As an iconic symbol of the American automotive industry, the Chevy brand as a whole, and the Impala in particular, clearly stand out. The Impala has not only been one of Chevrolet’s most successful nameplates, at various times, it was the very symbol of all that the American automotive industry as a whole stood for.

In this post, we look at some of the timeless commercials for the Chevy Impala, through the ages – commercials which have stood their time, just as much as the car that they sought to promote!

One of the earliest commercials for the Impala, a year after its launch. This ad is an absolute classic, simply for the fact that it promotes the car in a subliminal way, without mentioning Impala, and showing visuals of the car for a split-second duration, which is easily “missable” yet never missed!

Another one from the same year – 1959, featuring Dinah Shore singing paeans about the Chevy brand and its cars. Again, the Impala is not mentioned but the car featured is distinctly an Impala.

The following commercial is from 1960. Shot in B&W, and showcasing both the Chevy Impala as well as the Chevy Corvette, it has a gentleman’s voiceover talking about the features and benefits of both the vehicles…not to forget the pretty lady seen comfortably seated inside the Impala!

This one is from 1961, again featuring Dinah Shore, where she sings and talks about numerous Chevy offerings from those days, first up the Impala of course!

A kaleidoscopic commercial for the Impala, again from 1961:

The following is a 1963 commercial for the Impala which pits the vehicle against the Ford Galaxie; after the test, all of Ford’s claims are suitably put to rest!

The following commercial is from 1964, for the ‘64 Impala. Again shot in B&W, the seductive voiceover of the lady in the commercial certainly matched the seductive interiors of the vehicle, as showcased in the commercial. Brilliant!

One of the more contemporary commercials for the Impala:

Ending with an absolute classic, this has got to be the top draw of the lot…watch it to know why!

The Charlotte International Auto Show is an annual event organized by The Greater Charlotte Automobile Dealers Association and taking place in Charlotte, North Carolina’s largest city, that showcases the very best of automotive offerings to Charlotteans. The 2009 edition of the show is all set to take place at the Charlotte Convention Center, located at 501 S. College Street, Charlotte, NC 28202, between November 19-22, and it promises nearly 280,000 square feet of exhibits and features.

Over 400 new vehicles are expected to be on display at the show, with attendees getting an opportunity to see at what is new and exciting in the automotive world, including a special “green room” and cars depicting the history of the automobile.

The show will kick off with a special Charity Preview Night on Wednesday evening, 6:30 pm – 9 pm,  on November 18, 2009 which will give show goers the opportunity to support the Charlotte Rescue Mission while attending one of the largest Auto Shows in the Carolinas. Larry Sprinkle of WCNC will be emceeing the Live Auction on the Preview Night, proceeds of which will benefit the Charlotte Rescue Mission.

All major automobile manufacturers of the country are expected to be there at the show to showcase their latest offerings, your favorite Chevy include. Other noteworthy mentions would include Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Cobra, Dodge, Ferrari, Ford, GMC Truck, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar, Maserati, Mercedes, Porsche, Scion, Subaru, Toyota and Volkswagen.

A Fiery Camaro on display at one of the previous editions of the show

You can view the Floor Plan of the show on this page. You will notice that your favorite Chevy folks would be in Hall A-1, occupying maximum floor area of 19,791 square feet, from amongst all other exhibitors at the show.

Tickets for the show cost $8 each, for adults and children aged 13 and above. Children 12 and under gain free admission into the show. For educational and non-profit groups, there are discounted tickets available for which you would need to contact the Show Office in advance. All tickets for the show can not only be purchased at the venue, they can also be bought online, on the website of the show, on this page. By purchasing online, you not only save the hassle of buying tickets at the venue, you also save cash, as online, each ticket is sold at $6 each instead of $8.

View a Video from the 2007 edition of the show, here:

In case you do not have the means to purchase online (for instance, you do not have a valid credit card) or for some reason do not wish to purchase and pay online, do not fret; the website also has discounted coupons on it which you can take a print out of here and again save $2 by gaining entry into the show at $6 each.

Timings for the show are Thursday and Friday: 12:00 Noon – 10:00 p.m; Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m; and Sunday: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Former GM Chief, Rick Wagoner, speaking at one of the previous editions of the show

The Primary Sponsors of the show are Charlotte Observer, Cars.com, Bank of America, Wachovia, WSOC-TV, Metrotech Chemicals, Fox Charlotte, and WBTV.

With so much on offer, this is one show you would definitely not want to miss, especially as a die-hard Chevy fan, and all the new and upcoming Chevys on display, for you to drool over…and maybe caress too!

