3.8 Million Dollar 1967 L88 Corvette

What made this L88 Corvette so valuable?


To understand that, you first have to understand what the L88 Corvette was, and that was a pure breaded race car. Rated at 430Hp, dyno test proves that number was underrated. Some where around 560Hp was more like the real horsepower rating. The underrating was a deliberate attempt to keep with-in safety regulations imposed by the government.


There were only 20 L88s built in 1967, making them some of the rarest production Corvettes every made. But the one that rolled across the block at the Barrett-Jackson Auction was a one-of-kind. Ordered by a GM executive for his sons friend, it is the only documented '67 L88 with Red-on-Red (Red Exterior - Red Interior) to come off the assembly-line.

What makes it even more rare is the original condition of the vehicle and the condition of the documents. The tank sheet (order copy) which is accessible by dropping the gas tank is surprisingly legible and had all of the correct information that indicated its true L88 fully optioned status.

The GM/NCRS Document Validation Service approved of the documentation and awarded it the prestigious "Top Flight Award" in 2011. It also went on to collect three other prestigious accomplishments: "Duntov Mark of Excellence," "Bloomington Gold Hall of Fame" and was approved in the "Bloomington Gold Special Collection."

This particular Corvette was a two owner car. It spent the first two years of its life racing at Dragways like Detroit, Motor City, and Lapeer in Michigan. And then in 1970 it was sold to its second owner, a teacher who thought he was just getting a regular Corvette. But while doing a brake job one day he realized that the car had unique dual-pin calipers only found on the J56 option which came with the L88. This discovery promoted him to drop the gas tank and seek out the tank sheet where he discovered he had purchased one of the rarest Corvettes that was every made.

After a few more owners, this car finally made its way to the auction block on Saturday afternoon. The Corvette will have a new home, probably a garage somewhere where it will be put on display. Due to the rarity and the amount of money it cost to own this car, I doubt it will ever see the road or any racetracks, but it will probably see a lot of car shows.

2014 Cadillac ELR: Winning Awards and Giving Away Merchandise

The new stylish look of the Cadillac ELR has spent the last few months sitting in the back row when it comes to what is trending in the the automotive industry. It's edgy and cool look just hasn't seemed to be something that has caught a whole lot of attention.

But what better way to make headlines than receiving the 2014 Green Car Technology Award from the Green Car Journal and giving away something free along with a purchase of a Cadillac ELR.

Jan. 22, at the Washington Auto Show, the prestigious Green Car Technology Award was presented to Cadillac after beating out plenty of worthy domestic and foreign competitors. Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of Green Car Journal and CarsOfChange.com said, "Cadillac has cleverly evolved a common electric-drive efficiency system into an intriguing feature that adds a new dimension to the driving experience,"

But if that award wasn't enough, that's no problem. Cadillac has also up the ante by offering early buyers a free charging station with their purchase and free professionally installation as well. This would save buyers at least a few hundred bucks on a car that is already priced on the upper-end of the sedan market.

The Cadillac ELR can go 40 miles on pure electric, but can keep going with unlimited power by using the outboard gasoline motor that it comes with. As with most Hybrid cars do, they take the access energy (kinetic energy) that the vehicle creates upon breaking and stores it back into the battery. But what's special about this hybrid is something that Cadillac calls the Regen on Demand system. This system gives the driver control at the steering wheel via a lever to automatically control when he/she wants to use the extra energy that the system stores.

This system also offers another unique feature that most other Hybrids cars do not have. It can create something that is called Regan drag and that drag can help slow down the car without applying the brakes. This can help the driver – depending on the situation – with the possibility to go in to a turn or slow down with traffic without repositioning their foot.

The Cadillac is hoping for some big sales with their Regen on Demand technology, but they are also concerned of unexpected low sales of the EV Chevy Volt and hope to do better then that. Their hoping that the recognition of the Green Car Journal Award and their offering of a free charger will help sales.

The Cadillac ELR will not be sold at ever Cadillac dealership, only location that are certified to sell and service the car will have the honors of having the EV car grace their showrooms.

Chevrolet Makes a New Record at North American Auto Show

 


This year at the North American Auto Show in Detroit, Chevrolet walked way a big winner. Their Silverado toke home the Truck of the Year Award, while Corvette stood tall with their Stingray taking home the Car of the Year Award.

This is the first time in the Detroit Auto Show history that two brands from the same company brought both awards home.

I guess if there was any question if General Motors was getting back-on-track, the answer could rest solely on the slew of accomplishment they have made in the past two-to-three years.

