2016 Camaro: Little Changes

 

Possible New Hood

Some Camaro lovers probably hoped for a little different look for the Camaro in 2016, but it does not look like that is going to happen. For the most part, what is flying around at the Nürburgring is a heavy camouflaged 2016Camaro that looks to have little change to the body and styling.

There was a lot of talk about a possible throwback design to the earlier 70's look. Then there was also a lot of talk about just moving forward with a new generation of design. Then there is the actually outcome, pretty much the same as last year and why not, this style Camaro has been selling like hot cakes and Camaro lovers really seem to like it.

We do know that there will be a slight change in the look, like every year, but what will really be different is that the Camaro will now be put on the Cadillac ATS frame. I can't see how a lighter, smaller frame could hurt with performance on the already powerful Camaro. What will really be cool is that smaller frame with a twin turbocharged V-6 that has been rumored as a very serious considered option for 2016. All-and-all, it will still be a fun car to drive.

The New El Camino: The Holden UTE

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

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

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


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

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

The Bells and Whistles:         

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

Trailer assists
And much more...

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

Cadillacs Bad Ass 2016 ATS-V

Recently Cadillac has been working hard to keep up with BMW sports sedans, and yes, they have been doing a good job of it too. The CTS-V was a good start, the CT6 really puts Cadillac on the map with its design, and the 2016 ATS-V, just unveiled, looks, and has the power to definitely take some customers away from BMW. 

Competing against the BMW 3-series is what Cadillac had in mind when they went to work designing the new ATS-V. Skipping the V-8, like what they used for the CTS-V, was a huge risk, but a V-6 twin-turbo seems to work well and competes more equally with BMW and other vehicles from across the pond.


The V-6 twin-turbo that Cadillac went with packs 450-RWHP and 445 ft-lb of torque. Buyers will have a choice of an eight-speed paddle shifter or a six-speed manual gearbox. For more improved performance, the ATS-V will come with an optional track-pack that will add 100 lbs. of down-force at 100 mph. You will also find that the new ATS-V will have 50 percent more stiffness in the handling than the original ATS.

With a curb weight of 3,600 lbs. and riding on a Magnetic Ride Control suspension with Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires sticking to the ground, this is another Cadillac that not only can dazzle, while putting you in the lap of luxury, but also get you around corners like you're being chased in an action film.

Suspected price -- around $70,000.00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Camaro Gets Different Chassis for 2016

Although no photos leaks of what the new Camaro is going to look like, Chevrolet did confirm it will be using the Cadillac ATS coupe's chassis. The current Camaro chassis is a rear-drive modified version of the Holden Commodore by GM's Australian brand. The big move is due to the fact that GM no longer wants to be building vehicles in Australia in 2017, and this will ensure production will convert easily with no unneeded production shutdowns.


The Camaro will be on sale sometime next year but don't expect any spoilers until at least the North American International Auto Show, and GM says maybe not even then. Motor Trend has produced some spy pictures that showed what could be the 2016 Camaro all wrapped up, but they admitted they were not sure if they were on the right track.

The ATS chassis was designed to help the car compete with the BMW 3-Series. Out of all of GM's chassis, the ATS coupe's chassis is the closest fit to the Camaro. It is shorter in length, narrower, and weighs less than the current Camaro chassis. Chevy says it could help bring a little more of a European sports car feel when comes to the type of ride it will produce. But I'm not sure if that is a huge selling point for American sports car lovers.

The ATS already offers a four-cylinder turbo motor, and Chevy has confirmed that it is possible to see one in the Camaro as an option for 2016. Mustang, Camaros long time rival, already offers one, and since it would take no extra engineering to put a four-cylinder turbo in the Camaro to compete with Mustang, not to mention the European cars, I'd say the possibility is very real.  

All New Cadillac LTS RWD -- A Much More High-End Version for Cadillac in 2015

 


Although car lovers and GM lovers are already lucky enough to have beautiful high-tech Cadillacs to choose from, GM announces they will began building an even more top-end Cadillac for 2015.

The assembly of these new Cadillac cars will be taking place at the Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant. It will be a rear-wheel drive vehicle and is expected to make its first debut sometime in the first half of the 2015 year.

The Hamtramck plant borders on Detroit and Hamtramck. As of now the plant produces the Opel Ampera, the Chevrolet Impala and the Cadillac ELR, and a luxury version of the Volt.

