The records keep falling for Chevrolet: After selling more vehicles internationally in 2011 than ever before, the brand has now received its biggest order ever for vehicles powered by compressed natural gas (CNG). As part of its plans to invest $565 million in alternative-fuel vehicles through 2018, AT&T recently ordered a fleet of 1,200 Chevy Express vans configured to run on clean-burning CNG—according to the EPA, vans that rely on CNG for energy produce about 25 percent fewer carbon dioxide emissions than similar vehicles running on gasoline or diesel fuel.

“CNG technology is important to AT&T because it helps us reduce our fleet-based carbon emissions,” said Jerome Webber, AT&T vice president of Fleet Operations. “It is also cost-effective and readily available in our country right now.”

The Express CNG is a simple solution for companies like AT&T because the vans can be ordered directly through Chevy dealers and come completely kitted out with a factory-engineered, fully integrated CNG fuel system already in place. And notably, that system includes numerous upgrades to the Express’ 6.0-liter Vortec V8 engine to improve wear resistance and durability.

The CNG upfit is available on Express 2500 and 3500 cargo models, which retain GM’s three-year, 36,000-mile new-vehicle limited warranty as well as a five-year, 100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty. Further Chevy’s CNG vans meet all EPA and California Air Resources Board emissions-certification requirements.

“There are millions of fleet vehicles on the road today and we want to be a critical part of this sustainable revolution, helping make these conversions as easy as possible,” said Brian Small, general manager, GM Fleet and Commercial Operations.

The four brands that make up the General Motors crew—Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac—currently offer U.S. customers some of the finest vehicles on the planet. And they’ll soon be able to offer a shopping experience to match: Under GM’s new Essential Brand Elements program, more than 3,400 dealerships across the country will be comprehensively upgrading their retail facilities to provide a superior in-store experience and better satisfy customer needs.

In fact, more than 1,000 dealerships already have begun work on their improved setups, and some—like Team Chevrolet and Cadillac in Vallejo, Calif.—already have completed them. Team owner Ken Ross oversaw a complete makeover of his store, which included adding a contemporary customer lounge with free Wi-Fi and computer stations, two play areas for kids, and even a gym, complete with showers for dealership guests.

“The old store may have turned some potential customers away, so we wanted our new dealership to match the look and sophistication of the products we sell,” said Ross. “People seem to enjoy spending time in the new store, and we’re selling more cars and trucks to customers we’ve not seen before.”

But it’s not just dealership owners who are impressed with the changes; even more importantly, so are the customers. According to George Franklin, who bought a new Chevy Corvette at the upgraded Team Chevrolet and Cadillac facility: “I have found the buying and service experience in their new store to be on par with, and even better than, some of the foreign luxury brands. The facility is clean, the service area is open and easy to navigate, and the new amenities, like the gym and computer room, allow you to make the most of your wait time.”

Simply put, the all-new Chevrolet Sonic is a different kind of small car: It’s the only subcompact built in the U.S. and the only one to offer a turbocharged engine, and—even as it’s become one of the best-selling cars in its segment—it’s been the only one NOT to rely on television advertising. Instead, Chevy’s efforts have successfully focused on the digital space, highlighted by a string of eye-popping stunts that range from the Sonic sky dive to watching action sports-star Rob Dyrdek complete a skateboard-style kick flip in the car itself.

“The launch of the Sonic is allowing the Chevrolet brand to engage with consumers on a more personal level,” said Chris Perry, vice president, Chevrolet Marketing and Strategy. “Focusing our early efforts on the digital space gave us the freedom to attempt some of our own firsts and establish a solid presence for the new Sonic nameplate.”

Results have included a run of year-over-year sales increases that continued in January, when the Sonic more than doubled the sales figures posted in the same month last year by Chevy’s previous subcompact.

The next move from the Sonic playbook? Chevy will finally introduce the car to TV audiences—on the world’s biggest stage—during the telecast of Super Bowl XLVI. Spots from the “Sonic Anthem” campaign will showoff footage from past Sonic stunts, as well as outtakes from the car’s first music video, which involves a collaboration with the band OK GO.

