Cruze, Camaro & Connectivity: 3 Of The Things Chevrolet Is Buzzing About

The 2016 Camaro Convertible
The 2016 Camaro convertible. Credit: Rene Syler for AGirlsGuidetoCars

Buzz words for Chevy.

Chevrolet is all about the three C’s these days… The all new Cruze, the Camaro and In-Car Connectivity.

The 2016 Camaro Convertible: even cooler

I remember this car from my youth as the car driven by kids older and cooler than I ever hoped to be. But even as cool as it was on the outside, it was a weighty car–literally. It felt really heavy—the doors were heavy, the engine was huge (which it needed to keep its reputation as a fast car intact), it got poor gas mileage and it took real muscle to drive.

So what really impressed me with the redesigned 2016 Camaro was its easy demeanor. And convenience. And if you can throw in low cost, we have a winner.

The 2016 Camaro still has the same DNA but with eye-popping new stuff (read on for connectivity, which the Camaro has).

The 2016 Camaro convertible, though retaining the nimble handling of its modern predecessors, is now more than 200 pounds lighter. But talk about convenient: the drop top on the convertible now deploys automatically. Those of you who’ve ever had a convertible know what a pain it can be to wrestle with so that you can drive with the top down. The new Camaro has taken that off your plate so not only is it easy to deploy but it nestles in nicely under the beltline so as not to bust up the vehicle’s beautiful lines.

Chevrolet
Inside the 2016 Cruze. Credit: Rene Syler for AGirlsGuidetoCars

The Camaro will be introduced in early 2016, and while pricing hasn’t been announced, the 2015 model starts at about $32,000; nicely loaded it’s about $41,000, not bad for such a hot little number.

The 2016 Chevrolet Cruze: A makeover with some nice upgrades

The 2016 Camaro Convertible
Waiting for the reveal. Credit: Rene Syler for AGirlsGuidetoCars

The team at Chevrolet was so excited to reveal the newly redesigned Cruze that they took over Detroit’s famous Filmore and turned out General Motors CEO Mary Barra for the event.

The reveal of the Chevrolet Cruze rivaled some red carpet events! There were lights, cameras, style, music and of course… the star—the Cruze.

The “Sophisticated Sophomore,” Cruze is Chevrolet’s best selling vehicle worldwide. Now it’s bigger and, like the new Camaro, is also lighter; engineers managed to shave off 250 additional pounds.

The 2016 Camaro Convertible
The 2016 Camaro Convertible. Credit: Rene Syler for AGirlsGuidetoCars

Remember the convenience and cost thing I was talking about? Well the Cruze does well in that department too. Because of start-stop technology (which stops the engine when the car is still) the Cruze gets an estimated 40 mpg highway.

The Cruze will debut in early 2016; while pricing hasn’t been announced yet, the 2015 model’s base price is about $16,000 and nicely loaded tops out at about $26,000.

In-Car Connectivity keeps teens and parents happy

A Girls Guide To Cars | Cruze, Camaro &Amp; Connectivity: 3 Of The Things Chevrolet Is Buzzing About - Img 9720
The center console and infotainment touchscreen. Credit: Rene Syler for AGirlsGuidetoCars

Connectivity in the car? NOW, we’re talking! Listen, I’m the mother of two teens. You know what I have seen for the last several years? The tops of their heads. That’s because they are seriously connected to technology. So am I; well, we all are, for that matter. In my opinion, here is where Chevrolet hits it out of the park. Connectivity is the buzzword but basically what it means is that you are still connected to useful technology even while in transit.

The 2016 Camaro Convertible
MyLink connectivity. Credit: Rene Syler for AGirlsGuidetoCars

The Chevrolet MyLink system seamlessly connects your smartphone to your car where the information is displayed on a color touchscreen, configured to your liking. Now contacts, apps, music, navigation and so much more are right at your fingertips.

But wait, there’s more

The 2016 Camaro Convertible
Lots of room in the Cruze. Credit: Rene Syler for AGirlsGuidetoCars

 

Connectivity also means all Chevrolet vehicles are available with 4G LTE through the car’s OnStar service (available even if you’re not an OnStar subscriber!); in other words, Wi-Fi that’s good inside the vehicle and out (within a 50 foot radius). So if you were taking a long road trip or going camping you can still be connected. You know what that makes for? Happy children… and even happier drivers.

On-Star Buttons Are Located On The Rearview Mirror In New Chevrolet Cars.
On-Star buttons are located on the rearview mirror in new Chevrolet cars.

Wi-Fi is just one part of the connected customer experience. Being connected also means having OnStar at your fingertips. You can talk with customer specialist, getting real-time diagnostics for your car (like, what does that light mean? When can I get the oil changed?), proactive alerts and so much more.

But maybe the best features are OnStar’s Family Link and mobile app: Family link lets you track your car when your kids are driving and you’re not with them. And the Remote Link app lets you start, lock or unlock the car remotely and even flash the lights. I mean, how much fun is it to flash the lights and honk the horn when your daughter is breaking curfew at her boyfriend’s house?

OnStar is available for $199 per year for the basic plan which includes emergency assistance; for $250 a year the service incudes turn by turn navigation (you call and ask for directions and they are sent right to your navigation screen—so convenient) and $350 a year which includes most features including a personal assistant who will make restaurant reservations for you. Family Link is an additional $4 per month but… completely worth it.

Chevrolet
All set for the debut of the Chevrolet Cruze. Credit: Rene Syler for AGirlsGuidetoCars

Wi-Fi also requires a data plan and is priced at about $15 per gigabyte per month with discounts for larger plans and for OnStar subscribers (you don’t have to subscribe to OnStar to take advantage of the 4G LTE Wi-Fi).

But really, for all that happiness at the push of a button, isn’t it worth it?

 

Rene Syler
Rene Syler

Rene was one of the anchors of The Early Show on CBS where she interviewed celebrities and leaders including former First Lady Laura Bush, Senator John McCain, Antonio Banderas, Denzel Washington, Beyoncé and Will Smith.

In 2006, Rene made a life-changing decision. As the daughter of two breast cancer survivors, when she was diagnosed with her own breast disease she decided to have a preventive mastectomy, a surgery that was profiled by Oprah Winfrey on her show. That experience also ignited Rene’s passion; as an ambassador for Susan G. Komen for the Cure, she travels the country spreading the word about early detection and treatment of the disease. Rene was awarded the prestigious Gracie Allen award for her television series on breast cancer.

Rene's first book, Good Enough Mother: The Perfectly Imperfect Book of Parenting, lead to her website, www.goodenoughmother.com.

Rene continues with her television work as host of Sweet Retreats on the Live Well Network, of Exhale on Magic Johnson’s Aspire network and appearing on The Today Show, The Bill Cunningham Show, CNN Headline News, The Doctors, the View and Wendy Williams, among others.

When not on the road preaching the gospel of imperfection, Rene spends time with her husband Buff Parham, her kids Casey and Cole and their yellow lab Olivia in their Westchester, NY home.

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