The Cadillac ATS walked away with the Car of the Year Award last year at the North American Auto Show and this year Motor Trend honored the Cadillac CTS with their Car of the Year Award. Also, the 2014 Impala is the first American-branded car in at least 20 years to be rated the top new sedan by Consumer Reports Magazine, the Chevy Malibu got an all-new redesigned look earlier then normal with great reviews, and that's just to name a few of GM's moves to get back on top of the industry.

Alan Batey, Chevrolet's  global boss said, “Chevrolet is in the midst of the most aggressive product transformation in the brand’s more than 100-year history ......  It is a distinct honor for the entire Chevrolet team to have both the Corvette and Silverado recognized with the prestigious North American Car and Truck of the Year awards.”

Chevrolet is also looking into making a Lingenfelter Silverado Reaper that can compete with Ford's F-150 Raptor. The truck is expected to be built on the same frame as the Raptor and will make an appearance Sunday Jan. 26 at the National Automotive Dealers Association, where I'm sure a lot more pics and info will surface.

Chevrolet and Cadillac seem to be taken the auto industry by storm, with hugely popular product-lines and sales and recognition to match. ZO6s, Z/28s, Escalades, CTSs, Stingrays, and Silverados are all probably dancing around in Ford's worst nightmares.

The 2014 Z/28.R Debuts at Daytona

 

Jan. 24^th, in Daytona, the much intiacpated Z/28.R will make its debut on the track in the GS class of the IMSA Continental Tires SportsCar Challenge, a 2 ½ hour endurance event raced before the 52nd Rolex 24 at Daytona. As it competes, it will be the only car on the track that shares so many components as it's street version.

The two cars were built right next to each other making it no surprise they share so many similarities.

Campaigned by Stevenson Motorsports and CKS Autosports, the race version Z/28.R uses the same engine (505hp and 470lb. - ft. torque) and also users the same helical-gear limited-slip differential on the rear axle as the street version. They also share the same aerodynamics with the same rear-spoiler, hood vents, side sills, wheel and arc extensions and belly pan.

The Camaro was born for this type of racing. Just like the new Z/28's, the Z/28's of the muscle car era were built for the track. The original '67 Z/28 was built for the purpose of racing in the SCCA Trans-Am Series. 

Mark Kent, director of racing for Chevrolet says, “the original Camaro Z/28 was designed for racing and became an iconic performance car through its hard-fought victories.”

One can only hope that this Z/28 does the same. The Camaro will be racing against cars like Aston Martian Vantage, Ford Mustangs, Nissan 370Z, Porsche 911, all of which will bring competition to the table, but none of which will represent their brand better than Z/28.R. As a consumer, you can look at what is racing on the track and say to yourself, “hey, I can go down to the dealership and order one of these things.” And that you can do, just about the only thing that would be missing is the graphics and the mandated safety equipment required to race in these competitions. 

2015 Corvette ZO6: The Ultimate American Supercar

When Chevrolet dumped the ZR1 supercar out of their car line-up, it made everyone a little skeptical of what was going to take its place. The ZO6 has always been known as a great sportscar, just not a supercar. But for 2015, that is all about to change. Boasting the most aerodynamic sports car with the most down force that Chevrolet has ever produced, the ZO6 has now been bumped from a sportscar to a sure powerhouse supercar.


Starting with an intercooled supercharged 6.2liter OHV 16-valve motor, the ZO6 is capable of producing 635hp+ and 645 lb.-ft. torque. The engine includes: Titanium intake valves, a dry slump oil pump system, direct injection, and continuously variable valve training.

The power of the motor is matched to a choice of a 7-speed manual with rev matching technology to help make shifting more efficient, or an 8 speed automatic transmission with a paddle-shifter designed to give the driver good fuel-economy without sacrificing performance. From there the power is distributed to an electronic limited-slip differential with three different calibration modes, all of which helps promote 0-60 times around 3.4-3.6 seconds; quarter-mile times not yet recorded.


Exterior Aerodynamics
The aerodynamics of the ZO6 is another huge part of the very impressive performance the supercar can accomplish.

The Corvette has three different options when it comes to aerodynamics.
The first option: The standard Z51 option that comes on the 2014 Stingray - a good set-up and very practical for the average driver.

The second option: A more aggressive front splitter, rocker panel extensions, and a larger rear splitter with fixed Gurney flap aero tabs, all of which are made from carbon-fiber.

