New Reveal : 2011 Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle

Introduction:
Cops always demand rigid, capable, and yet cheap rear-wheel-drive, full-size sedans. That's exactly the reason why police departments - worldwide - have been buying Ford Crown Victorias for over a decade now. Lately though, new comers like the Dodge Charger Police car have been around, but yet couldn't offer what the Victoria does best. However, Chevrolet want to come into play, and here's their new offering - the 2011 Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle. Police department all around the U.S. will be getting Caprice PPVs in mid 2010.

Design:

Yes, the Caprice is back! Wait, GM said that this all-new Caprice is currently sold only to police departments, but they are considering a retail production edition if impressions are good. This new Caprice is actually so new, that now, it's not American at all! The 2011 Caprice Police is actually a rebadged Holden Statesman, which is actually a stretched long-wheel-base version of the Holden Commodore, which has the original Zeta-platform, that the Pontiac G8, and Chevrolet Lumina aslo have. For your information, this Caprice Police Patrol is exactly the same Chevrolet Caprice being sold in the Middle East. So it looks like a G8 - all the muscular fenders, the aggressive headlights, the quality interior, and sport-bucket seats. This police car looks way more "bad-ass" than the old-school Victoria does.

Powertrain:

Of course, the main feature behind this Caprice PPV, that it has the rear-drive Zeta-platform, which underpins the new 2010 Camaro, the Cadillac CTS, and the surely, the beloved G8. So with that platform, the Caprice PPV should drive like a sports-sedan. A police car has to have a responsive, yet an efficient V8 engine. For the Caprice, it gets the Australian-built 'L98' 6.0L V8, with 355 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque, plus an Active Fuel Management, which can cut cylinders when they aren't needed. Connected to a smooth-shifting 6-speed automatic, the Caprice PPV will hit 60 mph in under 6 seconds, which is certainly way faster than the Crown Vic police car. To make it more capable and reliable at high speeds, GM adds some police specific upgrades, like a high-output alternator, engine oil, transmission and power steering coolers, 18-inch steel wheels with bolt-on center caps, larger four-wheel disc brakes with heavy-duty brake pads, heavy-duty suspension components, police-calibrated stability control system.

Source : [Chevrolet]

Video : IIHS celebrates 50th anniversary by crashing a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu into a 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air

Celebrating their 50th anniversary, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) wanted to showcase what 50 years has done to car safety. They've exactly done that, by a crash-test. Though this is not the usual crash-test.

The folks at IIHS have decided to head-crash a modern 2009 Chevrolet Malibu, into a vintage 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air. So 50 years seperate these two cars. The results were eye-opening from the video (watch below). Both cars were going the same speed, making the impact the same, on both driver sides. However, with Malibu's new "H frame" structual body shell, the chassis wasn't colapsed, and therefore, the driver and the passengers would walk out in this situation. The Bel Air on the other hand, doesn't have any type of modern body frame (just tough metal), the whole chassis and shell was altered. And you can clearly see, that the front of that Malibu actually entered into the Bel Air's cabin, making the driver's and passenger's situation terrible and outright life-threatening.

In essence, this video was done to show everyone - who still believes that old cars are safer - the truth about new modern car safety.

Source : [IIHS via YouTube]

SPY SHOTS : Production-ready 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible spotted at Holden Plant in Australia !

We all know that the production 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible is around the block, and will be released soon. However, for some who can't wait, there's NCE Camaro Convertible conversion offering. Nevertheless, with these new spy shots, the NCE conversion will very soon be sort of useless. Because what we have here, are spy shots of production-ready (even the paint), of the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible, that will be available in showrooms beginning of next year.

What's most interesting about these Camaro Convertibles, that they were found in GM Holden's Fishermans Bend plant in Melbourne, Australia. It's the same factory that also builds the Holden Commodore, which the new Camaro is actually based on. However, for a fact, GM say that the Camaro coupe is being built in GM's Oshawa plant in Canada; but could the Camaro Convertible be built in Australia, since these cars are fully production-ready and awaiting release? Well that's got to be a question to GM when they reveal the Camaro Convertible. On the other side though, the Camaro Convertible was spotted before on GM's Oshawa plant. Anywhere they're manufactured, the Camaro Convertible will carry over the same platform as the coupe; so the 3.6L V6 gets 304 hp, and the 6.2L SS V8 gets 426 hp with the manual, and 400 hp with the automatic.

