Hangout 2012 Wrap Up | Hangout 2012 | Chevrolet

Great work, Clyde!

"I purchased a new 2012 Corvette from Clyde, he did an excellent job of taking care of me through the entire transaction!"

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Schedule of Events:

Bob Brown Chevrolet- 3600 111^th Street (I-35/80-Douglas Ave.) Des Moines, IA

Friday June 1^st, 2-6pm & Saturday June 2^nd, 9-5pm

 

S.I.P. Kids

All day, both days

 

Urbandale Police Department

-Friday 3-6, Saturday 10-2

-Information, brochures, stickers

 

Des Moines Fire Department

-Friday 2-6, Saturday  Afternoon

 

Hawk-I / Outreach

-Friday 3-6, Saturday 10-4

-Information & giveaways

 

United Way

-Handouts

 

Raccoon Valley Humane Society

-Saturday 1:30-4:30

-Dog safety presentation

 

Big Brothers/Big Sisters

-All day, both days

 

Blank Park Zoo

Animals/Reptiles

Friday 2pm – 5pm

Saturday 12-3

Don’t forget to get your coupon for $50 in Bob Brown Rewards Dollars when you spend $250.00 in the service department! Offer expires tomorrow so hurry in today!

See here for more infomation!

Volt Generates First Time Interest in Chevrolet

DETROIT – The Chevrolet Volt is winning new customers to the brand from the competition with the Toyota Prius topping the list of most traded-in vehicle followed by the Toyota Camry, Honda Civic and BMW 3 Series.  

“I owned a Prius for six years and loved it. I was one of the first to sign-up for the plug-in (version),” said Steve Glenn of Santa Monica, Calif.   “While I was waiting for it to ship, I learned that the Volt would qualify for the HOV stickers, so I did a test drive. I fell in love then. It’s faster, better appointed and gets far better gas mileage than the Prius (or the plug-in). I've driven it over 1,000 miles and I've only used five gallons of gas.”

Access to high-occupancy vehicle lanes, also known as carpool lanes, is a desired commuter perk in traffic-clogged California.

“Volt is a game changer for us in northern California,” said Shaun Del Grande, president, Del Grande Dealer Group in San Jose. “On a daily basis new customers are coming into our dealership to check out the Volt because of its breakthrough technology and superior fuel economy.  Our dealership is seeing new customers who are trading in Prius and Civic models, and we’re just getting started with electric vehicles.” 

In a recent survey, Volt owners expressed their passion for the vehicle with 93 percent stating that they would buy the car again. 

“Nearly seven in 10 Volt buyers are new to Chevrolet,” said Volt marketing manager Cristi Landy.  “With new customers coming to the brand because of the Volt, our dealers have a great opportunity to establish lasting relationships and introduce them to our entire Chevrolet product line up.”

The Volt has a total driving range of up to 379 miles, based on EPA estimates. For the first 35 miles, the Volt can drive gas and tailpipe-emissions free using a full charge of electricity stored in its 16-kWh lithium-ion battery. When the Volt’s battery runs low, a gas-powered engine/generator seamlessly operates to extend the driving range another 344 miles on a full tank. Volt owners have travelled more than 10 million miles since the vehicle launched late last year. Roughly two-thirds of those miles were powered by grid electricity.

Courtesy of media.gm.com

Guy Fieri To Pace Indianapolis 500 in Corvette ZR1

DETROIT – Restaurateur, best-selling author and host of the Food Network’s hit show “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” Guy Fieri will drive the 2013 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Pace Car to lead the field of 33 drivers to start the 2012 Indianapolis 500 on Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“There are races and then there are races,” said Fieri. “And without a doubt, the Indy 500 is the race that I’ve always wanted to attend.  And now, to be driving the Corvette Pace Car…this is going to be unbelievable.”

Fieri is an avid classic car collector.  He owns a red 1968 Chevrolet Camaro SS convertible that is featured on his show. Among others, Fieri also has a 2011 Camaro SS convertible, 2007 Corvette, 1970 Chevelle SS 454, 1967 C10 pickup, 2006 Kodiak C4500 4X4, 2006 Silverado 2500 and a 2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV.

