Top 10 American Cars Not Sold in America - Toptenz.net Toptenz.net Posted by Evan Andrews on June 30, 2010 in Misc | 27,320 Views | 30 Responses It comes as little surprise that there are certain foreign-made cars that aren’t sold in the United States. From the Nissan Skyline to certain special editions of the BMW M3, there are plenty of high performance machines that the Germans and the Japanese don’t market to Americans . But what’s not as well known are the countless American-name cars only sold abroad. Whether repackaged versions of cars sold stateside, new incarnations of 1960s classics, or completely original designs, there are plenty of cars put out by Chevy, Ford, and their foreign subsidiaries that are only marketed and sold overseas. Here are ten of the most notable examples: 10. Chevy Montana/Tornado Sold in: South America, Mexico, South Africa (as the Opel Corsa) Coupe-utility cars like the infamous Chevy El Camino fell out of fashion in the U.S.

in the late 80s, but they continue to be successful in the world market, especially in the more rugged terrain of places like Australia and Mexico. The Chevy Montana, a truck-car hybrid sold in Latin America, is one of the most notable examples. Production was started in 2003 in Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil, and since then it’s been one of the better-selling vehicles in its class. The Montana (which is sold as the Tornado in the Mexican market) is based on a design previously used by Opel, a German subsidiary of General Motors, for a car called the Corsa, and it’s still marketed under that name in some places. The car is meant to serve as a family-friendly alternative to a more heavy-duty truck (the Montana only sports front wheel drive and a 1.8 liter engine at best), but still be sporty enough to handle reasonably rough terrain. 9. Chevy/Buick Sail Sold in: China, Argentina (as the Chevy Corsa) The Chevy Sail is a General Motors car that is marketed primarily in China. Like the Montana, it’s also based on the Corsa, a car manufactured by Opel that’s prevalent nearly everywhere in the world except the U.S.

and Canada. The Sail is both sold and assembled in China by Shanghai GM, where it is available as both a sedan and a station wagon. It’s also exported to Argentina, where it’s marketed as the Chevy Corsa. Previously, the Chinese Sail was marketed as a Buick, but in 2005 it was rebadged with the Chevy name, and it has since enjoyed moderate success, mainly thanks to an ever-increasing demand for small, economical vehicles in urban markets. The Sail is advertised as a practical option for families, and it’s gained a decent reputation in China as a result of its safety ratings, fuel-efficient 1.2-liter engine, and ultra-cheap $8,400 price tag. The 2010 version, known as the New Sail, is the first GM car completely designed and manufactured in China. It’s expected to be a big success, but there are still no plans for an American version. 8. Pontiac Matiz/Chevy Spark Sold in: China (as Chevy Spark), Europe (as Daewoo Matiz), Mexico (as Pontiac Matiz) The Chevy Spark/Pontiac Matiz is a small 5-door hatchback sold throughout the world.

It was originally designed and built by Daewoo, a subsidiary of GM based in South Korea, and it began being sold there and in Europe (as the M100) in 1998. Although it’s technically a Korean product, GM markets the car as the Chevy Spark in China, where American cars tend to sell well, and as the Pontiac Matiz in Mexico. The car proved especially popular in the Asian market, where it was at the center of a particularly heated legal dispute: in 2005, GM sued the Chinese manufacturer Chery, alleging that they had pirated the design of the Spark for use in a remarkably similar car called the QQ. All controversy aside, the Spark remains one of the first Chevy-branded minicars to be released, and rumor has it that it might finally make its way to the American market in 2011. 7. Ford Everest/Ford Ranger Sold in: Latin America, Asia, India, and the Caribbean Not all of these American-branded international cars are small, eco-friendly hatchbacks. In fact, there are quite a few heavy-duty trucks and SUVs that are only sold abroad.

One notable example is Ford’s Everest, which is built in Thailand and mainly marketed in Latin America and Asia. The Everest is a large 4-wheel-drive sport utility that resembles the American Ford Expedition in appearance (Ford briefly considered appropriating the “Everest” name for a special addition of that car) and features a Mazda power plant. Unlike most American SUVs, though, the Everest comes with the option of a diesel engine, and there are three rows of passenger seating instead of the usual two. The Everest is a close cousin of the international edition of the Ford Ranger, a heavy-duty truck that is larger than the American vehicle of the same name. Unlike the Ford Ranger found in the U.S., the international Ford Ranger was made as part of a partnership between Ford and Mazda, and is sold mainly in Europe. 6. Cadillac SLS Sold in: China American car manufacturers aren’t just exporting subcompacts and mini-cars—they’re sending luxury sedans abroad, too. Such is the case with the Cadillac SLS, an oversize luxury car sold in China. Based on the American Cadillac STS, the SLS was first released by Shanghai GM in 2006, and is mostly marketed toward business people.

With its cutting edge technology and plush interior, the car is representative of a Chinese market where luxury cars are in increased demand. The 2009 version, which features a soundproof cockpit, ergonomically designed seats, and an interior crafted from a wood that’s usually only used for building violins, was hailed as one of the nicest cars ever developed for the Chinese market. Shanghai GM even negotiated a deal with the China Film Group Corporation, which will see the SLS featured prominently in a number of upcoming movies. 5. Ford Falcon Sold in: Australia and New Zealand The Ford Falcon was originally sold in the U.S., and during the 1960s it was one of the bestselling compact cars on the market. But an inability to meet safety standards and increased competition from Chevy led to a decline in sales, and the car was phased out of Ford’s U.S. fleet in 1970. In Australia, however, the Falcon name is still alive and well. The car was introduced there in 1960 with the goal of competing with Holden, an Australia-based carmaker that was then dominating the market.

Ford Australia released the Falcon XK to near-immediate success, and since then it’s been one of the most steady-selling sedans down under, with over 3 million units produced. The cars were originally imported from the States, but there were complaints about reliability, and in 1964 they were redesigned to cope with the harsher driving conditions of the outback. Since then, there have been seven different generations of the car, a number of spin-offs (including the Landau and the Futura), and even a sport utility version. Because of its economy and V8 option, the Falcon has even become a popular fleet vehicle for both taxi services and police departments. 4. Ford Ka Sold in: Europe, Latin America Ford’s Ka, a sub-compact hatchback marketed primarily in Europe, might be one of the most famous Ford vehicles that Americans have never heard of. It’s one of the bestselling models in a class that has come to be known as “city cars”—small, lightweight, fuel-efficient vehicles made for the traffic and tight parking spaces of urban areas. These kinds of nimble, low-power vehicles have never quite caught on in the States, where power is often prized above all else, but they’ve been popular in Europe for years.