Source : [Camaro5]

Papa John finally reunited with his 1971 Camaro Z28 after 25 years, and pays $250,000 to owner!

Here's a long love story. John Schnatter, who's the founder of Papa John's Pizza company, needed some financial aid to start off his pizza business. So, to help his dad, Papa John Schnatter sold off his 1971 Chevrolet Camaro Z28. It was then, that Papa John lost his first love.

25 years later; and now Papa John's Pizza has more than 35 world-wide restaurants, Papa John wanted to reunite with his Camaro. So, he ran a search-campaign, offering $25,000 for anyone who has his Camaro. However, with all the searching, the offer eventually plummeted to $250,000. The whole search was chronicled online at www.papasroadtrip.com, where thousands offered tips on how to find his car.

Well, after months and months of hopeless searching, Papa John was finally reunited with his original 1971 Camaro Z28, and in its original color. Thanks mainly to our friends at "Obsessed with the cult of cars" - Jalopnik. So how was it done? A man by the name of Jeff Robinson heard about the contest; leading him to the Internet to search for details. He eventually ended up getting in touch with Jalopnik’s associate-editor, Matt Hardigree. Hardigree met Papa John during his search-campaign stop in Houston. Hardigree investigated the details himself, then contacted Papa John’s with the lead.

As a result, Jeff Robinson was paid $250,000 for Papa John's Camaro Z28. Papa John also offered a $25,000 reward to the family who originally bought the car from Papa John in 1983, in appreciation for their help in linking the contest winner with Papa John’s. So here, Papa John got back to his first-love, and hopefully will live happily ever after! What's to learn is that, while something worthy to the heart is sacrificed for the need of an ambition, it will surely pay-off, and pay-off very well.

Source : [Jalopnik]

Video : Can a 638 hp Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 keep-up with a 670 hp Lamborghini Murcielago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce on Millbrook Proving-Ground?

British car magazine - Autocar, had to get two new highly-anticipated supercars, and run them through the Millbrook Proving-Ground track. On one hand, there's the mighty 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. On the other, there's everyone's favorite Lambo; the 2009 Lamborghini Murcielago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce. While the ZR1 is already a tough supercar to beat, this Murcielago 670 SV is more racecar-like, and will feed the ZR1 all its dust from the back; or can't it? Well, the Americans at Motor Trend, tried to race a ZR1 against an F/A-18 Hornet Navy Jet Fighter!

So that begged the question at Autocar, can a Corvette ZR1 keep-up with a Lamborghini Murcielago LP 670-4 SV on Millbrook? Well here's what we can read on paper:

- 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1: Powered by a supercharged 6.2L LS9 V8, with 638 hp and 604 lb-ft of torque. Connected to a 6-speed manual and a rear-drive chassis, the ZR1 will hit 60 mph as quick as 3.4 seconds, onwards to a top speed of 205 mph. For handling claims, the ZR1 covers the Nurburgring in 7:26.4.

- 2009 Lamborghini Murcielago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce: The re-worked 6.5L V12 now makes 670-hp and 487 lb-ft. Coupled that with a 6-speed auto-clutch manual and all-wheel-drive, it will launch to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds. Plus, thanks to 100 kilograms of shoved weight and racing aero-dynamics parts, the Murcielago 670 SV will go up-to 212 mph; making it the fastest Lambo ever made!

That's however, all writing. So with all Millbrook's twists, corners, and bumps, the answer to the original question becomes tricky. We won't spoil the end result of that question; please watch the video, and enjoy!

Source : [YouTube via Autocar]

LEAF fights Volt : Nissan claims 367 mpg for 2010 LEAF EV, and less expensive than Chevrolet Volt !

Now that General Motors announced that their 2011 Chevrolet Volt will be getting 230 miles-per-gallon, it's time for other automakers to fight back. Well, Nissan is very competitive, and now even in mpg numbers!

