Category: News

Automotive related news posted by Ron Westphal Chevrolet in Aurora, IL

2019 Chevrolet Malibu RS

Malibu RS

When Chevrolet announced the 2019 Malibu RS at this year’s New York Auto Show, the automaker said the sport-ish sedan should come in around $25,000. Seems that hint was only five dollars off. Cars Direct found an order guide showing that the appearance package for the midsize sedan will roll out the door for $24,120 plus an $875 destination charge, for $24,995 total. That makes the Malibu RS exactly $1,000 more than the lower LS trim, which needs $23,995 after destination.

Looking for a sexy sedan that’s affordable too?  Give our Customer Care Team a call at 630-898-9630 to arrange your V.I.P. Demonstration Drive.

All 2019 Malibus benefit from a facelift that reworks the front and rear fascias. The 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 163 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque will be mated to a CVT instead of the current six-speed automatic, the brand’s first use of a CVT in a non-hybrid model outside of the subcompact Spark. Inside, the infotainment screens grow an inch to eight inches, and get the new Chevrolet Infotainment 3 system. On top of that, the Malibu RS adds a black sport grille and black Bowties, black mirror caps, a rear spoiler, dual exhaust, and 18-inch wheels. Interior upgrades are limited to a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob to go with black cloth seats.

Chevy’s entry into the field of more aggressive mid-sizers slides under the prices of the $26,470 Toyota Camry SE and $26,675 Honda Accord Sport. Among the dwindling models on offer, the truly sporty Mazda6 Sport limbos beneath the Malibu RS, at $23,895.

2019-Chevy-Malibu-RS

 

2018 Chevrolet Colorado

Looking for something more rugged and more capable than a normal sedan? If you were primarily looking at a midsize pickup truck for your next car, you can’t go wrong with the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado.

2018 Chevrolet Colorado

The 2018 Chevrolet Colorado is designed to appeal to genuine truck fans. This is the vehicle to buy if you really want a pickup truck but don’t need the earth-moving capabilities of a full-size monster. What we really like about the Colorado is the aggressive and rugged styling. We also like the comfortable cabin and the car-like driving feel. It may look tough on the outside, but it is no harder to drive than a regular compact car.

2018 Chevrolet ColoradoLooking for your own Colorado?  Call our Customer Care Team at 630-898-9630 or visit us online anytime. 

As expected from an American Pickup truck, the 2018 Chevy Colorado is available in a bewildering array of trims. It is available in crew-cab and extended-cab body styles with a choice between two bed lengths: 5’2” and 6’2”. The base trim starts at around $21,000. It is only available in an extended cab body style but it comes with a powerful 2.5-liter four cylinder motor that produces 200 horsepower and 191 foot-pounds of torque to drive the rear wheels. The base trim comes with a six-speed manual tranny along with a host of standard features which includes air conditioning, four-way power driver seat, six-speaker audio system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and a brilliant 7-inch display unit.

If you need a four-wheel drivetrain, start with the WT or Work Truck trim. It can be configured as either an extended cab or crew-cab. You can also choose between engine options from a powerful 308-horsepower V6 to a torquey 2.8-liter 181-horsepower diesel mill. You can also choose between the standard manual tranny and a six-speed automatic. The WT also comes with OnStar, 4G LTE Wi-Fi connectivity, cruise control, and remote keyless entry.

2018 Chevrolet Colorado rear viewWhen it comes to value for money, we prefer the Colorado LT. It comes with all the standard options including larger 17-inch alloys, a larger 8-inch touchscreen, USB ports, and a leather wrapped tiller. But if it’s our money on the line, we will choose the Z71 trim that comes with chunkier all-terrain tires, off-road suspension, hill descent control, and a locking rear differential. This trim model also comes with electronic traction and stability control, six airbags, rearview camera, and a tire pressure monitoring system.

