GM will procure the vehicle from Nissan and distribute it through the Chevrolet dealer network.

The 2015 City Express, based on the Nissan NV200, is Chevrolet’s first entry into the small van segment in the U.S. and Canada.

It will join the full-size Express van as part of the Chevrolet lineup in the fall of 2014.

Nissan currently sells a version of the vehicle as the NV200 in numerous markets globally, including the United States and Canada.

An electric version of the NV200 is available, but no word yet as to the inclusion of an electric version of the City Express under this agreement.

“Our fleet customers have asked us for a small cargo van, so this addition to the Chevrolet portfolio will strengthen our position as the partner of choice for all of our customers,” said Ed Peper, U.S. vice president of GM Fleet and Commercial Sales. “It’s quite common in many parts of the world to leverage available manufacturing resources to bring transportation solutions to market for our customer’s benefit. It’s just smart business!”

Chevrolet said its entry into this segment will allow business customers to purchase all of their vehicles from one manufacturer, and service them through the largest dealer network offering even more convenience for their business.

Designed for small businesses to large fleets looking for a small, fuel-efficient, cargo carrying vehicle, the City Express will be available in LS and LT trim levels.

Contrary to the NV200, which is also available as a passenger version, the City Express will be – for now – solely a cargo vehicle.

The City Express is powered by a 2.0 liter DOHC 4-cylinder engine rated at 131 horsepower and 139 pound-feet of torque. The engine is preliminarily matched with a CVT transmission.

The post Nissan’s NV Becomes Chevy’s City Express appeared first on HybridCars.com.

This means that when compared to the average new vehicle, the Spark EV can potentially save its owners up to $9,000 in fuel cost over five years.

The Spark EV goes on sale this summer in California and Oregon.

“Being able to provide our customers with the best overall efficiency of any retail EV has always been a key target for the Spark EV engineering team,” said Pam Fletcher, GM executive chief engineer for electrified vehicles. “We’re poised to deliver to the market an EV that’s not just efficient, but also thrilling to drive thanks to the 400 pound-feet torque output of its electric motor.

The company said the Spark EV’s 21 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack will continue Chevrolet’s tradition of offering industry-leading limited warranty protection – eight years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first.

The Spark EV will be the first vehicle on the market to offer as an available option the recently approved SAE combo charger for DC Fast Charging. The capability, available shortly after launch, will enable the Spark EV to recharge up to 80 percent of its capacity in approximately 20 minutes.

According to Chevrolet, the battery system is capable of handling multiple DC Fast Charges daily.

Charging can also be completed in less than seven hours using a dedicated 240V charge. A 120V charge cord set comes standard.

Charging of the Spark EV can be managed and monitored remotely using the Spark EV’s smart phone application, provided by OnStar, which is standard for three years.

“The Chevrolet Spark EV is a great city car which blends technology, functionality and style in an unexpected package” said Cristi Landy, director of Chevrolet small and electrified vehicle marketing. “We built on the success of the Volt and the gas-powered Spark to offer an affordable, fun and efficient mini car our customers will love to drive.”

Chevrolet also said the Spark EV will set an acceleration benchmark for an urban city electric vehicle – 0-60 mph in under eight seconds due to the mating of a permanent magnet electric motor, which produces more than 100 kilowatt (130 horsepower), with the coaxial drive unit.

The GM designed oil-cooled, permanent magnet motor is the heart of the Spark EV’s propulsion system.

Per General Motors, putting more than half a million road miles on development versions of the Spark EV enabled engineers to make the performance of the electric motor the best it could be by using a bar wound copper stator and unique rotor configuration.

The motor and drive unit are assembled at GM’s Baltimore operations plant in White Marsh, Md.

Last week, the plant celebrated the Spark EV motor production in Baltimore, marking the first time a major U.S. auto manufacturer has designed and built both a complete electric motor and drive unit for a modern electric vehicle in the United States.

The post It’s Official: Spark EV Rated At 119 MPGe appeared first on HybridCars.com.

Chevrolet said this is better than any non-hybrid passenger car in America.

The diesel version of the Cruze sedan will be available in certain cities this spring and nationwide and in Canada in early fall.

Equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission, the latest addition to the Cruze powertrain family has an estimated range of 700 highway miles on one tank of diesel fuel, based on the EPA highway estimate and the vehicle’s fuel tank capacity.

That represents about 10 hours of highway driving.

“We harnessed generations of diesel expertise to adapt our world-class global engine for the North American market,” said Gary Altman, chief engineer, Chevrolet Cruze Diesel. “The Cruze Diesel is the best diesel passenger car out there. Chevrolet is redefining the meaning of great fuel economy with this car.”

