The redesigned Chrysler300 has hardly cooled fromthe heat of the lights at thisyear’s Detroit show, butChrysler is pushingonward, adding severalnew models to the 300 line-up at the New York affair.Whether you’re looking fora 300 with big wheels and abangin’ stereo, one fueledby righteous and furiousanger, or one with fineleather and premium woodtrim, Chrysler probably hasa model for you.

The S models arestripped of bright chromeand wood, those elementsbeing replaced with body-colored accents on the fas-cia and mirrors, a black-chrome grille, black head-light surrounds, and pol-ished aluminum wheelswith black accents. Inside,the interior can be finishedin black or Radar Redleather, with piano blackand matte carbon trim

replacing the wood. Thestandard 8.4-inch infotain-ment display is the controlcenter for a 10-speaker,522-watt Beats Audio sys-tem supposedly developedby Dr. Dre in conjunctionwith Jimmy Iovine, chair-man of Interscope-Geffen-A&M Records.

The 300 S will be offeredin several varieties, and itmarks the return of the V-6/AWD pairing to the 300,as S customers can opt tohave all four wheels pow-ered by either the 292-hpsix or the 363-hp Hemi V-8.

When ordered with AWD,the S comes with 19-inchwheels and 235/55-19 all-season rubber. Rear-drive Ssedans also can be spec’dwith either the V-6 or V-8,and either option gets 20-inch rollers. V-6 modelswill come with the new ZF-sourced eight-speed auto-matic transmission withsteering-wheel-mountedpaddle shifters, a transmis-sion we expect will beattached to all 2012 V-6300s. V-8 buyers are stuckwith the old five-speed autofor now, but do get the newpaddle shifters. The S mod-els will go on sale this fall.

Looking to inject someextra lavishness into the300C, Chrysler has createdthe Executive Series.Available with rear- or all-wheel drive, the Hemi-onlyExecutive aims to offer theexotic materials of Italianluxury cars, says Chrysler.Beginning with a 300C fit-

ted with most of the trim-mings, the car is then treat-ed to either Mochachino orBlack Poltrona Frau“Foligno” leather on theinstrument panel and clus-ter brow, center-console

side panels, and upper doorpanels. The seats arestitched with Nappa leatherin a two-tone color comboof your choice, and theupscale accouterments arefinished off by hand-sand-

ed brown or gray wood thatdisplays its natural pores.On the outside, the chrometrim is replaced with clear-ly superior “platinum”chrome, and the car getsunique polished 20s.

PAGE 2 | WHEELS & WAVES | SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2011

Classy Chrysler 300 is at Lakeshore ChryslerThe Chrysler 300 can

be seen at:Lakeshore Chrysler330 Howze BeachRoad, Slidell

Phone: 985-641-9595Visit www.lakeshore

kia.com

CHRYSLER 300

The Honda 700cc-classFourTrax® Rincon® is aboutmore than just farms andranches and constructionsites. Think of it as a top-end Sport Utility machine,an ATV that deliverssmooth, powerful, class-leading performance nomatter what the occasion:hunting, trail blazing, orsimply exploring. And it’seasy to see why the Rinconstands out, with featureslike its huge, liquid-cooled675cc engine with Pro-grammed Fuel Injection(PGM-FI), Honda’s fullyIndependent Rear Sus-pension (IRS) system foroptimal traction, and a rev-olutionary, ultra-smoothautomotive-style three-speed automatic transmis-sion. And it doesn’t hurtthat all that power andengineering is wrapped upin some sleek, SUV-like

styling—you can even getone with Natural GearCamouflage bodywork as acolor option.

IImmppoorrttaanntt SSaaffeettyyIInnffoorrmmaattiioonn

Recommended for riders16 years of age and older.

Honda recommends that allATV riders take a trainingcourse and read their own-er’s manual thoroughly.

Try the he Honda 700cc-classFourTrax® Rincon® today

HONDA 700CC-CLASS FOURTRAX® RINCON®

Ready. Affordable. Wel-come.

