“Teen Driver” Safety System Installed on 2016 Chevy Malibu

“Teen Driver” is a technologysystem that helps parents regulate and monitor how their teenagers are driving. This technology has been around for a while, but for the first time GM will be installing them on the 2016 Chevy Malibu. It's a simple case of making sure your teen's driving habits stay safe. The unfortunate thing is nowadays driving like a NASCAR driver with the radio blasting is not as much of a problem with teens as keeping their mobile devices out of their hands when they're in the driver seat. The technology to turn off mobile devices is in the working, but not yet quite ready for the public – let's cross our fingers for speedy solution.

Until than, the “Teen Driver” system does help parents get a little piece of mind when their kids have the vehicle. With a pin number keyed to the key fob your kids use, you can control many different aspects of the car and also request a report card of their driving when they get home.

Features the “Teen Driver” Lets You Control

• You can set the radio to stay mute until safety belts are fastened.
• You can lower the max. radio volume.
• You can adjust max speed anywhere from 40-75-mph. Now this doesn't work like a governor where the engine won't go any faster. But if the speed is exceeded, an audible warning and visual warnings will go off until the vehicle is brought back to speed.
• You can make sure that all smart car and safety features are implicated and can not be turned off. These features that will be permanently functional will be determined on what features you have on your vehicle – traction control, forward collision alert, front and rear park assist, side blind zone alert, rear cross-traffic alert, front pedestrian braking, automatic light control, daytime running lights, parking sensors, automatic braking and more.

As mentioned above, parents can request a report card of their teenager's driving, this will include things like their top speed, distance driven, how many times the driver violated the pre-set speed limit, and how often the vehicle's safety features were activated. So not only will you know how far your teenage went and how fast they went to get their, but the “Teen Driver” system will also let you know how many times the stability-control, anti-lock brake system, forward-collision alerts and auto-braking events are activated.

Your teen may think of it like an invasion of privacy, but as adults we know it's all about keeping our teens safe. The fatal crash rate per mile driven is the highest in drivers 16-19 years old. So your kid may hate the idea of the “Teen Driver” system and believe it's part of a government conspiracy, we know it's just about them coming back home in one piece. Now if we can just get that technology that shuts off mobile devices for the driver, not just for teens but for everyone, maybe the roads will be a little safer.

CTS-V is Back for 2016 With 640 Horsepower

In 2004, Cadillac came out with their very inconspicuous V-Series Cadillac. Not too many people knew too much about it until it started breaking records as the fastest luxury sports sedan in the world. Breaking records at places like Nürburgring raceway and on the quarter-mile made it clear it was not just a prettier version of the CTS.    

                                              

Every since the third-generation CTS was introduced in 2013 as a 2014 model, we have yet to see a V-Series Cadillac. But after a 2-year hiatus, Cadillac has the new generation CTS-V ready to be introduced to the world at the North American Auto Show in Detroit. It will be introduced as a 2016 model, and with all of the speculation that surrounded it for most of 2014, a drivetrain is now confirmed. 

For a long time there were rumors of a 4.5-liter twin turbocharged V-6 and probably a lot of hope for one from some people as that would make the Cadillac a quiet, quick little sedan. But Cadillac decided to go with the sure bet, and you can't get much more sure than the 640-hp, 6.4-liter supercharged, LT4 V-8 from the 2015 Corvette ZO6.

This may be a little disappointing to some GM enthusiasts. The powerful Corvette motor will be mated to the very well-respected eight-speed 8L90E automatic transmission. But unlike years in the past, there will be no manual transmission offered this time around. 

What gives this Cadillac a smooth ride and the ability to hit corners like a racecar is the Magnetic Ride Suspension that GM uses on all of their performance vehicles. Michelin Pilot Super Sports with 9.5-inch wide tires in the front and 10-inch tires in the back also add some help. Slowing the Cadillac down are Brembo brakes with six-piston calipers in the front and four in the back.

Just like last time, the world-famous RECARO racing seats will fill the front seat area. Special badges, stitching, and trim will be placed all around the vehicle to let everyone know this is not just your average Cadillac. A big mesh front grille, special ventilated hood, rims and much more will help this Cadillac CTS-V standout in the crowd. And no worries, all standard CTS features including technology like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth will carry over to the powerhouse V-Series Cadillac. Look for its unveiling this January in Detroit at the North American Auto Show.   

