Chris Leith came to Wake Forest to open the doors in January 1990. He formed a team of professionals to serve the people of Raleigh and Wake Forest and the surrounding communities with all of their transportation needs. The 3 most important things are 1) treat people with respect, 2) always be fair, and 3) live up to your word. Chris prides himself on stocking a large selection of both new and used cars and trucks to suit everyone's needs.

Friday, June 25, 2010

Trans Am - Keith Morgan

Kevin Morgan - Designer of the Phoenix Trans Am stopped by to say hello to Chris, and visit our 2010 Trans Am. Kevin's love affair with the Trans Am started after the release of the Smokey & The Bandit movie in the 1970's. So when the latest generation Camaro was released, Kevin went to work and created his vision of the 2010 Trans Am. The Trans Am Depot acquired the rights to the "Trans Am" name, and with their design team, his vision is now reality. Stop in to our Chris Leith Chevy Showroom and see this fantastic collector car today!

Monday, June 21, 2010

Ram Rules! - 2010 Motor Trend Truck of the Year Winner

Chevrolet Volt Takes on the Heat in Arizona

YUMA, Ariz. -- Summer for the Chevrolet Volt engineering team means hot weather testing. And taking on the hottest Mother Nature has to offer is what they’re doing at the General Motors Desert Proving Grounds in Arizona.
While the Volt is designed to operate in all weather and temperature conditions, one of the tests it is undergoing in the desert is the Hot Soak Evaluation, where temperatures inside the cabin can exceed 175 degrees F.
Engineers “bake” the Volt in the sun for several hours, then open everything in the car, cycle all of the electric accessories and then take the car down the ride handling track to check for squeaks and rattles. Additionally, they check to make sure the door seals continue to close off the cabin to the hot air as they cool the Volt down using its high-efficiency air conditioning system.

“The car performed well,” said senior durability test engineer Steve Pratt. “The air conditioner cooled things off from our interior temperature of 138 degrees down to a nice comfortable temperature for driving.”

While the Volt will not be equipped to handle towing, the engineering team regularly puts the Volt through some weight training via Grade Load testing. Engineers use a towing dynamometer – which simulates endless hill and mountain climbing anywhere from a 2 to 10 percent grade – to put stress and strain on the Volt’s engine and chassis to determine how well it will perform while climbing a mountain at temperatures above 100 degrees F.

In addition, the Volt undergoes routine City Cycle testing two to three times each day. In this test, the battery receives added heat from the electrical energy generated by the steering, air conditioning, accessories and components under repetitive, cumulative use. The engineers are making sure there are no heat-related issues. The Volt has yet to disappoint during real-world city driving cycles.

In fact, the Volt has performed very well under the stress and strain of all these tests, but the rigorous testing and validation continues because the Volt is an electric vehicle for all temperatures and seasons.

4,400 Chevrolet Volt Owners to be Eligible for Free Home Charging Stations

DETROIT – The first buyers of the Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle with extended-range capability will be eligible for one of 4,400 free home charging stations. The program will provide Volt owners with a 240-volt charge station from either ECOtality, Inc. or Coulomb Technologies. In many cases, it will include the cost of home installation. The projects are made possible with a grant of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds from the Transportation Electrification Initiative administered by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

“Many owners will plug their Volt into a normal 120-volt electrical outlet, charge overnight and drive to work in the morning using only battery power,” said Tony DiSalle, Product and Marketing Director for the Chevrolet Volt. “For Volt owners who want to install a faster 240-volt charge station, we expect the Department of Energy project to save $1,000 and $2,000.”

The U.S. Department of Energy projects were established with two objectives: installing charging stations in residential, workplace and public areas to encourage consumers to purchase electric vehicles; and studying electric vehicle usage to optimize future electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

To encourage consumer purchases of electric vehicles, federal grants and other funds have been awarded to install more than 15,000 home charge stations. That total includes 4,400 home charge stations for Volt owners; 2,600 as part of The EV Project from ECOtality, and 1,800 as part of the ChargePoint America project from Coulomb Technologies.

The Chevrolet Volt is an electric vehicle with extended range capability, designed to drive up to 350 miles without stopping to recharge or refuel. For the first 40 miles, Volt is powered by pure electricity, without using gasoline or producing tailpipe emissions. When the Volt’s lithium-ion battery is depleted, a gasoline-powered engine/generator seamlessly operates to extend the driving range another 300 miles.