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2016 Chevy Silverado unveiled in full at Texas State Fair

It's State Fair time down in the Lonestar State, which means a lot of things to a lot of Texans: rodeos, cook-offs, country music concerts, big belt buckles, and even bigger hats. But it also means new trucks. Ford used the occasion this year to roll out its new F-Series Super Duty pickups, but the Blue Oval won't have the show all to itself as Chevy is also on hand to reveal in full its latest updates to the Silverado. The Bowtie brand gave us our first glimpse at its updated 1500-series pickup back in July, but has now revealed the revised truck in full – and not just in Z71 spec, either. Buyers will be able to choose between WT, LS, LT, LTZ, and High Country trim levels – to say nothing of the various cab, box, and powertrain configurations. The top three get all-LED exterior lighting. And while the Z71 adopts the color-keyed trim we saw previously, other models like the LT, LTZ, and (to a lesser extent) the top-of-the-line High Country still bring the chrome for those who want it. Whichever the model, the new Silverado boasts a more muscular-looking front-end and a more sculpted hood. Inside, the new Silverado gets an optional MyLink system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support. The revised truck also benefits from added safety technology and convenience features. Engine options include a 4.3-liter V6 with 285 horsepower and 305 pound-feet of torque, a 5.3-liter V8 with 355 hp and 383 lb-ft, and a 6.2-liter V8 with 420 hp and 460 lb-ft. The news when it comes to powertrains is that the eight-speed automatic launched last year on the larger V8 is now being offered on the smaller 5.3 as well. 2016 Silverado: The New Face of Strong 2016 Silverado designed to build on Chevrolet's truck momentum 2015-09-24 - Bolder, more muscular look reflects Silverado strength, dependability - Expanded use of 8-speed transmissions; additional safety technologies - Available support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto DALLAS – The new 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 brings muscular designs and new customer-focused technologies to the most dependable, longest-lasting family of full-size pickups on the road. The new Silverados make their public debut today at the State Fair of Texas in Dallas. "The new 2016 Silverado will build on the Chevy truck legacy of dependability," said Sandor Piszar, marketing director for Chevrolet trucks.

Recharge Wrap-up: Ford HQ gets giant solar array, Chevy City Express gets 24 MPG city

Ford will be building Michigan's largest solar array at its Dearborn headquarters. With funding from DTE Energy, the solar carport will provide covered parking, as well 30 charging stations for electric vehicles. The array is expected to generate 1.13 million kWh per year for Ford's operations, and offset 794 metric tons of carbon emissions. Read more in the press release below. Chevrolet announced the fuel economy for the 2015 City Express, at 25 mpg combined. The cargo van is rated at 24 mpg in the city, and 26 mpg on the highway. Chevy credits the van's inline four-cylinder engine and continuously variable transmission for its impressive city mileage. For its customers - which are mainly businesses - "The fuel economy of the City Express will help stretch their dollar at the pump and give them the flexibility to invest the savings back into their business," says Chevrolet's Ed Peper. The City Express starts at $22,950. Read more in the press release below. Engineers at the University of Wisconsin have developed an efficient engine that runs on a diesel-gas blend. The engine, which uses a computer to control the blend proportions, is about 15 percent more efficient than the any diesel engine according to mechanical engineering professor Rolf Reitz. The team has put the experimental reactivity controlled compression ignition (RCCI) engine in a demonstration car - a 2009 Saturn. "This vehicle can do 50 miles per gallon," says Reitz, who believes the system could be improved further. Read more at Wisconsin Public Radio. The Southeast Alternative Fuel Conference and Expo will take place in October in Raleigh, North Carolina. Held at the NC Clean Energy Technology Center from October 22-24, the event will feature a variety of exhibitors, speakers and, most importantly, alternatively powered vehicles. "The three day conference will be a one-stop shop for fleet and transportation related decision makers to learn about return on investment, efficiency and alternative transportation fuels such as biodiesel, electricity, ethanol, propane and natural gas," says Anne Tazewell of the NC Clean Energy Technology Center. If you can't make it to Raleigh for the Expo, you can still enter to win a free two-year lease of a Nissan Leaf at the Center's website. Learn more about the event in the press release, below.

Both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay slated for Chevrolet lineup

Long awaited, the race among automakers to keep drivers connected to their smartphones has officially entered a new era. Hyundai said Tuesday it would be the first manufacturer to put Google's Android Auto into a production car, the 2015 Hyundai Sonata sedan. Not to be outdone, General Motors said today it'd offer both Android Auto and Apple's CarPlay on several Chevrolet models set to hit dealerships this summer. By giving car buyers the choice between these rival phone-projection systems, Chevrolet hopes to quell concerns from prospective customers worried about the compatibility of their smartphones and vehicles. "It's about providing choice," said Alicia Boler-Davis, GM's senior vice president for global connected car consumer experience. "No two customers are alike, and we cannot expect a single solution that works for every driver in every situation." Across the industry, automakers are rushing to add both to their cars as a growing base of customers seek an array of connected features. Estimates from automotive technology research firm SBD indicate smartphone-integrated content is available in 36 percent of current vehicles, and the company expects that penetration rate will grow to 84 percent by 2025. For Chevrolet, the systems will be available on select 2016 iterations of the Cruze, Camaro, Volt, Spark and Malibu as early as next month, and appear on 14 Chevy models overall for the 2016 model year. They're available on all trim levels, but they only work with the company's MyLink infotainment package installed in the cars, and the first to hit showrooms will only work on the seven-inch touchscreen models. "CarPlay and Android Auto, these are things that are addressable to the broad market, and I think it makes a lot of sense for GM to put it into Chevys first," IHS Automotive senior analyst Mark Boyadjis said. Via physical connections, both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto allow users access to smartphone features like turn-by-turn directions, phone calls, voice-to-text messages and music streaming. Interfaces are similar to the ones found on the respective smartphones, but on the dashboard, they're redesigned for a simpler, in-car experience. Fonts are larger, for example, and easier to press on a touchscreen. CarPlay relies heavily on Siri so that drivers spend more time staring at the road instead of their touchscreen. That sounds good, at least in theory.