2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible 2LT

Well, the horse car wars are heating up again, really since they did as soon as they on track in the field of the later than usual 60? S. And it’s the same players these days since it was in that case, with the Ford Mustang, Chevy Camaro, and evade contender mixing it up in the field of the battle in support of sales, if not on the track. In support of the leading occasion in the field of 25 years, the Chevy Camaro has accepted the Mustang in support of sales supremacy. And with the Camaro convertible hitting the showrooms this spring, it’s likely to prolong.

We had a occasion to fritter an enjoyable week with the V6 rag top Camaro, and found it to take place a exhaustively enjoyable automobile, but not devoid of particular of the same faults we found in the field of the coupe version, and perhaps a a small amount of supplementary unique to the dive top.

V6 DELIVERS ALL THE POWER YOU NEED

Overall, the driving experience is very gain. Our press car came equipped with the 3.6 liter, 24-valve, in a straight line Injection, DOHC engine with patchy valve timing, which straight away puts out cold 312-hp by the side of 6500 rpm, and 270 lb-ft of torque by the side of 5100 rpm. The window label shows 18-mpg city, and 29-mpg highway in support of chat mileage. We pragmatic 17 and 28 for the duration of our test.

Despite the added 250 lbs of import, the convertible adds concluded the coupe, bringing the restriction import up to a fleece under 2 tons, this Camaro accelerates strongly from a plug. It has a careful unequivocally torque curve so nearby is power all the way up the rev range. And in the field of typical drive mode, the driver can control the accelerator pedal so the car desire climb all the way up to the redline ahead of shifting.

But leave the 6-speed manumitted in the field of guidebook mode, and up shifts turn out to be idle, which takes much of the fun out cold of shifting manually. Nearby are two advocate buttons behind the spokes of the steering controls, (right in support of up shifts? Gone in support of downshifts) but they’re supplementary tiring to bring into play than on the whole other row change mechanisms. Top to really keep this baby in the field of auto-mode.

The V6 doesn’t release a visceral exhaust be aware of, but nearby is particular racket to accede to you know there’s particular grunt under the lid. By comparison, the Mustang sings a supplementary pleasant regulate from its pipes, and the evade is the on the whole rotational of the troupe, and really lets you know as soon as you’re on chubby boil.

The brakes are stand-out units. They desire quickly haul the Camaro down from illegal speeds with admirable force, feel, and inflection. As soon as driving forcefully on twisty roads, you can mash the brake pedal to quickly long-drawn-out the car ahead of entering the change direction, in that case crank the controls and aspire the car to the peak of the corner. In that case you can power out cold of the change direction with gusto with very trivial body prop. And really in the field of court case you progress a fragment too aggressive with the? Quit? Pedal, nearby is electronic stability and traction control to reign the Camaro back in the field of safely.

The 20-inch wheels with low profile tires (part of a $1600 RS package) provide admirable grip and managing since well. And despite the press down, sporty suspension tuning, the Camaro still has a comfortable journey quality. Chevy engineers did a gain mission of juggling all the trade-offs to arrive by the side of the as it should be managing package. It’s relentlessly to report it apart from the coupe version, despite the added import and lack of a stopped shell.

DROP-TOP DOESN?T COMPROMISE journey QUALITY, before DRIVING DYNAMICS

To assuage the sound effects of the launch roof, Chevy installed new-found braces in the field of strategic areas, like the shock towers, and new-found v-braces front and rear, plus a new-found transmission brace. They exert yourself concurrently to provide the Camaro with a secure platform so as to has trivial cowl shake before judder, excepting in support of the on the whole awful roads, before railroad crossings. Nearby are, however, particular sung ambiance transmitted through the steering row under undeniable driving conditions ? But not a sufficient amount to turn out to be bothersome. The Camaro feels supplementary solid than the 1 before 3-series BMW convertibles, which would take part in been an unthinkable statement with whichever prior Camaro convertible.

From a styling standpoint, the rag top is a visual progress concluded the coupe. The top has sleeker position, and seems to fit better relating the massive rear fenders. The bulge in the field of the inside of the lid, the character position running the chunk of the doors, and the Corvette-like rear come to an end care shrieks of feelings. And as soon as the car is finished in the field of arrest-me-red, fellow motorists desire take notice.