The 2018 Chevrolet Colorado can be a rugged workhorse or refined cruiser. It handles much better than other trucks we tested. The steering is not as accurate and lacks the necessary feedback when driven in the open highway but redeems itself when the roads get rough. The V6 motor is our preferred engine choice but wouldn’t mind counting the miles behind the smooth and silky torque delivery of the 2.8-liter diesel motor. The Colorado with the diesel engine can tow a maximum weight of 7,700 lbs.

What’s really surprising is the ride quality. The Colorado rides better than other full-size trucks. The suspension tuning is on the firmer side of the spectrum but it’s not as bouncy or as harsh as we expected. This makes the Colorado the perfect compact pickup truck for mundane city driving. For the perfect balance between work and play, the Colorado can do no wrong.

Thanks for reading about the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado.

Source: 2018 Chevrolet Colorado vs 2018 Toyota Tacoma vs 2018 Honda Ridgeline: Pickup wars

Camaro restored

  • camaro restoredOwner: Bobby Johnson
  • Location: Deatsville, Alabama
  • Found: Craigslist
  • Purchase price: $1,700
  • Years owned: Three

Camaro Restored

I was stationed at Travis Air Force Base in California and wanted something to work on, then sell. I bought this Camaro because it had drivetrain and transmission upgrades, which I could advertise. But it needed work. It didn’t run, the paint was faded, interior pieces were missing, the carburetor needed to be rebuilt, and there was no exhaust. The original sticker with the model name was ripped off the console, but I know it’s an ’88 Camaro. The suspension and a few other markers make me think it’s an IROC-Z, but even now, I’m not sure what the exact model is.

I did everything except for the paint in my own garage—seats from a 2001 Camaro, new sound system, a few engine upgrades. I made everything real clean, then put it up for sale. I had so many people test-drive it before someone made a legitimate offer, and—I declined. I had fallen in love with the car. I was sentimental.

When I got orders to move to Texas for military training, I towed it behind my truck. On the way, I unloaded and spent a day driving the Camaro around the Grand Canyon. I was passing a beautiful view and this family outside their RV having lunch all turned their heads, looked, and gave me the thumbs-up. I would have never expected someone at that beautiful site to admire a car. Now, if the Camaro gets sold, it’ll be after I’m gone.

If you need parts to restore your ride, call our Part’s Department at 630-898-9630 or visit them online.

Thanks for reading about Camaro restored!

2019 Chevrolet Silverado Review

silverado trail boss

I don’t envy the engineers and designers who endlessly toil on new vehicle development. In a perfect world, these passionate and talented men and women would have all the money and time in the world to do the job right. Instead, they’re beholden to managers and shareholders—those looking out for production schedules and the bottom line. If a new car, truck, or SUV is done right, critics and consumers alike shouldn’t ever notice that it’s been rushed or is missing something. Despite many massive leaps forward for the lineup, the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado could’ve perhaps benefited from a little extra time before the talented team behind it had to put its pencils down.

Have questions about a new Chevy?  Call our customer care team at 630-898-9630.

We had a couple weeks to sample three 2019 Silverado variants, each outfitted with a new-for-2019 Dynamic Fuel Management (DFM) V-8, a crew cab, and short (5-foot-7) bed. Despite the similarities in body style, each truck fits a wildly different niche. Our volume player was an all-wheel-drive Silverado RST equipped with the new 5.3-liter DFM V-8, which makes 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque and is mated to an eight-speed automatic. Covering the off-road end of the spectrum was a Silverado LT Trail Boss, which had the same engine and transmission as the Silverado RST but with proper four-wheel drive, a 2-inch suspension lift, and knobby off-road tires. For the increasingly profitable luxury truck segment, we had a Silverado High Country, which was powered by the new DFM 6.2-liter V-8 making 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic with four-wheel drive.

There are four Silverado engines we’ve yet to sample: a carryover 4.3-liter V-6 and six-speed auto; the carryover Active Fuel Management (AFM) 5.3-liter V-8, which confusingly makes just as much power as the new version but is paired with a six-speed auto; and a new 310-hp 2.7-liter turbocharged I-4 and 3.0-liter turbodiesel I-6.

