Chevrolet offers Corvette buyers the opportunity to build the engine for their cars. By JAKE LINGEMAN

For a great Selection of 2010 Corvettes visit www.BradshawGreer.com or come by Bradshaw Chevrolet in Greer SC.

Chevrolet Corvette buyers can already take delivery of their car at the National Corvette Museum, get professional driver training and watch their cars being built. Now, General Motors will let them build the engine.

GM is offering buyers of the 2011 Corvette ZR1 and Z06 models the chance to build the engines for their cars. For a suggested retail price of $5,800, plus the cost of getting to Detroit, a Corvette buyer is welcome to GM's Performance Build Center in Wixom, Mich., where engines for the ZR1 and the Z06 are built by hand.

The Engine Build Experience package includes a concierge service that will set up most of the arrangements.

Buyers who select the option will work side-by-side with professionals at the Performance Build Center. Together they will build up an engine, starting with a bare block and moving through a series of assembly stations. Virtually all of the work is done by hand, with minimal automated assistance.

At the end of the line, the engine is test run on a dynamometer and the builder adds a personalized nameplate. Then the engine is sent the Corvette assembly plant in Bowling Green, Ky., for installation in the car.

The most important part? Whether built by you or by the professional technician, the engine from the Performance Build Center is covered by a five-year/100,000-mile warranty.

Chevrolet Suburban marks 75 years of being big

Bradshaw Chevrolet in Greer congratulates the Suburban on 75 great years.  For the past 30 years Bradshaw Chevy has been your Suburban Headquarters in the Upstate.  Stop by today for our great selection of new and used cars and trucks.  You can shop 24/7 at http://www.bradshawgreer.com/. 

For some reason, today we're celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Chevrolet Suburban. We know -- you'd go out tonight to whoop it up, but you're afraid all the restaurants are booked.

To us, the fact that the Suburban has been around all that time doesn't matter much. What does matter is the outsize importance it played in the SUV surge a decade ago. The Suburban truly was the National Car of Texas.

GM sees significance in the Suburban being the first vehicle to be continuously produced for 75 years. Well, okay.

The original Suburban could seat eight, while removable seats provided a large cargo area. The 2010 Suburban seats up to nine, showing how little progress we've made over the past 75 years.

GM says the idea for the Suburban was born of a need for a heavier-duty, truck-based wagon. Through the early 1930s, most manufacturers offered car-based wagons for professional use. Open models with windows and rear seating were known as depot hacks, and were used to ferry passengers and their cargo around train stations and boat docks. They were made with wood sides and canvas tops. Suburban, by contrast, had an all-steel wagon body.

GM put together this dandy will timeline of all-things Suburban, starting with its introduction in 1935 and ending with that anniversary edition seen in the photo above, unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show earlier this year. Here it is:

1935: Suburban Carryall introduced with a signature two-door body style that would last through 1967. Power came from Chevrolet's stalwart "Stovebolt" inline-six that produced 60 horsepower for the half-ton chassis.

1937: New, streamlined exterior styling carried Art Deco cues, and horsepower from the Stovebolt six increased to 79.

1942: Production of almost all civilian cars and trucks halted during America's involvement in World War II, although many Chevy trucks – including the Suburban's body style – were pressed into military duty.

1947: The first significant redesign of the Chevrolet's truck line – including Suburban – since before the war.

1950: Suburban models are offered with either a tailgate/top-opening rear window configuration or conventional "barn doors" at the rear.

1955: Revolutionary new styling is introduced midway through the model year. Known as the "second series" design, it features a wraparound windshield and the elimination of running boards – the body is flush with the fenders for the first time. The second series model also introduces the ubiquitous small-block V-8.

1957: Factory-installed four-wheel drive is offered for the first time.

1960: Chevrolet institutes the C/K designations to denote models with two-wheel drive (C) and four-wheel drive (K). Front-end styling is also new.

1967: All-new styling of Chevy's half-ton trucks is introduced, including Suburban. It carries a unique three-door arrangement with a single door on the driver's side and front and rear doors on the passenger side. This configuration makes the Suburban popular with ambulance companies.

1973: A new generation of Chevy trucks is launched, with Suburban offered in a conventional four-door body style introduced for the first time.

1975: Increased focus on interior comfort and amenities in the 1973 models bring more customers to Suburban for use as a personal vehicle. Chevrolet responds with more comfortable seats and greater amenities, including simulated buffalo hide vinyl upholstery, wood grain dash inserts, fully trimmed door panels and more.