The top operates without problems. It requires manually unlatching a inside latch, and a advocate button lowers and raises the top. The trunk is insignificant with the top up and is bargain to take away than eight cubic feet as soon as the top is stowed. You can barely stow mostly unequivocally soft luggage if you mean to leave the top down.

SAME OLD INTERIOR, SAME OLD ISSUES

Anywhere the Camaro spray abrupt is in the field of the interior. The design of the car, coupe before convertible makes in support of a claustrophobic feel in the field of the chalet. The incredibly abrupt windshield and astronomical access sills undertake so as to hunkered down look on the outside, but too the same hunkered down feel inside the chalet. With the top up visibility is brutal. Top down it’s better, but hardly ideal with thick A-pillars and a rearview mirror is for ever and a day in the field of your line of sight.

The gain news vis-?-vis the interior is so as to the seats are admirable, and heated on our test car. They’re comfortably expansive, yet hug you in the field of all the as it should be spaces. Too, the leather is fastidious. A different gain include is the heads-up put on view, with a tachometer and tubby digital readout in support of hurry without problems visible in the field of your line of sight by the side of the floor of the windshield. It is surprising so as to supplementary cars don’t take part in so as to include. And if the front seat passengers are willing to sit with bended knees, two adults can have the benefit of a fine sunny summer daylight in the field of the rear seats in support of a a small amount of hours.

There’s still is a allotment of relentlessly surfaces and plastic in the field of the interior. It isn’t a question in support of the dash to take place made of relentlessly leatherette surfaces, but the spaces anywhere your elbows meet, like the top of the access sills, and the top of the inside console, be supposed to take place soft and comfortable. The doors armrest is tempting, but too many other surfaces don’t fit in in the field of a car in the field of this value range.

The driver’s gauge package skin texture two tubby tachometer and speedometer dials with an info screen arranged relating them. They’re at ease to read, but housed in the field of shoddy silver painted plastic. The chrome accents around the Mustang’s gauges look smarter. On the hand down front of the console are four pretentious rectangular gauges measuring grease pressure, voltmeter, and grease temp and transmission hotness. Who monitors transmission hotness, especially in the field of a convertible?

Interior issues don’t come to an end nearby either. The seat back releases are located inconveniently in the field of the inside of every seatback, and barely the seatback tilts frontward, not the seat itself, so it’s harder in support of passengers to squeeze into the rear. The steering row tilts up and down, but it tilts too far down in support of someone to bring into play in the field of so as to location, and doesn’t adjust up since far since taller drivers desire yearn for. The headliner is plush and the car is equitably still with the top up, but roll down the window by the side of hurry and the rear window begins to flap around making heaps of racket. Since in support of the steering controls, it’s wrapped in the field of leather and comes with audio and cruise controls, but the manipulate of the vast wheel’s frame has an weird feel in the field of one’s hands.

The foot Camaro Convertible starts by the side of $29,275. The test car’s 2LT adornment begins by the side of $32,650. Add $1,500 in support of the RS Package containing 20-inch wheels, HID headlamps, a rear spoiler and unique tail lamps. The 6-speed manumitted transmission and remote vehicle start adds $1,185. As soon as destination charge, the floor line on our tester came to $36,185.

THE VERDICT

The Chevy Camaro Convertible is a fun car to drive. Like the Mustang, you don’t need to move up to the V8 to progress admirable performance, and crusty managing. Both cars can too boast of solid structural integrity with a journey quality so as to is comfortable to live with on a every day basis. The Camaro has seven supplementary horsepower, but Mustang is vis-?-vis 400 lbs lighter. So which is the better car? So as to question has been debated in support of concluded 40 years, and it won’t take place answered at this point. Buyers desire really take part in to store both, and give rise to their own decision.