Part performance boat,part penthouse suite and allChaparral, the classic 285SSX is the perfect answer ifyou long for a sport boatthat can split time betweencruising and heart pound-ing performance. Sporting5’3” of welcome headroom,the cabin is more refined,classy and detailed thanrival cuddys in this class. Inthe cockpit, a U-shapedlounge, well stocked wetbar, reversible aft seat andcomfortable dual wide helmbolster say comfort in a big

way. Combine molded dashsteps with a transom walk-thru and you will enjoy freepassage bow to stern. Keyoptions include a 5,000BTU air conditioning sys-tem, transom shower, ele-vated forward bow rail anda windlass. An optionalOvernight Package includesshore power with 50’ cord,DVD, 15” flat screen TVwith dockside cable anten-na, stainless steel AC/DCcockpit refrigerator, stain-less steel cabin microwave,battery charger/converterand a corrosion protectionsystem.

WHEELS & WAVES | SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2011 | PAGE 3

The Ram Heavy Dutygained a torque boost to800 lb-ft, providing best inclass towing of 22,750 lband a gross weight rating of30,000 lb. It was now avail-able with the RamBox in allprice classes. Towingcapacity was increased forthe Hemi as well as thediesel, and midyear seat-mounted side airbags willbecome standard alongwith a black grille andbumpers on ST. Most Ram2500 buyers opt for thecrew cab and SLT orOutdoorsman; while mostRam 3500 buyers go for theCrew Cab and Laramie orLonghorn. The Ram 2500’stow rating increased on2011 models from 20,000 to22,000 lb, when buyerschose the diesel and 4.1 axleratio.

A boost in Cumminsdiesel power announced inFebruary 2011 raised diesel

torque (with automatictransmission) to 800 lb-ft,keeping peak horsepowerat 350 but adding 40 hpmore at lower enginespeeds. At the time, Ram’s

CEO announced that Rampickups have the largestbrakes in their class, andthe most powerful exhaustbrake in the class was stan-dard. The diesel, unlike its

competitors, did not useurea or any other dieselexhaust fluid.

The extra power washandled by a new, higher-rated torque converter

which was better integrat-ed for higher towing capa-bility. In addition, a newdual-rear wheel axle with4.10 gear ratio, new rear-axle pinion, new helicalgears, upgraded bearings,and finned aluminum dif-ferential cover were usedwith the maximum towingpackage; a new engine-mounted oil-to-coolanttransmission cooler andupgraded power steeringoil coolers would also beused. The result was a bestin class GCVW of 30,000pounds and towing of22,700 pounds. The hightow ratings met all 2013model-year SAE standards.

The ride has greatlyimproved through re-tunedsuspension components;handling under a full loadwas also beefed up, whilethe gross vehicle weightrating increased by 600 lbto 9,600 pounds (Ram 2500

crew and Mega Cab 4x4with Cummins diesel).

Fluid-filled hydro-mounts under the cabreduced beaming andbounce over rough sur-faces. Dodge clarified whatfluid-filled hydro-mountsdo: C-pillar hydro mountswere added to improvedamping through theframe-bending mode fre-quency in order to bettermanage shake and after-shake response. The resultis reduced shake andimproved ride.

Lakeshore Dodge has the tough 2012Ram 1500 Heavy Duty Diesel truck

RAM 1500 HEAVY DUTY DIESEL

The 2012 Dodge Ram1500 Heavy DutyDiesel can be seenat: Lakeshore Dodge330 Howzee BeachRoad, Slidell

Phone: 985-641-9595Visit www.lakeshore

kia.com

Chaparral a nice fit for boaterswho like a bit of everything

CHAPARRAL

• The V Star 950 Tourerfrom Star Motorcycles rollsout with a windshield,leather-wrapped hard side-bags, and a passenger back-rest all standard, ready forthe open road or the com-mute to school or work.