1981: Updated styling brings stacked rectangular headlamps for the 1980s. The four-wheel drive system adds automatic locking hubs and the 454 cubic-inch big-block is still offered, giving customers great towing capability.

1987: Electronically controlled fuel injection and a four-speed overdrive transmission bring greater efficiency.

1992: An all-new Suburban features sleek styling with flush glass and composite headlamps. The 5.7-liter small-block V-8 powers 1500 models, while the 454 engine is still available in the 2500 series. Other updates include four-wheel anti-lock brakes, Insta-Trac on four-wheel-drive models and a suspension system designed to provide a more carlike ride.

1998: OnStar and the full-time AutoTrac all-wheel-drive system are added. In Australia, right-hand-drive versions of the Suburban are offered through GM's Holden brand.

2000: Launched in 1999 as a 2000 model, the next-generation Suburban brings new styling, new interiors and new powertrains.

2007: The latest generation of the Suburban is introduced, featuring a wind tunnel-shaped exterior and the elimination of traditional chrome front and rear bumpers. More efficient, comfortable and capable than ever, the Suburban continues to offer customers of all walks of life uncompromising capability and versatility.

2010: The 75th anniversary is marked with a limited-edition model, the 75th Anniversary Diamond Edition Suburban.

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Preview: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze

Another Great preview. This time on the all new Chevy Cruze by Clare Dear.  Bradshaw Chevy Buick GMC Cadillac will be your Cruze headquarters in the Upstate. Stop by to see the full line of Chevys at 14000 E Wade Hampton Blvd. Greer SC, 29651. Shop 24/7 at http://www.bradshawgreer.com/.

Milford. Mich. • The initial impression of Chevrolet’s new compact Cruze sedan is that it’s a mini-Malibu — and that opinion sits well with the bow-tie brass. Their intention is to deliver mid-sized comfort, dynamics and amenities, but at compact-sized pricing and fuel efficiency. And although pricing and final fuel numbers won’t be known for several months, this global product is right on target with its other objectives.

The Cruze is already available in 60 markets around the world, but North Americans won’t get their hands on it until the third quarter of this year. With the compact category evolving as the fastest-growing segment in the industry (it’s expected to be the second-largest in the United States by 2012), coupled with the consumer trend to downsize, the timing is right for this car. In fact, it is expected to be General Motors’ single largest volume small-car line globally.

During the preview at General Motors’ Milford proving grounds, Chevy executives described the Cruze as a “transformational” car for the brand, a product that will be sought after by consumers and will be better than competitive models such as the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. It’s expected to generate “huge volume for the brand” and, as a major player for GM globally, the team working on developing the North American edition is enduring unprecedented scrutiny.

As a result of that corporate focus, the Cruze is undergoing intensive testing here, even though it’s a model already on sale elsewhere. For example, although it has already earned five-star-equivalent crash ratings in several overseas markets, including Korea, China, India, Australia and Europe, the North American version is undergoing extensive additional evaluations at GM’s vehicle safety facility.

In addition to significant structure and system analysis, GM engineers have already written off 20 to 30 Cruzes in destruction (crash) tests. The body count went up by one during my visit, with test vehicle No. 17269 sacrificing itself in a side-impact crash by taking a midship hit from a 1,500-kilogram sled (with a Ford F-150 snout, no less) careening down the track at 50 kilometres an hour.

The dust had hardly settled when technicians were already scouring the remains, documenting the physical damage. From this untrained eye, the results were reassuring, with the side pillar making a limited intrusion into the cabin, while air bags helped minimize potential injuries to the occupants.

Obviously, safety is a key issue and the Cruze will be offered with a full suite of standard features, including four-wheel ABS (with brake-force distribution), electronic stability and traction controls, breakaway pedal assemblies, OnStar automatic crash notification and a segment-leading 10 air bags — two front, two knee, a pair of side curtains that protect both rows of seats, plus seat-mounted side-impact bags front and rear.

Chevrolet also wants the Cruze to be a class leader in ride, responsiveness and quietness. After doing several laps on the test circuit in several Cruze iterations, as well as a Civic and Corolla, it appears the car has attained that goal. The suspension, with MacPherson struts up front and a unique torsion beam and Watts-link arrangement in back, has a European feel (firm but compliant). The Cruze stayed well planted on bumpy sections of the track, while the Japanese competition skittered about.

