2018 Chevrolet Camaro 50th Anniversary Hot Wheels Edition

2018 Hot Wheels Edition Camaro 

Back in 2013, Camaro offered up a Hot Wheels Special Edition Camaro that came with a Kinetic Blue Metallic paint job. For 2018, Camaro will be offering another Hot Wheels Edition to celebrate Hot Wheels' 50th Anniversary. This time the Camaro will be dressed up with a Crush Orange paint job. Although some might think that the Camaro color is the famous Camaro Hugger Orange, it’s not. The Crush orange is actually a tribute to Hot Wheels' iconic orange race tracks they produced for many years.

Stretched across the center of the Camaro, running from bumper-to-bumper, are a set of Satin Graphite racing stripes with Ice Metallic accents. Along with the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro Hot Wheels Edition package comes Satin Graphite ground effects, blacked-out bowtie badges, 50th Anniversary Hot Wheels fender emblems, darker tail lights, and orange brake calipers. Hot Wheels-inspired 20-inch wheels with Chevrolet center caps round out the bold but sleek-looking special edition exterior looks.

The interior has its own set of goodies. Special Hot Wheels Edition door sills pop right out at you when you open up the door. The gorgeous Jet Black interior is trimmed with Crush Orange stitching and other orange inserts like knee pads, door panel inserts, custom-made seats, and more. You’ll even find a Hot Wheels logo on your steering wheel for a constant reminder of your special edition purchase.

These 2018 Chevrolet Camaro Hot Wheels Edition packages can be ordered on the 2018 2LT and 2SS Camaros for $4,995.00. At the 2017 SEMA Show Chevrolet introduced the new 2018 COPO Camaro Hot Wheels Edition with an updated 302 small block race engine. Most of the special accented parts and accessories that you receive on the Hot Wheels 2SS and 2LT trim models are the same on the COPO with two big exceptions. The wheels and tires are different and beefier to accommodate competition racing, and on the doors and quarter panels of the COPO is a pretty good-sized Hot Wheels 50th-anniversary decal that is a little lighter shade of orange than the Crush Orange. So although a pretty big decal, it’s not intrusive to the exterior look.

The 2018 Chevrolet Camaro Hot Wheels Edition can be ordered both with the coupe and the convertible. These are going to be limited edition Camaros, and orders have already been being processed with delivery dates sometime in the spring of 2018.  

65th Anniversary Corvette Carbon 65 Edition

If you like your cars decked out in carbon fiber, then you will really like what Corvette has in store for their 65th anniversary edition. To celebrate 65 years of being the baddest American sports car ever put into mass production, Corvette will offer 650 2018 Corvette Carbon 65 limited edition cars.

These limited edition 2018 Corvettes will be offered on the Grand Sport and Z06 models. Both convertible and coupe versions will be available, and all Carbon 65 editions will come with a unique VIN and an interior plaque highlighting the build number.

Like with most special edition cars, the big changes for the 2018 Corvette Carbon 65 are visual upgrades. A new exterior color is introduced. The Ceramic Matrix Gray looks more like a white then a gray but still looks great trimmed in carbon fiber with blue brake caliper covers and unique blue Carbon 65 fender decals.

Blue Convertible Top

Carbon fiber exterior parts include hood, ground effects, spoiler, roof, or tonneau inserts if it’s a convertible, wheel center caps and more. All Corvette Grand Sport models will come with cup-style wheels while Corvette Z06 models will come with blade-style wheels.  

On to the interior, as you open the door, you will notice special edition Carbon 65 door sill plates with the Corvette flag emblems on them. The seats are competition units with carbon fiber inserts in the head rest. You will also have a carbon fiber steering wheel ring among other carbon fiber inserts. Much of the rest of the interior will be wrapped in jet black suede with blue stitching giving the interior its usual elegant sporty feel.

To get a closer look at the 2018 Corvette Carbon 65 edition, some dealerships might have one on hand, but there will definitely be a few at the SEMA show. Pricing is unannounced for the time being, but they will go on sale sometime in the first quarter of 2018.

2018 Corvette ZR1: LT5 Overhead Cams

Nothing is ever set in stone when it comes to a prototype that has only been seen in camouflage, but as far as the ZR1 is concerned, we know that it exists, and more and more about it leaks out every week. It should come as no surprise that although the Z06 is probably the baddest American sports car on sale to date, the 2018 Corvette ZR1 will be just that much more badass.

