Tag: ron westphal chevrolet blog

What mid-engines means and why it matters

Mid Engined Explained

Since its inception, the Chevrolet Corvette—in production form, at least—has never deviated from three core attributes: front engine, rear-wheel drive, fiberglass bodywork. From its 1953 debut with the Blue Flame inline six-cylinder to the thundering 755-hp 2019 Corvette ZR1, the basic formula has been set in stone.

Want a new mid engined Corvette?  Call our Customer Care Team now at 630-898-9630.  Or, visit our website at http://www.WestphalChevy.com.

That all changes now. Chevy is officially moving the engine to the middle, behind the passenger seats.

With this move, Chevrolet is shooting a flare into international waters, putting on notice the major players in the mid-engine-performance space including the Ferrari 488, Lamborghini Huracán, and Audi R8 as well as its crosstown rival, the Ford GT, and letting them know that the General can still cut and run when the accountants provide a long enough leash.

So what does “mid-engined” mean? Technically, it means that a car’s engine is located in the middle of the vehicle, somewhere between the front and rear axles. But the typical location in a sports car or supercar is behind the driver and in front of the rear axle.

mid engined explained

Engine placement matters for many reasons when it comes to high-performance cars, but mainly it’s all about braking and handling. Shifting the engine rearward puts more weight on the rear axle, which means more rear-end traction and the ability to put down more power and accelerate more quickly. A mid-engine layout also improves braking, because the additional weight lets the rear brakes do more of the stopping. Mid-engined cars have a lower polar moment of inertia, which is a technical term that means that the mass of a mid-engined car is more centralized in the vehicle. This allows the car to change direction more easily and therefore more rapidly. (To experience this phenomenon, get someone to spin you in an office chair and compare the speed you feel with your legs fully extended versus tucked in.) The downside is that, should the rear end break loose and swing wide at speed, it’s much harder for a novice driver to recover.

Aside from performance, a mid-engined car looks different because of not having to package an engine up front. It can have a much steeper hoodline and improved forward visibility. The proportions of a mid-engined car can give it an exotic look—but then, the short list of mid-engined vehicles is made up of one exceptional name after another.

It’s not that GM hasn’t kicked around the mid-engine layout before; the company’s archives are filled with drawings and concepts utilizing the engine-behind-the-driver layout. But its realization in the 2020 Corvette validates the efforts and fulfills the promises made by in-house Corvette gurus such as Bill Mitchell, Larry Shinoda, Pete Brock, Zora Arkus-Duntov, and Tadge Juechter, both now and back in the day when automobiles were an agent of progress and the future seemed limitless. Critically, it also serves as a rolling indicator that GM still has a pulse and wishes to wring every last drop of potential and excitement from the automobile as we currently know it. In changing times, that’s the kind of reassurance we need.

Want to know more about mid engined Corvettes?  You may also enjoy this article: http://westphalchevyblog.com/index.php/2018/05/17/mid-engined-corvette/

 

For more view source:  https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a27128435/mid-engined-corvette-why-it-matters/

Ron Westphal Chevrolet’s General Manager Saves A Dog

Ron Westphal Chevrolet's General Manager Saves A Dog
Bill Houlis couldn’t leave this little pup by the side of the road.

On the morning of April 23rd, Ron Westphal Chevrolet General Manager, Bill Houlis, was driving to work like usual.  Suddenly, he spotted a puppy jetting out from the field into the road directly in front of the new Chevrolet Tahoe he was driving.  Bill got out of his vehicle and looked around, hoping to see the dog’s owner chasing after him.  No such luck.  No one was around and the little pup was begging for Bill’s attention, so what could he do?  He scooped up the little guy and plopped him into the passenger seat of the Tahoe and took him to work.

Ron Westphal Chevrolet's General Manager Saves A DogEveryone at Ron Westphal Chevrolet was immediately charmed by this friendly, squiggly puppy.  Erin Bonifas, our license and title clerk called her sister in law who brought over dog food and a lease.  We are all dog lovers in the Ron Westphal Chevrolet office so we already had dog bowls, treats and toys on hand for the doggie visitors our clients bring in.  These canine accessories came in especially handy today.

