CHEVROLET CAUGHT TESTING A SMALL FLEET OF MID-ENGINE CORVETTES

SPIED! MID-ENGINE CORVETTES

Earlier this month, we caught yet another mid-engine Corvette prototype out testing on public roads. Interestingly, it wasn’t running around in Michigan where most prototypes have been seen. Instead, it was in California, driving along the same roads we use to evaluate cars during our Of the Year testing. We could only conclude that Chevrolet‘s development engineers were hoping to get a leg up on our inevitable Car of the Year competition.

While we wait for Chevrolet to officially announce the car we know is coming, prototypes continue to make the rounds. For example, take these spy shots that our friends over at Hot Rod just published. Instead of one mid-engine Corvette, they caught a small fleet of four, as well as a Porsche 911 and a group of Chevrolet escort vehicles, about 60 miles north of San Diego.

From the squared-off quad exhaust to the five-spoke wheels, there isn’t really anything new to see on the individual cars. As best as we can tell, they’re the same ones we’ve seen before. It’s also not news that the Porsche 911 is being used as a benchmark vehicle. If you’re building a high-performance sports car, that’s the one to beat. Or at least the one you should try to match.

We also recently got a look at the cabin of one of the prototypes, which looks way more luxurious than the current one. And shots of what appears to be the C8’s key fob also hint at a number of features such as a rear trunk and a power-retractable targa top. The source of those images also includes some paperwork that may confirm that the mid-engine will go on sale for the 2020 model year.

That said, the test cars seen here are still covered in the kind of camouflage typically reserved for vehicles that are a long way from their official reveal. We’d like to think Chevrolet is just being extra cautious about C8 details, but you never know. It could be a sign that the official reveal of the mid-engine Corvette is much further away than we’d like to think.

New GM Crossover named

Chevrolet Gives New Three-Row Crossover A Name

Last November, Chevrolet unveiled its FNR-CarryAll Concept at the Guangzhou Motor Show. At first glance, this three-row crossover features much of the same styling as the reborn Blazer. The biggest difference, aside from the former being merely a concept? The Blazer is two-row only. That’ll soon change, according to a report from GM Authority.

Looking for a Blazer? Visit our website 24/7.

Its sources are claiming Chevrolet will debut a new mid-size three-row crossover dubbed the Blazer XL. It’ll supposedly go on sale first in China in 2020 and will come to additional markets in due time. The Blazer XL will essentially be the production version of the FNR concept and its general styling will be very similar to the concept and standard Blazer.

However, its length will be extended by 5.5 inches while maintaining nearly the same 112.9-inch wheelbase. In other words, both crossovers will ride on the same platform. But wait, doesn’t Chevy already have a three-row crossover on sale in the US? Yes, that would be the Traverse. And yes, it too rides on the same platform as the Blazer and upcoming Blazer XL. So why does Chevy need yet another three-row CUV? Believe it or not, the Traverse is not sold in China, the world’s largest automotive market, because it’s too big.

Man finally restores 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air

HIGHLAND — Like most classic car restorations, what was once a goal full of enthusiasm shortly was placed on the back burner and became a story of “I’ll get to it later.”

Twenty years ago, Gil Moen III purchased a 1957 Chevy Bel Air with the hope of one day restoring it to its former glory and later enjoying that car with his oldest son, Gil Moen IV. Last May, however, Gil Moen III received the news that no one wants to receive. He had been diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer and was given only eight to twelve months to live.

His first thoughts after the diagnosis were, “what about my car, what about my dream?” It was soon after his diagnosis that friends Ryan Wendel and Dennis Palombo, who had just opened the doors to Phoenix Customs, their custom restoration and fabrication shop in Mapleton, decided to step in and make sure that his car was finished and drivable.

His main worry was what would become of the car after he passed. He worried about leaving such an enormous project with his wife, Melissa Moen, and their four children to deal with. That was the motivation to get the car finished so his family would have something to hold on to.

“I spoke to Dennis about helping finish Gil’s car,” Wendel said. “Dennis and I both have sons of our own and a love of old cars as Gil and his son share. We knew it would mean the world to not only Gil but “Little Gil” (Gil’s oldest son) to have this car done. Having just opened their new shop, they knew time spent on the build would have to take place after hours and on weekends. This led to many long nights and extra time in the shop all to finish this special car for their good friend.