“We are excited to have Guy Fieri drive the Corvette ZR1, the official Pace Car for the 2012 Indianapolis 500,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet vice president, Performance Vehicles and Motorsports.  “Guy will bring his genuine enthusiasm as he leads the starting field to the green flag for the 96th running of the Indianapolis 500. We are humbled by his passion for Chevy and ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.’”

With 638 horsepower, the Corvette ZR1 is the most powerful production car ever to pace the race. This will be the 23rd time a Chevrolet has paced “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” and the 11th time a Corvette is serving as the Pace Car. Both are event records. The 2013 model year will mark the 60th anniversary and the final year of production for the current generation Corvette.

Courtesy of media.gm.com

Right now, catch our latest vehicle specials, like this 2012 Chevy Camaro 2SS for $45,742

See here for details.

Chevy IndyCar Engine Offers Promise for Passenger Cars

DETROIT – The unbeaten track performance of the new Chevrolet IndyCar V-6 engine is bringing acclaim to the engineers who created it and hope for its significant technology to find its way into passenger cars.

Engineers Mark Kent and Matt Wiles, along with Steve Miller and Steve O'Connor from Ilmor Engineering, took home the 46th annual BorgWarner Louis Schwitzer Award on Monday for their work on the Chevrolet IndyCar V-6 engine. The award recognizes individuals for innovation and engineering excellence in the field of race car design, specifically related to the annual Indianapolis 500 race.

The fuel-efficient 2.2-liter twin-turbo V-6 engine, GM’s first IndyCar engine since 2004, has earned four wins in the first four IZOD IndyCar Series races of the 2012 season. The development team leveraged GM's experience in E85 fuel and direct injection and Ilmor Engineering's race engine design expertise.

“Going four-for-four at the racetrack and winning the Louis Schwitzer award has exceeded our expectations, but the ultimate goal for this project has always been to develop powerful fuel-efficient engine technologies that could be transferred to production cars,” said Mark Kent of the GM Performance Vehicles and Motorsports group. “Racing has always been a great proving ground for advanced powertrain technologies, and this IndyCar V-6 is no exception.”

Some of the direct-injection turbo capability that gives the IndyCar engine its edge also will power the new Ecotec 2.0L engine coming to the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu.  Rated at 259 horsepower (193 kW) and 260 lb.-ft. of torque (353 Nm) between 1,700 and 5,200 rpm, the 2.0L is more powerful than Malibu’s previous V-6 engines. Available turbo charging also powers Chevrolet’s Sonic and Cruze.

The secret to the IndyCar engine’s success is how its twin turbochargers boost performance and throttle response. The team enhanced the engine’s Hitachi fuel delivery system with six high-pressure direct injectors in the heads and six lower-pressure injectors in the plenum.

The team used computer models and testing to determine the best possible placement of fuel injectors to make them suitable for production cars, and made use of special coatings in the engine and exhaust system to reduce friction and improve fuel economy. They also designed compression ratios and piston shapes to manage the heat generated during operation.

With peak performance of 12,000 RPM, the 2.2-liter V6 is the highest revving direct injection engine in current racing competition.

The engine is currently at the service of Team Penske, Andretti Autosport, KV Racing Technology, Ed Carpenter Racing, Panther Racing, Dragon Racing, and Panther/Dreyer & Reinbold Racing this year.         

“Even though the four of us were individually recognized, it was the entire team that deserved recognition,” Kent said. “This award would not have been possible without the significant contributions by the GM Global Advanced & Race Engine Engineering group, Ilmor Engineering, Hitachi and our Chevrolet IndyCar teams.”

Courtesy of media.gm.com

Keeping Kids Safe Project at Bob Brown Chevrolet

Keeping Kids Safe Project
Brought to your community by:
Bob Brown Chevrolet
3600 111th Street Urbandale, IA 50322
Friday, June 1st & Saturday, June 2nd
2 PM - 6 PM 9 AM - 5 PM

WHO
Children of all ages. We welcome families from the community to come attend this community child safety event featuring one of the top child safety programs in the country! There is no age limit.