The Ka is certainly of the most successful examples. Since its debut in 1996, it’s become one of the best-selling “supermini” cars in England, where it makes up over 20 percent of the city car market. At nearly 45 miles to the gallon, the Ka gets phenomenal gas mileage, but its sharp handling has also seen it used as a rally car in the past. An increased demand for small, fuel-efficient cars in the U.S. has stirred rumors that the Ka would be released stateside, but it was recently confirmed that the similar, slightly larger Ford Fiesta would be issued instead. According to Ford CEO Alan Mulally, for the time being cars like the Ka are simply too small to compete in the American market. 3. Buick Excelle/Chevy Optra Sold in: China, Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and India While it’s widely known that the same cars are often given different names depending on the market in which they’re sold (this is true of nearly every car sold in multiple countries), it might come as a surprise that sometimes the manufacturer’s name changes as well. This is certainly the case with China’s Buick Excelle.

Depending on where you are in the world, the car might also be known as the Daewoo Lacetti (Korea), the Chevy Optra (Canada), or the Holden Viva (Australia and New Zealand). This identity crisis is thanks to the multinational nature of modern car companies. GM, which has long used Buick as its luxury car branch, also owns the Korean company Daewoo (which first manufactured the car) and the Australian brand called Holden, and it re-brands cars according to their location in order to help boost sales. These days, the Lacetti/Optra/Excelle/Viva is sold throughout the world and is marketed to families as an economically priced compact sedan (the British automotive show Top Gear even used an incarnation of it for its “Star in a Reasonably Priced Car” segment). The newest incarnation is based on the Chevy Cruze, another GM world car, and rumor has it that it might finally be making its way to the U.S. sometime soon. Who knew car brands could be used so creatively. 2.

Ford Transit Sold in: Europe If you’ve ever been to Europe, then you’re no doubt familiar with the Ford Transit, which has become so well known there that in some places its name has come to be just another word for “van.” Like the Econoline series in the U.S., the Transit is an oversized, front wheel drive van that it is often appropriated as a work vehicle. It’s one of the most ubiquitous vehicles on the roads of countries like England and Germany, and since 1965 as many as 5 million have been manufactured at the Ford plant in Southampton, UK. There have now been as many as seven different generations of the vans, which have been outfitted for use as everything from taxis to ice cream trucks and motor homes. The Transit is now available with a manual transmission and a diesel engine, and it’s gained a reputation among enthusiasts for having an uncannily “car-like” feel for such a big vehicle. The hosts of Top Gear put this claim to the test in 2005, when they let German racer Sabine Schmitz take one around the notorious Nurburgring road course .

Amazingly, Schmitz was able to complete the circuit in a Transit in nearly the same time it took one of the hosts to finish in a Jaguar sports car. 1. Ford Focus Sold in: Worldwide (excluding North and South America) The Ford Focus, as you might be thinking, is sold in the United States. But the two and four-door versions of the car sold in America are actually quite different from the international version of the Focus, which is sold nearly everywhere else in the world outside of America. The international Focus shares similar parts and components with the Mazda 3 and a few different Volvo cars, and comes in several different styles, including two and four-door versions and hatchbacks. Like most European cars, it also features an optional diesel engine. The sportier versions of the international Focus have gained a great deal of praise in Europe for their impressive performance. According to Motor Trend magazine, the car’s multi-link rear suspension results in surprisingly nimble handling, and it even managed to negotiate a slalom test course faster than cars made by Jaguar and Bentley. It’s this kind of performance that earned the Focus the 1999 European Car of the Year Award.

It’s consistently been Ford’s biggest seller in Europe, where as many as 400,000 are sold every year, and worldwide over 9.2 million have been sold since its release in 1998. The American version of the car has also been a success, but it’s expected to be discontinued in 2011, when the third generation of the international model will be released worldwide. While these cars won’t break the bank, here is a list of cars that cost a small fortune. In Defense: GM Daewoo's Small Cars Tweet Soon after TTAC’s article on General Motors’ new model make over , the naysayers were out in force. Commenter jpolicke for example suggested selling GM stock if its future relied on engineering coming from South Korea. However, signs abound that this time around GM is finding its way. Let’s examine some of the pros and cons: On the plus side: GM South Korea products have been well received in most parts of the world. 70 percent of Cadillac buyers are first timers. Buick has some of the lowest aged buyers in the business in North America. The latest cars (gasp!) are good.

On the negative side: The corporate drama continues with no letup, as evidenced by the latest shenanigans from Dan Akerson and Susan Docherty. No sign of a permanent solution to the Opel question. Insufficient and inadequate brand structuring in Europe, come on GM pick one (Opel? Vauxhall? Chevrolet?) and run with it. The fact of the matter is that I’m no GM lover. I have never harbored a thought of owning a GM car. Then, a funny thing happened. I spent some time in a Brazilian-built, so far Latin American-only, Chevy Cobalt. It made me want to buy one. This car competes in one of the fastest growing segments the world over, that of the B segment-sized, A segment-priced car (think Dacia). I should know, I own one. But I would trade mine in on a Cobalt quite easily. While not the best looking in its class, the car rides well, is quiet, comfortable and offers some of the best interiors this side of a Fusion. Then I drove a Cruze (the hatch is beautiful). I took a ride in a Spin (so practical).

GM launched the Onix (the car to buy in its particular market, pictured above). In America, our own Steven Lang has praised the Sonic, while much to the chagrin of haters, TTAC has also positively reviewed the Spark. Yes they have weak points, but they have strong points too. Enough to make this previous doubter, a believer. The second fact of the matter is that the auto industry is a whole ‘nother ballgame. One Ford (with exceptions) is showing its value. Chrysler is internationalizing its line (Cherokee is proof positive). Buick now comes from Europe. The healthy, desirable, competitive, good as apple pie American Chevies all hail from the Far East. Even pick ups are not developed solely for Americans anymore (global Ranger, Colorado/S10, Amarok). American companies that fail to see this will inevitably fail. Americans are showing they want better-handling, more frugality, tighter packaging, smaller engines. V8s don’t rule the land anymore. Ford is thinking of dropping the Taurus and is concentrating on the Focus and Fiesta. VW’s Jetta is selling briskly.