Aside from the new DFM V-8s (which, unlike the old AFM V-8s, are capable of running in 17 cylinder configurations versus the AFM’s V-4 mode), the 2019 Silverados benefit from a new platform, body work, and cabin. The Silverado wears its extra 4 inches of length well. Each variant of the Silverado looks distinctive, especially our Trail Boss tester with its blacked-out nose and bright red tow hooks. Even more impressive is the work Chevy did to the back end of the truck. Thanks to new manufacturing techniques, the Silverado’s bed is 7 inches wider (without increasing the truck’s actual width), and cargo volume in the bed expands significantly. Chevy also increased the number of standard tie-downs in the bed—three in each corner for a total of 12—a move we hope other truck makers follow. If for some reason you need more, the Silverado’s bed can also accept optional Gear On tie-downs.

The Silverado is rated to haul up to 2,190 pounds with the 5.3-liter DFM engine or 2,100 pounds with the 6.2-liter engine. It can tow up to 11,600 pounds with the 5.3 or 12,200 pounds with the 6.2. Max payload capacity is 2,500 pounds with the V-6.

At the test track, the new Silverado puts up test numbers competitive with the rival Ford F-150 and Ram 1500. Unsurprisingly, the slowest of our Silverados were our 5.3-liter V-8 testers. The street-going and off-road-ready Silverado RST and Silverado Trail Boss traded blows in our instrumented acceleration tests. The Silverado Trail Boss was quicker to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph, needing 6.4 seconds to the RST’s 6.6 seconds, but the Silverado RST caught up by the end of the quarter mile, its 14.9-second run at 94.6 mph just edging out the Trail Boss’ 15.0 seconds at 93.2 mph for the quarter mile.

Both were about neck and neck when we hitched an 8,300-pound trailer to them, too. You can get the full breakdown of all our test numbers in the chart below, but in the most important towing metrics—quarter mile and 45-65-mph passing acceleration—the Silverado Trail Boss was more impressive. It took 20.9 seconds to get down the quarter mile at 67.6 mph and needed 9.5 seconds to accelerate from 45 to 65 mph. The Silverado RST needed 21.2 seconds to clear the quarter mile at 66.7 mph and 9.9 seconds in our 45-65 passing tests.

With an extra 65 horsepower and 77 lb-ft of torque on tap, it’s not surprising that the 6.2-liter-equipped Silverado High Country outperformed the other two Silverados. When equipped with this optional engine, the Silverado High Country accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 6.0 seconds and runs the quarter in 14.4 seconds at 98.3 mph. With the same 8,300-pound trailer hitched to its bumper, the High Country runs the quarter mile in 19.7 seconds at 71.5 mph and needs just 7.8 seconds in the 45-65 pass tests.

For more view Source: 2019 Chevrolet Silverado First Test: Pencils Down – Motor Trend

Congratulation Anayeli & family!

Anayeli and son take delivery of their first brand new car – a beautiful Chevy Malibu! Congratulations from your salesperson Brian Crunican and all of us @ Ron Westphal Chevrolet!

Posted by Ron Westphal Chevy on Thursday, September 13, 2018

Hey, we’d love to add you to our Ron Westphal Chevrolet family.

If you are looking for a new or pre-owned vehicle please don’t hesitate to contact us.  Call our Customer Care Team today at 630-898-9630.

FACT CHECK: Does Nike Own Chevrolet?

Does Nike Own Chevrolet?People looking to boycott Nike-owned companies may want to avoid Converse and Hurley products, but no need to trade-in your Chevrolet vehicle.

In September 2018, many social media users joined in calling for a boycott against Nike after the sports apparel company featured controversial former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick in a new commercial. As images and videos purportedly showing these protesters burning Nike apparel started to circulate on the internet, a message suggesting that these individuals also get rid of their Chevrolet vehicles — because Nike ostensibly owned that automobile manufacturer — went viral on Facebook:

Does Nike Own Chevrolet?

This simply isn’t true: Nike does not own Chevrolet.