When our IT gal came in she immediately posted the little pupper’s pic all over the Internet.  The little guy received tons of shares and comments but no one has claimed him as of yet.

Ron Westphal Chevrolet's General Manager Saves A Dog
‘Sam’ loves his tennis ball

Bill Houlis and our Internet Manager, Mike Kalsto, took the dog across the street to the Oswego Veterinary clinic to see if he was microchipped and to have his overall health accessed.  As it turns out, this puppy was chipped, but not registered.  We’ll do our best to track down the owners but, in the unlikely event the original owners aren’t found…I can assure you we’ll find a wonderful home for ‘Sam’, our temporary official mascot at Ron Westphal Chevrolet.

UPDATE:  RENUNITED WITH OWNERS!

As it turns out this little pup was chipped but not registered to an owner.  But, Bill Houlis was able to track down the chip to a facility in Florida that had received 2 dogs from the Cayman Islands.  Working with the Cayman Islands and the Florida facility we were able to track down the owner.  So this sweet puppy who’s real name is Cayman, and he’s back with his sister pup and a family of 4 kids in a safe, fenced-in back yard.

Thanks to everyone who followed this story on our facebook page.  We got over 600 shares that reached over 32,000 folks.  We appreciate everyone’s thoughts and suggestions!

BMW Fails spectacularly on pedestrian braking test

The insurance-funded IIHS consistently pushes the bar higher for automakers to make safer vehicles, and this year, it’s begun to test automatic emergency braking systems.

The first round of tests included 11 popular compact crossover models, and the Chevrolet Equinox impressed. The new tests come as the IIHS places an emphasis on pedestrian safety and includes a relatively simple scale. From best to worst, vehicles can be ranked “Superior,” “Advanced,” “Basic,” or receive no credit.

2019 Chevrolet Equinox Exterior 02

The organization rated the Chevrolet Equinox as “Advanced” with its optional automatic emergency braking system. Recall, GM does not make automatic emergency braking standard on any vehicle, save for the forthcoming 2020 Cadillac XT6. Even then, a more robust system is optional for buyers.

Shop Chevrolet Equinox at Ron Westphal Chevrolet.

Chevy’s Equinox joined four other crossovers in earning an “Advanced” rating, which included the Hyundai Kona, Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-5, and Nissan Rogue. Top honors went to the Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester, Toyota RAV-4, and Volvo XC40. The Mitsubishi Outlander earned a “Basic” rating, while the BMW X1 earned no credit.

We encourage you to watch the video above to see how spectacularly BMW failed the test.

The IIHS testing looks at three possible scenarios where automatic emergency braking could help mitigate or even prevent a collision with a pedestrian. The first is an adult pedestrian on the right side of the road entering the street in the path of an oncoming vehicle. The second mimics a child darting into the street from behind two parked vehicles. The third simulates an adult walking in the vehicle’s travel lane near the edge of the road. Here, the pedestrian has his or her back turned away from the cars.

In the safety shakedown, only the Forester and RAV4 avoided the crash dummy in perpendicular tests, which underscores their underlying safety systems.

Thanks for reading about BMW Fails.

Read more: http://gmauthority.com/blog/2019/04/chevrolet-equinox-earns-advanced-rating-in-iihs-auto-emergency-braking-test-video/#ixzz5koKhKcNx

Ex Dale Earnhardt 1977 Nova NASCAR for sale

A 1977 Chevrolet Nova driven by Dale Earnhardt in the NASCAR Busch Series will soon be auctioned off by Barrett-Jackson at its Palm Beach 2019 sale.

Can’t quite afford a retired NASCAR?  How about a new Camaro?