With a starting price of $25,695, including an $810 destination charge, the Chevrolet Cruze Diesel has been priced and packaged, according to Chevrolet, to be a better value than a similarly equipped VW Jetta TDI automatic.

Compared with the Jetta, the Cruze Diesel includes as standard the Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system, larger 17-inch alloy wheels, leather-appointed seating, a longer five-year 100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, and a two-year maintenance plan.

Chevrolet also said the Cruze Diesel also beats its rivals in performance with a segment-leading estimated 148 horsepower (110 kilowatt) and an estimated 258 pound-feet of torque. This will allow the diesel-powered Cruze to do the 0-60 in about 8.6 seconds.

The Cruze’s 2.0-liter turbo-diesel engine has an overboost feature capable of increasing torque to an estimated 280 pound-feet for short bursts of stronger acceleration when needed, such as entering freeway traffic.

The Cruze Diesel is powered by the cleanest diesel passenger car engine produced by General Motors. The vehicle generates 90 percent less Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) and particulate emissions when compared to previous-generation diesels.

Chevrolet has sold more than 2 million Cruze models globally since it was launched in mid-2010; more than 33,000 of those were diesel powered.

The post Cruze Diesel Rated At 46 MPG appeared first on HybridCars.com.

Electric motors for the new Chevrolet Spark EV are now manufactured at its Baltimore Operations plant in White Marsh, Md.

“The era of using electricity to help improve performance and fuel economy is already here and the trend is only going to grow,” said Mike Robinson, GM vice president of Sustainability. “Today is further proof GM is leading in the development of electric vehicles that will improve America’s energy security.”

GM engineers designed and developed the Spark EV’s motor and drive unit to provide maximum efficiency and power with world-class reliability. They said the permanent magnet motor features a unique design to provide precise delivery of power.

The Spark EV electric motor will produce 130 horsepower (100 kilowatts) and 400 pound-feet of torque.  This will result in an acceleration of less than 8 seconds from 0 to 60 mph.

The Spark EV will be sold in California and Oregon this summer and sales will later expand to Canada, Europe and South Korea.

“Electric motor development and manufacturing is a critical area of expertise GM has mastered as we grow our portfolio of electric vehicles to address the needs of our global customers.” said Larry Nitz, GM executive director of Vehicle Electrification Engineering.

After refining its expertise in electric motors at a pilot facility in Wixom, Mich., production of electric motors began at White Marsh. Workers at the Baltimore plant completed extensive training on the operation of the machines used to configure portions of the electric motor and drive units.

“The motor design was created by American engineers and it’s being manufactured and assembled by American workers,” said plant manager Bill Tiger. “By designing electric motors in Michigan and manufacturing them at Baltimore Operations, GM controls the design, materials and production processes, as well as reducing costs and improving performance, quality, reliability and manufacturability.”

GM said the Baltimore facility is highly green and environmentally friendly. It is GM’s exclusive manufacturer of A1000 transmissions for heavy duty pickup trucks and electric motors and drivetrains for the Chevrolet Spark EV.

The facility has been landfill free since 2007, recycling 100 percent of its waste. Baltimore’s facility has had a 1.2 megawatt roof mounted solar array installed in May 2011 and received certification for their Wildlife Habitat in June 2011.

A new facility has been built on the campus to house manufacturing for eMotor production.

The post Spark EV Electric Motor Made in Baltimore appeared first on HybridCars.com.

Tenneco is a global supplier to General Motors on the new midsize vehicle platform, supporting Chevy Malibu production in North America, China and Korea, as well as the Buick Regal and LaCrosse models in North America and China, and the Opel Insignia model in Europe.

Tenneco said is supplies both hot- and cold-end emission control systems for the 2.4L Ecotec four-cylinder engine, 2.5L Ecotec four-cylinder engine and the new Ecotec 2.0L turbocharged engine.

Tenneco collaborated with GM engineers to provide lightweight solutions in the Malibu’s exhaust system including designs that reduce precious metal content and incorporate single wall muffler shells and hollow rods to lower cost and weight.

The company is also supplying front strut modules, rear shock absorbers and exhaust isolators.

“We’re proud of our partnership with GM and the global collaboration we provide to support the company with this important vehicle launch,” said Gregg Sherrill, Tenneco chairman and chief executive officer. “The Malibu launch requires engineering and manufacturing resources in key regions of the world, and Tenneco has the capabilities in place to accommodate these needs.”

For North America production, Tenneco manufactures the Malibu’s hot-end exhaust systems at its Smithville, Tennessee and Seward, Nebraska facilities, and supplies converters from Litchfield, Mich.

