It’s hard to imagine that a car company, let alone series of brands, has lasted upwards of 100 years. With hard times hitting the industries in the 1920’s, to the most recent hardship that America has faced, it is good to know that General Motors’ Chevrolet brand has been one to stick it out for a full 100 years. To celebrate their recent paramount, Chevrolet has released a series of videos titled “The Road We’re On”. These videos bring life stories of Chevrolet owners, communities and dealers to the forefront of reality in America. Truly, these videos are a testament to how deep American history runs and Chevrolet was there to be a part through the ups and downs. Enjoy the 8-part series of videos below! Episode 1:  Welcome to Bridgeville Bridgeville is a small town in Pennsylvania steeped in Americana Episode 2:  The Colussys Dating back to 1918, the Colussy family owns and operates the oldest Chevy dealership in the United States Episode 3:  Half Mile of Dirt 24 year old driver Jared Miley carries on the traditions and breaks new ground with his family-run race team Episode 4:  Steel Roots Lisa Baer, a 4th generation steel contractor, tells the story of taking over a family business and the importance of keeping businesses local Episode 5:  History of Bridgeville The story of how Bridgeville, PA came to be what it is today and what it will be tomorrow Episode 6:  The Road Ahead What does the future of mobility hold for a small town in America? Episode 7:  Sarasnick’s The story of the Sarasnick’s and how they helped build their family-run business helped build their community.  Episode 8:  Me & My Chevy A look at local car clubs and profiles of vintage auto enthusiasts. Continued here: Chevrolet Releases new “The Road We’re On” Centennial Video Series Read more:  Chevrolet Releases new “The Road We’re On” Centennial Video Series

The next BMW M3 is already in the works making rounds at the normal Nurburgring testing grounds. Aside from finding out what will be under the bonnet of the new M3 or M4, whichever BMW decides to name it, enthusiasts want to know what BMW’s prided sports coupe will look like. Our good friends at BMWBlog , through the Facebook page of Iacoski , rendered the new M3/M4 into reality. So far, in my opinion, this is the best looking representation of what the new BMW M3/M4 could look like. What do you think, love it or leave it?                   Go here to read the rest: Next Generation BMW M3/M4 Rendered Into Reality Read the original here:  Next Generation BMW M3/M4 Rendered Into Reality

This isn’t the first time a whole row of vehicles has been wiped out at Tropical Chevrolet in Miami Shores. It’s the second time. The first time, an out-of-control Corvette bounded into the dealership lot and destroyed a bunch of SUVs. This time, it was a line of Corvette Grand Sports. More » Original post: How did a row of new Corvettes get destroyed at this Miami dealership? [Car Crashes] More here:  How did a row of new Corvettes get destroyed at this Miami dealership? [Car Crashes]

Last week, we told you about Chevrolet’s “Route 66″ Super Bowl ad contest, which will give one lucky independent filmmaker 30 seconds of Super Bowl airtime. But there’s a way for you to win, too: share your favorite video from among the 35 finalists, and you could walk away considerably richer. The process is pretty simple: 1. Start by being a… View original post here: Share Your Fave Chevrolet Commercial, Win A Shot At $10,000 (Or Something)

