic Chevrolet. I know many others are as well because our phones do not stop ringing with orders and questions. It’s a very exciting time in the world of GM and Chevrolet. I was doing some light reading this morning and came across a story from USA Today about the women that are behind the Chevrolet Volt and it was inspiring. Every time I read about this car I get more and more excited. It’s the same feeling I got right before the newly designed Camaro was finally available for purchase and we all know how great that car was for Chevrolet and GM. I wanted to share this story with you and get your thoughts on it as well. Are you excited about the Chevrolet Volt? For those of you that are be rest assured that your Texas Chevy dealer will keep you posted on the latest news regarding the Chevrolet Volt and we will let you know when you can come check one out here at our store.
The most eagerly awaited car of the year is the Chevrolet Volt, the first next-generation extended-range electric car to hit the road. General Motors has a lot riding on the car, and it took a lot of workers to make it. Many of them were women in what has been traditionally the boy’s club that was yesterday’s auto industry. GM pulled together some biographies of some of the key women involved in the design of the Volt. Interestingly, each one is a mom. Here is what GM wrote about them:
Design – Nina Tortosa, pictured above, is the lead aerodynamicist on the Volt team. Her team has spent more than 500 hours of time in the wind tunnel with the Volt, often testing and tweaking changes in 1 millimeter increments. While their work is done in small measures, the cumulative impact is significant: Nina estimates that aerodynamic development on the Volt extended the electric-only range by almost seven miles at highway speeds. She has two children, ages four and five. Nina was born in Barcelona, Spain, and graduated from Mounds View High School, just outside Minneapolis.
Infrastructure - Britta Gross is director of Global Energy Systems and Infrastructure Commercialization. She is working to prepare utilities and to get communities across the country “plug-in ready,” not just for Volt but for the wave of electric vehicles predicted to be on the horizon (Global Insight estimates that plug-in electric vehicles and battery-electric vehicles could represent 20 to 60 percent of the market by 2030). This includes working with state and local governments on purchase incentives, with utilities to develop smart-grid and smart-charging technologies, and companies and municipalities to iron out home charging processes and to install charging stations at work places. Britta has two children, age 12 and 17; growing up, she lived in Kansas City, Chicago, and Baton Rouge.
Powertrain - Pamela Fletcher is the chief engineer for Volt and Plug-In Hybrid Propulsion Systems. She is responsible for the integration of the propulsion system components, including the lithium-ion battery pack, electric motors, and onboard engine generator, to ensure the cars meet customer expectations and business requirements. For the Volt this means creating an electric car with extended-range capability. Pamela has three children, ranging from 24 to 27 years of age; she grew up in Sarahsville, Ohio.
Marketing- Cristi Landy is the Volt product marketing manager. Cristi holds a degree in electrical engineering, and was part of the team that developed the Volt Concept in 2006. Currently, she acts as a liaison between Engineering and Marketing. As an example, Cristi helped identify the features and capabilities of the smart-phone application for Volt owners. This feature allows the driver to remotely heat/cool the cabin while the Volt is still plugged into the wall charger. This is much more efficient that using power from the battery for heat or air conditioning, extending the electric-only range of the Volt. Cristi has twin boys, age 10; growing up, she lived in Brookfield, Wis., and Jacksonville, Fla.
Manufacturing – Teri Quigley, pictured below, is the plant manager at Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly. Teri is responsible for preparing the plant and executing the launch of the Chevrolet Volt on the same assembly line as the Cadillac DTS and Buick Lucerne. This includes production changes to accommodate the installation of the Volt’s unique powertrain, including the training and safety protocols to install the Volt’s six-foot long, 400-pound lithium ion battery pack. Teri has four children, ranging in age from 14 to 26, and has two grandchildren; she grew up in Dexter, Mich.
It’s no secret that the new Camaro is not available everywhere. In fact Europe won’t see our new Camaro until next year. They are excited. As they should be! The popular show Fifth Gear finally got a chance to take the 2010 Camaro SS for a spin. You can tell from the video below that host Jason Plato was having himself a grand old time. Thanks to AutoBlog for sharing this video so that I could share it with you. I think you will enjoy it. Here’s the story followed by the video. Let me know what you think. Your local Fort Worth Chevy dealer is loving this Camaro and we have plenty available if you’re interested in a test drive.
The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro has been in U.S. dealerships for over a year now, and demand for Chevy’s newest pony car has been strong from the get-go. And though the Camaro is based off the Australian Zeta platform and built in Oshawa, Canada, it still rocks a Bowtie badge and carries a 6.2-liter small block V8 under the hood. That makes the Camaro an American pony car in our book; one that will (finally) officially go on sale in England early next year.
But before our allies to the east get a chance to pick up a Camaro of their own, Fifth Gear host Jason Plato took the reins of a Bumblebee-flavored Camaro out on the track. Hit the jump to watch Plato show no mercy to the 3,860-pound coupe. In typical UK-reviewer-on-American-car-ese, we definitely hear words like “lazy” and “heavy,” but Plato still looks like a very happy man behind the wheel. If you like smoking tires, oversteer and burnouts you’ll definitely like this video.
