The Review of the 2015 Chevrolet Camaro

Parkway Chevrolet is excited for the upcoming Camaro, and wanted to take a moment to give you the information that has been revealed so far. The sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaro is expected to arrive as a 2015 or 2016 model year vehicle in 2015. The vehicle will be all-new (completely reengineered and redesigned) and is will be smaller and lighter than the fifth-generation model — improving the driving experience, performance, and fuel economy.

While the fifth-generation Camaro is a very capable sports car, the Camaro team has recognized several areas of improvement for the next-generation vehicle. Most notably, these include size/dimensions, weight, and outside visibility from the cabin — all elements that have been noted as detracting from an exceptional driving experience in the 5th-gen model.
As such, the next-gen Camaro is expected to shrink in size, be lighter, and offer better visibility than the outgoing model — all elements that will allow the vehicle to be more agile and driver-oriented. The improvements will be made possible by migrating the sixth-gen Camaro to an all-new vehicle architecture (platform).
Some insiders have described the sixth-gen Camaro as being more along the lines of the Hyundai Genesis Coupe — itself a highly-praised sports car.

The 2015 Camaro will use a variant of GM’s new rear-wheel-drive vehicle architecture known as Alpha. The platform, shared with the 2013 ATS and 2014 CTS from Cadillac, is expected to help with reducing the weight of the new Camaro by anywhere from 150-300 pounds.

Powertrain

The 2015 Camaro is expected to offer the following engine choices:
2.0 liter turbocharged I4 LTG
3.6 liter naturally aspirated V6 LFX
New 3.6 liter twin turbo V6 LF3
New 6.2 liter naturally aspirated V8 Small Block LT1
New 7.0 liter naturally aspirated V8 Small Block (LS7 successor)
New supercharged V8 Small Block
All engines will be direct injected and feature Variable Valve Timing, among other features.

The sixth-gen Camaro is expected to jettison the classic-inspired design of the fifth-generation model and adopt an all-new design that’s modern and contemporary. The styling may have been previewed by the Chevrolet CODE 130R Concept originally unveiled at the 2012 North American International Auto Show.
While not much is known about the interior of the 2015 Camaro, the cabin of Chevy’s new affordable sports car is expected to be redesigned for better ergonomics, more high-technology, and an improved driver position while utilizing better materials throughout.


General Motors has confirmed that the 2015 Camaro will be produced at its Lansing Grand River assembly plant in Lansing, Michigan, alongside the Cadillac ATS and 2014 CTS. By contrast, the 5th-gen 2010-2014 Camaro was produced at GM’s Oshawa assembly plant in Canada.

Make no mistake; the new Camaro will be in plentiful supply to the Greater Houston area. We at Parkway Chevy want to be your final destination for the Camaro and all of you Chevrolet needs. If you have any questions, please feel free to stop by or drop us a line via Facebook.

Introducing the 2015 Chevy Tahoe

The 2015 Chevy Tahoe is an amazing vehicle that is one of the largest staples in the Parkway Chevrolet SUV family. Whether you're headed for a weekend at the lake, a quick stop at the office before the big presentation or a date night downtown, the groundbreaking, alI-new 2015 Tahoe gives you the confidence to go anywhere. Do anything. Tahoe is the versatile full-size SUV that features a stunning exterior design, a beautiful, functional interior that includes available power-release second row and fold-flat third-row seats, and the technology you need to stay connected to your world. We're sure you'll appreciate that Tahoe provides incredible spaciousness, while offering better fuel economy than any of its competitors — an EPA-estimated 23 MPG highway — and the capability to do whatever you set your mind to.

The 2015 Chevy Tahoe is available in three different models levels:

LS

Confident styling and innovative technologies make the all-new Tahoe the SUV to take you everywhere. The 2015 Tahoe LS features:
New EcoTec3 5.3L V8 engine with Active Fuel Management,™ Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing
6-speed automatic transmission
Projector-beam headlamps
18-inch aluminum wheels
Fold-flat second- and third-row seats
Rear vision camera
Rear Park Assist
Remote vehicle starter system
Automatic tri-zone climate controls
Front center air bag

LT

In addition to LS features, the 2015 Tahoe LT features:
Leather-appointed first- and second-row seats
Heated front bucket seats with memory
Chevrolet MyLink† with 8-inch diagonal color touch-screen
Bose® premium sound system
Lane Departure Warning
Forward Collision Alert
Power liftgate with programmable height

LTZ

The most impressive Tahoe, the 2015 LTZ, includes all LS and LT features as well as:
High-intensity discharge headlamps
LED daytime running lamps
Foglamps
Keyless entry with push-button start
12-way power-adjustable heated and cooled front seats
Front Park Assist
Memory power-tilt and telescoping steering column
Power-release second-row and power-fold third-row seats
Side Blind Zone Alert with Lane Change Assist
Rear Cross Traffic Alert
20-inch wheels

A blend of capability and efficiency

It starts with the world-class EcoTec3 5.3L V8, an all-new engine designed to generate more power and offer better fuel economy than any large SUV of any competitor in the industry – an EPA-estimated 23 MPG highway – without sacrificing performance. The strong, efficient EcoTec3 V8 generates 355 horsepower and 383 lb.-ft. of torque, giving you the confidence to handle just about any driving situation.

