Savor it:

Street-legal but built with the track in mind, this choice baby recalls the speed-demon Camaros of yore with it’s super-light chassis design and skin and bone packages, including single-speaker sound system, and optional A/C.

The all new Z/28 includes a beefed up 7.0 liter LS7 V8 putting out 500 hp, with enhanced aerodynamics for improved downforce and DSSV Suspension, which literally shaves seconds off the ZL1′s best time on the track. In addition to that, they’ve ditched lb’s from the trunk to the front bumper, and ended up a whopping 300 lbs lighter than the ZL1 for supreme handling on the road and on the track.

Not to say that the ZL1 isn’t a performance driver’s dream, it houses all the creature comforts of a luxury model as well as tear-your-face-off power and good old Detroit muscle. But if you’re literally looking to smoke fools and WIN on the track this summer, nothing beats the Z/28 for hot, nasty speed.

And you want to know what the best part is?? Unlike the COPO and Blackout editions, this baby is PRODUCTION. That’s right, ladies and gents, the 2014 Z/28 isn’t a concept, but full-on production, and should be hitting our showroom (hopefully) with the rest of the ’14′s. Take that, dreams not coming true!

Now all we have to do is get it on a racetrack next to our own new blistering Berger 1LE and we’ll really have something to brag about. Lets do it!

A few things that you didn’t know about Barry Stephan:

• His favorite car is a Triumph TR6.

• His favorite sport is Michigan State Basketball.

• His favorite food is buffalo steak.

• When he’s not at work, he enjoys target shooting, and big game hunting in exotic locations.

• His favorite part about working at Berger is being able to meet and get to know all kinds of different folks.

• His favorite place to visit in Michigan is Marquette, in the beautiful and wild U.P.

• If he could be any animal, he would be a raccoon, because they are omnivores, and enjoy a varied diet.

Stop in and get to know Barry!

NEW BERGER CHEVROLET CAMARO 1LE SPECIAL EDITION SHINES ON THE STREET AND TRACK

Value-priced package adds concept-inspired style, offers capability-enhancing options

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Berger Chevrolet announces the release of its new, exclusive Berger Camaro 1LE, a uniquely styled version of Chevy’s track-oriented performance coupe. The Berger 1LE is available now with a suggested retail price of $39,985.

It is the latest special edition from one of the most renowned dealers in high-performance, with more than 40 years of heritage developing power- and appearance-enhancing packages for new Chevrolets.

“The Berger Camaro 1LE builds on an already great-performing car and gives it greater distinction,” said dealer Matt Berger. “It’s a great value that delivers style, exclusivity and excellent track capability for less than $40,000.”

The car’s visual elements are inspired by Chevrolet’s original 1LE SEMA Show vehicle and blended with the signature styling cues that have been associated with the West Michigan dealership’s performance models for more than four decades.

Unique features of the Berger Camaro 1LE include:

• Painted hood and heritage-style front-fender hash marks based on the 2012 1LE SEMA vehicle
• Blacked-out front grille enclosure
• Chevrolet Accessories heritage grille with bowtie bracket
• Berger-signature blacked-out rear panel with matching black taillight surrounds and “By Berger” rear emblem
• Black-painted wheel hub flanges
• Blacked-out front and rear bowtie surrounds
• Heritage blue front and rear bowties
• Custom 1LE front fender and rear deck lid badges with Heritage blue trim
• Billet “By Berger” underhood emblem and “Prescribed Power” underhood graphic
• “Prescribed Power” interior emblem.

The cost of the Berger Camaro 1LE is only $2,950 more than the MSRP of a factory Camaro 1SS-based 1LE. Additional appearance and suspension equipment is optional.

Core elements of the Camaro 1LE’s track-capable driving dynamics remain unaltered with the Berger edition, including the specific TREMEC six-speed manual transmission with close-ratio gearing that’s matched with a numerically higher 3.91 rear-axle ratio.