This is a project that GM is throwing $384 million at as an investment. Let's just hope after a rough Bankruptcy, they're not taking on more than they can chew. They have some very sweet sports and luxury cars, but let's face it, they're not the type of vehicles that keep the doors flying open at the dealerships. They may keep us looking at them on a computer screen or in a magazine, but the Average Joe is usually looking for something a little more practical.


 

  

2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel Sales Are Down

 

It's been almost a year now since the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel went on sale, the first diesel passenger car that General Motors put on the market since 1986. 

General Motors had high hopes for the Cruze with the European turbodiesel engine, which was designed to compete with the well-established Volkswagen Jetta TDI. The Jetta and the Cruze are the only two competitive diesel compacts that are on the market today. 

So far General Motors has sold roughly 300,000 Chevy Cruzes for 2014, but only 5,974 (2.0 percent) were diesel models. Since GM was hoping on about 10 percent sales, the number is not a good number considering the Jetta TDI has sold 46,409 in the same period of time. But it should also be noted that one of the problems that the Cruze Diesel suffers from is the lack of marketing support it receives opposed to the already well-established Jetta Diesel.

Power Ratings

One thing the Cruze does have going for it is it has more power than the Jetta. The it is fitted with a 151-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel engine, which produces a substantial 264 lb-ft of torque. The only available transmission is a beefed-up six-speed automatic; unlike the diesel VW Jetta, there's no manual gearbox offered.

The current Jetta TDI has a 140-hp 2.0-liter turbodiesel that produces 236 lb-ft of torque. It should be noted, however, that Volkswagen is about to fit a new line of more powerful diesel engines across its entire small- and medium-size car range.

Fuel Economy 

The Cruze Diesel is rated at 33 mpg combined (27 mpg city, 46 mpg highway). That's higher than the Cruze Eco automatic, at 31 mpg combined (26 mpg city, 39 mpg highway) but lower than the automatic version of the VW Jetta TDI at 34 mpg (30 mpg city, 42 mpg highway).

To boost its fuel economy, the diesel Cruze also adopts some elements of the high-efficiency Cruze Eco gasoline model, including automated grille shutters that block airflow through the engine compartment at higher speeds to reduce aerodynamic drag.

What People Are Saying

The Cruze Diesel has received mixed reviews. It gets praised for its quietness, smoothness on the highway and a lack of noise, vibration, and harshness, but it's also been dinged for slow response and uneven power in stop-and-go city and suburban driving.

The 2014 Chevy Cruze Diesel isn't cheap. It's priced at $26,695 including delivery--or about $600 more than a Volkswagen Jetta TDI fitted with an automatic.

Compared to the comparably equipped gasoline version of the Cruze with 2LT trim level, there's a $2,400 additional cost to get the diesel.

Darth Vader Hot Wheels Chevrolet Corvette

 http://youtu.be/aDCx0PeVOTo
I have never personally seen Star Wars before ... but Corvette can attach their name to anything and make it work -- Hot Wheels, Star Wars, kids toys, big-boy-toys -- anything.  

2015 Cadillac ATS Video -- Looking Cool

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

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

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

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

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

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

2015 Hot Rod Camaro – Limited Edition

 

When the legendary HOT ROD Magazine corporation teams up with anybody to make a project car, you know it's going to be something special. Just like in 2001, when Dennis Barker at Todd Wenzel Chevrolet in Hudsonville, Michigan joined forces with the magazine to design Special Edition HOT ROD Camaros, they produced something special. And that's why they're back at it again this year to build 2015 Special Edition Camaros.

A 2014 Special Edition Camaro made its first appearance at the HOT ROD Power Tour on June 7, 2014, at Zmax Dragway. Although this one was a 2014 Camaro, outside one other 2014, the rest of the Special Editions Camaros will be 2015s.


When asked about it at the Power Tour, HOT ROD and dealership staff both admitted to having a hard time agreeing with each other on even some of the smallest details, but both sides say regardless the project was fun and the outcome was spectacular. 

There will be 67 of these Special Edition Camaros sold at the Todd Wenzel dealership. Each Camaro will be sold in all V-8 trim levels including convertibles and will have plenty of HOT ROD Special Edition items including: badges and emblems, stripes, embroidered headrests, floor mats, sill plates, Forgeline wheels and center caps, exhaust diverters, slotted rotors, billet valve covers, and plug wires. 

You will also have a choice of many different colors, and each Camaro will have many different optional dealership performance upgrades to choose from. 

Each Camaro will be built by the legendary Nickey High-Performance Company and will have decals to prove it. What makes these Camaros so cool, with only 67 built, you can bet that you will be the only one on your block that owns one.

