Corvette Stingray: 2014 Automobile of the Year

If you know cars or at least pay attention to the news once in a while, you know that Corvette brought back one of their most successful cars of all time, the Stingray. The Corvette made a huge media splash at the North American Auto Show in Detroit this year. And the buzz that it created has been following it around every since.


The buzz was so great that the car is now named the Automobile of the Year. This is not a step in the right direction for General Motors, but more of a path in the right direction that they have been going down all this year.

Just a couple of weeks ago, the Cadillac CTS was named the Motor Trend car of the year. With GM's redesigned trucks and newly redesigned cars, GM has enjoyed some much needed success for 2013 and going into 2014.

Back to the Corvette; the completely redesigned Corvette has been able to impress consumers with the new stylish outside and inside. The aggressive curves give the car more of a super car look and the interior is said to be more of a durable high quality lay out.

Drive-ability is much more tighter and more fun to drive thanks to a more sophisticated suspension, and acceleration is nothing short of spectacular.  I have seen claims of 1/4 mile times of 11.9 sec, but times more around 12.4 sec is probably more likely, and with a 185 mph (est.) top speed, there is a whole lot of fun that can be had here.

But power, styling, drive-ability, etc., is not the only reason why the Stingray found its way to being named the Automobile of the Year. Impressive gas mileage due to a cylinder deactivation system is also part of the Corvettes success. Not only can this car move out when the gas paddle is hammered on the floor, but it can also provide the driver with an extremely comfortable driving experiences at low rpm's for everyday driving while saving gas (fuel economy: cty//hwy 17/29 mpg.). 

Specs and Stats

Powertrain	6.2L V8 DI engine RWD
Standard Engine	Gas V8
Displacement (liters/cu. in.)	6.2L/376
7-speed manual transmission	Standard
6-speed Paddle Shift automatic transmission	Available
Horsepower @ RPM	455 @ 6000
Horsepower (with performance exhaust)	460
Torque @ RPM	460 @ 4600
Fuel Injection	Direct Injection
Drivetrain	Rear Wheel Drive
Axle Ratio	3.42
Steering/Suspension	6.2L V8 DI engine RWD
Front Suspension	Short/Long Arm
Rear Suspension	Short/Long Arm
Brakes	6.2L V8 DI engine RWD
4-Wheel Disc Brakes	Yes
Brake/ABS System	4-Wheel

"American Graffiti": The Best Car Cruising Movie Ever

This movie emulates a great time in car history. 

Cruising, Racing, Music -- great cars that ended up becoming some of the most wanted cars by American car collectors today. "Wolfman Jack" has his part in the movie, along with many other actors that went on to have well-rounded acting careers. The movie takes place in a more light-hearted time. 

I was much to young to remember that time, but me and a lot of other car guys did have a place to cruise right outside of Detroit -- on Telegraph rd. Unfortunately, the fun of that was short-lived. The fun it created on Fri. and Sat. night probably went on for quite a long time before I got my first cruiser, '71 Skylark (455). The fun died out when younger kids were starting to drive their Mommy and Daddy's funded Rice Burners around. The movie "Fast and the Furious" just came out (a poor representation of the drag race world) and everyone who had a wing on the back of their Honda Civic thought they could fly. 

Drunk Driving, illegal racing for money, car accidents, crotch rocket motorcycles too fast for their own good etc. etc. left authorities no choice but to police the situation.

Even the days of having fun at the world-famous "Woodward Dream Cruise" has became a thing of the past. Miles and miles of traffic that moves about 3 mph when it's not totally stopped, the street is flooded with 90% of the cars being the same cars you see on your way back-and-forth to work everyday and advertisements is the main reason for the event. 

Unfortunately, the last time I was at the cruise spot, I was arrested, along with 250 other people who all received tickets for loitering. My Camaro was towed to a place down in Detroit, and that cost me a lot to get out. The only fun thing about that night was when it came time for all 250 pissed off people to show up in court, I believe authorities may have thought, maybe this was not such a good ideal.

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Cadillac CTS: Motor Trend's 2014 Car of the Year

With great safety ratings and inside and out styling, this Cadillac deserves the crown.

	2014 Cadillac CTS4 2.0T	2014 Cadillac CTS 3.6	2014 Cadillac CTS Vsport
BASE PRICE	$46,025	$54,625	$59,995
PRICE AS TESTED	$65,345	$67,470	$60,095
POWER (SAE NET)	272 hp @ 5500 rpm	321 hp @ 6800 rpm*	420 hp @ 5750 rpm*
TORQUE (SAE NET)	295 lb-ft @ 1700 rpm	275 lb-ft @ 4800 rpm*	430 lb-ft @ 3500 rpm*
ACCEL 0-60, MPH	6.0 sec	6.3 sec	4.4 sec
QUARTER MILE	14.5 sec @ 93.5 mph	14.7 sec @ 96.7 mph	12.8 sec @ 111.9 mph
BRAKING 60-0, MPH	115 ft	111 ft	98 ft
LATERAL ACCEL	0.81 g (avg)	0.85 g (avg)	0.94 g (avg)
MT FIGURE EIGHT	26.8 sec @ 0.65 g (avg)	26.7 sec @ 0.66 g (avg)	24.7 sec @ 0.78 g (avg)
EPA ECON (CITY/HWY)	19/28 mpg	18/29 mpg	17/25 mpg
REAL MPG (CITY/HWY)	20/30 mpg	18/32 mpg	20/27 mpg
*SAE certified