One of the stretched out rumors that has just about come confirmed now is that the ZR1 will be receiving a supercharged LT5 overhead cam powerplant. Amongst the whispers about it for the last year from just about everyone, there are also other indicators. For instance, the massive tall hood is taller than any other hood that Corvette has ever used. This room the hood provides is needed since an overhead cam setup is much taller than an in-block cam engine. The supercharger is a no-brainer when you hear the Corvette drive around the Nurburgring track, the unmistakable whine gives it away.     

The other change that the video will show - believe or not - there will probably be an automatic option for the new ZR1 Corvette. When you hear the Vette whipping around the track, there is no doubt that the up and down shifts are so quick and precise that it’s not something that can be replicated by a human hand. What kind of automatic will be offered? Probably the 10-speed automatic that is offered along with the ZL1 Camaro.

Exterior options seem like they’re going to be broaden this time as well. In an attempt to bring in more sales, it’s highly speculated that there will be a convertible option. A lot of Corvette enthusiast may hate this idea, but the convertibles that Corvette has on the market now are extremely stiff and capable of handling a lot of power and tough cornering. It looks like there will be two different spoiler options, a bigger front splitter option and a few other hidden aerodynamic upgrades that are concealed by the camouflage. The reason for the different and bigger spoiler and spittler options could be because Corvette is in the works for a 1LE option like they have introduced on the ZL1.    

When can we expect a debut date? That’s still unknown, but as time goes on, we will probably hear and see more of the 2018 Corvette ZR1 assuming they’ll have to take it out for more and more test runs. There is a rumor out there - restated by Road & Track - there is a strong possibility that it will be unveiled at the National Corvette Museum.

Whatever the case, I hope it’s soon.

Long Awaited 2018 BUICK REGAL GS

We’ve seen many different renderings and prototypes of what the 2018 Buick Regal GS could look like, and we’ve heard many different rumors about how this current Regal will create a power takeover like the turbo Regals of the late ‘80s. But we all kind of knew that Buick wouldn’t and couldn’t put something out that would take away from the current extremely successful Camaros and Corvettes like it did over 25 years ago. 

Although still a stunningly good-looking car, the four-door sedan hardly looks as aggressive and mean as some Buick fans may have been waiting for. Regardless of what you were hoping for, this 2018 Buick Regal GS still has a lot to offer. Upgrading from the 2.0 turbocharged engine that the base Regal comes standard with, the Regal GS will come equipped with a 3.6-liter Direct Injection 310 horsepower V6. The 282-lb-ft of torque is distributed smoothly at all RPMs by use of GM’s nine-speed automatic transmission. With standard cylinder-deactivation and start/stop technology, the Regal GS is very capable of being a well-rounded economical car while at the same time providing you with plenty of power for plenty of fun.  

Helping you handle all that power and fun is a standard all-wheel-drive system with an active twin-clutch, but maybe the most overlooked features on the Regal GS is the Second Generation Continuous Damping Control suspension and Interactive Drive Control. Together these two features combined use a Driving Control Module to monitor your acceleration, braking, and cornering to adjust in just milliseconds all four dampers to better accommodate to your driving style. The Driving Control Module can also monitor behaviors like lateral and longitudinal acceleration, steering wheel motion, throttle response, and vehicle speeds.

You can also choose between three different driving modes: Standard, GS, and Sport. Each mode will offer you a different set of driving parameters by affecting your throttle response, steering sensitivity, and shift patterns of your automatic transmission. All and all, no matter the situation or the driving condition you plan on encountering, the 2018 Buick Regal GS can help you handle them all.

The exterior of this four-door sedan uses a set of bold upgraded front and rear fascias, side skirts, and a rear spoiler to match the aggressive power the Regal GS manages to offer. An optional set of full LED headlights will go great with the standard Buick waterfall grille. Brembo Brakes, a sport tuned exhaust, and 19-inch rims also come standard for the Regal GS. One other thing that a lot of people might not notice right away is the sporty sedan is actually a hatchback.  

