Happy Easter Everyone!

From all of us at Maher Chevrolet, we hope you have a fantastic Easter weekend! If you celebrate, here's a question we have for you: when you eat a chocolate Easter bunny, do you start eating at the ears or at the bottom?

Throwback Thursday: Truck Edition

It's time for another installment of Throwback Thursday! Today we've dug up this classic 1960 ad for Chevy and the American Trucking Industry. "Like" if you're a fan of today's trucks, or "share" if you'd rather drive a vintage model like this one!

Another 5 Star Review on Edmunds!

Take a look at this rave review that we just received on Edmunds!

"I brought my SUV in for a recall/upgrade to the oil life monitoring system. I had an appointment at 11AM, waited only a couple of minutes before being waited on and my car was ready when promised, about an hour and a half. Thank you! I have been a GM customer for all of my driving life!"

You can read the full review at http://edmu.in/10dH7Iq

Chevy Introduces the 2014 Camaro Z/28, the Most Track-capable Camaro Ever

Chevrolet today introduced the restyled 2014 Camaro line at the New York Auto Show, including the return of the Z/28, the most iconic model in Camaro history.

The 2014 Camaro models feature a revised exterior design that integrates high-performance aerodynamics for more efficient cooling and stability at high speeds. The new Camaro Z/28 also features a full aerodynamics package that creates downforce at speed, which helps make it the most track-capable offering in Camaro’s history.

“As the ultimate track-capable Camaro, this car restores the mission of the original Z/28, and serves as a testament to the expertise of Chevrolet as the best-selling brand of performance cars,” said Mark Reuss, president, GM North America. “The build sheet is the wish list of any racer: lightweight, high-revving, dry-sump LS7 engine; carbon-ceramic brakes; integrated coolers for track use; true aerodynamic downforce, and a significant reduction in curb weight. This car could only come from Chevrolet, and could only be called the Z/28.”

The first Camaro Z/28 was introduced in 1967, created to compete in the Sports Car Club of America's Trans-Am 2 class. It featured a smaller, lighter, 302-cubic-inch V-8 for improved weight balance, as well as quick-ratio steering and a heavy-duty suspension for track use. In keeping with its road-racing focus, the 1967 Camaro Z/28 was not available with an automatic transmission or air conditioning.

While the new Camaro Z/28 is not intended to compete in a specific race series, it is solely focused on track capability. In initial testing, the Camaro Z/28 is three seconds faster per lap than the Camaro ZL1. That extra speed comes from three areas:

• Increased grip: The Z/28 is capable of 1.05 g in cornering acceleration, due to comprehensive chassis revisions
• Increased stopping power: the Z/28 features Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes capable of 1.5 g in deceleration, and consistent brake feel, lap after lap
• Reduced curb weight: The naturally aspirated Z/28 weighs 300 pounds less than the supercharged Camaro ZL1, with changes ranging from lightweight wheels to thinner rear-window glass

Like the original, the 2014 Camaro Z/28 is offered only with a manual transmission. In a nod to modern convenience, air-conditioning is available, but only as an option.

"We set out to make the fastest road-racing Camaro possible that was still street-legal,” said Al Oppenheiser, Camaro chief engineer. “While the Camaro ZL1 offers exceptional performance on the street, the drag strip, and the track, the Z/28 is entirely focused on the track performance. The Z/28 will be too track-focused for most drivers, but offers road-racers one of the most capable track cars ever offered from an automaker.”

The new 2014 Camaro line will arrive at Chevrolet dealers later in 2013. The Camaro Z/28 is expected to be appearing at track events across the United States in spring 2014.

High-performance aerodynamics highlight changes for 2014 Camaro

The 2014 Camaro represents the most significant redesign since the introduction of the fifth-generation Camaro as a concept car in 2006.

“The 2014 Camaro is our opportunity to apply what we have learned listening to our customers, and our continuing development of high-performance models,” said Tom Peters, Camaro exterior design director. “We look for solutions that are both functional and beautiful so that the result is genuine Chevrolet – simple, powerful, honest, and more than expected.”

Compared to the previous model, the design represents a strong visual change front and rear, resulting in a wider, lower, more contemporary appearance. The front fascia features a wider lower opening, and a narrower upper opening that also updates the appearance of the iconic “halo ring” HID headlamps on the Camaro RS package.  The functional hood vent on the Camaro SS helps reduce heat and aerodynamic lift. Moving to the rear, the sculptural decklid, horizontal lamps and diffuser complete the powerful statement.