• V Star 950 is the bench-mark in the entry cruisertouring class, appealing toseasoned riders as well asthose looking for a friendlyentry-level cruiser. The air-

cooled V-twin deliversplenty of distinctive, big-cruiser character and puls-ing torque feel. Seat heightis an extra-low 26.6 inches.The full-sized chassis has along, low look and providesspacious comfort. Handlingis sporty and responsive,great for curvy back roadsand commuting aroundtown as well as open-high-way cruising. No wonder V-Twin® Magazine named V

Star 950 the 2009 “Metricof the Year”!

• The 942cc 60° V-twinengine is both simple andsophisticated. Sure, there’sno-fuss air cooling for tra-ditional looks. But insideyou’ll find the reason forthe surprisingly spiritedperformance: four-valvecylinder heads, ceramic-composite-lined cylinders,forged aluminum pistons,and fuel injection. Themeticulously tuned 2-into-1exhaust system has athroaty exhaust note, andalso 3-way catalyst technol-ogy to reduce air pollution.

• The carefully designedchassis contributes to anexceptionally light feelingriders are sure to appreci-ate. The double-cradle steelmain frame offers an idealrigidity balance in the lon-gitudinal, lateral, and tor-sional directions, using theengine as a stressed mem-ber. With the enginemounting position slightlyforward for optimum front-rear weight distributionand its large, 18-inch frontwheel, V Star 950 Tourerhas outstanding handlingperformance.

• The V Star 950 Tourerachieves fuel economy upto an estimated 47 mpg*with a fuel tank that holds4.5 gallons of gas.

• Fenders are real steel,front and rear. That adds tothe quality look and feel,and makes customizationeasier.

EEnnggiinnee::• The 57.5-cubic inch

(942cc) engine is an air-cooled SOHC 60° V twin.With four valves per cylin-der, a pent-roof shapedcombustion chamber, and9.0:1 compression ratio, thisengine has been carefullydesigned to produce excel-lent power characteristics –and best-in-class accelera-tion.

• To keep friction loss toa minimum and help theengine achieve the idealperformance characteris-tics, special compact roller-type rocker arms with nee-dle bearings are used.These also reduce top-endweight for excellent masscentralization.

• The combustion cham-ber shape was preciselyengineered to direct thefuel air charge into the cen-ter of the piston for fastercombustion and maximumpower. Ceramic-compos-ite-plated cylinders provideexcellent heat dissipationand reduced oil consump-tion.

• High-quality forgedaluminum pistons have alightweight, high strengthcompact design that con-tributes to reduce vibra-tion.

• The designers realizedthat the engine’s V twincharacter was so pleasingon its own that a counter-

balancer was unnecessary.This also contributes tosimplicity and less operat-ing noise.

• Sophisticated fuelinjection is used on the VStar 950 Tourer. The injec-tors are four-hole, two-directional types with sprayaimed at the valve surfaces.That produces good fuelatomization for faster andmore complete combustionwhich contributes to excel-lent drivability. The fuelinjection system alsoadopts an ISC (Idling SpeedControl) valve for outstand-ing idling stability.

• Lubrication is providedby a simple, reliable wetsump system.

• The 5-speed transmis-sion is all new, with asmooth shifting feeling, andgear ratios spaced to let therider take full advantage ofthe engine’s torque charac-teristics and enjoy comfort-able cruising at highwayspeeds. Naturally, power isefficiently transferred tothe rear wheel using sim-ple, quiet belt drive.

• The engine’s look ishighly detailed, with pol-ished cylinder fins andbeautifully chrome-platedcylinder head covers, for anexceptional appearancesure to be noticed.

• The V Star 950 Tourerachieves fuel economy upto an estimated 47 mpg*with a fuel tank that holds4.5 gallons of gas.