Labor was provided mostly from Wendel and Palombo in the beginning, but with his health permitting, the father and son periodically went down to the shop to help where they could. When the car arrived, it was in primer with no paint, no interior and it did not run. One night, Palombo and two of his son’s, Lane and Tyler Palombo, Wendel, and a friend Tyson Fiedler got the car sanded down and ready for paint.

Moen III had originally planned on the car being painted satin black, as he wasn’t sure how the body would look with gloss black applied. After they finished the bodywork, Wendel decided the paint the Bel Air gloss black because of the quality work that Moen III had put in to the body. They went the extra mile to give the paint a deep shine by cutting and polishing to make the paint appear as good as it could.

After the painting was complete, two of Gil’s friends, Jim Bowlby and Brian Riding, went down to the shop to help get all the wiring in place as well as the final assembly. The team also took on the project of restoring and finishing the interior of the car and making sure it ran properly.

“It was truly an honor to have Gil in our shop,” Wendel said. “Despite his circumstances, he always brought a positive attitude, laughter and was always too excited to see his car and his dream come true.”

What was truly amazing was most labor and materials used were donated by people involved with the build. The team even spoke to their paint supplier who generously donated all the paint and materials for the car.

The Bel Air was finished the first week of December 2018, where Moen III was able to finally see his dream realized and take his prized car out for a drive with his son Moen IV.

Melissa Moen was especially grateful for the kindness shown by friends and family who all worked to get the project done. “It is beautiful, and those friends are angels,” she said. “Sadly, Gil is down to his final weeks. It is heartbreaking to witness. Moen IV is 16 and has spent his entire life in our garage helping his dad, but the car is absolutely stunning and will be a treasured legacy.”

The family plans to hold on to the car after Gil Moen III passes, where it will be kept safe and in pristine condition in an offsite storage facility. The car will serve as a reminder of the life that Gil Moen III lived and will forever be known as “Gil’s Bel Air.”

The Last Chevrolet Volt

It was once the future of GM. Now it’s in the past.

According to the Associated Press, the last Chevrolet Volt rolled off the production line at the Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant in Michigan, home to the hybrid-plug since 2010. First revealed as a concept at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show, the Volt was unlike anything GM has ever built before but has since become commonplace: an electric car with a gasoline engine backup. Range anxiety was a non-issue.

Looking to get a new or pre-owned vehicle? Visit our website 24/7.

The Volt was the ideal vehicle to help symbolize a new GM, an automaker long associated with gas guzzlers. GM was also in the midst of recovering both financially and its public image in the wake of its 2009 bankruptcy and its US government bailout, a move that still remains controversial for many.

The first generation Volt could go 38 miles on electricity before having its battery recharged, or if that was not an option the small gasoline engine would kick in as a generator. The system was brilliant and GM had high expectations. Unfortunately, sales averaged only around 20,000 units a year despite solid reviews, a redesigned and improved second generation model, and a loyal following. Ironically, one of the reasons for the Volt’s demise was its initial battle cry: gas prices.

Back in 2010, prices surged and automakers naturally assumed trucks and SUVs would soon be in the past for a majority of buyers. Ford even dropped its beloved Ranger mid-size pickup truck, which has since returned, in favor of small cars like the Fiesta, which is also being phased out.

And now GM is doing what Ford and many other automakers are doing: betting big again on trucks and SUVs thanks to cheap gas prices once again. It’s hard not to describe this as ironic. GM, however, isn’t giving up on electrification. Quite the opposite. Its all-electric Bolt lives on and an all-new electric platform will launch in 2021 underpinning the first of dozens of new EVs. In other words, GM is betting on two opposite ends of the automotive spectrum: EVs and trucks. As for the Volt, well, it did serve its purpose, such as advances in lithium-ion batteries.

Bob Lutz, the now-retired GM Vice Chairman of Product, the guy who pushed the Volt from the get-go, had this to say about the Volt: “While it was a financial loser, it did what was intended. We viewed it as a stepping stone to full electrics, which were totally out of reach due to the then-astronomical cost of lithium-ion batteries.”

