Uftring Chevy Receives the GM Mark of Excellence

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We’ve been marked. Typically, being marked indicates you have done something wrong. In our case, we’ve been marked with excellence.

Everyone enjoys being rewarded and recognized for a job well done. While we don’t work simply for the recognition, the discipline and drive that has produced successful, tangible results is something of which we are proud. Performing at a high level and helping our customers and friends each day is satisfying in and of itself. Being recognized for our efforts and accomplishments by General Motors is the cherry on top. 

Dealer Principal Gary Uftring (far right) and General Manager Joe Knapp (Inside Left) Accept the Award

On Friday, July 8^th, General Motors presented Uftring Chevy with the GM Mark of Excellence Award for 2010. This award is given each year to only the top General Motors dealerships in the country. These dealerships must have achieved a superior sales volume and exceptional dedication to customer service and satisfaction. The award was presented to Dealer Principal Gary Uftring, General Manager Joe Knapp, and members of the Uftring sales team.

The 2010 GM Mark of Excellence Award

This award serves to validate and acknowledge the hard work and dedication that has been put forth at this dealership by all of the employees. Recognition must also be directed to a great management team with superior leadership abilities and experience. But ultimately, a Mark of Excellence dealer signifies exceptional customer satisfaction. At Uftring Chevrolet in Washington, that is our number one goal.

Members of the sales team and management at Uftring Chevy

We encourage you to experience award-winning sales and service at Uftring Chevy in Washington. Whether it’s the next time you are looking for a new car or you simply need an oil change, choose a GM Mark of Excellence Dealer – Uftring Chevy, where our people have the mark of excellence!

Uftring Auto Group Walks for Crohns & Colitis

Team members of the Uftring Auto Group's six Peoria-area dealerships joined together with other members of the community for the Take Steps for Crohn's & Colitis walk on June 25th at Bradley Park. One of our team members has been directly touched by Crohn's & Colitis and we enthusiastically showed our support at the early evening walk through Bradley Park. Even though there was some rain, a large group of Uftring employees and members of the Uftring Ambassador Initiative showed their support. The previous Friday, each Uftring Auto Group store held a Casual Day for a Cause to raise money for Crohn's & Colitis. Gary Uftring matched the employees donations, many of whom contributed more than the $5 minimum.

Looking for Peoria Heroes

Uftring Auto Group is proud to partner with the Peoria Chiefs to present the "Hero of the Day." Beginning in June and running through September, a local hero will be honored at all Chiefs Friday, Saturday, and Sunday home games. We need your help to make this event possible.

Do you know a local hero? We are currently looking for submissions! Nominees can come from all branches of military service and may be active duty or a veteran. Those who are chosen to be hero of the game will be awarded with 10 tickets to the Peoria Chiefs game they are being recognized at, $100 in food and beverage vouchers, a Chiefs hat, and a plaque commemorating their service which will be presented on the field during the game.

You can submit your hero to PeoriaHero@gmail.com, simply click the button below to start your email. Please include their name, rank, branch of service and a short description of why they should be selected. Thank you in advance for your submission! We are excited to sponsor this great program and we look forward to recognizing some of our great local heroes.

10 Ways To Save Gas & Improve MPG

Rising gas prices have many people looking for more fuel efficient vehicles or figuring out ways to coax the most gas out of the car they already own. For some, purchasing a more fuel efficient vehicle may not be an option right now, but there are plenty of steps to take to start enjoying improved fuel economy in your current ride. Here are ten tips to help you get the most distance for your dough, as well as a video on how to save fuel from Jon Peters, Director of Fixed Operations for the Uftring Auto Group.

1. Drive Conservatively - Quick starts and hard braking can increase fuel consumption by as much as 40%. Tests show that jack-rabbit starting and hard braking reduces travel time by only 4%, while toxic emissions were more than five times higher. Accelerate slowly and smoothly. 

2. Drive Steadily at Posted Speed Limits - Increasing highway cruising speed from 55mph to 75mph can raise fuel consumption by as much as 20%. Improve gas mileage by 10-15% by driving slower and more consistently. 

3. Avoid Idling Your Vehicle - In both the summer and winter, idling your vehicle wastes fuel and produces unnecessary greenhouse gases. If you are going to be stopped more than 30 seconds anywhere except in traffic, turn off your car to conserve gas. In the winter, older vehicles may need more idling time to warm up and sufficiently defog the windshield. 