Chevrolet Tries to Prevent New Camaro Z/28 Cloning By Restricting Specific Parts

So the word is out, with the successful completion of selling out the 2014 Z/28s so fast, rumors sparked that Chevrolet would up the ante for 2015 and produce 2,500 Z/28s. That is no longer a rumor, there will be a total of 2,500 Z/28s built for 2015 as opposed to the 500 built for the 2014 year.

But more interesting than the limited edition Z/28 selling out so fast, to help keep the rarity of the Z/28s exclusive to the owners who actually shelled out the $75,000.00 for the Camaro, Chevrolet has made a move to prevent the cloning of a Z/28 by restricting the sale of certain parts.

Raging from high-performance parts to cosmetic, Chevrolet sent a list of 35 different parts to dealers that make up the Z/28 package and are not to be sold on the market to individuals or companies that can't prove the ownership of a Camaro Z/28.

Some of those banned parts include: the Brembo brake system and carbon-ceramic rotors, 19-inch wheels, rear differential, and rear axle, front fascia, the "flowtie" grille badge,  Recaro seats, hood scoop, fender flares, rocker panels, and rear fascia and spoiler, and the list goes on.

Now if it's the power of the Z/28 you are looking for, you can buy the power-plant in the form of a crate motor. The 505-horsepower 7.0-liter LS7 V-8 has been available since it was placed in the C6 Corvette ZO6.

It's easy to see why Chevrolet would want to put this plan into motion, but the question is just how long will this plan prevent cloning of Z/28s. They want to clone prestigious cars has been around since hot rodding its self. So even if Chevrolet won't sell these specific parts, aftermarket companies will see an even bigger market to make money. Nevertheless, no matter how many clones are out there, they can't take away from the authenticity of a real one and numbers don't lie. If you have a true Z/28, 1-of-500 or 1-of-2,500, you still have a significant piece of "Hot Rod History." 

Will Chevrolet Have to Build More Camaro Z/28s

 

2014 Camaro Z/28 - SOLD OUT

 
It wasn't too hard for Chevrolet to sell all of their 500 brand new 2014 Camaro Z/28s. Now with no more for car enthusiast to get their hands on this year, Chevrolet is faced with the question of, "Do They Build More?" 

Building more will definitely help the already popular Z/28 trending well into next year, but for the lucky owners of the first 500 units, it will take away from the rareness factor that Chevrolet was shooting for and probably what owners were counting on. Although the chances of Chevrolet building more Camaro Z/28s this year is probably slim to none, next year's plans for more than just 500 being built to meet demands is highly possible.

Camaro Chief Engineer, Al Oppenheiser, has said that next year could possibly see the likes of 2,500 units being built depending on demand and whether or not they decide to build more this year and if they do launch a project like that this year how it ends up panning out.

So unless you have been living under a rock for the last year and a half, you probably know what the 2014 Z/28 is all about. But I don't think anyone really expected this $75,000.00 Camaro would sell out so fast. If Chevrolet decides to build more this year, or ramp up the amount built next year, it's pretty hard to believe that they could lose on their decisions.

$1. Million 2015 Corvette ZO6

The Million Dollar Ticket

At the Barrett Jackson Auction on Sat. (4/13/2014) the bright yellow 2015 Corvette ZO6 made some history on the auction block. VIN #0001 put up for a charity to benefit Cancer Research was bought by very-well know race team owner Jimmy Hendrick.

Hendrick had good reason for purchasing the ZO6, his life was threatened by Cancer and was saved due to the process of Cancer Research Treatment. This Corvette adds to his already impressive collection of Chevy sports cars.

The day before at the Barret Jackson Auction, Hendricks auctioned off his 2014 Camaro Z/28 for a nice round price of $500,000., that money also made its way to charity.

In the last two years, Chevrolet vehicles have brought in a huge amount of money for charities at the auctions. Cars like the COPO Camaro, COPO convertible and the first 2014 Z/28 have been able to pull in huge sums of money for good causes. GOOD CARS for GOOD REASONS.

2001 Mallett Hammer Z06: Pulled from the Corvette Museum Sinkhole

The Last Corvette Pulled From the Sinkhole at the Bowling Green Kentucky Corvette Museum



It was a sad looking piece of crumbled up steel when this Corvette was pulled from the sinkhole. What was once a red customized Vette that was fitted with a roll-bar, no longer resembled its original form.

Kevin and Linda Helmintoller were the original owners of the vehicle and spent 10 years customizing it before donating it to the Corvette Museum just a few months earlier before the sinkhole incident. Although General Motors executives have said that all eight Corvettes would be restored back to their original condition, this last one may be the exception.