Nike is one of the largest apparel businesses in the world, and over the years they have acquired a number of related companies, such as Converse and Hurley. However, Nike does not own any car companies, let alone Chevrolet. Chevrolet has been a division of the American automobile manufacturer General Motors for about a century now.

The claim that Nike owns Chevrolet was made up out of whole cloth in order to “troll” the individuals who were boycotting Nike over their sponsorship deal with Colin Kaepernick. A similar jape was circulated around the same time which claimed that Ford USA had “followed Nike’s lead” and hired Kaepernick to star in their new ad campaign, but that rumor was also merely a joke aimed at mocking contemporary protests against Nike.

Source: FACT CHECK: Does Nike Own Chevrolet?

2019 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Convertible Review: An Unconventional Bachelorette’s Ideal Ride

This open-air Chevy gives new meaning to the pre-wedding party phrase “Take your top off.”

2019 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Convertible Review pictureThe 2019 Chevrolet Grand Sport Convertible, By the Numbers:

Base Price (Price as Tested): $69,495 ($92,605)
Powertrain: 6.2-liter V-8, 460 horsepower, 465 pound-feet; eight-speed paddle shift automatic transmission; rear-wheel-drive
EPA Fuel Economy: 15 mpg city, 25 mpg highway
0-60 MPH: 3.6 seconds (manufacturer claim)
Max Speed the Top Can Be Dropped At: 30 mph
Quick Take: This sporty and aggressive-while-topless ‘Vette splits the difference between performance and price point, and it’s perfect for a weekend getaway car.

See all Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport specs and pricing information here.

One Big Question: Corvette owners and drivers often suffer titles like Douchebag, Eternal Bachelor, or Midlife Crisis Guy (or all of the above). So, what does it say about you if you’re driving a new Corvette Grand Sport—and you happen to be a female celebrating a combined bachelorette party with your future wife?

When I asked our fleet manager to help me come up with the perfect car for my bachelorette party weekend—which I was planning to share with my fiancée for a co-ed, multi-friend-group, celebratory mash-up—he suggested an unorthodox ride for an unorthodox party. You can easily picture a bachelordriving a $92,000 Grand Sport to his party, but what about a bachelorette? I like to play with boundaries of all kinds, so I quickly agreed.

Then I let Future Wife know we’d need to ask someone else to drive our dog home from the party.

Want to test drive a Corvette?  Call our Customer Care Team at 630-898-9630 or visit us online.

My long weekend with this shimmering Ceramic Matrix Gray Metallic rocket was my first experience piloting a Corvette. (It’s also my first time getting married, for the record.) When I slid into what can only be described as a cockpit, with the all controls angled toward the driver, I giggled. I revved the beastly V-8 engine, testing out the Grand Sport’s lungs, knowing full well I’d be turning heads my whole time with this vehicle.

I also knew my fiancée might hate it. standing in front of 2019 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Convertible

Chevrolet Grand Sport Convertible: The Pros

  • A Corvette is so genuinely recognizable, and my loaner was on visual-option crack. $3,995 Visible Carbon Fiber Ground Effects Package? Obviously. $1,995 Visible Carbon Fiber Hood? You betcha. Carbon fiber aside, this vehicle’s exterior design is aggressive beyond belief. Anytime I parked it, I’d return to people ogling or snapping pictures. Out of all the test cars I’ve driven, I’ve never seen people react like this. There is a magnetism you can see when you’re driving this thing in the wild, away from any auto journalist parking lots lousy with pretty toys. The special nature, the uniqueness, is palpable and intoxicating.
  • It was also interesting to watch my fiancée’s view of the car defrost as she experienced these reactions, considering she muttered, “Ridiculous…” when I pulled up to the house the first time.
  • I loved the way the interior was designed to be all about the driver. Absolutely everything was pointed at the left seat, save for a separate set of passenger’s seat climate controls. And as the person behind the wheel, I can say the layout was easy to take in and work with—everything was in reach. It should come as no shock that carbon fiber was dripping all over the interior as well, courtesy of a $1,595 option.
  • Just like the interior, the actual driving experience is designed for the person behind the wheel. Flooring this American sports car made me want to tattoo the Stars and Stripes on my neck. The power is there everywhere—and the adjustable-mode exhaust is lovely, since it match that power with equally-boisterous sound. The performance suspension and magnetic ride control make dealing with America’s shoddy roads an easy task, and body roll was minimal while careening through the paved curves of upstate New York.
  • Dropping the top couldn’t be easier—and that’s key for a convertible, especially for one at this price point. One simple button, and you’re done—not to mention the fact that you can put the top up or down at up to 30 mph. 2019 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Convertible rear end pic

