Business Customers Can Use Less Gas, Go Green and Still Get the Job Done

General Motors, committed to developing the industry's widest range of gas-friendly to gas-free vehicles, will showcase several gas-saving commercial vehicles at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show Feb. 6 thru Feb. 17.

GM's Fleet and Commercial Operations (FCO) will display vehicles featuring outstanding fuel economy, E85 ethanol and biodiesel capability, and gas-electric hybrid vehicles designed to help GM customers go green without going broke.

"More and more of our business and commercial customers are concerned about the environmental impact of their vehicle fleets and how that influences the reputation of their company," said John Gaydash, GM FCO marketing director. "They want to increase fuel efficiency, lower their dependence on petroleum and help reduce vehicle emissions. Our broad lineup of cars and trucks provides customers with the right vehicles to meet their environmental needs while still making sure the job gets done. "

Here are some of the gas-friendly vehicles designed for commercial and business use that will be at the Chicago Auto Show:

The Chevy HHR Panel gets 30 highway miles per gallon, and features windowless side panels that are perfect for advertising a business. It also features a flat load floor with underfloor storage. It is a popular vehicle with florists, pizza parlors and businesses that deliver smaller items.

GM's clean-burning, dependable and powerful 6.6 L Duramax engine can use B5 biodiesel and comes in rear-wheel or all-wheel drive. The Express also has left-hand side load doors and remote release side panels for easy loading and access.

The half-ton Silverado gives customers the choice of powering their truck with E85 ethanol, gasoline or a combination of both fuels. In addition, this 2008 Fleet Truck of the Year continues to delight fleet owners with its comfort, capability and best-in-class fuel economy.

Available with a gas or diesel engine, the Silverado HD 3500 offers payload capacity and towing for any job site requirement. A new six-speed automatic transmission - including two overdrive gears - helps deliver an excellent balance of performance and fuel economy.

The available Duramax 6.6L turbo-diesel engine leads the segment in power and torque, with ratings of 365 horsepower 660 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine includes a diesel particulate filter system that helps provide a 90-percent reduction in particulate matter and a 50-percent reduction in NOx.

The 2008 Chevrolet Impala Police Car can operate on cleaner-burning, renewable E85 ethanol, an energy source that can help reduce our dependence on petroleum. E85 has been a very popular choice among fleet customers - including law enforcement agencies - because its availability is growing, and because E85 vehicles are an affordable fleet option.

The Impala PPV delivers improved fuel economy thanks to Active Fuel Management. The technology shuts off half the engine's cylinders when full power is not needed, improving fuel economy by up to 8 percent in certain driving situations.

The Tahoe PPV is the only SUV rated as a police pursuit vehicle. The 2008 Tahoe PPV is powered by the Vortec 5.3L V-8 engine delivering 320 horsepower (238 kW)* and 340 lb.-ft. of torque (470 Nm)*. The Vortec 5.3L features Active Fuel Management™ technology, resulting in improved fuel economy, and can operate on E85 ethanol.

The 2009 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid is a full-size pickup that achieves 40-percent greater city fuel economy and a 25-percent improvement in overall fuel economy. It is expected to deliver fuel economy comparable to many small and midsize trucks that are equipped with four- or six-cylinder engines, and be the most fuel-efficient full-size pickup on the market, besting the current V-8 leader - the non-hybrid Silverado.

The hybrid system provides all-electric driving at low speeds, allowing fuel savings to be realized even when the truck is fully loaded or towing a trailer. Silverado Hybrid can tow up to 6,100 pounds (2,767 kg).

The Silverado Hybrid goes on sale in late 2008 and is based on the award-winning Silverado platform that was named 2008 Fleet Truck of the Year by commercial fleet managers.