Similarly, the Cruze had a noticeable advantage in the noise/vibration department. Its 18 acoustical treatments, including an acoustical laminated windshield with triple sealing at its base and hydraulic ride bushings, keep the cabin well isolated from road and wind noise.

The Cruze will be offered as a four-door sedan in four trim levels (LS, 1LT, 2LT and LTZ), with two suspension options (touring and the firmer sport package.) Two engine choices will be available — a 1.4-litre turbocharged Ecotec four-cylinder generating 138 horsepower at 4,900 rpm and 148 pound-feet of torque at a low 1,850 rpm, or a naturally aspirated 1.8L four-cylinder that pumps out the same horsepower (but at 6,300 rpm) and 123 lb-ft of torque at 3,800 rpm.
Transmission choices are a fully synchronized six-speed manual or the global 6T40 six-speed automatic. The gearing in the manual box has overdrive ratios in fourth, fifth and sixth to enhance fuel economy while the first three cogs are underdriven for better acceleration.

A special Eco model will be offered that uses the 1.4L turbo engine coupled with the six-speed manual. (A version using the automatic box is in the works for later introduction.) Chevy engineers set a target of 5.9 litres per 100 kilometres on the highway for this car, giving consumers the benefit of hybrid-like fuel efficiency without having to shell out the higher price tag such products command. However, it was made quite clear the Eco will not be a stripped model. Instead, huge efforts have been exerted to reduce weight and improve the car’s aerodynamics to achieve the target consumption rating.

Weight-reducing measures include replacing the car’s audio speakers with lighter units, saving about a kilogram. The weld flanges have been trimmed by a millimetre or two, while the Watts link in the rear suspension has been deleted (although the pending automatic version will have the setup.) The carpets are lighter than the standard Cruze models. The 17-inch tires, borrowed from the new Volt, are ultra-low-rolling resistant and they’re mounted on lighter alloy wheels.

To help the Eco model slip more smoothly through the air, the front fascia has been lowered and an air dam added. There’s also an underbody belly pan and shielding around the tire wells and rear axle, and a spoiler has been attached to the deck lid. Another aero initiative is the addition of shutters on the lower grille opening that close as the car’s speed increases. Overall, the Eco Cruze has a drag coefficient of 0.016 — the lowest in its class.

Chevy brass believe the Cruze is the right car at the right time. My initial impressions suggest they’re right.

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0% Financing on New Chevy and GMC Trucks

BradshawGreerTV — April 28, 2010 — 0% Financing on Chevy and GMC Trucks at Bradshaw Chevy Buick GMC Cadillac in Greer SC. Visit us 24/7 at www.BradshawGreer.com. You can also see the best selection of used vehicles in the upstate. All of our inventory is also posted on www.autotrader.com, and www.cars.com. You can also see our Blogger page.

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Chevrolet boasts that Cruze Eco could get 40 mpg

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If you think you need hybrids or electric power to get astounding gas mileage, look at the latest entry from Chevrolet.

For the New York Auto Show, Chevrolet plans to show off the high-gas-mileage version of its Cruze compact sedan, the Cruze Eco.

How good is the gas mileage? Chevy thinks it can get it certified at 40 miles a gallon. Not bad for compact with, GM boasts, the "spaciousness and amenities of a midsize car." Chevy hopes to get its great mileage by combining a small 1.4-liter Ecotech engine with a turbocharger and variable valve timing.

General Motors is plenty serious about the Cruze. It announced a third shift at the Lordstown, Ohio, plant that will add 1,200 workers to support a smooth ramp-up of Cruze production. More than $350 million has been invested to re-tool the plant and add state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment.

The Cruze Eco is supposed to come to showrooms at the end of the year.

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2011 Chevrolet Silverado HD

It's a numbers game, but it's important not to overlook the ride
By Malcolm Gunn
Posted: 03/26/2010 11:13:44 AM PDT

When it comes to heavy-duty haulers, you can always expect a scrap between General Motors, Ford and Dodge as to which brand has the most power, offers the biggest payload and can haul the biggest yacht.

The 2011 Chevrolet Silverado HD appears determined to assume the lead when it makes its summer debut.

In this category, the vast majority of buyers depend on these trucks for their livelihoods, while a relatively small minority use them to tow massive fifth-wheel travel trailers. It's really a numbers game for both groups of people, who carefully consider cab configurations, payload ratings, towing capacities, box sizes and powertrain output before investing a sizable chunk of their cash.

Chevrolet thinks it has the right stuff to attract the Heavy Duty crowd with a host of new features and technologies plus a superior level of bar-raising muscle.