Additional chassis and suspension features of the factory package include monotube rear dampers in place of the standard SS’s twin-tube shocks, along with a larger 27mm solid front stabilizer bar, 28mm solid rear bar and a strut tower brace – all designed for greater body motion control and minimal roll in corners. A number of ZL1-based parts are also part of the factory package, including 20×10-inch wheels and 285/35ZR20 Goodyear Supercar G:2 tires, wheel bearings, toe links and rear shocks mounts, as well as the ZL1’s high-capacity fuel pump and additional fuel pickups that ensure unimpeded fuel delivery during high-load cornering.

“We didn’t mess with what works so well with the excellent 1LE package,” said Berger. “The unique transmission ratios and 3.91 gear totally transform the performance feel of the car, compared with a standard SS, but for those who want to take the performance of their car to the next level, we offer tailored upgrades that help the 1LE get around the track even quicker.”

Berger’s optional handling package costs $1,685 and includes:

• Wider 305/35ZR20 Goodyear F1 Supercar G:2 rear tires for enhanced grip
• Pfadt Race engineering coil springs with increased spring rate and approximately 1.25-inch lowered ride height
• Track-oriented four-wheel alignment.

Additional options include an aero package, with ZL1 composite lower rocker extensions and rear spoiler, for $1,190, and a composite extractor hood for $1,355.

“All in, a fully optioned Berger Camaro 1LE runs $48,890 on a 1SS model,” says Berger. “That’s about $7,500 less than the base price for a ZL1, while offering tremendous track capability and uncompromising drivability on the street. We can also do horsepower enhancements, but they’re handled individually with each customer.”

Berger Chevrolet was founded in 1925, in Grand Rapids, Mich., and has long been known as one of the preeminent high-performance dealerships, with “Prescribed Power” performance packages and special models offered since the 1960s. Berger Chevrolet was one of the original selling dealers for the 1969 COPO Camaros and sold one of the original 69 1969 Camaro ZL-1 models.

For more information about the Berger Camaro 1LE, contact Dick Jacques at 616-575-9607 or djacques@bergerchevy.com.

Follow Berger Chevrolet on Facebook: facebook.com/bergerchevy.

# # #

And they wanted an awesome truck. When Colonel Alan Orr first contacted us, we were like “absolutely, we love those things.” But then we got to know the guys and their organization a little bit, and realized that what they were doing was so much bigger than a Silverado 2500.

Their purpose is to provide severely wounded soldiers and servicemen with specially guided hunting trips to not only show their appreciation for the sacrifices these brave men made, but to help re-acclimate them with their surroundings and learn to live with their injuries. “These hunting trips can mean the world to these guys, just being back out on the hunt and doing something they love can be a hundred times more healing than any doctor’s office.” says our own Jim Hensley, who facilitated the deal and acted as contact for the organization and their director Colonel Alan Orr, “It was great getting to know these guys and being able to be involved with such an awesome and commendable organization.”

The truck itself was fitted with special seats, steering, brakes, and other accommodations for various disabilities, and will be used for transportation as well as awareness. We’d like to welcome Combat Marine Outdoors, Colonel Orr, and the rest of his family to the Berger Team, and extend our warmest gratitude for involving us with your amazing, incredible cause. If you would like more information on Combat Marine Outdoors or hear some of their awe inspiring stories, visit their site at www.combatmarineoutdoors.org

Here’s a quick look at the redesigned 2014 Impala and some of the perks you can look forward to when re-acquainting yourself with the seemingly long-lost ultimate sedan.

Doesn’t even look like an Impala, does it? The all-new redesigned 2014 is built on a Cadillac frame but looks more like a BMW, and in addition to the sleek new look, comes with a spec sheet worthy of the “luxury sedan” classification. The additions of LT and LTZ editions to the already loaded base model leave a ton to be excited for when these babies roll into the showroom somewhere around March.