The New Chevy Tahoe is an amazing step in the right direction from Chevrolet. We at Parkway Chevrolet are proud to be behind this vehicle and if you are in the Houston area, feel free to stop by and take one for a test drive!

The Review of the 2014 Chevy Equinox

The Chevrolet Equinox comes with a four-cylinder engine that reviewers think is underpowered. A V6 engine is also available, and reviewers prefer the additional power that it provides. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard, and test drivers write that it performs well with either engine. The base Equinox gets 22/32 mpg city/highway, which is good for an affordable compact SUV. Automotive journalists appreciate the Equinox’s comfortable ride, and note that it handles adequately. However, some also write that SUVs like the Ford Escape and Mazda CX-5 are more athletic. As a result, many agree that the Equinox isn't very fun to drive.

Test drivers say the 2014 Equinox has an attractive, spacious cabin that is well-built and features quality materials. They agree that the front and rear seats are roomy and comfortable. The Equinox offers a good amount of cargo space for the class, though it has a bit less cargo space than rivals like the Honda CR-V. Reviewers write that the Equinox has straightforward controls and that the optional infotainment system is easy to use. The 2014 Chevrolet Equinox comes standard with a six-speaker stereo with auxiliary and USB ports, satellite radio and Bluetooth phone connectivity. Available features include leather upholstery, heated front seats, Chevy’s MyLink infotainment system, navigation, a rear-seat entertainment system, a backup camera, forward collision alert, lane departure warning and a power liftgate.

Here are some of the statements and reviews of the 2014 Chevy Equinox
"The 2014 Chevy Equinox is a worthy choice for a small crossover SUV, particularly if you're interested in one with a nice highway ride and an available V6 engine." -- Edmunds

"If [you] want a comfortable family/gear hauler that's larger than other compact crossover SUVs but small enough to be at ease in parking lots, the Equinox is worth a look." -- Kelley Blue Book

"But if you have to have a V6 and you like a SUV with all the trimmings and don't mind paying more for it -- the Equinox still makes a solid case for itself." -- AutoWeek (2013)

Chevy Sweeps the 2014 Car and Truck of the Year Award

Ingenuity has its rewards. Announced on January 13, 2014, at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, the all-new Chevrolet Corvette Stingray and Chevrolet Silverado have earned the titles of 2014 North American Car and Truck of the Year, respectively. This marks only the third time in the awards’ 21-year history that one automaker has swept both awards, which is a feat that Parkway Chevrolet could not be more proud of.

“It is a distinct honor for the entire Chevrolet team to have both Corvette and Silverado recognized with these prestigious awards,” said Alan Batey, General Motors senior vice president, Global Chevrolet. “Chevrolet is in the midst of the most aggressive product transformation in the brand’s more than 100-year history. Corvette and Silverado truly embody the passion, commitment and focus that is driving us to deliver the most expressive designs, innovative technologies and engaging performance in every vehicle that wears the bowtie.”

North American Car and Truck of the Year are awarded annually at the start of media week at the NAIAS. Forty-nine automotive journalists from the United States and Canada vote to recognize the most outstanding vehicles of the year based on factors including innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar.

North American Car of the Year is just the latest of more than 20 awards and recommendations the 2014 Corvette Stingray has received since its introduction last fall, making it the industry’s most awarded car of the year. Stingray is the most powerful standard Corvette model ever with 455 horsepower and 460 lb.-ft. of torque from a 6.2L V8 engine. And it packs an even more impressive 460 horsepower and 465 lb.-ft. of torque with the available performance exhaust system, enabling models with the available Z51 Performance Package to sprint from 0 to 60 in 3.8 seconds. The Stingray engine features advanced technologies including Direct Injection, Variable Valve Timing and Active Fuel Management to balance performance with the greatest efficiency of any sports car on the market — an EPA-estimated 29 MPG highway when equipped with the 7-speed manual transmission. Learn more about the all-new 2014 Corvette Stingray.
The all-new 2014 Silverado completed the sweep, winning the award for North American Truck of the Year. Silverado was recognized for features such as its available 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 engine, which generates 355 horsepower for confident towing and hauling, yet seamlessly switches to four cylinders to save fuel during light-load driving. With an EPA-estimated 23 MPG highway, Silverado offers the best fuel economy of any V8 pickup. Silverado 1500 also recently received the highest possible 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score for Safety† as part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s New Car Assessment Program. To learn more about any of these vehicles and what options that are available and are in the Houston area, please visit Parkway Chevrolet, or message us on Facebook here.

2015 Chevrolet SS getting manual transmission, Magnetic Ride suspension

We're big fans of the Chevrolet SS here at Parkway Chevrolet, west coast editor Michael Harley recently saying the Aussie import "comes across as a polished, and very well-rounded, sport sedan package that is more focused on performance than the others." Those others, of course, being competitors like the larger Dodge Charger SRT8 or even the Chevy's more luxurious cousin, the Cadillac CTS Vsport. Now, if reports swirling 'round the internet are true, the SS will be getting another performance-focused addition for the 2015 model year, and it's one we're seriously stoked about: a manual transmission.