GM decides not to kill Chevrolet Impala and Cadillac CT6 yet

Given seven-month stays of execution.

GM decides not to kill Chevrolet Impala and Cadillac CT6 yet

General Motors has stayed the execution of two of the five American-made car models that it was expected to discontinue this summer when it idled the plants that produce them.

Shop for the Chevrolet Impala while you still can!

The Chevrolet Impala and Cadillac CT6 full-size sedans will instead be built through January 2020, keeping the lights on at GM’s last factory in its hometown, the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly for an extra seven months.

Production of the Chevrolet Volt hybrid and Buick LaCrosse ended at the facility on February 15, and neither model will be replaced as the automaker shifts its product focus toward fully-electric cars and utility vehicles.

GM LAUNCHING “SWEAT-FREE” ELECTRIC BIKE COMPANY

Sales of the $28,395 Impala were down nearly 50 percent in 2018, with just over 56,000 sold, while Cadillac delivered 9,668 of its $51,490 CT6, about the same as the prior year.

GM announced the idling of the plant along with four other manufacturing facilities in North America last November, setting the stage for the elimination of a total of six models and several thousand jobs. A few weeks later, at January’s Detroit Auto Show, Cadillac President Steve Carlisle clarified that the company was looking for a way to keep offering the CT6, which has been updated for 2016 with a new high-performance model and is the only vehicle in GM’s lineup to feature the Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving aid.

The U.S. factories can’t technically be closed permanently unless an agreement is reached with the United Auto Workers union, and GM executives have been using the term “unallocated” to describe their immediate futures. The Impala is also produced at a GM factory in Oshawa, Canada, that is scheduled to be idled at the end of 2019.

Source: GM decides not to kill Chevrolet Impala and Cadillac CT6 yet

2019 Chevrolet Auto Show incentives

Receive an additional $750 OFF MSRP on our most popular models.

2019 Chevrolet Auto Show incentives

We have a wide selection of Chevrolet Silverado models (both new 2018 and 2019 old body style and 2019 new body style) in stock to choose from.

Select a new 2019 Chevrolet Trax for as low as $16,027* or how about a family-sized Traverse? Haul up to 8 passengers for only $29,737.*

Traverse 2019 Chevrolet Auto Show incentives

Check out all the features (see below) you get on this new 2019 Chevrolet Traverse stock # N29410. Call our Customer Care Team at 630-898-9630 to arrange a V.I.P. demonstration drive.