Structurally, the Silver-ado's variety of uses necessitates no fewer than 11 frame assemblies, all of which have been significantly stiffened to resist bending and twisting. The engine and transmission mounts have been enlarged and hydraulic body mounts are used on extended-cab and crew-cab models to isolate the passenger compartment from powertrain and road vibrations.

The steering has been upgraded and the redesigned front suspension can now better support more weight. Accor-ding to Chevrolet, these changes improve ride and handling and make the HD better able to function with a snow plow on all cab models with four-wheel-drive.

The rear leaf springs have also been beefed up and now feature a 6,200-pound gross rear axle rating on the 2500 (three-quarter-ton) HD series, up from the previous 6,084-pound mark (the rear axle ratings on the 3500 (one-ton) HD single and dual rear-wheel models have also increased).

The HD can now trailer up to 16,000 pounds (previously 13,000 pounds) using a conventional ball hitch, or up to 20,000 pounds with a fifth-wheel hitch, up from 18,500 pounds.

The base 6.0-liter pushrod V8 remains unchanged at 360 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque. By comparison, the upcoming 2011 Ford Super Duty will arrive with 385 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque produced by its new 6.2-liter V8, while Chrysler's Ram HD's 5.7-liter V8 generates 383 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque.

The real game-changer is the Silverado's optional (and very popular) 6.6-liter turbo-diesel V8 that retains the outgoing motor's displacement, but now puts out 397 horsepower and an earth-shaking 765 pound-feet of torque. That compares with the Ford SD's 390 horses and 735 pound-feet of torque emanating from its 6.7-liter V8 turbo-diesel, or the Ram's optional 6.7-liter six-cylinder turbo-diesel that's worth 350 horsepower and 650 pound-feet torque. All are capable of just about any task you can dole out, so, yes, this is a bit of a numbers game, but one that Chevy is probably happy to be winning.

Both base and optional engines employ six-speed automatic transmissions: a GM-developed Hydramatic comes with the 6.0, while the turbo-diesel employs an Allison-built unit.

Chevy has added its smart exhaust brake system to the turbo-diesel for 2011. When coasting, compressed exhaust gasses are contained inside the engine's cylinders, forcing it to turn more slowly, which in turn slows down the truck without touching the brakes. The result is less wear and tear on the brake hardware and greater control for the driver, especially when hauling or towing heavy loads downhill.

Included is a stability program that reduces the trailer's tendency to wiggle around, while hill-start assist prevents the HD from rolling backward when on an incline.

The list of standard HD equipment on the WT (Work Truck), LT and LTZ trim levels is tremendous, as is the options list. You can, quite literally, outfit the HD from bare-bones basic to over-the-edge luxury.

Pricing hasn't been announced yet, but the starting point will likely be around $30,000. That's actually a reasonable sum for a pickup that, unlike dogs or people, continues to improve with age.

Bradshaw Chevrolet Goes To Bat for Northwood Little League

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Bradshaw Chevrolet to provide Northwood Little League with new equipment, monetary donation, instructional clinics; Additional funds via Chevy Vehicle Giveaway

Greer (March 26, 2010) – Bradshaw Chevrolet announced today it will be investing support in Greer through a partnership with Northwood Little League. Bradshaw Chevrolet will provide baseball equipment, instructional clinics, a monetary donation, and an opportunity to raise an additional $10,000 in funds through a Chevy vehicle giveaway-fundraiser. The effort by Bradshaw Chevrolet is part of the Chevy Youth Baseball initiative sweeping the nation from March through July 2010.

“Chevrolet has a long history with baseball at the national level. We wanted to bring that excitement and commitment to youth baseball, in the communities where our customers and their families live,” said William Bradshaw, of Bradshaw Chevrolet. “Youth baseball has always played an important role in Greer so we are thrilled to support our kids in a meaningful way.”

Bradshaw Chevrolet will present the Northwood Little League with equipment kits complete with equipment bags, baseball buckets, dry-erase coach’s clipboards and Chevy Youth Baseball t-shirts. The sponsorship includes clinics with experienced instructors from former MLB/MiLB players and coaches or the Ripken Baseball professional staff.

In addition, a one-time monetary donation check will be presented by Bradshaw Chevrolet to Northwood Little League. The team also will have an opportunity to raise additional funds for their use as part of a Chevy Youth Baseball Fundraiser. Sponsored leagues across the country will each receive 2,000 fundraiser entry tickets to distribute for a suggested donation, and the league will keep 100% of proceeds raised. At the end of the fundraiser, there will be five winners of a Chevy Equinox or Chevy Malibu vehicle of choice (up to $30,000 in value), and in each participating market there will be a secondary prize of a home entertainment center valued at $1,000.