 

   

The New El Camino: The Holden UTE

Ever since 1959, the Chevrolet El Camino has been somewhat of an infatuation for car lovers. The sedan-slash-truck is popular among car shows and car cruises and definitely stands out as a vehicle in a class of its own.  

Since 1987, the rare looking car has been discontinued, leaving a lot of El Camino fans wondering when and if they were ever going to bring it back. Chevrolet has brought back the COPO and the Yenko Camaro, GM as well has brought back other vehicles from the past and still planning to bring back others.

The question is if America loved the El Camino so much and Chevrolet was having such success with them, then why does Australia get to enjoy a version of the El Camino and Americans don't. The Australian car company Holden owned by GM produces a Holden UTE that looks just like an updated version of an El Camino.


General Motors has plans to have all of their production interest out of Australia by 2016 and that probably means that will be the end of the Holden UTE, especially since sales have been way down in the past 3 years on them. But one must wonder with GM making such strives by making big splashes in the industry from year-to-year with cars like the ATS-V, ZO6, Z28, a possible Grand National, etc. -- could an El Camino comeback be on the Horizon?

The UTE is already designed with all top-of-the-line technology. The SS-V Redline series UTE already packs a 6.0L V-8 engine with about 367hp connected to a six-speed auto or manual transmission. Nineteen-inch alloy wheels with Brembo brakes and an FE3 Ultra Sport suspension is what helps control that power. All this would make it very easy for Chevrolet to put an LS motor and drive train in it practically with no modifications.

The Bells and Whistles:         

                      
8'' touch screen with Mylink
5-star ANCAP safety rating
Electronic Stability Control
park assist
rearview camera
blind-spot alert
front collision alert
electric parking brake
push-button start
lane departure warning
full range of airbags

Trailer assists
And much more...

It would just be pretty cool to see these Holden UTEs in America roaming around with a Chevy emblem on the front grille.

2015 Yenko Camaro: 700-HP it's Really Back

Unless you have been living under a muscle car rock for the last 40 years, you probably know about the Yenko/SC Camaros of the late 60's. They were very rare sought-after muscle cars that used the Corvette 427-cu.-in. powerplant to produce legendary Camaro power. Thanks to Don Yenko and the help of his dealership, they not only put the badass Corvette motors in them, but they also added cool visual effects that help the Yenko Camaros of the 60's standout and still draw huge prices on auction blocks today.

With the end of production of those Yenkos Camaros – probably didn't leave to many Camaro enthusiasts left that thought they would ever see another Yenko Camaro in production let alone a 21st century Yenko/SC Camaro. But General Motors had a few tricks up their sleeve when they bought the rights to the Yenko name in 2009 and moved forward in 2010 by unveiling a Yenko/SC prototype. It was pretty obvious after the enthusiasm that the Yenko prototype created it would only be a matter of time that we would see an actual production push of these bad boys.

At the 2014 SEMA show, Chevrolet unveiled a 2015 Yenko/SC Camaro that was built to tell the world that there would be a Yenko Camaro going into production. It was a joint project that involved the SLP company. A company that has joined up with Chevy many times in the past for high-performance specialty cars.

The new Yenko/SC will be much like the old – packed with all kinds of goodies and visual upgrades. Those upgrades start with an Eaton TVS 2300 supercharger stacked on a GM LS7 7.0-liter engine that packs a monster 700hp punch. Backing that will be either an automatic transmission or a manual trans with a dual-disc clutch assembly.

Visually the Camaro has a heritage style front-grille to go with an RTM cowl-induction hood. Yenko hood and body graphics are added with exterior 427 badges and Yenko door sill plates. To top all that off will be a badass looking black ZL1 rear-spoiler and five-spoke rims with a gunmetal finish and sYc center caps.

Only 50 of these Camaros will be produced this year and they will have to be ordered from SLP. So if this sounds like something you desperately want -- then you better order soon.

2015 Cadillac ATS Video -- Looking Cool

The video was not supposed to be released so soon, but it's nice to see the 2015 Cadillac ATS looking good. The front end is sleek looking and the whole car just has a nice feel to it.