The third option: (a ZO7 option) Looks much like the second stage, but in the trunk you will find some interesting components. A larger front splitter with extra-large winglets, and a clear center Gurney flap segment that bolts to the rear spoiler. To improve rear visibility the center piece is clear and can be adjusted up-and-down creating down force that test drivers say even a small four-inch difference is noticeable while on the track.

Other exterior highlights that benefit performance are the larger fender vents and brake cooling ducts that funnel more air to the transmission and differential. Also a mesh front grille is implicated to shuffle more air to the intercooler.

 
Driving Modes
There are five different driving modes that can be effected by twelve different variables. These five modes are: Weather, Eco, Tour, Sport and, Track. All five of these different modes can be changed with a touch of a button right from the driver's seat, and the twelve different variables can be adjusted there as well.

The five different driving modes made capable by their legendary Electronic-Magnetic Ride Control speaks for themselves. Depending on the drivers driving conditions and the drivers preferences, there is a mode that will likely fit whatever the situation you put the Corvette in.



 
Frame and Structure
The frame will be constructed in-house at the famous Corvette factory in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The structure of the frame and the car itself are actually 60 percent stiffer than its predecessor, the ZR1. The ZO6 even has a removable top that when removed is still 20 percent stiffer than the ZR1.



Brakes and Tires
Chevy sticks with the huge carbon-ceramic Brembo brakes system while also sticking with 19 inch rims in the front and 20 inch rims in the back. But there was some adjustment to the width. The ZO6 receives slightly wider rims and tires than the ZR1: 2 inches wider in the front and 3 inches wider in the back to help get better grip when cornering around the racetrack.

Two sets of tires are offered, Michelin Pilot Sport tires which are the standard on all Corvettes, or the track proven Michelin Sport Cup Tires that will come standard if you order the ZO7 performance package. The Michelin Pilot tires are a very well-rounded set of tires for all driving conditions. But if you are looking to put down some amazing track times, the Michelin Sport Cup Tires are what you will need. They're sticky and made just for racing purposes; although street legal, they're made for the track.



The Interior
It is much of what you would expect from a specialized Corvette. You will receive two options for seats. An all-around comfortable set of GT seats and for those who are looking to race, a competition set of seats are offered that is designed to help support the body and keep it stably while engaging in high-performance activities. All of the interior can come wrapped in high quality Napa leather, sueded microfiber, aluminum and carbon-fiber.

With all of the top technology and comfort of a luxury car you could almost forget that you are driving the fastest American made production car.

And just in-case you did forget, the ZO6 can be ordered with an integrated recording system that can record your driving experience from a on-board camera and collect data to be stored into a memory card that is hidden in the glove box. That data then can be played-back on a computer and shared with friends or simply just used to better yourself at the track. And if you don't want to wait for a computer, all of the info can be displayed on the 8-inch screen that comes with the Vette.

Again, Chevrolet does it with Americas only American made supercar. 
 

2015 Cadillac Escalade: Price Tag Starting at $72,690

The new 2015 Cadillac Escalade is undoubtedly the most luxurious SUV GM has produced. Boasting 420hp and 460lb.-ft. of torque, the almost 3 ton sled has plenty of get up and go. Gas mileage will still suffer a little bit, but a cylinder deactivation system will help by shutting down 4 cylinders while at a cruising speed.   

Horsepower is always great, but the real story here is the interior. The CUE (Cadillac User Experience) system that is impacted on all other Cadillacs will now be implicated on the Escalade. This system will allow you to adjust everything from your Bose radio system and climate controls all the way to the suspension modes. As the driver, you will enjoy a 12.3" digital gauge cluster that can be altered in four different ways to best suit the driver.

When it comes to space, the front seat passengers will enjoy 4 more inches in legroom and 1.5 more inches in headroom. For the first time second row passengers will enjoy relining, heated seats. The third row won't get that treatment, but it does have a motorized function allowing it to fold up-and-down in just four seconds.

Cadillac also offers for the first time a standard Magnetic-Ride Control system. It's world class technology was brought about by Ferrari and first tested on the ZR1's, and is now a standard on just about all of GM's high-end vehicles.

The outside looks as up-to-date as the inside. New stylish body-lines all the way around. The headlights and taillights are all LED equipped and have glow in the dark Cadillac emblems emulated in them.

The ideal behind this Cadillac Escalade is to take back the authority in the luxury SUV market, and with the nice price tag, top notch technology and the new styling, they have a chance to do just that.