If ever there was an ideal spectacle of simplistic design blended with global, instantaneous recognition, it has got to be the bowtie, Chevy’s logo, since inception.

The background behind the logo remains a little unclear. While some speculate that it was Louis Chevrolet himself who suggested the logo, inspired by the Swiss Cross, others suggest that the idea came to William Durant, after seeing a cross similar in appearance and design as the Chevy logo, on wallpaper in a French hotel. Whatever be the case, it was Durant who actually introduced the logo to the external world, in 1913.

Seat Belt Pads, showcasing the Ubiquitous Chevrolet logo on them

If we look at the color shades used in the logo, they are essentially just two – golden yellow for the cross/bowtie and black for the ‘Chevrolet’ text beneath. In spite of the simplistic use of just these two colors, the apparent grandiosity of the brand and all that the logo symbolizes does come across, particularly due to the usage of the golden yellow color, associated with gold itself (which itself is associated with the rich and the riches!). The black color on the other hand seems to suggest the strong and bold character of the company behind the logo.

See the Chevrolet logo being showcased prominently (and brilliantly!) in this conceptual commercial for the Chevy Cruze:

The font used in the logo, to depict ‘Chevrolet’ is Logotype, making it easily readable as well as immensely recognizable. The serifs in the font are distinct and very clear, which bring forth the name of the company – ‘Chevrolet’, to the reader, even more clearly.

The Chevrolet Logo, as it is more commonly seen with the blue color font face type

Now to analyze the shape of the Chevy bowtie logo, firstly it does not really look like a conventional bowtie, even though it is so commonly referred to as one! A unique and different sort of a ‘golden’ bowtie perhaps?! Nonetheless, the linear and perpendicular alignment of the bowtie itself, with the ‘Chevrolet’ font below, makes the logo that much more distinctly recognizable.

The Chevrolet logo, as prominently seen on the upcoming 2011 Chevy Volt

Finally, if we are to consider the association of the logo with the line of business, at a glance, a cross does not really suggest anything to do with the automotive business or even motion or transportation in any form. However, simply because the logo has been used right since the inception of the company – till date, the association of the logo with the company and its line of business has got deeply ingrained in our minds. So, whether you are a die-hard American Chevy fan or a Chevy lover in India, Latin America, Europe or any other part of the world, you are unlikely to associate the golden bowtie with anything other than Chevrolet and its line of vehicles!

Not many know that the man behind the ubiquitous Chevy range of machines – a range, a brand as well as an icon that we all recognize as distinctly American, was in fact a Swiss native of French descent.

Born on December 25, 1878 at La Chaux-de-Fonds in Neuchâtel Canton of Switzerland, Louis-Joseph Chevrolet emigrated to Montreal, Quebec in Canada in 1900 to work as a chauffeur/mechanic. Prior to that, even as a young man, Chevrolet had been honing his mechanical skills and alongside developing a passion for automotive racing, while working for the Roblin mechanics shop.

Watch rare footage of Chevrolet winning the Harkness Trophy in 1917, in the following video:

After moving to North America, it was more of a ‘rolling stone’ existence for Chevrolet, wherein he kept moving jobs and places – first to New York City where he worked briefly for a fellow Swiss immigrant’s engineering company and then to Brooklyn, where he took up a job at the local operations of the French car manufacturer de Dion-Bouton. From thereon, he again moved, this time to FIAT, as a race car driver and then once again, this time to a Philadelphia company which was developing something revolutionary at that time – a front-wheel drive racing car. It was there that he started driving the Buick for racing, and also became friendly with Billy Durant.

Eventually, he started designing his own engine for a new Buick car in 1909, and Durant, obviously impressed with the results, agreed to partner with Chevrolet to start the Chevrolet Motor Car Company, in Detroit. But the friendship did not last long, and eventually, after having sold his share of the company to Durant, got his company incorporated within the fold of Durant’s parent company, General Motors.

June 1, 1918. Louis Chevrolet and his mechanic in their Frontenac at the Sheepshead Bay Speedway in Brooklyn, racing in the Harkness Handicap.

Meanwhile, Chevrolet’s passion for racing never subsided. He competed in the Indianapolis 500, as many as four times, and finished best at seventh position in 1919. His younger brother Gaston also took part in the same competition next year in 1920, and in fact won it, driving a car that Loius himself had built. Both Loius and Gaston had been betting on car racing big time, even starting their own company by the name, Frontenac Motor Corporation, which was essentially into the design and production of racing cars, with their Fronty-Ford racers being the most popular and well-known.