8-passenger seating
- Provides a 2-3-3 configuration for optimum passenger capacity and comfort
- Second row 60/40 split flat-folding 3-passenger bench seat
- Second row passenger-side seat features SmartSlide allowing quick and easy access to third row seating area with a simple pull of a lever
- Third row 60/40 split flat-folding 3-passenger bench seat
Front bucket seats
Seat trim, Premium Cloth
Manual 60/40 split-folding third row bench seat
- Can fold one or both sides down
- Adds cargo- and passenger-carrying versatility to your vehicle
2-way adjustable front head restraints
- Easily adjust up or down, giving you the comfort you expect
2-way adjustable rear head restraints
- Second and third row outboard seating positions
Front center console
- Keep valuables and smaller items secure
- Dual cupholders
- Large lit bin with removable tray
Carpeted floor covering
- Matches your vehicle floor carpet color
Carpeted floor mats
- All rows
- Helps protect your interior from road debris and the elements
- Engineered to fit your vehicle perfectly
- Color-keyed to match the interior
Steering wheel, urethane
Manual tilt and telescoping steering column
- Allows the driver to adjust the steering wheel up or down, and the steering column forward or back
- Provides extra comfort when entering or exiting the vehicle
Steering-wheel mounted controls
- Allow the driver to easily operate the audio system, phone interface and cruise controls
- Controls are positioned intuitively to make them convenient and easy to use
3.5″ diagonal Driver Information Center
- Provides key vehicle information, such as vehicle speed, fuel range, average fuel economy, tire pressure, oil life, trip odometer and warning
8-point digital compass
- Located in the Driver Information Center
Power windows with driver and front passenger express-down
- Quickly lowers the window with the touch of a button
Power door locks
- Programmable
- Allows you to lock and unlock doors easily whether it’s from the driver or front passenger seat or from outside using the key fob
- Lockout protection helps you avoid locking keys in the vehicle
Keyless Open
- Locks and unlocks your vehicle’s doors without having to use the key fob, increasing security and convenience
- Lockout protection helps you avoid locking keys in the vehicle
Cruise control
- Maintains a steady speed while driving
- Automatically disengages when the vehicle’s traction control system needs to limit wheelspin on slippery surfaces or when the StabiliTrak^® stability control system detects an oncoming skid
- Set and resume speed functions
- Steering-wheel mounted controls to easily maintain and manage cruising speed
Remote panic alarm
- Use to assist in an emergency situation or help in locating your vehicle
Theft-deterrent unauthorized entry system
- Sounds the horn and flashes the turn signals when someone attempts to open the vehicle without the proper key or remote transmitter
- Helps deter unauthorized entry, helping to protect your vehicle and its contents
Tri-zone automatic climate control
- Automatically maintains the selected temperatures for the driver, front passenger and rear seat passengers
- Auxiliary controls in the rear of the cabin include air delivery mode and temperature up/down settings
- Sensors strategically located around the vehicle constantly monitor the temperature, including solar heating from the windows
Interior humidity sensor
- Continuously reads the temperature and humidity inside the vehicle
- Automatically adjusts airflow to match the individual climate settings for both the driver and front passenger
Rear window defogger
- Helps to keep your rear view clear
- Utilizes a warming grid to remove fog or frost from the rear window
Rear heat duct
- Provide additional cabin comfort for rear occupants
Inside rearview manual day/night mirror
- Adjust the tilt of the mirror to help reduce glare during nighttime driving
Umbrella holders
- Located in front door pockets
Driver and front passenger visors with illuminated mirrors
- Include covered mirrors
Interior lighting
- Theater dimming and delayed entry/exit lighting as you enter or leave the vehicle
- Overhead courtesy lamp
- Dual reading lights
- Second row reading lamps integrated into dome light
- Illuminated entry and exit feature
- Door and tailgate activated switches
- Cargo area
10 total cupholders
Cargo storage, tray under rear floor

3.6L V6 engine
- 310 hp @ 6800 rpm
- 266 lb-ft of torque at 2800 rpm
- Variable Valve Timing and Spark Ignition Direct Injection
- Includes Start-Stop technology that helps save fuel by automatically shutting off the engine when the car comes to a stop and the brake pedal is pressed; the engine restarts on its own when the brake is let up
9-speed automatic transmission
- Electronically controlled transmission with overdrive and Driver Shift Control
- Smooth, effortless automatic shifting
E10 fuel capable
- Allows your vehicle to operate on a fuel mixture of 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline that is sold in many parts of the country
Automatic Stop/Start
- At complete stops, when drivers keep their foot on the brake pedal, and under certain conditions, the engine shuts off
- When drivers remove their foot from the brake, the engine automatically restarts
Traction Mode Select
- Allows you to select how your vehicle responds and adapts to various driving conditions
- It allows for real-time control based on changing conditions
3.49 axle ratio
Front wheel drive
Heavy-duty 600 cold-cranking amps battery
- Maintenance-free with rundown protection and retained accessory power
170-amp alternator
6,160 lbs. GVWR
- When properly equipped; includes weight of vehicle, passengers, cargo and equipment
Ride and Handling suspension
- Fully independent suspension is tuned for a smooth ride and optimum handling
- MacPherson strut coil spring front suspension with a large stabilizer bar and side-load-compensated front strut modules
- Includes an independent 5-link rear suspension
4-wheel antilock disc brakes
- Help reduce wheel lockup and maintain steering control during hard braking on most slippery surfaces
Electronic parking brake
- Takes the place of the manual foot actuated parking brake
- Activated by the simple touch of a switch and can be operated even when the ignition is turned off
- Brake is automatically set if the system senses the vehicle is parked on a steep incline
Capless fuel fill
- Helps keep your hands clean of dirt and fuel during fill ups
- Creates an air-tight seal around the fuel-pump nozzle when the nozzle is fully inserted and latched
Road emergency tool kit
- Contains a jack and lug nut wrench for changing flat tires
- Helps keep you prepared for the unexpected