With the exception of the pick ups, most cars in the top 10 sales chart in America are either small or medium sized, and come with inline fours. The old GM is dead and buried. The old, exceptional American market is no more. Blame it on the government, blame it on CAFE, blame it on the weather if you wish. I for one think American consumers have themselves to blameÂ. With their large scale adoption of import brands, choosing smaller engines, and generally badmouthing anything and everything coming out of Detroit, they have gotten what they were looking for. Detroit has changed. GM has changed. GM’s transformation specially has been quite thorough and the company now offers cars that can compete and, more than that, can be sold because buyers want them. Much like in Brazil, where the model makeover is in full swing but has not yet borne fruit, it takes time. Like commenter 28-cars-later said most consumers (count me in as one) are Ã¢â¬Åa bit slow on the uptakeÃ¢â¬Â.

Chevy Culture | History and Heritage | Automobile | Chevrolet The First Decade: “Never Give Up” — Louis Chevrolet Style was once a luxury reserved for custom-built, one-off creations. A car named Chevrolet changed all that. The Chevrolet Motor Company was formed in 1911. The new company, started in a Flint garage as a cooperative venture between a Belgian-born race-car driver named Louis Chevrolet and William Durant, entrepreneur and the founder of General Motors. The first Chevrolet, the Classic Six, was a premium car priced at $2,500. Louis Chevrolet’s motto was “never give up.” And William Durant didn’t give up on the Chevrolet car after the Classic Six failed to earn a profit. He instinctively knew that a high-style yet affordable car could challenge the domination of the utilitarian Ford Model T. Chevrolet joined the GM family in 1917 as the automaker’s low-priced brand, and within 10 years the “Chevy” would be the number-one selling car in the United States. 1911 Chevy joins GM Corporation. First Chevy truck is sold. The Twenties: The Race For Leadership In 1920, Chevrolet sold one car for every three Fords retailed.

Seven years later, Chevy was in first place. While the Model T Ford hadn’t changed much from its introduction in 1908 until 1927, Chevrolet’s process of continuous update found favor with American car buyers. By 1925 Chevrolet was offering a wide range of car and truck models. In 1928, Chevrolet unveiled a larger, more luxurious car, but the big news came in 1929. That year Chevy rocked the industry with an all-new six-cylinder engine, standard across the board. Promoted as “A Six for the Price of a Four,” the 1929 Chevrolet raced out of showrooms and sent competitors back to the drawing board. 1923 | First Million Chevy introduces its first 6-cylinder engine. The Thirties: “The Great American Value” As the Great Depression tightened its grip and consumers watched every dollar, Chevrolet’s advertising slogan — “The Great American Value” — was exactly the right message for trying times. In an era also known for great design, Chevy was the leader of its class. GM chief stylist Harley Earl gave the 1932 Deluxe Roadster the style of a baby Cadillac.

The ’34 model was another Harley Earl beauty, with streamlined Art Deco styling and&nbsp; “Knee-Action,” the first independent front suspension in the low-price class. In 1935, the Suburban Carry-All, first of a long line of truck-based wagons, was introduced. Late 1930s Chevys had the upscale styling, economical six-cylinder power, and a reputation for dependability that was so right for the times. 1932 | Chevrolet Sport Roadster Arriving in the midst of the Great Depression, the 1932 Chevrolets were advertised as “The Great American Value.” The cars’ styling and chrome accents echoed GM’s more expensive 1932 Cadillac models. Priced at a low $445, the Chevrolet Sport Roadster included a “rumble seat” for two, built into the rear deck. Chevrolet’s 6-cylinder overhead-valve engine, introduced in 1929, provided smooth, economical power. Upgrades for 1932 included a synchromesh transmission that helped eliminate embarrassing gear clash.

Without a doubt, the styling of the ’32s helped make Chevy America’s favorite car that year. Even today, many collectors point to the 1932 Chevrolet when asked to name their favorite Chevy of all time. 1936 | Chevrolet Suburban The early Suburban was the grandfather of the modern SUV. However, the steel-bodied, truck-based Chevy Suburban “Carryall” originated as a more robust and accommodating alternative to “woodie” station wagons when it was introduced in mid-1935. Continuing into 1936 with few changes, the first generation Suburban was often put to work carrying up to eight persons, plus their gear and luggage, to rugged and remote locations — where work, play or the pursuit of adventure awaited. During the past 76 years, many of the more than 2 million Chevy Suburbans built have continued that original mission, while others have taken on new roles, such as serving as VIP limousines. Along the way, the Suburban has become the longest-lived, continuous production automotive nameplate in the United States.

The | Forties: Chevrolet Gears Up For The War Effort Chevrolet entered the 1940s with a popular line of cars with class-leading value, premium appointments and a wide choice of models.&nbsp; The all-new 1942 series featured a dramatic fastback coupe body that was the season’s style leader. Then war intervened. World War II had been spreading across Europe, and after Japan attached the United States on December 7, 1941, civilian car production ceased and Chevrolet factories were quickly converted to support the war effort. During World War II, Chevrolet produced massive quantities of military equipment, armaments, trucks and ambulances for the Allied war effort as part of Detroit’s “Arsenal of Democracy.” Car production resumed for the 1946 model year and war-weary consumers eagerly snapped up the first of the post-car Chevys. All-new “Advance-Design” Chevrolet pickups were announced in 1947 and the first all-new passenger cars were released for the 1949 model year. 1948 | Chevrolet Pickup Chevy’s new Advance Design trucks for 1948 were the first completely restyled General Motors vehicles introduced after World War II.

From the start, people loved the new Chevy pickups. (And they still do — the Advance Design generation trucks are cherished by collectors as classics today.) The new, roomier cabs for ’48 provided spacious three-across seating. The Chevy truck driveline, which had proved itself in every possible way during the war, hadn’t needed — or received — much tweaking. Reliable and versatile, the Chevy half-ton pickup continued as the farmer’s and tradesman’s four-wheeled friend. With the advent of the ‘48s, more families began to consider a Chevy pickup for a second car. 1949 | Chevrolet Canopy Express During the decades since the first Chevy trucks rolled out in 1918, some once-common uses for Chevrolet trucks, and the special models that served these needs, have fallen by the wayside. Open-sided panel trucks called Canopy Express trucks were once common and used for many types of delivery services. Before supermarkets came along, “hucksters” commonly vended fresh fruits and vegetables curbside in neighborhoods from such trucks. The GM Heritage Center collection has one of the last 1949 Canopy Express trucks in existence.

