Chevrolet Blog
VIDEO: Journos flog the ZR-1Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Supercars, Chevrolet 
We've all watched the video of Mr. Mero's fantastic ride around the Nurburgring in the Corvette ZR1; not even the horrid compression that YouTube serves up could ruin the sound of a force-fed LS-series V8. Rides are nice, and we'd hop right on in for adrenaline therapy, but what we want to do is drive the Super-'Vette. 0-60 Magazine shares our thinking, so they stuck their own shoe, Thomas Lyman, behind the wheel and sent him off around Milford. It looks like it was awesome, but everybody's keeping mum until the embargo lifts on August 20th. The video does a pretty good job of speaking for itself. Putting words in our future-mouths, our first impression is likely to go something like "holy mother of pearl!" repeated several times while breathing into a paper bag.
[Source: 0-60]Continue reading VIDEO: Journos flog the ZR-1 Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Camaro painted with remote control carsFiled under: Coupes, Sports/GTs, Chevrolet, GM, Misc. Auto Shows 
Click the above image for a hi-res gallery of the RC-painted Camaro
The British are good for all sorts of car-centric goodness. When they're not busy building zippy little monsters remarkably ill-suited to their weather, they're... making art. English artist Ian Cook took a few remote controlled cars, drove them through paint, and then used them to paint a Camaro.
Called "Popbang Color" and on display now at the British International Motor Show, Ian even used GM RC cars to create the paintings. Next up will be a live demonstration of him painting a Chevrolet Lacetti World Touring Car, which requires, says Ian, "skill with the remote control cars." After that he'll be painting Autobots Playing Poker... (we kid...) Check out the full press release after the jump, and the hi-res images below.
[Source: GM]Continue reading Camaro painted with remote control cars Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
VIDEO: First Corvette ZR1 delivered to proud papaFiled under: Auction Action, Supercars, Chevrolet, GM 
Click above for high-res gallery of the Corvette ZR1 at Barrett-Jackson
 The very first Corvette ZR1 has rolled off the assembly line at General Motors' assembly plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and the proud owner of the 638-horsepower hellraiser was there in person to claim his prize. Chevy dealer and Corvette aficionado Dave Ressler won his supercharged Vette at the Barrett Jackson auction back in January for the astronomical sum of $1 million dollars, which equals about 10 times the ZR1's base price of $103,300. Ressler was allowed to sit behind the wheel of his rarified Vette as it completed its assembly run and exited the factory, and let his granddaughter, Ayden Lynn, ride along shotgun. The special ZR1 is set apart from other Blue Devlis with a unique VIN number and a LeMans Blue paint job that will appear on no other car.
After being performance tested, the ZR1 was put in a trailer and carted back to Montana where it will be put in a museum with Ressler's 45 other Vettes, including his #003 1953 Corvette. We know, that's no way to treat a thoroughbred like the ZR1, but at least Ressler's million bucks went to a good cause.
Check out a local news report of the occasion after the jump.
[Source: Corvette Blogger]
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Camaro debuts in Australia along with lineageFiled under: Coupes, Sports/GTs, Chevrolet, GM, Australia 
Click above for high-res gallery of the Camaro's Melbourne reveal
While General Motors debuted the 2010 Chevy Camaro in Detroit and L.A. on Monday, they also gave it a proper debut in Australia where much of the car's development work was performed. The General just published some new pictures from the car's Melbourne debut in which the new Camaro poses for the camera with a second generation model, two third generation models, a fourth gen and a very cherry 1969 Camaro SS owned by reigning V8 Supercar champion Garth Tander. Those pics plus GM's own shots that were taken at the live reveal in Detroit have been added to the first gallery below, beneath which we've included our own updated gallery of live shots from the Detroit reveal that includes images of the car after it was driven outside.
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Chevrolet Camaro SS laps the 'Ring in... 8:20Filed under: Coupes, Chevrolet 
Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2010 Chevy Camaro.