Base Models include:

18″ wheels, 19″ and 20″ for the LT and LTZ

A fancy Corvette-inspired dual cockpit interior

A “fairly slathered on” noise cancellation system designed to make for a quieter drive than the Taurus or Galant

A 4.2″ driver-configurable screen on the dash that displays various information and vehicle data (depending on package)

Packages are extensive and completely customization with anything from MyLink, OnStar, satellite radio, range-adaptive cruise control, collision-mitigating automatic braking, lane departure and blind-spot alert, and forward and rear cross-traffic alert. The engine packages (there are three predicted, though nothing officially from GM yet) are speculated to include a 2.4 litre 4 cylinder  a 2.5 4 cylinder,  and a zippy 3.6 litre V6.

If you’ve ever dreamed of driving a luxury sedan without the astronomical price tag, the 2014 Impala is the car for you. If you’ve ever admired the ride, quality, or space of one of the old Impalas but never bought one for fear you’d be mistaken for an undercover police officer, than this is the car for you. If you’ve ever concurred with the saying “beer budget, champagne taste”, than this is the car for you. Stay tuned here for more information as it becomes available. Looking good, Impala!

Bill has been an automotive technician at Berger for 25 years. You can find him back in the service garage wrenching on cars from the giant-est pickup to this Corvette ZR1 here.

He might hold a degree in psychology, but its cars he likes to pick apart and put back together. He likes having a new challenge to work on every day, and there’s nothing Bill doesn’t know about cars. He also has two sons, one of whom has been working at Berger in the IT department when he’s not away at school. Here are a few things I bet you didn’t know about Bill Selberg:

1)      He has excellent taste in automobiles; his favorite kind of car is the Plymouth GTX hemi convertible.

2)      While his culinary interests are wide and diverse, he loves Chinese food and frequents Grand Lakes Chinese on Breton when he’s in the area

3)      When he’s not at work, he enjoys camping, hiking, and doing carpentry projects around the house.

4)      His favorite place in Michigan is Isle Royale National Park.

5)      If he could be any type of animal, he’d be a wolverine (no explanation needed)

His car is SO hot as a matter of fact, that he drove it to Florida in excellent time. Like he left Grand Rapids at 7:30 and was in Georgia by 4:30 excellent time. A few quick stops and one giant “super-speeding” love letter from Georgia State Law Enforcement later (see? This is what CAMARO love is all about), he arrived safely in Florida, so his gorgeous SS won’t ever have to fall prey to ice, snow, or damaging salt. As for the CAMARO, like I said it’s a 2010 SS/RS, imperial blue with silver stripes, and he loved it at first sight. He loved how the new body styles recalled the old ’68, but were built for comfort as well as speed. Way to go, Rich, we love your car!

Due to widespread gossip and speculation from fans (of which, Corvette definitely has a few), and the obsessive, mega-importance FBI-type security assigned to the project, the redesigned next-gen 2014 Corvette C7 has been a very hot topic over the last year. Normally, despite auto-maker’s careful measures and subtly intentional plants, fans of any particular automobile can internet-stalk a model right down to the spark plugs, gaining access to track footage, spy shots, factory leaks, and pre-production testing camouflage even years before it ever hits the assembly line. Auto makers do this on purpose to create hype and generate a buzz to brand and create urgency when said vehicle actually hits the market.

Not the new ‘Vette…they’ve they’ve kept a lid on this baby so tight that even the teasers and “leaks” GM has been slowly releasing up to the grand unveiling have shown nothing. It’s obviously a new body, they’ve obviously done a great deal of tinkering with the back end and head lights, and they’ve obviously updated the wheel-rim design…but that’s it. Fan footage and spy photos either reveal nothing, or are removed from the internet hours after they’re posted. Traditional press conferences, Q&A’s, and interviews with GM, Chevrolet, and Corvette designers are noticeably absent. Nobody’s got nothing on this new car it would seem.

That’s all that’s sticking. The new Corvette has leather seats. DUH. If the world would have ended and everybody had all been hurled into the sun or whatever without anybody even getting a glimpse of the new ‘Vette, my charred skeleton (along with the charred skeletons of enthusiasts all over the globe) would have been very perplexed indeed.

