Then and Now | 100 Years of Chevy

The Chevrolet Centennial is just around the corner (November 3rd)....and we couldn't be more excited here at the dealership. Just think about it. 100 years of Chevrolet. That's crazy....crazy awesome that is.

2012 Chevy Sonic - The Sky is the Limit

This is quite simply one of the coolest videos we've seen in a long time. This video symbolizes everything that's fresh and new about the 2012 Chevy Sonic. Give it a look and tell us what you think.

Click here to learn more about the 2012 Chevy Sonic.

Rocky Ridge Truck Arrives

Hey everybody! I just wanted to send a quick note this morning telling you that our first Rocky Ridge truck has arrived...and it's simply awesome! They say these Rocky Ridge trucks are what other trucks look up to...and you can definitely tell it's the truth! We have a couple more of these trucks ordered...so make sure to visit our facebook page and our website raydennison.com for the latest information!

GM Introduces Industry's First Front Center Air Bag

Detroit - Beginning with the 2013 model year, General Motors will include the industry's first front center air bag in the Chevrolet Traverse. The new air bag is an inflatable restraint designed to help protect drivers and front passengers in far-side impact crashes where the affected occupant is on the opposite, non-struck side of the vehicle.

The front center air bag deploys from the right side of the driver's seat and positions itself between the front row seats near the center of the vehicle. This tethered, tubular air bag is designed to provide restraint during passenger-side crashes when the driver is the only front occupant, and also acts as an energy absorbing cushion between driver and front passenger in both driver and passenger-side crashes. The air bag also is expected to provide benefit in rollovers.

The front center air bag is expected to add to the vehicle's stellar record of third-party crash test performances. The 2012 Traverse has received five-star Overall and Side Crash safety ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program, and 2011 Top Safety Picks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Cruzin' To The Top

Summer has been a good one for the entire 2011 Chevrolet lineup. But one Chevy car in particular has become a summer blockbuster: the 2011 Chevy Cruze and co-star Cruze Eco.

The Cruse and Cruze Eco have been a huge draw over the past couple of months. As a matter of fact Cruze has been one of the top-selling cars across the board. Why the rise in popularity? Well, a lot of people discovered they'd rather spend more time at their chosen vacation spot than at the gas pump!

After all, Cruze gets a standard EPA estimated 36 MPG highway. And Cruze Eco offers the best highway fuel economy of any gasoline engine in America with an astounding EPA estimated 42 MPG highway.

For those with safety as a top priority, the 2011 Cruze was also named a IIHS "Top Safety Pick". When you add up important safety features such as the high-strength steel cage design, roof-crush resistance and 10 standard air bags that offer head, chest and knee protection, it's easy to see why.

So stop by our dealership and see for yourself what all the buzz is about. One of the few compact cars built entirely in America, courtesty of the Lordstown Ohio Plant, the 2011 Chevy Cruze.

Volt - It's Easy Being Green!

NEW YORK, April 21, 2011 -- The 2011 Chevrolet Volt has been named 2011 World Green Car of the Year at the New York Auto International Auto Show.

"The selection of the Volt as the World Green Car is a further proof point of the fuel-efficient technologies that are now being offered by the Chevrolet brand around the world," said rick Scheidt, vice president of Chevrolet marketing. "This award, and the others that have preceded it, validate the efforts of the development team to build a truly remarkable vehicle with the potential to transform transportation around the globe."

The Volt was chosen from an initial entry of 12 new vehicles from around the world, then a shorter list of 10, then three finalists: The Chevrolet Volt, the BMW 320d Efficient Dynamics Edition and the Nissan Leaf. The award is decided by a panel of global automotive journalists.

To be eligible for the overall World Car Award, the candidates must become available for sale on at least two continents during the period beginning Jan. 1, 2010 and ending May 30, 2011. The Chevrolet Volt will be eligible for the 2012 World Car Award as the Volt goes on sale in Europe and Asia later this year.

The World Green Car Award is the latest in a series of major awards for the Volt, which previously was named:

• 2011 North American Car of the Year
  


• Motor Trend 2011 Car of the Year



• Green Car Journal 2011 Green Car of the Year
  


• Car and Driver 10Best for 2011



• Ward's AutoWorld 10 Best Engines for 2011



• Automobile Magazine 2011 Automobile of the Year



• 2010 Breakthrough Technology, by Popular Mechanics

CHEVY MALIBU ECO - 38 MPG HWY.

