Like a Rock: Chevy celebrates 100th anniversary
Assoicated pressDETROIT
We saw the US A in them. We drove them to the levee. We even worked on our night moves in their back seats.
For a century, Chevrolets won America’s love with their safety, convenience, style and speed — even if sometimes they were clunky, or had problems with rust or their rear suspensions.
Chevy, which lays claim to being the top-selling auto brand of all time, celebrates its 100th birthday on Thursday.
For most of its life, Chevy stayed a fender ahead of the competition by bringing innovations like all-steel bodies, automatic shifting, electric headlamps and power steering to regular folks at a low cost.
Chevy also embedded itself in American culture, sometimes changing it by knowing what people wanted to drive before they did. Snappy jingles and slogans dominated radio and television, and bands mentioned Chevys in more than 700 songs.
Low Key Economy: 2012 Toyota Corolla S
2012 prices not yet announced. 2011 Corolla MSRP range was $15,900 - $17,770.
The quest for higher mileage has taken us to some new places in recent years. The arrival of a better grade of diesel fuel in the states allowed manufacturers to start offering some of their latest clean diesel technology here.
Full electric cars are on sale in certain pockets of the country, and destined for ours. Hybrids of all persuasions have been on the road for years, now numbering in the millions. Yet, in the face of all of this technology, the demand for the traditional gas-powered compact car remains strong. The allure is the same as ever: proven technology, in vehicles that are inexpensive to buy and operate.
Toyota has their hand in every facet of the hybrid market. But with Corolla, they remain a power in an old school segment that first defined the company in America, decades ago. This is not a restyle year for Corolla, so new, exterior cues are few. LE grade cars get styled, steel wheels, and the mirrors on L models are color-keyed. Corolla's packaging was streamlined last year, with the number of trim levels itself trimmed from five to three -- base, LE and S. My test driver was an S with automatic transmission, a sound system upgrade and a power moon roof.
