A Peek Into The Future Design of Chevrolet Models

Chevrolet offers all sorts of accessories for their current and past models, especially for pickups like the Silverado. Each of these items is something you may have never thought to add, but each one has surprising benefits. Sport Bars If you go off-roading regularly, these cool triangular additions contribute to the Silverado's rugged style. These two bars fit at the end of the cab and form a thick triangle to the top of the bed, and are handy for anyone who needs a firm grip while standing in the bed, or a little extra help climbing in from the side. Sport Bars come in a variety of colors and brands, so you can choose whichever ones you like. If you'd like something a little more subtle, bed side rails are also a nice addition that have both practical and visual benefits. Rear Seat Entertainment System If you don't have a higher trim-level Silverado that came with a rear-seat entertainment system, no worries! Summer road trips will be fun for rear-seat passengers with these dual LCD screens mounted into the front seat headrests. Each system also includes wireless headphone sets and a remote control. There are several different color and stitching styles to match every possible interior color and upholstery material. Bed Extender Do you tend to load up your Silverado with four-wheelers and summer fun equipment and find yourself short on bed space? This handy extender is a secure, curved cage wall that sits over a dropped tailgate, adding extra length equivalent to the tailgate's height. Keyless Entry Number Pad The modern keyless entry systems can be a bit unsafe if another driver has managed to steal your key fob. Fortunately, this small and unobtrusive number pad only allows the door to unlock if you have the key fob on your person and can correctly enter the five-digit code. The system uses only five buttons that each hold two digits set diagonally opposite of each other. Trailering Camera System This package by EchoMaster adds cameras to your side mirrors that turn on automatically when you activate your turn signals, providing a clear view of your trailer and rear blind spots from your central infotainment screen. It also includes a rear camera mounted on the top of the rearmost trailer edge, so you have a perfect image of what's directly behind while backing into a boat ramp, parking your trailer for the day, and more. Reflective Emergency Triangle This reflective triangle can be set on the ground and will flash brightly at any light, signaling your location and drawing attention. Whether you've gotten into a bad spot or someone else has, this triangle will help make you visible at night so fellow drivers know to stay away or help as appropriate, and emergency responders can't miss you. Chevrolet is one of the best automakers when it comes to accessories, as their thorough categories cover almost everything you could want, regardless of your specific model. If you have any questions about accessories or Chevy models, we're happy to help, so call today. Image via Chevrolet.com

The use of autonomous cars has long been a dream for both drivers and car manufacturers. That dream is now almost a reality thanks to Chevrolet's plans to produce and test self-driving cars in the coming years. If these tests are successful, consumers across the country will be able to take a leisurely ride in their Chevy vehicle without having to worry about operating their vehicle, making for a unique, relaxing automotive experience. If you're excited by the prospect of owning an autonomous driving vehicle, it's a good idea to learn how Chevrolet plans to build and construct these cutting-edge vehicles. Development One of the primary ways that Chevrolet is planning on producing autonomous vehicles is by partnering with the some of the top universities in the world. In the AutoDrive Challenge, sponsored by General Motors and SAE International, research teams at Virginia Tech, Michigan Tech, Kettering University, University of Toronto, North Carolina A & T University, University of Waterloo, Michigan State University, and Texas A & M University will work towards making the Chevy Bolt EV a completely autonomous vehicle. During the three-year competition, the teams will work on making the Bolt EV meet the qualifications for SAE Level 4 autonomy, which means the vehicle is able to monitor its surroundings and drive itself without human intervention. At the end of the competition, each completed vehicle will be tested in an Urban environment to see if the goal of autonomous driving has finally been achieved. more Manufacturing In addition to their partnership with educational institutions, Chevrolet will also be manufacturing their own vehicles with the final goal being fully autonomous driving. Recently, the Michigan legislature passed rules allowing autonomous cars to be tested in real world environments. GM has jumped on this opportunity with plans to build a fleet of autonomous Chevy Bolts for testing. The plan is for the autonomous Bolt line to be built in a factory in Orion township, which is close to GM's headquarters in Detroit. While the construction of the autonomous Bolt will be very similar to the standard electric version, the vehicles will be equipped with the technology necessary for autonomous driving, including laser sensors, radar, and a variety of cameras. To assist in their goal of being the first auto manufacturer to mass produce self-driving vehicles, GM has purchased Cruise Automation, a company that specializes in autonomous driving technology. Testing The most important part of bringing autonomous-driving vehicles to the market is testing them for safety and efficiency, and Chevrolet plans to test their autonomous Bolt in a variety of ways. First, Chevy plans to test these vehicles in the urban environment of Detroit, close to where the vehicles will actually be produced. Second, GM, has partnered with Lyft, one of the nation's largest ride-sharing services, to test these vehicles on a larger scale. Lyft will use the Bolt EV in its fleet of vehicles in multiple states for the purpose of real world testing. Testing of the Bolt EV will begin in 2018, and is expected to be the largest test of autonomous vehicles by any automaker. Thanks to Chevrolet, the dream of an autonomous car is closer than ever before. Image via Wikipedia Commons by Dllu used under CC BY-SA 4.0