In this automotive day and age, any vehicle that has even a trace amount of performance in its DNA has to make the rounds around the Nurburgring. The new Chevy Camaro SS isn't exempt. So after GM revealed the Camaro on Monday, one of the scribes at InsideLine ran up to an engineer to find out what kind of time the Camaro put down at the Nordschleife. According to Doug Houlihan, GM's chief engineer for global rear-wheel-drive vehicles, the Camaro SS ran the 'Ring in 8:20.
To put that into perspective, the recently released 2008 Cobalt SS did the deed in 8:22, along with the BMW E46 M3 and the last generation BMW M Coupe, followed by the Lotus Exige S and Porsche Cayman S at 8:25.
Ed Welburn, GM'S veep of global design, concedes that the Camaro's shape is merely adequate from an aerodynamic standpoint, with a coefficient of drag on the SS of 0.35 and on the LS/LT models of 0.36 - largely a result of the recessed headlamps and full-width grille.
Houlihan went on to say that their time at the 'Ring allowed them to dial in the steering response and suspension settings, and that the StabiliTrak traction control system on the Camaro will be the best GM can offer. Settings on the SS model allow drivers to choose between track and performance modes, along with completely disabling the system. A launch control feature will also be available on the SS.
The only question now is: where's the video?
[Source: InsideLine] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Camaro interior animation lets you see the lightFiled under: Coupes, Sports/GTs, Videos, Chevrolet
At a GM event we attended at the end of last summer, one of the presentations shown to the assembled media was an interior animation depicting the new Chevy Camaro's cockpit lighting and how it changs depending on the position of the key in the ignition. We'd been asking General Motors for a copy ever since, and were politely told, "no" every time. With the car's official unveiling yesterday, GM finally made the video available on the Camaro's official website. We've grabbed a copy and put it in the player above for your enjoyment, along with both of our live vids shot at yesterday's reveal. The interior video shows some really cool stuff, further proof that GM Design is paying close attention to cabin illumination in its new vehicles. Take a ride in a new CTS at night, and you'll see exactly what we mean. From the looks of things, GM's going to give the Camaro the same kind of love, and we're looking forward to experiencing it firsthand.
[Source: GM] Permalink | Email this | Comments
Volt SS? Chevrolet considering turbocharged 1.4-liter for VoltFiled under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green, Chevrolet, Rumormill 
The Chevrolet Volt mystery may have unfolded just a bit more as GM-Volt.com is reporting that GM CEO Rick Wagoner has confirmed that the General is considering a 1.4L four cylinder engine for the production Volt. So far, nothing official has been announced, but the decision to use the 1.4L engine would make plenty of financial sense. After all, it's the same engine that is expected to power the first-generation Chevy Cruze, which may actually follow the Volt to market. Both the Volt and the Cruze will sit atop the next Delta platform, another bit of cost savings. We'd imagine that Chevy could drop the turbocharger and run the engine on the Atkinson cycle while still making plenty of power for this application.
GM has promised fuel mileage of around 50 mpg when operating in range-extended mode as the engine provides the power for the electric motor's operation. Equivalent miles per gallon will be highly dependent on the final output of the lithium battery pack, and the engine still won't be required for the first 40 miles of operation. What's more, the internal combustion engine will have little to do with actual performance numbers like acceleration or top speed. Therefore, we don't really care what engine GM chooses for the Volt so long as its original mileage targets aren't sacrificed along the way.
[Source: MLive.com via GM-Volt.com] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
2010 Chevy Camaro - Official Details and ImagesFiled under: Coupes, Sports/GTs, Chevrolet, GM 
Click above for new high-res gallery of the 2010 Chevy Camaro
You've waited long enough, so let's dispense with the pleasantries and get right down to the hard facts.
- Three models - LS, LT, SS
- LS and LT come with 3.6L direct-inject V6 (300 hp/273 lb-ft)
- SS six-speed manual comes with 6.2L LS3 V8 (422 hp/408 lb-ft)
- SS six-speed automatic comes with new 6.2L L99 V8 (400 hp/395 ft-lb) and Active Fuel Management
- 3.6L DI V6 gets 26 mpg highway
- 6.2L V8 with automatic gets 23 mpg highway
- RS appearance package available on LT and SS (includes HID headlamps with integrated halo rings, spoiler, specific taillamps and 20-inch wheels)
- Front and rear independent suspension
- FE2 suspension for LS and LT, sportier FE3 for SS
- Four-wheel disc ABS standard, SS gets four-piston Brembo calipers
- SS model gets adjustable Competitive/Sport mode for stability control and Launch Control on manual models
- Available 18-,19- and 20-inch wheels
You can read Chevy's full press release after the jump and browse the official, full-size image collection in the gallery below. Stay tuned for our post of live coverage from our team on the ground.
