Chevy Club Blog

Car accidents can cause a wide variety of injuries and ailments and can affect almost any part of your body. Injuries sustained obviously depend on the severity of the road traffic accident, the impact and the individual circumstances.

If you take a look at the number of claims from insurance companies or from personal injury claims, then you will notice a trend concerning certain injuries and some seem to occur much more than others.

Head injuries and brain damage are common injuries after a car crash or road traffic accident and is suffered by both drivers and passengers alike. Head injuries can range from a mild concussion through to a serious brain injury. Sometimes there may not be any physical signs of injury, but it is always worth getting checked out at a hospital in case of internal bleeding.

Neck injuries are one of the most common injuries from a car accident.
One of the most frequent complaints is that of whiplash, which is a mild neck strain, through to more serious injuries, such as a slipped disc.

The impact of a car accident means that back injuries are a very common occurrence and this can include back strain, disc injuries, fractures and lumbar spinal injuries. Some of the most severe back injuries take time to show any symptoms, so again you should always get checked out after a serious injury.

Facial injuries – often caused by breaking glass or impact with the steering wheel – are one of the most distressing kind of injuries and can range from minor bumps and bruises through to shattered bones, lacerations and dental injuries.

Psychological trauma is also a common side effect of car accidents and this can last for a short time, or for years, especially if a death is involved. The most serious kind of trauma can result in something akin to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

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2013 Chevy Trailblazer

General Motors has unveiled its next-generation Chevrolet Trailblazer at the Dubai International Motor Show. The model is set to go on sale around the world, though Thailand will have the first crack at the vehicle in early 2012.

The 2013 TrailBlazer features seating for seven, and, since the SUV is based off of the new global Chevrolet Colorado, it gets its power from a 2.8-liter Duramax turbo-diesel engine. GM stresses that the vehicle on display in the Middle East is a show vehicle, but we’re guessing that the final product will look pretty similar to what you see above.

The next-generation TrailBlazer will feature second-row seats with a 60/40 split, and both the second and third rows fold flat to reveal a sizable cargo area. With most SUVs abandoning their rugged roots for the softer ways of the crossover world, the new Trailblazer sound pretty good to us. Right now, there’s no word on when the vehicle will show up in the U.S. or if it will come packing the same turbo-diesel engine when it arrives.

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2012 Chevy Colorado

After a great deal of anticipation and a boatload of speculation, the all-new 2012 Chevrolet Colorado, built in Thailand (with no official announcements yet about the U.S.) debuted today in Asia. Now the production model will go on sale later this month in more than 60 countries.

For the past five years, global GM engineers have tested and refined the new midsize pickup truck that will offer 26 different combinations of models, powertrains, cabins and ride heights. The new Colorados will include regular, extended- and crew-cab bodies in high- and low-stance configurations, wide- and narrow-body options, as well as two- and four-wheel-drive.

“The new Colorado represents our largest-ever engineering and manufacturing program (over $2 billion) and demonstrates the outstanding skills and capability that exist in this country,” GM Thailand President Martin Apfel said. “Our manufacturing operations have the ability to meet the needs of the local and global marketplace now and well into the future.”

Based on GM’s global body-on-frame, rear-drive midsize truck architecture, the new Colorado is designed, engineered and executed to deliver best-in-class appearance, performance, versatility and refinement. It competes with the global Ford Ranger, Volkswagen Amarok, Toyota Hilux and others.

The new Colorado features an all-new global family of GM-developed turbo-diesel four-cylinder engines designed for performance and fuel efficiency. The two Duramax diesels, built at GM Thailand’s newly opened $200 million engine plant, are available in 2.8-liter (pictured below, left) and 2.5-liter (below, right) displacements.

The 2.8-liter turbo-diesel features a variable-geometry turbocharger and a balance shaft for greater smoothness, while both engines feature components designed to last up to 150,000 miles.