On the inside, you will find an 8-inch touch screen infotainment setup with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and an easy to read 8-inch reconfigurable instrument cluster. Heated and cooled massaging performance seats fit right in with the heated flat bottom steering wheel and metal pedals. These amenities won’t only make you feel right at home, but they will also help remind you that you're driving the high-performance Buick Regal. Safety won’t ever be an issue either. The optional Driver Confidence II package offers you Front Pedestrian Braking, Forward Collision Alert, Adaptive Cruise Control with Forward Automatic Braking, Lane Keeping Assist and Lane Departure Warning.

Production will come to an end for the Regal in Oshawa, Canada and resume in Rüsselsheim, Germany. The 2018 Buick Regal GS that is based off an Opel Insignia chassis will go on sale in late 2017 with a starting price of $39,990.00.

New Corvette Discount - $8,000?

Corvettes are expensive and getting a deal on them from the dealership is an almost unheard of phenomena. But from now until about May 1st of 2018, you might have a chance to purchase a brand new Corvette ZO6 or Grand Sport equipped with a set of Carbon-Fiber Brembo brakes with an $8,000 discount.

The discount will come in the form of a three-part deal. The first part is a loyalty discount. This will give you a $2,000 rebate if you are already a proud owner of a Corvette. The second rebate will come on all Corvettes with the high-performance brake setup. Chevrolet has yet to make a statement on the reason why they are offering this discount, but purchase any Corvette with the high-performance brake package and you will get a $5,000 discount. Usually, when a car company beefs up the performance of a vehicle they also beef up the price, but for a $5,000 discount, why ask any questions. Your last rebate will be a $1,000 “Bonus Tag” discount for a total savings of $8,000. Again, it’s very rare to find new Corvettes with marked-down prices or big discounts, so the answer to the question of why? It’s kind of a mystery. One could only speculate that increasing sales and making room for more Corvettes that are coming in the near future would be the reason. Maybe statistically the Corvettes with the Brembo brake package don’t sell as well. Let’s face it, unless you are planning on doing some serious road racing, the heavy duty brakes won’t do you a lot of good and will leave you about $5,000 lighter in your pocketbook.

Chevrolet Redline Special Edition Vehicles

Chevrolet has been making an attempt to offer more options to the consumer without adding more models to their lineup. This can be seen in the Silverado lineup where you can choose from five different special edition trim models. 

Chevrolet has done this in the past with their world-famous trucks and has had a lot of luck with it, so in order to keep the luck running, they have come up with a special Redline edition that will not only be available on the Silverado but also on eight other Chevrolet vehicles. 

Nine Redline Special Edition Vehicles

• 2017 Colorado
• 2017 Camaro
• 2017 Silverado 
• 2017 Cruze Sedan
• 2017 Cruze Hatch
• 2017 Malibu 
• 2018 Trax
• 2018 Equinox
• 2018 Traverse 

This will be the Chevrolet brands biggest special edition project to-date. Never have they had a special edition span across so many different models in their lineup. This Redline special edition lineup was first introduced at SEMA in 2015. Brian Sweeney, U.S. Vice President of Chevrolet says, "this is just one example of this company taking the concepts we introduce at these cars show and bringing them to the showroom."

The Redline special edition vehicles will come with mostly visual upgrades. Coming in a special silver paint, they will also receive a blacked-out grille with a black-out Chevrolet bow tie, special edition black and red accented rims, red trim, and other special features.  

If you want a Redline special edition Chevrolet model, you might get lucky and find one that a dealership has ordered to play host to their showroom. But in most cases, you will have to head to your dealer and have one ordered for you, at least while they are still a new and hot commodity. Happy Hunting

Electric Genovation GXE Corvette Breaks More Records

Update
Last year the Genovation Cars company came out with something most people have never seen before -- an all-electric C-6 prototype Corvette. Named the Genovation GXE, this Corvette managed to break the Land Speed Record and the Standing Mile Record.

Well, you may be happy to know Genovation Cars is back at it again. Last week at the Kennedy Space Center Space Shuttle Landing Facility in Merritt Island, Florida, the Genovation GXE Corvette managed to beat the old Land Speed Record of 205 mph by boosting it to a 209 mph, and also broke the Standing Mile Record by hitting 190 mph over the previous 186.8 mph record.   

Using two electric motors with one in the front and one in the rear for a 50/50 weight ratio, the motors can put out the equivalent of 700-hp and 650-lb.-ft. of torque. These motors use a 44-kwh battery that can travel up to 150 miles on one charge.