WHAT
FBI quality digital fingerprints and photographs. S.I.P. Kids will take a child’s picture and fingerprints, using a digital inkless fingerprint capture device, and include them as part of the child’s file which is then provided to the parent. The parents can use the copy they receive to turn directly over to authorities anywhere in the world to instantly aid in an investigation. This specialized equipment tours the country and will be in your area during these dates only!

WHY
So many children are reported missing each day in the U.S. Most are found within minutes or hours and have happy endings. Police officials say that time is critical in the recovery of missing children. One major problem that costs precious time is the gathering of current photographs, fingerprints, and statistical information to assist law enforcement agencies.

Local Contact:
Tim Manning
(515) 278-7825
Keeping Kids Safe Project by S.I.P. Kids Cedar Falls, Iowa
Phone 319.268.4111 www.KeepingKidsSafeProject.com Visit us on Facebook!
This is a not for profit event - FREE for all families
Local Schools and Organizations that agree to provide this information to parents are not endorsers of the program. They provide this strictly for informational purposes for parents.

Chevrolet Volt Saves Supertanker of Gas

DETROIT– Chevrolet Volt owners collectively have saved a supertanker of gasoline since the electric car with extended range went on sale, compiling 40 million miles on electricity and avoiding the use of more than 2.1 million gallons of gasoline.

“With each click of the odometer, Chevrolet Volt owners are measuring their contribution to reducing America's dependence on foreign oil and to preserving the environment,” said Cristi Landy, Chevrolet Volt marketing director.  “Volt owners are also saving at the fuel pump with more than $8 million in combined savings.” 

Chevrolet recently introduced a rolling ticker on its website that showcases real-time daily driving statistics for Volt owners based on OnStar data. Results in total number of miles driven, electric miles driven and gallons of gas saved are viewable. As of today:

40 Million Total Electric Miles (EV) driven equivalent to:

• 16,373 trips across the United States (2,443 miles from New York to Los Angeles)
• 1,606 trips around the Earth (24,901 miles each)
• 167 trips to the Moon (238,657 miles each)

2,130,000 Gallons of Gas Saved equivalent to:

• 50,714 barrels of gas saved (42 gallons of gas per barrel)
• $8,000,000 saved at the gas pump (based on $3.80/gallon of gas)
• 387 U.S. semi-truck tankers of gas saved (5,500 gallons of gas each)
• One supertanker  of gas saved (2 million gallons of gas)

“Our Volt owners are driving the vehicle exactly as the car was designed,” Landy said. “Sixty percent of the time our owners are driving electric, but the extended range is providing additional miles when they need it. This shows that you don’t have to change your daily driving habits to drive the Volt.”

The Volt has a total driving range of up to 379 miles, based on EPA estimates. For the first 35 miles, the Volt can drive gas and tailpipe-emissions free using a full charge of electricity stored in its 16-kWh lithium-ion battery. When the Volt’s battery runs low, a gas-powered engine/generator seamlessly operates to extend the driving range another 344 miles on a full tank. Typically Volt owners drive an average of 900 miles between fill ups at the gas station.

Courtesy of mediia.gm.com

Maintenance Tip: Avoiding Potholes

Potholes destroy tires, and the price of tires is rising sharply due to a supply shortage of natural rubber (yes, it still comes from trees, mostly in southeast Asia) and increasing demand from China, where car ownership is undergoing double-digit growth. Petroleum is also used in tire manufacturing, adding further to cost volatility. Blow out just one tire on one pothole and expect to pay out more – one major tire manufacturer increased prices three times in 2011 alone.

Damage from potholes doesn’t stop at tires. In a blink of the eye, you can experience $1000 of damage, possibly more, when your car hits a pothole – it’s possible to impair your car’s shock absorbers, suspension system, struts, rims and alignment as well. According to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, the average additional vehicle operating costs due to rough roads in 2007 was $400, with higher costs experienced in places including Baltimore ($589), Concord, NH ($656), Dallas-Fort Worth ($512), Los Angeles ($746), New Orleans ($622), New York-Newark ($638), Oklahoma City ($631), San Francisco-Oakland ($705) and Tulsa ($703). Deteriorating roads and general inflation since 2007 likely pushed these costs higher.

But there are things you can do before, during and after hitting a pothole. A preventive strategy is more about preparation, driving skills and reacting appropriately when a pothole sneaks up to surprise you. We suggest you approach it on three fronts, as follows.