	2014 Cadillac CTS4 2.0T	2014 Cadillac CTS 3.6	2014 Cadillac CTS Vsport
POWERTRAIN/CHASSIS
DRIVETRAIN LAYOUT	Front engine, AWD	Front engine, RWD	Front engine, RWD
ENGINE TYPE	Turbocharged I-4, alum block/head	60-deg V-6, alum block/heads	Twin-turbo 60-deg V-6, alum block/heads
VALVETRAIN	DOHC, 4 valves/cyl	DOHC, 4 valves/cyl	DOHC, 4 valves/cyl
DISPLACEMENT	121.9 cu in/1998 cc	217.5 cu in/3564 cc	217.5 cu in/3564 cc
COMPRESSION RATIO	9.5:1	11.5:1	10.2:1
REDLINE	6500 rpm	7000 rpm	6500 rpm
WEIGHT TO POWER	14.3 lb/hp	12.0 lb/hp	9.4 lb/hp
TRANSMISSION	6-speed auto	8-speed auto	8-speed auto
AXLE/FINAL-DRIVE RATIO	3.27:1/2.19:1	2.85:1/1.97:1	2.85:1/1.97:1
SUSPENSION, FRONT; REAR	Struts, coil springs, adj shocks, anti-roll bar; multilink, coil springs, adj shocks, anti-roll bar	Struts, coil springs, adj shocks, anti-roll bar; multilink, coil springs, adj shocks, anti-roll bar	Struts, coil springs, adj shocks, anti-roll bar; multilink, coil springs, adj shocks, anti-roll bar
STEERING RATIO	16.2:1	16.5:1	15.4:1
TURNS LOCK-TO-LOCK	2.8	2.5	2.5
BRAKES, F;R	13.6-in vented disc; 12.4-in vented disc, ABS	13.6-in vented disc; 12.4-in vented disc, ABS	13.6-in vented disc; 12.4-in vented disc, ABS
WHEELS	8.5 x 18-in, cast alum	8.5 x 19-in, cast alum	8.5 x 18-in, cast alum (Vspt fr), 9.5 x 18-in, cast alum (Vspt rr)
TIRES	245/40R18 93V M+S Pirelli P Zero Nero All Season	255/35R19 96V M+S Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season	245/40R18 93Y (fr), 275/35R18 95Y (rr) Pirelli P Zero
DIMENSIONS
TURNING CIRCLE	39.0 ft	36.7 ft	36.7 ft
SEATING CAPACITY	5	5	5
HEADROOM, F/R	39.2/37.5 in	39.2/37.5 in	39.2/37.5 in
LEGROOM, F/R	42.6/35.4 in	42.6/35.4 in	42.6/35.4 in
SHOULDER ROOM, F/R	56.9/54.8 in	56.9/54.8 in	56.9/54.8 in
CARGO VOLUME	13.7 cu ft	13.7 cu ft	13.7 cu ft
TEST DATA
ACCELERATION TO MPH
0-30	1.6 sec	2.3 sec	1.6 sec
0-40	2.8	3.4	2.4
0-50	4.3	4.8	3.4
0-60	6	6.3	4.4
0-70	8.2	8.3	5.6
0-80	10.5	10.4	6.9
0-90	13.2	12.8	8.5
0-100	16.9	15.8	10.3
PASSING, 45-65 MPH	3.5	3.1	2.1
TOP-GEAR REVS @ 60 MPH	1800 rpm	1500 rpm	1500 rpm
CONSUMER INFO
STABILITY/TRACTION CONTROL	Yes/yes	Yes/yes	Yes/yes
AIRBAGS	Dual front, f/r side, f/r curtain, front knee	Dual front, f/r side, f/r curtain, front knee	Dual front, f/r side, f/r curtain, front knee
BASIC WARRANTY	4 yrs/50,000 mi	4 yrs/50,000 mi	4 yrs/50,000 mi
POWERTRAIN WARRANTY	6 yrs/70,000 mi	6 yrs/70,000 mi	6 yrs/70,000 mi
ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE	6 yrs/70,000 mi	6 yrs/70,000 mi	6 yrs/70,000 mi
FUEL CAPACITY	19.0 gal	19.0 gal	19.0 gal
RECOMMENDED FUEL	Unleaded premium	Unleaded regular	Unleaded premium

The Stats speak for themselves.

It's a car that can give you luxury and sportiness in one show.

Motor Trend makes a good choice.

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.

