2013 Chevrolet Silverado Ls Extended Cab on 2040-cars

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2014 Chevy Cruze Diesel destined for Chicago debut

It's been a little over a year and a half since General Motors first confirmed plans to offer a diesel-powered Chevrolet Cruze here in the United States, and we've now learned that the oil-burning compact will debut under the lights of the Chicago Auto Show in February. According to GM Authority, the Cruze Eco-D will be introduced as part of the entire 2014 model year Cruze range, set to go on sale in the second quarter of this year.
Earlier reports have indicated that the diesel Cruze will be able to achieve fuel economy numbers in the range of 50 miles per gallon. For comparison, the similarly sized Volkswagen Jetta TDI is rated at 30/42 mpg city/highway, but as we found out in our long-term test of the 2011 model, hitting 50 mpg was a piece of cake.
Official specifications will be released at the time of the 2014 Cruze's unveiling, though reports have stated that the sedan will be powered by a reworked version of the 2.0-liter turbo-diesel inline-four found in the Holden Cruze CDX overseas. In that application, the four-pot oil-burner produces 160 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque - increases of 20 hp and 29 lb-ft over the 2.0-liter engine used in VW's Jetta TDI.

Kid Rock's Chevy Silverado is a working-class hero [w/video]

Rock stars are known for their swagger, and Kid Rock brings a mountain of that confidence to his design for this chrome-festooned 2016 Silverado 3500HD at the SEMA show. Inspired by his song Born Free and a visit to the pickup factory in Flint, MI, the styling is meant to celebrate the folks that build these trucks everyday. The Silverado sparkles like a beacon under the lights at the SEMA Show thanks to its black metallic-flecked paint and acres of chrome. The shiny stuff covers the custom grille, exhaust stacks, 22-inch wheels, and side steps. In a patriotic nod, silver Stars and Stripes run down the side to offer a little contrast to the dark body. Further emphasizing the pickup's huge size, a trailer carries a pair of Gibbs Sports Quadskis that are decorated to match the truck. Kid Rock takes inspiration from – get this – acid-wash jeans for the interior by combining Sky Cool Gray leather seats with metallic-looking inserts. Appropriate for a musician, there's also a custom Kicker stereo in there, and Made in Detroit logos adorn the door sills and glovebox. Related Video: Show full PR text SILVERADO 3500HD KID ROCK CONCEPT CELEBRATES FREEDOM Boldly styled custom 'dually' truck honors working-class Americans LAS VEGAS – Inspired by his hit song "Born Free," musician Kid Rock collaborated with Chevrolet to design a customized 2016 Silverado 3500HD "dually" that celebrates freedom and honors American workers. The truck was introduced today at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, where it joined other personalized Chevy truck concepts designed to showcase the depth and breadth of the brand's pickup truck lineup. Michigan-born Kid Rock visited the Silverado HD assembly plant in Flint, Mich., to meet with the members of UAW Local 598, who built the truck, before driving it to Chevrolet's design studio to share his ideas for its customization. "The Flint plant – and everyone on the line – is the backbone of America," said Kid Rock. "I wanted the design for the truck to be bold, but with features and elements that wouldn't be out of reach for working-class guys." As a result, his Silverado features several enhancements, including a custom chrome grille with the Born Free logo and an enlarged Chevy Bowtie emblem, chrome exhaust stacks and patriotic graphics that flow across the body sides. A unique execution of the patriotic motif was an idea he expressed at the start of the project.

Recharge Wrap-up: BYD unveils 60-ft electric bus, Honda sticking with hybrids in Europe

BYD has debuted a 60-foot electric bus at the American Public Transportation Association Expo in Houston, TX. The Lancaster bus, as it is called, has a 120-passenger capacity and can drive over 170 miles on a single charge. The articulated bus features low floors and no steps, thanks to in-wheel hub motors. BYD also displayed a 40-foot electric bus that drove the 1,500 miles to the show under its own power (recharging along the way, of course). Read more in the press release below. Honda says it will continue to sell hybrids in Europe, despite the fact that it has stopped selling the CR-Z and Insight due to slow sales. "Our focus at the moment is on our 1.6-liter diesel but we haven't forgotten about hybrid technology," says Honda Europe's Philip Ross. Honda will sell the next-generation Fit (badged as the Jazz) in Europe when it launches next summer, and will sell the next-gen hybrid version beginning in 2016. Honda sold 4,500 of the Jazz hybrid in Europe last year. Read more at Automotive News. XL Hybrids is selling its XL3 Hybrid Electric Drive System in California. The news comes after the California Air Resources Board issued an executive order allowing the aftermarket hybrid conversion for 2012-2014 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans. The XL3 Hybrid regenerative braking conversion increases real-world mpg by about 25 percent. Read more in the press release below. NRG eVgo has finished installing 60 charging stations at the Sony Pictures Entertainment studio lot and offices in Culver City, California. The Level 2 chargers, which will be managed by NRG eVgo, allow employees to charge their EVs during the workday. An average of 90 EVs and PHEVs park at the studio headquarters every day, thanks in part to Sony Pictures' Alternative Vehicles Incentive program for its employees. Learn more in the press release below. Pennsylvania's Public Utility Commission will allow operators of EV charging stations to set prices based on kilowatt hour usage. This change ensures that drivers pay for the actual energy they use, rather than the time they spend charging, since different cars can charge at different speeds. Car Charging Group has already begun using the per-kWh fee structure at its charging stations throughout the state. Other states that allow kWh pricing are California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Virginia and Washington. Read more in the press release below.