There is just something about that bow-tie. Chevrolet trucks have long gained a reputation for being sturdy and dependable. This does not only reflect on their pick-ups and SUVs but on their semi trucks and other heavy duties as well. From the Kodiak to the W Series, the boys behind the bow-ties really know how to manufacture a truck that is as nice to look at as it is thrilling to drive.

Light and medium duty trucks are available in a wide range of styles, colors and even manufacturer’s brands. If you have never driven a particular brand then you may not have a preference. Of course you probably know about Ford, Freightliner, Peterbilt and all the others, but there are many truck drivers who simply will not drive anything but a Chevrolet truck. Of course there are also people who will not drive anything but a Chevy car or SUV. Beginning to see a pattern here?

If you know the Chevrolet brand then you definitely know that it stands for quality and service. This is true whether you are referring to the smallest car or the most heavy duty truck. There really is something in a name, and the bow-tie symbol represents a name that stands for one of the most stellar reputations in the history of automobiles. Whether you drive a small commercial truck or one of the biggest and baddest rigs on the road, there is absolutely no denying that when you see that bow-tie you think of quality. Why else would they be one of the very top automobile and truck manufacturers in the world for so many years in a row?

It is because of quality. If you are planning to purchase a commercial or heavy duty truck, then this is a brand that you should definitely consider. The trucks are manufactured with the highest quality and safety standards in mind. If you are setting up your own trucking business or are considering becoming an owner/operator then you definitely want a truck that you can depend on for traveling without costly repairs. Remember the bow-tie. Chevrolet trucks are popular for a reason. They are good trucks. Companies and drivers depend on them to transport their cargo without incident and they deliver more than what they promise. When you get ready to purchase your new truck remember - the power of the bow-tie compels you.

General Motors, the manufacturers of the immediately recognized world renowned Chevrolet cars of various shapes and colors also produces a trio of trucks: the Avalanche, the Colorado and the Silverado. The Avalanche comes in three variants, the LS, the LT and the LTZ mentioned in an ascending order of pricing.

The next-generation Vortex V8 engine installed under the hood of the Chevrolet Trucks have an Active Fuel Management System that intelligently makes a transition from 8 to 4 cylinders when power is not needed and vice versa when required and informs the driver of the switch to boot, via the Driver Information Centre(DIC). In addition to this the engine has fuel flexibility so that it can run on either gasoline or E85 - a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline - or a combination of both. Incidentally, E85 ethanol fuel is not only eco-friendly but is also home grown use of which can enhance the nation’s economy and energy independence.

The DIC mentioned earlier is packed with features that make it a real time watchdog constantly monitoring and reporting the functioning of the truck. The equipment also lets you personalize some of the operations of the vehicle such as locking/unlocking. The apparatus also has a stopwatch among its more assorted functions.

The Chevrolet Truck comes with a remarkable array of safety features that leaves nothing to be desired. In addition to the customary front airbags for the driver and the passenger the Chevrolet Truck sports the Head-Curtain Side Airbags designed to reduce the risk of head and neck injuries. Child safety is taken adequately care of by the provision of LATCH (Lower Anchors and Top tethers for CHildren) - a routine fixture for all Chevrolet Vehicles. Available in the LT and the LTZ models is the Rear View Camera, a contraption that allows the driver to see - on the navigation screen - stationery things when reversing. It is more useful when hooking up to a trailer.

Remote keyless entry, a standard device in all Chevy vehicles is offered in these trucks. Another utility that is available in the Chevrolet Truck is called OnStar. This is a one stop safety and security service that can be stated to be an amalgamation of advanced driving technologies that inspires confidence in the driver. The system comprises Voice Directed Turn-by-Turn directions, Vehicle Diagnostics that emails you monthly report on what is wrong with the vehicle. Locked Out - with the OnStar installed you don’t need to panic. A call OnStar will get the truck opened remotely. Night time safety is taken care of by the provision of standard halogen lamps that allows light to be more intense and centered. The automatic exterior lamp control design illuminates and extinguishes exterior lighting with driver intervention.

Chevrolet trucks can be described in three words: bold, big, and high-performing. It wouldn’t be generating a lot of sales every year and obtain high praises from utility vehicle consumers if they don’t possess all these qualities.

Chevrolet trucks are generally classified into two that are currently released in the market today. One is the Chevrolet Colorado and the other is the Chevrolet Silverado. Chevrolet Colorado is like the Canyon of General Motors. They are both in midsized and pick up trucks. In 2004, both of them were released in the market. In addition to that, both of them also are good alternatives for the S10 and Sonoma of Chevrolet and GMC respectively.

The Chevrolet Colorado boasts of automatic and manual transmissions. If you want relative ease, or if you’re basically new when it comes to driving pick-up trucks, you can find the automatic transmission such a benefit. Nevertheless, when the terrain appears to be difficult to just solely depend on the automatic capacity of the truck, you have to switch to manual transmission. The model also has drivetrain option, and is a four-door truck. The body style, meanwhile, is crew cab. If you like superior performance of the engine, go get a Colorado with a 3.5-L engine.

Chevrolet Silverado has also its down side when news broke out about its issue in its gauge instruments in the panels. It was found out that the gauges are not accurately reading that creates some disappointments to its consumers. For this reason, a lot of discussions in the forums in the internet are made for the said subject. However, there is still no word from Chevrolet about this issue.

There is some negative publicity about Chevrolet Silverado that is relating to its gauge instruments in its panels. It was said that the needles just do not work at all creating a not so good readings. The forums in the internet are filled with these discussions especially among car owners. However, they are still waiting for the public announcement from the company about this.