The 2.8-liter engine is rated at 180 horsepower and 346 pounds-feet of torque with an available six-speed automatic transmission. The 2.5-liter engine is rated at 150 hp and 258 pounds-feet of torque.

The transmissions to be offered aer a five-speed manual or a Hydra-Matic six-speed automatic transmission with automatic gear selection via a toggle switch on the shift head. The 4×4 configuration will include a new two-speed, electronically actuated part-time transfer case.

Other features include electronic stability control, antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution, traction control, hydraulic brake assist, cornering brake control and driver and occupant front airbags.

The development of the all-new Colorado was led by a team of GM engineers in Brazil that used their expertise to tailor the vehicle for a number of global markets, including those in Southeast Asia.

Team members lived in Thailand during the Colorado’s development, immersing themselves in the highly competitive truck market and observing how Thais use their vehicles and the driving conditions they experience. That expertise led to the development of new Colorado models covering three specification levels: the entry-level LS, midrange LT and range-topping LTZ.

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2012 Orlando

The Detroit- based automaker, a while ago has released the 2012 Chevrolet Orlando pricing for Canadian earlier before the vehicle come in markets across the country due on October 2011.

At first, the bigwigs at the General Motor have set the Chevrolet Orlando to arrive in the United States, yet they thought it again and decided to offer the 7 seater model only in Canada. The Chevrolet Orlando came in European dealerships earlier this year.

Three trim levels of the 2012 Orlando are offered in Canada, bringing along with the price tags starts from CA$19,995 (US$20,260) for the LS model, CA$22,295 (US$22,591) for the LT model, while the flagship LTZ model cost at CA$29,735 (US$30,130).

A 2.4 liter Ecotec four- cylinder engine completed with direct injection technology is mounted to all models, producing an output of 174 horsepower. The engine is estimated to deliver fuel consumption at 6.7 l/ 100 km or around 35.1 mpg US on the highway and 10.1 l/ 100 km or equal to 23.3 mpg US in the city, only when fixed to a six speed manual. On the other side, when hooked up to a six- speed automatic, the engine will deliver fuel consumption at 6.9 lt/100 km (34 mpg US) on the highway and 10.6 lt/100km (22.2 mpg US) in the city.

The and managing director of General Motors of Canada said that the new Chevrolet Orlando should be a famed choice in Canadian market since the vehicle is a segment leading fuel economy and standard 7 passenger seating. Furthermore, the new Orlando is based on the transformation of Chevrolets’s fuel efficient and flexible product range which comes in family- friendly car across the segment in Canadian market.

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New Corvette

It seems like every month new revelations concerning the next-generation ‘C7’ Chevrolet Corvette surface, mostly conjecture generated by fans on forums or other random sources but sometimes official spiel from within GM.

What we do know is that the C7 will now arrive two model years after the current 2012 Chevrolet Corvette, meaning it will be a 2014 model and should be available in the second half of the 2013 calendar year. We got that confirmation following GM’s announcement of a $131 million investment in the Corvette plant at Bowling Green, Kentucky, along with comments from GM’s North American boss Mark Reuss who stated that the car will be “completely different“.

Another tidbit revealed from GM design boss Ed Welburn is that the new ‘Vette will get a split rear window along with some other vintage styling cues inspired by the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray and previewed on the 50th Anniversary Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Concept.

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The new Malibu, which has a shorter wheelbase than the current sedan, will sell in almost 100 countries, as GM continues to grow its Chevrolet brand worldwide. The current Malibu was GM’s best-selling U.S. car last year, with sales numbering nearly 200,000, and the new version will be Chevrolet’s first mid-sized sedan to sell globally.

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by Robert Thomas and Frank Ochal

Welcome to all of the many new members that have joined since the last issue of the WORLD.

We have a new website for mobile phone users at www.chevyclub.mobi . It is easier to read on smart cell phones than the regular website.

