Automotive Reviews
Posts tagged Chevrolet
North American International Auto Show 2012
Jan 16th
It’s practically a tradition that the North American International Auto Show in Detroit is accompanied by the worst weather of the season. The second week in January in Detroit is rarely a pleasant place, but this year’s show was preceded by unseasonably warm and sunny weather. All thoughts of global warming aside, it seemed to indicate a subtle change in the climate of the automotive industry as well. No-shows included Mitsubishi, Suzuki and Jaguar/Land Rover, but all of the major industry players were present.
Several years of economic hardship (and more than a few casualties) have left the auto industry cautious; the wild abandon that characterized auto shows past is long gone. In its place, there’s a pragmatic realism–but for 2012, that realistic outlook is also optimistic. In addition to the upcoming products that are useful refinements of existing vehicles, Detroit also saw the debut of some honest-to-goodness concept cars, showing that the industry may have scaled back on the wildest flights of fancy, but it hasn’t forgotten how to dream. More >
2011 Chevrolet Volt
Jul 25th
“Is this the future?” more than one person asked upon checking out the Volt. “Is this the future of the auto industry?”
“No,” I replied. “It’s here now.” I wasn’t just being pedantic. In spite of its uncommon electric drivetrain, what’s most interesting about the Chevrolet Volt is how ordinary it is.
There’s a preconception that electric cars are little more than glorified golf carts, and the Volt should help to put that fallacy to rest for good. Powered by electrons instead of burning gasoline it may be, but the Volt is capable of handling day-to-day life just as well as a Cruze or a Civic. More >
2011 Chevrolet Cruze
Feb 22nd
Chevrolet, always the darling of the blue-collar set, has always struggled to produce a compact car that matches up to the competition. Oh, don’t get me wrong–Chevy’s compacts have sold in big numbers, but as products they’ve tended to be sub-standard vehicles. To be honest, the all-new Cruze’s two predecessors–the Cobalt and the Cavalier before that–were both on the extremely short list of cars that were so hopelessly mediocre that I couldn’t find a good word to say about them. That I’m even writing about the Cruze should be considered proof that Chevrolet has succeeded with this car.
The Cruze is a brand-new take on a familiar theme. Chevrolet’s compact sedans and coupes have always been affordable, no-nonsense vehicles at heart, and this one doesn’t stray far from that template. What’s new–and what make it stand out–is the sense of style and purpose. The Cruze is an entry-level car for buyers who demand more than just the minimum necessary. In other words, the Cruze is directed at the buyers who’ve been flocking to Toyota Corollas and Honda Civics for years. This isn’t just a rehash of the same tired program that gave us the Cobalt and Cavalier–the Cruze really is a significant step forward. More >