Chevrolet is recognized on the national level as the “Official Vehicle of Major League Baseball.” “At some point, we hope the kids or their parents will consider a Chevrolet as an official vehicle of their household,” said Bradshaw. “Our vehicles are ideal for transporting families, teams and their gear.”

Chevrolet has expanded its support of MLB to the youth baseball players in communities across the country through the Chevy Youth Baseball program. The Chevy Youth Baseball program began in Atlanta in 2006. Now in its fifth season, the grass roots initiative has activation in more than 20 states and seeks to establish a positive connection between local dealers and the communities they serve. Since its beginning, more than $7 million dollars has been raised by Chevy for community youth baseball leagues.

For more information about Chevy Youth Baseball, please visit www.YouthSportsWired.com

Snyder's Fight 4 Air...One REVOLUTION at a Time!

Posted by Kristin Snyder's Fight 4 Air at 3/20/2010 11:59 PM Add Comment

Bradshaw Greer Ride

I love my Carolina Chevy dealers! Seriously, the are a great group of guys who are completely behind me for the Big Ride Across America. It really means the world to me to have their support. Before going to back to get my Masters full time, I had the pleasure of working for this group doing their marketing. This group was always one of my favorite groups to work with, and now I am honored to truly be representing them. During my training rides, I will be selecting Carolina Chevy Dealerships to start and end my rides. In doing this, I hope to expand the awareness of the American Lung Association throughout the Upstate South Carolina area and Western North Carolina, as well as give recognition and personal thank you's to each of the dealerships supporting me.

Today, I went to Bradshaw Chevrolet in Greer, SC for a 30 mile ride. I caught up with Wes Bradshaw prior to the ride to get some pics. I've never seen Bradshaw's dealership before - its impressive. Its probably one of the nicest I've seen in the Southeast. The Bradshaw dealerships are a family run business, and great down to earth people who truly care about their community and giving back to it, it's very inspiring. Here is a picture with Wes Bradshaw and myself prior to my ride. Wes keeps talking about getting a mountain bike...I'll have to keep on him about that!!


My route today was full of rolling hills. My legs were a little tight from yesterdays ride and climb up Paris Mountain, but overall felt good. I'm amazed that my chest feels so good. Usually after hard rides and climbs I'll have chest tightness and aches, but I haven't. It seems that the new asthma care plan my doctor has me on is working well.

-Kristin

2010 GMC Terrain Review

As a compact crossover, the GMC Terrain excels, while defying convention with a bold new look

By Colum Wood, Mar. 12, 2010 Autoguide.com

The GMC Terrain may be a compact crossover, but it has all the bold and brawny styling of a Mack truck, with boxy flared fenders and a massive front grille. A sister vehicle to the Chevrolet Equinox, it certainly doesn’t look it.

General Motors has a new plan for the GMC brand and it’s so crazy it might just work. The concept, it seems, is to rebrand and restyle Chevys as GMCs. Now, we know what you’re thinking… didn’t they do that with Saturn and Pontiac and isn’t that what got them into a financial mess?

The short answer is yes.

The difference with GMC, however, is that the idea of bringing muscular styling from middle-America to new models designed more for the big cities on the coasts, might just work. And this bold styling is sure to be a big draw with younger buyers who might not have considered a GM product of any sort, until now.

What also makes this plan different from rebadging Chevys as Pontiacs is the fact that GM is actually producing pretty decent vehicles these days.

The Terrain’s engine. In front drive layout and with GM’s direct-injection 2.4-liter 4-cylinder, GMC claims a best-in-class highway fuel economy rating of 32-mpg, with a city rating of 22-mpg. During our test we managed 25-mpg, which is pretty incredible for a vehicle with room for five and good cargo room.

Power from the 4-cylinder is rated at 182-hp and 174 ft-lbs of torque. Many journalists have complained that this isn’t enough, perhaps forgetting that it is in fact a compact crossover and not a real truck. We, however, think the acceleration is adequate and would only opt for the V6 for towing purposes – the V6 rated to tow 3,500 lbs vs. the 4-Cyl at 1,500 lbs. Costing just $1,500 extra for the V6, it’s certainly attractive, although you’ll spend far more in the long run in fuel, with a rating of 17/25 mpg. Plus, once you’ve opted for the six, you’ll be tempted to go for the then-optional 19-inch wheels.