This well-preserved piece of General Motors racing history was originally built by famed NASCAR fabricator (and Earnhardt’s brother-in-law) Robert Gee Jr. Earnhardt. He drove the car in the initial race after the NASCAR Late Model Sportsman Series was rebranded as the Busch Series in 1986, winning the series’ first race at Daytona that year. According to Barrett-Jackson, this chassis also took wins at Richmond, Darlington, and Rockingham.

Dale Earnhardt 1977 Nova NASCAR
Interestingly, this car started out life as Dale’s Wrangler Jeans-sponsored Pontiac Ventura, but Gee converted the car to a Nova due to the Chevy’s superior aerodynamic properties. It has a NASCAR-spec 358 V8 under the hood, which is making around 700 horsepower, along with a four-speed manual transmission. The car is presented in “good running and driving condition,” but the seller suggests having it looked over professionally before the new owner does any vintage racing with it, as it has sat in a private collection for a number of years now.

Dale Earnhardt 1977 Nova NASCAR side view
This car has made a number of public appearances in recent years. It participated in the Goodwood Festival of Speed in England three separate times (2005, 2006 and 2009) and participated in the 2012 Rolex Monterey Sports Reunion. It was also shown at the 2014 Concours d’ Elegance at St. Johns in Michigan.

It’s hard to say what this Dale Earnhardt-driven 1977 Chevrolet Nova is worth. Barrett-Jackson didn’t provide an estimate and it’s also being offered without reserve.

Check out the listing at this link for additional information and photos.

Photos via Barrett-Jackson

Source: Barrett-Jackson
Read more: http://gmauthority.com/blog/2019/04/ex-dale-earnhardt-1977-chevrolet-nova-nascar-goes-up-for-sale/#ixzz5koHOzdpy

 

MINT 2015 Chevrolet COPO Camaro for sale

MINT 2015 Chevrolet COPO Camaro for sale

Just in case you don’t have over $100,000 to invest in this high-performance Camaro, we have a nice selection of new and pre-owned Camaro models in stock.  Call our Customer Care Team to verify inventory.

2019 Malibu on sale now at Ron Westphal Chevrolet

2019 malibu

2019 Chevrolet Malibu RS First Drive Interior 2019 malibu

The Incentive

Nationwide Chevrolet discounts on the Malibu are as follows:

  • 2019 Malibu – 19% discount: 19 percent below MSRP (for current competitive owners) on most models when financing with GM Financial
    • Example offer: $5,453 purchase cash + 1,044 price reduction below MSRP = $6,497 total discount
  • 2019 Malibu $2,500 discount: $750 cash allowance + $1,750 customer cash = $2,500 total cash allowance when financing with GM Financial; this offer does not extended to L models
  • 2019 Malibu finance offer: 0 percent APR for 72 months (interest-free) when financing with GM Financial
  • 2018 Malibu – 18% discount: 18 percent below MSRP on most models when financing with GM Financial
  • 2018 Malibu $2,500 discount: $2,500 customer cash when financing with GM Financial
  • 2018 Malibu $500 discount and finance offer: $500 APR cash + 0 percent APR for 72 months (interest-free) when financing with GM Financial; this offer does not extend to L models

The 19 percent Chevrolet discount is restricted to current competitive owners, and is smaller than the discount offered in March.

It’s also worth noting that the 18 percent below MSRP and the $2,500 discount on 2018 Malibu models is likely intended to clear out remaining inventory of pre-facelift, 2018 models.

2019 Chevrolet Malibu Incentive April 2019

For reference, here are the starting MSRPs for the 2018 Malibu and 2019 Malibu:

2018 Malibu:

  • L – $22,555
  • LS – $24,195
  • LT – $26,095
  • Hybrid – $28,795
  • Premier – $31,895

2019 Malibu:

  • L – $22,965
  • LS – $24,095
  • RS – $25,095
  • LT – $27,495
  • Hybrid – $29,095
  • Premier – $32,695

What’s more, the 19 percent incentive for the 2019 Malibu only applies to owners of competitive vehicles. As such, it’s clearly a strategic approach by Chevrolet to gain conquest sales.

