What is Chevrolet known for?
The Chevrolet Motor Division of the General Motors Company, simply known as Chevrolet or Chevy, is a division of the American automotive manufacturer General Motors. The company is headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and is the 66th World’s Most Valuable Brands according to Forbes in 2020.
Chevrolet is known for its wide range of quality and affordable vehicles, from beefy trucks to subcompact cars. It’s also known for its motorsport heritage and for producing one of the most famous sports cars in the world, the Corvette. It is also known for its signature bow tie logo, hence the nickname ‘bowtie brand.’
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When and how did Chevrolet start?
The Chevrolet Motor Car Company, as it was then called, was founded by Swiss race car driver, mechanic, and entrepreneur Louis Chevrolet (1878-1941) and General Motors founder and industrialist William C. Durant (1861-1947) on November 3, 1911. The two co-founded the company along with Louis’ brother, Arthur Chevrolet, and investment partners William Little of Little Automobile, James H. Whiting of Buick, R.S. McLaughlin of GM Canada, and Dr. Edwin R. Campbell, who was Durant’s son-in-law. In 1914, the company created the famous Chevrolet bowtie logo.
In the next few years, the company introduced a lot of popular designs and plenty of new options on its vehicles, including electric starters and lights. Because of these, sales continued to grow rapidly. By 1916, manufacturing had grown to 70,000 units, and the next year it ballooned to 125,882 units. The company introduced its first V8 engine in 1917. The following year, Chevy introduced its first truck models, which were a massive hit.
Through the years, Chevrolet would continue to introduce iconic cars and expand its business overseas. Today, the company engages in designing, manufacturing, and selling cars, trucks, and other automobile parts. It also provides automobile financing services through the GM Financial Company. Chevrolet operates in several segments, namely North America, International, Cruise, and Financial.
Why did the company choose the name Chevrolet, and why is it sometimes called the bowtie brand?
Obviously, the brand was named after one of the company’s co-founders, Louis Chevrolet. As for the logo, there are quite a few stories about how Chevrolet got its signature bowtie. According to a popular theory, William Durant, being the world traveler that he is, was inspired by the wallpaper of his French hotel room one day. The wallpaper was said to have a bowtie motif.
There was also the research said to be conducted by historian Ken Kaufmann, who concluded that the logo may be from the Coalettes Coal Company. There are also theories that the bowtie may have been a stylized Swiss cross, which can be seen as an homage to Louis Chevrolet’s home country.
Previously, several iterations of the same logo were used at the same time, with a different color signifying a different automotive segment under the Chevy brand. But in 2004, Chevrolet used a singular, golden bowtie logo for all vehicle models to distinguish it from Ford and Dodge.
How many Chevrolet cars are manufactured and sold?
Chevrolet is second only to Ford in terms of sales and scale. In fact, Chevrolet vehicles are available in more than 130 countries worldwide. Chevy represents half of General Motors’ total global volume, with more than two million vehicles sold annually. In 2022 alone, Chevrolet earned $10 billion in profit.
What are the most iconic Chevrolet vehicles ever featured in Hollywood films?
Chevrolet has been in the automotive business for more than 100 years, so it’s no surprise that many Chevy cars have made their way into popular culture. Some of the most iconic Chevy vehicles that have made it to the big screen include the 1964 Chevy Impala featured in Batman Begins (2005). The Batmobile in the film was based on the chassis of an Impala.
Another iconic Chevy ride is the El Camino. The 1968 model of this car was featured in Harold and Maude (1971) when the titular characters used the car to liberate a tree. Lastly, we have the Chevy Suburban, which was featured in a number of films from The Muppet Movie (1979), to Men in Black (1997), and Almost Famous (2000). A 1978 Suburban was also featured in the movie Crazy Heart (2009).
What’s the fastest Chevrolet ever built?
Given that Chevrolet was named after a Swiss race car driver, it’s only natural that the bowtie brand has a heritage of speed. The brand enters a variety of cars in sporting events around the world and has become one of the most iconic names in American motorsports. It has participated in and won several championships, such as NASCAR, IndyCar, FIA World Touring Car Championship, Tudor United SportsCar Championship, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
And if that’s not impressive enough, here’s another fast fact: NASCAR has been awarding the Manufacturers’ Championship every season since 1952. This championship is awarded to the most successful manufacturer over a season and is determined by a points system based on the results of the race. Over the years, Chevrolet has won 73 titles since 1955, while Ford has won 23 titles and Toyota has won 19.
