GM tops benchmark J.D. Power Quality Study

Exciting news!  General Motors has won 8 best vehicle awards in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Survey, with all GM brands ranking above the industry average this year! Topping the chart at number 2 is GMC, followed by Chevrolet, who jumped 10 spots from last year to land at number 5. Cadillac tied for 13th and Buick came in at 15.  What is even more exciting is that GMC and Chevrolet are the only two non-luxury brands to make the top 5. David Sargent, vice president of the global automotive practice at J.D. Power and author of the study said, “GM has the best quality of any corporation in the study, the first time it’s been on top.”  To us the dealer, this is solid confirmation, based on the opinions of General Motors customers, that we are producing the highest quality vehicles out there!

JD Power Quality Survey

This annual survey, now in its 27th year, closely measures the number of problems on 2013 vehicles reported after 90 days from purchase and ran from February to May of this year.   This survey had many updates, including more consumer feedback with particular focus to newer technologies such as: lane departure warning, navigation and voice activated systems.

As Chevrolet, Buick and GMC continue to improve the quality of their 2014 models, competitors such as Ford continue to experience a slump as they struggle with the quality of their technologies.  This year, they fell to 27 in the survey from the 5th spot last year.

These are exciting times for General Motors and Queenston Chevrolet Buick GMC.  We are proud of our product and thrilled about all the advancements in our award winning line-up.  If you are interested in any of our vehicles or have any questions, please visit us at http://www.queenstonchev.com.

By: Amy Cochren

Credit: GM Canada, autos.jdpower.com

“Truck Yeah” – Silverado Sierra Tour

If you love pick-up trucks like us, then you are as excited as we are about the newly redesigned 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra.  In fact, General Motors is so proud of these outstanding trucks, they have put together the event of the year – The Silverado Sierra Tour!

SilveradoSierraTour

The Silverado Sierra Tour gives you the unique opportunity to drive these two trucks on a closed course test drive with driving event modules, so you can put the all-new 2014 Silverado and Sierra to the test!  Each session runs for a duration of 1.5 hours and is completely free to you. You will also be provided with a thank you gift and have the opportunity to win some fabulous prizes.

Each person interested in participating, must register the event separately.  It also requires that you be 21 years of age and possess a full valid driver’s license to participate.

As can be expected, this consumer opportunity is extremely limited and will run on a first come, first serve basis.

The event began on June 5th and will continue to run across the country until August 28th!  The schedule dates are as follows:

Silverado Sierra Tour Schedule

With such limited spots, make sure you register for the Silverado Sierra Tour today! (Click here to register)

If you have any questions, please visit www.queenstonchev.com or follow us at Hamilton Auto Blog for updates.

By: Amy Cochren

OnStar Family Link Service

Have you every worried about a loved one who is making a long trip or driving in poor weather conditions? Maybe you have a new driver in the family and want to ensure their safety.  Now you can have peace of mind with OnStar Family Link.  This service is an opt-in extension to your monthly OnStar subscription and is made available to you for a nominal fee.  With no limit to the number of vehicles you can add, you will always be able to track your vehicle on the road without bothering the driver.

Upon sign up, you will be given direct access to the location of your vehicle by viewing a map, as well as the ability to schedule email or text message notifications with Family Link’s unique “Vehicle Location Alert”.  You can even personalize the system by setting the day, time and frequency of your alerts.

This year in the United States, OnStar was awarded a 2013 Silver Edison Award for the Family Link service.  Jon Lauckner, GM’s chief technology officer and vice-president of Global Research & Development was quoted as saying “These awards reaffirm our ability to lead in the transformation of the automotive industry with a commitment to innovation that benefits our customers around the globe”.

If you are interested in subscribing to this feature, please sign up at www.onstar.com/familylink and make sure to visit our award winning vehicles equipped with OnStar at www.queenstonchev.com

By: Amy Cochren

GM Canada

Canadianautodealer.ca

2014 Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel UPDATE

The wait will soon be over – the new 2014 Chevrolet Cruze 2.0TD (Diesel) is said to be in Canadian Dealerships by as early as this summer. This new Cruze has an estimated range of 700 highway miles on one tank of diesel fuel, which is roughly equivalent to 10 hours of highway driving.

Chevrolet logocruze TD

With a starting price of $26,495 including freight, this new Cruze has a better value ($510 lower) than its competitor – the comparably equipped 2013 Volkswagen Jetta TDI automatic.

Offered in one trim level, the Cruze 2TD offers some excellent standard features.

Interior product highlights include:

Heated leather seats with 6 way power driver seat
Leather wrapped steering wheel
Cruise control
USB port & Bluetooth for phone
Remote start, MyLink & rear view camera

Exterior product highlights include:

Unique 17-inch alloy wheels
Standard rear spoiler
Diesel badging

Mechanical Product highlights include:

2.0L Turbo Diesel – engine built in Europe
148 hp and 25lb-ft. torque
Z-link rear suspension from the RS
4-wheel disc brakes
DEF system

Surpassing its competitors, the Cruze Diesel has an estimated 148 horsepower and can go 0-60mph in 8.6 seconds, which is better than the Volkswagen TDI automatic.   Powered by the cleanest diesel passenger engine GM has ever produced, this car generates 90 percent less Nitrogen Oxide and particulate emissions then past generations.