The Camaro Z/28 also features a full aerodynamic package designed to produce downforce at track speeds. At the front, the Z/28 features a large splitter, connected to an underbody panel that further reduces lift. In profile, the Z/28 features fender flares over the front and rear wheels, as well as extended rocker panels that contribute to aerodynamic stability. An aggressive rear spoiler and functional diffuser complete the aerodynamic package.

On the interior, the Camaro Z/28 features trim in a distinctive, matte-metallic finish named Octane, the ZL1 flat-bottomed steering wheel, and standard Recaro seats with microfiber suede inserts. The new seats (also available on the coupe versions of the SS and ZL1 models), feature aggressive bolsters for high-performance driving, as well as seat cutouts inspired by the five-point harnesses found on racing seats. To save weight, both front seats incorporate manual adjustment.

The rear seats of the Z/28 have also been modified for weight reduction. A total of nine pounds (four kilograms) was saved by eliminating the seat-back pass through, as well as using high-density foam in place of the rigid structure of the seat back and steel mesh of the seat bottom.

“Unlike the Ford Mustang Boss 302, we felt it was important to keep the 2+2 configuration of the Camaro Z/28 as Chevrolet already has a world-class two-seat sports car in the Corvette,” said Oppenheiser.  “By modifying the construction of the rear seat, we were able to reduce the overall weight of the Z/28 while still preserving the flexibility of 2+2 seating.”

7.0L, LS7 the heart of the Camaro Z/28’s track-capable performance

Like the original, the new Camaro Z/28 forgoes ultimate horsepower and torque for improved weight balance and track performance.

In 1967, the most-powerful engine available in a factory Camaro was a 396 cid V-8 with 375 horsepower. To prepare the Camaro Z/28 for road racing, engineers specified a lighter, 302 cid V-8, officially rated at 290 horsepower. While the 302 was not the choice for drag racers, it proved ideal for sports-car racing.

Today, the most-powerful engine offered is the Camaro ZL1’s supercharged 6.2L LSA, which delivers 580 horsepower. The heart of the 2014 Camaro Z/28 is the lighter, naturally aspirated 7.0L LS7 first introduced in the Corvette Z06.

“The LS7 is ideal for road racing because it delivers amazing performance in a compact, lightweight package,” said Jordan Lee, Small Block chief engineer and program manager. “The broad torque curve and high redline of the LS7 mean fewer shifts are required for each lap, while the lightweight design improves the front-to-rear weight balance for better handling.”

Co-developed with Corvette Racing, the hand-assembled 7.0L (427 cid) V-8 uses a number of high-performance components, including:

•     Titanium intake valves and connecting rods, and sodium-filled exhaust valves
•     CNC-ported aluminum cylinder heads
•     Forged-steel crankshaft and main bearing caps
•     High-lift camshaft
•     Hydroformed exhaust headers
•     11.0:1 compression ratio, and a 7,000 rpm redline.
•     10.5-quart, dry-sump oiling system

For the Camaro Z/28, the LS7 features unique induction and exhaust systems, and delivers at least 500 horsepower (373 kW) and 470 lb-ft of torque (637 Nm).

The racing-style, cold-air induction system and large K&N air filter provide maximum air flow.

The standard dual mode exhaust system and larger-diameter pipes enable improved air flow. By bypassing the mufflers during acceleration, the system increases both the torque and sound generated by the LS7 engine.

The Camaro Z/28 is exclusively offered with a Tremec TR6060 manual transmission. The six-speed features close-ratio gearing and 3.91:1 final drive ratio, both optimized for the power characteristics of the LS7.

Power is distributed to the rear wheels via a limited-slip differential featuring a helical gear set, rather than traditional clutch packs. The new design enables the driver to apply more power and get through corners faster, by continuously adjusting the torque bias to maximize available traction.

The differential works in unison with Chevrolet’s proprietary Performance Traction Management system, which allows drivers to adjust the level of throttle and brake intervention to match their capability and driving environment.

Unlike some competitors’ “track package” offerings, the Camaro Z/28 makes standard all the cooling systems required for track use. This includes the dry-sump oiling system for the LS7, which is connected to an integral liquid-to-liquid cooling system for engine oil.

A second liquid-to-liquid system provides cooling for the transmission and differential. This system pumps overcooled transmission fluid to a heat exchanger in the rear differential before traveling to the transmission. This reduces differential temperatures as much as 100 degrees F.