The Fifties: See the USA in your Chevrolet Whether it was Cadillac style for a Chevy price or Corvette-like performance in an Impala, in the 1950s, it was one iconic Chevy after another. At the start of the decade, Chevrolet upended the status quo with the Bel Air, a brightly decorated new top-of-the-line hardtop. Patterned after the previous year’s Cadillac Coupe de Ville, the Bel Air Sport Coupe was the first low-price car with pillarless hardtop styling and an optional automatic transmission (Powerglide). The Bel Air series was expanded to include sedans and a convertible in 1953, and the option list grew to include such luxuries as power windows, tinted glass and power brakes. America was advised to “See the USA in your Chevrolet,” and millions did just that. An American legend – the Corvette sports car – was born in 1953. Just 300 were built for that first model year. In 1955, Chevrolet ignited a performance revolution that continues to this day with the introduction of the small block V8. Nestled in the engine bay of the sleek new Bel Air, it was an overnight sensation.

The ’55 was followed by an even hotter 1956 model, and a deftly restyled ’57 that remains a classic icon of the fabulous Fifties. Another legend, the luxurious Impala series, was born in 1958. Another dramatic Impala arrived for 1959. With its long and low look accentuated by eye-catching horizontal rear fins, Chevrolet rightly proclaimed this one to be “All New All Over Again.” In the space-age Fifties, jet planes soared and rock-and-roll ruled. A ribbon of Interstate highways was rolling out across the land — it was time to see the USA in a Chevrolet. 1953 | Chevrolet Corvette In 1952, GM styling head Harley Earl and a small team of designers set out to create an American sports car using innovative fiberglass body construction. Crowds thronged the resulting roadster — the Chevrolet Corvette — at the 1953 GM Motorama. A production version, powered by a warmed-up Chevy 6, followed. A few years later, GM engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov, a Russian-born émigré who knew his way around European sports car racing, gave Corvette its high-performance heart.

Duntov massaged Ed Cole’s elegantly simple and lightweight 1955 Chevy small-block V8 into a racing engine competitive in most any arena. By 1956, a Corvette race car with the right factory authorized parts could give nearly any car in the world a good run. And that was just the beginning. 1955 | Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe Occasionally, a new car arrives at just the right moment — and history is made. One such standout in the 100 years of Chevrolet is the 1955 Bel Air. Chevrolet had a “durable but dull” image in the early 1950s that cried out to be reenergized. The 1955 Chevy, especially in top-level Bel Air guise, did just that. Debuting just as rock ‘n’ roll was about to shake America to its cultural roots, the longer, lower and often two-toned 1955 Chevy exuded American optimism. A sizzling new “Turbo-Fire” V8 — the engine that launched Chevys legendary small-block engine family — was optional.

Chevy ads called the ’55 “The Hot One,” an allusion both to its V8 performance and record-breaking sales pace. 1956 | Zora’s Wild Ride To publicize the ’56 Chevy’s new V8, Zora-Arkus Duntov, father of the Corvette, agreed to race an as-yet-unrevealed preproduction model in the annual Pikes Peak Hill Climb. Assaulting the treacherous course in full camouflage without a roll bar, he not only won his class, he set a new record and catapulted Chevy into the postwar performance spotlight. 1957 | Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad The strikingly sleek Chevy Nomad of 1955–1957 brought mid-century modern design to the utilitarian station wagon. The Nomad got its name, along with its unique roofline and rear body treatment, from a 1954 GM Motorama Corvette concept wagon conjured up by GM design chief Harley Earl — father, as well, of the 1953 Corvette roadster.

Encouraged by the show car’s reception, and mindful that America’s burgeoning suburbs were absorbing ever more station wagons, Chevrolet developed the Nomad into a premium Bel Air-level “halo” model for their 1955–57 regular wagon lines. The Nomad two-door sport wagon design was produced through 1957. Each of the three model years still has its passionate followers — the original Nomads have never gone out of style. 1959 | Impala Meets Daytona On February 20, the now-legendary Impala locked in its first-ever win in its first-ever race. Guided by Bob Welborn’s steady hand and lead foot, the checkered flag started a trend of Daytona dominance for Chevrolet that continues to this day. The Sixties: Chevrolet Sets the Pace The “Jet-Smooth” Chevrolet Impala was America’s favorite ride through the Sixties. With its remarkable combination of full-size glamour, performance and practicality, the space-age Chevy was just about perfect for a high-flying era. But there was more to Chevy’s market domination than one car.

Chevrolet expanded its hold on 1960s America with new and innovative compact, midsize and sporty cars. On the truck front, Chevy supplemented its line of large pickups with smaller vans and new kinds of utility vehicles. Chevrolet introduced restyled pickups and Suburbans for 1960, but the car that grabbed magazine covers was the all-new compact Corvair. The rear-engine newcomer even earned Motor Trend’s coveted Car of the Year honors. An Impala with trend-setting style and a sporty Corvair Monza coupe were popular 1961 entries and another compact car, the Chevy II Nova, arrived in 1962. The Impala Super Sport, with bucket seats and an optional 409 V8, was big news in ’62 and the all-new 1963 Corvette Sting Ray, featuring a convertible and new fastback coupe, was rightly heralded as an instant classic. And for Chevy drivers, it just kept getting better. The 1964 Chevelle Malibu found an immediate following as did the sport-styled Camaro in 1967.

Camaro paced Indy again in 1969 and the Z28 edition found great success on the racetrack and in the showroom. From the tail-finned ’60 Impala to the muscular ’69 Chevelle SS396, in the 1960s, it was one hit after another for Chevrolet. 1960 | Mr. Corvette goes to France Because of an unofficial ban on factory racing at the time, legendary sportsman Briggs Cunningham introduced Corvette to the continent. In its international debut, Corvette ruled the “Big Bore” GT category, scoring the first-ever Chevrolet victory at Le Mans − a winning tradition proudly continued today, most recently with a spectacular GTE Pro class trophy at the 2011 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race. 1963 | Chevrolet Impala The Beach Boys sang harmonies to Chevy’s 409-cid big-block V8, rated at a thumping 425 horsepower for 1963. The hardtop ’63 Impala Sport Coupe, with its convertible-look roofline, crisply tailored flanks and pointed fenders, beautifully showcased the big brute of an engine.