Disclaimers

  • Must take delivery by April 30, 2019.
  • See dealer for details.
  • Incentives for the United States of America, unless otherwise specified.
  • Some customers may not qualify for this offer.
  • Offer not available with special finance, lease, and some other offers.

Read more: http://gmauthority.com/blog/2019/04/chevrolet-discounts-malibu-19-percent-in-april-2019/#ixzz5koMUxRj9

April Tire Service Specials

April Tire Service Specials

$200 Tire Rebate

$200 Mail-in Rebate* on a set of four tires when purchased with a GM or BuyPower Card®**

Expires
04-30-2019
OR $100 Mail-In Rebate* with any other form of payment. Eligible tire brands: Bridgestone, Continental, Goodyear, Hankook, and Pirelli.
*See dealer or mycertifiedservicerebates.com for details and rebate form, which must be postmarked by 5/31/19. Allow 6 to 8 weeks for delivery of debit card. Offer valid 3/1/19-4/30/19. Credit approval required. Terms and Conditions apply. Talk to your Service Advisor to apply.

view all our april tire service specials on our website

Tire Price Match Guarantee

Provide us with a better price at the time of purchase and we’ll match it.

Find a better price within 30 days of the purchase, and we’ll refund the difference.* Eligible Tire Brands: BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Continental, Dunlop, Firestone, General, Goodyear, Hankook, Kelly, Michelin, Pirelli, and Uniroyal.

Offer Disclosure
Schedule ServiceEmailPrint

*Ad, written estimate, or Internet quote for identical tire(s) from a competing tire retailer/installer located within 100 miles of the dealer required during guarantee period for price match. Offer ends 12/31/19.

$140 Tire Rebate

$140 Mail-in Rebate* on a set of four tires from Firestone and Michelin

Expires
04-30-2019
when purchased with a GM or BuyPower Card®** OR $70 Mail-in Rebate* with any other form of payment.
*See dealer or mycertifiedservicerebates.com for details and rebate form, which must be postmarked by 5/31/19. Allow 6 to 8 weeks for delivery of debit card. Offer valid 3/1/19-4/30/19. Credit approval required. Terms and Conditions apply. Talk to your Service Advisor to apply.

Chevy Bison Package is worth the money

bison package

Yes, the ZR2 is far from a base truck. But based on a suggestion from the peanut gallery  (*waves at PrincipalDan*) we thought it would be a good idea to see if a “base” off-roader is a healthier bet than upgrading to the full meal deal.

Looking for a new Colorado?  Visit our website or drop by our showroom!

Want to know more about Zr2?  Read this article!

In fact, calling the ZR2 a base truck – with its DSSV dampers and other gonzo off-road kit – seems like heresy to your author. Jumping a Colorado ZR2 at 40 mph over an obstacle on a trophy truck track proves just how capable the thing is.

(How’s that Ranger Raptor coming, Ford? Oh, it isn’t? I see. Thanks for the mobility scooter, then.)

Chevy has, however, added another layer onto the ZR2 cake. Called the Bison, is its extra gear worth the cash? Or are gearheads better off with a “base” ZR2 and spending the money on mods of their own? Let’s see.

By the way, did you know that Chevy quietly dropped the manual transmission option that used to appear on the 2WD base Colorado? Me either, despite the build-n-price tool showing a stick on the floor in the promotional image. Chalk up another loss in the standard column.

Jumping right into the deep end, the Bison is technically an option package and not an additional trim. For $5,750, shoppers will net themselves front and rear bumpers designed by the off-road boffins at AEV. In fact, it is said that development of the Bison started not long after the ZR2 appeared, with the company’s boss essentially being told to envision a ZR2 as if he himself were taking it to rugged locales like Road of the Bones in Russia.

bison package worth the money

AEV additions also include more robust skid plates, new wheels, and a few styling tweaks like the CHEVROLET billboard grille and a set of fog lamps. Mercifully, the Bison package is a standalone option, one that does not require selecting other gear in order to get the good stuff.