No this car is not sold in the United States. It is a Chevy seen only in Europe, but a very unique Chevy none the less. Needless to say this is supposedly how Britain is paying homage to the old Chevy cars of the 50′s. What do you guys think? Too much? Would you drive one if your local Dallas Chevy dealer carried them? I think they are kinda cool looking. I like the white wall tires too.
At some point in history, the notion of having a wood-lined automobile went from the pinnacle of awesome to the depths of loathsome. We’re guessing that demarcation falls at about the same point in time when automakers stopped using real wood and started gluing vinyl recreations to the sides of vehicles that were an affront to cool to begin with. If you need proof, please direct your attention to any number of woody Chrysler PT Cruiser models or, if you’re of stouter stomach, the self-proclaimed Chevrolet Spark Woody Wagon art car pictured above.
Chevrolet UK decided to wrap one of the company’s diminutive people movers in wood-grained Di-Nocto harken back to the company’s American, youthful roots – or at least that’s what the press release says. If that’s not enough to send your head spinning, take a good close look at those tires. Yup, they’re wide whitewalls.
The company has rolled out a few different one-off art Sparks so far, and plans to keep it up with a new British Touring Car Championship inspired version set for an unveil later this month. We’re guessing that one will strike our fancy a bit more than the trans-generational pastiche above. Hit the jump for the press release.
Some people are so stupid. I can not even imagine how this guy thought he wouldn’t get caught. Thanks to Matt Rigney over at Camaro Blog for breaking this story. How hysterical! I just feel bad for the Camaro!
A brazen thief made off with a brand new 2010 Camaro as a truckdriver unloaded it from his transport vehicle. The transport driver was delivering new merchandise to aChryslerJeepDealership in Tigard, Oregon and as a result had to unload the Camaro to get other vehicles off. When the transport driver left the new 2010 Camaro unattended for a minute the thief jumped in the drivers seat and took off. The transport driver chased after the Camaro on foot and eventually grabbed and held on to the drivers door as he sped away. The transport driver held on for about a quarter-mile at speeds of around 45 mph until he was tossed when the thief drove through some grassy areas.
What the car thief did not realize is the new 2010 Camaro was outfitted with OnStar so the police were contacted who than contacted OnStar to find the location of the vehicle. The police located the stolen Camaro and a pursuit ensued with the thief doing some fancy driving to avoid being captured but in the end one of the Camaros tires was spiked by police and as a result the Camaro crashed right after. The thief exited the Camaro only to be met by two police officers and they thought he might run so they tased him. The thief was arrested on multiple charges including auto theft and evading arrest. Sadly the new Camaro met a grim fate.
I can appreciate all of the things that various manufacturers are doing to combat smog and emissions coming from our vehicles. It seems to me that at the moment it’s kind of at a stand still. I know it is getting better and is better than in years passed but we aren’t quite there yet. I watch the news I see the air quality alerts that we have daily in the DFW area. There has to be more than one way to combat this. Right?
I found this article over on Autoblog.com and I thought it was so interesting that I had to share it with you. This could be a major break through in the world of pollution and emissions.
Researchers at the Eindhoven University of Technology (EUT) may be on the brink of discovering a breakthrough that will lead to reduced pollution and cleaner air for all. According to the EUT, a roadway made of concrete blended with titanium dioxide can effectively remove up to 45 percent of the nitrogen oxides that it comes in contact with. The titanium dioxide, a photocatalytic material, captures airborne nitrogen oxides and, with the aid of the sun, converts it to nitrates that are harmlessly washed away by the rain.
The EUT conducted real-world studies on a 1,000-square-meter section of repaved road in the Netherlands. Such testing showed that the laced pavement could reduce nitrogen oxides by 25 to 45 percent more than traditional concrete. As Jos Brouwers, professor of building materials at the EUT remarked, “The air-purifying properties of the new paving stones had already been shown in the laboratory, but these results now show that they also work outdoors.”
Additional testing is still underway and although the pavement laced with titanium dioxide does cost some 50 percent more than regular cement, overall road-building costs only increase by a marginal 10 percent. Costs aside, the advantages of the titanium dioxide are readily apparent, but the implementation of such a product requires repaving our roadways – a time intensive and costly endeavor.
What are your thoughts on this latest information? Do you think it’s good?
Hi, I'm Hagen Durant, General Manager of Classic Chevrolet in Grapevine, TX - I am a huge car and truck enthusiast and love talking cars. I'm a cyclist, health nut, father, husband, geek, and drummer. I look forward to giving you great information about cars and trucks, driving tips, maintenance and so much more.
If you have any questions or would like to make suggestions feel free to email them to me at: hagen@classicchevytexas.com
I think we all know how much I love Facebook, Twitter and the like. Let’s think about this though… Do I Facebook while driving? No! Well maybe if I am in dead stop traffic not moving. Under normal circumstances I am paying attention to the road. I came across an article today from AutoBlog that was very interesting. GM has decided to combat Ford’s popular Sync System with a system of their own. I never thought about voice texting or updating your Facebook status while driving but this could be very interesting. The question is…. Could it be safe? What are your thoughts on this. Would updating your Facebook “safely” while driving be something that you would like to do?
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