Just a couple of weeks ago, Nissan unveiled their latest fully-electric 2010 LEAF EV. Although we didn't get much information about it, but Nissan said that the LEAF can run up-to 100 miles without a sip of fuel, while the Volt will only drive 40 mile electrically before it uses the petrol engine as a recharger. Well, Nissan again fights the Volt hard, specially after the epic fuel-economy number.

According to Nissan's Twitter account, they said “Nissan Leaf = 367 mpg, no tailpipe, and no gas required. Oh yeah, and it’ll be affordable too!” Nissan said that it came up with the average using the Department Of Energy’s formula, which is just EPA's; it measures kilowatt-hours per 100 miles traveled, and then converted to mpg. So here's Nissan giving 367 mpg, all for less money than the engineers at Chevy ask. Nissan claim that the price of the 2010 LEAF is around $33,000, while the Volt is going to be around $40,000. Also, the LEAF EV should come to showrooms early next year, and Chevrolet will bring the Volt end of 2010, if not even 2011. So has the Volt already been killed? Well, all that is on paper. The truth should come in the real world.

Source : [Nissan Twitter]

New GM : 25 new models to come through by 2011

With General Motors CEO Fritz Henderson announcing the big news on the up-coming 2011 Chevrolet Volt, which will be achieving 230 mpg, he continues to announce more news on the other cars that will be coming the next two years.

GM confirmed that it plans to launch 25 new models for its remaining 4 core brands (Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick, GMC), by the end of 2011. CEO Fritz Henderson confirmed that a group of consumers and select media were shown the plans for what GM has in-works by 2011 at GM’s Design Center and Milford Proving Ground.

So let's start with Chevrolet. Chevrolet will be getting 10 new models for the next two years. Surely, there's the supposed GM saviour - the 40-mile electric Volt, the Spark city car, the Cruze compact-size sedan, the Camaro Convertible, a production version of the Orlando, production of the GPiX Crossover Coupe Concept, and maybe some others.
As for Buick and GMC, the Detroit automaker said that the two brands will present a total of 10 new entries through 2011, which will include cars like the up-coming luxury compact-sedan - the 2011 Buick Excelle (spy picture above), the new Buick Regal, and the GMC Terrain city-crossover.
Most interestingly, Cadillac will be getting 5 all-new models. The first comer will be the beautiful and longly-awaited - the 2010 CTS and CTS-V Coupe, along with the all-new Escalade, which will be smaller and based on the Lambda crossover platform, and the production version of the Volt-based Converj. Nonetheless, GM will be introducing two new names in the Cadillac line-up, the ATS and the and XTS sedans. The ATS is a performance-oriented luxury compact-sedan, that will get “high-tech engines, rear-wheel drive and optional all-wheel drive”, and competes with the benchmarks from BMW 3-Series, Infiniti G37, Audi A4 and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The XTS on the other hand, is a full-size luxury sedan that will replace both DTS and STS sedan, with a design that echoes the 2003 Cadillac Sixteen Concept, and will be a real contender to the BMW 7-Series, Audi A8, and Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

Now, GM said that it is holding back pictures of any of these models, until further along the development process. So if we get any more information of even pictures, you'll be the first to know!

Source : [General Motors]

BREAKING : 2011 Chevrolet Volt to achieve 230 mpg city! [report fully covered]

We didn't want to rush with this kind of news until we got the full coverage behind the story. So just two days ago, General Motors CEO Fritz Henderson held a press conference, and for the first time since 'New GM' emerged out of bankruptcy, he made some big surprising news!

'New GM' CEO Fritz Henderson that the up-coming 2011 Chevrolet Volt, which GM hopes could save the company and their auto industry, will have an official EPA fuel-economy rating of 230 miles-per-gallon in city driving.

The new methodology of rating an EV vehicle is being developed by the EPA; which weighs plug-in EVs as traveling more city mileage than highway mileage on electric power alone. The EPA uses kilowatt-hours per 100 miles traveled to define the electrical efficiency of plug-ins, which then is converted to mpg. As such, GM says the Volt consumes 25 kilowatt hours per 100 miles in a city cycle, resulting 230 mpg. Now that makes the Volt, the first car ever to get a triple digit fuel economy rating!

What's more, GM said that it expects Volt owners to pay $2.75 for electricity for a range of 100 miles, or less than 3 cents a mile. So how in the name of technology have GM achieved such a thing?

