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Chevy claims the new car has 30 percent less aerodynamic lift than the outgoing generation. Commenting on the new model Kirk Bennion, Exterior Design manager said: “The importance of aerodynamics increases exponentially as we increase vehicle performance. As engine output increases, we need more engine cooling. As acceleration and top speeds climb, we need to reduce lift for better high-speed stability. However, we cannot make any changes at the expense of increasing drag, which can hurt fuel economy. To balance these different aerodynamic targets, we tested literally hundreds of changes on the new Camaro, millimeters at a time.” The full reveal of the 2016 Camaro comes this Saturday, May 16th.

Back in February our readers were asked by Polaris to contact the CPSC to ask that more consideration be given. The new bill would make that process law. The RIDE (ROV In-Depth Examination) Act, currently H.R. bill 999, "would postpone the ROV rulemaking until the CPSC’s proposals are studied and evaluated by independent organizations." according to Polaris. To help please click on Polaris' website. For the complete bill, please visit this site.

Obviously the truck is targeted towards fleets with access to reduced cost CNG, but Chevy is also taking retail orders. A 24.5 gallon CNG tank, is located directly behind the cab. The additional 23.5 gallon gasoline tank in the Silverado 3500HD Chassis Cab means the truck can operate for long distances between fillips and use whatever fuel is available. GM's standard warranty and included maintenance programs apply to the bi-fuel vehicles. GM currently also offers bi-fuel Silverado 2500HDs and the dedicated CNG full-size Chevrolet Express.

GM has offered this discount program since 2008. Last year, 40,000 service members took advantage of the savings.

Meet the 2016 Chevy Volt. Sales have been in a tailspin for the past year. That is a big problem for GM. California and other states now mandate zero emissions vehicles and the Volt is GM's main way of dealing with that. Sales must increase. The new Volt is better in every measurable way. It will have better fuel economy, a longer range, more perky performance, is safer, and it even grew a seat! It is now a 5-passenger vehicle rather than 4. Amazingly, the price has dropped. New Volts cost $1,200 less than outgoing Volts. Surely that is due to breakthroughs in technology. The truck folks couldn't be subsidizing the Volt owners, right? The Volt also provides its owner with a $7,500 federal income tax rebate (assuming they have taxes to pay to be rebated). Even better, state revenues also go to Volt buyers in the form of instant rebates. In many states that rebate is up to $1,500. Stop and imagine what your latest truck would have cost you if instead of a price increase of $1,800, it went down by $1,200 and then you got a check back for $9,000 from your governments. What would you do with the approximately $12,000?

For more on this trend, please see our prior story from March.

Cadillac dealers are now accepting orders for the 2016 CTS-V and expects to fill those this summer. The CTS-V is all new this year and joins the V6 turbocharged CTS-V Sport and ATS-V sedan and coupe in its much larger line up of V cars.

Jet Black exterior, including body color mirrors 19-inch machine-faced aluminum wheels with black accents Black grille and surround Front and rear black Chevrolet bowtie Jet Black interior Sport pedals Black rear spoiler. Chevy will build a few 2015 model year Midnight Edition Impalas with the base engine, but says that it will be available as a broader option for the 2016 model year.

We won't flap our gums any more than necessary since this is just a set of teaser photos. What design elements would you like to see changed in the new Camaro?

The Slingshot is sort of an open-air car/motorcycle for people bored with convertible muscle cars. The photo above tells most of the story, but you can learn more at the company's site. If my boys are reading this, I'd like mine in Nuclear Sunset Orange please.

GM's not shy about making its progress known either. In a press release, Rob Threlkeld, GM global manager of renewable energy, said “Renewable energy enables us to reduce risk at our plants and save money on energy costs – facts that prove there’s economic opportunity in addressing climate change. None of our U.S. plants use coal as an energy source.” Do you think GM should do more to help reduce CO2 emissions, or conversely, do you feel it is strange that an automaker has to employ a global manager of renewable energy?

The G80 is standard on LTZ and Z71 versions of the Silverado 1500 and all Silverado 2500 and 3500 and available on most models. The feature requires no driver involvement. Explaining how it works, Chevy said, "When the G80 detects excessive wheel slip, a flyweight-type governor engages. A self-energized clutch system causes a cam plate to ramp against a side gear, compressing disc pack to cause both rear axle shafts/wheels to rotate at the same speed." The end result is less wheel slip and greater traction.