So, back to the fastest Chevrolet ever built. Because the bowtie brand is known for its racing and performance car tradition, the fastest Chevrolet ever built keeps changing per year. But right now, we have four on our list of the fastest Chevys. In fourth place is the 2016 Corvette Z06 C7.R, which is designed to be an endurance racer with its 6.2-liter V8 and 650hp. This model can go from 0 to 100kph in three seconds.
Third on our list is the 2017 Corvette Z06, which for a time was the quickest GM car. Its lightweight body and 6.2-liter V8 engine helped propel it from 0 to 100kph in 2.9sec. A couple of years later, the 2017 Corvette was topped by the 2019 ZR1, which came with a front-lined LT5 engine and, thanks to its Eaton supercharger, this car produced 755hp. The 2019 ZR1 can go from 0 to 100kph in 2.85sec and has a top speed of 341 kph.
Finally, at the top of our list is the 2020 Chevy Corvette C8. This Corvette has a mid-engine layout and is closer to a supercar than to a conventional muscle car in terms of performance. Because of its engine layout, the Corvette C8 can go from 0 to 100kph in just 2.8sec, which is just bonkers.
When it comes to Chevrolet concepts, we have quite a few favorites and notable mentions.
One of our absolute favorites is the Corvette Stingray concept, which made its debut in the 2007 Michael Bay film Transformers. With its futuristic design and advanced technology, what’s not to love about this?
The Chevrolet XP-775 Corvette Shark is also one of our favorites. Why? Because…well, what’s not to love about a car that kind of looks like a shark? Designed by Larry Shinoda and revealed in 1961, the Shark had a double-bubble roof, an elongated nose, aggressive side-exit exhaust pipes, and a supercharged 327 ci V8. The Shark inspired the Chevrolet Corvette C2.
The Chevrolet Beat is another concept that we absolutely adore. It was designed by the Korean division at GM Daewoo and was revealed at the 2007 New York International Auto Show. The Beat featured a Vertigo Green exterior and the black headliner has fiber-optic lights that sparkled like stars. The Beat was the inspiration for the Spark.
Since when has Chevrolet been in the Philippines?
Filipino-owned Chevrolet Philippines–The Covenant Car Company Inc. (TCCCI) is the exclusive importer and distributor of Chevrolet vehicles and parts in the Philippines. Chevrolet Philippines–TCCCI was appointed by General Motors Asia and was incorporated on July 1, 2009, and assumed full business operations for Chevrolet in October of the same year.
Which Chevrolet models are available in the Philippines?
Chevrolet offers a wide range of electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature user-friendly technology as well as passive and active safety features.
In the Philippines, Chevrolet offers three segments in the market: cars, SUVs, and performance. The Chevrolet Spark is the most affordable option available today. This mini-passenger car is equipped with a 1.4-liter Ecotec engine, CVT, and electric power steering. It is available in several colors.
Meanwhile, for the SUV segment, Chevrolet offers the Tracker and the all-new Trailblazer. The Tracker comes with a 1.0-liter, three-cylinder Ecotec turbo engine and an electric sliding panoramic sunroof. On the other hand, the Trailblazer is equipped with the GM E-Turbo 1.3-liter, three-cylinder engine, new-generation lightweight CVT, and advanced driver assistance systems.
Last, but definitely not least, is the 2022 Corvette Stingray Coupe. This machine comes with a 6.2-liter LT2 V8, an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, and Magnetic Selective Drive Control suspension system. This baby can go from 0 to 100kph in 3.55sec.
Where can I buy a Chevrolet in the Philippines?
Planning on getting your own Chevy? You’re in luck because as of July 2021, there are 22 dealer partners all over the Philippines. These include Alabang, Commonwealth, Greenhills-EDSA, Makati, North EDSA, Pasig, Batangas, Cainta, Camarines Sur, Carmona, Dagupan, Ilocos Norte, Imus Cavite, Pampanga, Sta. Rosa, Bacolod, Cebu, Mandaue, Iloilo, Tacloban, Davao, General Santos, and Cagayan De Oro.