Chevrolet Infotainment System with 7″ diagonal color touch-screen
- 7″ diagonal color touch-screen for customizing and managing entertainment and vehicle feature settings
- Bluetooth^® streaming audio for music and select phones
- Apple CarPlay™ capability for compatible phones
- Android Auto™ capability for compatible phones
- Voice-activated technology for radio and phone
- USB port(s)to play stored audio files through your vehicle’s audio system
- Auxiliary jack for connecting portable media devices
USB ports
- 6 standard USB ports with 2 in each row
Built-in 4G LTE Wi-Fi^® hotspot
- A strong connection to the Internet for up to 7 devices
- Includes Data Trial for 1 month or 3GB (whichever comes first)
Active Noise Cancellation
- This technology blocks and absorbs sound, as well as dampens and eliminates vibrations, helping to leave outside noise where it belongs

Thanks for reading about 2019 Chevrolet Auto Show incentives. If we can be of any further assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

*Plus tax, license and fees. Includes all available incentives. Good through 2.28.19.

Watch The Electric Chevrolet eCOPO Camaro Pop A Glorious Wheelie

An all-electric future may not be so bad after all.

Last November Chevrolet unveiled something rather unique, the all-electric eCOPO Camaro. With 700 hp and 600 lb-ft of instant torque on tap, this drag racer is powered by a pair of electric motors which gets its juice from a 32 kWh battery pack. An automatic gearbox distributes all of that power to the same solid rear axle found in the regular production COPO Camaro drag racers.

The last time we the visually saw and heard the eCOPO Camaro was when Chevy released its own video of a silent burnout. We described the moment as “sounding like a vacuum cleaner.” Look, it’s one of the disadvantages when ditching internal combustion for electricity, but the actual drag race results speak for themselves.

Today, another video has been posted online showing the 2019 eCOPO Camaro doing its first run ever and, to our great enjoyment, it even popped a wheelie. We’re also being told it only used roughly 80 percent of its total power for its first run. Imagine it at full power and, in future model years, with numerous upgrades. As we said back in November, full electrification doesn’t sound completely terrible, only different. It’s just something we’re going to have to get used to.

But the eCOPO Camaro’s first time specs are very impressive: it completed the quarter-mile in 10.142 seconds at 130.85 mph. Imagine where these figures will be once Chevy’s engineers work out any kinks. After all, the eCOPO Camaro is only a concept, for now. Chevrolet has said it might offer electric crate motors like the one used here at some point down the line, but this still is not confirmed.

Still, the eCOPO Camaro could become a production drag racer in the very near future. Given GM’s previous announcements regarding its intent to become a global leader in all-electric powertrains, don’t be surprised to see concept become reality.

Looking for a gas engine Camaro? Call our Customer Care Team or visit our website 24/7.

Thanks for reading about the ecopo camaro.

Source: Watch The Electric Chevrolet eCOPO Camaro Pop A Glorious Wheelie

Throwback Thursday: Chevrolet Built An Impala Four-Door Convertible

The Impala is both a muscle car and family car. But do you know that Chevrolet toyed with the idea of a four-door convertible. Find out more.

The XP-834, is built upon a 1965 four-door sedan body. According to an internal memo, the body incorporated several modifications.

Throwback Thursday: Chevrolet Built An Impala Four-Door Convertible

The convertible has been the focus of countless songs, movies, and even television shows, but in 1964, General Motors had an idea to build a convertible that was ahead of its time. On June 4, 1964, Chevrolet started outlining a program that would see a four-door, 1965 Impala become a convertible. The car was to be a design-study piece, meant for display at the November 1965 Detroit Auto Show. Dubbed project XP-834, the Chevrolet Caribe convertible sedan was to be completed by December 4, 1964. Unfortunately, scheduling conflicts and even a strike at the Fisher Body Works plant caused that deadline to be missed.

The car is built upon a 1965 four-door sedan body, that was procured from the Fisher-Janesville plant. According to an internal memo, the body incorporated the following modifications: no roof panel, rails or bows, no rear window, and would incorporate the front end and windshield from a convertible. The car also required rocker panel reinforcements, the use of heavier-gauge metal to create the inner and outer lock pillars, and finally, provisions for air conditioning.