The sleek 1963 Impala could also be had with a Chevy 283 or 327 small-block V8 engine, and was even available as a 6-cylinder model. The popular Super Sport Package included special SS exterior details and front bucket seats with a console. Collectors drool over ’63 Impalas today — especially when there is an original 409 V8 under the hood — and the ’63 is also a favorite with hot rodders and customizers. 1963 | Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray “Split-Window” Coupe By 1962, the Chevy Corvette had earned global respect for its performance prowess and was on its way to becoming the favorite, if never official, car of America’s astronauts. It even starred in a hit TV show about a couple of guys on a perpetual road trip on Route 66. Then came the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray. Based on a one-off sports racer penned by GM design chief Bill Mitchell, the Corvette Sting Ray “Split-Window” Coupe was quite possibly the most exciting production car America had yet experienced.

Beyond its superbly tailored form, the Sting Ray had a new and effective independent rear suspension, offered extra-potent, fuel-injected small-block V8 power, and, best of all, was surprisingly affordable. 1964 | The Chaparral Can Ams In 1964, Jim Hall, with covert assistance from Chevrolet Research and Development, shocked race-sanctioning bodies and forever changed the motorsports world. His incredibly innovative designs, incorporating high mounted wings, movable aero packages, underbody suction fans and more, dominated the Can Am circuit, snatching victory at the USRRC Championships in ’64, the 12 Hours of Sebring in ’65, and the Nurburgring 1,000-kilometer in ’66. Following a stunning 1-2 finish at Laguna Seca, race officials finally caught up to the Chaparrals, spelling the beginning of the end for the program. Gone, but not forgotten, the Chaparral spirit lives on in every Cruze Eco we build. 1967 | Chevrolet Pickup The 1967 Chevy trucks led truck design into a new era.

Leaner and cleaner in every line, the new models appeared lower and longer — somehow managing to look both car-like and rugged at the same time. Their large, rounded wheelhouses added a design touch evocative of several popular GM cars of the era. The ’67s were more durable than ever, and were to their core tough machines designed first of all to get the job done. Many features of the new pickup — and the Suburban that shared its styling — were designed to appeal to the still relatively small, but growing, number of customers seeking comfortable and capable trucks for recreational use or personal transportation. 1969 | Chevrolet Camaro Providing a spectacular grand finale to the first-generation (1967–69) Camaro, the freshly restyled ’69s raced through a year of unprecedented exhilaration. Chevy’s hot four-seat sportster was turning up at the head of the pack everywhere, it seemed.

The Z28 was headed for a Trans-Am racing championship, several dozen specially produced ZL-1 aluminum-engined Camaro coupes were providing thunderous thrills at drag strips, and a specially detailed RS/SS 396 Convertible popped up just in time to pace the 1969 Indy 500. No 1969 Camaro would ever become just another used car. The spirit of the now-iconic ’69 is subtly evident throughout the forward-looking 2010 Camaro. The Seventies: “Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet” As the 1970s dawned, Chevrolet flexed its muscles with cars that are still celebrated four decades later. The elegant Monte Carlo “personal luxury coupe” was a new entry for ’70 and very successful. The 1970 Chevelle SS454 with an available LS6 450-hp big-block V8 was one of the most powerful production automobiles of the era, and the totally restyled ’70 Camaro was simply a stunner. In 1971 Chevy announced Vega, a small car with a sleek, Camaro-influenced appearance.

Also new for ’71: a beautiful new Caprice/Impala series with a dramatically upscale appearance offering a clear challenge to much costlier automobiles. The 1973 Monte Carlo was Motor Trend’s Car of the Year. One of Chevrolet’s most memorable advertising campaigns — “Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet” — hit the airways in 1975. As gasoline prices moved upwards, Chevrolet answered the challenge with the fuel-efficient 1976 Chevette, a “downsized” Impala in 1977 and smaller versions of Monte Carlo and Malibu in 1978. 1970 | Chevrolet El Camino SS The El Camino “passenger-car pickup” first appeared in 1959 and was, along with the ’60 edition, based on the full-size Chevy. Following a three-year hiatus, the El Camino returned for 1964 as a derivative of the new intermediate-size 1964 Chevelle. The restyled ’68 El Camino was as sleek as any vehicle with a pickup bed could be.

That same year, the El Camino was finally available with Super Sport equipment, and buyers could fully partake of the additional muscle car options offered for the Chevelle SS. The 1970 El Camino SS, stuffed with 396- or 454-cid Chevy big-block power, is the ultimate El Camino of the muscle car era. 1970 | Chevrolet Chevelle SS The muscle car era peaked in 1970, and leading the way to the summit was the SS 454 Chevelle. Chevrolet’s 454-cid big-block, the largest displacement production Chevy V-8 ever, was new for 1970. That same year, GM first permitted engines larger than 400 cid in its intermediate-sized cars. One result was perhaps the most legendary of all Chevy Super Sports, the SS 454 Chevelle. The available 450-horsepower LS-6 big-block could launch the SS 454 to 100 mph in about 13 seconds. Original, unmodified LS-6 SS 454s are rare, investment-grade, collectibles today.

However, many enthusiasts build their dream Chevelle SS from Chevy’s Performance Parts catalog – the GM Heritage Center’s ’70, with its modern 505-horsepower, LS7 427 V8, is a sterling example. 1971 | Chevrolet C/10 Cheyenne Pickup The trend had been building for years, and by 1971, it became impossible to ignore: Mainstream America was falling in love with Chevy trucks. The 1971 trucks helped Chevrolet set a new car and truck calendar year sales record of more than 3 million vehicles that year. On a model-year basis, Chevy truck production for 1971 totaled 739,478, also a record at that point. Of all the Chevrolet truck models offered for ’71, by far the most popular was the 2WD C/10 pickup, with more than a quarter million built. Spurring the half-ton’’ acceptance was the new-for-1971 Cheyenne premium trim package, which raised Chevy pickup interior style and comfort to new levels.

1976 | Chevrolet C/10 Stepside Pickup Tradition counts in the truck business, and wise truck makers stay mindful of the past while moving ahead. When Chevy launched its smooth-sided, double-walled Fleetside pickup box in mid-1958, it kept the Stepside box in the lineup as well. It would remain available, one way or another, for another 45 years. The classic Stepside design had a small step — really a vestige of the old-time running board — mounted ahead of each rear fender. These were useful for reaching items collected at the front of the bed. Convenience aside, some Chevy pickup buyers just plain liked the look of a Chevy Stepside. The dealer-added paint striping and aftermarket wheels on the Stepside shown provided an individualized custom appearance. The Eighties: New Challenges, New Chevrolets New kinds of Chevys were introduced in the 1980s, mostly smaller, more efficient and front-wheel drive. The ’80 Citation, marketed as “The First Chevy of the Eighties,” exemplified this approach with a hatchback design that combined small-car exterior dimensions with the spaciousness of a midsize car.