CChhaassssiiss//SSuussppeennssiioonn::• The steel double-cra-

dle frame is long and low,contributing to the bike’sspacious 95.9-inch(2435mm) overall lengthand 66.3-inch wheelbase.That means a great ride to

go along with the greatlooks.

• The seat height is amere 26.6 inches off thepavement, one of the lowestaround, and a fuel tankthat’s made as narrow aspossible where it meets theseat, it is easy for most rid-ers to put both feet firmlyon the ground.

• Fenders are real steel,front and rear. That adds tothe quality look and feel,and makes customizationeasier.

• The big 18-inch frontwheel helps deliver thiscruiser motorcycle’s sportyhandling characteristicsand “Sport Classic” cruiserlooks. The low-profile130/70-18 tire is mountedon an 8-spoke lightweightaluminum wheel. The170/70-16 bias ply rear tireadds a beefy look and helpstransfer all that torque andpower to the pavement.

• Large 320mm front and298mm rear discs providestrong braking capacitywith excellent feel.

• Front forks feature big41mm tubes, and rear sus-pension is a bottom-link-type monocross shock.Settings are calibrated todeliver a plush ride that isincreasingly firm as the sus-pension is compressed forgood handling and comfortover bigger bumps in theroad.

• The V Star 950 Tourerhas a wonderfully light feel.Surprisingly, even though ithas a full-size chassis, thebike weighs just 657pounds wet, with a full tankof gas and all fluids.

AAddddiittiioonnaall FFeeaattuurreess::• The large-diameter

meter is mounted on thefuel tank for a traditionallook.

Meter functions includespeedometer, fuel levelwarning light, oil levelwarning light, and odome-ter with two trip meterfunctions, fuel trip meter,and clock display. The LCDdisplay illumination can beadjusted using a right sidehandlebar switch.

• The V Star 950 Toureris ready to roll out with awindshield, leather-wrap-ped hard sidebags, and apassenger backrest.

PAGE 4 | WHEELS & WAVES | SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2011

For the 2012 model year,the Cadillac SRX gets anew, more powerful basepowertrain and other luxu-ry features added to itsstandard roster list.

All SRX models now geta standard 300-horsepow-er, 3.6-liter V-6 producing260 pounds-feet of torque,mated to a six-speed auto-matic transmission. Thatengine replaces both thestandard 265-hp, 3.0-literV-6 and the upgraded 300-hp, turbocharged 2.8-literV-6, according to Cadillac

spokeswoman JordanaStrosberg.

The new V-6 can run onE85 fuel, and Cadillacexpects similar gas mileage

as the 3.0-liter V-6, which israted at 18 mpg city and 25mpg highway. All-wheeldrive is still available.

Other added featuresinclude standard Bluetoothconnectivity on all trims.Door locks are now placedon the driver’s side and pas-senger side doors instead ofjust on the center console.Luxury, Performance andPremium trims now get aheated steering wheel.Performance and Premiumtrims also get standard 20-inch wheels.

The classy powerfulCaddy SRX is at Levis

Chevrolet-CadillacThe 2012 Cadillac SRX

can be seen at: LevisChevrolet Cadillac316 E. Howze BeachRoad, Slidell

Phone: 985-643-1800Visit www.levischevy

cadillac.com

2012 CADILLAC SRX

Check out Star Motorcycles’ V Star 950 Tourer

V STAR 950 TOURER

Buick unveils the 2012LaCrosse with eAssist,™ anew fuel-saving technologythat increases fuel economyby 25 percent compared tothe four-cylinder/six-speedpowertrain in the 2011LaCrosse.

The eAssist technologyprovides class-leadinghighway fuel economy of 37mpg, while maintaining theluxury, performance andvalue expected fromBuick’s flagship sedan.

The eAssist systembecomes the standard pow-ertrain on LaCrosse start-ing next summer. The sys-tem uses a state-of-the-artlithium-ion battery systemand electric motor-genera-tor to enable regenerativebraking capability toimprove LaCrosse fueleconomy by an estimated25 percent.