You’ll notice the truck shown here is the Extended Cab model, not a Crew. This is because your author firmly believes that Colorado buyers are far better off taking the longer bed than longer cab, since legroom is so woeful in the Crew that it’s just as logical to get the smaller cab. It’ll likely only get used for enclosed storage, anyway.

bison package rear view

According to the AEV website, very little of what makes up a Bison is available as standalone parts. I’m sure if someone waved a bag of cash at AEV they’d craft the bumpers for them but it doesn’t seem to be mass-market stuff. Yet. However, their snorkel kit is $459 compared to Chevy’s $725 performance air intake system.

My answer? Yes. I’d pop for the Bison. In a world where a set of bumpers are close to $3,000, and skid plates are equally expensive, the Bison package is a fair (but not bargain) priced package. Just stay away from everything else on the ZR2’s option list.

For more view source:  https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2019/04/ace-of-base-2019-chevrolet-colorado-zr2/

Camaro SUV? Check out the new Chevy Blazer.

SUVs have come a long way since the last time I owned one.

I had a pair of 1991 Isuzu Troopers, the old, boxy ones. I especially loved the enormous cargo area.

The ride quality wasn’t great — it felt a little like driving a box truck — but I loved them both. I wish I still had one.

I’m feeling nostalgic about those SUVs because I spent the week driving the new 2019 Chevrolet Blazer, which is nothing like my boxy Troopers.

Chevrolet has reintroduced the Blazer as a midsize SUV crossover. It seats five and has a starting price of $28,800.

The Rally Sport AWD version I tested has a 3.6-liter V6 engine with a nine-speed automatic transmission and a base price of $43,500. My Blazer came equipped with the optional Enhanced Convenience Package and the Driver Confidence Package, which added $3,575, for a sticker price of $47,050. A $1,195 destination charge brings the sticker total to $48,270.

The 2019 Chevrolet Blazer offers a Chevrolet-first Cargo Management System that helps drivers secure smaller items by dividing the cargo area.

The 2019 Chevrolet Blazer offers a Chevrolet-first Cargo Management System that helps drivers secure smaller items by dividing the cargo area.

 

The Blazer sits nicely in the Chevrolet SUV lineup between the smaller Equinox and the larger Traverse. It shares a platform with the GMC Acadia and the Cadillace XT5.

The interior and nose are inspired by the new Camaro. I had more than one person ask if I was driving a Camaro SUV.

It sure looked like it to me, and that’s a good thing.

I’m not a car reviewer. I drive an occasional new vehicle to take a look at the new technology.

I’m a bells and whistles guy who loves nothing more than figuring out what all the buttons do in a new car. I hate having to look things up in the manual.

So if you’re here to read all about horsepower and torque, you may be disappointed. For gearhead reviews, try Car and Driver or Motor Trend.

Tons of technology

The 2019 Blazer RS AWD is full of technology. For the first few days, I constantly found new buttons and settings to explore. There are different trim levels, so not all the features I am mentioning are available on every model.

The center screen is an 8-inch touch display that controls the Blazer’s entertainment and climate systems (although there are separate climate control buttons under the screen).

The audio system has AM/FM/SiriusXM along with Bluetooth so you can pair your phone to play music or make calls. There is also a 3.5mm aux-in port so you can connect an iPod or non-Bluetooth device.

The 2019 Blazer RS AWD has an 8-inch screen that controls the entertainment system.(Jim Rossman/Staff)
The 2019 Blazer RS AWD has an 8-inch screen that controls the entertainment system.
(Jim Rossman/Staff)

The entertainment system has both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. I tested CarPlay with my iPhone. You’ll need to connect via USB cable to enable CarPlay. The Blazer has three sets of USB inputs that include a standard USB-A port and the newer USB-C port.

The 2019 Blazer RS AWD has USB-A and USB-C ports along with a wireless charging mat that was able to charge my new AirPods.(Jim Rossman/Staff)
The 2019 Blazer RS AWD has USB-A and USB-C ports along with a wireless charging mat that was able to charge my new AirPods.
(Jim Rossman/Staff)

This was the first vehicle I’ve encountered with USB-C.

