Don’t miss this year’s Chase County Corvette Classic hosted by Harchelroad Motors, Inc. The dates for the event have been announced, so mark your calendar because this is one good time that you don’t want to miss. This years 10th Annual Chase County Corvette Classic will be held on October 12th at our new Collision and Restoration Center that is opening early June 2013. This years event dates have been changed past years because we wanted to hold the Corvette Classic at our new building and new C7 Chevy Corvette on display.

If you have not been to the Corvette Classic, this is what to expect. Start the morning by cruising to Imperial Nebraska with other Corvettes and Camaros nipping at your tail. Arrive at Harchelroad Motors to receive your complimentary hand car wash and to register for the day. You will even receive a free goodie bag packed with items we know you will enjoy! Relax and enjoy complimentary doughnuts, coffee, juice, and water until it’s time to head to the staging area for Outstate Nebraska’s largest parade! After exhausting your candy stash, it’s time to display your prized possession in secure parking at the Harchelroad Motors Collision and Restoration Center! There will even be a new C7 Corvette for you to sit in and go for a test drive. Find your seat, enjoy the free beverages, music, trivia, and relax while the sun slowly fades into the horizon. At the end of it all you’re in for a trophy ceremony that leaves none unsatisfied!

Harchelroad Motors wants to invite you to be part of this event. Registration for your Corvette can be done online on by clicking on the following link. Corvette Classic Registration. Harchelroad Motors will be mailing out more information about the event shortly.

The bones of any good pickup start with the frame it rides on. For 2014, the Silverado frame is similar to the fully boxed frame on the current trucks, though even it received a host of updates necessary for both the truck’s increased capabilities and to enhance ride quality. Cross members throughout the frame have been enhanced with the use of high-strength steel to increase rigidity and prevent energy from crushing the cab during side impacts. All frame mounts have been modified as well, with the rear cab mounts changing to a hydraulic type that absorbs up/down movement to prevent the “hop” pickups sometimes exhibit at highway speeds on rough surfaces.

While most buyers will not appreciate the structural updates to the frame, they will appreciate their effects. The new Silverado feels noticeably stiffer than its predecessor and the cab projects a vault-like feel often associated with the Silverado’s cross-town rivals from Ford and Ram. There is virtually no chassis flex, even during light off-roading, with the cab always well isolated from the work effort the frame has to endure.

The passenger cab has also seen structural enhancements that add to that vault-like feel. Engineers have increased use of high-strength steel throughout the cab, including mandating a B-pillar in the new Double Cab; the replacement for the former pillar-less extended cab. GM has switched back to inlaid doors on all 2014 truck models. This reduces wind noise in the cab and removes the noises that are often associated with the outgoing GMT-900 truck doors. From a visual perspective, the inlaid doors also give the truck a more significant presence.

Rounding out the structural changes is a long list of new hardware to assist in noise isolation, both environmental and engine noise. Use of sound insulation material is up across the board, including a new material lining the wheel wells (similar to that found on luxury sedans) to isolate the “sizzle” noise rainwater makes when splashing off the tire tread. GM also switched to hydraulic engine mounts to reduce noise and vibration associated with Active Fuel Management, the use of which has increased on 2014 trucks.

All three engines are entirely new from the block up. In fact, GM engineers assure us that the amount of carryover parts between today’s engines and these new EcoTec3 engines will fit in a quart-sized storage bag and after driving them, that’s entirely believable. Instead of trying to beat the competition with a twin-turbo V-6, GM has built a 5.3-liter V-8 that is truly a worthy competitor to the F-150 EcoBoost – this coming from a reviewer who thinks very highly of the twin-turbo F-150. Take any assumptions you have about GM’s 5.3-liter V-8 and throw them out. The new engine boasts 355 horsepower and a healthy 383 pounds-feet of torque – on a flatter torque curve, no less. But figures really don’t do this engine justice.

