Chevrolet Trucks Blog

Recently, an automotive critic took the 2007 Chevrolet Suburban LT 4WD 1/2-Ton for a test drive in Lewiston, Michigan.

According to the critic, the SUV had ample leg room and seating capacity for four men over six feet tall, a four-year-old and an eleven-year-old. Access to the third row became very easy for the passengers. With a flip of the handle, the second row seat folded forward allowing for total access to the back. The front seats also was roomy for both the driver and passenger. The critic was also very pleased with the cargo capacity of the Suburban.

There was also a smooth ride thanks to the Suburban’s 5.3-liter Vortec V-8. The 4-speed automatic transmission with the cruise control helping along the way.

Comfortable drive was also experienced by the passengers and the driver due to the leather seats and and a fully-stocked audio system with XM radio and a DVD player. Other comfort features are front and rear air conditioning w/tri-zone manual climate controls which includes rear controls. The Suburban also has power steering, OnStar assistance system, tilt leather-wrapped steering wheel w/radio controls, cruise control, 6-way power driver seat, heated power mirrors, power windows, remote keyless entry, tachometer, engine-hour meter, automatic day/night rearview mirror, intermittent wipers, illuminated visor mirrors, map lights, rear defogger, rear wiper/washer and automatic headlights.

The Suburban also includes reliable safety feature like the dual front airbags, antilock 4-wheel disc brakes, antiskid system, tire-pressure monitor and daytime running lights.

Chevrolet trucks and other General Motors vehicles will be included in the recently announced, “Transform Your Ride Sale”.

The “Transform Your Ride Sale,” offers qualified buyers 0 percent APR for 36 months and additional $1,000 cash. The promo is in relation to the 4 th of July holiday release of DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures’ live-action film “Transformers” from Executive Producer Steven Spielberg and Director Michael Bay, opening July 3, 2007. The “Transform Your Ride Sale” runs from June 26 through July 9, 2007.

“People who have recently switched to a GM vehicle tell us we’ve really changed their previous perceptions about our products. They love their new car or truck,” said Jim Campbell, GM’s director of Customer Relationship Management. “We’ve enhanced the value of our cars and trucks with features like OnStar, XM Radio, superior quality and the best coverage in the business with a 5 year / 100,000 mile powertrain warranty plus roadside assistance and courtesy transportation. Just look at the award-winning Chevrolet Silverado or hot HHR. The “Transform Your Ride Sale” gives everyone the opportunity to buy a new car or truck with outstanding style, great fuel economy, performance and value.”

Chevrolet vehicles that are included on the promo are the 2006 and 2007 Cobalt, Monte Carlo, Impala, HHR, TrailBlazer, Tahoe, Suburban, Avalanche and 2007 900-series Silverado. Other General Motors vehicles covered by the promo are the Buick 2006 and 2007 Lacrosse, Lucerne and Rainier, Pontiac 2006 and 2007 G5, G6, Grand Prix and Torrent, GMC Envoy, Yukon, Yukon Denali, Yukon XL, Yukon XL Denali and 2007 900-series Sierra.

After opening its first Chevrolet assembly line in the country, General Motors plan to launch its first Kazakh-produced Chevrolet onto the Kazakh market next month.

The new assembly plant, together with a partnership between Asia Avto and GM Daewoo, was opened at the Asia Avto plant near the city of Ust-Kamenogorsk. The opening ceremony was attended by Kazakh president Nursultan Nazarbayev.

President Nazarbayev said that the “launch of the Chevrolet production line is a great achievement. These new competitive products will, I hope, both by price and quality win the Kazakh market and make it outside. The plant is a pioneer in the production of light vehicles in Kazakhstan and keeps developing. I support your venture”.

Chevrolet models Lacetti, Epica and Captiva, the first to be assembled by the line, were put on show in the Kazakh capital of Astana last weekend.

The number of units assembled by the line is expected to reach 1300 in 2007 and over 3000 in 2008, which are assembled from parts provided by GM Daewoo.

Kazakhstan’s annual vehicle sales exceeded 60,000 for the first time in 2006. This figure is expected to increase to 250,000 within five years.

Shares of General Motors Corp.  rose 94 cents, or 2.5 percent, to $38.35 in afternoon trading.