We have updated our payment form on our website to directly take credit card and PayPal payments. Your credit card is now checked for accuracy and verified and your order is placed into a shopping cart of items awaiting checkout. This type of program should be very familiar to people who pay for items on other Internet websites and is available on the PayPal/Credit Card website button. The old form will also remain for members that are comfortable with it.

In addition to the items found in our regular club store, more store merchandise including tote bags, caps, sweat pants, shorts and other items can be found at our Fieldhouse Club Store located at www.fieldhouse.com/chevyclub.

I am happy to inform you that Technical Sections is now available which contains a complete copy of all the Technical Sections, topics, questions and answers published in the World. It is available on CD-Rom only for PC or Mac in pdf format and contains reprints of the technical sections published in the World published from 1998 to 2007. It is indexed by subject for easy reference and contains articles, topics, questions and answers and is available in the Club Store section of each World and on the website at www.chevyclub.com . Another new item in the store is a complete copy of the past ten years of the World available on CD only for PC or Mac.

Finally the club has a new and much improved message board. This is something that many of our members have wanted for a long time. Be sure to check it out. You can access through the club website at www.chevyclub.com or directly at http://board.chevyclub.com .

We have a members only section of the message board. You can use the user id and password on page 3 of each World or you can get a personal id and password. To do so, register and then logon to the message board and send a message to us. This allows you to access the MEMBER ONLY QUESTION & ANSWER and UPKEEP & PERFORMANCE HINTS area.　 It also allows you to post items in the FOR SALE and WANTED sections as well as post photos in the MEMBER PHOTOS area. Also there is a now a Local Groups/Activities section.

The club also now has a blog located at http://blog.chevyclub.com . Members can publish items to the Blog.

The Chevy Club has a new photo gallery located at http://photos.chevyclub.com . The same login is used for the gallery as the Message Board. Members can download photos to the gallery.

You can now find us on the popular networking sites myspace.com, facebook.com and twitter.com in the groups section.

We now offer a 3 year membership or renewal rate which includes a free t-shirt. And in response to many members we now have a 3 year eMembership for $50 which also includes a free t-shirt or tech sections CD. So save some money and get a free t-shirt or tech CD in the process!

We also have a members only section where only members can access with the User ID and Password found on page 3 of this issue. Members now have access to the newsletter and other items. Also now you can to create your own id and password for the members only section. Submit the form on the members only page to do this.

We also send members the eWorld so send us your email address. Do not worry if you do not have an email address as you will get all of the information sent in the eWorld in the regular World but it may be in a different format and at later date because of printing and mailing considerations. Please let us know what you think of this and what type of info you would like to see included. Also be sure to update your email address when and if it changes.

We are in need of additional people for our technical staff. If you think you would like to help your fellow members in this way, please contact us. The position could also benefit you as the technical staff people can advertise their business free in the newsletter as well as by letter and phone. Help your fellow members while you publicize your expertise. Contact us if you are interested.

If you have parts to sell or exchange be sure to send us your legible list so that it can be distributed to members. We also offer free classified ads to members that appear world wide on the Internet.

Thanks for your support and enjoy driving your Chevy!!

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Chevrolet Sonic

General Motors Co. is kicking off celebrations commemorating the Chevrolet brand’s 100th year in business with a sonic boom.

Just hours after GM’s halo vehicle, the Chevrolet Volt, won Car of the Year at the North American International Auto Show, the automaker introduced the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic, a vehicle GM says will not only compete — but win hands down — in the compact car market.

“It’s a statement of what’s to be expected of this foundational brand for years to come,” said GM North America President Mark Reuss during a press event Monday evening. “It blends the practicality of a small car with the passion for driving.”

The new Sonic is smaller than the Chevrolet Cruze, the compact car produced at GM’s Lordstown Complex. Production of the Sonic is slated to begin at GM’s Orion Assembly Center in Michigan, which received $545 million in upgrades and retooling, and will restore about 1,000 jobs in the Detroit region.