As of now, Genovation Cars get the working electric components from specialized dealers. They then create the software that creates the amazing performance that these electric Corvettes make.

With a now boosted price tag of an estimated $750,000.00, Genovation hopes to be able to have a C7 Grand Sport ready for delivery to costumers as early as 2019. There will be 75 cars in all prepared to order. Each car will have a completely on-off exterior color, different front and rear fascias, a custom interior, and a custom center touchscreen to adjust for the uniqueness of the powertrain.  

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Everyone should associate Corvette with V-8 power, power that creates a unique American sound that purrs through the mufflers and makes our heart's pound. But technology has a way of making changes in the way we recognize and enjoy things. 

Although it is a safe bet to say that it will be a very long time, if ever, before we will have to worry about only having a choice of electric power for American sports cars, our taste and wants change quickly from one generation to the next. And government regulation can change a lot of things as well, just look at the sports car era of the late '70s and '80s. 

In the past few years, the Tesla motor company has owned the market for fast and effective sporty electric cars. With the Tesla Model S you could reach 60-mph from a stop at the very quick time of 2.8 seconds, and if you kept going you can top out at 155 mph. 

But like with any market anywhere there will be competition. 

The Genovation eXtreme Electric company has made their own version of an electric sports car out of a Corvette to give the Tesla Model S a run for its money. Boasting a different kind of power, the Electric Corvette is still rated at 700-hp and 600-lb.-ft. of torque. Now that power can help you get 0-60 in 3.0-seconds flat and has hit a proven 186.8-mph top speed with a manual transmission. 

Now this Corvette may not be able to make a cool ground pounding sound when you put the peddle to the metal, but you can get 130-miles out of it on one charge. If getting 700-hp out of your Corvette without filling up on gasoline is your style, you should be prepared to shell out about $355,000 for that luxury. 

2018 Cadillac CTS-V What to Expect

Mainly what you can expect with the 2018 Cadillac CTS-V is what you could always expect from the CTS-V dating all the way back to its first release date in 2004. The Cadillac CTS-V sedan will be a beefed-up version of the regular CTS with the intent to compete with German sports sedans. Sedans like the Audi RS6, Mercedes E63, BMW M-5, etc. will all have to go toe-to-toe with this American-made monster. 

In the past, the Cadillac CTS-V has been able to beat those cars from the other side of the pound in performance and handling. But with competitors all wanting to be on top of the hill, the competition will be thick. The third-gen Cadillac will - as it has always done - use the engine and transmission components from the Corvette. 

The 6.2-liter Supercharged V-8 will push out around 640-hp+ and 630-lb.-ft. of torque+. Connected to an eight-speed transmission the Cadillac will be able to reach 0-60 in 3.6-seconds and reach 100 mph in just 3.9-seconds. General Motors rumors it as a car that can reach a top speed of 200 mph, but they have said that before. 

Some people may not be very happy with the automatic transmission availability (only), but the truth is, with technology these days, the only thing you gain with a manual transmission is the feeling of being in a car that feels faster. In recent years automatics have out-performed manuals in the quarter-mile on a consistent basis. And that's not just for the Cadillac brand, the Corvettes and Camaros have also been found to be faster with an automatic.  

Past years have left some people questioning the steering of the CTS-V, saying that it has been a little bit on the week and loose side. Supposedly Cadillac has addressed these issues and the steering is now much more hefty and precise. With GM's new Magnetorheological suspension and huge Brembo brakes, the 2018 Cadillac CTS-V should have no problems handling any performance driving you throw at it. 

In true Cadillac fashion, like all of the other CTS-V sedans, even with the massive engine under the hood and other power upgrades, you will still be able to drive this vehicle back and forth to work, to the golf course, and even take them on long trips with every luxury every other Cadillac offers. 

For all of the new CTS Cadillacs, including the V-Series, they will be receiving a new infotainment system that is supposed to add more capabilities and be more compatible with the ever-turning technology age. Other interior upgrades the CTS-V will receive is a sportier steering wheel, and that's about it. For the most part, from the inside to the outside you will be owning a CTS except the emblems will have a dash and a V added to them and the power will be enormous. There will be somebody improvements, but hardly notable.  