Chevrolet says it will introduce an "Eco" version of its Chevrolet Malibu that will get 38 miles per gallon on the highway. The 2013 Malibu Eco will give Chevrolet another fuel efficient vehicle in addition to the Chevrolet Cruze compact car. The Malibu Eco, based on the all-new 2013 Malibu sedan, will get an estimated 26 miles per gallon in the city.

Mark Reuss, GM's president of North America, said the car will include GM's eAssist system, which used a state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery and an electric motor-generator to enable regenerative braking and electric assist and start-stop capability. General Motors is considering additional "Eco" versions of other vehicles but wants to see how well the Cruze Eco and Malibu Eco sell first.

Reuss said the 2013 Malibu Eco will go on sale during the first quarter of 2012. Chevrolet, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary, introduced its redesigned Malibu earlier this week at the Shanghai auto show.

Source - Detroit Free Press

2013 Chevy Malibu Eco's eAssist Technology

Happy Wednesday everyone! Check out this animation of the 2013 Chevy Malibu Eco's eAssist technology.

2011 CHEVROLET AWARDS

We've won the awards...now YOU be the judge! Take a look at just some of the many awards Chevrolet has picked up for the 2011 model year!

http://bit.ly/h9zmBp

2013 CHEVY MALIBU REVEAL

A first look at the all-new 2013 Chevy Malibu with a completely redesigned exterior and interior. A revolutionary new touch console puts all the information where you need it and seamless integration with your USB devices. Be sure to keep checking our blog and our website http://www.raydennison.com for the latest updates in all things Chevrolet!

Ray Dennison Chevrolet - Central Illinois' #1 Chevrolet Volume Dealer

2011 Diamonds & Dreams

Watch how Chevy transforms a baseball field to help a community with the Diamonds & Dreams promotion. For more information check out www.chevybaseball.com, and enter to win baseball field makeovers, equipment packages, baseball clinics, and even a Chevy vehicle such as the Chevy Equinox, Traverse, Malibu or Cruze.

Chevrolet Sonic Gets Sporty With Z-Spec Accessories

Chevrolet today introduced the first production Z-Spec accessories for the 2012 Sonic, an all-new small car hitting the streets this fall. The Sonic Z-Spec portfolio– which will be showcased at the New York International Auto Show – includes “Color Out” accent packages with contrasting-color exterior parts and graphics that express the car’s performance characteristics.

The Sonic combines a youthful, aggressive design with turbocharged performance and agile ride and handling. When equipped with an available, efficient 1.4L turbo, it is expected to achieve an estimated 40 mpg highway.

“The new Z-Spec accessories reinforce Sonic’s fun, youthful spirit,” said Rick Scheidt, vice president, Chevrolet marketing. “Customization is particularly important with the customers we believe will gravitate toward the Sonic, and we want to help them make their vehicle look exactly the way they want as easily as possible.”

The Z-Spec accessories will initially include body-color ground effects (with a silverexhaust tip), contrasting mirror caps and roof spoiler, contrasting upper and lower grille surrounds and a body graphics package, along with 16- and 17-inch painted alloy wheels. The ground effects kit features a front fascia extension, rocker panel extensions, rear fascia extension and silver exhaust tip.

Interior upgrades include aluminum sport pedals and sill plates.

Z-Spec also includes color accent packages in “Black Out” or “White Out.” These “Color Out” packages, displayed on vehicles at the New York Auto Show, feature black accents on a Summit White Sonic and Summit White accents on an Inferno Orange Sonic.

“Sonic is a great canvas for customization, and Z-Spec offers a cohesive design with a family of factory-engineered accessories and graphics,” said Scheidt.

Z-Spec parts can be purchased individually, to suit customer tastes and budgets, or can be purchased as a complete package. When the parts are purchased with the Sonic and installed by the dealer, customers can roll the cost into their monthly payments.

Additional accessories will be available for the Sonic, ranging from the fashionable to the functional, such as chrome mirror caps and door handles to cargo nets and trunk trays. Additional graphics packages also will be available in the future.

The accessorized Sonics on display in New York share traits with the Z-Spec concept versions of the Cruze, Spark and Volt shown at the 2010 SEMA show. For example, each wore ground effects kits, rear spoilers and Z-Spec-specific grilles, as well as Z-Spec graphics.

Sonic at a glance
The Sonic is offered in two body styles: a four-door sedan and a sporty five-door. Each delivers class-leading rear-seat roominess and cargo space. A variety of connectivity features enhance the driving experience.