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First Impression: Chevrolet Aveo

The subcompact car is a hard car to make right. A subcompact car is small and generally has a small engine. Good subcompact cars include the Ford Fiesta, Alfa Romeo MiTo, and the Mini Cooper. However, Chevrolet has never made a quality subcompact car. The Chevrolet Vega, made from 1970 to 1977, is one of the worst cars of all times. In 2002, Chevrolet started production on the Chevrolet Aveo, the brand's latest attempt to make a decent subcompact car. Whether it is the four-door sedan or the Aveo5 five-door hatchback, the Chevrolet Aveo is just another car in the long line of bad Chevrolet subcompacts.

The Chevrolet Aveo is a common sight on the roads and was present at the 2011 Houston Auto Show. No matter what body type the Aveo has, it is ugly. Chevrolet went with cheap materials when designing the Aveo. The standard wheels come with plastic hubcaps. Most cars use alloys for wheels and hubcaps.

The Aveo comes with two I4 engines. The 1.4L turbocharged I4, paired with a six-speed manual transmission, produces 138 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque. The Aveo goes from 0 to 60 mph in 13.4 seconds and reaches a top speed of 105 mph. Prices start at $11,965 for the four-door sedan and $12,115 for the Aveo5 hatchback. The Aveo is one of the cheapest cars on the road, but it is also one of the slowest cars on the road.

Top Gear featured the Chevrolet Aveo during Series 13, Episode 3, where the boys were trying to find a cheap and cheerful small car. The Aveo was ridiculed by the Top Gear presenters for have cheap wheels, cheap interior, and that rubber door sealers that kept falling off. The Chevrolet Aveo is playable in GT Racing: Motor Academy and Forza Motorsport 3.

Final Thoughts: This is one of the worst cars currently made. It is slow, ugly, cheap, and cheaply made. Forbes put the Chevrolet Aveo on its list of seven clunkers made by U.S. car companies in 2010. Forbes says that the Aveo is unreliable, dangerous, and having one of the lower JD Power dependability ratings. I don't think Chevrolet has taken the subcompact class seriously. Ford puts quality materials and efforts in the Fiesta. Fiat is using the 500 to mark the brand's return to the United States. I think Chevrolet just puts a bunch of cheap parts and materials into their subcompact cars. The price for the Aveo is low because the Chevrolet went with cheapness over quality. The Aveo sucks and should be avoided at all cost. Shell out extra money for a Volkswagen Golf or Ford Fiesta.

CarJunkie
Photos were found online. The Aveo is not worthy of being taken by my cameras.

First Impression: Chevrolet Camaro

During the Muscle Car Wars of the 1960s and 1970s, American car brands had a muscle cars and pony cars. Pony cars were affordable, compact, highly stylish, and high performing cars. In 1964 Ford launched the Mustang, the car that started the pony car. In 1966, Chevrolet revealed the Camaro. In 2002, Chevrolet ceased production of the Camaro. In 2009, Chevrolet revived the Camaro name and released the fifth-generation of the Camaro which was based on the 1969 Camaro. The new Camaro gives Chevrolet and GM a muscle car that can compete with the Ford Mustang and the Dodge Challenger. In 2011, the Camaro was available with a retractable softtop. Like the Camaros of the past, the current generation comes with  3.6L V6 and 6.2L V8 engines with different power outputs.

I see several fifth-generation Camaros at Houston Cars and Coffee events and on the roads. This is a very popular car. I love the styling of the new Camaro. The angle of the windshield could hinder the visibility of Camaro drivers and has been a major criticism of the Camaro. I sat in one at the 2011 Houston Auto Show and had no problem looking through the windshield. It is comfortable to sit in the front, but there is not much leg room for passengers sitting in the back.

The fifth-generation Chevrolet Camaro is powered by 2 different 3.6L V6 engines and 6.2L V8 engines. The Camaro uses either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission. The V6 engines produce either 312 hp or 323 hp. The V8 engines produce between 400 hp and 550 hp. 0-60 times for the Camaro range from 4.6 seconds to 6.1 seconds. The top speed for the Camaro ranges from 150 mph to over 180 mph. Prices for the Camaro start between $22,000 and $40,000, depending on the trim level. The price is very low for a high performing muscle car.