    Chevrolet Grand Sport Convertible: The Cons

    • A mid-$60K base price for a car of this caliber is incredibly appealing, but you can easily option it out of anything approaching affordable. My Grand Sport came in 3LT trim, which is a $9,745 upgrade over the base. That does bring great features like the curb view front cameras that keep you from blemishing the Corvette’s face while parking, but potential buyers may find the mid-level 2LT trim to come in at a better price point, while still including plenty of goodies.
    • There are many tech features in the Grand Sport…but most are good, not great. The backup camera and front curb cameras project a low-res image, and the infotainment graphics feel a bit dated to my eyes.
    • Active safety features are fairly minimal. Some may find that pleasing in our tech-saturated world. But you’re going to need to put the top down if you want to know who’s in your blind spot.
    • Eye-catching as the Grand Sport Convertible may be, sophisticated it isn’t. The styling can tread to near gaudy. When we pulled up to our bachelorette house, the majority of our friends reacted with some version of, “What on earth are you guys driving?” A few gleefully asked for rides, but it was notable that the reactions weren’t full of lust or refined appreciation. This is where, I think, the Corvette’s reputation comes into play. 2019 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Convertible interior picture

      Chevrolet Grand Sport Convertible: Value 

      Corvettes are an anomaly in the automotive world—cars seemingly without true, direct competitors. You could ostensibly put the Grand Sport Convertible against a Porsche 718 Boxster S, or the 911 Carrera, but they offer very different vibes and personalities. But importantly, performance isn’t lacking in the Grand Sport Convertible, and neither is the truly American flair. If a strong bit of showiness is what you’re seeking, then the Grand Sport Convertible is a fantastic option for a weekend growl machine. 

      The Bottom Line:

      The Corvette Grand Sport Convertible is a visual showstopper that makes the case for Goldilocks power matched with good handling and strong brakes—a case not made as often as you might think, considering we’re living in an age of “horsepower whores.” It’s also still a performance car built to be fairly attainable, considering what it is—one of its most attractive assets. American dreams, and all that jazz.

      So, what message did I send cruising to and from my bachelorette getaway in a drop-top Grand Sport? I’d say it said, I was a tiny bit ostentatious…but always up fo a good time. And I can live with that. I’m just not sure I could actually live with this car.

      But if anyone’s offering me one for free, I’ll test that theory.

Source: 2019 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Convertible Review: An Unconventional Bachelorette’s Ideal Ride – The Drive

2019 Chevrolet Camaro Turbo Test Drive: Point Me to the Corners

2019 Chevrolet Camaro Turbo Test DriveAs I exit a corner with my foot nailed to the floor and all the nannies switched off, I can’t help but mutter to myself, “So much grip.” The new 2019 Chevrolet Camaro Turbo 1LE oozes it.

2019 Chevrolet Camaro Turbo Test Drive

As I exit a corner with my foot nailed to the floor and all the nannies switched off, I can’t help but mutter to myself, “So much grip.” The new 2019 Chevrolet Camaro Turbo 1LE oozes it. The car combines the 2.0-liter turbo-four engine and the wizardry of the famed 1LE Performance package, which is a thing of beauty, even with the least powerful engine option. The ZL1, SS, and V-6 have had their turn; now it’s time for the base engine to get the track treatment.

