New Upgrades and Features on the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox

The 2018 Chevrolet Equinox is brimming with high-tech features. While some are available as options, many of these features come standard on every trim, ensuring you get more for your money. Here are just some of the coolest features you can expect from the new Equinox. Teen Driver Technology One of the best things about the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox is that even the base model L comes with the automaker's Teen Driver system. The built-in feature reminds new drivers how to drive safely, even when you aren't there. Using Teen Driver, you can set a volume limit for the radio, speed alerts, and other visual and audio warnings. In the case of the speed limit function, the system provides warnings when the car is traveling over a predetermined speed. The Teen Driver system is capable of muting the audio system until all front-seat occupants are buckled. It also provides you with an in-vehicle report card that shows how your teen did behind the wheel. This helps you identify potential problem areas so you can coach your teen driver on how to improve. Best of all, Teen Driver automatically turns on any available active safety technologies, such as forward collision alert, side blind zone alert, front automatic braking, and more. Wi-Fi Hotspot Every 2018 Equinox is equipped with OnStar, a subscription-based communications, turn-by-turn navigation, hands-free calling, in-vehicle security, and remote diagnostics system. OnStar itself is certainly nothing new, but the 4G LTE with Wi-Fi feature is, which makes subscribing to this service more tempting than ever. With OnStar 4G LTE, your Equinox becomes your own personal hotspot, allowing you to connect your smartphone, tablet, laptop, and other mobile device to the internet at 4G LTE speeds. Imagine being able to use the system's navigation system while your spouse finishes work on her laptop and the kids are in the back watching videos on their tablets. Plus, if you've purchased the Equinox Premier trim, you can take advantage of the vehicle's wireless device charging. more 360-Degree Camera System If you spring for the Confidence and Convenience II package, your Equinox will come with a 360-degree parking camera system that gives you a clearer perspective of the area around you. This active safety technology gives you a birds-eye view of the environment to assist you in parking the vehicle. You'll still need to use your mirrors and direct vision, of course, but the the camera system can help you navigate those tight spots. The 360-degree camera kicks on when you shift the Equinox into reverse. It uses four cameras mounted around the vehicle, including a rear-vision camera, a forward-facing camera in the grille area, and two side-facing cameras located on each side mirror. In addition to the surround vision turning on in reverse, you can also manually select the front camera view on the center console. There's a lot to love about the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox, but don't just take our word for it. Stop by Chevrolet of Columbus to experience these features for yourself. Image "Chevrolet Equinox" via Flickr by TuRbO_J used under CC BY 2.0

The Chevy Bolt EV is a compact all-electric vehicle with almost double the range of most of its rivals and has a surprising amount of space on the inside. The Bolt EV is an all-new vehicle for 2017, and it comes in two different trims. Here are five things to know about the Chevy Bolt EV. Trim Levels The Bolt EV comes in two different trim levels, starting with the LT. The LT has 17-inch alloy wheels and LED daytime running lights along with xenon headlights. Inside, you'll get cloth seats, automatic climate control, and keyless ignition and entry. A step up to the Premier trim will get you everything from the LT plus cargo roof rails, ambient interior lighting and leather seats. Power Both models have the same 200-horsepower electric motor and a very large 60-kWh battery that sits underneath the floor. A fully charged battery will get you about 238 miles. When you need to charge the battery, a standard 240-volt charge will take about 9.3 hours to bring it to a full charge. For the most part, it is unlikely that you'll run the battery down to empty, so in most cases, it won't take the full nine hours to charge up. Both models also have DC fast-charging capabilities. This allows you to use a Level 3 charging station and fill the battery to 80 percent in just over an hour. Technology You can expect to find some of the latest technology in the Bolt EV. Even the base model LT comes standard with a 10.2-inch touch screen along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also has Bluetooth for phone and audio, OnStar, and two USB ports. The Premier trim comes with the same technology and the option to add the Infotainment Package. This includes a seven-speaker Bose stereo system, wireless charging for smartphones, and two additional charge-only USB ports for the back seat. more Safety Systems Both models come standard with a rearview camera, and the Premier comes with a top-down parking camera system along with a camera rearview mirror. The Driver Confidence I package is an option for the LT and adds a blind-spot monitoring system, and rear cross-traffic alert along with rear parking sensors. The Premier offers the option for the Driver Confidence II package with forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and lane departure warning with intervention. This package also adds automatic high beams. Interior The cabin of the Bolt has more space than you would expect a compact to have. The tall profile means there is a good amount of headroom both in the front and the back, and there are plenty of storage spaces and cubbies. In the back, you'll find 16.9 cubic feet of storage space with the seats up, and there is also an option to add a cargo area floor cover to increase the storage capacity. The 2017 Chevy Bolt EV is a great option for those who want an alternative fuel vehicle without any range anxiety. Image via Chevrolet.com

Sports car fans know the name Camaro, but if you've never experienced owning one of these bad boys for yourself, 2017 is a great year to try something new. The latest Camaro won the Motor Trend Car of the Year award for 2016 thanks to its stunning performance and specs for its fairly modest price range. These, however, are only the surface-level benefits. Read on to see what makes the Camaro a great choice for sports car fans of all budgets and lifestyles. New Engines The Chevy Camaro makes its return with an all new base engine: a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 275 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. This slight jump in torque over the 2016 model also brings more efficiency, with up to 30 city miles per gallon and 31 mpg highway. Drivers with a need for speed will find the optional 3.6-liter V6 more thrilling, with 335 horsepower and 284 pound-feet of torque, while higher models can use a 6.2-liter V8 with 455 horsepower and 455 pound-feet of torque. Then there's the ZL1, with an exclusive engine we'll look at next. ZL1 Top-Class Model The Camaro is terrific for drivers who want a sports car that's not too fancy or overblown, but if you want the best features and numbers in every category, the ZL1 is for you. Newly returned after a hiatus, this top-level trim gives the Camaro a supercharged LT4 6.2-liter V8 engine with 650 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque. The ZL1 also offers a 10-speed automatic transmission for buttery-smooth shifting at all speeds, and this setup can shift even faster than many 10-speed automatics on luxury sports cars. Returning Packages Past Camaro generations offered a 1LE handling package that revised almost every cooling and suspension feature of the Camaro for prime track performance. For 2017, the 1LE is back, more advanced than ever, and offered on both V8 and V6 powertrains instead of just the pricier V8. The package adds 20-inch aluminum wheels, FE3 rear cradle mounts, dampers and stabilizer bars, an SS heavy-cornering fuel system, dual-mode exhaust, and much more. If you're looking to get a model with the six-speed transmission, this package is a worthwhile upgrade. Driver Mode Selector One of the coolest parts of driving a sports car this advanced is the ability to switch to different settings at any time, adjusting the handling and other performance factors for snowy or icy roads, long drives, track performance, and more. As an awesome bonus, the Camaro offers an optional interior ambient lighting package, and the color changes automatically depending on the mode you picked, like icy blue for snow and ice driving and deep red for track driving. This isn't even getting into the impressively detailed 50th Anniversary special edition Camaro released for 2017, which is a rare collector's model that shouldn't be passed up. All in all, the Camaro has almost too many things going for it to count, and it's the best possible start to an all-new generation for this timeless coupe and convertible. If you have any questions about the latest Camaro, its many options, or other sporty Chevy models, call or email us today. Image via Flickr by Kai Lehmann used under CC BY 2.0 / cropped from original