Reuss said he’s proud that the Sonic will be a small car produced in the United States, noting that competitors Ford, Toyota and Honda manufacture their entry-level compacts “somewhere else.”

“This car is tuned for the U.S. market, ” Reuss said, noting the vehicle contains some amenities rarely found in the small-car segment, including heated seats, OnStar navigation and USB and Bluetooth capability.

Moreover, the vehicle’s design and engineering is geared to obtaining optimum gas mileage of 40 miles per gallon, Reuss said. “The Chevrolet Sonic is designed to turn heads,” he exclaimed.

The vehicle possesses a Cruze-based powertrain and a sleek exterior that is tailored to the performance market, Reuss said. “It’s a way to reach performance-oriented buyers.”

Chris Perry, vice president of Chevrolet marketing, said the Sonic is the logical follow-up to the popular Cruze, which he said is earning rave reviews in the United States and around the world. The Cruze Eco, slated for launch during the first quarter, is expected to reach 42 miles per gallon on the highway and “is the leading, most fuel-efficient car on the market,” even receiving better results than some of the hybrids.

“The all-new Chevrolet Sonic blends the practicality of a small car with the passion for driving that Chevrolet vehicles like the Corvette are known for,” Perry said. “Its combination of great design, fun driving experience and the latest connectivity features create a serious competitor with a fun spirit.”

GM introduced its all-new 2012 Buick Verano, the brand’s first compact luxury vehicle, during a press event Monday morning. The Verano is expected to go on sale in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Perry said innovative vehicles such as the Volt underscore the importance of how Chevrolet is changing the culture of the domestic auto industry. GM, he continued, has pledged to invest more than $40 million in technology to reduce carbon emissions and make the automaker a leader in environmental conservation.

But it’s the Chevrolet appeal that’s driving buyers to the brand, Perry stressed.

“In 2010, Chevrolet sales were up 16%,” with 1.6 million vehicles sold in the U.S. market alone, Perry reported.

GM’s chairman and CEO, Dan Akerson, said Chevrolet’s 100th year marks the continued success of one of the most iconic names in the automotive industry. “Many people around the world have personal connection with Chevrolet,” he said.

Last year, Akerson noted, more than 4.2 million Chevrolets were sold in 130 countries around the world. “That’s one Chevrolet sold every seven-and-a-half seconds somewhere across the globe.” The Chevrolet brand constitutes 53% of GM’s business, he said.

The brand is also well positioned to land more buyers in emerging markets such as South America and India, Akerson said, noting 60% of Chevy sales are with foreign customers.

“GM is better positioned than any other auto company to take advantage of today’s industry and global growth,” Akerson said. “We’re looking to define where the industry is headed and to break new ground.”

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After nearly four years of the near-production Camaro convertible “concept” making the auto show rounds, the official Chevrolet Camaro drop-top was revealed online just before the Los Angeles auto show, which opens to the public Friday.

The Camaro convertible will be built alongside the coupe at GM’s rapidly expanding Oshawa facility, which recently took on extra production of the Chevrolet Equinox and is set to start producing the Buick Regal for North America in the first quarter of next year. Camaro convertible production will also start early next year, with the car set to go on sale in Canada and the United States soon afterwards.

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New Chevy Orlando

Finally, we’ve got live pics of the new Chevy Orlando. Essentially the General’s answer to the European mid-size MPV question, the small, Cruze-based 7-seater had a bunch of promise back when it originally debuted as a concept.

Somewhere between there and this year’s Paris Motor Show, all the old, Judge Whitey executives in the General’s back pocket found a way to crush any chance of it being cool by turning the stocky little MPV into an ass-in-the-air high-ish-riding mini-minivan…unless there’s an air suspension system I don’t know about.

You can see that the interior keeps the decent styling inherited from its platform-mate and appears to actually be sourced from the original concept. Too bad the same can’t be said for the rest.

When this little box goes on sale in early 2011, methinks the best things about the whole package are the trick dashboard cubby and its two available diesel torque-makers.

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