Louis Chevrolet in a Buick racer in Crown Point, Indiana, during the Cobe Cup Race in 1909

In spite of his prior achievements, Chevrolet died in 1941, practically penniless and was given a quiet burial at the Holy Cross and Saint Joseph Cemetery in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Louis Chevrolet Memorial, Indianapolis Speedway

Miscellaneous recognition for Chevrolet the person, came long after his death. In 1992, he was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame while in 1995, Chevrolet was inducted in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1995.

To get a lowdown on American Automotive history, and  Chevrolet specifically, click here.

The Chevy Camaro is a car that has been in existence since 1967, and obviously, in all these 42 years of its existence, it has been promoted through numerous commercials. In this post, we look at some of them, reliving the ads from our wonder years…many from much before a lot of us were even born, right up to today.

Before we get to the commercials themselves, you might want to take a look at the way the Chevy has looked like since inception, and the way it has evolved through the ages, in this video:

Now to get to the commercials themselves, the following is probably the earliest Camaro ad, dating back to 1967 when the Camaro was first launched – fiery, just like the Camaro itself!

This next ad is for the Chevrolet Camaro Super Hugger, from 1970. Sleek and simplistic, with a single person talking on-screen about all that the Camaro stands for. Killer punch line – “It’s not how young you are, it’s how old you aren’t“!

This is a 1978 ad that celebrated the comeback of the Chevy Camaro Z28:

The following is an absolute clutter-breaking and path-breaking ad from 1980 for the Camaro. There is absolutely no voiceover in this commercial; all we see is a fiery red Camaro first preparing itself and then taking off at full speed through the streets of what could be any typical American neighborhood. Brilliant!

A Camaro ad from 1986, typical and reminiscent of the carefree 80s:

Another classic commercial for the Camaro from 1993, with the punchline – “What else do you expect from the country that invented Rock and Roll?”

Powerful, “Who do you Love?” Camaro commercial from 1998:

Now to come to the current generation of commercials – zippy cars, peppy ads! This is for the 2009 Chevrolet Camaro:

Lastly, the following is a conceptual commercial (which could potentially become an actual one) for the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro, with the punchline, “Bring on the Storm”

Hope you enjoyed viewing all these commercials, together in one place, as much as we did, compiling and putting them together for you!

The 2010 Chevrolet Traverse is a full-size crossover SUV built on the same GM Lambda platform as the Saturn Outlook, GMC Acadia, and the Buick Enclave. Assembled only at GM’s proprietary plant in Spring Hill, Tennessee, the Traverse is a successor to GM’s previous offerings such as the Uplander Minivan and the Trailblazer SUV.

Offered as either a Front Wheel Drive (FWD) or an All Wheel Drive (AWD), the Traverse is powered by a 3.6L VVT DI V6 engine that produces 281 hp @ 6300 rpm and a torque of 266 @ 3400 rpm. Within both the versions, the trims are the standard GM ones – LS, 1LT, 2LT and LTZ. These can in turn be made to be either 8 or 7 passenger seaters.

Transmission is six-speed automatic. Both the front and rear suspensions are independent. Fuel injection is direct. The overall length of the vehicle is 205 inches, overall width is 78.4 inches, and the overall height is 70.4 inches. The Traverse has a wheelbase of 118.9 inches, with a curb weight of 5066 and a cargo volume of about 116.4 cubic feet.

Take a Quick Drive with the Traverse, in this Video from Cars.com:

On the safety front, 4-wheel ABS as well as 4-wheel disc brakes along with StabiliTrak Electronic Stability Control System is Standard across both the models and their respective trims. Standard air bags are plenty across both models and their trims including driver and passenger air bags, thorax side impact air bags, rear body air bags, front and rear head curtain side impact air bags as well as a passenger air bag on/off switch. Numerous OnStar services such as Automatic Crash Response, Remote Door Unlock, Emergency Services, Roadside Assistance and Vehicle Diagnostics are all standard across all models and their trims. You also have a Rear Door Child Security Lockout, Remote Keyless Entry and a Tire Pressure Monitor, all available as Standard.

On the Entertainment front, you have an AM/FM stereo as well as a CD player with MP3 playback as Standard. A Premium Sound System though is Standard only on the 2LT and LTZ trims. XM Satellite Radio is available as Standard on all models and trims. Bluetooth connectivity is Standard only on the LTZ while it is available on the others.

Inside the Chevy Traverse

Power steering and an adjustable steering wheel is Standard on all trims. An Electrochromic, Automatic-Dimming Rearview Mirror is Standard only in the 2LT and LTZ trims.

Standard Exterior features include – Automatic headlamps, daytime running lights, power door locks, remote keyless entry, power driver and passenger side mirrors, privacy glass, intermittent wipers, traction control system, a compact spare tire as well as a rear spoiler.