Well, GM refused to state any answer to this, but just yesterday, we somewhat got an answer. Green Car Advisor contacted the EPA looking for confirmation and clarification on the methodology used on the Chevy Volt to come to 230 mpg - just like the rest of us. The EPA responded with the following statement: “EPA has not tested a Chevy Volt and therefore cannot confirm the fuel economy values claimed by GM. EPA does applaud GM’s commitment to designing and building the car of the future - an American-made car that will save families money, significantly reduce our dependence on foreign oil and create good-paying American jobs. We’re proud to see American companies and American workers leading the world in the clean energy innovations that will shape the 21st century economy.” - [Green Car Advisor]

So, to be brutally honest, GM basically lied about EPA actually rating the Volt at 230 mpg! Ok, if GM says that the Volt will be able to achieve 230 mpg in city, then that must be true; but why say that EPA tested it and measured the Volt at 230 mpg? That seems pretty weird.

However today, we got another answer. Everyone's favorite GM man, Bob Lutz, who's now the marketing manager for GM, said that “If you haven’t heard, 230 is the estimated city fuel economy number for the Chevrolet Volt, as in 230 miles per gallon, according to new federal fuel economy procedures under development by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for plug-in electric vehicles,” said Lutz. “And we anticipate a composite fuel economy rating of more than 100 mpg. The Volt’s estimated electricity usage is about 25 kilowatts per 100 miles, about half of what a typical household uses daily”. - [Lutz’s article on ChevroletVoltage.com]

Yes, we are all confused! GM are adamant that the Volt has an official EPA fuel-economy rating of 230 mpg. On the other hand, the EPA says they haven't tested the Volt yet. So really, what's going on? For that, we just have to wait until the Volt comes to showrooms in end of 2010, and see if that is true.

Oh also, the embedded video below is Henderson's announcement of the 230 mpg Chevy Volt.

Refresher:

- 2011 Chevrolet Volt: Production of the 2011 Chevrolet Volt will start in late 2010. The plug-in hybrid electric-car will only drive the battery-powered electric-motor, while the petrol engine will recharged it when needed. The electric-motor can run up-to 40 miles alone on a electric-recharge, and 300 miles when the petrol-engine provides recharging. By running 220 Lithium-ion battery-cells, it produces 150 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque from zero-rpm. 0-60 mph is expected to come in less than 8 seconds, and now the fuel-economy is "rated" at 230 mpg.

Source : [General Motors]

Muscle-car sales fight: Camaro outsells Mustang for second straight month, but Camaro fares worse in crash ratings!

While July was a pretty-hot month, its sales report on the new-born muscle-cars is even hotter!Back in 2009 June sales, the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro outsold the 2010 Ford Mustang and 2009 Dodge Challenger, for the first time since 1993. Well the trend goes on even in July sales.

Despite its 1rst and 2nd recalls on the new Camaro, customers still want to get all-around the Camaro. So for 2009 July sales, the Camaro outsells the new Mustang, for the second straight month in-a-row, at 7,113 Camaros sold while Ford sold 6,686 Mustangs, and of course, the Challenger falls behind. However, as some auto-analysist say, we should expect some changes in next month's sales!

Here's the deal, the all-new Camaro just got its NHTSA crash test rating; and guess what? The engineers at Chevrolet didn't put the Camaro through their safety routines, and therefore the new Camaro passed 4-stars of frontal-crash rating, while the Mustang and Challenger got the full 5-star mark. Now that is a big deal, since the Camaro is a very powerful car, and the visibilty is somewhat limited. So unless there's a talented driver behind the wheel, expect many people to crash the Camaro around.

So for next month, stay tuned for more reports on the latest Amercian muscle-car news.