Other Highlights
20" rims (optioned 22" rims)
Sound Proofing Technology for a Quieter Ride
Hands Free Life Gate
LED Interior Lights
Back Seat Entertainment System
Cut-and-Sewn Stitching and Four Different Wood Grain Choices

2014 Barrett-Jackson: 4 Chevrolets End Up Top Ten Best Sellers

A place where the most prestigious vehicles in the world are sold: The Barret-Jackson Auction held in Scottsdale Arizona took place this passed week. And some of the top sellers just happened to be four different Chevrolets. 


1967 L88 Corvette



This is one of the rarest Corvettes every produced by Chevrolet. It is the only documented Red-on-Red Corvette known to come off the assembly-line. This rare muscle car boasting 430Hp but really was pushing out something more like 560Hp. Before the hammer dropped it brought in the highest price of the week at 3.85 million.



1969 L88 Corvette Rebel

 








 
 


This Corvette manged to fetch $2.6 Million, making it the 2nd highest selling car of the week. This Corvette brought in so many potential buyers by its appearance and its appearances at so many winner circles throughout the years. It could very-well be the most recognizable Corvette of all-time. 



2014 COPO Camaro

 


Every since the COPO Camaro first came around in 1969 there has been somewhat of a cult following behind it. The 2014 COPO is no different and that is probably what helped this bad boy sell for $700,000. That's a good price with proceed going to the Achilles Freedom Team of Wounded Veterans. 



2015 Chevrolet Z/28
 
 














Chevrolet did not stop with their charity, using the proceeds of this Camaro to help Detroit public schools. This VIN #001 Z/28 left the auction block with a price tag of $650,000. Between the anticipation of this Z/28 and the funds going to a great charity, this Camaro like the COPO went for well-over their sticker prices. 


 

The New Cadillac Emblem Here to Stay

The all-new crest will accompany every model come mid-2014. It's a little bit wider, it's missing the wreath and some complain it's too plain. Cadillac's move to change the crest was a move that was brought on to fit the look of the new vehicles. The hopes were to make it look more futuristic or at least match with the new style of the new Cadillacs.


Andrew Smith, Cadillac executive design director says, "the Crest remains a consistent symbol of Cadillac and our core values...Our goal was to evolve the emblem design to integrate with the new vehicle form while maintaining the core graphic elements that preserve its strong brand recognition."
 
The crest may have changed a little bit, but anyone who knows or has recognized the old crest with Cadillac will still be able to do so.

The new bigger, wider crest should fit well on the new Cadillacs -- which some of them such as the ATS share new wider and bigger body-styles. Regardless if you like it or not, the new crests will be in full force by the middle of this year. 

2014 Barrett-Jackson Gets the First 2014 Z/28

 

The 2014 Camaro Z/28 Vin #0001 - to be sold at the most famous car auction of all time, the Barrett-Jackson.

On January 18th the Camaro will roll across the auction block. The bare bones race-ready track-car will have the $1,550.00 option that includes a 6-speaker audio system and an air-conditioner. Both of which are not standard on the car unless specified when ordered due to the weight saving program by Chevrolet.

This Camaro is expected to bring some pretty big bucks. The Z/28 is the brand that made Camaro the powerhouse that it is today. It was born in 1967 with the Camaro, it was originally designed to run in the Trans-Am circuit. After over 35 years of service the Z/28 was put on the back burner, only to come back stronger than ever.


When the ZR1 made it's return, Chevrolet auctioned the very first production (Vin# 001) redesigned Corvette off at Barrett-Jackson as well and they managed to pull in a million dollars for it. So the intensity for how much this rare Z/28 will bring is there.

Although the ZR1 was considered a super car and the Z/28 is not, it has been able to clock times at the Nurburguing race-track in Germany, the toughest track in the world, better than it's bigger brother the ZL1, the Porsche 911 Carrera S, and the Lamborghini Murcielago.


A million dollars, probably not, but there will be some high-profile bidders with interest, that's for sure.

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.

2018 Camaro 6th Generation Sketches

There are a lot of pictures out on the Internet of what we can expect for the future design of the Camaro. Most of the pics are probably just digitally altered images, some might be close to what we can expect and others are just people having some fun.

The 5th generation Camaro obviously took influence from the styling of the 1967-1969 Camaro, but expert automobile annalist and leaks from General Motors leave telltale signs that the next generation Camaro very well could take on a resemblance of the 2nd generation Camaros.