2014 Z/28 Camaro - The Fastest Road Course Car Available?

Expected to be released in early spring - 2014, the Z/28 may be one of the best road course cars for the price tag it will have taped to the window. No exact number yet, but the price is expected to be right around the same amount as you would pay for one of the other performing Camaros that Chevy has in it's line-up.

The latest trip to the most grueling road course in the world, the Nürburgring, the Z/28 laid down numbers on a damp track that beat not only it's sibling, the ZL1, but also the Porsche 911 Carrera S and Lamborghini Murcielago LP640. 

The Camaro boasted a 7:37.40 lap time and Chevrolet believes that the time could improve by as much as four seconds depending on weather conditions. Not only was the track damp but toward the end of the lap it started to rain. 

This was a 24 hour test for the Camaro, so not only did it run this one lap to impress, but it also ran for 24 hours with breaks only to accommodate the the tires and brakes. A a test of endurance that Chevrolet has been doing to their sports cars since the early 1990s when their fastest car was a 300hp Corvette. 

300hp sounds quite soft apposed to this Z/28 that brings a 505hp 7.0 liter engine to the table. That power helps it get around the track as fast as it does. But Chevrolet claims the real secret to it's fast times is the frame that is 300 pounds lighter than the ZL1. The combination of horsepower and lightness gives the Camaro the ability for more efficient braking going into corners and faster alliteration coming out of corners. 

These cars are race ready - you can order a radio and an air condition for the Camaro, but Chevrolet has claimed they will not be standard. Regardless it's a peer race car ready for the track right off the showroom floor.

2014 Chevy Malibu: Will it Fare Better Than 2013

General Motors is known for being the last out of the gate when it comes to styling of their mid-sized sport/luxury sedans. There also known for catching up with the times when they get around to it.

Instead fixing the problem they usually make up the difference by slashing prices and offering incentives. But this time around, with GM doing as well as they have this past year, and also with GM stock holders not wanting the short cut that GM usually takes - GM will take a new approach.

Instead of waiting for a couple of years and then promoting a refresh version of the car right before they offer a all-new redesigned Malibu, like they would usually do - GM decides to refresh now, sooner-than-later. A refreshed model of the 2013 Malibu has been designed and will make its way to the showroom floors in early 2014.

With new exterior styling including a stouter front clip, redesigned front seats to help add room to the back seats - which was a big complaint for consumers, more trunk space and some engine up-grades that include the stop/start technology system and better gas mileage for the base 2.5 liter motor (25 city and 36 highway) - GM hopes this Malibu will compete better with its competition - especially the Ford Fusion and the Toyota Camry which is in the same class as the Malibu, but did much better this past year in sales.

Although the Malibu is not completely redesigned - as GM would call it (refreshed), it will unusually receive the complete and full advertising push. This treatment is usually only reserved for all-new redesigned models, but with GM doing as well as they have with their other models - such as the new Sileradro, Impala, Cruze and their Cadillac line - GM wants nothing to do with a dud in their line-up.

Self Driving Car: General Motors is Close and Ready

 The Question is Are Drivers Ready?

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HySnLN9Pk4  watch video 
Drivers really don't need another reason to not pay attention on the road. But a ventrally you will be able to slide behind the wheel and hit the gas on the Cadillac SRX test vehicle with "Super Cruise" and it feels like any other luxury SUV. However, when you hit 50 mph it feels different.




At that point, you hit two buttons on the steering wheel to activate Super Cruise, you position the SRX in the lane and take your hands off the wheel. After that, Super Cruise takes over.

"It's a pretty remarkable feeling isn't it?" asked Eric Raphael, manager of the General Motors Super Cruise program, who sat in the passenger seat next to me.

As we zipped around the GM test track in Milford, Mich., I was in the driver's seat but my hands were off the steering wheel and my feet didn't touch the gas or brake.


"Some of this technology, like adaptive cruise control, is already in some Cadillac models," said John Capp, GM director of electrical systems. "Our plan is to have the whole system available by the end of this decade."

Race for self-driving cars

General Motors has been working on autonomous drive technology for years. Some of the technology has gone into features like adaptive cruise control, which automatically starts braking as sensors detect your car is closing in too quickly on the car in front of you.

The next frontier is developing cars that completely drive themselves. "There's a lot of momentum with this technology. Nobody wants to be left behind," said Raj Rajkumar, professor of electrical engineering at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. "In 2003, if you'd have said that someday we'd see self-driving cars, you would have been labeled 'insane.'"

The crazy talk ended when everyone saw the Google car safely tooling around on public streets with researchers from the tech giant not steering or controlling the car.

Since then, nearly every automaker has proclaimed their intention to build self-driving cars.
Nissan and GM said they'll have one by the end of the decade. Elon Musk is shooting to have a Tesla with "co-pilot" technology to assist drivers by 2017.

"This technology is all very natural, very incremental, but it is coming," said Rajkumar.

  By: Philip LeBeau | CNBC Auto and Airline Industry Reporter