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2010 Chevy Camaro - LIVE from the revealFiled under: Coupes, Sports/GTs, Chevrolet, GM 
Click above for high-res gallery of 2010 Chevy Camaro live!
UPDATE: Live video from the unveiling added after the jump!
UPDATE 2: Another video added after the jump, along with 33 more images.
UPDATE 3: One more video added from the West Coast reveal.
GM design chief Ed Welburn and Chevy General Manager Ed Peper just gave the media our first up close and in person look at the new 2010 Chevy Camaro coupe. The reveal was done in the mechanical prep shop that GM design uses for the final prep on all its concept cars. Peper announced that Job 1 for the new Camaro will be coming on Feb. 16 of next year, and although no official pricing is available yet it will be priced aggressively says GM brass. That aggression goes right along with the new looks and powertrain choices for this new coupe, as well. Chevrolet will offer the Camaro in 3 trim levels, the V6-powered LS and LT and the V8-powered SS. The V6 is a direct injected 300-hp 3.6L unit while the 422-hp V8 displaces 6.2L. Both engines will be available with either manual or automatic transmissions, all with 6 speeds. An RS package will be available as an add-on to to the LT and SS models. GM designers have stayed remarkably faithful to the concept design, although they have made some tweaks mainly to the roofline. The car really looks handsome in person with its short front overhang and big wheels. They're wheeling the car outside so we're in pursuit to get more pictures in the sunlight and we'll have our own video the reveal up soon, as well. Stay tuned and check out the gallery of live shots we assembled so far below or visit this post for all the official specs and images.
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2010 Chevy Camaro unveiling LIVEFiled under: Coupes, Sports/GTs, Videos, Chevrolet, GM
NOTE: Hit the play button now to watch live. Permalink | Email this | Comments
Watch GM unveil 2010 Camaro LIVE at 4PM EST, right hereFiled under: Coupes, Sports/GTs, Videos, Chevrolet, GM 
Click above for high-res gallery of the 2010 Chevy Camaro
As you may already know after the deluge of official Camaro images that leaked last week, General Motors will finally be unveiling the 2010 Chevy Camaro at 4PM EST today at its Warren Technical Center, and we'll have a team of two on hand for live coverage with pics and video of our own. GM will also be webcasting the live reveal and has provided the embed code free of charge so you can watch what is arguably an historic debut right here on Autoblog. If all goes well on GM's end, you'll be able to watch the unveiling live at 4:00 PM EST at this link on Autoblog. Go set an alarm right now, we'll wait... We'll have all the pics, specs and video you can digest shortly thereafter, as well as our take on whether the new Camaro has what it takes to make it in the face of high gas prices and competition from the new Dodge Challenger and an updated 2010 Ford Mustang.
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Transformers Corvette concept shows some tushFiled under: Concept Cars, Coupes, Sports/GTs, Chevrolet, GM 
Click above for more shots of the "Mystery Vette"
Someone slipped Jalopnik a new pair of shots of the mysterious Corvette concept that's appearing in next year's Transformers sequel. So far, we've seen good views of the car from the front and side, but rear-end shots had yet to surface. Well, that's over. The concept -- now a confirmed product of the GM Design studios (note the plate in back), has large ducts in back that mimic the openings in front and presumably also hide the car's taillamps. Four big centrally-mounted exhaust outlets poke through the bodywork as well. Frankly, the rear view is the car's least appealing, with that chunky boattail mixed in with all those sharp angles. There's also a new detail shot of the front quarter, which focuses on that very traditional Corvette fender shape. Is it just a movie character or also a concept that GM's going to drop on us somewhere along the line? Your guess is as good as ours, and the trickle of spy shots is probably far from over.
