Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Auto Repair in North Iowa

We had some great feedback from a service customer that I wanted to share today:

"I know you hear when someone is not happy with service at your store, so I thought I would change that up a little. I had Bobbi's Equinox in today for a couple minor issues. Danny is a great guy to work with!" - Rich Honsey of Forest City, Iowa

This testimonial is typical of the responses we hear in our GM service department every day.

Service adviser, Dan Piper, and the staff of GM-Certified auto technicians at Lichtsinn Motors are friendly and do a great job working on your car or truck at a great price.

To schedule your car or truck for service, to view our service menu or to simply ask a question about your vehicle, please visit our website.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

2011 Chevrolet Volt Named Motor Trend Car of the Year

Great News! The 2011 Chevrolet Volt has been awarded the Motor Trend Car of the Year & AUTOMOBILE Magazine2011 Automobile of the Year. These are two fantastic awards for a great Chevrolet!

RV turns into mobile law office bourtesy of GM

University of Detroit Mercy School of Law's (UDM Law) Project SALUTE is traveling across the State of Michigan in a mobile law office, a recreational vehicle custom designed, built and generously donated by General Motors Corporation, providing FREE legal advice to low-income veterans on their federal veterans' disability and pension benefits claims.

Project SALUTE's three primary goals are:

1.) Educate law students by providing one-on-one contact with real clients with real cases.

2.) Educate veterans of their rights under federal law and provide individualized legal counsel to obtain benefits.

3.) Educate attorneys in Veterans' Benefits Law to create a network of FREE assistance for veterans.

Utilizing a grant from the State of Michigan, Project SALUTE will host a veterans' legal clinic in Battle Creek on Wednesday, November 17, at the Battle Creek Health Fair, located at 35 West Hamblin Ave., from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The state grant is also being used to establish a freestanding Veterans Clinic at the school dedicated to specifically addressing veterans' disability and pension benefits matters. Under the supervision of law school faculty, law students are able to provide assistance to Michigan's veterans in their efforts to seek Federal veterans' benefits payments. To date, Project SALUTE has counseled more than 600 veterans and trained more than 200 pro bono attorneys across the state of Michigan.
To read the full story visit the Battle Creek Enquirer

Friday, November 12, 2010

Hannah Lunning promoted to business manager position

Congratulations to Hannah Lunning on her promotion to Business Manager at Lichtsinn Motors. Hannah is continuing to support the GM sales team during her transition to the business manager position. Hannah will provide service to both RV and car/truck customers as business manager.

NEW CHEVROLET CRUZE ECO ACHIEVES SEGMENT-LEADING 42 MPG ON THE HIGHWAY

Hybrid-Like Fuel Economy Starts at $18,895; Goes on Sale in January

The official fuel economy numbers for the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco are in and they’re good. Segment-leading good. It delivers an EPA-estimated 42 mpg on the highway (manual transmission models), with equally impressive city fuel economy of 28 mpg.
Cruze Eco’s highway fuel economy beats non-hybrid segment competitors – including 23 percent greater highway fuel economy than the Honda Civic – as well as the Ford Fiesta subcompact and many hybrid models. In fact, it’s better than Ford Fusion Hybrid, Nissan Altima Hybrid and Toyota Camry Hybrid.

“Chevrolet Cruze continues to redefine the compact segment, offering class-leading standard safety features, upscale amenities – as well as hybrid-like fuel economy without the price,” said Chuck Russell, vehicle line director. “The Cruze Eco is in a league of its own and will challenge perceptions of the efficiency available in a more affordable non-hybrid.”
The Cruze Eco carries an MSRP of $18,895 (including destination charge). It goes on sale in January.

To achieve its segment-leading fuel economy, Cruze’s engineers focused on aerodynamic performance, mass optimization and powertrain enhancements. The refinements in each area paid big dividends towards the car’s overall efficiency, while providing engineers with valuable information to help enhance the efficiency of future Chevrolet models.

“We left no stone unturned or piece of sheet metal un-weighed,” said Russell. “Our engineers were comprehensive and thorough when it came to evaluating and modifying the aspects of the car’s performance that contribute to fuel economy.”

Aero enhancementsAerodynamic improvements over non-Eco manual-transmission models contributed approximately 6 mpg to the Cruze’s EPA-estimated 42 mpg highway fuel economy. Many were developed and refined in more than 500 hours of wind-tunnel testing of the Chevy Volt, which shares a core architecture with the Cruze. Examples include the upper grille, which has more “closeouts” to improve aerodynamics, a lower front air dam extension, a rear spoiler, a lowered ride height and underbody panels that smooth airflow beneath the car.

The Eco model also features an all-new technology in the compact segment: a lower front grille air shutter that closes at higher speeds to reduce aerodynamic drag and opens at lower speeds to optimize engine-cooling airflow. Another contributor to reduced drag is the use of ultra-low rolling resistance 17-inch Goodyear tires (used with lightweight wheels), which are also used on the Volt.