Camaro Z/28 chassis delivers 1.05 g in cornering grip

The singular focus of the Camaro Z/28 is most evident in the chassis, where the most has been made of every component for track use, from the ultra-high performance tires to race-proven dampers.

“We used the very best components in the industry to deliver uncompromised performance, lap after lap,” said Mark Stielow, Camaro Z/28 engineering manager. “We made nearly 200 changes to improve the track performance, which cumulatively make the Z/28 capable of 1.05 g in cornering. For perspective, with all other things, equal increasing maximum grip from 1 to 1.05 g can cut up to four seconds per lap.”

The Camaro Z/28 is the one of the first production cars fitted with race-proven, spool-valve dampers. Compared to a conventional damper that offers only two-way tuning for bump and rebound, a spool-valve damper allows four-way adjustment to precisely tune both bump and rebound settings for high-speed and low-speed wheel motions. The wider tuning range allowed engineers to dramatically increase the damper stiffness on the Camaro Z/28 without a significant change in ride quality. Additional chassis changes include stiffer string rates and suspension bushings for improved cornering response.

The Camaro Z/28 features 19-inch diameter wheels and tires, which reduce unsprung weight by 42 pounds (19 kilograms) per car compared to the 20-inch wheels standard on Camaro SS and ZL1. In addition, the smaller diameter wheels lower the center of gravity by 33 millimeters, further improving handling.

At all four corners, the lightweight, forged aluminum wheels are wrapped in massive 305/30ZR19 tires. This is the first production application of ultra-high performance Pirelli PZero Trofeo R tires, and believed to be the widest front tire on any production car.

To fully exploit the grip of the Pirelli tires, the Camaro Z/28 also features Brembo Carbon Ceramic Matrix™ rotors and fixed, monoblock calipers. The large 394 x 36 mm front rotors are paired with six-piston calipers, while the 390 x 32 mm rear rotors are paired four-piston calipers. Compared to similar-size, two-piece steel rotors, the lightweight carbon discs save 28 pounds (12.5 kilograms) per car.

The combination of tire grip and braking power enable the Camaro Z/28 to achieve up to 1.5 g in deceleration. With standard front brake cooling ducts, the Z/28 is also capable of continuous track use unmatched brake feel, lap after lap.

“What makes the Z/28 so addictive is it inspires confidence through every section on the track,” said Stielow. “The incredible, balanced performance helps you carry much more speed through every corner: the brakes are so good you can adjust your braking points later and later; the grip and suspension damping allows you to carry more speed through the apex; and then the limited slip allows you to make the most of the LS7 as you power out of the corner.”

Extensive lightweighting saved 300 pounds over the Camaro ZL1

To optimize the track performance of the Camaro Z/28, the engineering team subjected it to an intensive lightweighting program, saving 100 pounds (45 kilograms) compared to the naturally aspirated Camaro SS and 300 pounds (136 kilograms) to the supercharged Camaro ZL1.

“We looked at every subsystem for opportunities to save weight,” said Oppenheiser. “Our goal was to get rid of everything that didn’t make the car faster, and keep only what was required by law. For example, we wanted to eliminate the audio system completely, but we had to keep a single speaker for the seat-belt chime to meet safety requirements.”

Other examples of weight savings include:

•     Eliminated the tire-inflator kit, except for Rhode Island and New Hampshire, where it is required by law
•     Removed interior sound deadener, and carpeting from the trunk
•     Replaced the standard LN4 battery with a smaller, lightweight, LN3 battery
•     Specified thinner, 3.2-mm glass for the rear window, compared to 3.5-mm glass on the standard Camaro
•     HID headlamps and foglights are not available
•     Air conditioning is only available as a stand-alone option

“The team was so fanatical about saving weight, we even stripped the unused wiring out of the harness when we eliminated the fog lights, speakers, and air conditioning,” said Oppenheiser. “Every ounce saved contributed to making this the most track-capable Camaro we have ever built, and a worthy successor to the Z/28 name.”

New Camaro Revealed on Talk Show Ahead of New York Debut

Listen, we like Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan as much as the next auto-obsessed blogging website... but to reveal the new 2014 Chevy Camaro on the talk show ahead of its official unveiling at the New York Auto Show strikes us as a rather strange choice. Regardless, that's what we're dealing with – the talk show hosts were the first people to pull the covers off the new Camaro, and you can see the results above.

Additionally, one lone low-res image was published on the talk show website, and we enlarged it, reduced noise and sharpened it as much as we could. The original low-res version can be seen in the image gallery, as can a single shot of the interior, which sadly doesn't appear to have gotten any major attention.