The fifth-generation Chevrolet Camaro can be seen in all three Transformers films. It is the vehicle form of the Autobot Bumblebee. It has been reviewed on Motorweek and has been featured on Jay Leno's Garage. Richard Hammond reviewed the Camaro SS during Series 15, Episode 3, where Hammond compared the Camaro to a Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG. The fifth-generation Camaro is playable in almost every major racing game. It is playable in the Burnout games, Need For Speed Games, Test Drive Unlimited 2, Gran Turismo 5, Blur, Split/Second, Dirt 3, Transformers movie games, Project Gotham Racing 4, ModNation Racers, Forza Motorsport 3, and many other video games.

Final Thought: The fifth-generation Camaro is a very stylish muscle car with good performance. It continues the Camaro tradition of offering several options so there is a Camaro for all types of drivers. I did not like that the first Transformers movie was just a 2-hour commercial for the new Camaro. I already know that the Camaro is a good car. I don't need to waste money on a film that is just a long car commercial.

Hennessey Camaro Convertible

Hennessey is also offering different tuning packages for the new Camaro. Prices start at $4,950 for 475 hp package and go to $69,950 of the 1000 hp package. John Hennessey stop by Jay Leno's Garage to show off one of his tuned version of the Camaro, called the Hennessey Camaro HPE600. I saw the Hennessey Camaro at the April 2011 edition of Houston Cars and Coffee. The Hennessey Camaro is for those who want a little bit more performance out of their stock Camaros.

CarJunkie
Photos taken from a camera phone

2012 Chevrolet Sonic Review: First Drive

Chevrolet Sonic - This fact couldnt have been more obvious when Chevy called together a select group of auto journalists to bang gears on a few prototype Sonics well ahead of the official ?first drive?. As prototypes the team at Chevy was clear that they werent looking for impressions on design, or materials or even ride quality. Lead development engineer John Buttermore said he wanted to get feedback on the car?s handling, looking to do away with any perceptions that might be held about Chevy small cars, while hoping to rid any future reviews of comments about how the Sonic isn?t as much fun to drive as its competitors.

This was designed to be the most fun to drive car that gets 40-mpg,? says small car marketing director Margaret Brooks.

Ignoring the sedan for the moment, Chevy arranged three pre-prod Sonics and a reasonably tight auto-x course on which to throttle the tiny 1.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder, and its tires. And as a sign of the confidence Chevy has in this new product they also brought out what are regarded to be the performance benchmarks in the small car segment: the Ford Fiesta and Honda Fit.

Memories of the Aveo (the Sonic?s predecessor) may at this point be distant, but the car?s lackluster approach to economy motoring is not entirely forgotten. And with low expectations, Chevy?s boasting about the car?s capabilities seemed a bit extreme.

SONIC OVERWHELMS RIVALS WITH TURBOCHARGED TORQUE

The verdict? It impressed. Matching top-trim levels against each other the Sonic has a bit of an upper hand with 17-inch wheels coated in 205/50/17 tires. It also comes with an optional 1.4-liter turbocharged EcoTec 4-cylinder. Expected to be the volume leader, all models we tested came with that engine.

The turbo engine makes a solid increase in power over its rivals with 138-hp, not to mention what for this class of car is a tremendous amount of torque of 148 lb-ft at a low 1850 rpm. By comparison the Honda Fit is down 21-hp and 41 lb-ft, while the lead over the Fiesta is slightly less at 18-hp and 36 lb-ft. Those numbers might not sound significant but as percentages, they?re huge.

The base Sonic engine is a 1.8-liter 4-cylidner with an equal 138-hp but a less robust 125 lb-ft of torque.

FUN TO DRIVE: CAPALE HANDLING, CONNECTED FEEL BEHIND THE WHEEL

Despite the obvious bump in hustle-power, the Sonics unanimously victorious performance over its rivals on the auto-x course shouldn?t take away from its handling capabilities. Averaging out lap times, the Sonic was 1.5 to 2.0 seconds faster than either of its rivals.

Like most modern cars the Sonic uses an electric power steering system. With variable ratios it?s light in town and heavy on the highway. On our course it felt nicely weighted and direct.