“The Sonic is a great new addition to the Chevrolet lineup and we are encouraged by the steady increase in sales that we are seeing each month,” said Alan Batey, vice president, Chevrolet Sales and Service. “In addition to the early sales momentum of the Sonic, the rest of the Chevrolet passenger cars are building on the tremendous sales success of last year posting stronger than expected numbers in the first month of the New Year.”

It’s another major milestone for the Chevrolet Volt: After Chevy engineers fine-tuned its catalytic converter for further reduced emissions, the 2012 Volt will be eligible for California’s high-occupancy-vehicle (HOV) lane sticker. As a result, Volt drivers will have access to the state’s car-pool lanes for notably less stressful commutes—and as an added bonus, they’ll pay noticeably less money to gain that advantage.

That’s because the ’12 Volt also will qualify for a $1,500 state tax credit from California, which comes on top of the U.S. government’s $7,500 federal tax benefit. Slicing some $9,000 from the cost of the Volt lowers the net price of admission to just $30,145, and it offers customers a surprisingly affordable opportunity to take advantage of the Chevy’s other benefits: The Volt is capable of up to 35 miles of all-electric, no-emissions driving on a single charge, and then can provide hundreds of more miles of range with an onboard internal-combustion engine that delivers EPA ratings of 35 mpg city/40 mpg highway/37 mpg combined—those are the exact same marks as the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, which, however, does not qualify for the Golden State’s HOV lanes.

“HOV lane access is a coveted perk in California,” said Chris Perry, vice president of Global Chevrolet Marketing. “The low-emissions Volt will be a strong draw for drivers who commute daily in the most-congested driving environments in the United States.”

Chevrolet expects the 2012 Volt to begin reaching California dealerships in March, complete with a clean bill of health from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; the agency is currently on record as saying it “does not believe that Chevy Volts or other electric vehicles pose a greater risk of fire than gasoline-powered vehicles.”

Starting with the 2012 Chevy Sonic, all Chevrolet vehicles sold in the U.S. will come with new window stickers designed to inform consumers about the products’ key environmental benefits. The “EcoLogic” labels will debut on the Sonic in March, then spread to the rest of the brand’s 2013 model-year lineup.

“Customers want companies to be honest and transparent about their environmental efforts and sustainability goals, and rightly so,” said General Motors North America President Mark Reuss. “Putting an Ecologic label on each Chevrolet is just one more way for us to share our environmental progress.”

Each sticker will be located on the rear driver’s side window and include information about three specific stages in each vehicle’s lifecycle:

• Manufacturing and assembly—Highlighting Chevy’s commitment to reducing waste and emissions created during the actual production process.
• The ownership experience—Focusing on technologies and features that improve fuel-efficiency.
• Post-ownership recycling—Illustrating how 85 percent of every Chevy, by weight, can be recycled after its time on the road.

And keep in mind, the information on the EcoLogic labels isn’t just marketing fluff. Every claim will be checked by Two Tomorrows, an independent and internationally recognized third-party sustainability agency.

“Chevrolet’s goal to invest millions in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and other lower-carbon projects to reduce U.S. emissions by up to 8 million metric tons demonstrates innovative corporate leadership,” said Eileen Claussen, president of the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES). “With this new labeling program, Chevrolet not only gives easy access to information customers want, it again shows its commitment to the environment.”

Consider it the ultimate example of automotive sibling rivalry: Shortly after the announcement of the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible—destined to set new performance benchmarks for a Camaro drop-top—big brother is answering with the fastest, most capable convertible Corvette to ever come down the production line: The 2013 Chevy Corvette 427 Convertible.

It’s a reincarnation of a classic that also celebrates some notable landmarks for Corvette.

“The 2013 model year will be historic for Corvette, marking its 60th Anniversary and the final year for the current ‘C6’ generation,” said Chris Perry, vice president, Global Marketing and Strategy for Chevrolet. “We couldn’t think of a more fitting way to celebrate these milestones than bringing back one of the most-coveted combinations in the brand’s history—the Corvette convertible and a 427 cubic-inch engine.”

For the metrically inclined, that means the latest Corvette gets a 7.0-liter heart transplant, with the donor being the hi-po Corvette Z06. And keep in mind: This hand-built LS7 engine pumps out 505 hp and 470 lb.-ft. of torque. Installed in the 427 Convertible, the results include a 0-60 time of 3.8 seconds, a quarter-mile time of 11.8 seconds and top speed north of 190 mph. Lateral acceleration is an impressive 1.04 g.

