AT A GLANCE

TECHNOLOGY: OnStar offers safety, convenience and information; the electric Volt is already revolutionizing the auto industry.

HISTORY: Started by race-car driver Louis Chevrolet and General Motors founder William Durant in 1911. Purchased by GM in 1918.

FAMOUS MODELS: Camaro, Corvette, Silverado, Suburban.

KNOWN FOR: Affordable family cars, V8-powered performance vehicles, and tough work trucks.

Affordable, powerful style

For nearly a century, Chevrolet has stood for value and style that everyone can afford. From its start as a brand to compete with Ford’s Model T to today’s high-tech family cars, Chevy has always been about bringing quality to the masses.

Now, more than ever before, it’s also a brand in transition.

Chevy is entering a new era where car buyers and the government are demanding more efficiency across the board, which means an increasing emphasis on smaller cars that sip very little fuel. The recently released Chevy Volt — an electric car — is even designed so that it only uses gasoline for long, extended trips.

To drive home the point on efficiency, Chevrolet introduced a lineup of efficient crossover vehicles, some of which get more than 30 mpg on the highway.

That’s an astounding figure for a mid-size SUV, setting the bar for crossover vehicles around the world.

At the same time, Chevy is holding onto its heritage as a maker of muscle cars and powerful, tough pickups. The new Camaro harkens back to Detroit’s glory days in the 1960s, and huge, rugged vehicles like the Silverado pickup and full-size Suburban SUV still set the standard for American workhorses.

From its smallest commuter cars to its biggest, most luxurious SUVs, there’s a century of hard-working, blue-collar strength behind every vehicle.

2013 VEHICLES TO WATCH

Spark

The Spark is Chevrolet’s first mini car for the U.S. market. It’s a sporty five-door hatchback that’s affordable and comfortable to drive.

Malibu

The popular Malibu has been completely redesigned for 2013, including what Chevy calls best-in-class ride and handling.

Camaro ZL1

The Camaro ZL1, Chevy’s everyday supercar, is now available as a convertible. It’s one of the fastest drop-top cars in the world.