Although these sketches and blueprints are just ideals put together by designer Michael McGee while working with GM, they do show what the possible direction may be for a 2016 Gen-6 Camaro.

 

I think it is time for a new Camaro, Mustang just came out with its new look and people may not agree with me but the two cars are starting to look a lot alike. Almost so much alike they could be built off the same frame in the same factory. It could be just me who thinks this, but it is just about that time to really put some new real design work to the Camaro.





                                                                             

These are all nice pictures of what could or could not be for the new Camaro. Obviously, we know pictures like these are over-exaggerated, but we probably can expect something like this on a dialed-down scale in the future.   http://www.gmhightechperformance.com/hotnews/1312_sixth_gen_camaro_sketches/

2015 Corvette ZO6 -- Unveiling at The Detroit North American Auto Show

Adding to Chevrolet's already amazingly powerful line-up of cars -- the Corvette Stingray, ZR1, Camaro ZL1, Z28, just to name a few -- Chevrolet will be unveiling a new ZO6 this January at the North American Auto Show that they claim will be their most capable track-tested car they have ever produced.

Earlier this year, the 2014 Chevrolet Z28 was taken to the notorious Nürburgring racetrack in Germany and posted times that beat the ZL1 by 4 seconds and even posted better times than the Porsche 911 Carrera S and Lamborghini Murcielago LP640.

So is this Corvette ZO6 going to be better than that?

The Corvette will have a 505 horsepower motor that will promote 470 foot-pounds of torque -- all coming from a hand-built 7-liter V-8. And for $75,600 you can have this Corvette with all that power that will take you from 0-to-60 in 3.7 seconds.

Chevrolet has been keeping a tight lid of what makes this new ZO6 so special with just a few little photos circling the internet. Whatever it is that's so special about it, there is no doubt that this car is just one more car added to a list of Chevrolet's already great accomplishments this year. And one things for sure, it would be very tough for any car company to compete with this line-up of awesome performing cars.

Buick Looking Into The Future

 

Buick has made some great accomplishments in the past few years, that includes the refreshed 2014 Regal. Which starts out at $31,560, and packs the standard 259-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine—an upgrade over the previous and optional original engines—paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.

Some luxuries you can opted for are a remote start, dual-zone climate system, heated front seats, a sunroof and 18-inch wheels.

But Buick is thinking of another way outside of their usual luxury options and stylish looks draw in customers. The 2013 Encore was an awesome crossover for Buick, but it did lack one feature, that is power. 138 hp just was not enough for a bigger vehicle like the Encore, but its overseas cousin, the Opel Mokka, which was recently introduced with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine (with both gas and diesel variants) could find its way into Buicks line-up.

The Buick Verano, a close relative of the Chevy Cruz, could also be a good candidate for a diesel motor coming up in 2014. Either way, a more powerful diesel motor with good gas mileage could be just the attribute that Buick needs to separate itself from companies like Cadillac, Volkswagen, Audi and Mercedes-Benz, etc. -- and bring in new customers.

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 

Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon

 

General Motors have confirmed that in addition to their full size trucks they will also be adding a four cylinder Duramax turbo-diesel option for the newest generation of the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon.

The new Turbo Diesel that will be used here in America is currently powering the Chevrolet Colorado overseas and has had some good success. GM is throwing their cards on the table in attempt to keep up with the fuel efficient mid-size truck competition and bring back a once absent crowd back to GM - which they have already made a good start with the new redesigend Impala, Silverado and GMC Sierra.


The two different engine sizes - 2.5 and 2.8L turbo-diesel’s sports a variable-geometry turbocharger for the most efficient power across the rpm range and for better smoothness a balanced shaft is implicated.  Both motors are designed to promote long lasting, dependable performance, and with new high quality engineering and technology, GM hopes to knock to down to frequency of maintenance.

Engine Ratings
2.8L turbo-diesel
180 horsepower
346 lb.-ft. of torque
available six-speed automatic transmission.

2.5L is rated
150 horsepower
258 lb.-ft. of torque
available six-speed automatic transmission

A smaller sized truck with good gas millage and impressive torque numbers - should make for a good selling point when those turbo-diesels hit the market here in America.

General Motors has yet to announce an official launch date for the two vehicles, but said, last month, that the Colorado/Canyon pair “will join the all-new 2014 Silverado and Sierra 1500s, and the upcoming Silverado and Sierra HDs, to give Chevrolet and GMC the industry’s most comprehensive lineups of pickups, helping customers choose the right truck for their needs.”