Cold-end exhaust systems are produced at the company’s Cambridge, Ontario and Seward, Nebraska plants. Ride control components are manufactured in Hartwell, Georgia and Kettering, Ohio, and exhaust isolators are supplied from the company’s Suzhou, China facility.

Tenneco’s emission control technical centers in Edenkoben, Germany, Grass Lake, Michigan and Shanghai, China provided engineering and system integration support.

The post Tenneco Supplies Clean Air Technologies Components for All-New Chevrolet Malibu appeared first on HybridCars.com.

Everton and England international soccer player Phil Jagielka has taken delivery of England’s Volt cousin, the Vauxhall Ampera extended-range electric vehicle.

A central defender with 16 international caps, Jagielka will be driving a top-of-the-range Ampera Electron in Power Blue.

“I am delighted to be driving a Vauxhall Ampera,” said Phil. “I am very grateful for all of the help Vauxhall have given me in making this revolutionary vehicle available.”

The model is well equipped with voice activated sat nav featuring street level mapping for 20 European countries, audio/video DVD player, hard drive device with 30GB music file capacity and Bose ‘Energy Efficient Series’ sound system.

“We are very pleased Phil has chosen a Vauxhall Ampera,” said Duncan Aldred, Vauxhall’s Chairman and Managing Director. “It’s great news for Vauxhall to pair one of England’s most dependable centre backs with our universally-acclaimed extended-range electric vehicle.”

Jagielka joins former Manchester United and England star-turned pundit Gary Neville in getting behind the wheel of the Ampera.  Eco-conscious Neville has been driving an Ampera for the last nine months.

Arriving in British showrooms last year, the Ampera has a real-world battery range of between 25-50 miles, after which a small range-extending generator, powered by a 1.4-litre gasoline engine, intervenes to provide up to an additional 300-plus mile range.

At all times, the Ampera’s wheels are electrically driven, setting it apart from conventional hybrid vehicles.

The post Soccer Player Phil Jagielka Chooses Ampera appeared first on HybridCars.com.

At the same time, Chevrolet said that “their experience contributes to an out worldly total of 150 million electric-powered Volt driving miles – roughly the distance from Earth to Mars.”

Knowing this from the monitoring the company does of the performance and driving habits of Volt owners who have agreed to it, Chevrolet can say that the typical Volt owner who regularly charges the vehicle is going 900 miles between fill-ups of the gas tank feeding the gasoline engine that powers the Volt’s on-board generator.

Per Chevrolet, that avoids about $1,300 a year at the pump.

MPGe is a measure of the average distance traveled per unit of energy consumed. The EPA uses it to compare the consumption of alternative fuel vehicles, plug-in electric vehicles and other advanced technology vehicles with the fuel economy of conventional internal combustion vehicles expressed as miles per U.S. gallon of gasoline.

According to Chevrolet, some drivers are all but avoiding gasoline. The company released the following Volt owners statements to back this up:

“I have driven more than 23,500 miles in my Volt in 21 months, and have been to a gas station twice,” said Brent Waldrep of Auburn Hills, Mich. “The last time, was in August (2012), and I still have about 65 percent of that tank left. I go about 9,000-10,000 miles between fill ups.”

Chevrolet said Waldrep is atypical, but he is not alone.

“It’s been more than 5,000 miles and I’ve only filled up once not including the dealer fill,” said Larry Read of Canyon Lake, Texas.

Volt owner Paul Friday of San Jose, Calif.

Paul Friday of San Jose, Calif., says he gets about 7,000 miles between fill-ups and adds about three gallons of gas to his Volt every three months.

“We’ve seen and heard from our Volt owners that they are achieving fantastic performance numbers with their vehicle as many are beating the EPA label estimates,” said Cristi Landy, Chevrolet Volt marketing director. “Our Volt owners are showing the performance potential of driving electric, and having fun doing it.”

More results and comments from Volt owners can be found at www.facebook.com/chevroletvolt.

For the first 38 miles, the Volt can drive gas and tailpipe-emissions free using a full charge of electricity stored in its 16.50-kWh lithium-ion battery. When the Volt’s battery runs low, a gas-powered generator seamlessly operates to extend the driving range up to another 344 miles on a full tank.

The post Some Chevrolet Volt Owners Hardly Use Gas At All appeared first on HybridCars.com.

The 2014 Impala has several new features, including the company’s light electrification technology named eAssist; and Adaptive Cruise Control and crash-avoidance technologies like Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Side Blind Zone Alert.

Three direct-injection engine choices will be available: a 3.6L V6, a newly designed 2.5L four-cylinder and a 2.4L four-cylinder with fuel-saving eAssist technology estimated to deliver up to 35 mpg on highway driving.