Adopt smarter driving practices

You can reduce damage with vehicle preparation and driving with good sense:

• Check your tire pressure to keep it at the tire manufacturer’s recommendation. If a tire is too soft, it handles poorly and in a sudden bump may rupture if the wheel rims pinch it against the jagged edge of a pothole. Over-inflated tires are more susceptible to damage as well.
• Have a clean windshield! Your field of vision is critical.
• Observe the traffic ahead of you – if other cars are swerving and stopping, it’s because of a problem in the road.
• Beware of puddles – what might look like a little surface water might have a nasty, deep and sharp-edged pothole lurking below.
• Reduce your speed on roads that are prone to potholes. Slower hits generally involve less damage, a simple matter of physics.
• Stay focused and pay attention to the amount of traffic in front, behind and alongside you. You might be able to avoid potholes but do not want to cause an accident while doing so.

React quickly, intelligently when a pothole is upon you

Assuming you drive defensively – and do not tailgate, which restricts your ability to anticipate potholes or sudden braking by the vehicle in front of you – here is what to do if you are just about to hit a pothole:

• Brake only lightly, if at all. And do something counterintuitive by letting off on the brakes entirely the moment before impact. Clamping down on your brakes at higher speeds not only tempts rear-end collisions but also compresses the front-end suspension system, increasing the damage.
• Hard braking can actually cause greater contact between the tire and the pothole where it might otherwise glide over it.
• Do not swerve in a last ditch attempt to avoid the pothole. Aside from creating a hazard for vehicles immediately behind and beside you, you risk hitting the pothole on an oblique angle, which can cause more damage to the tire, wheel rim and alignment than if you hit it perpendicularly.

Reduce the damage in the aftermath

Post-impact, the right moves can at least limit the extent of the damage:

• Immediately pay attention to whether or not you have a flat tire. If so, minimize how much you drive on it, pull off the road as soon as you can do so safely where you can change the tire to your spare. This will minimize the damage to your wheel rim.
• Even without a flat, there may be preliminary damage. At your next stop, check tire rims to see if they were bent, if there is visible cord material or bulging. This could fail later while driving.
• Note if your car pulls to one side without corrective steering. This suggests the wheels are out of alignment and need mechanical attention.

In most municipalities, you can and should report potholes to the streets department – use a smartphone app such as SeeClickFix or SaveMyTire.com, or the local 3-1-1 or other call-in line. You might also be compensated for your loses if that pothole was reported previously and left unfixed, however rules for this are determined on a city, township or county level.

Courtesy of Pothole.info

Bob Brown Chevrolet's May Open House Sales Event

Get into the 2012 Cruze During Bob Brown Chevrolet's May Open House Sales Event!

Chevrolet Will Add New Small SUV to Global Lineup

DETROIT – The Chevrolet Trax, an all-new small sport utility vehicle, will join the Chevrolet global portfolio and make its debut at the Paris Motor Show in September.

With room for five passengers and class-leading cargo space, Trax will meet the needs of customers in more than 140 markets.  Mexico and Canada will be the first markets to launch the crossover in the fourth quarter of this year. Because of the strong position of the Equinox, there are no plans to introduce the Trax in the U.S. market. 

“The Trax provides Chevrolet an entry into a growing small SUV segment and delivers the flexibility, great fuel economy and car-like handling that urban explorers around the world require,” said Mary Barra, GM senior vice president of Product Development. “After a record sales year in 2011 and a record first quarter, Chevrolet continues to meet customer needs by expanding its portfolio with strong new entries.”

Chevrolet has recently introduced a new Malibu mid-sized sedan, Colorado pickup, TrailBlazer mid-sized SUV and Cruze station wagon. When it joins its siblings in the showroom, Trax will possess the same pioneering spirit and expressive design that defines each new Chevrolet. 

Trax exhibits its SUV toughness and capability in a small package through a muscular exterior design and wide athletic stance. While its contemporary form evolves the global Chevrolet design aesthetic, Trax’s interior and details will be executed to standards usually found in more expensive vehicles.