An aero-shaped 1982 Camaro garnered high praise from enthusiasts as did the all-new 1984 Corvette. Other memorable Chevys from the “Heartbeat of America” era included the sporty Beretta coupe and an all-new Silverado Pickup in 1988. 1989 | Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 Chevy thunder rolled across Europe in 1989 when 24 preproduction ZR-1 Corvettes arrived on the continent for a press tour in the south of France. The ZR-1, also known as the “King of the Hill” Corvette, was powered by a technically advanced 32-valve 4-cam 350-cid V8, developed with Group Lotus of England. Although quite tractable at low speeds, the engine — coded LT5 — had breathtaking performance right to the red line. Engine supply delays pushed the official ZR-1 introduction into the 1990 model year. The GM Heritage Center has two of the 84 ZR-1s built as 1989 models in its collection.

In 2009, Chevrolet resurrected the ZR1 designation (sans hyphen) for a new supercharged Corvette model that surpasses the 1990-1995 ZR-1 in performance. The Nineties: America Goes Trucking For the first time, in the 1990s, Chevrolet sold more trucks than cars in the United States. The legendary Suburban got a makeover in 1992, emerging as a smoother-riding and even more capable SUV. The popular Blazer 4x4 was updated in 1995 and a new four-door Tahoe SUV made its debut the same year. On the car side, a new Camaro emerged in 1993, drawing rave reviews and the Impala SS nameplate returned on a full-size performance sedan in ’94. The Chevy Monte Carlo coupe, a legend on the street and on the NASCAR track, returned in 1995, this time on a front-wheel drive platform. During this era, many Chevrolet small vehicles were marketed under the GEO nameplate.

1993 | Chevrolet Camaro Z28 The fourth-generation Camaro, featuring completely new and extremely smooth styling, was introduced for 1993 as a coupe only. The Z28 featured a 275-horsepower version of the Corvette LT-1 small-block V8 introduced the year before — making the Camaro performance model the closest car to a Corvette available with a rear seat. A Camaro Z28 paced the 1993 Indianapolis 500, marking the fourth time the brand had served as the Indy Pace Car (earlier appearances were in 1967, 1969 and 1982). As had become tradition, a Pace Car Edition package was offered through Chevy dealers — 645 1993 Z28s were built with the colorfully pin-striped Indy Pace Car package. 1996 | Impala SS Chevrolet closed out its rear-wheel-drive, full-size sedan lineage in fine style with the 1994-96 Impala SS.

The cars offered impressive performance — their 260-horsepower 5.7L LT1 Corvette small-block V8 engine could propel the 4,200-lb. cruisers to more than 90 mph in a quarter mile. A sport-tuned suspension, extra-powerful four-wheel disc brakes, and wide 17-inch tires on special aluminum wheels, were also standard. Exterior moldings matched the body color — black-only in 1994, with dark cherry metallic and dark grey-green also offered during 1995 and 1996. Inside, leather seating surfaces and a leather-covered steering wheel exuded luxury. Originally delivered to a collector, the last 1996 Impala SS built now resides at the GM Heritage Center. 1997 | Victory is electric Echoing Zora Arkus-Duntov’s dramatic test run in ’56, Larry Ragland made history driving a special Chevy S-10 to victory at the 1997 Pikes Peak Hill Climb. This time, without using a single drop of gas.

Not content with taking the Electric Vehicle Class, sounding the death knell for oil and changing the world, Larry went on to prove the viability of electric power − and lay the groundwork for the Chevy Volt − with wins in the 1998-99 Super Stock Truck Class and overall victory in the 2000 High Tech Truck Class. 1997 | Chevrolet Corvette Coupe The fifth-generation (C5) 1997 Corvette debuted to global acclaim. Everything was fresh, from the taut yet fluid styling, to the new LS1 small-block V8, refined chassis and improved body construction. The transmission was now mounted at the rear axle, an arrangement that contributed to a desirable 50-50 front-to-rear weight distribution. Equipped with an available 6-speed manual transmission, the 1997 C5 could reach 170 mph. From its especially strong hydroformed box frame up, the 1997 C5 was designed to be exceptionally rugged. The C5 convertible, followed the coupe into production a year later, further demonstrated the effectiveness of the new structural design. 1998 | Dale Earnhardt Sr.

wins the Daytona 500 After 19 years of chasing the checkered flag at the beach, Dale Sr. finally conquered the Daytona 500, recording his first and only victory in the “Great American Race.” The scene that followed is widely considered to be one of the most touching moments in sports history, as crews and competitors alike lined Pit Road to shake his hand on the long, slow drive to Victory Lane. The 2000s: SSR Headlines a Noteworthy Decade After a three-year hiatus, the Impala returned as a front-wheel drive family sedan in 2000. Other early-decade news included a restyled Suburban in 2000, a rugged TrailBlazer SUV in 2002, and a Euro-influenced Malibu in 2004. A retro-styled SSR pickup/roadster with a retractable hardtop roof was an attention-getter and Indy Pace Car in 2005. A handsome new Impala and a heritage-influenced HHR sport wagon arrived in 2006, and a beautifully reshaped Malibu received rave reviews in 2008.

The ultra-high-performance Corvette ZR1 made a 2009 debut as the fastest production automobile in GM history. Later that year, enthusiasts salivated as the eagerly awaited 2010 Camaro hit the streets. 2008 | Corvette versus the World 2008: Corvette slayed the monsters − BMW, Ferrari and Porsche − to seize its eighth consecutive Manufacturer’s Championship, making it the most successful team in American Le Mans Series history and conveniently placing Chevrolet in the crosshairs of global competition. 2008 | Chevrolet Hybrid Tahoe The 2008 Chevy Tahoe Hybrid helped introduce the two-mode hybrid’s green technology to full-size SUVs. In 2004, GM, BMW and DaimlerChrysler engineers set out to jointly develop a two-mode hybrid system suitable for full-size cars and SUVs. A system developed by GM’s Allison Transmission division for use on transit buses was the starting point. The two-mode hybrid system channels gas and electric motive power through an electronically variable transmission, enabling a significant improvement in fuel economy, compared to standard gas-engine powertrains.