All engines are matched to a six-speed automatic transmission.

Chevrolet said the new generation Impala will begin arriving in showrooms this month.

“The all-new Impala demonstrates the new direction of Chevrolet,” said Kevin Williams, president and managing director of GM Canada. “Our employees in Oshawa have executed a flawless plan in bringing this iconic nameplate to life. The newly redesigned Impala will exceed customers’ expectations because of the hard work of our employees at Oshawa Assembly.”

The 2014 Impala will also be manufactured at General Motors’ Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant, starting in May.

Chevrolet’s latest MyLink radio debuts in the 2014 Impala. According to the company, the in-vehicle entertainment system includes a customizable eight-inch color display screen. The system also adopts natural voice recognition – a first for Chevrolet.

Ten standard airbags are included – GM said this is among the most in the segment.

The 2014 Chevrolet Impala is built at Oshawa’s flexible manufacturing line along with the Chevrolet Camaro, Buick Regal and Cadillac XTS.

Pricing will start at $27,535, including destination.

The post 2014 Chevrolet Impala Production Starts; 35 MPG With eAssist appeared first on HybridCars.com.

General Motors announced today a global strategy to deliver a new generation of connected cars and trucks with embedded 4G LTE mobile broadband. Per GM, this is the largest deployment in the automotive industry to date.

The first GM cars, trucks and crossovers to get 4G LTE will be most 2015 Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac models available in 2014 in the United States and Canada.

4G LTE services will originally be delivered through AT&T. GM said it will announce more carrier and supplier relationships in coming months to expand 4G LTE capabilities in markets around the globe.

According to GM, expected benefits for customers could include in-vehicle Wi-Fi hot spots, new infotainment options like streaming video entertainment in the back seat, real-time updates and faster application downloads. These enhancements build on OnStar’s existing portfolio of built-in connected services, first introduced in GM vehicles in 1996.

The built-in 4G LTE structure GM is opting to go with is specifically designed for in-vehicle use as it is integrated into the vehicle’s electrical system and includes an external antenna to maximize coverage and connectivity.

GM specified that customers will not be required to have a smartphone to use the integrated connected services.

“In addition to allowing consumers to bring in and connect to personal mobile devices, the vehicle will also act as its own mobile device, enabling embedded vehicle capabilities,” said Mary Chan, president, Global Connected Consumer, General Motors.  “Turning this vision into a reality starts with enabling fast, reliable and responsive connectivity within the vehicle.  Through this built-in 4G LTE connection we have the opportunity to reinvent the mobile experience inside a vehicle.”

According to GM, applications of widespread in-vehicle 4G LTE connectivity will enable vehicles to interact directly with their environment to enhance safety, efficiency and convenience for drivers and passengers. 4G LTE will make services such as real-time traffic and navigation updates possible, pulling information from the cloud.

GM and AT&T said they will also work together on a broad ecosystem focused on developing new communication applications to enhance the driving and riding experience.

“While our 4G LTE network will provide fast, reliable mobile broadband for GM’s connected vehicles, we’re also looking forward to working directly with GM researchers and engineers as well as the developer community to invent new in-vehicle applications that will take full advantage of our powerful network,” said Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO, AT&T Mobility.

The post 4G LTE Connectivity To Be Integrated In 2015 GM Vehicles appeared first on HybridCars.com.

The Spark EV will initially be a fleet vehicle only and pricing will be announced closer to launch. It will be eligible for Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia provincial EV incentives.

According to Chevrolet, with the Chevrolet Volt, Chevrolet accounts for more than 50 percent of all plug-in electric vehicle sales in the North America. The Spark EV builds on Chevrolet’s proven electric motor and battery development programs.

Chevrolet expects the Spark EV to have, at launch, among the best EV battery range in its segment and to be the first electric vehicle to offer SAE Combo DC Fast Charging capability, enabling the Spark EV to reach 80-percent battery charge in just 20 minutes.

The Spark EV will come with Chevrolet’s MyLink radio that will be standard equipment and brings smartphone-based infotainment – including apps for BringGo full-function navigation, TuneIn global internet radio, and Stitcher – into the vehicle. Apple’s Siri will ride shotgun, for customers with compatible (4S and newer) iPhones.

In addition to previously announced markets including California and South Korea, the Spark EV is confirmed to go on sale in participating dealerships throughout Oregon and Canada (Fleet only).

The Spark EV will be eligible for coveted high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes in California, and similar HOV lanes in participating Canadian provinces.

The post Spark EV Will Be Fleet-Only For Canada appeared first on HybridCars.com.