Courtesy of media.gm.com

Hey fans! Don’t miss this 2012 Chevy Camaro 1LT, only at Bob Brown Chevrolet!

See here for more details!

Four Decades Later, Mini Cars Livin’ Large Sedan Life

DETROIT – Mini-cars like the coming Chevrolet Spark are a fraction of the size of the average American 1973 full-size sedan, which were some of the largest passenger cars ever. But looks can be deceiving. Designers are putting a lot more inside small cars than might be expected.

Based on dimensional averages based on published data for popularly priced 1973 American sedan models marketed by three leading American manufacturers, here are four facts comparing today’s subcompacts and the 1973 sedans:

• Exterior - The mini-car is 50 percent smaller than the typical ’73 American full-size sedan.
• Height - New subcompacts like the Chevy Spark are actually 6 inches taller than the 1973 sedan.
• Wheels - The wheels on the new 2013 mini cars and the 1973 full-size cars are equal – both maintain their poise on standard 15-inch rims.
• Interior - The 2013 subcompacts have front and rear headroom and front legroom that match the average 1973 American full-sized sedan

Courtesy of media.gm.com

Take advantage of our latest incentive for the 2012 Chevy Malibu!

2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU 2.9% APR for 60 months for qualified buyers.

Monthly payment is $17.92 for every $1000 you finance. Example down payment: 18%.

Some customers will not qualify. Take delivery by 07-02-2012. Residency restrictions apply.

Ask your sales consultant for complete details.

Camaro ZL1 Joins the 11-second Club

DETROIT – The 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is officially in the “11-second” club, as engineers recently turned an 11.93-second/116-mph quarter-mile elapsed time run in a showroom-stock Camaro ZL1 automatic. A Camaro ZL1 manual ran an 11.96-second ET at 117 mph.

Only a few other production vehicles can run the quarter-mile as quickly as the ZL1. Fewer yet can also run 0-60 in 4 seconds, reach a top speed of 184 mph and lap the famous Nürburgring in 7:41.27 – all with the street-legal, factory-issued components and no time-consuming equipment adjustments at the racetrack.

“The ZL1 is great at everything and we’re very proud of that,” said Tony Roma, Camaro ZL1 program engineering manager. “You can take it to the drag strip and run 11-second quarter-miles all day long. You can also take it to a road course, where it’s balanced, handles well, and does exactly what you want – including lapping Virginia International Raceway’s Grand Course in under three minutes – and yet the ZL1 is sophisticated enough to use as a daily driver. It’s a supercar you can drive every day.”

For perspective, the Camaro ZL1 is so quick that some drivers who experiment with “drag radial” tires or full racing slicks may find themselves going too quick for most NHRA-sanctioned racetracks, where a five-point roll bar is required for vehicles running 11.49 or quicker. The 11.93-second ET in a stock ZL1 tested by the engineers wore the factory-issued Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar G:2  tires developed specifically for it, putting the car only a scant 0.44-second away from that additional racing safety requirement.

Tuned for the drag strip

The original, special-order 1969 Camaro ZL1s are still revered for their legendary performance on the drag strip and Chevrolet was keenly aware that customers for the new, 21st century edition would undoubtedly test its straight-line mettle in quarter-mile increments.

The Camaro team re-engineered 30 percent of a Camaro 2SS to make the ZL1, including special modifications just for the drag strip.

“We know many of customers will take their ZL1 to the drag strip,” said Gordon Rojewski, driveline development engineer – and who is also an experienced drag racer and owner of a turbocharged, 920-horsepower street car. “Some may just go once, to experience the full potential of the 580-horsepower LSA engine. Others may be more serious, going every other weekend with a set of slicks in the trunk. As such, we set out to make sure the ZL1 would perform for them – on the first pass and on the 100th.”

For example, to withstand the heavy loads of repeated hard launches, the ZL1 features a stout 9.9-inch rear differential mounted in a robust cast iron center section. It also features a standard differential cooler that can lower the temperature by 100 degrees F for improved performance and longevity.

The ZL1 also features asymmetrical half-shafts: a 60mm hollow shaft on the right and a 33mm solid shaft on the left. The different torsional stiffness rates of the shafts work in conjunction with the limited-slip differential to minimize the chance of wheel hop at launch. Engineers modified the rear suspension, as well, to accommodate an 18-inch wheel, for owners who want to fit a set of drag-radials with taller sidewalls to improve their ETs.