4. Tire Inflation - Under-inflated tires can cause fuel consumption to increase as much as 6%. Check tire pressure at least once a month in your driveway after the vehicle has been idle for a few hours. If under-inflated, take to a gas station to add air. According to the Energy Information Administration, tire efficiency could save approximately 800,000 barrels of oil a day. 

5. Air Conditioner - Using the air conditioner on a hot summer day can increase fuel consumption by as much as 10% in city driving. At low speeds, roll down the window if possible. At high speeds, having the air on may be more efficient than the wind resistance from open windows. 

6. Use Cruise Control - For long highway driving trips, use your cruise control and save fuel by maintaining a steady speed. 

7. Choose the Right Fuel - Premium, high-octane fuels aren't necessarily the best choice for your car. Higher prices don't guarantee better performance. Consult your owner's manual to see what your car requires. 

8. Monitor Power Accessories - Shut off all power-consuming accessories and devices in your vehicles before turning off the car. These devices cause the alternator to work harder when you start up the vehicle. This adds a load to the engine and increases fuel use. 

9. Tighten Your Gas Cap - Many people think that just because the gas cap is on, it's doing its job. The truth is, gas evaporates. If you don't tighten your gas cap to the second click, you will lose gas due to evaporation. According to the Car Care Council, loose, missing or damaged gas caps cause 147 million gallons of gas to evaporate every year. 

10. Plan Ahead - It does not matter if your are going across town to the store or across the country for a family trip, you should pick the most efficient route. This includes avoiding heavy traffic, hills, construction and other obstacles. If you are organized, you can reduce the total number of small trips and save fuel.

Altering your driving habits can have a tremendous and noticeable effect on your fuel economy and on your wallet. Implement these driving tips today to start saving on gas! 

These tips originally from Uftring Weston Chevrolet Cadillac.

It's How Fast? The 2011 Callaway Camaro SC572

It's dark. It's mysterious. It's menacing. It looks and feels like midnight, when anything can happen. The 2011 Callaway Camaro SC572 has landed right here at Uftring Chevy Saab's home in Washington, and has it ever made an impact.

2011 Callaway Camaro at Uftring Chevy

If you're looking for fast, you've found it. If you're looking for mean, you've found it. If you're looking for unique, special, something that will draw stares and leave mouths hanging wide open - well, you've found it. The Camaro is great on its own. The Callaway Camaro takes that greatness and then lifts it to an entirely new level. That level is where the supercars lie, and it plays by an entirely different set of rules.

Sits low with a constant snarl on its face

What you're looking at is a 2011 Chevy Camaro 2SS that's been heavily modified by Callaway. In addition to the standard Callaway Camaro SC572 Package (complete with 572 horsepower, a 6 speed manual transmission, Eaton Supercharger, increased flow fuel injectors, liquid to air intercooler, high flow intake system...you get the idea) we custom ordered a number of tasty options on it that will get your car glands salivating. It's been lowered an inch, and in combination with the added Callaway nine spoke wheels this supercar possesses a mean and aggressive profile.

Custom Callaway 9-Spoke Wheels

The ChromeCoat supercharger finish and PowerHood window allow a peek at the inner workings of the engine, and it's a beautiful site. There are Callaway touches all over the car including badging on the interior and exterior as well as embroidered headrests and floormats. This Camaro is so special and so dark, it's the next best thing to the Batmobile.

The guts are as beautiful as the skin

Taking this car out for a spin is unreal. Firing up the engine and hearing it roar to life through those massive exhaust tips is simply stunning. You can tell when it's running in the low gears that it's barely even been woken up. It's yawning, waiting for the real action to begin. You can hear it grumbling, and it sounds spectacular. The Callaway is simply waiting to explode to performance heaven and take you with it.

Optional supercharger with the ChromeCoat Supercharger Finish

 This car hits 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds and runs the quarter mile in 11.9 seconds. Cruising around town brought plenty of looks end quite a bit of car envy, especially from the other sports and muscle cars we passed on the road.

The Chevy Bow Tie has been replaced with Callaway's font

This Callaway Camaro retains the 3 year/36,000 Mile limited bumper to bumper warranty. Are you a fan of fast? Contact our Callaway Specialist Chris Kamp at 309-444-3151 or email him at chriskamp@uftring.com. He's one of the nicest guys you'll meet and he would love to show you around our performance car offerings, including this dark and mysterious Callaway Camaro. Visit our website to see all of our Camaros and Corvettes complete with pictures and info.