Sonic is offered with an efficient Ecotec 1.4L turbo engine rated at an estimated 138 horsepower (103 kW) – 18 horsepower (14 kW) more than Ford Fiesta – and 148 lb.-ft. of torque (200 Nm), between 1,850 rpm and 4,900 rpm. It is expected to deliver 40 mpg on the highway (EPA estimates pending).

A standard Ecotec 1.8L engine is paired with a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission, delivering an estimated at 135 horsepower (101 kW) and 123 lb.-ft. of torque (167 Nm) at 3,800 rpm.

The Sonic will be built at the Orion Assembly Center in Orion Township, Mich., making it the only subcompact to be built in the United States.

Safe Spring Driving

Spring is finally on its way and not a moment too soon. Much of the country will be glad to finally say good riddance to Old Man Winter. Whether it was too much snow, sleet or ice, just driving around became a challenge for a lot of people many times this past winter.

But we're not completely in the clear. In addition to mild temperatures, spring brings its own driving hazards — like road construction, rain, mud, fog, black ice, potholes and lots of distractions.

Here are a few cautions to watch out for and some safe driving tips to help steer you clear of danger:

* Always slow down in work zones and keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you, as well as between you and any construction workers and equipment.
* Slow down in the rain. Water can mix with oil, dirt and grease on the road to create slippery conditions, especially after a dry spell.
* Avoid using cruise control in the rain. If you hydroplane, there's the chance your car could actually accelerate.
* Watch for icy conditions caused by thawing snow, rain or mist, especially on bridges or in shaded areas because these are the first places to refreeze.
* Keep your eyes — and your focus — on the road. There are distractions on and off the road, including people outside walking, bicycling and playing ball — not to mention your cell phone.
* Beware of potholes. Hitting potholes can throw your vehicle's front end out of alignment or damage the tires and/or the metal wheel of your vehicle. Keeping your tires properly inflated can help reduce pothole damage. If hitting a pothole is unavoidable, try slowing down before hitting it. Less severe damage occurs when a tire is rolling than when it is skidding over a hole during braking.

If you would like your front-end alignment checked or your tires rotated, call our service department for an appointment. We're here to help.

Truck Month is here!

Come get your keys because truck month has arrived at Ray Dennison Chevrolet! Qualified buyers get 0% APR financing for 72 months on '11 Silverado 1500 & Avalanche models. Or get 0% APR financing for 60 months for qualified buyers on '11 Silverado 2500/3500, Tahoe, Suburban and Colorado Extended Cab models. All are backed by a 100,000/5-year3 transferable Powertrain warranty. Visit us online at www.raydennison.com for more information. HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON!

Weekly Wrap Up #6

Where else can you find extremely enthusiastic Packer fans, Super Bowl singing blunders, Happy Gilmore's grandma AND the latest Chevrolet news? That's right. Here.

Weekly Wrap Up #5

Tons of snow, ignorant groundhogs, Super Bowl predictions, the inspiration of Ditka, Chuck Norris and awesome commercials? Weekly Wrap Up? Yes.

Weekly Wrap Up #4

Join our Media Manager as he discusses Super Bowl 45, bad coughs, Jay Cutler's message to the world and Aaron Rodgers' #1 fan. After you're done watching this video, kindly visit www.raydennison.com to check out our Ray Dennison Chevrolet Owner Appreciation Days specials!

Weekly Wrap Up #3

Bears and Packers football. Chevy Volt. Favre retiring (again). Regis Philbin. Our Media Manager is covering it all with another Weekly Wrap Up!

Weekly Wrap Up #2

Hey! Our Media Manager is back with another weekly wrap-up. Don't miss the latest Chevrolet news...and well...other stuff.

Max and Al

Chevrolet Silverado HD is the 2011 Motor Trend Truck of the Year. Chevy Silverado HD presents the Legendary Stories of Duramax Diesel & Allison Transmission: Max & Al prove that you just can't trust a rookie to get the job done right. Maybe Power Stroke® needs a change already! See more videos at http://www.raydennison.com

Weekly Wrap Up #1

Welcome to Ray Dennison Chevrolet's weekly wrap up! In this addition, our Media Manager discusses Chevy Owner Appreciation Days...New Year's resolutions...and well...other random stuff.

We're back!

Wow! It's been a long time since I've posted anything on this blog. I'm back now, and I'll be using this blog to share with you the latest Chevrolet news, topics of the day and anything else that strikes my fancy. Does anyone still use that phrase anymore? Did anyone EVER use that phrase to begin with? Hmm..so many questions.

Be back soon!

Scott Lundeen
Media Manager
Ray Dennison Chevrolet