The rare few who do opt for the stick shift will get a 6-speed with the 1.4T (the base 1.8L gets a 5-speed stick) that also surprised with smooth short throws, absent of the heavy, notchy mechanical feel we?d expect.

Understeer is evident as it is in any front-driver, but the Sonic proved easy to control at the limit. Body roll is quite minimal, especially considering the type of often-jerky maneuvers required of an auto-x.

Overall, Chevy has done an excellent job at creating a lively performer out of a rear torsion-beam suspension setup ? a more rudimentary design, but one that is shared with all of its rivals.

THE COMPETITION: FIT AND FIESTA

With a lower driving position the Fiesta gives a much higher impression of speed, although the course numbers proved the opposite. Of note, the Fiesta provided was an automatic dual-clutch transmission.

The Fit, a more comparable vehicle (considering it shares a much larger cargo volume with the Sonic) provided an added level of driving enjoyment thanks to it?s ability to rotate the rear end.

There?s something to be said about the Fit?s throttle feel, especially once you?ve reached higher rpm levels, although down low the lack of torque is noticeable, whereas the Sonic has plenty of torque to squirt out of low speed transitions.

Were the cards stacked in the Chevy?s favor on this test? Sure they were, with a course better suited to the turbocharged engine. Could Honda or Ford do the same and get a similarly favorable outcome? Probably. But that doesn?t mean this is a fruitless exercise. In fact, what it proves is that the Sonic is on the same playing field as the two most fun cars in the sub-compact segment, with the turbocharged engine?s torque then giving it an advantage.

While true that many b-segment buyers aren?t looking for a sports car, the Sonics ability to trounce a Fit on the tarmac will help brand the car in a more positive light.

And while its handling capabilities and fun-to-drive factor are important aspects ? especially considering target market ? it is just one aspect and for the full review you?ll have to wait.

Until then there are some important facts you should know about the new small Chevy. In addition to all that performance the Sonic, says Chevy, will also deliver a 40-mpg highway rating with the 6-speed manual and the 1.4T engine. Other important features include 10 standard airbags, a hill hold control feature for manual transmission models, standard power windows, locks and remote keyless entry and standard aluminum wheels ? even on base models.

THE VERDICT

So is it the most fun to drive car that gets 40-mpg? It might just be, although that ?fun? word is subjective. Objectively speaking, it was the clear leader in this performance test, making it the fastest.

Look for a more extensive review of the Sonic to follow. Until then we can say the Sonic is at least near the top of its class in driving enjoyment and performance, with plenty more power than the competition to more than make up any difference.

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First Impression: Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

The Chevrolet Corvette has been an American icon since its introduction in 1952. Over the years there have been six generations of this iconic car. A defining characteristic of the Corvette is that its body panels are made out of fiberglass and plastic to save weight. The latest generation, C6, has been around since 2005. The best performing variant of the C6 is the Corvette ZR1. The ZR1 is a race car that can be driven on the road. Since it is a grand tourer, it has a trunk. The ZR1 can compete and outperform supercars from Europe. It combines speed, power, and handling. It is the total package. The engine that powers the ZR1 also powers the Hennessey Venom GT, a hyper car that can reach speeds over 260 mph.

I first saw the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 at the 2011 Houston Auto Show. It was one of the best cars I saw there. While looking at it, I talked with a stranger about seeing this car in an episode of Top Gear. I like the small exterior details of the ZR1. I like that you can see part of the engine through a small piece of glass on the hood. I like its aggressive styling.

Powering the ZR1 is by a LS9 engine, a supercharged 6.2L V8 engine that produces 638 hp and 604 lb-ft of torque, and is paired with a six-speed manual transmission. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds and reaches a top speed of 205 mph. It is faster than a Ferrari 458, Audi R8, Lamborghini Gallardo, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, and an Aston Martin DBS.  With prices start a $110,300, it is cheaper than the competition. Compared to the competition, it is a bargain.