The only choice in transmission is a six-speed manual, but there is one unique option available car’s powertrain: Corvette 427 Convertible owners can enjoy the Corvette Build Experience, in which they travel to GM’s Performance Build Center in Wixom, Mich., to assemble their car’s engine themselves.

Also included are other core elements drawn from the high end of the current Corvette lineup, like the driveline and rear axle system of the Z06, ZR1-style Michelin PS2 tires wrapped around the lightweight, machine-faced wheels that debuted on the 2012 Z06, standard Magnetic Selective Ride Control—one of the fastest-reacting suspension enhancers in the world—and plenty of carbon fiber body work.

In fact, thanks to a carbon-fiber raised hood, Z06-style fenders and floor panels, with an available carbon-fiber front splitter and rocker panels that are standard on the 60th Anniversary package, the 427 Convertible weighs a mere 3,355 lbs. That’s good for a power-to-weight ratio of 6.64 (each horsepower is driving 6.64 lbs. of Corvette) and good enough to beat drop-tops such as the Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet, Audi R8 5.2 RSI Spyder, Aston Martin DBS Volante Convertible and Ferrari California Convertible.

The rest of the new 60th Anniversary package, which will be available on all 2013 Corvette models, adds an Arctic White exterior/Blue Diamond interior, a cabin swathed in leather and suede, a ZR1-style rear spoiler, 60th Anniversary badging and logos, gray-painted brake calipers and, for convertible models, a blue top. Chevy also will offer a graphics upgrade to the package for further flair, courtesy of full-length Pearl Silver Blue racing stripes, including, for convertibles, a stripe stitched right into the top.

Both the Corvette 427 Convertible and the 60th Anniversary package are set to reach dealers this summer.

Consider it Chevrolet’s version of the Build-a-Bear Workshop—only in this case, what’s being built is a bear of an engine that’s capable of more than 500 hp, and the workshop is the GM Performance Build Center in Wixom, Mich. You see, not only is the 100,000-square-foot facility dedicated to producing the high-powered, hand-built motivators found in some of the General’s most compelling vehicles, but it’s also home to the new Crate Engine Build Experience, which allows customers to help put together their very own crate V8s.

Among those taking advantage of the opportunity are hot-rod aficionados like Jeff Kasper, who recently became the first customer to enjoy the experience when he traveled to Wixom to assemble a 505-hp LS7 V8 for his latest project.

“The build program was the thrill of a lifetime,” said Kasper. “Going inside the assembly facility and actually participating in building my very own engine greatly exceeded my expectations—and I’d absolutely recommend it to every enthusiast.”

To enroll in the program, customers simply place an order through their local Chevy dealership, after which they will be contacted by a special Performance Build concierge who will facilitate local lodging, meals, ground transportation to the facility, and all activities at the Build Center itself. (The customer is responsible for transportation to the metro Detroit area.) The Experience is offered for both LS7 and supercharged LS9 crate engines, and features an MSRP of $22,756.10 for the former and $32,050 for the latter. Engines are included, of course, as is expert assistance from one of GM’s highly trained engine makers—and the unbeatable feeling that only comes from a job well done.

“I got the most satisfaction and pride when I heard my engine fire up for the first time,” said Kasper. “When the engine came to life, it was the payoff for a day’s work and it was a satisfying success.”

The new year is just days old, but demand is already starting to build for two all-new Chevy products that are set to debut in the coming months—and not just among shoppers: The team at Forbes magazine just named both the Chevy Malibu and the Chevy Camaro ZL1 Convertible among its “Most Anticipated Cars of 2012.”