Harlan Charles, Corvette product and marketing manager summed up the 2016 C7.R Edition Corvette, saying “Combined with the 650-horsepower supercharged LT4 engine, true aerodynamic downforce and performance technologies such as Magnetic Ride Control, Performance Traction Management and an electronic limited slip differential, the Corvette Z06 C7.R Edition offers capability matched only by an elite fraternity of the world’s supercars and special-edition exclusivity that is sure to make it an instant collector’s item.” So what did Chevy to do make this new collector's Corvette even more "most capable-er?" Here is quick rundown: Offered on coupe and convertible models with 3LZ trim Available in Corvette Racing Yellow Tintcoat (new for 2016) or Black exterior colors C7.R Edition graphics package Z07 Performance Package with Brembo carbon ceramic brakes and Michelin PS Cup 2 tires Yellow brake calipers Black wheels with yellow accent strip and Corvette Racing-logo center caps Visible carbon fiber ground effects package New visible carbon fiber hood section Grilles and vents finished in Spectra Gray Metallic Jet Black leather interior with sueded microfiber accents on the instrument panel and doors Sueded microfiber-trimmed Competition Sport Seat, steering wheel and shifter Yellow contrast stitching throughout the interior Carbon fiber interior trim package (high-gloss) Corvette Racing sill plates Numbered C7.R Edition interior plaque showing the build number, starting with VIN 700001 Special indoor car cover with C7.R graphics. These special bits are added to the Z07 Performance Package. The C7.R also has carbon ceramic brakes, and will come with a specially serialized vehicle identification number. Check with your dealer early-summer if interested. Chevy says the cars will be available "later this year" and they may sell fast.

Commenting on the acquisition, Scott Wine, Polaris Chairman & CEO. “Their Mountain Horse is the unequivocal choice of snow bike enthusiasts, emphasizing Timbersled’s relentless commitment to innovation, performance and quality. Our common culture and shared passion for the Powersports industry and consumer will create an exciting platform for continued innovation and accelerated growth.” Timbersled will continue to operate as an independent brand with the full support of Polaris. See the company's full line of products at this link.

Ward's pointed out the Canyon's long list of interior features, noting "...lots of soft surfaces, a Bose audio system, supple and durable leather, an easily navigated touchscreen and advanced safety features... heated power front seats and a second row that accommodates three comfortably and folds up for additional storage space." Our own review this past week of the 2015 Yukon Denali which has some similar interior features to the Canyon included, "The infotainment system was perhaps the standout in this interior. It is simple to use and easy to appreciate. My phone synched in about five seconds, and I loved all the apps and used them intuitively." The Canyon was the only General Motors vehicle to make the list. For the Ward's story click this link.

According to an announcement today, the new Camaro, even in its mainstream trims below the SS, will have selectable drive modes. Throttle progression, steering, stability control and other vehicle settings will be adjustable and grouped into Snow/Ice, Tour and Sport modes. SS models will also get a Track setting. Chevy is also promising an enhanced dual-mode exhaust system which drivers will be able to adjust from stealth to track sound settings. The new Camaro is set to be revealed May 16th.

The Cars.com testing was comprehensive. The testers did on-road, off-road, and even track testing. Furthermore, they ran each vehicle on a 200-mile mileage comparison loop and even brought in a "civilian" truck shopper to get feedback. At the end of the testing the Canyon beat the Tacoma and Frontier, but more interestingly, the Colorado Z71. Mark Williams, Cars.com's Pickup Truck Expert, commented on the Canyon's win and what made it stand out, saying, "The GMC Canyon scored well throughout our tests, and offered a capable and luxurious ride and feel that clearly separated the it from the rest of the pack," said Williams. "We were especially impressed with its road manners and performance with a full load in the bed. What really sets the Canyon apart from its competitors are its looks and high-end materials, however that comes at a higher price tag than other trucks, like its sister-truck the Chevrolet Colorado." Interestingly, Cars.com had previously names the Chevy Colorado "Best Pickup of 2015." You can view the story in its entirety here. We'd like to know what readers think about the Colorado vs. Canyon. Which would be your pick?

The BF Goodrich Performance Team members full list can be seen at this link. The team works cooperatively on media outreach and public relations events to cross-promote the sport of off-road racing and the members' companies.

