Thursday, August 25, 2011

August Employee Spotlight - Kelly Schneider

Kelly Schneider joined the Jim Butler Chevrolet Team last year as an Internet Sales Consultant. She is a St. Louis native and has been a great addition to the team and really enjoys her job. Her favorite thing about the job is helping someone through the process of buying their very first new or pre-owned vehicle, she says "there is just something about how excited people get during the purchase of their new car that makes me happy."

When Kelly isn't answering questions about the great selection at Butler Chevrolet, she is usually watching either the Cardinals or the Blues. St. Louis Blues hockey is her ultimate favorite between the two, and David Backes is her favorite player to watch. Kelly's favorite time of year is just around the corner, she loves the Fall because it is  perfect weather to drive around in her convertible. Finally, Kelly enjoys spending time with family and friends, as well as reading books (her favorite is "Gone with the Wind").

Favorite car of the past - Volkswagen Beetle Convertible
Favorite car of the present - 2011 Chevy Camaro Convertible

Saying to live by  "Well, I'm what I am And I'm what I'm not. And I'm sure happy With what I've got. I live to love and laugh a lot, And that's all I need." --Kenny Chesney

Monday, August 22, 2011

Why the 2011 Chevy Equinox is a HOT Seller!


THE CROSSOVER THAT FITS YOUR LIFE


Meticulous craftsmanship and upscale styling combined with a flexible interior and class-leading highway fuel economy sets Equinox apart from the rest. With 32 MPG highway and a highway driving range of up to 600 miles, Equinox beats Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and even Ford Escape Hybrid. Inside, there's comfort for five and the most rear-seat legroom in its class, along with advanced safety and security features for added peace of mind.


The 2011 Chevy Equinox is definitely one of our best selling vehicles at Jim Butler Chevrolet. It has topped every other CUV in it's class in sales but let's find out why.

  • Consumer's Digest Best Buy (2010)
  • IIHS Top Safety Pick (International Institute for Highway Safety)
  • Drivers’ Choice Award for Best Small Utility Vehicle by MotorWeek (2010)
  • 2010 Top 10 Family Car Kelley Blue Book
  • # 1 in Affordable Compact SUVs (2011) U.S. News
  • Best Fuel Economy in it's class - 32 mpg/hwy


The Chevrolet Equinox is one of the best selling cars in America and has won numerous awards.


Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Sneak Peek at the 2013 Chevy Malibu

The 2013 Malibu has an elegant, formal sheetmetal for a sporty look. The Malibu evolves to the Opel Insignia/Buick Regal's Epsilon II architecture to lose 4.5 inches in wheelbase. Chevy worries buyers will think it has shrunk. After all, Buick markets the Regal as a "sport sedan," explaining its tight rear-seat space, so Chevrolet is quick to note that overall interior space is increased more than 3 cubic feet relative to the current Malibu, putting it in the ballpark of the Toyota Camry and Ford Fusion. That's because the new Malibu has grown 2.7 inches wider, so big increases in shoulder and hip room compensate for slight losses in legroom and front headroom relative to the 2012 Malibu. Mark Moussa, Malibu's global chief engineer explains that relative to the Regal, his packaging engineers have greatly increased shoulder room, tightened the clearance between the headliner and the exterior roof panel, and lowered the H-point.

Perhaps its most striking feature, after styling, is that it will be offered only with four-cylinder engines. There's no V-6 in the works. That's pretty forward thinking for Chevy, even if Buick, Hyundai, and Kia got there first.

To take advantage of consumers' shift from trucks and big SUVs to more fuel-efficient cars, GM put Chevy Malibu development on the fast track after the 2009 bankruptcy, and moved up its launch by more than half a year. The '13 Malibu will go on sale not long after Super Bowl XLVI. It launches in ECO trim, with the 2.4-liter four-cylinder with eAssist as Chevrolet continues to build the old Malibu (Classic?) through the 2012 model year for fleet/rental. This ensures a launch with minimal dealer incentives and potentially higher average transaction prices (ATP).

About half a year later, Chevy will add an all-new 2.5-liter four-cylinder option. The only transmission offered for either engine is GM's six-speed automatic. Chevy will offer a turbodiesel and a smaller four in other markets.
The new Malibu has been designed to be a global sedan, sold in China -- it was unveiled at the Shanghai show, a day ahead of the New York International Auto Show -- and throughout Asia, Europe, and the quickly growing markets in South America. In Australia, it will be the Holden Malibu.

It's a big piece of the strategy puzzle that has Chevrolet becoming GM's true global brand. In western Europe, the Chevy strategy pushes Opel/Vauxhall back to where it was in the '60s and '70s: an upper-middle, semi-premium brand like Buick.

The goal in the U.S. is to make the Chevy Malibu a best-seller again, though the Impala presents a complication. With fleet sales and dealer incentives, the current, prehistoric Impala competes not with other cars in its class, but with the Malibu. When the Chevy Impala moves to the long-wheelbase version of Epsilon II for the 2014 model year (a RWD 2015 Caprice will likely follow), it will be more competitive with cars like the Ford Taurus and Toyota Avalon, leading to a higher ATP and lower volumes.

The Chevrolet Volt may prove that GM can still do cutting-edge high tech. Success or failure of the '13 Malibu will prove whether GM has truly become a new company and whether it can find success with and profit from mainstream, affordably priced products.

Is it a Super Sport?
GM has proper engines. The 220-horsepower, 2.0-liter Ecotec Buick Regal CXL Turbo engine would be perfect for a Malibu RS. A Malibu SS would require the Regal GS's high-output 2.0-liter turbo, which makes 270 horsepower at 5300 rpm and 295 pound-feet at 2500-4000 and gets a respectable 19/29-mpg with the optional six-speed manual. "I'd say, stay tuned," Mark Moussa hints. "You may be pleasantly surprised in the future."

[Source: Motor Trend]

Monday, August 1, 2011

Why the 2012 Camaro V6 makes more power & MPGs

The 2012 Chevrolet Camaro will feature 323 horsepower, or 11 more ponies than the 2011 model. But General Motors engineers didn't accomplish this feat by adding direct injection or variable valve timing. In fact, the 2011 version of the 3.6-liter V6 already incorporated those high-tech engine components.

Instead, engineers were able to add extra power by allowing the high-tech mill to breathe better. To do this, intake airflow was improved by seven percent through extensive simulation and bench testing. As a result, power is up by 11 horsepower, while exhaust flow is improved by 10 percent.

Engineers also manged to remove an incredible 13 pounds from the 3.6-liter by integrating the exhaust manifolds into the aluminum cylinder head. This change meant that a pair of old-school iron manifolds, 12 bolts, a pair of gasket and heat shields with six more bolts were eliminated.

Beyond weight savings, these changes also eliminate the potential for gasket failure while fuel efficiency is improved. The 2012 Camaro 2LS model will now boast 30 miles per gallon on the highway, up from an also respectable 29 mpg from the 2011 model.

Hit the jump to watch a short video, which shows exactly how GM was able to shave 13 pounds off of an already reasonably light engine.