2015 Chevrolet City Express Powers Small Business
According to the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, U.S. small businesses account for 99.7 percent of employer firms. According to IHS Automotive, total small business registrations have increased each year since 2009 with a cumulative 41 percent increase when comparing 2009 to 2013.
Chevrolet’s all-new, 2015 City Express matches maneuverability and cargo-hauling flexibility with efficiency, giving urban commercial business owners and fleet managers value-driven capability with lower operating costs than full-size vans.
It offers 122.7 cubic feet (3,474 liters) of customizable cargo space, a tight turning diameter of only 36.7 feet (11.2 meters) and a payload capacity of 1,500 pounds (680 kg). The City Express – offered in LS and LT trims – is based on the Nissan NV200, which GM procures from Nissan and distributes through Chevrolet’s network of 3,200 dealers.
The 2015 Chevrolet City Express LT starts at $24,510, building on the LS with additional standard features including cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity and backup sensors. Remote keyless entry with an automatic locking feature and heated, power-adjustable outside mirrors also are standard on the LT.
The City Express’s all-important cargo area is designed for one thing: Function. In addition to its 122.7 cubic feet of cargo room, the space is designed to accommodate large and bulky items, with 4’6” of space from side wall to side wall. That’s more than enough room to load a standard 40” x 48” pallet flat on the floor.
There’s also 6’10” of room from the rear doors to the back of the front seats, and when the passenger seat is folded, the length for longer items grows to 9’8”. The tops of the rear wheel houses are flat, too, to enable tiered storage when a platform is used on them.
The tall rear doors are a 40/60-split design, with the 60-percent side on the right (curb) side for easy access from a sidewalk. The 40-percent left-side door is shorter, reducing its potential intrusion into the street when open. Both rear doors feature dual opening positions of 90 degrees and 180 degrees, while the standard sliding left- and right-hand side doors are designed for low effort.
City Express also offers driver- and passenger-side sliding door windows and windows for the rear doors.
As a mobile work environment, the City Express’s interior blends functionality with comfort and convenience. The driver’s seat is mounted in a high, “commanding” position for excellent outward visibility. A six-way-adjustable seat with manual lumbar and armrest is designed for durability with outboard vinyl wear patches. The passenger’s seat is a four-way-adjustable design. Height-adjustable front seat head restraints and front door map pockets are also standard. The passenger seat slide travel is nearly 9.5 inches, too, which makes more room for cargo.
The City Express’s DOHC 2.0L inline-four engine with continuously variable valve timing is rated at 131 horsepower (98 kW) and 139 lb-ft of torque (188 Nm). It drives the front wheels via a continuously variable transmission that contributes to efficiency by optimizing torque delivery across the rpm band.
A body-integral chassis is designed to provide a balance of strength and low mass that enhances efficiency and the feeling of performance. A MacPherson-strut suspension is located in the front and there’s a truck-style multi-leaf rear suspension. Other chassis features include 15-inch wheels, front disc brakes and efficiency-enhancing electric power steering.
Four-wheel anti-lock brakes and electronic brake-force distribution are standard, as is an electronic stability control system.
The City Express also comes standard with six standard airbags: dual-stage frontal air bags, side-impact supplemental air bags and roof-mounted curtain air bags for side-impact and rollover protection.
Source: General Motors