This information comes courtesy of Motor Trend editor Jonny Lieberman, who broke the news on Twitter. In addition to the do-it-yourself gearbox, the 2015 SS will also reportedly use General Motors' excellent Magnetic Ride suspension – what's found on the Corvette, among other cars. That setup, combined with a proper row-your-own transmission, should make for one absolutely lovely SS.

When reached for comment, GM spokesperson Afaf Farah told Autoblog, "We have not made any new announcements about the Chevrolet SS." According to Lieberman's tweet, the updated SS will make its debut at the annual Woodward Dream Cruise in August.

The 2015 Chevy Impala Bi-Fuel Burns Combustible Natural Gas

Parkway Chevrolet is a huge advocate to the environment, which is evident in their Natural Gas Vehicle focus of the past few years. There is a huge buzz around the direction that the vehicle line is going in. Currently, the only natural-gas-powered passenger car offered for sale by an OEM in the US is the Honda Civic Natural Gas. Starting this fall, that long-running CNG car will be joined by a CNG-burning 2015 Chevy Impala for both fleet and retail customers. General Motors announced today that the car will start at $37,385, plus an $825 destination charge. That comes to $38,210 before taxes and options.

Those options include two trim lines, the base LS and the upper-level LT. Chevy doesn't break out the details in the press release announcing the price, but you can see the trim details for the standard gas-powered 2014 Impala here. Exact information on the 2015 models is not available just yet, but GM spokesman Chad Lyons told AutoblogGreen that the equipment that you see listed on the site for 2014 is "almost exactly the same" as what will be available for 2015.

The 2015 Impala gets around 19 city mpg on CNG, but official EPA numbers are not yet available.

That means the LS will come with 18-inch aluminum wheels, electric variable-assist power steering, projector-beam headlamps, and 10 air bags. The LT adds an eight-inch touch screen with MyLink, premium Cloth interior and dual-zone automatic climate controls. The cost for this upgrade is unspecified. For CNG purposes, we can ignore the numerical prefix used for the gas-powered LT trims, since that denominates the engine type, and all the CNG models use a 3.6-liter engine with hardened valves and valve seats that can better handle natural gas. The trunk capacity also drops from 18.8 cubic feet to 10 cu .ft. in order to fit in the CNG tank that holds the equivalent of 7.8 gallons of gas. That amount of CNG should move you 150 city miles, which is around 19 mpg, but official EPA numbers are not yet available. With the addition of the gasoline on board, the overall range is 500 city miles. The car burns CNG when available and switches to gas with "no interruption" either when the tank is empty or when the driver selects the gas tank. Find more details in the press release below.

GM says the CNG Impala will will be available nationwide this fall. CNG is a growing fuel in the US, thanks in part to fracking. The Civic Natural Gas, which starts at $26,640, is growing towards a nationwide availability. Next year, for example, the Shell Eco-marathon Americas in Detroit will allow CNG for the first time. Parkway Chevrolet is really excited for this new move in this direction. We look forward to seeing if the other Chevy lines will follow suit. This is also a huge benefit for the Parkway family who has their hands in the NGV business, and is a huge advocate for a greener earth.

Chevy Continues to Transform onto the Big Screen

Parkway Chevrolet is proud that announce that Chevrolet and a Camaro that converts into the iconic Bumblebee will once again turn heads when the Transformers movie franchise returns to screens around the globe in the upcoming “Transformers: Age of Extinction” from director Michael Bay, in theaters June 27.

The latest film also features Chevrolet's sold around the world including a Corvette Stingray that converts to Autobot Crosshairs, a Trax and a Sonic outfitted as a Rally Car.

The fifth-generation Camaro converted into Bumblebee in the 2007 film “Transformers,” the 2009 film “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” and the 2011 film “Transformers: Dark of the Moon.” The latest edition features two Camaros specifically built for the film, one a heavily modified vintage 1967 Camaro SS and the other a futuristic concept Camaro.

“The Transformers movies have been a great partnership for Chevrolet by allowing us to introduce our vehicles to new fans, young and old, around the world,” said Tim Mahoney, chief marketing officer, Global Chevrolet. “Now for the fourth time, you’ll see a Camaro as a heroic Autobot, a fitting role for one of the stars of Chevrolet’s lineup.”

Said Lee Anne Stables, executive vice president of Worldwide Marketing Partnerships for Paramount Pictures: “The Chevrolet partnership with this iconic Michael Bay movie franchise has become one of the longest-running and most innovative movie-brand relationships in film history. This new Chevy campaign will definitely bring new and exciting elements to a global audience of Transformers movie fans around the world.”

In addition to providing vehicles for the production, General Motors’ locations for filming included GM Design at the Warren Technical Center, the Milford Proving Ground and the Lansing Grand River Assembly plant.