There are USB ports on the dash below the screen, inside the console storage compartment and even on the back of the console so that back-seat passengers can use it.

The aux-in port is inside the console as well.

The entertainment system also has apps including iHeartRadio and many others if you’d like to stream from the car.

Speaking of streaming, the Blazer is equipped with 4G-LTE, which can provide Wi-Fi for passengers to get online (internet access is an additional cost).

The bottom of the center controls features a storage cubby that houses a wireless charger that was big enough for my iPhone XS Max.

There is also a 120-volt AC outlet for plugging in things that require electricity.

The Blazer has cameras on all sides, which means it can stitch those images together to show you some pretty crazy angles.

The 360-degree cameras show some pretty interesting angles.(Jim Rossman/Staff)
The 360-degree cameras show some pretty interesting angles.
(Jim Rossman/Staff)

You can control the camera views through the main screen, changing the view as needed. All of the angles were helpful, especially to see how centered I was in a parking space.

The rearview mirror also has an embedded screen to show the view out of the rear camera.

Safety features

The Blazer has a lot of technology I’ve come to love in new vehicles, including forward collision alert and forward automatic braking.

I got to test the automatic braking the first day when the Blazer didn’t think I was going to stop in time when approaching a line of cars at an intersection. The brake was applied automatically, and the vehicle stopped immediately. The Blazer thought I was a bit of a “late-braker.” I adjusted my behavior and there were no more self-braking instances.

2019 Chevrolet Blazer console with shifter and drive mode selector(JESSICA LYNN WALKER)
2019 Chevrolet Blazer console with shifter and drive mode selector
(JESSICA LYNN WALKER)

It also has adaptive cruise control to help you maintain the gap between you and the car ahead of you if it slows down. Lane keep assist provides steering correction if you start drifting out of your lane without using your blinker.

The Blazer has rear cross traffic alert, which I love. It vibrates your seat if it senses an obstacle (person or vehicle) approaching when you are in reverse.

Along with the rear camera angles, it is very helpful when you’re trying to get out of a tight parking spot.

The Blazer also has GM’s Teen Driver feature to set some monitoring and limits for selected drivers based on their key fobs. And it has OnStar.

Styling

The Rally Sport edition of the Blazer has a custom black mesh grill with a black bowtie emblem and black lettering all around. Inside, the black leather is highlighted with red stitching and the air vents have red accent rings.

The 2019 Chevrolet Blazer RS interior features a driver-centric interior along with red accents and trim.
The 2019 Chevrolet Blazer RS interior features a driver-centric interior along with red accents and trim.

The large, round vents are brought over from the Camaro. Interestingly, the outer ring of the vents controls the temperature. My wife appreciated the ease of adjustment for her side.

The Rally Sport comes with all-wheel drive, and a dial on the console lets the driver choose from driving modes including two-wheel drive, four-wheel drive, sport mode, off-road mode and tow/haul mode.

The driving mode selector knob on the console.(Jim Rossman/Staff)
The driving mode selector knob on the console.
(Jim Rossman/Staff)

The Blazer was a lot of fun to drive, and the technology kept the geek in me very engaged.

The car had the fit and finish of a luxury vehicle.

Driving the Blazer was never a chore, and the ride is very comfortable.

The cargo area is big, and the split back seats fold down with the pull of a lever on each side. The automatic tailgate raises and lowers quickly and quietly.

Chevrolet has a nice rail system in the cargo area with a flexible cargo partition you can adjust from front to back to keep boxes or golf clubs from sliding around.

Overall, the Blazer is a great addition to the Chevrolet SUV family, especially if you’re looking for a sportier design.

Pros: Great looks, tons of safety and technology packed inside; great ride.

Cons: Expensive to get all the bells and whistles.

Bottom line: Solid midsize 2019 Chevrolet Blazer is no dog when it comes to performance.