The all new 2008 Chevrolet Malibu is set to hit showrooms sometime this year. According to Chevrolet the dual-port front end featured in the new Malibu will be the new trend on Chevy vehicles. From the rear, the new Malibu looks like a cross between an Infiniti M35/M45 and a Buick Lucerne, despite the integration of Chevrolet’s trademark twin-round taillights.

Compared with the current Malibu, the 2008 model is three inches longer and has a wheelbase that is six inches longer. It will be offered in two engines, one is General Motor’s Ecotec 2.4-liter, 164-hp four, the other is a 252-hp, variable-valve-timing 3.6-liter V-6.

V-6 models gain a standard six-speed automatic with paddle shifters and dual chrome exhaust outlets. That transmission is optional on four-cylinder cars, which otherwise make do with a four-speed automatic.

Three trim levels will be available, the LS, which wears sixteen-inch wheels, LT with seventeens, and LTZ with eighteen inch rubber. The LTZ also gets fog lights and LED tail lights.

For passenger safety, the 2008 Malibu comes standard with ABS, traction control, head-curtain side airbags and front seat-mounted thorax protection airbags. Electronic Stability Control and panic brake assistant are standard on all except for the base LT models.

Promising to move the Malibu upmarket, the interior will feature optional two-tone color combinations. It will also have an available large, panoramic sunroof and a standard tire pressure monitoring system, that will be easier to look after.

Critics say that this new Chevy is a step in the right direct the right direction for General Motors. They also commented that it’s handsome and distinctive, and unquestionably better looking than the previous Malibu

The new Chevrolet Captiva SUV will finally be available next month.. According to reports it will be powered by a choice of 127 to 150bhp versions of the 2.0-liter diesel engine with the option of a 2.4-liter, that has 136bhp, petrol unit with manual transmission.

People will be happy to know that all diesel versions of Captiva could be equipped with a sophisticated four-wheel drive system, incorporating Descent Control, 4WD traction control and ESP as standard.

The Chevrolet Captiva was actually expected to be available much earlier but it was delayed due to some ‘engineering issues’ according to Chevrolet.

The Captiva offers some safety features which include airbags for both front seat passengers. The new Chevy will also have curtain-shaped roof airbags and side airbags. The SUV have a total of ten airbags.

For the choice of a five or seven seats, each type will include full three-point belts. While the two outermost seats in the second row, will include Isofix attachments for the safe installation of compatible child seats. It appears that ESP is on the 150bhp versions only.

In the Captiva’s launch, a total of six trim levels will be available across the 2.0L Diesel and 2.4 Petrol. The entry-level LS offers five seat and a, front-wheel-drive layout. It also comes with the 2.4-liter petrol engine and is comprehensively equipped. Its other specification are 16-inch alloy wheels and air conditioning. For its safety features, it offers dual, side and curtain airbags and a 4-channel ABS.

Driver’s convenience is not neglected in the Captiva with a remote keyless entry, tiltable steering column, power windows front and rear, rear fog lamps, a six-speaker CD player with MP3 player jack and steering wheel-mounted audio controls and roof rails. Its performance will benefit from the twin tailpipe exhausts. While its role as an SUV will come in with lots of storage facilities it offers.

The LS model comes with a diesel engine, front wheel drive system and five seats. The 127bhp model offers similar standard equipment as the 2.4 petrol model with leveling ride suspension system.

The diesel LT with On Demand All Wheel Drive with seven seats has standard equipment above LS trim including 17-inch alloy wheels, ESP, Descent Control System, front fog lamps, a leather-covered steering wheel and gear knob, telescopic and tiltable steering column, eight-speaker CD system with MP3 jack, cruise control, electric mirrors, parking aid system and rain sensor wipers.

The top of the range flagship LT model which has full leather interior with five-speed automatic transmission as all the equipment of lower trim levels as well as 18-inch alloys, heated front seats, power-folding mirrors with integrated turn signals, sun roof, heated seats for driver and passenger, 8-way power seat for driver and a six-CD autochanger and a multi-function trip computer.

The Chevrolet Captiva offered in the UK will have a price ranging from £16,995 to more than £22,000.