There is one last thing to mention - this is about as big as a rumor as you can get - but a rumor is a rumor. Since all other vehicles in their class have two different body styles, there has been some talk about a possible addition of a wagon or a sedan to the 2018 Cadillac CTS-V line up, but that's just a BIG rumor. MSRP expected to be around $86,000.00.

The 2017 Autorama Detroit: Not Enough Time for the Fun

From the cars to the entertainment, the largest indoor car show in Michigan is a nice hold-over to the nicer days of Michigan car cruises, car shows, drag racing, etc. The nice thing about the 2017 Autorama Detroit this year opposed to some of the years in the past, is being able to walk to COBO Hall without freezing to death.  

The crazy Dukes of Hazard jump was even able to be performed without the worries of sliding across a sheet of ice - didn't even need to shovel and lay a bunch salt down before hand. Danny's band "Count 77" performed an outrageous show like they always do. I think since his love for cars runs so deep, being in a facility with so much automotive madness around just makes his band perform that much better. 

Seeing Daisy Duke and Luke Duke show up was crazy. I was so young when I used to watch them on T.V. it's amazing to see how great they still look. About 30 years ago I can remember my first Detroit Autorama. I was aloud to sit in the orange charger (General Lee) and the Batmobile from the Batman series and have my picture taken in it. That year they had a monster truck car crushing exhibit in the COBO arena portion of the facility. Those are some of my earliest memories and I still have the pictures and autographs. 

From what I've seen at this three day spectacular event is a lot of new and exotic looks in an attempt to probably stand out from the crowd. A lot of wild paint jobs and impractical suspension and rim setups. Cars and trucks customized to the tune of looking more like a "Hot Wheels" car than something you could drive out of COBO Hall with. 

But I did see a lot of people and car builders going back in the other direction. A lot cool vehicles that our modest - ones we will probably see cruising the streets of Woodard this year. Old classics, muscle cars, trucks, sports cars, even some of those pesky 80's cars that don't really draw much attention in any aspect of the automobile world. 

Unfortunately, I had to head home before the best part of the whole show got on its way. There's nothing like it when you get to watch the cars leave one-by-one when the show is over. All of them off to their trailers, all of the drivers wanting to give one more punch of the throttle for the cameras. Maybe Next Year Autorama Detroit. 

2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE Pushing Limits No Camaro Has Before

Looks like the picture is stretched, right, but it's not, that's the new 2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE! Revealed the day before the Daytona 500 at the Daytona International Speedway, this Camaro could be Vehicle Chief Engineer of Camaro, Al Oppenheiser's, best yet. 

This Camaro in its disguised form was many times throughout the winter mistaken for the next Sixth Gen Z/28. When Oppenheiser was asked why not a Z/28? His reply was if and when that next Z/28 does happen it will only come back out as a naturally-aspired vehicle the way it was attended to be when it was created. He also went on to say the car was built for the track but is a little bit more streetable than the last Z/28.  

This new 2018 Camaro ZL1 1LE gets around the GM proven grounds track three seconds faster than the last ZL1. But make no mistake, it's not because of a new drivetrain, this new track car will still be using last years ZL1 power source, the 6.2-liter supercharged LT4 connected to a six-speed manual transmission. (no automatic available) 

So what makes this monster so much better than the previous year's ZL1? The 1LE track package of course. For the first time in a long time Camaro is going to ditch the already very effective Magnetic Ride Control Shocks and upgrade to a set of Multimatic Spoiler-Valve Dampers. With a stiffer frame and the largest tires to every be found on a factory Camaro, this suspension should hug corners like your grandma hugs her grandkids.    

There is more to the equation. The body is outfitted with large dive planes in the front and a huge Carbon Fiber spoiler in the rear. The body also host a new and bigger front-splitter and a larger grille to help get more air into the engine compartment. Six-piston front, four-piston rear Brembo brakes will help you stop while those larger tires will be a set of Goodyear Eagle F1 3R's to help grip the asphalt in just about any track conditions. 



The new version of the 1LE still gets some of  the old styling with the satin black wrapped hood, black side mirror, and blackout taillights. This new version will also come with other ZL1 perks such as the eLSD Positraction Management System with the same line-lock and launch capabilities. And all ZL1 1LE Camaros will come with the Performance Date Recorder (PDR). 