In regards to driving dynamics, the Terrain does seem to be tuned more for a truck-like driving feel, with a bit more lean in the corners than some competitors. For the most part though, the suspension is identical to that in the Equinox, although the Terrain has a slightly wider track as well as slightly better ground clearance with a minimum height of 7.8-inches (although the same overall height). The turning radius also remains constant with its Chevy twin.

As big as the Terrain looks, it’s no behemoth and we found it quite easy to scoot around in – even in urban traffic. In fact, it will fit nicely into a single garage space, even though you wouldn’t expect it to.

Overall, the driving feel is reasonably sporty for a crossover, but the Terrain continues to feel more like a mid-size crossover than a compact one – which is at least in keeping with its look.

There’s also a truck-like build quality to the Terrain, with doors that slam shut with a resounding thud.

Another strong point for the Terrain is its interior. While fully optioned-out models have plenty of style with two-tone leather and the like, all come nicely designed and put together. The monotone black leather on our tester isn’t the best combo for looks, but was still nice. And like the Equinox, you just don’t expect red stitching on the seat and dash on a vehicle at this price-point – something that really helps it stand out.

Even more impressive is when the dash lights up at night, with a bright red glow. There’s even red ambient lighting for the center console and cupholder surrounds. We still find the center stack a bit excessive in the button department, but we have to commend GM for the digital trip display between the gauges that not only gives plenty of info, but can also display the car’s speed digitally.

In the rear seat area there’s a notable absence of style, with big swaths of hard plastic on the doors. But considering the use the rear seats area will get, it’s at least purposeful. Like the Equinox, the Terrain gets GM’s MultiFlex rear bench seating that can slide forwards and back by 8-inches. Even when forward legroom is good and when pushed all the way back, there’s a tremendous amount of space to stretch out. This is aided by the Terrain’s huge rear doors that make accessing those seats easy.

The sliding rear seats also allow for different amounts of rear cargo room. With the seats all the way forward, the Terrain offers 31.6 cubic feet of space and when folded flat, there’s a total of 63.9 cu.-ft. That’s good, but not exactly great, falling far short of the class-leading Honda CR-V, despite the Terrain’s huge appearance. One much-appreciated luxury feature that comes on the SLT-2 trim level is a power liftgate for easy access to your cargo.

The SLT-2 trim level includes most every feature you could ask for with the usual power options plus leather, heated front seats and an 8-way power driver’s seat with lumbar support and a memory setting. There’s also automatic climate control, an impressive 8-seaker audio system with a subwoofer and 7-inch display screen, rear parking assist, heated mirrors, remote vehicle entry and vehicle start, Bluetooth connection, a sunroof and a leather steering wheel with audio controls and cruise controls. Like we said, pretty much everything.

We’re not really sure if the seat memory is really necessary, but some customers will most likely see the appeal and it’s obvious GM wants to market the Terrain as a bit of a step-up from the Equinox. That’s why models like the SLT-2 also come with gobs of chrome on the exterior and some big and bright 18-inch wheels.

With the Terrain starting at $24,250 it’s definitely priced higher than a lot of compact crossovers, allowing GMC to target it against larger models like the Nissan Murano, Ford Edge and Mazda CX-7, even thought it’s really more of a CR-V, RAV4 rival. Our SLT-2 tester in front-drive 4-cylinder form starts at $29,550 and thanks to a $2,145 Navigation system, a few small options and a very reasonably priced $1,295 rear seat entertainment system with two display screens its sticker price is $33,035 (deliver included).

THE VERDICT

The Terrain is likely just the first of many new vehicles for the GMC brand, using a smart new strategy. Priced at several thousand over its Chevy Equinox twin, it’s putting much needed cash in GM’s pockets. The down side to this smart business model is that the customer has to pay extra.

Most customers aren’t likely to mind, however, as there’s a real feeling that you’re getting more with the Terrain, with its bold style and big looks that make even the pricey $24,250 base price seem like a bargain compared to larger vehicles.

The reality, however, is that it’s still a compact crossover and, when judged on those qualities alone, it excels. There’s good cargo room and great passenger room, top-notch fuel economy, a nicely executed interior and overall sturdy GMC construction.

With the Terrain, GMC has built a highly competitive compact crossover that snubs it big chrome grille at conventionally cute ‘utes.