The Traverse from the Exterior - in all its Glory!

At a price tag of starting MSRP of $31,745, the Traverse definitely does not come cheap, especially when compared to its competition such as the Toyota Highlander or the Ford Flex. But where the Traverse scores is its fuel economy of 24 MPG on the highway, which is in fact the best fuel economy of any eight-passenger crossover. It also scores heavily in terms of cargo space – more than its competitors, as well as sheer power of its engine in terms of horsepower, which is more than that of all its competitors, in this segment. Get a lowdown in terms of a full, independent competitive comparison of the Traverse with other competitive offerings in the segment, here.

Combined with the fact that this is yet another offering from your very own, American Chevy brand, there is little reason for you to even consider others in the fray!

OnStar is a GM-owned proprietary in-vehicle security and communications system that is available in all GM vehicles, your favorite Chevy included.

So, what exactly does it consist of and how does it work? Read on…

Firstly, in simple terms, it is a system that allows the vehicle to communicate. Using the system, you could actually avail of hands free calling, turn-by-turn navigation, as well as remote diagnostics, across the United States and Canada, 24 x 7 x 365. The only initial requirement for availing OnStar services is to have the necessary OnStar hardware factory-installed…and you’re ready to go!

Although OnStar is available on all GM vehicles, it has become so profoundly associated with Chevy vehicles that in the Latin American markets, the service is referred to as ChevyStar. As of 2009, the service has more than five million subscribers. Get to know specific numerical stats on various ways in which OnStar has added value to GM vehicle owners, in the following video:

In order to function, the OnStar service uses CDMA mobile phone voice and data communications technology, essentially via Verizon Wireless in the United States and Bell Mobility in Canada, along with location information using GPS technology. Both drivers and passengers can use its audio interface to contact OnStar representatives for emergency services, vehicle diagnostics and directions. OnStar equipped vehicles with an active subscription end up contacting representatives, who are based either out of Pontiac, Michigan; Charlotte, North Carolina; Makati, Philippines; and Oshawa, Ontario in case there is a collision where the airbags were actually deployed.

Newer models on the other hand will contact OnStar, irrespective of whether airbags were deployed or not. Whenever a driver presses the Red OnStar Emergency button or Blue OnStar button, current vehicle data and the user’s GPS location are immediately gathered. This information is then sent to OnStar. OnStar Emergency calls are routed to the OnStar Center with highest priority. The three centers that receive emergency calls are: Pontiac, Michigan; Charlotte, North Carolina and Ontario Canada; and all of these centers are open 24 hours a day.

The Proprietary OnStar Buttons

This year, i.e. 2009 onwards, GM also started incorporating a Stolen Vehicle Slowdown feature inside new vehicles which allows police to remotely slow down the vehicle, and also reduce the chances of damage to property, injuries or even fatalities as a result of high-speed chases of stolen vehicles. Just last month, in October 2009, the service bore fruit when a stolen Chevy Tahoe was successfully recovered and the thief promptly apprehended, using the Stolen Vehicle Slowdown feature. In this video, the owner describes exactly what happened and how he got his Tahoe back:

Other plans also exist as a part of the entire portfolio of OnStar services including Safe & Sound Plan (at $18.95/month or $199/year), and Directions & Connections Plan ($28.90/month or $299/year).

Considering all the benefits that OnStar has on offer, it is a feature you would certainly not like to miss out, on your favorite Chevy!

With its ability to go 40 miles at a stretch, completely gas-free, the Chevy Volt has the potential to completely change and revolutionize the way America travels. And with nearly 75% of American daily commuters usually traveling less than 40 miles in a day, the Volt could very well change America’s energy dynamics completely.

It is thanks to the Volt’s Extended-Range Electric technology that it is able to go that much distance on a single, full charge, without having to switch over to gasoline. Additionally, the Propulsion System of the Volt is revolutionary and unique to the extent that it is able to take the consumer, way beyond just the power of the battery.

Get an Overview of the Chevy Volt, in the Video below:

Once the Volt launches next year in 2010, it will be seen using a lithium-ion battery, along with a gasoline-powered, range-extending engine that will propel the generator to provide electric power, even after you drive beyond the 40-mile range of the battery.

Cutaway of the Chevrolet Volt

So far, not much is known about the Volt we will actually get to see in the showrooms, with the vehicle still in its final development stages, and the ones that have been showcased in auto shows or reviewed by auto experts being in fact ‘mules’, i.e. the Volt packaged in another vehicle, in this case the Cruze, which is similar in its overall shape, size and design to the Volt. Yet, it remains certain that in terms of its looks, its power, its noise-isolation and of course its ability to run on electricity for at least the specified distance, the Volt will not disappoint at all.