Chevrolet Tahoe and Silverado models with the two-mode system are still the fuel economy leaders in their segments, with EPA-estimated 20 MPG city and 23 MPG highway. Chevrolet Today: Still Setting the Pace In 1911, when Louis Chevrolet built his first automobile, he could not have imagined what would follow. At last count, 214 million Chevrolet cars and trucks. From the legendary small block V8 the first air bag to the Le Mans-winning Corvette, Chevrolet has a history of challenging conventional thinking. Today, we're using our technological know-how to build a better future for all of us The extended-range Chevrolet Volt is starting conversations, winning accolades and literally changing the way the world drives. Chevrolet is the global leader in small cars with Cruze, Sonic and the upcoming Spark EV. The momentum continues with the world's most comprehensive fleet of vehicles powered by ethanol, natural gas, electricity and hydrogen. 2010 | Chevrolet Camaro The TV commercial that introduced the 1967 Camaro showed it emerging from an erupting volcano. For 35 years, an unforgettable lineup of fun-to-own, fun-to-drive Camaros emerged from that metaphoric volcano.

In 2002, the mountain went dormant. Then, at the 2006 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, a new Camaro concept emerged to a standing ovation from the media and fans packing the convention hall — and rekindled the passion of the iconic 1969 Camaro. After the concept Camaro upstaged what looked like several volcanoes worth of pyrotechnics and special effects in the 2007 film, TRANSFORMERS®† , the pressure to put it into production intensified. Much to the delight of Camaro enthusiasts everywhere, the new Camaro that emerged onto the automotive scene for 2010 was wonderfully faithful to the concept design — and to the spirit of the original. With the recent addition of a convertible, and soon an ultimate performance ZL1, the Camaro revival is just beginning. 2010 | Cruze crushes WTCC In a shocking departure from Chevy’s signature large displacement V8s, the Cruze made its presence known at the World Touring Car Championship in 2010.

After a season dominating BMWs around the globe, Chevrolet scored a devastating one-two punch − seizing both the Driver’s Championship and the Manufacturer’s Championship. Proving that, yes, there just might be a replacement for displacement. 2011 | Chevrolet Volt Battery powered for the first 25 to 50 miles after charging up, the revolutionary electric-powered Chevy Volt with its gas-powered generator seamlessly provides additional electricity to continue on for another 300 miles or so, when needed. This extended-range capability frees Volt owners from the range anxiety that can haunt owners of battery-powered cars. Volt was voted 2011 North American Car of the Year by automotive journalists, has collected Green Car Journal’s Car of the Year® award, and was chosen Automobile Magazine’s Automobile of the Year. As of early July 2011, Chevrolet estimated that about two-thirds of the more than 2 million miles driven so far by Volt owners had been on electricity from the grid. 2012 | Chevrolet Corvette Centennial Edition The 2012 Centennial Edition Corvette pays homage to Chevrolet’s history and racing heritage, even as its bold, edgy monochrome appearance places it firmly in the present.

The Centennial Edition package (code ZLC) can be ordered on any 2012 Corvette model, and is available exclusively in carbon flash metallic, with satin-black graphics and unique Centennial satin black wheels accented by red brake calipers. Ever since 1955, when the fledgling Corvette was first fitted with the new small-block Chevrolet V8, Corvette has personified the passion and performance of Chevrolet, and it has held a unique position as America’s sports car, winning fans and races worldwide as erstwhile competitors came and went. Most recently, Corvette won the GTE class at the 2011 24 Hours of Le Mans, beating Ferrari, BMW and Porsche. Send Timeline: History of the Electric Car . NOW on PBS Timeline: History of the Electric Car 1832-1839 Scottish inventor Robert Anderson invents the first crude electric carriage powered by non-rechargeable primary cells. 1835 American Thomas Davenport is credited with building the first practical electric vehicle -- a small locomotive. 1859 French physicist Gaston Planté invents the rechargeable lead-acid storage battery.

In 1881, his countryman Camille Faure will improve the storage battery's ability to supply current and invent the basic lead-acid battery used in automobiles. 1891 William Morrison of Des Moines, Iowa builds the first successful electric automobile in the United States. Thomas Edison and an electric car. Courtesy of the Smithsonian 1893 A handful of different makes and models of electric cars are exhibited in Chicago. 1897 The first electric taxis hit the streets of New York City early in the year. The Pope Manufacturing Company of Connecticut becomes the first large-scale American electric automobile manufacturer. 1899 Believing that electricity will run autos in the future, Thomas Alva Edison begins his mission to create a long-lasting, powerful battery for commercial automobiles. Though his research yields some improvements to the alkaline battery, he ultimately abandons his quest a decade later. 1900 The electric automobile is in its heyday. Of the 4,192 cars produced in the United States 28 percent are powered by electricity, and electric autos represent about one-third of all cars found on the roads of New York City, Boston, and Chicago.

A Ford Model T 1908 Henry Ford introduces the mass-produced and gasoline-powered Model T, which will have a profound effect on the U.S. automobile market. 1912 Charles Kettering invents the first practical electric automobile starter. Kettering's invention makes gasoline-powered autos more alluring to consumers by eliminating the unwieldy hand crank starter and ultimately helps pave the way for the electric car's demise. 1920 During the 1920s the electric car ceases to be a viable commercial product. The electric car's downfall is attributable to a number of factors, including the desire for longer distance vehicles, their lack of horsepower, and the ready availability of gasoline. 1966 Congress introduces the earliest bills recommending use of electric vehicles as a means of reducing air pollution. A Gallup poll indicates that 33 million Americans are interested in electric vehicles. 1970s Concerns about the soaring price of oil -- peaking with the Arab Oil Embargo of 1973 -- and a growing environmental movement result in renewed interests in electric cars from both consumers and producers.

1972 Victor Wouk, the "Godfather of the Hybrid," builds the first full-powered, full-size hybrid vehicle out of a 1972 Buick Skylark provided by General Motors (G.M.) for the 1970 Federal Clean Car Incentive Program. The Environmental Protection Association later kills the program in 1976. Vanguard-Sebring's CitiCar 1974 Vanguard-Sebring's CitiCar makes its debut at the Electric Vehicle Symposium in Washington, D.C. The CitiCar has a top speed of over 30 mph and a reliable warm-weather range of 40 miles. By 1975 the company is the sixth largest automaker in the U.S. but is dissolved only a few years later. 1975 The U.S. Postal Service purchases 350 electric delivery jeeps from AM General, a division of AMC, to be used in a test program. 1976 Congress passes the Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Research, Development, and Demonstration Act. The law is intended to spur the development of new technologies including improved batteries, motors, and other hybrid-electric components.