Want your own personal test drive?  Call our Customer Care Team at 630-898-9630 or drop by our website to arrange a V.I.P. test drive.

Producing 275 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, the Turbo 1LE isn’t a straight-line speed brute, though Chevrolet claims a pretty quick 5.4-second 0-60 run. Instead, it shines in the corners. During my time in our former long-term 2016 Camaro SS, power oversteer was a worry when pushing the V-8 version hard through corners. But this isn’t the case with the Turbo 1LE. I found myself eagerly applying full throttle exiting corners, not fearing the worst. If I’d driven the SS that way, the ditch on the side of the road would’ve been my next stop. You might miss the power of a larger engine on a straight stretch of road, but the coupe makes that up with impressive cornering control. Three sports cars with “low” power outputs and superior cornering capability come to mind: the Mazda Miata, Subaru BRZ, and Toyota 86. But the Camaro is quicker and more powerful than those three and has a lower starting price than their top trims. If you’re curious, the above SS hit 60 mph in 4.3 seconds and produces 455 hp from its 6.2-liter V-8.

The $4,500 1LE package (available on all LT trims) gets you Camaro SS suspension components, including larger-diameter front and rear stabilizer bars, uniquely tuned dampers, stiffer rear cradle bushings, and upgraded rear toe links designed to improve lateral stiffness. The goodies continue with lightweight 20-inch forged aluminum wheels shod in Goodyear Eagle F1 Run Flat summer tires (245/40R20 front, 275/35R20 rear), a mechanical limited-slip differential, track cooling package (engine oil, differential, and transmission coolers), short-throw shifter, dual-mode exhaust system, an upgraded fuel system borrowed from the SS (for high-load cornering), and Touring, Sport, and Track drive modes. If that’s not enough, Competition mode enables launch control and displays performance instrument readouts and shift lights. Recaro seats, a suede-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel, and a suede-covered gear shifter are extra. Outside, you won’t find “Turbo” or “1LE” badging. Instead, the hood, front splitter, and three-piece spoiler are wrapped in satin black, distinguishing the Turbo 1LE from other, less track-focused Camaros.

Thanks for reading about 2019 Chevrolet Camaro Turbo Test Drive.

Source: 2019 Chevrolet Camaro Turbo 1LE First Drive: Point Me to the Corners – Motor Trend

2019 Chevrolet Camaro Pricing Confirmed, Starts From $26,495

2019 Chevrolet Camaro Pricing picture

2019 Chevrolet Camaro Pricing – The base 1LT and V6 are cheaper than last year’s models.

The facelifted 2019 Chevrolet Camaro has certainly been controversial thanks to its polarizing styling. We also recently learned that some trims are less efficient than the outgoing model. It’s not all bad news, however, because the 2019 Camaro will be cheaper than last year’s model.

Looking for a fantastic value on a fantastic sports car?  Call our Customer Care Team at 630-898-9630 or visit our website to select your dream car.

Autoblog has discovered the online configurator for the updated Camaro has gone live. There are no photos of all the different options yet, but the pricing is plain to see. At the bottom of the range, the turbocharged four-cylinder 2019 Chevrolet Camaro 1LT has an MSRP of $26,495, including the $995 destination. That makes it $405 cheaper than last year’s base model, the Camaro 1LS.

Opting for the Convertible version adds another $6,000, but it’s still $405 less than the 2018 Camaro Convertible 1LS. Oddly, the 1LS trim is still listed, but the configurator says “See dealer for pricing” when selecting this option. Autoblog speculates the 1LS could be a special-order trim for fleets since there’s only one wheel design available and it can’t be equipped with an automatic.

New to this year’s range is the 2019 Camaro Turbo 1LE, which isn’t listed in the configurator but Chevrolet has announced it starts at $30,995. The 2019 Camaro V6 also now starts at $27,990, which is $405 less than the 2018 version. Adding the 1LE package adds $4,500 to the price, and selecting a convertible adds $6,000.

Source: 2019 Chevrolet Camaro Pricing Confirmed, Starts From $26,495