The first entry in the reinvented Malibu lineup—the 2013 Malibu Eco—will launch in the first quarter of the year, with the rest of the gang expected to follow soon after. All will offer a fresh, highly aerodynamic new shape, a premium interior displaying high levels of attention to detail, and plenty of other customer-satisfying content, including:

• Chevy MyLink—The brand’s high-tech connectivity/infotainment system, with easy access to apps like
• Pandora and Stitcher Internet radio, as well as a full-color, high-res touchscreen.
• Fuel-efficient powertrains—Showcasing an all-new 2.5-liter I4 engine, as well as the available eAssist light-electrification system, which enables EPA ratings of up to 25 mpg city/37 mpg highway in the Malibu Eco.
• Numerous safety measures—10 airbags are available, including dual-stage driver and front passenger air bags, driver and front passenger pelvic/thorax side-impact air bags, driver and passenger knee air bags, roof rail air bags with rollover protection, and second-row head/thorax side-impact air bags.

As for the 2013 Camaro ZL1 drop-top, when it launches late next year it will be nothing less than the most powerful Camaro Convertible ever offered as a production model. That’s courtesy of a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine that leverages a Roots-style blower to unpack some 580 hp and 556 lb.-ft. of torque. And while that’s enough to overpower supercar convertibles like the 2012 Aston Martin DB9 Volante or 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG, it won’t discompose the Camaro ZL1—the architecture underlying the car was designed right from the start to provide a stable platform for drivers, with significant underhood and underbody bracing.

“The Camaro ZL1 convertible will be one of the most powerful and most capable, convertibles available at any price,” said Al Oppenheiser, Camaro chief engineer. “This is a car that is guaranteed to put a smile on your face every time you drop the top—or hit the gas.”

“I have a pretty acute sense of hearing,” says Frank Delekta, a development engineer for General Motors. “Outside of work, if I ask someone ‘Did you hear that?’ the answer is almost always ‘No.’ I hear noises that others don’t.”

But Delekta’s not complaining—and neither are drivers of the Chevy Cruze: Thanks to the former’s sharp hearing, the latter enjoy one of the quietest cabins on the road. Extensive efforts by Delekta and the crew at GM’s Squeak and Rattle Lab made sure of that.

Their work throughout the Cruze’s development process led to the use of a number of volume-reducing measures, including an innovative “Liquid Applied Sound Deadener.” This material is applied to key areas of the Cruze’s body structure, then melts into place as the car’s body travels through the paint oven. In addition, the Cruze’s doors are triple sealed and feature fiberglass “blankets” that act as barriers to noise, water and disruptive airflow.

Extensive real-world and in-lab testing was done as well, with engineers driving thousands of miles in a wide variety of different road conditions in all markets where the Cruze is sold, and putting the car through its paces in special GM labs specifically designed for extreme conditions. Among them: A climactic anechoic chamber used to evaluate sounds at temperatures ranging from -20 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

“A component may squeak or rattle at 100 degrees but not below freezing or vice versa,” explained Delekta.

All that testing resulted in improvements to some 74 different components to help create a significantly quieter interior for the Cruze—and a significantly more enjoyable driving experience for hundreds of thousands of Cruze owners.

Winter weather can make for tough sledding in many of today’s crossovers, but not the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse with all-wheel-drive. That’s the verdict from Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com, which recently added the Traverse to its list of Top 10 Winter Cars for 2012.

Website writers unleashed a blizzard of compliments on the Traverse, noting that: “Fitted with a torquey 3.6-liter direct-injected V6 that makes 281-288 horsepower and a six-speed automatic transmission, the Traverse integrates its torque-managing intelligent AWD with the standard StabiliTrak dynamic control system and anti-lock brakes plus hill-start assist to help reduce driver stress under less-than-ideal road conditions.”

Other standard and available stress reducers include a rear-seat DVD entertainment system, 10-speaker premium Bose sound system, navigation, rearview camera, Bluetooth functionality for hands-free calling, heated front seats, tri-zone climate control, remote start, heated and power-adjustable outside mirrors, head curtain side airbags with rollover protection for all rows, and a complimentary six-month subscription to GM’s OnStar Directions and Connections service with Turn-by-Turn Directions.

Plus, with seating for up to eight and a best-in-class maximum cargo capacity of 116.4 cubic feet, the Traverse can handle plenty of winter gear, too.

All that makes the Traverse “A popular choice anytime of the year for anyone needing a full-size crossover with style, space and a bounty of features,” according to KBB.com, while “the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse with optional all-wheel drive really shines when the sun doesn’t.”

The 2012 Chevrolet Traverse—chosen as a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)—is on sale at local Chevy dealerships now.