I’ll tell you what we do know: the Corvette C7 will feature major body style changes (think futuristic…cool!) and a new-and-improved V8 codenamed LT1. Contrary to the old rumor mill, this ‘Vette is keeping it’s characteristic huge engine (as opposed to many other performance automobile makers, who are sizing down in favor of hybrid and electric V6 powertrains), though it’s supposed to get more MPGs than the C6, and have (according to Chevrolet) a “preliminary estimated” 450hp with 450 pounds-feet of torque. It is “preliminary estimated” to go 0-60 in less than 4 seconds, according to Chevy. I’m guessing it’s got a little more juice than that, but it’s impossible to tell because I CAN’T FIND ANYTHING ON IT. Touche, Corvette Secret Service…

Other confirmations include such obvious details as front engine, rear wheel drive (duh, sportscar), and “superior aerodynamics designed to press the car down to the road for improved speed and handling” (also duh, new model). Aside from that, we’re just going to have to wait. If you happen to have a press pass to the Detroit International Auto Show that day…I’ll pay big money for it…er…prepare to have your mind blown. This could be the biggest success/flop Chevy has had since the Vega.

Now show me that ‘Vette!

Berger is proud to take this time to focus on two very important charities this year, Toys for Tots and the local food pantries that supply food to anyone who needs it. We want to bring the magic of the season to kids, families, and anyone in need of a good Christmas this year, and nothing says Happy Holidays like a pile of presents and a big, hot, dinner.

It kills us to think that there are kids out there who wake up on Christmas morning to think that Santa couldn’t make it this year. Every child deserves a special gift to preserve the magic of the holiday, and inspire warmth in the brutal months to come. That’s why we’re proud to be accepting donations for Toys for Tots all over the dealership, and encouraging every single one of you out there to load up your sleighs with piles of unwrapped, original-packaged children’s toys and drop them off here or at any other Toys for Tots donation center, and give kids all over the area a reason to believe this holiday season. Then do the same with non-perishable food. Tis’ the season, right?

Warmest wishes to you and your family this holiday season, and a merry, merry Christmas from our family to yours. If you would like to make a donation or have any questions, please call or stop by Berger Chevy today for details.

Pictures of Hope is a charity organization founded by celebrity photographer and videographer Linda Solomon to benefit homeless and transitional children in cities all over the USA. It is Linda’s goal to help these kids realize and express their hopes and dreams through their own eyes, and encourage expression, creativity, and most importantly hope through the power of photography. 16 children were given cameras and a special lesson from Linda, and turned loose with the assignment to take pictures of their hopes and dreams for the future.

What they came back with was more intimate and moving than anyone could have imagined. Their photographs showcased not only the reality of their situations, but a tenderness, thoughtfulness, and spirit unaffected by hard times. It was beautiful and heartbreaking all at once. 9 year old Johannes hopes for a safe house. 11 year old Te’asia hopes to “play piano and sing for the rest of my life”. 7 year old Michelle hopes to help animals, and 10 year old Jayden hopes to help homeless people going through the same things his family had to.

The photographs the kids took were printed on greeting cards and are available for purchase through Berger Chevrolet and Family Promise of Grand Rapids, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting Family Promise and the families involved. In addition to raising funds, Pictures of Hope focuses on raising awareness of what being homeless means to families fallen on difficult times.

Berger’s involvement added a unique dimension to the festivities, hosting a delicious pizza party provided by our friends at Uccello’s, and presenting each child with a super-cool Galaxy PC tablet so they can further their exploration of photography, as well as utilize all kinds of resources available online. “I’m really touched and honored to be a part of this event. What we saw today moved me in so many ways,” says Berger’s General Manager Lenny George, “I couldn’t be more proud to be involved in a project like this. It was really amazing.”

And we’re happy to keep the giving spirit rolling this holiday season with a food drive going in the New Car Showroom’s play area, and a dealership-wide Toys For Tots competition. So stock up on non-perishable food items and new, unwrapped toys this month, and help bring Christmas to families in need! A big thank you to the whole Berger Family, Gerry Rozeboom, Linda Solomon, Barbara Zylstra and Cheryl Schuch from Family Promise, Uccello’s, Chevrolet, and everyone who helped make Pictures of Hope possible! It was truly a beautiful, magical evening.