GM tire recall

General Motors has issued another tire recall for select BuickCadillacChevrolet and GMC models that may have been delivered with defective tires.

equinox picThe problem: vehicles involved in this tire recall campaign were delivered with Continental brand tires that were overcured during the manufacturing process.

The hazards: Continental claims that overcured tires “may experience a carcass break in the sidewall with sudden air loss or could develop a belt edge separation which could lead to partial or full tread/belt loss.” A tire failure or sudden loss of air pressure could increase the risk of a crash.

The fix: dealers will inspect affected Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC vehicles and replace tires that have DOT number and production mold number combinations that reflect the defective units identified by Continental.

2021 Chevy Blazer for saleQuestions?  Call our Service Department at 630-898-9630.

Affected components: Continental brand tires.

Affected vehicles:

We have more Chevy Malibu Sedans in stock

C’mon down and check out these awesome Chevy Malibu Sedans!

Posted by Ron Westphal Chevy on Monday, March 1, 2021

The Chevrolet Malibu is a spacious option for folks that want a car with a sporty look paired with a luxurious ride.

Spoil yourself. And your passengers.

Sophisticated at first glance, Malibu opens up to a thoughtful interior designed to comfort and impress. With impeccable ride and handling, plus it offers technology that keeps you connected, Malibu means a nice trip for every single passenger.

Artfully crafted seats and chrome satin accents give the interior a feeling of elegance. An available 8-way power driver seat lets you optimize your comfort. It’s quiet too, with triple-sealed doors and an available acoustic-laminated windshield that helps drown out noise.

We have plenty in stock to choose from – brand new, demo and GM Certified!  Call us now at 630-898-9630 or visit us online anytime for details.

Thanks for reading about We have more Chevy Malibu Sedans in stock .  Ron Westphal Chevrolet is located in Aurora/Oswego, IL on the corner of Routes 30 and 34.  We are a family-owned, modern facility with hundreds of vehicles in stock to choose from!

Modern Chevy El Camino Rendering

Coming to us from automotive artist Oscar Vargas, who posted his work to social media via the @wb.artist20 Instagram feed, this modern Chevy El Camino rendering looks to take after the third-generation Elco in terms of proportions and sizing, with a low, wide stance, rectangular body panels, a cab placed in the middle of the body, and a short bed in back.

However, to bring the Chevy El Camino rendering into the modern day, the artist then pulled styling from the latest fourth-generation Chevy Silverado 1500 pickup truck, which was introduced for the 2019 model year.

The Silverado’s influence is most obvious up front, where we find the Silvy’s telltale fascia design was squeezed down to a more car-like stature. This includes the Silverado’s horizontal headlamps, rectangular grille, and lower bumper section as well.

Moving into the sides, this modern Chevy El Camino rocks a set of fender flares with a rivet-style surround. There’s also a pickup/SUV-style shark fin antenna on the roof above the driver’s side door, as well as the Silverado’s sideview mirrors as well.

In the corners, the artist brought over a set of Remington wheels, a popular choice among pickup truck owners and off-roader enthusiasts, while wrapping the rollers in knobby tires that look ready for action in the dirt.

Finishing it off is a step up in the rear bumper, while the whole thing is covered in black paint.

Now, the question is – could something like this make a dent in the crossover segment?

Subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevrolet El Camino newsChevrolet news, and around-the-clock GM newscoverage.

Congratulations to salesperson Rick Jacobsen!

Congratulation to Rick Jacobsen!
Congratulation to Rick Jacobsen!

A hearty congratulations to salesperson extraordinaire Rick Jacobsen!

This week is Rick’s 2 year anniversary celebrating when he joined the Ron Westphal Chevrolet sales team.  We are proud to have him working for us and look forward to a bright future for Rick.  He always is in good spirits and his clients just love him.  He remains calm at all times and is an employee we can count on every. single. day.

Thanks Rick!  Thanks for choosing Ron Westphal Chevrolet.

Check Out Chevy Cyber Cash Back

Distracted-boyfriend-Ron-Westphal-ChevroletCheck Out Chevy Cyber Cash Back! Save an extra $500 in addition to other incentives. Visit https://www.WestphalChevy.com to claim your code now. Hey, it doesn’t cost anything to look, right? Offer ends 11/30/20.

Ron Westphal Chevrolet is located where Aurora meets Oswego on the corner of routes 30 & 34.  Call us now at 1-630-898-9630 for details.  This offer ends 11.30.20.

Helping cars see better at night

Helping cars see better at night is key to reducing pedestrian deaths

No one was crossing Kercheval Avenue on The Hill in Grosse Pointe Farms as a minivan made its way through the shopping district one evening this fall, but people were clearly nearby.