Whereas today’s engine power delivery is smooth and robust, almost like GM cut out a lot of the torque management that today’s trucks have. At no point does the engine feel taxed and refinement both in engine sound and power delivery is, yes, superior to the F-150 EcoBoost.

The Silverado 4X4 with the 5.3-liter wears EPA fuel economy ratings of 16 mpg city and 22 highway. GM engineers also say they expect buyers will see better real world fuel economy than the outgoing trucks and our short time with the Silverado suggested that will likely be the case. While the 5.3-liter launches first, the all-new 4.3-liter V-6 will launch shortly after. Rated at 285 horsepower and 305 pound-feet of torque, the highest torque rating of a naturally aspirated V-6 in the truck segment. Like the 5.3-liter it is based on, the new 4.3-liter is impressive both in refinement and power delivery. Fuel economy ratings for the V-6 have not been announced. All three engines feature three core technologies from which their EcoTec3 name was derived – variable valve timing, GM’s Active Fuel Management and direct fuel injection.

While Active Fuel Management has been a staple of GM trucks for several years, the system has been greatly enhanced in the EcoTec3 lineup. In V-8 applications, the engines noticeably run in V-4 mode more often, thanks to the increased torque across the power band. While driving 5.3-liter testers, the trucks routinely stayed in V-4 mode even during some acceleration. GM engineers have also spent much time assuring that the transition from V-8 to V-4 (or V-6 to V-4) mode is undetectable by passengers and they were successful.

The new interior design is, as Chevy says, “tailored for truck buyers.” It does look like an evolution of today’s truck interior. Material quality on higher trim levels is a mixed bag, too. The quality of dash plastics is a huge improvement over today’s models and better than what you’ll find in most of the competition.

The front center console is also larger, to the point that buyers will never lack storage space. Younger buyers will enjoy the connectivity of the new Silverado. Most trim levels are equipped with a staggering five USB ports, ensuring rejoice amongst our connected society. Those five USB ports come in conjunction with Chevrolet MyLink, the brand’s latest infotainment system. The system includes an eight-inch touchscreen in the center stack, with natural voice control and an excellent navigation system.

Aside from MyLink, Chevrolet has tapped the GM technology bin extensively with the new Silverado. The company’s lane departure warning, forward collision alert and patented Safety Alert Seat are all optional on the new truck. Engineers have also developed a new Hill Descent control feature exclusive to Silverado Z71. By pressing a button on the center stack, the truck will hold its current speed on a hill by using the ABS and stability control sensors. The feature even works in reverse. The Z71 also adds Rancho shocks, revised suspension tuning and all-terrain tires. And of course, the iconic Z71 badging shows on the exterior sides of the bed.

Outside the 2014 Silverado looks like a Silverado and the exterior design is evolutionary. The truck’s track is 10 millimeters wider than today’s, allowing designers to align the sheet metal and wheels to give the truck a more balanced look. The door panels also feature more sculpting than photos suggest. Overall, the more time we spent with the Silverado, the more we liked the exterior design. From a mechanical perspective, which is typically the most important on a pickup, the 2014 Silverado is a fantastic truck. It feels stronger and more refined and some fantastic new engines power it.

Repost from GM Inside News

Harchelroad Motors Collision and Restoration Center is in the final stages of completion. The new location is on Highway 6 on the east side of Imperial and will be opening at the beginning of June. It is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and the best technicians that have been with Harchelroad Motors for years. The Collision and Restoration Center will have a waiting room and show room to make sure customers are comfortable while they wait to pick up their vehicles.

The 10th Annual Chase County Corvette Classic dates have been changed and will not be held during the Chase County Fair. This year’s event will be held on October 12th at the Harchelroad Motors Collision and Restoration Center. Tours of the new building will be available and we will have a C-7 Corvette on display and ready for test drives. Mark your calendar’s for this years Corvette Classic on October 12th! For more information, click the Corvette Classic button on the Harchelroad Motors homepage.