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Check out our latest specials on New Chevrolets at Bradshaw Chevrolet Buick Cadillac GMC in Greer, SC

2011 Chevrolet Cruze First Drive

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Cruzing the World
By Matt Davis, Contributor Published Apr 1, 2009

Amid the financial mess that has become General Motors, we're told that the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze is coming our way, one more piece of GM's constantly improving product portfolio. Despite GM's financial drama, the Cruze refuses to get sidetracked. Good thing, because GM needs this new small car to have a firm footing in markets around the globe, including the U.S.
The Cruze sedan is being delivered to customers in European markets right now, and it has been on sale in Korea as the Daewoo Lacetti Premiere since late 2008. It will also be sold as the Holden Cruze in Oceania. Our several drives of the bowtie-badged Cruze with a variety of powertrains and transmissions in northern Spain have shown us that GM has at long last become a global thinker and planner like Honda, Hyundai, Toyota and VW.
The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze replaces the Chevy Cobalt, which ends production in its plant in Lordstown, Ohio, early in 2010, but this is much more car than the Cobalt was ever planned to be. The Cruze has handsome exterior work, while the interior is impressively good for big people, and the car also looks and feels better than the price should allow.
Going GlobalKnown internally as project J300, the Cruze is the very first GM car to be planned from its green light back in late 2006 as a totally global model. It's taken GM awhile to set up something as brilliantly cost-effective as this car, but it's finally here and there is now no looking back. Here's hoping it's not too little, too late.
Engineering for the J300 project has been headquartered in Germany at GM Europe's headquarters in Rüsselsheim, Germany. All design work has been led by the international team in Incheon, South Korea, at the former Daewoo facility, with designers Dave Lyon and Taewan Kim presiding (love the BMW 3 Series-style taillights also found on the recently sexed-up Citroën C5). Cruze production is cranking full steam at a plant in Bupyong, South Korea, and will soon also rev up in St. Petersburg, Russia, and Shenyang in China.
With today's globalized perspective, all this makes the Cruze GM's most significant car ever. Provided economies in key markets pick up in timely fashion, annual worldwide sales of the Cruze could easily top 1 million vehicles. The best year for worldwide Chevy Cobalt sales came in 2005 with 148,949 sales; the total dipped to 118,349 in 2008. The Cruze has been given the task of exceeding these numbers in the U.S. alone.
The image of the car depends on the market you're talking about. In Southeast Asia (and perhaps in China as the Buick Cruze), it's a family's dream car. In Korea or Russia and Eastern Europe, it's a solid midmarket player, a clear notch above the Korean brands or VW-based Škoda. In Europe and Australia, the Cruze is the smart, well-finished alternative with big-car room and small-car practicality. For us in North America, the Cruze needs to steal customers from the Japanese, the Koreans, and from the Ford Focus.
Is It the Hit It Needs To Be?If we're to go by our industrious driving over two days, the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze measures up to expectations. The Chevrolet people tell us that the Cruze as it sits on the new Delta 2 architecture (shared with the Chevy Volt and the next Opel Astra) incorporates lots of lightweight, high-tensile-strength steel. Our driving over lots of different surfaces shows that structural rigidity is noticeably better than the Cobalt's Delta 1 architecture.
While the new platform's front suspension struts and rear torsion-beam axle are fairly basic work, they are feeling finer than anything we've ever experienced under a Cobalt. This could be due to the Cruze's stretched wheelbase (2.4 inches longer), slightly wider tracks, plus optional 17-inch tires. The Cruze unsurprisingly doesn't steer like a BMW or Infiniti, although it doesn't feel out of the ordinary, with a strong on-center response. Understeer is, however, less than on the generation of cars the Cruze replaces worldwide.
The base model Cruze will be equipped with a 1.8-liter inline-4 rated at 140 horsepower and 130 pound-feet of torque. Later on, an optional turbocharged 1.4-liter inline-4 will be available, which produces 140 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque. The Cruze weighs 2,844 pounds with the manual transmission and 2,899 pounds with the auto, so both are lighter than the current 2,991-pound Cobalt. We think this is a great thing, even though we're giving up 10 hp and 20 lb-ft of torque compared to the current Cobalt's engine, and can expect acceleration to 60 mph to be no quicker than 9.5 seconds.
The optional six-speed automatic transmission is a first in this segment, but the 1.8-liter base engine we get is a bit underwhelming, as any slight incline on the highway results in an old-school tug of war between 5th and 6th gears if the transmission is left in Drive. (What'll it be like with five passengers and luggage then?) Meanwhile, the standard five-speed manual is always good because its ratios mesh better with the power curve, and 5th gear is overdrive enough to make highway cruising, Cruzing. If North America gets the six-speed manual transmission that's being discussed, all the better.
Living Space Every DayBy the measurements, the Cruze passenger cabin tops the competition while also looking swell and managing to keep exterior noise from the wind, tires and motor from pestering occupants. We felt compelled to ask the product people right away whether the supportive front seats are optional. Same for the natty, soft-touch fabric that upholsters the dash. All standard, they say.
Rear passengers in a Cruze are also treated better than in any other car in this class, with 39.4 inches of headroom in front and 37.9 inches in back. Rear-seat legroom in back is tremendous at 36.1 inches. Rear shoulder room measures 54 inches, 5 inches more than in the Cobalt. We adjusted the driver seat to our 6-foot frame and jumped in the back. The space is worthy of an Impala, a real improvement as the Opel Astra-based Cobalt has always been desperately short of rear-seat space. Both ingress and egress are notably upper class for this market segment, with large door openings and an overall height of 58.2 inches, 2.7 inches more than the Cobalt.
The trunk of the Cruze is tops in class with 15.9 cubic feet of cargo capacity. In Europe, the Cruze will have a 60/40-split folding rear seat, but the U.S. model will get a cheaper one-piece folding seatback with a pass-through, although the 60/40 seat will be an option.
This Is Year Zero for the New ChevroletAfter all the calculations are done, the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze should provide comfort and space and build quality never before seen in this segment at this price. A U.S. model of the base Cruze with manual transmission should start with an MSRP of around $15,500 (unless some way is found to sell it for the magical $14,999), and then about $1,500-$2,000 more will be tacked on for the LS, LT and LTZ trims.
After the Cruze is set on its way, the tiny Spark will be introduced in Europe in early 2010, followed by the next-generation Aveo to slot between the Spark and Cruze in mid-2010. Soon after the global passenger car lineup is complete, then comes the Delta 2-based Orlando crossover with available seven-passenger seating, arriving in North America at the start of 2011. Soon after that, the Opel/Vauxhall Insignia and Chevy Impala will be combined into one world car.
For now, we like what we see and hear and drive with the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. We do hope, however, that a Cruze SS with the 260-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 arrives without too much delay. And maybe a Cruze Sport, with a turbocharged, 170-hp version of the 1.8-liter engine. There is a hatchback version in the plans for Europe as well, not to mention some talk about an electric Cruze based on the Volt chassis.
Edmunds attended a manufacturer-sponsored event, to which selected members of the press were invited, to facilitate this report.