If you are looking for a vehicle with front collision alert, adaptive cruise control and more please call Ron Westphal Chevrolet at 630-898-9630 or visit us online at www.WestphalChevy.com.  

They could be seen there on the laptop screen from inside the vehicle, their presence confirmed by glowing images captured by a thermal camera.

But the pedestrians weren’t on the street, and it took a moment to realize that they were actually on the sidewalk, obscured by decorative plantings and the darkness that coated everything not illuminated.

It wasn’t a great night for spotting pedestrians on this particular weeknight on a drive through a couple of the Grosse Pointes and the east side of Detroit. Maybe the pandemic was keeping people inside. Those who were out, however, were not hard to see, at least on the screen.

The eyeball view through the windshield was a different story, with darkness providing an effective camouflage. And darkness can be deadly for pedestrians.

In fact, most pedestrians who die in crashes are killed at night, but nighttime has been when the technology designed to prevent pedestrian crashes struggles most.

Last year, AAA revealed some startling deficiencies in driver assistance systems designed to protect pedestrians.

Thermal imaging company FLIR recently conducted testing in Michigan to show how its sensors could help advanced driver assistance systems detect pedestrians in dark conditions. (Photo: FLIR)
Thermal imaging company FLIR recently conducted testing in Michigan to show how its sensors could help advanced driver assistance systems detect pedestrians in dark conditions. (Photo: FLIR)

At night, several test vehicles equipped with automatic emergency braking systems and pedestrian detection were found to be “completely ineffective.” Rather than bash the automakers’ efforts, AAA encouraged continued development of these systems because of the scope of the pedestrian death crisis in this country.

But finding a solution as the deaths of so many Americans on and along our roads has continued to rise — 6,283 men, women and children in 2018 alone, according to federal statistics — has become more urgent. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration even designated October as the first national Pedestrian Safety Month, an acknowledgment of the dangers faced by vulnerable road users. A 2018 Detroit Free Press/USA Today investigation highlighted the role the increase in large vehicles, such as SUVs, has played in the rising number of deaths.

The Best and Worst Drivers by State

The Best and Worst Drivers by State

The Best and Worst Drivers by State

In the five years we at QuoteWizard have been publishing our best and worst driver study, we have learned one thing: No matter where you live and drive, those drivers are the worst. California annually ranks among the worst drivers, according to our data, and they are generally in agreement that Californians are the worst drivers. When talking to Floridians about their continually great record of being among the best drivers, it’s met with utter disagreement. “Are you kidding me? Every day I get run off the road on my commute on I-95 from Boca Raton to Fort Lauderdale!”

What’s great about our best and worst driver study is that we’re using millions of data points to determine where the best and worst really are. While Florida may disagree with our findings, they can find solace in knowing it could be worse in other states. On the other hand, our data confirms what Californians have known for years. Everyone’s most popular opinion reflects the quality of the drivers around them. Many people have experienced driving in all parts of the country and have their thoughts on who is among the best or worst. What is your favorite and least favorite state to drive in? Do our rankings do it justice?

Best and worst ranking methodology

We analyzed over 2 million insurance quotes from QuoteWizard drivers to see which states had the best and worst drivers. To get rankings, we built a composite score between four driving incident factors:

  • Accidents
  • Speeding tickets
  • DUIs
  • Citations

Rankings are a composite score based on the rate of occurrence between the four ranking factors. States considered to have the worst drivers had the highest rates of each incident factor. States considered to have the best drivers had the lowest rates of each incident factor.

Rank (Worst to Best) State
1 Wyoming
2 Virginia
3 Colorado
4 New Jersey
5 South Dakota
6 Vermont
7 Maryland
8 Washington
9 Ohio
10 South Carolina
11 Georgia
12 North Dakota
13 Oregon
14 California
15 Delaware
16 Nebraska
17 Wisconsin
18 Arkansas
19 Indiana
20 Idaho
21 Maine
22 Utah
23 Alaska
24 Kansas
25 Connecticut
26 New York
27 Tennessee
28 Iowa
29 Pennsylvania
30 Louisiana
31 Minnesota
32 Alabama
33 Massachusetts
34 New Hampshire
35 Rhode Island
36 Hawaii
37 Mississippi
38 North Carolina
39 Arizona
40 Oklahoma
41 Montana
42 Nevada
43 Kentucky
44 Illinois
45 Florida
46 Texas
47 New Mexico
48 Michigan
49 Missouri
50 West Virginia

Most accident-prone states

Our ranking of the most accident-prone states means our data saw accidents occurring most often in these top five states. Geographically, it looks like the northeast carries the highest rate of accidents. Starting on I-95 in Boston, down through Providence, all the way to Baltimore appears to be the hotbed for accidents in the most accident-prone states.