However, it is undeniable that both of these Chevrolet trucks are the best mate for every motorist especially when traversing some hard terrains that only needs the most durable and power engine that can be available. Adding to this is the ultimate accessory that sends a word to everyone that he owns himself a Chevy truck. This is none other than the Chevrolet truck keychains. It comes in a wide variety of designs. One can find it in chrome circle, leather silver or gold as well as the metal oval. This would perfectly suit everyone’s craving for style.

One could not help himself but in awe with the keychains as it is embedded with the company that has been a reputed car manufacturer. All keychains are marked with “Chevy” on it. This would make everyone who would see it to buy one.. Perhaps, with its elegance and design, the would have their money’s worth on it.

You can also have the choice to personalize the keychains, if you want to give them away as presents. There are already too many companies that are willing to embed the name of your organization or the name of the recipient on the strap or on the face of the chain itself, giving these Chevrolet truck keychains a higher personal value.

General Motors’ all-electric Volt to reach consumers in late 2010

General Motors is quite confident these days. The company recently priced its highly-anticipated full-size hybrid SUVs and showed off a concept version of its full-size hybrid Chevrolet Silverado. GM CEO Rick Wagoner also noted that his company will release one hybrid per quarter for the next four years — lofty goals indeed.

Likewise, the company’s brand new Chevrolet Malibu mid-sized sedan has been generating an overabundance of praise and its new $32,000 second-generation Cadillac CTS just walked away with Motor Trend’s Car of the Year award.

GM is hoping to use this momentum and high level of interest in its vehicles to push the electric motor-powered Chevrolet Volt to customers by the end of 2010.

GM vice chairman Bob Lutz has heard all of the critics who question GM’s aggressive ramp for the Volt, but is still committed to moving forward.

“There is a lot of skepticism within the company about the timeline,” said Lutz. “People are biting their nails, but those of us in a leadership position have said it has to be done.”

GM is hoping to use the Volt as a halo car to further strengthen its brand and its commitment to fuel economy. Dodge used the Viper to enhance its image for performance and styling in the 1990s. Toyota used its Prius at the turn of the century to shroud the entire company with a green image despite the fact that gas guzzlers like the Tundra and Sequoia share the same showroom space.

“When they think of GM, the iconic brand is, unfortunately, the Hummer,” continued Lutz. “That perception needs to change.

The GM Volt features a 1.0 liter, 3-cylinder gasoline engine which is solely used to recharge the onboard lithium-ion battery pack. The battery pack, which will be manufactured by Compact Power and Continental Automotive Systems, powers the Volt’s electric motors for forward propulsion.

GM says that the Volt can travel for up to 40 miles on battery power alone. After the 40 mile threshold has been reached, the gasoline engine kicks back in again to recharge the battery pack.

The entire industry has its eyes on GM and its Volt. Toyota took a big risk with its Prius and it has paid off dearly for the company.

“We have since realized that letting Toyota gain that mantle of green respectability and technology leadership has really cost us dearly in the marketplace,” Lutz added. “We have to reestablish GM’s leadership and the Volt is, frankly, an effort to leapfrog anything that is done by any other competitor.”

THE Edinburgh Marathon has announced a major new sponsor for next year’s event.

Car giant Chevrolet will back the race after getting involved on a smaller scale last year, joining a large team of sponsors which includes the Evening News.

They will back the Hairy Haggis Team Relay, which allows people to jog a section of the course with friends without completing the arduous full marathon distance.

Richard Chamberlain, national retail marketing manager for Chevrolet UK, said: “We are very pleased to be contributing once again to the Edinburgh Marathon after the great success of the event in 2007.

“A number of our marketing managers were involved in the Hairy Haggis Team Relay in 2007 and wanted to give others the opportunity to have as much fun competing as they did.”

Damien O’Looney, marketing manager for the marathon, said: “To have Chevrolet UK increase their commitment by sponsoring the marathon and team relay shows we are continuing to grow in popularity.”

Other sponsors of the event on May 25 include Strathmore Spring Water and Real Radio.

Uzbekistan plans to start producing the Chevrolet Lacetti at UzDaewoo Auto by 2009, a source from Uzavtoprom, which unites the country’s vehicle manufacturers, told Interfax.

The government of Uzbekistan has adopted a resolution on organizing commercial production of the Lacetti at UzDaewoo, which approves the implementation of this project, he said.

UzDaewoo Auto and GM DAT signed a contract on September 14 2007 for delivery of the machinerya and equipment required to set up Chevrolet Lacetti production. The project’s feasibility study puts projected capacity for the new conveyer line at 30,000 cars per year. The project is to take 16 months to set up.

The government has given Uzautoprom permission to allocate an interest-free loan equivalent to $47.69 million to UzDaewoo Auto, of which $41.2 million will be used to buy machinery and equipment.

UzDaewoo Auto was established jointly by the Uzbek government and Korea’s Daewoo motor. The company launched construction of an auto plant in Andijan region in 1996 with projected capacity of 200,000 vehicles a year.

Uzbekistan purchased the Daewoo Motor stake in UzDaewoo Auto in October 2005 and Uzautoprom now holds all the shares.

Uzautoprom and General Motors set up the joint venture GM Uzbekistan in October 2007 to produce and sell Chevrolet cars in Uzbekistan on the basis of UzDaewoo Auto. GM owns a 25% stake and Uzbekistan 75% of the joint venture. Projected capacity is 250,000 vehicles annually.

UzDaewoo Auto currently produces seven car models, with commercial production of the Nexia, Matiz and Damas and assembly of the Lacetti, and Chevrolet Captiva, Epica and Tacuma from October 2007.

UzDaewoo Auto produced 140,080 cars in 2006, up 38.7%. The company plans to turn out 170,000 cars in 2007