Nissan building new small van for GM’s Chevrolet
General Motors is entering the next-generation small van competition with a new version of a commercial vehicle made by Nissan, both companies announced Tuesday.
The Chevrolet City Express, as it will be called, will be a revised Nissan NV200 and will come to market in fall, 2014. Nissan has been trying to aggressively find new uses for its small NV200 van, including adapting it as the “taxi of tomorrow,” the mainstay of New York’s cab fleet.
In creating a Chevrolet version, Nissan solves a problem for GM. With the success of Ford’s small Transit Connect, the pressure has been on GM to find a match. By partnering with Nissan, GM cuts years of development time and expense.
GM officials know exactly what they want the van to accomplish.
“It’s designed to go head-to-head against Transit Connect — and win,” Ed Peper, GM’s fleet sales chief tells USA TODAY. “Speed (to market) was a very important asset we had to have here.”
The van will be for sale to individual customers as well as fleet buyers, the businesses that buy their vans in bunches for flower deliverers, plumbers and myriad other enterprises.
The small van segment is new to GM. Ford basically created the segment in the U.S. with its Transit Connect, which sort of a combination car and truck. Now, Peper says GM’s vehicle will stand out from the Nissan with an entirely new front-end design that looks distinctively like a Chevrolet and a five-year, 100,000-miles powertrain warranty.
The van, to be built at a Nissan plant in Mexico, is yet another example of how Nissan partners with other automakers to try to get enough production volume at its plants to make vehicles successful.
“Working with partners to expand markets for our innovative products enhances Nissan’s growth and manufacturing efficiency by leveraging our capacity to meet growing demand in this space,” says Joe Castelli, a Nissan vice president, in a statement.
Now it yet to be seen whether GM will try to enter the large, new-generation van market. It is dominated by Mercedes-Benz’ large Sprinter, and both Ford and Chrysler have their own large vans planned based on European designs.
Our House is Your House at Bob Maguire Chevrolet
We’ve been waiting 100 years to host an event like this. And Chevrolet would be honored if you could join us. Our centennial celebrations are coming to a close as we open our doors for one last hurrah…
On July 27th, Chevy kicked off 100 days of celebration in honor of its Centennial with events that commemorated our past, highlighted our present and demonstrated our vision for the next 100 years.
And now we’re inviting you to the grand finale: The Chevrolet Centennial Open House happening November 1st – 7th!
The official date of our 100-year anniversary is November 3rd but we’re celebrating all week with a tribute to you: our loyal and much appreciated customer. We’ll be opening our doors and inviting you in for entertainment, food and beverages plus vehicle demonstrations, test drives and more!
Chevy is proud of our achievements during the past century but we have our eye on the future too. Our goal is to continue to make performance affordable and visually appealing. Which is why during our Open House we’re going to unveil the all-new 2012 Chevy Sonic and give you a chance to experience the evolution of a cultural icon in person.
Being a driving force for 100 years is definitely something to celebrate. So please join us during the Chevrolet Centennial Open House. It’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime occasion. Hope to see you there!
The Maguire Auto Group in Central New Jersey
The Maguire Automotive Group has been serving New Jersey since 1977. We are a family owned and operated automotive dealership group, whose size and volume allow us to offer the largest selection, best prices, and added value programs, but also enable us to stay in tune with our customers wants, needs, and desires. A vital factor of our success has been our unwavering dedication to our customers. Our motto is that a Maguire Auto Group customer will receive the best quality vehicles and service at the most competitive price. Most importantly, service and care are never sacrificed; we expect that the goal of each and everyone of our employee’s will be to help maintain this standard.
We strive to listen to our customers, create an environment of mutual trust, exceed all customer expectations, foster a “WIN-WIN” culture and environment for the customer and company, follow up diligently, and continually improve the quality of our products and services to benefit you, the customer.
The Maguire Auto Group maintains an unwavering standard of honesty. Integrity is an indispensible part of our relationship with every customer, employee, manufacturer, and vendor.
Season of Doing at Bob Maguire Chevrolet in Bordentown, NJ
It is the Season of Doing at Bob Maguire Chevrolet in Bordentown, NJ. The Chevy Season of Doing Event brings HUGE Savings on all of the 2011 and 2012 Chevy LineUp, and especially on the 2011 Chevy Trucks!
full-size trucks are used in such a wide range of situations-from construction fleets to long-distance driving-and the two different interiors offered in the Silverado and the nearly identical GMC Sierra help satisfy shoppers better than most other competing models. LS and LT models are probably the best fit for buyers who need the sturdy, get-messy capability of a pickup at least some of the time, but the LTZ is the choice for those who need a pickup that doesn’t compromise luxury. And for those who need a pickup but want to make a greener choice, with even lower operating costs, the Silverado Hybrid has 25% better fuel economy without sacrificing much towing or hauling ability.