We don't have any great views of the car from the screenshots that have hit the web, but from what we can tell, the changes made to the Camaro for 2014 are more noticeable than we had initially thought. For instance, the front fascia is completely new, with a grille insert that looks more condensed than before. The old mail-slot opening in the center of the face has been removed on the SS model, which is an update we're okay with but is likely to be controversial.

The biggest change to the SS model is a new hood with what appears to be a functional heat extractor. The bright red Camaro seen on the talk show doesn't have any stripes, and we're curious to see how Chevy deals with these classic additions on SS models with this new hood. Out back, we note a new rear spoiler along with taillamps that lose some of the past model's retro vibe in favor of a more modern, though still squared-off, look.

According to the show's website, the 2014 Camaro's powertrain options will carry over from 2013, with a 323-horsepower V6 and a 426-hp V8, along with the 580-horse supercharged ZL1. We suggest you take a gander at the image gallery above to form an initial opinion, but we'd also stress that many more high quality images will be coming from our crew in New York before too long.

(courtesy of Autoblog)

2013 MOFILM SXSW Contest Winner!

For South by Southwest, Chevrolet partnered with MOFILM, a global creative community, to find filmmakers from around the world that could capture the spirit of Chevy in the form of a short video. Today you can watch the winning film by contest winner David Carstens, which tells the story of a musician's rise from the streets to the stage in his Chevy Spark.

Has Your Bracket Been Busted?

It's the second day of March Madness, and we're sure some brackets have already been busted. "Like" if yours is still in good shape, and either way, feel free to "share" what teams you're rooting for!

Throwback Thursday: 60s Edition!

It's time for another edition of Throwback Thursday! Today we've uncovered this groovy Camaro commercial from 1967. Like if you think today's generation's music and "way of looking at things" is as unique as it was back in the 60s!

Happy Birthday Mr. Rogers!

Not only is today the first day of Spring, but it's also Mr. Rogers birthday! In honor of everyone's favorite neighbor, here's a touching story about him and his trusted Chevy:

"According to a TV Guide piece on him, Fred Rogers drove a plain old Impala for years. One day, however, the car was stolen from the street near the TV station. When Rogers filed a police report, the story was picked up by every newspaper, radio and media outlet around town. Amazingly, within 48 hours the car was left in the exact spot where it was taken from, with an apology on the dashboard. It read, 'If we'd known it was yours, we never would have taken it!'"

Tetris and the Chevy Traverse

Ever play the classic video game Tetris? Well with an incredible 116.3 cubic feet of cargo space, it's the best way to describe the class-leading maximum cargo space that the 2013 Chevrolet Traverse provides.

Another 5 Star Review on Cars.com!

Check out this 5-star review that we just received on Cars.com!

"I'm from out of state and had a check engine light come on while in St Petersburg, Florida. I made an appointment to have my vehicle serviced at Maher Chevrolet. I arrived and Bobby Hall handled processing my vehicle quickly. I particularly appreciated the free shuttle service as I had no other means of transportation and did not have to wait around the dealership while they fixed my vehicle. When my vehicle was ready they picked me back up and took me back to the dealership. Everyone was very helpful and efficient. No problems with the vehicle since. I highly recommend Maher Chevrolet."

Read the whole review at http://bit.ly/WKj2JN.

Trivia Monday: Camaro Edition

There's word going around that Chevrolet will debut a refreshed Chevrolet Camaro later this month at the New York International Auto Show. With this news, we have a fun trivia question for you: do you know what year the first Camaro made its debut (bonus points if you can give us the month and/or day)?

Happy St. Patrick's Day

It's Friday and St. Patrick's Day is right around the corner! If you plan on celebrating, we hope you have a great time and, most importantly, make sure you have a designated driver.

Throwback Thursday!

It's time for another edition of Throwback Thursday! Today we've dug up this vintage Chevrolet Biscayne commercial from 1959, back when it appears rural mail carriers rode in style!

Another Excellent Review on Google+ Local!

Take a look at this rave review we just received on Google+ Local!

"We drove up to smiles and we were taken care of promptly. Tim addressed us about our first oil change and explained with our mileage that we needed timely service, our brakes needed to be inspected and tires rotated, and then offered us a minimal wait time. We talked to Mike, our salesman of our new Avalanche, about The Volt and Camero. He knows his cars. Our truck was ready in no time and the steering wheel was clean, meaning the people involved kept our car clean with no extra grease. Thanks, on our way until the next visit. A+"

Read the full review at http://bit.ly/15OVUNb.