Motorweek named the Corvette ZR1 one of its 2009 Driver's Choice Best Dream Machines, along with the Ferrari California. Motorweek also reviewed this car in 2009. Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson drove one during a road trip from California to the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. He went 176 mph in a standing mile, a record for the Salt Flats. Jay Leno featured a 2009 Corvette ZR1 on his website, www.jaylenosgarage.com. The ZR1 is playable in Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit, available for both the police and racer factions, Grand Turismo 5, and Forza Motorsport 3, just to name a few games.

Final Thoughts: WHAT A CAR! It is fast, handles well, has a trunk, and is a great value for its price. Then the competion cost $150,000 and up and cannot perform like the ZR1, it shows that the ZR1 is a great buy for a car that costs $110,300. It can be used on the track and on everyday roads. It looks aggressive. It is a great alternative to Ferraris and Lamborghinis.

CarJunkie
Photo taken from a camera phone

First Impression: Chevrolet Volt

A popular trend in modern day motoring is going with a hybrid.  With the high gas prices, people are trading in their old vehicles for cars that get better gas mileage.  The hybrid is powered by both a gas engine and an electric motor. The heat from the engine charges the battery.  The most popular hybrid is the Toyota Prius.  Chevrolet decided to enter the hybrid market when it first revealed the  Volt in 2008.  The Volt would be a plug-in hybrid, in which the battery could be charged by an external source.  In Mid-December 2010, the Volt was released.  Chevrolet classifies the Volt as an extended range electric vehicle, but I consider it a plug-in hybrid because the car can be propelled by a gas engine.

I first saw the Chevrolet volt at the 2011 Houston Auto Show and I was not impressed.  Chevrolet is promoting the wrong car.  Chevrolet showed off the Corvette Stingray concept, which I hope goes into production, a Camaro convertible, and another Camaro powered by a 7.0L engine.  All those I would rather have than the Volt.  I think the Volt is slow, overrated, and overpriced.

The Volt is powered by 16 kW-h lithium-ion battery that powers a 149 hp, 273 lb-ft torque electric motor and 1.4L gas engine that uses premium gas and generates 74 hp.  The gas engine never charges the battery, it turns a generator that powers the electric motor.  The car can go for 40 miles on its batteries before the gas engine kicks in and give the Volt an additional 310 miles.  It takes 3.5 hours to recharge the battery with a 240 VAC outlet.  The Volt goes from 0 to 60 mph in 9 seconds and has a top speed of 100 mph.  To offset the cost of R & D on the Volt, it costs $41,000 dollars, but with th $7,500 tax incentives, it costs $33,500 to the owner.

The Volt can be seen in Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen as the Autobot Jolt.  Motorweek reviewed the Volt, praising the car so much that the Volt was Motorweeks's 2011 Driver's Choice Car of the Year.  Motortrend Magazine named the Volt its 2011 Car of the Year.  

Final Thoughts:  I don't think the Volt deserves the praise it is getting.  The Volt gets poor mileage, slow, and overpriced.  I was with my family at a wedding in Dallas.  We were in a V6 Toyota Camry and got over 400 miles on less than a tank of  regular gas.  The Volt uses premium gas, which is more expensive than regular gas.  The Volt gets about 350 miles before running out of gas and juice.  I could name several cars that are more deserving of 2011 Car of the Year.  Better cars include the Camaro, Mustang, Corvette, Infiniti G and M sedans, BMW M3, BMW M5, Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, and any diesel powered vehicle.  At the $33,500 price after the tax incentives, you could instead get a V8 mustang or a V8 Camaro.  Porsche will be releasing a plug-in hybrid that gets 78 mpg and can reach speeds of 200 mph, the 918, first announced in 2009 and costs $630,000 when it will be released.  Since the Volt is a plug-in hybrid, you need to have a place to charge the car over night.  The technology for electric and hybrid vehicles is still not there.  Most hybrids are slow and electric vehicles get poor mileage.  Wait for improvements in hybrid and electric vehicle technologies.  I would pass on the Volt.

CarJunkie
Photo taken from a camera phone

GM Claims Volt Owners Seeing up to 1,000 Miles Range without Filling up

General Motors says owners of the Volt are driving up to 1,000 miles (1,610 kilometers) before they need to fill up. “A sample of our early Volt customers suggest that they drive 1,000 miles before they fill up the gas tank,” Tony Posawatz, vehicle line director for the Chevrolet Volt, told Bloomberg news.

