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Chevy teases next-gen Volt at fan event in LA

Barely two months before its planned debut at the 2015 North American International Auto Show, Chevrolet has released yet another batch of teaser images of its second-generation Volt. Unlike the first image, though, which just showed the car's rear badge, there's a lot more to this quartet of shots. The first three images show off the nose of the next-gen model and come from a fan event in Los Angeles. What we can see is a sleeker front end, with an evolution of the silver grille inserts previously seen on the original Volt and Spark EV. Gone is the current car's split upper grille, in favor of a more conventional arrangement. The sharper, more angular headlights are also an evolution of the lamps seen on the current Volt. Chevrolet also took the opportunity to announce a new location-based charging system that uses GPS to adjust the vehicle's charge settings, including the charge level, while also announcing that the next-gen car will feature more intuitive charge indicators that will be better able to inform owners of their car's charging level. The tech will mean that the Volt 'knows' when it is parked at home, and can thus automatically optimize charging for off-peak times, and so on. Take a look at the teaser images at the top of the page, and then head below for Chevy's press release announcing the new features. Next-Gen Chevy Volt Offers More User-Friendly Charging 2014-11-20 GPS makes charging more convenient Portable charger is easier to access Intuitive visual cues show charge status DETROIT – If there's one thing Chevrolet Volt owners love about their cars, it's being able to recharge the battery easily. Evidence of that is a U.S. Department of Energy study that shows more than 80 percent of all trips by Volt owners did not use the range extender. Chevrolet has made the charging system in the next-generation Volt even easier for customers to recharge the battery – and to check the charge status. The next-generation Volt debuts in January at the North American International Auto Show. "Chevrolet used the real-world experiences of today's Volt owners to make the charging process simpler and more convenient in the next-generation Volt," said Andrew Farah, chief engineer for the Volt.

Chevy, GMC and Ram dealers are worried they'll run out of new pickups

One of the unexpected side effects of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic is a shortage of pickups at Chevrolet, GMC and Ram dealers. Supplies are running out, and the factories that build these trucks remain closed. Stores across the nation began increasing incentives in March, when the first stay-at-home orders were issued, in a bid to continue luring buyers into showrooms. They also launched online sales channels, or expanded their existing digital business. Sales nonetheless plummeted in April 2020, but in-demand vehicles, like the Ram 1500 and the Chevrolet Silverado, are still selling relatively well thanks in part to the aforementioned incentives. Pickups outsold sedans for the first time in April 2020, according to The Detroit News, by 17,000 units. The problem is that General Motors, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), and Ford temporarily closed their factories in March. "The pipeline is very dry," said Mike Maroone, the CEO of a large dealership group named Maroone USA, in an interview with Automotive News. He told the publication his Chevrolet stores are sitting on a 30-day supply of the Silverado, which is one of America's best-selling vehicles. "That is a problem for us," he concluded. Coronavirus-related lockdowns and factory closures compound problems already faced by dealerships who represent General Motors-owned brands. They entered 2020 with a thinner inventory than a year earlier due to the 40-day United Auto Workers (UAW) strike that paralyzed the company late in 2019, and the 0%, 84-month offers announced in March have sapped supply. Ram wasn't affected by a strike, but it has relied heavily on generous incentives to move trucks off lots. Ford, on the other hand, limited incentives to 2019 models. Inventory levels differ greatly from region to region. The national average for the Silverado stood at an 82-day supply in March 2020, down from 120 in March 2019. Ram stores had a 114-day supply of the 1500 (compared to 134 a year earlier), while Ford bucked that trend with a 111-day supply versus 84 in 2019. Don't panic if you're in the market for a truck; we're not facing a complete drought. Automotive News added that America's light-duty pickup inventory could fall to 400,000 units by the end of May, and drop further to 260,000 units in June. For context, there were about 700,000 light-duty trucks in stock in May and June of 2019. That's unquestionably a sharp drop, but there will still be over a quarter of a million trucks to choose from.

Chevy rolls out Corvette Z06 C7.R Edition at SEMA

It's not just concept vehicles that Chevy is showcasing at SEMA this year. The Bowtie brand is also taking the occasion of the tuner expo to reveal the new Corvette Z06 C7.R Edition. The special edition of the flagship performance model pays tribute to the racing model with a series of special touches and upgrades. The C7.R edition is based on the Z06 in 3LZ trim, and comes equipped with the Z07 Performance Package, including Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires. But that's not the end of the story. It also includes special graphics, yellow brake calipers, yellow-striped black wheels, a carbon ground effects package, carbon hood section, metallic gray grilles and vents, and a black leather interior with sueded microfiber trim, Competition Sports seats, and yellow stitching. Buyers will be able to order theirs in black or yellow and in either coupe or convertible body-styles. Only 650 examples will be made, of which 500 will remain in the United States, and each of them is individually numbered starting with the VIN 700001. Of course, being based on the Z06 we already know, it packs a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine good for 650 horsepower and an equal measure of torque. With the Z06 pack, that translates to a 0-60 time of under 3 seconds for the automatic version and 3.2 for the manual. Related Video: Corvette Z06 C7.R Edition Pays Tribute to Racing Legacy Distinctive appearance package complements capability with special-edition style LAS VEGAS – When the Z06 rejoined the Corvette lineup in 2015 as the most capable model in the car's long, storied history, it also joined an elite fraternity of the world's most capable supercars – with performance proven on the track, including winning Car and Driver's 2015 Lightning Lap evaluation. The Corvette Z06's capability is derived in no small part from technology and experience leveraged from the championship Corvette Racing program. That connection is celebrated with the 2016 C7.R Edition. It's offered in Corvette Racing's signature yellow livery – or black – with coordinated exterior and interior accents. Only 650 will be built (500 for the U.S. market), all with the Z07 Performance Package with carbon ceramic brakes, and a specially serialized vehicle identification number.