Last year’s Consumer Electronics Show in January 2008 saw General Motors showcase its concept vehicle – the Chevrolet Tahoe ‘Boss’, which has the distinction of being able to drive itself, completely on its own.

The technology of the vehicle is certainly very promising, considering the fact that majority of accidents take place due to one single factor – human error.

The vehicle draws its name from the nickname of GM’s R&D founder, Charles F. Kettering, who was also referred to as the ‘Boss’. This version of the Tahoe has been developed through a partnership between General Motors, Carnegie Mellon University and numerous other partner companies.

Charles F. Kettering - Whose Nickname gave this Tahoe its Nickname - 'Boss'!

Regarding the technology of the vehicle, it essentially uses a combination of LIDAR, radar, vision and mapping / GPS systems, by which it is able to see the world around it. The Tahoe ‘Boss’ is actually smart enough to not only recognize road geometry but also accurately perceive traffic as well as other obstacles on the street. It achieves this feat using a complex combination of algorithms as well as various computer software.

Full Frontal with the 'Boss' - She sure means Business!

The ‘Boss’ was put to test wherein it was made to navigate its way through 60 miles of urban traffic, busy intersections and stoppage signs in a time of less than 6 hours, and it came up trumps to actually win the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) 2007 Urban Challenge competition.

Watch the ‘Boss’ make its moves, with inputs from its developers, in the Video below:

This feat is definitely an eye-opener as well as a clear demonstration of the possibilities that electricity can be put to use for; not only can vehicles of the future be made to run on electricity, they can even be driven by it! The day does not seem far when we would simply back in our cars and either watch TV or have breakfast while being driven to work – by the car itself!

Already, there is immense technological assistance available to drivers in present-generation vehicles, with features such as GPS, reverse-sensing ability, satellite navigation, etc. But this feat takes matters to a whole new dimension wherein the vehicle is able to fully drive itself on its own.

And GM is at the forefront of all such technological developments. Numerous driver-assist features already available on GM vehicles include StabiliTtrak; GM’s GPS-enabled OnStar safety and security system; pre-crash sensors; side blind zone assist; and lane departure warning systems. GM is working on similar initiatives with Carnegie Mellon University with regard to autonomous driving technologies through its collaborative research laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh.

Understand GM’s StabiliTrak technology, in the video below:

Knight Rider may no longer remain just a Television series we used to view in the yesteryears; it may very well become a part of everyday life!

In early 2008, Chevrolet launched a test fleet of Equinox fuel cell vehicles that were hydrogen-powered, across the streets of New York City, Washington D.C. and Southern California.

Known as ‘Project Driveway’, the aim of this initiative was to garner feedback from everyday people about the usability and feasibility of fuel cell vehicles – vehicles that have zero emissions other than water vapor and are completely gasoline independent, thus reducing our over dependence on foreign fuel.

Know more about the program and the experience that people are having, using this vehicle, in this video.

Side View of the Chevy Equinox FCV

As an electric vehicle, the Chevy Equinox Fuel Cell uses GM’s fourth-generation fuel cell system, which is the most advanced fuel cell propulsion system that GM has produced till date. Combined with the vehicle’s electric motor traction system, it will produce quickfire torque, instant and smooth acceleration as well as noiseless performance.

GM is not yet bringing the Chevy Equinox Fuel Cell out for general purchase by customers. Rather, this initiative is a way to garner feedback from select users, regarding both the positives and the negatives of the vehicle. In case you are wondering what the negatives are, well they are practically nothing to do with the vehicle itself, and more with the limited availability of hydrogen fuel pumps. So considering the limited distance that the vehicle can go on one fill of hydrogen fuel, combined with the limited availability of hydrogen fuel pumps, it will take a while for the vehicle as well as the technology to actually gain prominence as well as wide acceptance.

Rear View of the Chevy Equinox FCV - in all its Elements!

In terms of acceptance and recognition from external entities, the vehicle is receiving rave accolades. Already, the Chevy Equinox Fuel Cell has been awarded with the Green Car Vision Award from the Green Car Journal, which is a big achievement, since it is the first time that the magazine has actually recognized a limited production vehicle for its futuristic technologies and thinking.

Only time can tell about the future of this project, though the prospects seem really bright. Additionally, considering our country’s dependence on foreign oil from essentially hostile regimes, the need of the hour is such an initiative which can do away with such a dependency.

To know more about the program as well as to get a close look at the vehicle itself, watch this video.