Anyone who lives in these areas already knows this is a good idea, but this time there are facts to back up the truism than "salt eats cars." GM and NHTSA, along with the Pennsylvania DOT worked for four years to determine if a recall was necessary. One will not be issued, but a close read of the full report is sure to get the attention of anyone who has a vehicle from this time span operating in states where salt is used, or even nearby states. The key parts of the NHTSA Advisory, which you can read here, are the following: Maintain their vehicle and prevent corrosion by washing the undercarriage regularly throughout the winter and giving it a thorough washing in the spring to remove road salt and other de-icing chemicals that can lead to corrosion. Monitor the brake system for signs of corrosion by having regular professional inspections and watching for signs of problems, including loss of brake fluid, unusual leaks and a soft or spongy feel in the brake pedal. Address severe corrosion, marked by flaking or scaling of the metal brake pipes, by having the full assembly replaced. NHTSA's Administrator Mark Rosekind said, "If you own an older vehicle and live in a cold-weather state where salt and de-icing chemicals are common in winter, we strongly urge you to take these steps.” The upshot of the report is that studies confirmed that brake tube failure can and does occur in some instances where vehicles are exposed to salt. The complete study can be read here. States listed by NHTSA for special attention are: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Photo by Zane Merva

Polished aluminum wheels are also part of the look. On the 2500 HD the wheels are 20 inch, The 3500 HD gets 18 inch wheels on the single rear wheel version and duallys get 17". The trim level this package applies to is the LT or LTZ. The Custom Sport edition trucks can be had in in either Summit White or Black. Expect prices to range from $700 to $1,700. The Custom Sport can be ordered now from Chevy dealers.

Post WWII Chevy's business increased, of course, along with every major manufacturer that made it through the war-time economy. The second image here is a 1949 Chevy Canopy Express. Chevy produced an amazing 345,000 of these vehicles in 1949. Just to put that into perspective, if sold today that would be Chevy's second leading seller after only the Silverado family. As a stand- alone company that vehicle would outsell both Buick and Cadillac, not to mention many other car companies now in the US market. The 2015 Chevy City Express shown here being used by Smokey D's BBQ. The truck's cloth top and sides have gone away, but the need for a vehicle to bring a company's product directly to the public has not.

Given the huge decline in Chevrolet's car sales over the past year or so (21% just last month), and considering its truck sales are going up month after month, it seems possible to say that Chevrolet is a truck brand that also makes some cars. Even the comments from the GM brass seem to indicate that this was all in plan. Just curious if anyone here thinks of Chevrolet as a "Truck Brand" first, as opposed to "An automaker" or a "car company."

Assuming that gasoline prices do not stay at their historic low prices (with inflation factored in) cars and especially fuel-efficient mid-size cars, will continue to be a hugely important part of the industry. Chevy says its new Malibu will be larger, more in line wit the Accord, and more fuel efficient. The vehicle also looks fantastic and is sort of along the lines of the new Chrysler 200. Coupled with the new mainstream Malibu, Chevy is updating the Malibu hybrid. GM says the Malibu hybrid could approach 48 MPG. That would make it a standout in the segment now dominated sales-wise by the Toyota Camry. Mid-size hybrids need to offer value and a conventional feel, instead of just the top fuel economy possible, as Honda is now learning the hard way. Chevy says the new Malibu hybrid will use a two-motor system adapted form the Volt along with a 1.8-liter gasoline engine. This is great news. The new Volt strikes a great balance of real-world usefulness and green credibility. The more GM can spread the drivetrain components around the family, the lower its costs should be per unit. Anyone who has been watching this industry for a while knows that Chevy always says of the Malibu when updated, "this time we will be competitive." This time it needs to be true. 2016 Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Hybrid

For the second month in a row, GM issued a statement that indicated this sales situation is all part of the plan. Kurt McNeil, General Motors’ U.S. vice president of Sales Operations, said in a press release “...we knew 2015 would be a strong year for trucks. Higher demand dovetailed perfectly with the launches of our new full-size pickups and large SUVs. Low fuel prices and the successful launches of the Chevrolet Colorado and Trax made us even more bullish. Our foresight and disciplined approach to incentives is being rewarded with very strong truck sales and record average transaction prices.” Although this situation is most likely very profitable for GM now, looming corporate average fuel economy deadlines and mandates, and a possible return to higher gas prices may not be kind to GM if truck sales continue to be the only type of vehicle growth at GM. This trend is not industry-wide. Toyota's car sales are not down for the year, but up, as is the case at many smaller manufacturers who don't sell trucks, such as Subaru.

Commenting on Chevy's win, Vincentric said "Chevrolet wins the Vincentric Best Value Truck Brand in America award for the second consecutive year. Led by the 3/4-ton Silverado 2500 along with strong results from the Colorado, Silverado 1500, and Silverado 3500 the Chevrolet lineup outperformed tough competition." GM's Buick also did well taking the premium large sedan and premium large crossover categories. You can view the full list of winning vehicles at this link.