Bradshaw Automotive

Bradshaw Automotive began in 1979 when William Bradshaw and his wife, Annette, purchased a small Oldsmobile / Cadillac Dealership in Greer, South Carolina. Shortly after entering the automotive business as an office manager, William knew he wanted to become a dealer and his aim was to achieve that goal by the time he was thirty-years-old. At age twenty-nine, William and Annette sold their home, and using that equity and their small savings, along with the help of a financial investor / mentor, they purchased that small store in Greer. The stakes were high, but it was the opportunity of a lifetime. The risk, along with hard work, the contribution of many dedicated employees, and some good luck, paid off. That small store with fifteen employees has now grown to include eight dealerships and seven different franchises with almost four hundred employees.

As Bradshaw began to grow, a small Buick store was added in 1987 and in 1988, Chevrolet was acquired. Then came Acura, Honda, Saturn, and Infiniti. Additional franchises may be added as time and opportunity permits. While the organization has grown considerably, it is still a family run operation. William is active in the day-to-day operations of all of the dealerships and is aided now by his son, Wes Bradshaw, and his son-in-law, Bill Donovan. The growth and success of Bradshaw Automotive can be best explained by William's philosophy of treating employees and customers like family, and always respecting their needs.

William's automotive accomplishments are easy to measure in sales, but his total accomplishments are less obvious. His contributions to his community, both in time and financially, his leadership position with Greenville Tech Foundation, his selection as South Carolina Auto Dealer of the Year, his recognition as a Time Quality Dealer and a National Finalist for that award, and most recently his service with NADA (National Auto Dealers Association, an organization representing over 20,000 new car dealers across the nation) are all indications of his service to his community and his industry. In 2006, William served as National Chairman of NADA, furthering his service and impact on the automotive community.

Through it all, William still operates with those same philosophies that have served him, his employees, and you, his customers, very well.