“The LaCrosse witheAssist technology is thelatest example of how thissuccessful car – with salesup more than 200 percentfor the year – is shaking upthe segment and helping toreinvent Buick,” said JohnSchwegman, vice presidentof Buick marketing. “It isthe smart choice for thosewho want great fuel econo-my and performance in aluxury vehicle, with excel-lent value – the LaCrossewith eAssist will cost thou-sands less than competitorswith similar technologies.”

Mated to a 2.4L Ecotecdirect injection four-cylin-der engine and next-gener-ation six-speed automatictransmission, the eAssistsystem uses power storedin the battery to provideneeded electrical boost invarious driving scenarios,optimizing engine andtransmission operation. Anadvanced 115V lithium-ionbattery and latest-genera-tion 15-kW motor-genera-tor unit help increase fueleconomy through:

• Regenerative braking,which provides up to 15 kWof electricity to charge thebattery

• Providing up to 11 kW(15 hp) of electric powerassistance during accelera-tion

• Automatic engine shut-off when the vehicle isstopped

• Aggressive fuel cut-offduring deceleration downto zero vehicle speed,enabled by the torquesmoothing provided by themotor-generator unit

Intelligent charge/dis-charge of the high-voltagebattery.

Buick LaCrosse witheAssist technology also fea-tures improved underbodyaerodynamics and tiresoptimized for performance

and fuel economy, as well asactive control of front-endairflow that improves aero-dynamics and enginewarm-up. Electronicallycontrolled shutters in thelower grille close at higherspeeds to push more airover the vehicle, whichincreases aerodynamic effi-ciency to enhance fueleconomy. All of these tech-nologies increase theeAssist system’s regenera-tive braking capability,while also improving thevehicle’s efficiency whiledriving.

LaCrosse with eAssistincludes an ECO gauge onthe instrument panel thatcontinuously responds todriving behavior, enablingthe driver to drive withmaximum efficiency. It alsofeatures a hill-assist systemthat captures brake pres-sure to help the driver morecomfortably acceleratefrom a stop on a moderateor steep grade. It does thisby greatly reducing the ten-dency of the vehicle to rollbackward with the enginein shut-down mode.

While the eAssist systemshares the same basic belt-alternator-starter configu-ration of previous BASdesigns, it delivers morethan three times the powerand is much more capablethan the previous-genera-tion BAS system.

The eAssist system’s115V air-cooled lithium-ionbattery bolsters the 2.4LEcotec four-cylinderengine with approximately11 kW (15 horsepower) ofelectric power assist duringheavy acceleration and 15kW of regenerative brakingpower. That compares withonly 2 kW of power assistand 5 kW of regenerativepower on the previous BASsystem. The greater powercapability enables greaterenergy capture during

regenerative braking forimproved fuel economy.

The system also enablesthe Ecotec engine to shutdown fuel delivery in cer-tain deceleration condi-tions, which saves addition-al fuel. While in fuel shut-off mode, the motor-gener-ator unit continues spin-ning along with the engineto provide immediate andsmooth take-off powerwhen the driver presses onthe accelerator. Then, asthe vehicle comes to a stop,the motor-generator unitspins the engine, bringing itto a smooth stop – properlypositioned for a smoothrestart.

The eAssist power packcontains the lithium-ionbattery pack, the integratedpower inverter and 12Vpower supply.

It is located in a com-partment between the rearseat and trunk; and it is sur-prisingly compact andlightweight, weighing onlyabout 65 pounds (29 kg). Itstill allows rear access tothe trunk via the split-fold-ing rear seat – an attributenot shared with otherhybrid competitors.

Trunk space is slightlyreduced when comparedwith 2011 models with thefour-cylinder/six-speedpowertrain, but still offers10.9 cubic feet (307 liters)of storage.

An electric fan cools thepower pack, drawing airfrom a vent located in thepackage tray, behind therear seat. The fans aredesigned to be quiet fromthe cabin.