However, the official driving range of the Volt, measured by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is much smaller than the GM executive's claims. The Volt's electric-only driving range is 35 miles (56.3 km), with another 344 miles (553.6 km) possible as the gasoline generator kicks in. The combined range therefore sits at 379 miles (610 km), way below the claimed 1,000 miles.

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Chevrolet Celebrates 100th Anniversary with 2012 Centennial Edition Corvette Package

The Chevrolet brand turns 100 this year, and unlike some people that like to hide their age after a certain point, the automaker is out to tell the world. Among the many celebrations planned for this occasion is the presentation a special 2012 Centennial Edition Corvette with a black color scheme and unique design elements.

“Racing and performance are the roots of Chevrolet, a tradition carried forward today by Corvette,” said Rick Scheidt, vice president of Chevrolet marketing. “The Centennial Edition not only celebrates our 100 years, it once again pushes Corvette forward for a new generation of sports car fans.”

The 2012 Centennial Edition will be available as a special package on all Corvette models, including the Grand Sport that features a 6.2-liter V8 pumping out 430HP, the Z06 that comes equipped with a 505HP 7.0-liter V8 and the flagship ZR1 with its 638-hp supercharged LS9 V8 engine.

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New Malibu to be Offered in Australia as a Holden, will Sit Between the Cruze and the Commodore

Last week, GM released the first teaser photo of its upcoming Chevrolet Malibu ahead of its global debut on Monday, April 18. The next generation of the Malibu is the first Chevy mid-sized model designed for the global market and will be sold in up to 100 countries around the world including Australia where it will be launched under the Holden brand.

The Holden Malibu will arrive in Australia for the first time in 2012 with a range of four cylinder engines, effectively replacing the unpopular Epica, a badge-engineered version of the South Korean Daewoo Tosca, which itself had taken the place of the Vectra.

“The Malibu will play an important role within the Holden line-up, providing a spacious and efficient four-cylinder alternative for Australian customers,” said Holden Chairman and Managing Director Mike Devereux.

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America's Top 10 Selling Vehicles in 2010

The U.S. auto sales numbers for 2010 are out and once again, Ford's F-Series pickup truck has been crowned the best-selling vehicle of the year, a title which it has held for 34 years in a row. According to Autodata Corp., the Dearborn-based brand moved 528,349 units of its F-150 light-duty and F-250, F-350 and F-450 heavy-duty trucks in 2010, recording an impressive increase of 27,7 per cent over 2009.

The Chevrolet Silverado took second place with 370,135 units, or some 158,000 less than the F-Series. Sales of GM's pickup truck were up 16,9 per cent from the previous year.

Despite Toyota's recall debacle, the Camry finished third overall earning the title of the best-selling passenger car in the States with 327,804 units, posting an 8.1 per cent drop from 2009. The Honda Accord and Toyota Corolla followed in fourth and fifth positions respectively.

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Find of the Day: 1982 Rover Ventura with SD1 Face and Chevy V8

Found for sale in Johannesburg, South Africa, by Carscoop reader 'SamuraiJack', is this strange creation called the Rover Ventura. We're not sure if it's actually based on the Rover SD1, but judging from the photos, it appears to sport the same front end as well as dashboard and door panels as the British saloon. The seller or the vehicle says it is powered by a new Chevrolet 350 c.i. V8 engine. Check out the full gallery after the jump and if you happen to know any more details on the car, feel free to share in the comments section.

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VIDEO: Dallas Performance’s 1,302HP Corvette C6 Hits the Dyno

After some recent fails, let’s see a dyno test with a happy ending. This is a 2005 C6 Corvette built by Dallas Performance, which recorded a whopping 1,302 hp and 1,662 Nm (1,226 lb-ft) of torque on the rear wheels, according to the performance charts.

To achieve this, the tuning firm upgraded the V8 powerhouse with twin turbos, Performance Induction LS3 heads, RC120 injectors and single plane intake. The power is transferred to the rear wheels through a TR-6060 transmission and a C6 Z06 differential. The clip is available after the break.

