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.