Neuville Motors will have a new look next spring.
Plans for a major remodeling project were presented to customers and guests at the GM dealership’s open house Thursday, Nov. 3.
Work has begun, and completion on most of the project is expected in March, with some exterior work being finished in May.
Passersby on West Fulton Street will notice a new exterior at Neuville Motors. The north side of the building will have a blue entrance. An addition will be built on the east side of the showroom with an enclosed area for delivery of vehicles.
“The customers will no longer have to go outside to pick up their car,” according to Tim Neuville, the owner. “They’ll be able to pay for their car and pick it up without having to go out into inclement weather.”
Neuville said customers who come in for service to their vehicles will notice major changes inside the facility. In addition to new furniture and new flooring, there will be new walls constructed between the auto service bays and the customer reception area.
“When you’re talking with the service advisors, you won’t be in the shop any more. It will be 80 percent quieter,” Neuville said. He noted that the new lounge area for customers will be larger, more open and have new, larger bathrooms.
The entrance to the showroom on the building’s west side will remain much the same.
“But once you come inside, it will look entirely different,” Neuville said.
Customers will see a new greeting area, showroom and new offices.
One of the most innovative products on display at Neuville Motors right now is the Chevy Volt.
The vehicle has a battery capable of going up to 35 miles on a single charge, gas free. It also has a gas generator that produces electricity that allows a driver to go a total of 375 additional miles on a full tank of gas.
Chevrolet estimates that it costs about $1.50 per day to charge the battery.
“The first demo just came in a few days ago, and I have a second one being shipped,” Neuville said. “They’ve had the Volt in New York and California, but they didn’t have it in our state until a few months ago.”
While Neuville does not expect the Volt to be his biggest seller, he said he expects to move more than 10 times the number of Chevy Cruze vehicles.
The Cruze Eco has a fuel-efficiency rating of 42 miles per gallon, the highest of any American-made engine.
Neuville noted that even more traditional GM products, such as the Buick Regal, have eAssist engines that allow larger, family cars to provide better fuel economy. The 2012 Regal with eAssist can get up to 37 miles per gallon.
“We are excited about the future of GM or we wouldn’t be making this investment,” Neuville said. “Our last two years have been our best two years ever.”