In today’s market, Chrysler isn’t ranked up there with the best luxury automakers. How could it be, when it still produces vehicles like the 200, which are aimed at the mainstream market? Especially considering that car is a heavy mid-cycle enhancement of what was a grossly uncompetitive previous model, the Sebring. Chrysler’s market position is somewhere above brands like Chevrolet, occupying the middle ground. If we could think of the most fitting competitor, it would probably be Buick and Lincoln. The Chrysler 300 stands out in the Chrysler lineup as a star product. It is big, rear-wheel drive and has a commanding presence, even if it lacks luxury cachet. Chrysler is hoping to change that though by taking it a bit further upmarket with a new package called Luxury Series. If you’ve been paying a lot of attention, you’ll know this is the Executive Series that Chrysler showed off at the previous Detroit auto show; it just has a new name now. It still is as nice as ever though, thankfully. A lot of the changes on the car offered by this package are thanks to the upgrades put into the 300-based Lancia Thema for the European market. For starters is the leather: its everywhere, on the instrument panel, cluster brow, center console side panels, upper-front and rear door panels – yeah we think you get the idea. The kind of leather used it most startling though. It is from Italy, offered in your choice of Black or Mochachino Poltrona Frau® “Foligno” leather. This is a very expensive leather used on exotic Italian cars. The Mochachino is the most striking combination. Wood used is a matte-finish (that is the new thing) hand-sanded Natural Pore Mocha. The whole interior seems to have a retro elegance and flair to it. The exterior is differentiated by a different grille, satin accents in place of traditional chrome, and 20-inch (on the RWD model, AWD gets 19s) polished wheels. The 300 is offers what Chrysler says is segment-exclusive features like all-wheel drive availability, a heated-steering wheel and an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission. Most impressive is the price: $40,125. For what you get, that is an incredible value – it just doesn’t have a coveted badge on the grille. Related posts: Luxury Reigns...

If you wanted “upscale luxury” on a Chevrolet budget in 1970 the Caprice was the car for you—as long as you had expensive tastes. From the “astro-ventilation” to the “tufted cloth interior” it was clear the Caprice was dripping with enough elegance to make “those expensive cars a little edgy”—we’re not positive we know what that means. More » Go here to read the rest: 1970 Caprice was sure to appeal to people with expensive tastes [Video] Here is the original: 1970 Caprice was sure to appeal to people with expensive tastes [Video]

If you commute to the city, why drive a plug-in hybrid only to burn down all your range upfront on the highway? To do so, means slogging through the city on gasoline once the batteries run flat, rather than use the more efficient, quieter, zero-emissions electricity to motor around the urban environment. The solution is known as a “Preserve Mode,” triggered by a button on the dashboard that allows the driver to override the hybrid system and run on gas power on the highway to preserve the batteries’ charge. The upcoming plug-in version of the Toyota Prius is the only hybrid that has an actual Preserve Mode. Chevrolet Volts destined for export markets have it. American Volt fans, however, have found it disguised as something else… The Volt has what General Motors calls Mountain mode, along with Normal and Sport. Mountain mode was designed for climbing three of the longest mountain grades in the United States. It cuts about 10 miles off the normal electric range of the Volt to expand the battery’s “buffer” zone— the 20-25 percent of charge that’s left after the car switches to gas mode. By engaging Mountain Mode when you take off, you can save those last 10 miles for later use, even if there are no mountains in sight. When you want to go back into electric mode later, you just select Normal; the battery buffer shrinks back to its normal size, and the engine switches off, giving you another 10 miles of petroleum-free driving. Wanting to show off the car to my family on EV mode one night, I was frustrated that my normal 40-mile commute would completely deplete the battery’s projected 38-mile range—until I remembered Mountain mode. I tried it and learned it works fine, even on comparatively level ground. And, my family was impressed gliding silently around in the Volt on electric power. After three more days of experimenting, I found it was easy to control when the gas engine came on during the commute. I could strategically set aside 10 miles of battery range for use on back roads, rather than burn it up at highway-speed. So why did GM choose not to feature Preserve mode on domestically sold Volts? Because for emission purposes as spelled out by the EPA, the electric drive cycle must be used first....

What did we do before the internetz? I remember something about Metallica and a short italian guy with a mustache that jumped on mushrooms. Right. My cousin Anthony. Nowadays, though, LOLs come like tommy-gun fire, and schadenfreude is tempered by being a quintillion bits removed from actual bad stuff happening. More » Here is the original: COTD: The Night Before LOLsmas edition [Commenter Of The Day] View original here:  COTD: The Night Before LOLsmas edition [Commenter Of The Day]

The total amount of state and federal subsidies for each Chevy Volt sold is as much as $256,824 per vehicle according to a fiscal analysis by Michigan’s Mackinac Center for Public Policy . All for a car that only costs $39,828. More » Original post: Report: Every Chevy Volt has over $250,000 in government subsidies [Chevy Volt] See the original post here: Report: Every Chevy Volt has over $250,000 in government subsidies [Chevy Volt]

Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood Last week, the NTSB came out with some pretty strong recommendations regarding cell phone use in vehicles . Under its recommendations, drivers would be banned from using cell phones in cars, unless the vehicle came equipped with an integrated Bluetooth phone link. Oddly, even aftermarket Bluetooth devices were covered by the proposed ban. Now comes word from The Detroit News that Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood isn’t in favor of the proposed ban, saying that, “The problem is not-hands-free. That is not the big problem in America.” Secretary LaHood wants to focus on the issue of hand-held cell phone use while driving, and is working with major automakers to supports legislation that bans the use of hand-held phones while driving. While individual states, not the federal government, set and enforce rules relating to the use of cell phones behind the wheel, the feds can tie highway funding to traffic laws. In other words, states that set and enforce bans on cell phone use would get a larger portion of the highway funding pie, while states (like Florida) that neither enact nor enforce legislation would get less funding. If you don’t think distracted driving is a problem, then you clearly don’t spend much time on the roads. In Florida, distracted and inattentive drivers are an epidemic, and everyone we know has stories of near misses (or worse, accidents) caused by a cell-phone addled driver. Hands free systems are better than hand-held, but in our opinion, if you’re talking on the phone you’re still distracted. Maybe the solution is public shame, and we’ve thought about having bumper stickers reading “Caution, Distracted Driver” printed up. Next time someone blows a red light and almost takes you out because they’re talking to a friend about nothing in particular, why not follow them to work and sticker their car? It’ll warn the rest of us who don’t drive with our heads up our collective asses, and may even save a few lives. Excerpt from: NTSB And Secretary Of Transportation Can’t Agree On Cell Phone Ban Here is the original:  NTSB And Secretary Of Transportation Can’t Agree On Cell Phone Ban

Last year, a Chevrolet was sold around the world every 7.4 seconds. This year, that number down to one every 6.6 seconds. Pretty amazing when you think about it. For most of its 100-year history, Chevrolet has been an American-centric brand. A good majority of its sales have always been racked up here in the United States. Historically, GM has relied on local brands like Opel in in international markets. In recent years General Motors has made a concerted effort to turn Chevy into a global brand. For instance just last year Chevy entered new markets like South Korea and Vietnam. Their efforts appear to be paying off. For 2011, Chevy is looking to set an all-time sales record, selling 4.8 million units through November. 60% percent of those sales are from outside the U.S, with markets like China, Russia and India playing a huge role, as well as Latin American countries. Chevrolet is the number one brand in Latin America with a market share of 18.7 percent. In comparison, Chevy has 13.7% market share in the U.S. Globally, Chevy sales are up a half a point in marketshare. In the U.S, passenger car sales are up by 34% thanks to strong performances from the Cruze and Malibu, which at the end of its life-cycle. The new Sonic launched a few months ago, and according to The Detroit Bureau , dealers are having the car on their lot for an average of just 17 days. Who says small cars can’t sell? Who says General Motors can’t sell competitive small cars? Not many people are saying either anymore. The Chevrolet Cruze is one of the best-selling compacts in the United States, and deservedly so. The Sonic slots in below it, to replace the Aveo. With both cars, GM is looking to continue market share gains into the next year. Next year, the 2013 Malibu should be a further sales booster, as it competes in the hotly-contested mid-size sedan market. With 2011 marking its 100-year anniversary, the Chevy brand looks like it is in better shape than ever. Related posts: Chevrolet Announces Record Sales For First Half of Year Chevrolet Trailblazer Returning To South America and Asia – For Now Global Next-Generation Chevrolet Colorado Coming to the U.S Automoblog.net – A Car Blog for Auto Enthusiasts Read the original here:  Chevrolet Enters New Markets, Breaks...