Theophilus London Runs Out of Milk

The Chevy Sonic and rapper Theophilus London can make even running errands epic. Watch the video below to see the lengths Theo goes to find milk and quench his cereal craving, and learn more about the Chevy Sonic at http://www.chevrolet.com/sonic.

Finding New Roads

In honor of the birthday of Jack Kerouac, author of the classic novel "On the Road" (one of Time Magazine's "100 Best Novels of All Time" and whose characters were all about "finding new roads"), we want to know: what was the best road trip you've ever taken?

Worship of Tools Day!

Happy Monday everyone! In honor of "Worship of Tools Day," we found this photo of a heavily modified Chevy Silverado, which has been hooked up with the best Sony Xplod audio and video parts by Shawn Bennett of Image Auto Designs. "+1" if you'd love to take this car for a spin, and feel free to share some of your favorite car projects you've undertaken over the years.

Daylight Savings Time Explained!

Don't forget that Sunday is Daylights Savings Time, which means that we all need to set our clocks forward one hour! Now you may be asking yourself "why exactly do we do this twice a year?" Well if you are, you can watch this informative video and find out!

Throwback Thursday!

It's time for another installment of Throwback Thursday! In honor of all the coverage the latest Corvette is getting, we've uncovered this vintage Chevy Corvette commercial from 1984!

With the 2013 Silverado, Chevy Has You Covered.

Are you thinking about driving a new Chevy Silverado? Well now is the time! Buy or lease a brand-new 2013 Silverado 1500, and Chevy will include two years/24,000 miles of oil changes and tire rotations. Find out more here: http://spr.ly/silvMP13.

The New BringGo Navigation App!

Starting with all 2013 models, owners of Spark, Sonic and Sonic EV vehicles that are equipped with Chevrolet MyLink will have access to full-function navigation and traffic data at their fingertips — all without breaking the bank. To learn more about the BringGo Navigation App, watch the video below!

Another Rave Review on Cars.com!

Take a look at this review we just received on Cars.com!

"It was great buying with Joe our salesman, Rob at finance and all the rest at Maher. We just love our new Chevy Equinox ET. The is our 4th car we have purchased at Maher."

Read the whole review at http://bit.ly/WKj2JN.

2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible Images Released

DETROIT- General Motors Co. released images of its highly-anticipated 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray convertible ahead of its world debut.

The vehicle is scheduled to make its world debut Tuesday at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.

The 2014 Corvette Stingray convertible is expected to go on sale later this year, after the coupe version, which debuted in Detroit in January.

“Nothing will be sacrificed,” GM said in a statement on the vehicle’s website. “The Stingray convertible will deliver the same balance of technology, design and performance as the coupe.”

The Detroit-based automaker said it's fitting to introduce the new convertible on the global stage at Geneva because “Corvette is the face of Chevrolet the world over.”

"It is an icon that has long been recognized and admired even in countries where it's never officially been offered," said Susan Docherty, president and managing director of Chevrolet and Cadillac Europe, in a previously released statement.

GM said the Corvette Stingray convertible will deliver the same balance of technology, design and performance introduced on the coupe.

Chevrolet will auction the first retail production model of the Corvette Stingray convertible at the Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach collector car auction to benefit the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit.

The first two-seater sports car -- with the Vehicle Identification Number 0001 -- was sold for $1.1 million at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale collector car auction last month in Scottsdale, Ariz. to NASCAR team owner and avid Corvette collector Richard Hendrick.

The vehicle features an all-new small-block,LT1 6.2-liter V8 engine that delivers an estimated 450-horsepower and achieve 0-60 in less than four seconds.

GM resurrected the iconic Stingray moniker for the seventh-generation Corvette, which features a modern, more defined look.

The Stingray, or “Sting Ray” from 1963-67, has only been used on two other generations of production Corvettes in the vehicle’s 60-year history.

Stingray was last used four generations ago on the Detroit-based automaker’s generation 3 Corvette from 1968-82. The name was first used on the 1959 racing car and again for the second-generation Corvette from 1963-67.

(courtesy of MLive)

National Peanut Butter Lover's Day!

Did you know that today is National Peanut Butter Lover's Day? Whether it be creamy or crunchy, peanut butter has long been one of America's favorite (and most popular) food items. "Like" if you're a fan, and share with us what your favorite peanut butter product is!