Source : [Automotive News - 2009 July sales; SaferCar.gov]

NCE offering 2010 Chevroelt Camaro Convertible conversion

Although the all-new Chevrolet Camaro Convertible isn't coming to showrooms until 2011, California's Newport Convertible Engineering (NCE) are already readying a soft-top variant conversion of the 2010 Camaro. NCE already has experince with convertible conversion with their convertible-conversion of the 2009 Dodge Challenger.
NCE is taking orders from Camaro owners, and as brand-new Camaros. Those interested may contact NCE directly by calling 714-632-3287 or via e-mail at "nce @ pacbell . net"

Source : [NCE via Inside Line]

New Reveal : 2010 Chevrolet Camaro Transformers Special Edition

General Motors announced the release of the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro Transformers Special Edition, allowing the "Autobot" fans a chance to become Sam Witwicky and have their very own Bumblebee parked in the garage.
“When the first TRANSFORMERS movie was setting box office records, we had countless customers asking to purchase the ‘BUMBLEBEE’ Camaro,” said Karen Rafferty, product marketing director, Chevrolet. “Now, they can buy one with the new Camaro TRANSFORMERS Special Edition. Streets all over North America will be buzzing in no time.”
So what does this special edition of the 2010 Camaro feature? The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro TRANSFORMERS Special Edition includes the following:

- AUTOBOT® shield on the driver and passenger side panels

- AUTOBOT® shield on each of the four wheel’s center cap

- AUTOBOT® shield embroidered on interior center console

- “TRANSFORMERS” logo on driver and passenger doors’ sill plates

- “TRANSFORMERS” logo embedded into the hood rally stripes

- High-gloss black center rally stripe package

- Manufacturer’s suggested retail price of package: $995
The Transformers Special Edition Package is available on both versions of the Camaro: 304 hp 3.6L LT V6 and the 426 hp 6.2L V8 Camaro SS. Dealers are now taking orders for this edition.

Source : [Chevrolet]

Camaro Recall No.2: Early Chevrolet Camaro SS manual transmission failures reported, factory hold issued

The all-new and re-born 2010 Chevrolet Camaro has just been out in the U.S market, and owners give it the thumbs up, as it's a bargain muscle car and a true sports car. Nevertheless, nothing is perfect in truth. Earlier, some of the first V8-powered Camaro SS had their first-recall of battery issues. Now, more Camaro SS get another recall!

General Motors issued another recall for the new 2010 Camaro. This time, the recall concerns V8-powered Camaro SS models, equipped with a TREMEC 6-speed manual transmission. The problem here, is that a hard launch or using the launch control system occasionally results in a broken output shaft, a serious failure that will most likely leave the car immobile and in need of repair.

Chevrolet engineering teams are still investigating the problem to find the cure. However, the TREMEC transmission is already used in the Dodge Viper, Dodge Challenger, Ford-Shelby GT500, and Chevrolet Corvette; and no issues were found in these cars.

So if you're one of the Camaro SS manual owners, and had this problem, please contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438. Please be advised, drive your new Camaro V8 smoothly, and don't use launch-control.

Source : [General Motors via Camaro5.com]

Video : 2010 Ford-Shelby GT500 v.s. 2010 Chevrolet-Hennessey Camaro HPE550

It's once again, a showdown between two all-American muscle cars, tested by Edmunds' Inside Line. It's Ford Mustang versus Chevrolet Camaro. However, the new 'Stang and new Camaro are on two different sides. At $30,000, the 426 hp 6.2L Camaro SS isn't comparable to the $50,000 and 540 hp Ford-Shelby GT500. Nonetheless, Chevrolet will offer a Z/28 edition of the Camaro next year (it gets a supercharged LSA V8 from Cadillac's CTS-V, that produces 556 hp, and costs 50k). But for now, Inside Line tested Hennessey's version of the Chevy Camaro.

Inside line happened to have Ford-Shelby's 2010 GT500 and 2010 Chevrolet-Hennessey Camaro HPE 550 at the same time, and decided to put those two high-performance muscle cars head-to-head.

2010 Ford-Shelby GT500: Powered by an iron-block supercharged 5.4L V8, with 540 hp, and 510 lb-ft of torque.

2010 Chevrolet-Hennessey Camaro HPE 550: Powered by a 6.2L LS3 V8, with added Hennessey supercharger. Output is 562 hp, and 525 lb-ft of torque.

Enjoy the video below !

Source : [Inside Line]

Marital Crash: Wife crashes into her husband's new Chevrolet Corvette Z06, in her new Hyundai Genesis sedan!