The holidays are upon us and while you may be searching for last-minute gift bargains for the family, it’s also a good time to find a holiday deal on a new car. The end of the year can be a good time to buy and take advantage of manufacturer incentives and rebates. Dealers are anxious to sell what they can now because the winter months are typically their slowest season. Plus, automakers, too, are hoping to close the year with strong sales. All these factors put the car buyer in a good position to negotiate and come out with a great deal on a good car. For our December selection, we have listed CR recommended 2011 and 2012 models that offer the best discounts. Prices on the models selected are between 15 percent and 20 percent below MSRP, but dealers may be interested in negotiating further if inventory is available. A few of the models — Chevrolet Traverse, Honda Pilot, Lincoln MKZ, and Mazda6 — have been on lots over 100 days and are ripe for negotiations. Buying a 2012 model instead of a leftover 2011 might get you the latest safety features and technology and more inventory to choose from at the dealership. However, buying a 2011 model may get you the best price as dealers are more willing to negotiate an outgoing 2011 model. Of course, the downside to buying a leftover 2011 is that it already has a year’s worth of depreciation under its belt. But if you drive your car a long time, short-term depreciation won’t matter much. The models listed below are just a few of our Best New Car Deals, meaning there are notable discounts on models that meet Consumer Reports’ criteria to be recommended. These vehicles scored well in our testing, had average or better reliability in our subscriber survey, and performed well in government or insurance-industry safety tests, if evaluated. See our full list of deals for 2011 and 2012 models. Make & model Expires MSRP Invoice price Customer rebate Dealer incentive Bottom line price See original here: Best new car deals for the end of 2011

Chevy’s mid-size Malibu is all-new for 2013, joining the Buick Regal on the global Epsilon II platform. Loyal readers of Car and Driver may remember that our John Phillips briefly drove and generally liked a 2013 Malibu prototype earlier this year. We recently traveled to Texas to see if our early impressions would hold up following a few more miles in real-world conditions. Keep Reading: 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco – First Drive Review Original post: 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco Driven: Looks Great, Less Filling (Up) See original here:  2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco Driven: Looks Great, Less Filling (Up)

Saab Automobile, 64, of Trollhättan, died Monday . It was born to the late Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget, June 10, 1947, in Trollhättan, Sweden. Saab graduated from Project 92 in 1949 and completed its first Sonett in the 1950s. It married the late General Motors in 1990, and they lived together in Detroit, Mi., before separating in 2010. Saab briefly partnered to form Swedish Automobile NV (née Spyker Cars NV) before the two parties amicably parted ways. It succumbed to financial hardship and complications from product starvation. Saab was a maker of cars and, later, sport-utility and crossover vehicles until it retired earlier this year. During its time in the U.S., Saab began traveling abroad; this led it to the business of importing and reselling Japanese goods . Once back in its native Sweden, Saab continued its Asian travels, this time venturing to China for outreach programs. Ailing health and visa troubles from its previous marriage ultimately kept it from pursuing all of the travel it had planned. Saab was very fond of the number 9 and anything remotely to do with air travel. Saab is survived by nearly 3000 unsold children: 9-3 and 9-5 of Trollhättan, Sweden; and 9-4X (SRX) of Ramos Arizpe, Mexico. It also is survived by a worldwide dealership and distribution network. Saab will be cremated following a formal receivership ceremony. In lieu of flowers, the company is requesting that donations be made out to the 3600 employees soon to be out of work. A selection of Saab Automobile’s accomplishments can be seen below. Ursaab – The name says it all. This was the original, prototypical Saab automobile. It was built by a group of aircraft engineers—and it kind of showed. Saab 92 – This somewhat-odd little car was an obvious evolution of the original prototype. Series production began in 1949. The somewhat-odd name refers to the project having followed that of the Saab 91 Safir, a two-seat prop plane. Saab Sonett – Designed first as a two-seat roadster—of which six were made—the Sonett was a purpose-built race car. The name was later brought back for a production-ready roadster and then a series of coupes. Saab 99 – Saab’s first entirely new car since the 92. It was also the first Saab...

“Two guys don’t usually do this stuff at home,” justified a man caught engaging in a sex act with the local sheriff, as to why they were performing said sex act in a 1994 Ford Escort station wagon parked behind an Irish bar. More » Excerpt from: Illinois Sheriff can’t quit station wagon sex [Daily DUI] Read more from the original source: Illinois Sheriff can’t quit station wagon sex [Daily DUI]