So what will this 2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE cost you? Well, if you are lucky enough to get your hands on one, the suspected MSRP will probably be somewhere around the $68,000.00 mark.   

1996 Corvette Grand Sport: Throw Back to the '63 Corvette Grand Sport

When it comes to fourth-generation Corvettes, they shared a common trait with all other American Sports Cars at that time, their power was not all that impressive. So when it came to the fourth-generation Corvette's final year (1996), Chevrolet decided that putting something special on the market would be a boost for their brand and bring big attention to the on-deck sixth-generation Corvettes of 1997.

To bring the spotlight back to the Corvette, Chevrolet's solution was to go back to 1963 when they made one of their meanest Corvettes of all time and revive the name and color scheme. For 1996, Corvette decided that 1,000 models would get special treatment for better performance, a louder color combination, and they would place the Grand Sport badges on the Vette just like they did in '63.

Giving the Corvettes What They Needed

Corvette engineers slapped the 1996 Grand Sport Corvette with an LT4 that originally pumped out 300-hp, but for this special edition Corvette, engineers managed to squeeze 30 extra horsepower out of them. They accomplished this with a more aggressive camshaft, higher-flow aluminum heads, larger valves, higher-compression pistons, new high-flow fuel injectors, and roller rocker arms.

Crazy colors followed – Admiral Blue Metallic paint was accented with a big white stripe that ran down the center of the body. Two red hash marks were placed on the left fender and matched the red interior. Black painted five-star rims completed the color scheme and made up the Corvette that some people ended up loving and some people ended up hating.

Grand Sport Corvette Handling Options

When it came to performance handling, the 1996 Corvette Grand Sport didn't get much more than the original standard Vettes did except for a bigger set of tires for the coupe: 275/40ZR-17 Goodyear radials in front and 315/35ZR-17s in the rear. The convertibles received the same size tires as the non-Grand Sport Corvettes did but there were options. 

On the 1996 Corvette Grand Sport, just like with other Corvettes, you could spring for the $350.00 Z51 handling package which came with stiffer springs, new Bilstein shock absorbers, and front and rear stabilizer bars. There was also an optional Selective Real Time Damping system that cost an extra $1695.00. That system used sensors and accelerometers at each wheel to give the semi-active suspension the ability to readjust the shock damping in 10-to-15 milliseconds, sort of what they use today on the Corvettes just not nearly as sophisticated.

All-and-all, I always loved the look of the 1996 Corvette Grand Sport, it's one my favorite from the fourth-generation, although there wasn't much competition. The next year Corvette changed its style and engine, and the left over LT4s motors found their way into the 1997 30^thAnniversary Camaros.

Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction: What Days Are Best For You to Visit?

You can ask any car enthusiast where the most exciting place to shop for a vehicle is and almost all of them will tell you the Barrett-Jackson car auction. Some of the most sought-after vehicles in the world roll across the auction block and some of the world's wealthiest people come to place bids and battle other wealthy people with a chance to own them.

But you don't have to be wealthy to attend and participate in the week-long event, in fact, everyone is welcome, and planning and deciding which days are best for you to attend is the best way to maximize your auction experience.

If you plan on attending one of the Barrett-Jackson events, the first thing you will want to do is decide what kind of experience you are looking for. The biggest auction of the year is the Scottsdale auction in Arizona and starts on Saturday and goes until the next Sunday. The first Saturday-thru-Thursday are usually slower days – Friday, Saturday and Sunday are the major action packed, media covered, highly populated days that bring the exciting Super Bowl-like atmosphere to the auction.

But just because Saturday-thru-Thursday does not bring the Super Bowl-like atmosphere does not mean that they are days worth skipping. In fact, for some shoppers, those days could be the most beneficial days to attend. Depending on what types of vehicles you're in the market for, your budget, how good your bidding and auctioning skills are, and the type of atmosphere that you feel most comfortable in may determine whether you want to go for the first few days, the last three days or go all out and stay the whole week.

If you are on a restricted budget, the first few days could be your best option considering that a lot of the high-rollers do not show up on those days, and that could make those days great days to look for great deals. You could come across a car you really want on the last few days of  Friday, Saturday or Sunday, and unfortunately, as much as you may want it, a person with an unlimited bankroll may want it too. And if you’re on a restricted budget, your bidding won’t have a chance. Also, contrary to popular belief, the best of the best vehicles do not only get auctioned off on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. What days the vehicles come on the block depend on when the owners registered their vehicles, when the owners can be available to stay with their vehicle for that whole day, and whether the vehicles are charity vehicles or special advertised vehicles.