We all know that accidents aren't funny. But crashes like that this make us giggle. Just picture it; you got a pile of money to spend it on posh cars. So you buy your lovely wife a new luxury sedan like Hyundai Genesis sedan, and you get yourself an expensive sports car like the 7.0L Chevrolet Corvette Z06. However, that could all change in a mere second!

Genesis Owners forum member zedbuyers reports, that he was in his Cyber Gray Metallic Z06, followed by his wife in the Genesis on a highway, and in a rainy day. As traffic slowed from 60 mph to 30 mph in the exit lane, zedbuyers applied the brakes, but his wife evidently didn't. The Genesis slammed into the $80,000 Z06, and the 'Vtte also crahsed the car in-front. Hyundai dealer estimated the damage at $16,000, including nearly $2,000 for the HID headlamps alone. The Z06 damage was $10,000, including $2,000 for a carbon fiber bumper.

Luckily, nobody was seriously injured in the accident; but we do expect a marital is about to start in their hosuehold!

Source : [Genesis Owners]

Report : 2010 Chevrolet Camaro outsells 2010 Ford Mustang in June sales!

All muscle car fans admit, that the Ford Mustang is the 'King Of The Road' muscle car, and nothing else could sell as much. In fact, the Mustang was the fastest selling car of all time, when it was first released in 1967. However now, 2010 Mustang has a lot of competition to clear off.

For 2010 model year, the 'Stang is joined by the Dodge Challenger and Chevrolet Camaro. However, since the Challenger is basically a 2-door coupe version of the Charger, the Mustang easily outsold the Challenger in last June's sales. Now though, the Camaro is the real contender.

With 2009 June sales released, the big surprise that the Camaro outsold the Mustang! Chevrolet sold 9,320 new 2010 Camaros, while Ford only sold 7,362 new 2010 Mustangs. On the Dodge's side, they only sold 1,369 units of the 2009 Challenger. The last time the Camaro outsold the Mustang in a monthly sales race was October 1993 - during when Chevy sold 10,985 Camaros and Ford sold only 5,680 Mustangs.

GM’s vice president of sales, service and marketing Mark LeNeve, said that nearly every 2010 Camaro sale in June was retail and that the figure was nearly double the number GM expected. LeNeve said that the new Camaro sold the best in California and that GM only has a six-day supply left of the model.

So, how did GM do that? Well, many called the Camaro as "the bargain of the decade". A mean-looking American muscle-car that has a 6.2L V8 with 426 hp and lots of modern technology inside for only $30,000 is quite simply, astonishing!

Source : [Automotive News - 2009 June sales]

Video : MotorTrend pits Corvette ZR1 against F/A-18 Hornet Jet

As amazing as the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 might look, but racing it against an airplane may seem too much. However, our favorite magazine, Motor Trend, have been racing cars versus planes since 1985.

So this time around, Motor Trend is pitting the 638 hp ZR1 (original codename - Blue Devil), against an F/A-18 Hornet Navy Jet Fighter from the Blue Angel squad. So it was Blue Devil vs. Blue Angel. Nonetheless, the ZR1 has over 600 hp of brute force, and would launch to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds, while the Hornet Navy Jet Fighter packs 32,000 pounds of thrust. It doesn't exactly sound like a fair fight, but the race is pretty simple: the first to the one-mile mark wins. So with a short distance like this, the ZR1 MIGHT just have the edge.

Now, we don't want to spoil the end result, but if you don't want to watch the reports on the ZR1 or the Hornet, just forward in about eight minutes to watch the race itself. The race is genuinely exciting!

To watch this video, play on the embedded video below.

Report : GM rolls off the 1,500,000th Chevrolet Corvette since 1953 !