Harchelroad Motors has donated a 2013 60th Anniversary Grand Sport Corvette Coupe to be raffled off. Tickets for this raffle are $500 and there will only be 1,000 tickets sold. Call Sid or Dillon to purchase your tickets 308-882-4295 or toll free 888-727-9737. Not only will this amount go to cancer research, but it is also a tax write off.

There are many great things happening at the Cattlemen’s Ball of Nebraska this year. For more information about the event please visit www.CattlemensBall.com. Cancer affects us all in one way or another, help to stop it! Make a donation that will make a difference and you could be driving away in style in a new Corvette.

Packing a Whole Lot!

Big Technology, Big Attitude

Earlier today photos leaked out of the alleged 2014 Silverado High Country, and now GM has made the truck official.  The High Country will serve as Silverado’s premium trim level to combat the likes of the Ford F-150 Platinum and Ram 1500 Laramie.
Like it’s competition, the Silveardo High Country is powered by the same engines that will be available in the rest of the Silverado lineup, the all-new 5.3-liter and 6.2-liter EcoTec3 V-8s.  In all Silverado’s the engine makes 355 horsepower and 383 foot-pounds of torque. The 6.2-liter will be optional sometime after the truck launches.
The High Country guise adds what one would expect from a fancied up pickup.  Outside the High Country nets more chrome, a revamped grille treatment and exclusive 20-inch chrome wheels.  The interior features a unique Saddle Brown color with premium materials and High Country emblems throughout.
All High Country’s will feature luxury items such as heated and cooled front seats, an eight-inch touchscreen display and Bose sound system.  An optional Premium Package will add even more goodies, such as a heated steering wheel and driver awareness package.
The High Country marks the first time Chevrolet has taken a truck to the luxury end of the segment, a duty that has typically been reserved for the Silverado’s GMC cousin.  Chevrolet is quick to refer to the High Country as a truck with “rugged luxury” – likely a psychological differentiation from GMC’s “Professional Grade” luxury treatment.
Stay turned to GMI later this week as we head to Texas to try out the new Silverado!

INDIANAPOLIS – The all-new, seventh-generation 2014 Corvette Stingray will serve as the Indianapolis 500 Pace Car, leading the field to green at the start of the 97th running of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” on Sunday, May 26, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It marks a record 12th time the Corvette has served as the Pace Car, starting in 1978.
“It is an honor to help inaugurate the all-new Corvette Stingray at the hallowed Brickyard and further the legacy between Chevrolet and the Indianapolis 500,” said Jim Campbell, GM vice president of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “The 2014 Corvette Stingray’s performance was influenced by racing, making this prestigious assignment even more fitting.”
Along with Chevrolet’s return in 2012 as an engine supplier, the Corvette Stingray Pace Car extends a legacy at the Brickyard that dates to the racetrack’s early days.
“Chevrolet is a great partner of the Speedway,” said Jeff Belskus, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation president and chief executive officer. “That connection is heightened this year with the next-generation Corvette in front of a very talented field of racers.”
Decked out in Laguna Blue Tintcoat with official Indianapolis 500 graphics on the doors, the  Corvette Stingray Pace Car differs from production models with only track-mandated safety features and strobe lights. No powertrain upgrades are required to run in front of the IndyCar pack, thanks to its all-new 6.2L LT1 engine, which features advanced technologies including direct fuel injection, continuously variable valve timing and Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation). They help produce an estimated 450 horsepower more efficiently.
The 2014 Corvette Stingray coupe goes on sale this fall, with a convertible model – featuring a fully electronic top that can be operated remotely with the key fob – coming a few months later. Vehicle highlights include:

• An interior that offers genuine carbon fiber and aluminum trim, hand-wrapped leather materials, dual eight-inch configurable driver/infotainment screens, and two new seat choices – each featuring a lightweight magnesium frame for exceptional support
•     Advanced driver technologies, including a five-position Drive Mode Selector that tailors 12 vehicle attributes to fit the driver’s environment and a new seven-speed manual transmission with Active Rev Matching that anticipates gear selections and matches engine speed for perfect shifts every time
•     Lightweight materials, including a carbon fiber hood and removable carbon fiber roof panel on coupes; composite fenders, doors and rear quarter panels; carbon-nano composite underbody panels and a new aluminum frame help shift weight rearward for an optimal 50/50 weight balance that supports a world-class power-to-weight ratio
•     A sculpted exterior featuring advanced high-intensity discharge and light-emitting diode lighting and racing-proven aerodynamics that balance low drag for efficiency and performance elements for improved stability and track capability
•     Track-oriented Z51 Performance Package, including an electronic limited-slip differential; dry-sump oiling system; integral brake, differential and transmission cooling; as well as a unique aero package that further improves high-speed stability.

The Corvette Pace Car features the track-capable Z51 package.
Chevrolet and the Indianapolis 500
Chevrolet has a long shared history with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Indianapolis 500 and the IZOD IndyCar Series. Chevrolet was founded in 1911, the year of the inaugural 500-mile race, and the Chevrolet brothers – company co-founder Louis, Arthur and Gaston – all competed in early Indy 500 races. Arthur Chevrolet competed in the 1911 race and Gaston Chevrolet won it in 1920.
Chevrolet competed in Indy-style competition as an engine manufacturer in 1986-93 and 2002-05 with V-8 engines, and returned in 2012 with the Chevrolet IndyCar twin-turbo V-6 engine with direct injection. In that time, Chevrolet won 118 IndyCar races, powered seven driver series champions and scored seven Indianapolis 500 victories.
2013 marks the 24th time a Chevrolet has served as the official Pace Car of the Indianapolis 500, more than any other brand, dating to 1948 with a Chevrolet Fleetmaster. Camaro has served in the role seven times and, with this year’s running, Corvette has led the way a record 12 times.

Repost from GM Inside News

With the base Corvette Stingray already unveiled to the world months ago, everyone is now eagerly waiting to see what Chevy does with the higher-performance models like the Z06 and ZR1.

If you can’t wait for the official GM version to be revealed, BoldRide.com has teamed with Hansen Art to take a guess at what the ZR1 might look like.

BoldRide says there’s no question that the new Stingray is a potent revival of the classic nameplate. “What’s not to love?” they ask. “Well, if you have a higher threshold for power, speed, and performance than the average Joe, there will always be a little wiggle room. That’s where the ZR1 comes into play.”

While we do like the look that the anticipated ZR1 has been given in this company’s design “guesstimate,” we’re hoping that they went way too conservative with their horsepower prediction of 650-hp from a twin-turbocharged / supercharged 6.2 liter LS7 V8.

That’s only 12 horsepower higher than the current C6 ZR1, and while that’s still mighty impressive, we have our doubts that a dozen more horses will be enough to satisfy the Corvette faithful.

Horsepower or not, the Hansen Art design definitely adds even more punch to the tantalizing lines of the base Stingray, what with “a set of signature high-spoke chrome wheels, sharper, more distinct lines, and a few aerodynamic aids,” BoldRide says.

It’s just got us even more excited to see what Chevrolet does indeed come up with for its high-powered version of the Stingray, when it finally arrives.

Today Chevrolet has announced the final piece of information regarding the upcoming diesel version of the Cruze compact sedan – that the car will be EPA rated at 46 mpg. According to Chevrolet, the rating will mean that the Cruze Turbo Diesel will be the most fuel efficient non-hybrid car on the market.

The Cruze Turbo Diesel utilizes a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that generates 148 horsepower and 258 foot-pounds of torque. Power is funneled through a six-speed automatic transmission.

By contrast the new Cruze’s diesel competition, the VW Jetta TDI, is rated at 42 mpg highway and 30 mpg city.