It is very common for someone to get a chance to buy a vehicle on one of the slower days for a great price, and because of higher profile bidders and more of them, the same exact type of vehicle with higher mileage and lower options might go for a much higher price on one of the busier days. Another great perk of attending the auction on the first Saturday-thru-Thursday is the chance you will have to really look the car over thoroughly and possibly talk to the owner more in depth about the vehicle you are attempting to purchase. When it comes to Friday-thru-Sunday you might not get a chance to get an up-close look of the vehicle like you would want to because of the abundance of people, media, and the heightened security. Also, have fun trying to get a hold of the owner to have a conversation about your potential purchase on a busier day, he could be out enjoying the Super Bowl like festivities.

Although there are some perks about attending the Barrett-Jackson auction on the less busy days, there are also perks to attending the auction Friday-thru-Sunday. First, if you have a big bankroll, the excitement of bidding against other big bank rolls is the type of thrill you get when you’re at the casino gambling for high stakes. Other perks include rubbing elbows with famous people such as Jay Leno a well-respected car enthusiast, Sammy Hagar, actors, famous racecar drivers, race team owners, and many other well-known wealthy people with the taste for prestigious cars.

Another great thing about Saturdays and Sundays is that when they send the charity vehicles across the block, all proceeds go to charities that have great causes such as helping sick kids, helping the terminally ill, and other great causes. Also, to help get more money as the bidding keeps going, the organizations auctioning off the vehicle's throw in special incentives such as autographed guitars or special tours to high-profile facilities like famous raceways, car museums, factories, etc.

Whatever the reasons you have for wanting to attend the most prestigious auto auction in the world, with a little bit of planning and research you will find that it is an event where if you’re a car enthusiastic it would be hard not to have a great time.

If you do plan on attending the auction, you can go to the Barrett-Jackson’s website and find all the info you need to prepare. You will find catalogs of what cars will be on the auction block, tickets, merchandise, and more.

Chevrolet Bolt Electric - North American Car of the Year

Not to be confused with the Chevrolet Volt, which is a hybrid vehicle and uses a gasoline motor to supplement the plug-in electric motor, the Chevrolet Bolt is an electric-only vehicle. The Chevrolet Bolt wins the North American Car of the Year award by winning the race to being the first American-made, mass-market, fully electric car.

The award was announced this Monday at the North American International Auto Show. Several dozen journalists take all the vehicles in the running for a test drive before voting. The Chevrolet Bolt managed to beat out big names that made big buzzes in years past. Names like the Genesis G90 and the Volvo S90 feel behind the Chevy Bolt in performance and price. The world-renowned Tesla Motors with their Model 3 electric car was not in the running because it had not yet made into production.

The Chevrolet Bolt was also named Motor Trend Car of the Year and Green Car of the Year at the Los Angeles Auto Show. After the Bolt won the Green Car Award for environmentally friendly cars, marketing manager Steve Majoros had this to say, "there's been a lot of talk about building an affordable electric car with a 200-mile range that brings electric vehicles to the mainstream, but only one manufacturer has done that, and it's us."

The Chevrolet Bolt gets a Range-Per-Charge of 238 miles. Cheaper by about half the price of a Tesla S and X Model, the Bolt can be purchased for about $37,495 before you receive government tax breaks. You add that in with the luxury of avoiding every gas station you ever pass and you should find yourself with a little extra spending money at the end of the year.

2009 ZR1: This Era’s Most Pinnacle Corvette Ever Built

When it comes to General Motors, nothing but the best engineering has always been used when it comes to their vehicles, and the Corvette is absolutely no exception.

Through the years, Corvette has always made a big splash with their Z-Series Vettes. Corvettes such as the ZO6, ZR1, and the ZL1 would receive just a little more power and torque, handling capabilities, and all around upgrades for better track performance.

But in 2009, no one expected what we were about to see. The introduction of the 2009 Corvette ZR1 would be so performanced packed it would give it a supercar status that would have its name being mentioned in the likes of Ferrari, Porsche, and Lamborghini.