The eAssist system’selectric motor-generator ismounted to the engine inplace of the alternator toprovide both motor assistand electric-generatingfunctions through a newengine belt-drive system.The motor-generator is a

high-performance, com-pact induction motor that isliquid-cooled for increasedperformance and efficien-cy.

The eAssist systemworks with LaCrosse’sdirect injected 2.4L Ecotecfour-cylinder and next-generation six-speed auto-matic powertrain combina-tion. In the LaCrosse witheAssist, the engine is ratedat approximately 180horsepower (134 kW) andthe next-generation Hydra-Matic 6T40 takes transmis-sion technology to the nextlevel with featuresdesigned to enhance pow-ertrain efficiency.

“It’s a very integrated

powertrain system, with nocompromises in drivingperformance, shift qualityor ride and handling,” saidDaryl Wilson, LaCrosselead development engineer.“We believe this combina-tion points to the future ofvehicles powered primarilyby an internal combustionengine.”

WHEELS & WAVES | SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2011 | PAGE 5

Brian Harris Autoplex is the place forthe Buick LaCrosse eAssist

2012 BUICK LACROSSE

The 2011 BuickLacrosse can be seenat: Brian HarrisAutoplex239 Howze BeachRd., Slidell

Phone: 985-643-2277Visit www.brian

harrisautoplex.com

The Cruze debuted lastyear as an all-new modeland has gone on to be both a

sales and critical success.The reasons are multifold,but the bottom line is that

the Cruze is simply a quali-ty car. It looks sharp insideand out. Attention to detailis apparent the first timeyou close the door andnotice it shuts with a solid“thunk.” The feature con-tent is up to date withoptions such as hard-drive-based navigation and key-less ignition/entry.

On the move, the 2012Chevrolet Cruze impresseswith capable handling anda quiet cabin. Under thehood you have a choice oftwo engines. Base LS mod-els have a 136-horsepower1.8-liter four-cylinder, butmost Cruzes actually comewith a turbocharged 1.4-liter engine. Horsepower isabout the same from thissmaller engine (138 hp), buttorque rises significantly to

give the Cruze a boost inaround-town acceleration.The turbo also sees duty inthe Cruze Eco variant.Thanks to various tweaks,the Eco achieves an impres-

sive 42 mpg highway EPArating.

The 2012 ChevroletCruze is a small sedan thatcomes in four main trimlevels: LS, Eco, LT and LTZ.

The LS includes 16-inchsteel wheels, OnStar, a tilt-and-telescoping steeringwheel, air-conditioning, asix-way (manual)adjustable driver seat, a60/40-split rear seat, a tripcomputer, full power acces-sories and a six-speakerstereo with a CD/MP3 play-er, satellite radio and anauxiliary audio jack. AConnectivity package addsBluetooth, a USB port andsteering-wheel-mountedaudio controls.

The Eco is equipped sim-ilarly to the LS but is opti-mized for maximum fuelefficiency with aerodynam-ic improvements, light-weight alloy wheels, low-

PAGE 6 | WHEELS & WAVES | SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2011

The Chevrolet Equinoxis a competitively pricedmid-sized SUV that offersexceptional versatility, dis-tinctive design and highpracticality.

The Equinox is availablein four trim levels, LS, 1LT,2LT and LTZ, and can behad in front-wheel or all-wheel drive. The standarddrivetrain is a 2.4-literdirect injection four-cylin-der and six-speed automat-ic transmission. A 3.0-literdirect injection V6 isoptional on the LT and LTZtrims. Both engines haveE85 FlexFuel capability.Standard safety featuresinclude: four-wheel-discbrakes with ABS, electronicstability system, six airbags,tire pressure monitor,OnStar, security system anddaytime running lights.Available high-tech fea-tures include remote vehi-cle starter, forward colli-sion alert and lane depar-ture warning, navigationsystem, rearview cameraand a power liftgate.