[Source: Jalopnik] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
VIDEO: Camaro TV spots through the years -- some more bitchin' than othersFiled under: Time Warp, Coupes, Sports/GTs, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Chevrolet, GM
Well, all the Camaro buildup is finally set to amount to something this Monday, when the real, final car is unveiled. Frankly, it was getting anti-climactic before the official photos leaked onto the web on Friday afternoon, but we'll look forward to hopefully seeing the SS car in the metal. That one's been conspicuously absent from all the photos that crammed the internet as soon as the dam burst. Anyway, whether you go for an RS with that punchy DI V6, or the SS with its LS3 power, chances are you'll be a happy camper.
So, to celebrate, we've gone and collected all the Camaro television commercials (and one 1980s promo video) we could find and packed them up into our handy new video player. When you're done watching one, pick another from the scrolling list under the main window and enjoy. We don't know how Chevy's gonna market the new car, but we're hoping for something more in line with the cool and dramatic 'Volcano" spot for the first-gen. It's a nostalgia overload, from the '70 "Super Hugger" spots to the cringe-fest 80s-era ads, right up to the 90s cars that spelled the end of the line. Until now.
Now, please excuse us while we hit the weekend classified pages. We've got a sudden craving for some IROC-Z garage candy. After all, this mid-summer weather is just perfect for T-Tops. Permalink | Email this | Comments
Pics Aplenty: More of the Chevrolet CamaroFiled under: Coupes, Chevrolet, GM  
 
Hot on the heels of yesterday's unofficial unveiling of images of the production 2010 Camaro, photos are now flooding the web. As reported, General plans on giving customers the choice of a 416 hp 6.2L V8 or a 296 hp 3.6L V6 when the highly-anticipated coupe goes on sale, but for now, you get to choose which color to look at. Released are 52 pictures of yellow, red, and silver Camaros on the track, in the studio, and on the inside. All of them appear to be the RS model, though a couple of SS interior shots have now joined the group. Click on the images above or the gallery below to see what's been leaked so far, and look for the motherlode to arrive on Monday afternoon when we deliver plenty of high-res pics and video of the live Camaro unveiling at GM's Warren Technical Center. Thanks to all who sent tips!
[Source: Camaro5] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
2010 Chevrolet Camaro revealed!Filed under: Coupes, Chevrolet 
Click above for a hi-res gallery of the 2010 Chevy Camaro
CarTribe has procured a few shots and the initial details of the production Chevrolet Camaro ahead of its official unveiling this Monday. According to their report, the Camaro will come in LS, LT and SS trim, equipped with either a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed automatic. Of course, that doesn't account for the very-obviously-marked RS car that is shown in the official photos, so who knows what the whole story is.
 Engine choices include either a 296 hp, 3.6-liter V6 or a 416 hp 6.2-liter V8 which will feature cylinder deactivation to boost fuel economy. Underneath the retro sheetmetal is a full independent suspension and StabiliTrak traction control system. Four-pot Brembo brakes are mounted up front on the SS variant, and the 3,700-pound coupe will reportedly have a weight balance of 52/48, front/rear. The neuvo-retro theme is carried inside with a gauge cluster inspired by the 1969 model, along with leather seats and blue LED lighting.
We'll have more specs and images as information becomes available.
[Source: CarTribe] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
VIDEO: Corvette ZR1 gets time on the track at Milford Proving GroundsFiled under: Videos, Supercars, Chevrolet 
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Corvette ZR1.
Motive was invited out to the Milford Proving Grounds yesterday to sample GM's latest and greatest Corvette, the ZR1. Thankfully, the online pub was smart enough to mount a camera inside the 638 hp uber-Vette and captured video of Jim Mero, chief engineer and the man that lapped the ZR1 around the Nurburgring in 7:26.4, caning the coupe though the General's test track.
Hit the jump to check it out.
Thanks for the tip Mark.
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Leaked slides preview GM's futureFiled under: Sedans/Saloons, Wagons/Estates, Crossovers/CUVs, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GM, Saab    
Click any image for a slightly larger shot.