Even the ZL1’s exclusive Performance Traction Management (PTM) was tuned for the drag-strip. It integrates third-generation Magnetic Ride Control, launch control, traction control, electronic stability control and electric power steering response to enhance performance. Launch control (manual transmission only) automatically modulates engine torque for the best-possible acceleration without excessive wheel spin. When the driver pushes the throttle to the floor, the system holds a predetermined engine speed until the driver releases the clutch. Then, the system modulates engine torque 1,000 times per second to maximize the available traction.

Mode 5 of launch control is uniquely calibrated for drag strips that use VHT or similar traction-enhancing compounds on the starting line. In addition to validating the system for the stock tires, engineers also tested it with 18- and 20-inch racing-type drag radial tires in anticipation of the specialty tires many drivers will use at the track. Drag radials are very soft and provide nearly the traction of a full racing slick, allowing the car to launch at a higher rpm without wheel spin, which can translate into an even quicker ET.

Proven with 1,000 hard launch tests

To test the chassis and suspension components to ensure they were up to repeated hard-start launches typical at the drag strip, engineers subjected the ZL1 to the grueling “Woodward Avenue Schedule” at the GM Milford Proving Ground.

Named for the famous cruising route that cuts north through Detroit’s suburbs and has been the venue for untold thousands of unofficial launch capability demonstrations since the 1960s, each test cycle is a hard-launch, standing-start drag race up to 100 mph. The ZL1 was subjected to 1,000 test cycles before its driveline was stamped “approved”.

“The Woodward Avenue Schedule was a really brutal test, but it told us the Camaro ZL1 would live up to the way we knew our customers would drive it on the track,” said Rojewski.

The Camaro ZL1 is on sale now with a suggested retail price of $54,995 – including a $900 destination charge. The 6L90 six-speed automatic transmission includes TapShift control and is a $1,185 option. The Camaro ZL1 convertible goes on sale this summer.

Courtesy of media.gm.com

Motor City Moms Make Their Marks on the Malibu

What can unite a blue-haired, roller derby jammer; a crash expert; an organic gardener with specially trained hearing skills, and a Harvard master’s degree candidate with a patent for lighting technology?

In addition to being engineers and moms, they all bring expertise and unique perspectives that make the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu fuel-efficient, safe, extremely quiet and available for purchase today.

Malibu moms Suzanne Cody, Julie Kleinert, Kara Gordon and Tracy Mack-Askew also help demonstrate the important role women and mothers play in engineering today’s family vehicles.

The Malibu is Chevrolet’s first global midsize sedan, and will be sold in 100 countries on six continents. Though based in Metro Detroit, the Malibu moms’ work will be felt from Birmingham to Bulgaria, Ann Arbor to Austria and from St. Clair Shores to Seoul, Shanghai and beyond.

“People spend a lot of time in their vehicles,” said Gordon, the Malibu’s lead acoustic noise engineer and mother of two active young boys. “It’s really important for me to spend that time with my kids in a positive way. If your car isn’t quiet, you can’t hear your kids talking to you in the background, and you can’t hear how their day went.”

Gordon recalls an incident that drove home the importance of her work.

“We were about to get on the freeway and my younger son was mumbling something I couldn’t hear. I kept asking him over and over what he was saying and my older son finally yelled, ‘His seat belt isn’t buckled.’ So I pulled over – luckily – before we actually got on the highway.”

Involving more engineer moms in vehicle development is happening as women continue to take a bigger stake in the market. Women buy a little over half the cars sold in the United States, and take part in 80 percent of all family car buying decisions, according to traditional industry statistics.

Yet according to the American Society of Engineering Education, the percentage of undergraduate engineering degrees going to women in 2009 was 17.8 percent, a 15-year-low.

Recognizing this need, General Motors and the GM Foundation support several programs aimed at encouraging women to pursue science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects, including high school robotics programs and college scholarships.

