VIDEO from General Motors and Synaptic Digital: Chevrolet Volt: European Car of the Year 2012

3/9/2012 10:12 AM EST

Synaptic Digital
Press release

VIDEO from General Motors and Synaptic Digital: Chevrolet Volt: European Car of
the Year 2012

Chevrolet at the Geneva Motor Show 2012

  -- Chevrolet Volt: first car designed and built in the U.S. to win European
     Car of the Year Award
  -- Cruze station wagon makes world debut
  -- Youth concepts Code 130R and Tru 140S: next gen buyers give input
  -- Launch of Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system with smartphone integration

GENEVA, March 9, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Chevrolet Volt (together with the
Opel Ampera) won the "Car of the Year 2012" award. By handing victory to the
revolutionary electric vehicle, the first winner designed and built in the USA,
the panel of judges, made up of 59 leading automotive journalists from 23
European nations, paid tribute to General Motor's innovative foresight. The
Opel Ampera / Chevrolet Volt were the undisputed winners with 330 points
against VW Up (281) and Ford Focus (256). 

See video from Chevrolet at: http://inr.synapticdigital.com/chevrolet/geneva

"It is a proud moment for us and an honor to receive this award from Europe's
leading jury of automotive journalists," said Susan Docherty, President and
Managing Director, Chevrolet Europe. "Our car demonstrates that electric
driving can be fun and reliable without ever compromising the owner's
lifestyle." 

The Ampera and the Volt are the first electric vehicles in the market that can
go anywhere anytime. A 16 kWh lithium ion battery powers the 111kW/150 hp
electric motor. Depending on the style of driving and road conditions, distance
of between 40 and 80 kilometers can be covered in the purely battery-operated
mode, completely free of emissions. The wheels of the car are always powered
electrically. In extended-range mode, which activates whenever the battery has
reached its minimum state of charge, the gasoline engine drives a generator
that supplies the electric drive unit. The range extender enables an operating
radius of 500 kilometers. 

Chevrolet at the Geneva Motor Show 2012

New models, exciting concepts and the latest in infotainment technology are the
hallmarks of Chevrolet's presence at the 82nd International Geneva Motor Show,
which opened to the public on March 8, 2012. 

The major attraction on the Chevrolet stand in Hall 1 is the Cruze station
wagon, which will make its world debut. Two youth concept cars – the Code 130R
and Tru 140S – make it to European shores for the first time while the future
of on-board infotainment will be displayed in the form of Chevrolet MyLink. 

Cruze station wagon makes world debut

The station wagon complements the existing Cruze line-up and has a natural
appeal to families and people who want a compact car with more carrying space
to fit an active lifestyle. 

A choice of five powertrains will be available for the entire Cruze line-up as
of summer 2012. A new 1.4L turbo gasoline engine, a new 1.7L diesel and an
improved 2.0L diesel engine will complete the powertrain offer alongside the
current 1.6L and 1.8L gasoline engines. All engines are Euro 5-compliant. 

New equipment and features on the Cruze include keyless entry and start, rear
view camera, Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system (see below) and start-stop
functionality depending on trim and engine choice. 

Youth concepts Code 130R and Tru 140S: next-gen buyers asked to give input

Chevrolet has launched a program to involve young people in the design of
future cars. Two concepts born from this dialogue are the Code 130R and Tru
140S, which will make their first appearance in Europe at the Geneva Motor
Show. 

The turbocharged Code 130R is a rear-wheel-drive four-seat coupe with an
upright profile while the front-wheel-drive Tru 140S is an affordable exotic
four-seat sport coupe. Inside the concepts, connectivity enables motorists to
personalize their cars, a critical element for the current and future youth
generations. 

The British designers of the concepts, Nicholas David and Joe Baker from GM's
North Hollywood Design Center, will attend the event to explain how the cars
were created following the styling and functionality this group of new buyers
says they want in a car. 

During the Geneva Motor Show, hostesses will be waiting, iPads in hand, to
listen to European youths who will be able to have their say concerning what
they want from a car, and what elements of connectivity and functionality
should be included, and can vote for the youth concept they prefer. People not
visiting the show will be able to cast their vote for their favorite concept
car from home by means of a designated app on the Chevrolet Europe Facebook
page. All votes from the Geneva show and the Facebook app will count toward the
total result. 

Launch of Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system with smartphone integration

Chevrolet MyLink, the brand's new infotainment system, seamlessly integrates
motorists' personal devices, such as smartphones, and transforms their car into
their own docking station. 

Chevrolet MyLink includes a seven-inch, high-resolution, full-color touch
screen that makes media selection easy to navigate. The system aggregates
content from smartphones onto the display via USB, Aux-in or Bluetooth. 

The technology will be available with the Cruze and Aveo in summer 2012.

About Chevrolet

Chevrolet is General Motors' largest global brand with annual sales of more
than four million vehicles in more than 140 countries. It is the fourth biggest
global car brand in terms of sales and also one of the fastest growing brands
in the world. Chevrolet cars combine bold design, performance, innovation and
practicality. They provide outstanding value for money. Established in the U.S.
by Swiss émigré Louis Chevrolet in 1911, the brand celebrated its centenary in
2011. The brand was re-launched in Europe in 2005. It is represented with a
total of 2,500 sales and service outlets in Western and Central Europe. The
European Chevrolet line-up includes the Spark city car, the small Aveo sedan
and hatchback, the compact Cruze sedan and hatchback, the Orlando family van,
the Captiva SUV, the legendary Camaro and Corvette sports cars and the
extended-range Volt electric car. In 2012, Chevrolet is launching the Cruze
station wagon and the Malibu mid-size sedan. More information on Chevrolet can
be found at www.chevroleteurope.com or media.chevroleteurope.com. 

Registered journalists can access video, audio, text, graphics and photos at
http://www.thenewsmarket.com. 


         Marc Kempe
         Chevrolet Europe
         Phone +41 44 828 2980
         Mobile +41 79 201 5752
          
         
         Cornelia Harodt
         Chevrolet Europe
         Phone +41 44 828 2534
         Mobile +41 79 514 4421
          
         
         Synaptic Digital, New York
          
         03NY12-1405