For more news and updates on the Cruze 2TD and other General Motors vehicles, please visit Hamilton Auto Blog and queenstonchev.com

By: Amy Cochren

Credit: Chevrolet Canada, GM Canada

Chevrolet unveils the 2014 Corvette Stingray Convertible

When the 2014 Corvette Stingray was unveiled earlier this year at the Detroit Auto show, we were all left wondering – What about the convertible Stingray? When will it make its’ debut?

Our minds were put to rest today as the 2014 Corvette Stingray Convertible was unveiled at the Geneva Auto Show.Stingray Convertible 1

The convertible Corvette Stingray comes with almost everything you would find on the coupe version. The only notable changes are limited to accommodating the folding fabric top and repositioned seatbelts. Unlike other convertibles, the top can be dropped at speeds of up to 50km/hour. The key fob can also be used to raise or lower the top remotely.Stingray Convertible 2

“The convertible has been a part of the heart and soul of Corvette since the very beginning in 1953,” said Ed Welburn, General Motors  Vice President of global design. “With the all-new Corvette Stingray, we designed and developed the coupe and convertible simultaneously. As a result, the Corvette Stingray offers an open-top driving experience with no compromise in performance, technology or design.”Stingray Convertible 3

If the Stingray Corvette wasn’t enough already, the convertible takes it another step higher.  We can’t wait to see it out on the open road.

 

Source: GM

Next Generation MyLink wins ‘Best Car Tech Award’ at CES 2013

Next Generation MyLink wins ‘Best Car Tech Award’ at CES 2013

At this year’s Consumer Electronics Show or CES 2013, the 2014 Chevrolet Impala equipped with the next generation MyLink infotainment system was on display.

Similar to a smartphone, the first thing you notice about the MyLink system is the similar looking icons. Not only do the icons look similar to that of an iPhone but they can be rearranged in the same way as well. You simply hold down the icon and move it wherever you’d like. For quick access to the driver’s favourite functions, there is a top bar similar to a favourite bar which allows you to choose which icons you would like to use no matter where you are in the system. The MyLink system offers everything from navigation to phone to weather to apps like TuneIn and Pandora.

Making your drive safer, you can operate the system from your steering wheel itself. And a smaller display appears next to the speedometer, so you don’t necessarily need to look away from the road to see your MyLink.mylinkGM Chief Infotainment Officer Phil Abram had this to say about the upcoming MyLink system,

“There will be a category of apps that will be unique to our cars and very different from what people use today on their smartphones or tablets. It’s not just taking phone apps and making them functional in a car, which most car companies do in some form now. Instead, GM may approve applications that stem from vehicle ownership. For example, customers can choose to download applications that assist them in driving more safely or in a more fuel efficient manner, possibly decreasing the costs of vehicle ownership.”

We can expect to see this new MyLink system in the 2014 Chevrolet Impala later this year. Be sure to keep checking Hamilton Auto Blog and www.queenstonchev.com for more news on the release date.

By Nerissa Mohamed

Source: GM

Chevrolet FC – Connecting The Globe Through Sport

From Shanghai to Manchester – Chevrolet is making its mark in a new and relatively unfamiliar territory – Football (or Soccer). No matter what you call it, the sport is a powerful and unifying force. As a brand, “Chevrolet FC” (which stands for Chevrolet Football Club) not only  means sponsoring the legendary English football team Manchester United, they have also ventured into creating a better world through sport in their partnership with the One World Futbol Project.

The One World Futbol Project works to bring positive change to the world through the power of sport. They work to donate indestructible footballs to war torn parts of the world, refugee camps, disaster areas and other disadvantaged areas. The balls are designed to withstand the rough environmental conditions in which these children live and play. They can’t be pierced and there is no stitching so the balls cannot fall apart, which standard footballs would tend to do. This is an amazing cause that is working to bring joy to the lives of children through something very simple – sport. Chevrolet is the founding sponsor of the organization and their sponsorship will result in 1.5 million footballs being donated to youth around the world.

The companywide global football initiative being undertaken by Chevrolet also includes sponsorship of the most valuable sports franchise in the world – Manchester United. Manchester United’s Chief Executive and Chairman of the Manchester United Foundation David Gill said, “In Chevrolet we have a partner that has shown a passion and true appreciation of football’s power to effect positive change.”  Beginning in the 2014/2015 season, Chevrolet will be the shirt sponsor for United. The global reach of Manchester United as a sports franchise virtually has no bounds. With United’s massive fan base in just about every country in the world, matched with Chevrolet’s involvement in the One World Futbol Project – there’s no telling how much more powerful Chevrolet’s impact will become as a global brand.

By Nerissa Mohamed

Sources:

www.oneworldfutbol.com

www.chevroletfc.com