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James Robbins’ Corvette Design Study: Close But No Cigar

Here at Carscoop, we love us some Corvette design studies. Heck, if we wanted to we could probably serve up a new one every day of the week.

Today’s CAD mock up comes from transportation design student James Robbins. Think of it as a C6.5, a stopgap measure between the current gen Corvette and a future C7 model. The design brief required Mr. Robbins to use the basic proportions of the C6, which limited what could be done with the design.

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Automakers Developing Significantly Lighter Trucks to Meet New Fuel Economy Standards

Reuters is reporting that major automakers are tirelessly working on reducing the weight of future generation pickup trucks, in order to meet stricter fuel economy standards without sacrificing key abilities, such as power, payload capacity or towing capability.

Until 2016, when the new mandates take effect, manufacturers must reach an average fleet economy of 35.5 mpg (6.63 lt/100 km), while light trucks will have to return around 30 mpg or 7.84 lt/100 km. Given that around 50 per cent of vehicles sold in the U.S. in the first 11 months of the year were light trucks, it’s clear that the likes of Ford and GM have to act fast.

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2011 Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback: Production Version's Shape Trademarked

At the 2010 Paris Motor Show in early September, General Motors unveiled a near-production version of the Chevrolet Cruze five-door hatchback. Now, the Detroit automaker has registered trademark filings with the European patent office revealing the shape and details of the actual production model which is set to reach dealerships in Europe as a Chevrolet and in Australia as a Holden, in mid 2011.

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My Top 10 Cars of All-Time - U.S.A.

In the past I’ve covered my picks for the best cars of the 1980s and ‘90s. Now it’s time for my Top 10 cars of All-Time, whereby I pit country against country. Our six contenders are the U.S.A., Britain, Japan, Germany, Italy and France. Will you side with American muscle or French flair? Can Japanese perfection trump Italian passion? Or do you choose German engineering over British ingenuity? Whatever you choose, you’re in for one helluva ride. So, let’s count down my Top 10 Cars of All-Time.

Today’s contender is...the U.S.A.

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GM Issues Separate Recalls on Cadillac CTS and Escalade, and Chevy and GMC Trucks

General Motors is recalling close to 100,000 vehicles in two separate campaigns. In a posting with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA], GM said the first recall affects almost 96,000 Cadillac CTS sedans from the 2005-2007 model years over concerns that some of the vehicles have a condition in which repeated flexing of the passenger sensing system mat in the passenger seat may break the connection. The company said that if this occurs, the sensor may not detect the presence of a front seat passenger and will disable the air bag.

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VIDEO: Chevrolet Tries to Explain the Volt's MPG Equivalent and MPG Ratings

Once upon a drive, all we had to know about a car's fuel consumption was how many miles the vehicle could travel on a single gallon of gas in the city, on the highway and on a combined route, regardless of whether the engine was fed with petrol or diesel.

Nowadays, the appearance of all-electric and extended range hybrid electric cars in showrooms has forced [ahem...] the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to embrace a new method to measure the energy consumption of alternative fuel vehicles called MPGe (Miles Per Gallon Equivalent).

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GM Building Parts for Chevrolet Volt from BP Oil Spill Booms

The new Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric car is doing its part in improving the environment by making the best use of the oil that was spilled into the Gulf of Mexico from the BP Deepwater Horizon rig. To explain, General Motors has began recycling oil-soaked plastic booms from the notorious spill into components for the Volt.

The Detroit-based automaker said it has developed a method to convert an estimated 100 miles of the material off the Alabama and Louisiana coasts into more than 100,000 pounds of plastic resin that will be used for parts that deflect air around the vehicle’s radiator.

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Chevrolet UK gets into the Christmas Spirit, Offers Free Gift Wrapping Service for New Sparks

If you happen live in Britain and have decided that a new Chevrolet Spark is the perfect Christmas gift to yourself or someone (*cough sugardaddy cough*) close to you, then you'll be happy to know that the GM brand is offering a free gift wrapping service on all orders received by December 21. The... festive bow tie initiative is being offered by Chevrolet UK across the country.

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