Earlier in the week, a handful of tiny images from General Motor's presentation to employees leaked onto the Web, providing a glimpse into the future of Cadillac, Chevrolet, Buick and Saab. As the General's spinmeisters try to console both Wall Street investors and tepid consumers after Black Tuesday's depressing announcements, they've finally released these all-too-small pics into the wild images began surfacing on other sites, sourced from GM's own media portal where the video of Wagoner's presentation was posted.
Aside from GM's plans to reduce white collar expenditures by 20 percent, eliminate salaried employees' health care after age 65 and a cut its way to liquidity to the tune of $15 billion by the end of 2009, Bob Lutz dropped the bomb that the current iteration of the Beat isn't coming to the U.S. and that the 40+ mpg Chevrolet Cruze won't be immediately available to North American consumers after it debuts at the Paris Motor Show.
 Regardless, the images give us a sneak peak at the stillborn (Stateside) Cobalt replacement, which features tautly drawn headlamps, deep swage lines and a grille that apes its big brother the Malibu. The Cadillac CTS Sportwagon features a massive D-pillar reminiscent of that found on the CTS coupe concept and taillights that stretch from the edge of the roof to the lower fascia. The Caddy SRX's design is precisely what's been predicted, while both the Buick sedan and Saab 9-4X - a supposed competitor to the BMW X3 - are hardly compelling.
Check the images in the gallery below and give us your own opinion about GM's supposed saviors.
[Source: AutoObserver] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
VIDEO: Birthing an LS9Filed under: Etc., Tech, Videos, Chevrolet, GM 
Automobile Magazine was invited into General Motors Performance Build Center to watch and lightly assist in the buildup of a ZR-1's internal combustion heart. It takes four-and-a-half hours of real time to go from a bare block to a fire-breathing, supercharged LS9, but through the magic of sped-up video, it only takes seven minutes of your life. You won't come away with anything productive for that time, unlike the people in the video, who get the pleasure of creating a small-block V8, but it's a neat picture of how it all comes together. We just hope that some other poor sucker gets the motor that the magazine intern fiddled with. Video posted after the jump.
[Source: Automobile]
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Best shot yet of the Transformers 2 mystery VetteFiled under: Concept Cars, Spy Photos, Coupes, Chevrolet, GM, Celebrities 
Click image for photo gallery
This much we know. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen will have some sort of Corvette concept portraying one of the Autobots (well, we assume it's an Autobot). We also now know that there are at least two movie cars, as you can see in the shot above. Do we officially know that these are Corvettes of some sort? No, but the fender shapes, split rear window, and the port aft of the front wheel are familial styling cues that seal the deal. We're dying to know if this is just a movie creation or a concept that's in the pipeline to be revealed publicly at some future time. And if this forecasts what we should expect in terms of a C7, well, we're okay with that, too.
Also snagged in this photo set: the Chevy Beat and Trax, a military-style dune buggy, a pair of Can-Am Spyders, Optimus Prime, and Ratchet. Thanks, Andrew!
[Source: Seibertron] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Lutz: No Beat for the U.S., smaller CUVs on the way, Insignia stalledFiled under: Concept Cars, Economy, Sedans/Saloons, Plants/Manufacturing, Crossovers/CUVs, Chevrolet, GM, GMC, HUMMER, Pontiac, Saturn, Opel, Vauxhall  General Motor's car czar, Bob Lutz, sat down with the little people of the blogosphere after GM's announcement that it would be reducing white collar expenditures by 20-percent, cutting truck production and eliminating retired health care for salaried workers over 65, all in an effort to boost its liquidity by $15 billion by the end of 2009.
Maximum Bob addressed questions about GM's entire brand portfolio, saying, "Pontiac will be nourished with products" and confirming that GM is in talks with financial institutions about HUMMER, and that, "If we could sell the brand, we'd be interested in doing that."
Predictably, much of the conversation centered on fuel efficiency and the General's plans to address the growing demand for miserly transport in the U.S. Lutz made it clear that "as fuel costs in the U.S. begin to resemble those in the rest of the world" it will be easier for GM to realign its products on a global scale.
[Photo: David McNew/Getty]Continue reading Lutz: No Beat for the U.S., smaller CUVs on the way, Insignia stalled Permalink | Email this | Comments
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