With a nice sticker price on this Cadillac, GM should enjoy a nice amount of these cars being sold, maybe even steeling some customers from some of their competitors. And if there is one thing for sure, with everything going on with GM right now, they can use the business.

Like always, Cadillac offers many great standard options, three different engine options, and two different transmission options.  

• New coupe body style available
• OnStar with 4G LTE and Wi-Fi hotspot capability standard
• Cadillac DockSpot wireless charging available
• Rear- or all-wheel drive
• Manual or automatic transmission

• Available Engines:
• 202-hp, 2.5-liter I-4 (regular gas)
• 321-hp, 3.6-liter V-6 (regular gas)
• 272-hp, 2.0-liter I-4 (premium)

• Transmissions:
• 6-speed manual w/OD
• 6-speed automatic w/OD and auto-manual

2014 Chevy Z/28 (No Air Conditioning)?

The New Z/28 is one of the fastest road course cars of its it kind. The Camaro went under major reconstruction to shave weight and boost performance times at the track. With a $75.000.00 price tag, most people would claim it is well worth what you pay for it.

Unfortunately there is a lot of squabbling on the Internet about how it is so disappointing that for that much money you don't even get an air conditioner with the purchase.

First-off, the Z/28 can be ordered with an air conditioner. Although it does come without one, if you specify that you want one they will put in on at the factory. Anyone, including dealerships has this option.



Lets say you buy one used and it never came with one from the factory. An aftermarket air condition can be bought and installed pretty easy. In fact, if you have some semi-knowledge of auto repair and have some tools, you could install one in your own driveway.

What's the logic behind no air conditioning?
It's simple: it cuts weight and it frees up horsepower. And for a car that is race ready, Chevy just doesn't see the reason for the air conditioner.

And for all of you Ford fans out there that enjoy pointing out the missing air conditioning, as if it was some kind of flaw. Let us not forget a special Mustang that Ford came out with in 2000. A Cobra R with a huge, ugly, senseless wing, no radio, no A/C, and a lot of space behind the front seats; that's because it came with no back seats. You could receive all of that for a price tag of $54,995.

2014 Corvette Stingray: Too Fast for the Price

These are just a couple of Stingrays that fond their way into a wreck.

 Big bank rolls with no driving skills -- cloud your new Corvette Stingray end up looking like these?

Has General Motors put to much power into there new Corvettes?

Lets face it, if your someone who has enough money to buy a special edition Corvette ZR1 or a supercar like a Lamborghini or a Ferrari, most likely you will set that
car in the garage and look at it, show to your friends -- but drive it around every day -- that probably wouldn't even be an option.

But with the Stingray being priced reasonably -- a price about the same as last years Corvettes -- these cars will be finding their way to the roads of even the most average Joe cities. It could be scary.

2018 Trans Am and Firebird Speculations

 

2018 Trans Am-Firebird

There is a lot of fluff about if GM will ever come back with a Trans Am or a Firebird, but that is just what it is, fluff. If GM does decide to bring it back there would be a lot of car enthusiast very happy with their decision. But if they are planning on making this type of move, they are defiantly keeping a very tight lid on what they're going to do and when.


There is one fact that has been made very clear by GM. If they do bring back the Trans Am and Firebird, they will not be bringing back the Pontiac line. All production would be under the authority of GM and the Pontiac name would not even be used for the very well loved sports cars. One last thing that is pretty well-known about the situation is that they would probably be produced alongside if not in the same factories as the Camaros, and would be sold at Chevrolet dealerships where Camaros are sold.


Build Your Own Trans Am/Firebird

If you are someone who does not want to wait for GM's decision and you must have one, there is an alternative. Companies like Trans AM Depot and a few others that can be easily found on the Internet, build awesome looking prototypes of Trans Ams, Firebirds, Hurst and Firehawks that can be customized personally and purchased by private owners.


The process is really cool, brand new Camaros are purchased than ground effects, bumpers, spoilers interior and whatever else that needs to be replaced is replaced with prototype parts for the unique styling that replicas what a new Trans Am would probably look like if GM was to start making them again. The nice thing about these projects are that they're made from new Camaros, that should be enough to ensure that the cars that you will be purchasing are a great American Motor product.

Brand New Trans Am "Smokey and the Bandit" Car

"Smokey and The Bandit" Trans Am

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