“Women are major automotive consumers, and automakers that want to appeal to them need to understand what their needs and requirements are,” said Rebecca Lindland, director of research at IHS Automotive. “Women engineers can provide a unique perspective to the design and engineering process. For example, women are generally smaller than men, so ergonomic needs are different. We also have a heightened awareness of safety, and tend to be more sensitive to the needs of family.

“We need to encourage more young women and girls to venture into engineering and show them it's not just numbers, but its color and style and design,” she said. “Women add a necessary element to enhance a vehicle's appeal and the entire development process benefits from that added dimension."

Meet the four accomplished women engineers and moms behind the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu:

The Malibu moms

Suzanne “Suzy” Cody, aerodynamics engineer – Cody is a rocket scientist – literally – with a degree in aerospace engineering. Known for her “GM blue” hair highlights, she is also a force to be reckoned with in the wind tunnel and on the roller derby track.

A mother of two young boys, she has been responsible for the aerodynamic performance of the new Malibu, and her work has resulted in a vehicle with a superior wind drag rating – close to that of the Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle – which means increased gas savings for Malibu drivers. In fact, aerodynamic improvements on the new Malibu provide up to 2.5 mpg more on the highway.

“I’m a single mom, and every dollar I spend on gasoline is a dollar I’m not investing in my boys’ futures,” said Cody. “So this is personal to me.”

Her knowledge of wind drag also helps her on the Bath City Roller Girls roller derby team, where fans know her as Shovey Camaro, after her passion for the Chevrolet Camaro sports car. Cody is also a passionate leader of a local moms club that helps support local charities.

Julie Kleinert, child safety technical lead – As the lead engineer responsible for child occupant protection, Kleinert’s job is to evaluate and develop the safety performance requirements for the vehicle restraint systems that will protect children who ride in the Malibu and other GM vehicles.

“Knowing that the work I do helps protect other people’s children is very rewarding,” said Kleinert, a mother of four and grandmother of two. “I love to be able to tell people what I do, and how much work goes into the safety of every GM vehicle.”

Kleinert relies on her 27-year engineering career and extensive knowledge of restraint system performance and vehicle safety integration, along with her real-world experience and perspective as a mother and grandmother. Her commitment to child passenger safety doesn’t stop at the end of the work day.

As a certified child passenger safety technician, she volunteers with Safe Kids USA’s Buckle Up educational programs to teach parents and caregivers about proper car seat installation and about child safety in and around vehicles. She utilizes her experience from working in the field with parents and caregivers to help drive interior designs that make child safety seat installation easier in the Malibu and other GM vehicles. Because three out of four child safety seats are incorrectly installed, Kleinert said, she urges parents to take advantage of local check-up events, even if they believe they are using their child safety seat correctly.

“When my kids were teenagers and learning how to drive, they didn’t always appreciate having a mom who was a safety engineer,” said Kleinert. “Now that one of my sons has two children, I put my child passenger safety training to good use by teaching him and my daughter-in-law how to properly install car seats in their vehicles.” 

Kara Gordon, lead acoustic noise engineer – Gordon is a specially trained audiologist whose sensitive hearing skills – always a tactical advantage for a mother – helped her identify where certain noises may have originated, and how to reduce, block and absorb the noise from entering the cabin of the new Malibu. She is key part of a team that eradicates the main sources of noise – wind, road and tire – from entering the interior of the new Malibu.

Her work has helped make the new Malibu the quietest Chevrolet ever for interior cabin noise and, as a result, customers around the world can expect a quiet ride.

With two young boys, Gordon’s home isn’t always as quiet as the Malibu, but she adds a little serenity with yoga and enforces a house rule of quiet time until 9 a.m. on weekends.

“At 9, all bets are off and the house becomes a circus!” she said.

Gordon is also a passionate environmentalist who hopes to live “off the grid” soon and loves tending to her organic garden and remodeling her 100-year-old home.

Tracy Mack-Askew, vehicle line manager – Mack-Askew’s passion for science and math was sparked during a high school field trip to view a vehicle crash test. That experience led her to pursue an engineering degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and an engineering career at GM following graduation.

Today, Mack-Askew serves as lead engineering manager responsible for the timely development and launch of the Malibu, a role with great challenges and responsibilities – and one typically held by men. She also has a patent in lighting technology that helps prevent premature lamp burnout.