Motor and Transmission

The see through Carbon Fiber hood allows anyone close to look inside the engine bay and take a peek to see what powers this Vette. The ZR1 is powered by a 6.2-liter LS9 aluminum V-8 with a Twin Vortices Series supercharger that pushes air through an attached intercooler. 

Hand built in Wixom, Mi. this powerhouse motor puts out 638 horsepower at 6500 rpm and 604-lb.ft. of torque at 3800 rpm. Controlling all this power is easy with a close ratio six-speed manual gearbox and a high-capacity, high-performance clutch that makes anyone who is sitting in the driver seat feel like they're driving a professional racecar.

Performance Stats

This General Motors’ engine and transmission combination is responsible for the staggering numbers that it puts down while going in a straight line. The Corvette ZR1 gets from 0-60 in 3.4-seconds while reaching 100-mph in a matter 7-seconds. The Corvette has no problem covering the quarter-mile in 11.3 seconds at 131 mph. With a top-speed of 200-mph, this Corvette is without a doubt the most powerful and fastest Corvette ever produced in history.  

Frame and Suspension

The ZR1 comes standard with an aluminum frame structure that weighs in at a mere 138 pounds. This frame is the exact frame that is used on the C6.R race car, giving it a power-to-weight ratio of 5.2 pounds per horsepower. The aluminum frame rides on a Magnetic Selective Ride Control suspension. The magnetic ride control is the most sophisticated suspension of its kind. This ride control gives the driver two different driving modes to choose from: the sport ride control which is ideal for the racetrack and a touring mode which is ideal for everyday driving. These modes can be switched back-and-forth right at the driver seat with a push of a button. Doesn’t seem like so much of a wow factor now, but back in 2009 this convenience was just starting to become a thing on American vehicles.   

Tires

Now with great power and a great suspension you have to have some way of keeping the tires and wheels in contact with the ground, and in this department GM spares no expense. By replacing the stock Corvette tires with a set of Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires, the ZR1 was able to shred off three seconds per lap at the Virginia International Raceway. And that’s when the decision was made the Michelin’s that performed the best would come on the best Corvette ever produced.

Braking

You can't have a vehicle with all that power and all the ability to utilize it in the most effective way without having an effective way of stopping it. So Corvette straps on massive Brembo Carbon Ceramic 15-inch front and 15.5-inch rear vented cross-drilled rotors that can get as hot as 1000-degrees celsius before warping. The brake system includes six-piston calipers in the front and four-piston calipers in the rear. When this system all works together it is capable of the type stopping power that you would need for a 200 mph supercar.

The Looks of a Supercar

With a wider stance than the average Vette, the ZR1 is designed to take corners better and get around the track faster. Sporting 19-inch diameter wheels in the front and 20-inch diameter wheels in the back, the look of the ZR1 says nothing but supercar. The buyer will have the option to choose the color of the wheels which include a bright silver coated finish, a deep black coated finish or a chrome finish. All three colors look great depending on the look you are trying to achieve. Corvette offers nine different exterior colors, all of which are in an exotic tint helping give the ZR1 the supercar look that Corvette is ultimately after. The bigger spoiler on the back is both functional and awesome looking and the see through Carbon Fiber hood really makes a supercar statement.

Interior Options for the ZR1

When it comes to interior, the ZR1 offers an abundance of options and colors. The buyer can request almost everything from the steering wheel to the door panels to be wrapped in rich leather. The buyer also has the option of different model specific badges to be placed about the inside of the vehicle. Power adjustable heated leather seats with microfiber inserts can be purchased for a better day-to-day driving experience. Corvette also offers a package called the 3ZR. This package includes a nine speaker Bose system, Bluetooth wireless technology, a head-up display and a SiriusXM satellite radio, all designed for a more convenient and exciting driving experience.

Price Tag and Gas mileage

With supercar looks and supercar power and track times to match, a MSRP price tag of $112,000.00 makes this ZR1 one of the best priced supercars of its kind. The ZR1 also rates very high in gas mileage with a rating of 14 city/20 highway mpg. For a V-8 powerhouse, this type of gas mileage is extremely good and should be extremely satisfying for consumers.

The best thing about the ZR1 is for the first time ever, Americans that are in the market for a supercar can now choose an American built supercar that is placed in a class with some of the best supercars in the world..