  1. Rhode Island
  2. Maryland
  3. Massachusetts
  4. South Carolina
  5. Utah

Most lead-footed states

The most lead-footed states are those that speed the most and get caught doing it. No surprises here if you’ve ever driven in California. Californians tend to treat speed limits as more of a suggestion than the law. California Highway Patrol knows this too, so they’re always around the next turn. New York City traffic is brutally slow, but the open roads heading upstate can feel like a racetrack after getting out of the city.

  1. California
  2. New York
  3. Delaware
  4. Hawaii
  5. North Dakota

Drunkest-driving states

When it comes to the drunkest-driving states, they’re all neighbors. While it may seem like a coincidence that the top four states are all next to each other, CDC data confirms it is not. The CDC’s BRFSSP data on alcohol consumption by state has the highest-consuming states all in the same neighborhood. It’s likely something about the cold northern states where people like to drink and the rural cities don’t have much of a cab service.

  1. Wyoming
  2. North Dakota
  3. South Dakota
  4. Nebraska
  5. Alaska

Worst driving habits (most citations)

The common citations we see while analyzing driver history tend to be tickets for things like texting while driving, not wearing a seatbelt, failure to signal and other minor citations. While minor in nature, they are bad driving habits that lead to accidents. States that ranked poorly for citations coincide with those with the worst driving behaviors. We could imagine citations for texting “Roll Tide” while driving landed Alabama on the top of our list.

  1. Alabama
  2. Arkansas
  3. Wyoming
  4. Kansas
  5. South Carolina

For more view source:  https://quotewizard.com/news/posts/the-best-and-worst-drivers-by-state?NL=WAW-10&Issue=WAW-10_20201029_WAW-10_657&sfvc4enews=42&cl=article_5

Chevy Suburban HD

Will there be a Chevy Suburban HD?

Ever since General Motors introduced the all-new, T1-based 2021 Chevrolet Suburban, many have wondered whether GM would offer a new heavy-duty version of the SUV as well. Now, GM’s vice president of Global Product Programs, Tim Herrick, has hinted that a new Chevy Suburban HD could be on GM’s radar.

If you are looking for a new Suburban, please don’t hesitate to contact Ron Westphal Chevrolet at 630-898-9630 or visit us online.

Chevy Suburban HD prototype pic
Chevy Suburban HD prototype pic

 

General Motors recently announced that it had delivered the first unit of the Chevy Colorado-based GM Infantry Squad Vehicle to the U.S. Army. During the announcement, Herrick was asked how GM would bring its various technologies into the defense market. His response mentioned a new Chevy Suburban HD model.

“I have full-size truck stuff in my blood, right? So I understand what it takes to make a light duty truck, a heavy duty truck, an SUV, make them all together architecturally work, and then expand that architecture, whether it’s putting batteries in, or different engines and the like,” Herrick said. “Expanding the architecture architecturally would be great. And with that, then you bring, maybe a heavy-duty Suburban.”

Chevrolet Suburban 3500HD

Chevrolet Suburban 3500HD

There hasn’t been a Chevy Suburban HD in production since the end of 2018 following the discontinuation of the K2-based Suburban 3500HD. Previously, the Suburban 3500HD was available exclusively to fleets, starting at $80,215, $30,000 more than the $49,915 starting price of the standard Suburban model. Powered by the 6.0L V8 L96 gas engine, the Suburban 3500HD is motivated by 360 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque, which was directed to all four wheels by way of the six-speed 6L90 heavy-duty automatic transmission.

Compared to the standard model, the Suburban 3500HD came with substantially greater payload capacity, specifically 4,405 pounds from an 11,00-pound GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating), as compared to the 1,670 payload rating and 7,500-pound GVWR offered by the standard Suburban.

As such, the HD model was a great choice for armoring and bulletproofing.

Although Herrick’s recent comments are from an official confirmation, they are still the first time we’ve heard anything related to a new Chevy Suburban HD model from GM brass. That said, we fully expect a new, T1-based Chevy Suburban HD to launch for the 2022 model year.

Subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevrolet Suburban newsChevrolet news, and around-the-clock GM newscoverage.

Thanks for reading about Chevy Suburban HD.

For more view source:  https://gmauthority.com/blog/2020/10/gm-product-chief-hints-at-chevy-suburban-hd/

Rust in Peace – Vehicles being discontinued

It’s that time of year again: Halloween. It’s a holiday that’s centuries old, having started as the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. It’s a day when people thought that ghostly spirits returned to earth. After being conquered by the Romans, who co-opted the ancient Celt tradition as All Saints’ Day, or Alholowmesse in Middle English, Samhain endured as All-Hallows Eve, and eventually, Halloween.