For 2012, the Equinoxadds new features andadjusts packaging, includ-ing Bluetooth and steeringwheel audio controls nowstandard on the LS trim.

or the 2012 ChevroletEquinox, new forward col-lision alert and lane-depar-ture warning systems arenow available. Equinox 1LTmodels also have therearview camera as stan-dard equipment this year.However, the optional rearseat video entertainmentsystem has been dropped.

With a rear seat thatslides back to create anexpanse worthy of a prom-night limousine, the 2012Equinox easily counts rearlegroom among itsstrengths. Ride quality is

another plus, with theEquinox delivering a stable,well-planted ride indicativeof a bigger SUV. In terms ofequipment, the Chevy isfully competitive, withplenty of standard featuresand some nice upgradeslike a hard-drive-basednavigation system. Sadly,you can no longer get theoptional rear seat enter-tainment system: a rare andwelcome feature in thisclass.

Under the hood you’llfind a choice of either a 182-horsepower inline-4 or a

264-hp V6. Both of theseengines deliver respectableacceleration, and the four-cylinder is notable for itsabove-average fuel econo-my.

Standard equipmentincludes 17-inch alloywheels, air-conditioning,cloth upholstery, a partialpower driver seat (heightadjustment only), a slidingand reclining rear seat,cruise control, full poweraccessories, a tilt-and-tele-scoping steering wheelwith audio controls,Bluetooth, OnStar and a

six-speaker sound systemwith a CD player, satelliteradio and an auxiliary audiojack.

Every 2012 ChevroletEquinox comes standardwith a 2.4-liter four-cylin-der engine that produces182 hp and 172 pound-feetof torque. Every Equinoxregardless of engine comesstandard with a six-speedautomatic transmission andfront-wheel drive; all-wheel drive is optional. InEdmunds testing, a front-drive Equinox went fromzero to 60 mph in 9.3 sec-onds, which is an averagenumber for this segment.EPA-estimated fuel econo-my is 22 mpg city/32 mpghighway and 26 mpg com-bined with front-wheeldrive and 20/29/23 withall-wheel drive.

The 2012 Chevy Equinoxcomes standard withantilock disc brakes (withbrake assist), traction andstability control, front seatside airbags, side curtainairbags and OnStar. Arearview camera is stan-dard on all trims except theLS, and rear parking sen-sors are standard on theLTZ.

A new forward colli-

sion/lane departure warn-ing system is optional forthe LTZ only. In Edmundsbrake testing, an Equinoxcame to a stop from 60 mphin 122 feet — a good dis-tance for this type of vehi-cle.

In government crashtests, the Equinox receivedan overall score of fourstars out of a possible five.Within that rating, itreceived four stars for over-all frontal crash protectionand five stars for overallside protection. In frontal-offset and side-impactcrash testing conducted bythe Insurance Institute forHighway Safety, theEquinox earned a top“Good” rating. TheEquinox’s quiet cabin andcomfortable ride qualitymake it a great choice forlong road trips.

The crossover Equinox available at Levis Chevrolet

CHEVROLET EQUINOX

The Chevrolet Equinoxcan be seen at: LevisChevrolet Cadillac316 E. Howze BeachRoad, Slidell

Phone: 985-643-1800Visit www.levischevy

cadillac.com

The economical, quality Chevy Cruze is available at Levis Chevrolet

SEE CRUZE, PAGE 7

CHEVY CRUZE

The 2012 Cadillac CTScomes with some nicetouches including a newgrill and a new lighter morepowerful V6. The newCaddy also comes with arefined Cadillac Wreathand Crest logo as well as anew Touring Package thatcomes with it’s own exclu-sive grille with a dark fin-ish, large wheels and tires,metal pedals, dark Sapelewood interior and suede onthe steering wheel andshifter. For 2012, allCadillac CTS models willcome with standardBluetooth phone integra-tion and the Coupe willhave side blind-zone alertas an option.