Overview
Chevrolet continues to offer two completely different interiors for its Silverado 1500 family of pickups: Work Truck, LS and LT trims get a so-called “pure pickup interior” that includes larger door handles and controls that are designed to be used with gloves on, while the LTZ trim gets the same luxurious, softer, and more carlike interior that’s used in the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban. The LTZ instrument panel is a bit lower to afford a better outward view, and several special color and trim themes are offered with the LTZ exclusively. LTZ models boast many more exclusive features in addition to the instrument panel; different door panels, a divided center console, heated power leather front seats, and an upgraded Bose sound system are included, while the top crew cab LTZ models get a rear-seat audio system, larger glovebox and rain-sensing wipers. In most Silverado 1500 models, a stadium-style back seat is split 60/40, including a folding center armrest, and can be folded forward easily. The extended-cab versions have enough legroom for occasional use and access is aided by 170-degree back doors. Regular cab, crew cab, and extended cab versions of the Silverado are available, while cargo bed lengths are 5′ 8″ for the short bed, 6′ 6″ for the standard bed, or 8 feet for the long bed. The maximum payload rating runs as high as 1,909 pounds. Across most of the model line, the Silverado has a very good ride and handles well compared to the full-size trucks of the past, with a well-tuned coil-over-shock front suspension, Hotchkiss-type rear suspension and rack-and-pinion steering. Actually, five different suspension packages are offered, each tuned for particular types of use: Z83 is for a smooth ride; Z85 is oriented for better handling and trailer towing; Z71 yields better off-road capability; Z60 is for top street performance; and NHT is for top towing capacity. Towing numbers range up to 10,700 pounds when configured with the extended cab, 6.0-liter engine and Enhanced Trailering Package. The 2011 Silverado offers four different engines-a 195-horsepower, 4.3-liter V6, a 302-hp, 4.8-liter V8, a 315-hp, 5.3-liter V8 and a 403-hp, 6.2-liter V8. The V6 comes with a 4-speed automatic, while all others get a 6-speed automatic.
Fuel economy ratings are as high was 22 mpg on the highway. The Silverado Hybrid is a good option for green shoppers who still need pickup capability. The 2-mode hybrid system incorporates a 6.0-liter gasoline V8, electric motor system, variable automatic transmission and nickel-metal hydride battery pack, all of which enable a 6,100-pound tow rating while allowing especially good fuel economy in city driving, with EPA ratings of 21 mpg city, 22 highway. Top options on the Silverado include Bluetooth phone connectivity, a rear-seat DVD entertainment system and a navigation system with XM Nav Traffic, plus a rearview camera system that aids visibility while parking this tall vehicle.
The 2011 Corvette Z06 Carbon Limited Edition: A Corvette Collector’s Dream
With only 500 units lined up for production, the 2011 Corvette Z06 Carbon Limited Edition serves as a must have for any Corvette collector! The new Z06 is “designed to further incorporate technology through racing”, and is, “…a tribute to the 50th anniversary of Corvette’s first race in the 24 Hours of LeMans”, says Chevrolet General Manager, Jim Campbell. According to Tadge Juechter, Corvette Chief Engineer, the Z06 Carbon is, “the best balanced Corvette yet. It combines the lightweight and naturally-aspirated Z06 engine with the road-holding and braking of the ZR1”.
This limited edition Z06 will boast Bremo carbon ceramic brakes with specific dark gray metallic calipers. The Corvette will also sport black 20 spoke 19-inch/20-inch rear wheels wrapped by Michelin PS2 tires. And, for the first time, the Z06 will have Magnetic Selective Ride Control.
The car also features a special carbon pattern engine cover. The Corvette Z06 Carbon will be available in two colors: Inferno Orange and Supersonic Blue. It is enhanced by black headlamps and mirrors, a ZR-1 style body color spoiler, body color door handles, carbon raised hood, and black carbon fiber rockers and splitter. For track events, you can even install Euro-styled racing numbers (that come with each car).
The 2011 Corvette Z06 is decked to the nines. Its ebony leather and suede interior is enhanced by blue or orange seat stitching (depending on what color you choose), and you will also find a unique steering wheel emblem, sill plate and logoed headrest. The suede used on the steering wheel, shifter, seat inserts, armrests and doors add to the luxury of the Z06!
The 2011 Corvette Z06 Carbon Limited Edition will be available late this summer! So look into buying yours today, there are only 500!