The Chevrolet Corvette. The American milestone that cracks Europe's sportscars on quarter-mile drag races. It's been since 1953, and the recipe never changed. A big-block GM V8, manual transmission, and rear-wheel drive; all crafted into a light-weight fiber-glass body. Even with the latest C6 generation, it only has changed to become a better all-round sportscars. However now, customers can choose from lots of variations of the 'Vette, which starts with a $50,000 base C6 Corvette with or without the Grand Sport package, and a $70,000 7.0L Zo6, all the way to the $100,000 Nurburgring-lap record breaker, the superchaged LS9 ZR1.
Well, along generation after generation, GM now reports that it has finally built the 1,500,000th Corvette ever produced! The 1.5 million Corvette, produced on May 28, is a white convertible 3LT with a red interior and a black top. “The 1.5 millionth Corvette is a great example of how Chevy is America’s Brand,” Karen Rafferty, Chevrolet Product Marketing Director, said. “For nearly 60 years we have built America’s Sports Car and this milestone is a solid proof point.”
The first Corvette ever rolled off the assembly-line on June 30, 1953. There it was, an American dream car was born. So although from-time-to-time the 'Vette had its downfalls, kudos to GM to stick with the Corvette, that now, the Corvette is absolutely one awesome machine to drive!

Source : [General Motors]

Videos: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS HPE550 runs quarter-mile in 11.67 @ 121 mph; 2009 Corvette ZR1 HPE700 runs quarter-mile in 11.03 @ 136 mph

Hennessey seems to gone mad with lots and lots of power. Hennessey have now fine tuned the LS9 supercharged 6.2L V8 engine, that makes up to 700 horsepower. Nevertheless, the drag strip is the best place to see how Hennessey's tuning can put down all that power.

Well, we first start with the Hennessey HPE550 Chevy Camaro. In this Camaro, the LS9 engine produces 550 hp. After throwing in their HPE550 upgrade, which will cost those interested $18,950 plus shipping ($24,950 installed), Hennessey has reported a quarter-mile run in an outstanding 11.67 seconds at 121 mph.
In the Corvette ZR1, Hennessey went for tuning the supercharger to give an output of 700 hp. Launch to 60 mph comes in an awesome 3.1 seconds. As for the quarter-mile, the HPE700 ZR1 just ticks 11.03 seconds at 136 mph!

Watch the videos below to see the full tuning specifications, and the quarter-mile run.

Source : [YouTube]

For new Camaro owners: First recall to the 2010 Chevy Camaro

The all-new and re-born 2010 Chevrolet Camaro has just been out in the U.S market, and owners give it the thumbs up, as it's a bargain muscle car and a true sports car. Nevertheless, nothing is perfect in truth.

General Motors announced to the new 2010 Camaro owners, reporting an issued recall of the Camaro. The recall concerns 1,243 V8-powered Camaro SS over an issue with the battery cable. Turns out that the positive battery cable has been positioned too close to the starter motor housing. According to GM, the cable may come in contact with the starter motor, wearing the insulation and potentially causing the vehicle to stall without the ability to restart, or even result in an engine compartment fire, though no such case has been reported.

GM said that its dealers will reroute the positive battery cable to ensure adequate clearance. So if you or anybody that has a 2010 Camaro SS with a V8, contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 for more detailed information.

Source : [General Motors]

New Reveal : 2010 Camaro-based Pontiac Trans Am Firebird by ASC

For those who still can't get away with Pontiac's death (including us), ASC Creative Services may have found out the solution. ASC is attempting to create a modern version of the original '70s Pontiac Trans Am Firebird, with a brand new 2010 Chevrolet Camaro. Actually, this type of conversion is very similar to what HXC Performance did when they created a modern-day Plymouth Hemi-Cuda based on a Dodge Challenger.
This Camaro-based Trans Am is simply a kit design conversion that could easily lead to a custom-order production model. So the body shell is the same, but changes include a new front fascia complete with unique head lights, traditional Trans Am twin-kidney grill inserts and restyled apron, a rear-facing hood shaker, new side skirts and alloy wheel designs plus rear-fender air vents. At the back the design proposes a new rear fascia with distinctive larger tail lights, trunk lip-spoiler and a specific apron housing new exhaust pipes.
There's still not much information ASC's actual intentions on the car, but more information can be found on their website (source below). Even though there's not much information, we're pretty excited. In fact, we actually prefer this over the Camaro. Simply because this looks better up-front without the smiling grille, and Trans Ams were cooler than Camaros. Nevertheless, this is personal preference. Like it or not, ASC are presenting a fantastic tribute to the legendary Pontiac brand, and the recreation of the Trans Am that Pontiac fans always dreamed about.

Source : [ASC via DUB]