The new 3.6-liter V6 is alighter block that gives con-sumers more power whilekeeping fuel efficiency thesame as the current 3.6-literV6.

The new engine pro-duces SAE-certified 318horsepower and 273 lb-ft oftorque and it gets 18 mpg

city and 27 mpg highway.According to Don Butler,

vice president of Cadillacmarketing. “”CTS hasestablished itself as aworld-class line of luxurysports cars, but to remainon top, we have to continu-ally make improvements.The changes for the 2012model year give customersa fresh take on the CTS’sbold front grille and pro-vide enhanced driving per-formance without sacrific-ing fuel economy.”

Cadillac engineers didseveral things to the cur-rent engine for these gainsin power and fuel efficien-

cy. The cylinder heads havelarger intake valves andimproved intake ports.These work together with alonger-duration camshaftto increase power and fuelefficiency by allowing moreair to flow into the engine.

A new integrated cylin-der head/exhaust manifoldsaves about 13 pounds perengine. The new intakemanifold is made fromcomposite materials andsaves another 5.5 poundswhen compared to the cur-rent aluminum intake.Several other mods cutanother 20 pounds fromthe engine. This decrease inweight not only helps withfuel efficiency it alsoimproves handling and bal-ance.

The Touring Packagepackage comes with anexclusive grill, metal ped-als, dark Sapele wood inte-rior and sueded seat inserts,steering wheel and shiftknob. The Touring Packagealso comes with chrome

door handles and 19-inchpolished wheels if you havethe 3.6-liter version. If you

opt for the 3.0-liter thenyou get 18-inch wheels witha pearl-nickel finish. The

2012 Cadillac CTS Touringalso comes with Recaro 14-way adjustable seats.

WHEELS & WAVES | SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2011 | PAGE 7

The classy 2012 Cadillac CTS is availableat Levis Chevrolet-Cadillac

2012 CADILLAC CTS

The 2011 Cadillac CTScan be seen at: LevisChevrolet Cadillac316 E. Howze BeachRoad, Slidell

Phone: 985-643-1800Visit www.levischevy

cadillac.com

rolling-resistance tires, asmaller fuel tank and a fewminor feature deletions tofurther reduce weight.

The LT actually compris-es 1LT and 2LT subsets.The 1LT comes with a tur-bocharged engine, cruisecontrol, color-keyed poweroutside mirrors, a leather-wrapped steering wheeland the contents of theConnectivity package.

EPA fuel economy esti-mates stand at 25 mpgcity/36 mpg highway and29 mpg combined for theCruze LS with the manualtransmission and 22/35/27mpg with the automatic.The turbocharged engine(LT and LTZ) with either

transmission receives26/38/30 mpg estimates.

The fuel-economy-focused Cruze Eco earns alaudable 28 mpg city/42mpg highway and 33 mpgcombined with the manualtransmission and 26/39/31with the automatic.

All 2012 Chevrolet Cruzemodels come with stabilitycontrol, antilock brakes,full-length side curtain

airbags, front knee airbagsand front and rear sideimpact airbags as standard.All trims except the 2LTand LTZ have a front-disc/rear-drum brakesetup; those models areupgraded to four-wheeldisc brakes. In governmentcrash testing, the Cruzeearned a top five-star ratingfor overall safety perform-ance, with five stars in bothfrontal and side-impact cat-egories. In InsuranceInstitute for HighwaySafety testing, the Cruzereceived a top score of“Good” in both frontal-off-set and side-impact testing.In Edmunds brake testing, aCruze LTZ stopped from 60mph in 122 feet, a good dis-tance for this class of car.

CRUZE: Available at Levis Chevrolet» FROM PAGE 7

The Chevy Cruze canbe seen at: LevisChevrolet Cadillac316 E. Howze BeachRoad, Slidell

Phone: 985-643-1800Visit www.levischevy

cadillac.com

PAGE 8 | WHEELS & WAVES | SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2011