With the program taking longer than anyone anticipated, on May 6, 1965 it was announced that management was losing interest in a four-door convertible, but the project would be able to continue. On July 9, 1965, another internal document states that the car was to be updated using 1966 Impala parts, and in October of that year, the transformation was still underway.

On September 29, 1965, with 99-percent of the work complete, it was decided that the car would not be shown at the Detroit Auto Show. There is no explanation why, just that focus was switching to the 1966 Chicago Auto Show. That plan was soon nixed, as on February 15, 1966, the car was withdrawn from the Chicago Auto Show at the behest of Mr. Elliot (Pete) Estes. Unfortunately, that’s where our paper trail grows cold, as the last entry states that on March 1, 1966, the car was not used at the Chicago Auto Show.

There is not a lot of information that can be found about the car. In fact, a source says that the car was probably scrapped, but no one at the GM can recall exactly what happened after it was built. We were able to find out that a Mark II 396 cubic-inch engine and a three-speed automatic transmission was destined to power the car.

In regards to the interior, the work order/document outlining the project lists that a 1966 “E” Astro bench seat (model 1796-391), and 1965 Chevrolet six-way power adjusters were to be used for the front seat. Upon further inspection, it appears that in actuality, the Stratoback seat option was utilized. This seat not only gives a sporty look, but with a fold-down armrest, allows the car to carry six persons. Fisher Body Works was integral in the design and implementation of the windshield, windshield header and latches, modification of the doors, and the Infora folding top. The top was designed to fold flush into the body and then get covered by a hard boot.

Thanks for reading about Throwback Thursday: Chevrolet Built An Impala Four-Door Convertible.

For more view Source: Throwback Thursday: Chevrolet Built An Impala Four-Door Convertible

New color Kinetic Blue Metallic on 2019 Chevrolet Blazer

Check out this new color called Kinetic Blue metallic on the all-new 2019 Chevrolet Blazer. This is an extra-cost exterior color but don’t you think it’s worth it?

blazer-kinetic-blue — What do you think of this bold hue?

Want to see it in person? Call our Customer Care Team at 630-898-9630 to arrange a VIP demonstration drive. Or, visit our webite 24/7.

The Perfect Chevrolet Caprice Is Up For Sale

A Jalopnik reader turned up this for-sale listing of what appears to be the perfect 1980s Chevy Caprice. So how much is it worth?

There are a couple different years of the full-size Chevrolet that you could argue are the very, very best. (The fishbowl coupes from the first downsized years of 1977-1979 are a personal favorite, as are the gruff 1965s and bubbly 1961s.) But it’s hard to argue that any of them offer a more stylish experience in the present day. And what is that experience? The 1980s Caprice represents courage in the face of adversity, or at least enough coke to cover it up.

Here’s how the seller starts this specific car’s eBay listing:

Hi, I’m selling my 1983 Chevrolet Caprice Classic. This is the ultimate testament of the bygone era. If this car could be any more ‘80s it would be wearing leg warmers and snorting cocaine off a picture of Ronald Reagan.

Under the skin this Box Chev is as normal as conceivably possible, with a small block and an automatic running power to the rear with body-on-frame construction.

It is simple. It is tough. It is The Car.

The car is for sale in LA showing a very tidy 66,000 miles, 600 away from being perfect. The roof has a chunk of missing paint but the AC, reportedly, blows cold.

At the moment, bidding is at $8,000 and the buy-it-now is 10.5, which both seems like a lot for an ordinary car, but nowhere near enough for what is, in a way, a true classic.

If you’re looking for something a little newer, check out our new Chevrolet Impala models or call our Customer Care Team at 630-898-9630.

Source: The Perfect Chevrolet Caprice Is Up For Sale

SPIED! MID-ENGINE CORVETTES

Chevrolet Gives New Three-Row Crossover A Name

GM decides not to kill Chevrolet Impala and Cadillac CT6 yet

2019 Chevrolet Auto Show incentives

Traverse 2019 Chevrolet Auto Show incentives

Throwback Thursday: Chevrolet Built An Impala Four-Door Convertible