1988 Roger Smith, CEO of G.M. , agrees to fund research efforts to build a practical consumer electric car. G.M. teams up with California's AeroVironment to design what would become the EV1, which one employee called "the world's most efficient production vehicle." Some electric vehicle enthusiasts have speculated that the EV1 was never undertaken as a serious commercial venture by the large automaker. 1990 California passes its Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate, which requires two percent of the state's vehicles to have no emissions by 1998 and 10 percent by 2003. The law is repeatedly weakened over the next decade to reduce the number of pure ZEVs it requires. 1997 Toyota unveils the Prius -- the world's first commercially mass-produced and marketed hybrid car -- in Japan. Nearly 18,000 units are sold during the first production year.

1997 - 2000 A few thousand all-electric cars (such as Honda's EV Plus, G.M.'s EV1, Ford's Ranger pickup EV, Nissan's Altra EV, Chevy's S-10 EV, and Toyota's RAV4 EV) are produced by big car manufacturers, but most of them are available for lease only. All of the major automakers' advanced all-electric production programs will be discontinued by the early 2000s. 2002 G.M. and DaimlerChrysler sue the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to repeal the ZEV mandate first passed in 1990. The Bush Administration joins that suit. Crushed EV1 electric cars 2003 G.M. announces that it will not renew leases on its EV1 cars saying it can no longer supply parts to repair the vehicles and that it plans to reclaim the cars by the end of 2004. 2005 On February 16, electric vehicle enthusiasts begin a "Don't Crush" vigil to stop G.M. from demolishing 78 impounded EV1s in Burbank, California.

The vigil ends twenty-eight days later when G.M. removes the cars from the facility. In the film "Who Killed the Electric Car" G.M. spokesman Dave Barthmuss states that the EV1s are to be recycled, not just crushed. 2006 Tesla Motors publicly unveils the ultra-sporty Tesla Roadster at the San Francisco International Auto Show in November. The first production Roadsters will be sold in 2008 with a base price listing of $98,950. 2008 January A Better Place charging spot The Israeli government announces its support for a sweeping project to promote the use of electric cars in Israel. The effort will be a joint venture between Better Place, a Palo Alto start-up founded by software maven Shai Agassi, and French automaker Renault-Nissan. Agassi's plan is to create an extensive network of charging spots and to sell EV drivers mileage in their cars like minutes on a cell phone plan. The first Renault electric cars are scheduled to hit the streets of Tel Aviv and other cities in 2011. Better Place announces a host of partnerships to support electric vehicle projects in Denmark, Canada, Japan, Australia and the U.S.

July Gas prices reach record highs of more than $4 a gallon and car sales drop to their lowest levels in a decade. American automakers begin to shift their production lines away from SUVs and other large vehicles toward smaller, more fuel-efficient cars. August On the campaign trail, presidential candidate Barack Obama says he will push to have one million plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles on America's roads by 2015. November Struggling to remain profitable during the economic downturn, executives from the Big Three American automakers go to Washington to make the case for a $25 billion Federal bailout of the U.S. automotive industry. December BYD, a Chinese battery manufacturer turned automaker, releases the F3DM, the world's first mass produced plug-in hybrid compact sedan. Though they pack less energy than more conventional lithium ion batteries, BYD opts to power the F3DM with a more stable lithium iron phosphate battery. BYD plans to release the F3DM in the U.S. in 2011, but some industry insiders have doubts about whether the car is ready for the U.S. market. Though sales of the car remain sluggish, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway purchases a 10% stake in the company.

The National Bureau of Economic Research states officially that the U.S. has been in a recession since December 2007. The economic downturn is global in scope and will continue to exert financial pressures on the already battered U.S. auto industry. 2009 February The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 allocates $2 billion for development of electric vehicle batteries and related technologies. The Department of Energy adds another $400 million to fund building the infrastructure necessary to support plug-in electric vehicles. April Prime Minister Gordon Brown announces that the British government will promote the use of electric vehicles in the U.K. by offering a £2,000 subsidy to purchasers. A high-ranking government official estimates that 40% of all cars in Britain will need to be electric or hybrid for the country to reach it's goal of cutting 80% of its CO2 emissions by 2050. Chrysler files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. As part of its restructuring, Chrysler forms a partnership with the Italian car maker Fiat.

May President Obama announces a new gas-mileage policy that will require automakers to meet a minimum fuel-efficiency standard of 35.5 miles a gallon by 2016. June The Tesla Roadster The Department of Energy awards $8 billion in loans to Ford, Nissan, and Tesla Motors to support the development of fuel-efficient vehicles. The automaker loans are the first distributions from a larger $25 billion fund created under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. General Motors, the leading producer of automobiles for most of the 20th Century, files for bankruptcy protection. While strong GM brands such as Chevrolet, Cadillac and GMC are slated to continue, smaller names like Saturn, Hummer and Pontiac will be sold or closed. The federal government will hold a 61 percent stake in the reborn General Motors. August Nissan unveils its new electric car, called the LEAF ("Leading, Environmentally Friendly, Affordable, Family Car"). The LEAF is capable of a maximum speed of more than 90 mph, can travel 100 miles on a full charge, and has a battery that can be recharged to 80% of its capacity in 30 minutes.

Similar to the Better Place initiative in Israel, Nissan plans to work with the Japanese government and private companies to set up charging station networks across several countries. The first production LEAFs are scheduled to go on sale in Japan, Europe, and the U.S. in the fall of 2010. Late 2009 Though a few electric cars and plug-in hybrids are currently available on the market, several new models including the Nissan LEAF, Chevrolet Volt, and Mitsubishi i MiEV are scheduled to hit the streets in the near future. Toyota, creator of the popular Prius hybrid, has thus far declined to deliver a fully electric car. Despite promising signs, the electric car will need to navigate a bumpy road before it can become a viable option for many drivers. Challenges to mass adoption include high sticker prices, limited battery life and travel range, and building charging stations and other infrastructure to support electric vehicles.

Question: Which car manufacturer produced the small car called the Lacetti?
Answer: CHEVROLET