As a result of the aero enhancements, aerodynamic drag was reduced by 10 percent over a non-Eco model, with a coefficient of drag of 0.298. That places Cruze at the top of the class for mainstream compact cars.

Mass optimizationMore than 42 changes were made on the Eco to reduce weight. It weighs in at 3,009 pounds (1,365 kg), compared to the 3,223 pounds (1,462 kg) of the Cruze 1LT. The diet program for the Cruze challenged engineers to look at all aspects of the vehicle’s construction, including hundreds of weld flanges on the vehicle. They were reduced 1 mm to 2 mm in length, which saved several pounds, while the sheet metal gauge thickness was reduced by about 0.1 mm in select components. This saved weight while preserving structural integrity.

Lighter wheels and tires are used on the Eco. They’re stylish, polished 17-inch alloy units with Goodyear tires that weigh only 36.5 pounds (16.6 kg) apiece. That’s 5.3 pounds (2.4 kg) less than the 16-inch wheel/tires of the Cruze 1LT for a complete savings to the vehicle of 21.2 pounds (9.6 kg).

Efficient powertrainCruze Eco is powered by power-dense Ecotec 1.4L turbocharged engine and a standard six-speed manual transmission. The transmission’s gearing is optimized for the model’s specific 17-inch wheel/tire combination and includes aggressive ratios for first and second gear coupled with a highly efficient, “taller” sixth-gear ratio for highway driving. That means engine rpm is reduced on the highway, which in turn reduces fuel consumption. A six-speed automatic transmission is available, with EPA-estimated fuel economy ratings of 26 city and 37 highway.

The Ecotec 1.4L turbo’s power ratings are 138 horsepower (103 kW) and 148 lb.-ft. of torque (200 Nm) between 1,850 rpm and 4,900 rpm. The wide rpm range for the maximum torque – a specific trait of turbocharged engines – helps the engine deliver a better driving experience and performance. The turbocharger is integrated within the exhaust manifold, for reduced weight and greater packaging flexibility.

The engine also features premium design elements that give it world-class smoothness and durability while also contributing to the Cruze Eco’s lower curb weight. They include a cast iron block with a hollow frame structure, hollow-cast camshafts and a plastic intake manifold.
Comparing the competitorsAs a result of aerodynamic improvements, mass reduction and powertrain optimizaton, the Cruze Eco offers the best fuel economy in the compact segment, while delivering hybrid-like fuel economy without the hybrid price. The following charts show how it compares with primary competitors and popular hybrids.

Cruze Eco vs. segment competitorsModel EPA City Fuel Economy EPA Highway Fuel EconomyChevrolet Cruze Eco 28 mpg 42 mpgToyota Corolla 26 mpg 35 mpgHonda Civic 26 mpg 34 mpgFord Focus 25 mpg 35 mpgHyundai Elantra 26 mpg 35 mpg
Cruze Eco vs. hybridsModel EPA City Fuel Economy EPA Highway Fuel Economy PriceChevrolet Cruze Eco 28 mpg 42 mpg $18,895Ford Fusion Hybrid 41 mpg 36 mpg $27,950Nissan Altima Hybrid 35 mpg 33 mpg $26,780Toyota Camry Hybrid 33 mpg 34 mpg $26,150

About ChevroletChevrolet is a global automotive brand, with annual sales of about 3.5 million vehicles in more than 130 countries. Chevrolet provides consumers with fuel-efficient, safe and reliable vehicles that deliver high quality, expressive design, spirited performance and value. In the U.S., the Chevrolet portfolio includes: iconic performance cars, such as Corvette and Camaro; dependable, long lasting pickups and SUVs, such as Silverado and Suburban; and award-winning passenger cars and crossovers, such as Malibu, Equinox and Traverse. Chevrolet also offers “gas-friendly to gas-free" solutions including the Cruze Eco and Volt, both arriving in late 2010. Cruze Eco will offer 42 mpg highway while the Chevrolet Volt will offer up to 40 miles of electric, gas-free driving and an additional 300 miles of extended range (based on GM testing; official EPA estimates not yet available). Most new Chevrolet models offer OnStar safety, security, and convenience technologies including OnStar Hands-Free Calling, Automatic Crash Response, and Stolen Vehicle Slowdown.

Monday, November 8, 2010

Halloween Coloring Contest Winners


Congrats Ryan, on winning the 7-12 age category in our annual Halloween Coloring Contest. Ryan received a $25 gift certificate to Bookadee in Forest City, Iowa!


Congrats Shay, on winning the 0-6 age category in our annual Halloween Coloring Contest. Shay received a $25 gift certificate to Bookadee in Forest City, Iowa!