As a wife, a mother of two young children, and a Harvard University master’s candidate (she already has a master’s degree from Purdue University), Mack-Askew is also an accomplished multi-tasker.

Ultimately, she says, it’s her commitment to cultivating and nurturing a strong family that drives her. Mack-Askew won’t travel on her husband or children’s birthdays, and despite a hectic travel schedule that saw her log about 40,000 miles in less than a year in support of the Malibu launch, she is adamant about picking up her children from school on Fridays.

“The Malibu is a vehicle that is very kid-friendly, that’s easy for you to use to transport your kids to their activities – whether it is soccer or swimming – and that makes you look good and stylish while doing it,” said Mack-Askew.  “So not only are you a mother, but you are mother with pizzazz.”

On sale now

The 2013 Malibu Eco is Chevrolet’s most fuel-efficient Malibu ever, delivering an EPA-estimated 25 mpg in city driving and 37 mpg on the highway. 

The Eco is the first model of the all-new Malibu lineup to launch in the United States. It went on sale earlier this year and starts at $25,995, less than competitor full-hybrid vehicles.

Other Malibu trim levels, including LS, LT and LTZ, are scheduled to begin production this summer at plants in Fairfax, Kan. and Detroit-Hamtramck, Mich. The 2013 Malibu will serve as a flagship Chevrolet midsize in many parts of the world. The Malibu is also built in China and Korea.

To learn more about the all-new Malibu, visit the Chevy Facebook page.

Article and image courtesy of Chevrolet News.

Chevrolet Salutes U.S. Military Appreciation Month

DETROIT – Chevrolet will salute the nation’s active duty and retired service members in May by providing an exclusive “Honor” badge to customers who buy an eligible vehicle through the General Motors Military Discount program. The brand also will donate $100 to Cell Phone for Soldiers for each eligible vehicle sold.

“The men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces have given so much for so many,” said Alan Batey, vice president, Chevrolet sales and service. “This is one small way Chevrolet can say ‘Thank you.’” 

During Military Appreciation Month, Chevrolet dealers will install, free upon request, the exclusive “Honor” badge – consisting of a yellow ribbon and “Honor” script – as a subtle recognition of military service to customers who buy an eligible Chevrolet through the GM Military Discount program.  

The GM Military Discount is available to active, reserve and retired members and spouses of the U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, National Guard and Coast Guard. The discount, ranging from $400 to $4,000, is available on most Chevrolet cars, trucks and crossovers, depending on the model and options selected. The discount can be combined with most current incentives.

The GM Military Discount offers an additional $750 discount on selected Chevrolet, Buick and GMC vehicles to eligible members of USAA, a leading financial services and insurance provider for military families. To date, 169,000 vehicles have been sold taking advantage of the USAA incentive.

“It’s so good to see companies like Chevrolet step up to celebrate our service members,” said Mel Otte, a disabled Air Force veteran who spent 13 years in the service.  “Every time I look at my Chevrolet honor badge, I pause to remember my brethren, many of whom have sacrificed their lives in service to our country.”

Since 2010, Chevrolet and its dealers have collected more than 103,000 lightly used devices for Cell Phones for Soldiers, and converted them to 6.2 million minutes of free talk time for troops serving overseas.

General Motors has supported the U.S. military since 1917, when 90 percent of GM’s truck production was directed toward WWI manufacturing. During WWII, GM converted all its plant facilities in support of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s call for an “Arsenal of Democracy.” The value of all war products delivered by GM to WWII efforts totaled more than $12 billion. GM is the largest commercial provider of military vehicles in history.

About General Motors Military Efforts

With nearly 5,000 military veteran employees, General Motors’ support for the United States armed forces spans generations. Today, Chevrolet assists Cell Phones for Soldiers, Achilles Freedom Team of Wounded Veterans, the Fallen and Wounded Soldiers Fund, a variety of employment and grassroots initiatives, and is the Official Vehicle of the Army-Navy game. The GM Military Discount program offers the industry’s best discounts on most Chevrolet, Buick and GMC vehicles for active-duty, reserve and retired service members and their spouses. GM’s military community can be found on Facebook. 

Courtesy of media.gm.com