All these centuries later, October is the time when automakers kill off unpopular cars, when their time as new models on this earth pass, never to return.

Rust In Peace:

Acura RLX: A perfectly anonymous car with an equally anonymous name, the RLX is a stark reminder of how far Acura’s product development and marketing has fallen from the excellence established by the Legend.

The Chevrolet Impala will just be a memory next year. Rust in Peace.
The Chevrolet Impala will just be a memory next year. Rust in Peace.

Alfa Romeo 4C: Now that America has become a nation of SUV-loving truck drivers, where dreary practicality triumphs over sheer fun, pure sports cars like the fun-to-drive 4C are sadly overlooked also-rans.

BMW i8: You’d think a gas-electric hybrid as attractive as the BMW i8, with handling to match, would succeed. But $147,500 for a car powered by the Mini’s three-cylinder engine? Really?

Buick Regal: In the pantheon of cool Buick names like Invicta and Electra, this Opel import with the blue-hair name was doomed from the start, although its remarkably unremarkable personality didn’t help.

Cadillac CT6: With a name only a lifeless marketer would love, this flagship sedan was sabotaged by tepid styling that lacked the Escalade’s unmitigated swagger, and a cabin far too cheap for its station.

The Chevrolet Sonic Sedan and Hatchback are being retired. Rust in Peace.
The Chevrolet Sonic Sedan and Hatchback are being retired. Rust in Peace.

Chevrolet Impala: While car buyers think nothing of buying an enormous SUV, they think twice about buying a large car, even one as good as the Impala. That said, a more inspired design would have helped.

Chevrolet Sonic: With exorbitant gasoline prices now a distant memory, this funky and fun little hatchback lost its raison d’etre. Its platform lives on, however, in the Chevrolet Trax and Buick Encore.

Dodge Grand Caravan: Cheap to buy and very practical, the end has come for this minivan after 35 years as Dodge focuses on performance-oriented products. Its replacement, the Chrysler Voyager, is now on sale.

Dodge Journey: Outclassed in every respect except for its low price and archaic Ultradrive four-speed automatic transmission, this sad relic of the DaimlerChrysler era is thankfully seeing its journey come to an end.

Ford Fusion: Ford may blame lack of buyer interest with killing the Fusion, the absence of any meaningful update for years has much more to do with it. A sad, self-inflicted end to a well-respected and popular car.

Honda Civic Coupe: While the whole sport compact scene grew out of cars like the Civic Coupe, its time has come and gone, as buyers are unwilling to put up with an iota of inconvenience in the name of fashion.

Honda Fit: Its beauty was its utility, which was far larger than its size suggested thanks to the flexibility of its seating system. And it was unexpectedly fun to drive, something rarely said of cheap utilitarian cars.

Hyundai Elantra GT: Styled and engineered in Europe, the five-door Elantra hatchback never enjoyed the popularity it deserved, despite U.S. car buyers buying hatchbacks by the millions, as long they are on an SUV.

Jaguar XE: Like the X-Type before it, this entry-level British sports sedan never possessed the requisite grace, pace and space needed to steal buyers away from the BMW 3-Series.

Jaguar XF Sportbrake: If you thought that the idea of a Jaguar station wagon seemed a bit off, you’re not alone, even though this was a fabulously fun-to-drive alternative to the overwhelming overabundance of SUVs.

Lexus GS: Always the middle child, never as popular as the Lexus LS or ES sedans, Toyota President Akio Toyoda wanted to kill the GS in 2011. Executives saved the car, but sales never improved. Now, Akio gets his wish.

Lincoln Continental: Developed using a front-wheel drive Ford Fusion platform to save money, and lacking the requisite aura of the concept car that foreshadowed it, the Continental’s fate was sealed from the start.

Lincoln MKZ: This gussied-up Ford Fusion with a crummy name was bound to exit once the Fusion did. Aside from seniors who liked nabbing a Lincoln at a low price, the MKZ was never special enough.

Mercedes-Benz SL: Mercedes-Benz has killed the two-seat SL-Class, but online reports speculate that the renowned roadster could return as a 2+2 for 2022, built by Mercedes-AMG.

Mercedes-Benz SLC: With buyers ignoring everything except SUVs, this cut-rate convertible is circling the block for the last time, still in need of the upscale elan, space, and build quality that its larger siblings possess.

Toyota Yaris: Americans hate subcompacts, especially when gas prices are low. So even though this disguised rendition of the Mazda2 is fun to drive, downsized cars are DOA.

Thanks for reading about Rust in Peace – Vehicles being discontinued.  For more view source:  https://www.freep.com/