When Kevin Helmintoller found out it was time for the Mallett Hammer Corvette to be retrieved, he drove up from Florida to witness it and told the museum staff this, "I expected bad, but it's 100 times worse ......  it looks like a piece of tin foil... and it had a roll cage in it! It makes all the other cars look like they're brand new."

So what will Corvette do to restore this particular victim of the collapsed sinkhole? Probably nothing, they will probably keep the last vehicle as a reminder of the horrible accident that occurred that day. Never the less, all eight Corvettes that were damaged in the wreckage will be on display at the museum through the month of August.

Chevrolet Displays Their Prize Possession's for Detroit Baseball

It All Starts at Comerica Park

Detroit baseball fans come to the Motor City to see All-Star players like Miguel Cabrera and Justin Verlander. These players attract about 3 million fans annually to Comerica Park and many more that watch them on t.v. So what better place for Chevrolet to advertise a few of their nicest pieces of work than the city of GM's own headquarters, Detroit. 

Chevrolet is the official sponsor of the MLB, also for the past five years they have posted vehicles like the Camaro, Malibu, and the Equinox in the outfield for all of the league and fans to see. 

But this year there is a twist, instead of two vehicles that are non-salable, pre-production vehicles -- the production Topaz Blue full-size Silverado and the Crystal Red Metallic Equinox crossover (mid-size SUV) that will be on display, will also be salable production vehicles that will go up for auction at the end of the year.

I think I might be willing to shell out a few extra bucks at an auction if one of the Chevrolet vehicles I was bidding on had a nice little baseball dent in the fender due to a walk-off home run from one of my favorite players. Especially if the Detroit Tigers do what a lot of experts are predicting, another playoff run to the World Series.

In the end, it is a great place for Chevrolet to advertise. And to complete the Chevrolet display, there is a water fountain that sprays out a water show and a recording of a huge tiger's roar every time a Detroit Tiger hits a home run.

Two Classic Corvettes That Could Go for $1 Million Apiece at Auction

In January of this year, a 1967 L88 Corvette showed up on the auction block at the world famous Barrett-Jackson auto auction. This '67 L88 was specially built for a General Motors executive and was produced as the only known L88 from that year with a red-on-red color combination. It was in such good shape with paper work to match it fetched $3.8 million.

The stipulation of that Corvette is much the same as two Corvettes that will be rolling across the auction block at the Mecum Auto Auction (Houston, April 10-12, 2014).

The first Corvette that might fetch some big numbers is an one-off 1963 Corvette Sting Ray convertible styling car that was built for General Motors Chevrolet Division General Manager Semon “Bunkie” Knudsen. Now owned by his son, Bernie Knudesn, this rare Corvette stands out from the rest with huge, unique chromed out side-pipes, on a special Crimsom Firefrost Metallic red with white strips. The interior was modified from the factory with 1964 interior components and styling. The seats were covered in Naugahdye and were chic-white with maroon stripes.

Underneath the hood is a 327 cubic-inch motor with plenty of chrome plating and crinkle black finish to take the place of the cast-iron look.

“All of Knudsen’s cars came in this color, and I’m sure he was out and about showing it off often,” says Mecum consignment director John Kraman, who says that this car could reach the $1 million mark. “It’s a real automotive landmark that has special panache.”

The other Corvette that will probably fetch some big numbers was so pampered it has never even hosted a passenger, and there is only three known people that have ever sat in it. This 1967 Corvette Sting Ray that only has 2,996 org. miles on it is so nice it probably belongs in the Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

It has only had one owner, who passed away in 2011. Don McNamra was a United State Marine, he struck a big payday in Las Vegas where he took his winnings and bought this '67 Sting Ray. McNamara lived in Colorado Springs, he never married and lived a very private life. At one point, sometime during the '80s, he denied even owning the rare Corvette to keep a low profile. Legend has it that the small amount of miles on the vehicle were mostly put on during late night cruises.

These Corvettes may not bring a $3.8 million price tag like the Barrett-Jackson L88 Corvette, but they could easily be some of the Mecum's highest auctioned cars of the weekend, maybe even of all time. One thing that will hurt the Corvettes is that the Mecum auto auction doesn't bring in as many high-profile bidders like the Barett-Jackson auctions often do.

“It’s a great color scheme (white with a red stripe) and must be the absolute best second-generation Sting Ray in the country,” says Kraman, who believes this Corvette could also see the $1 million mark. “The first thing that jumps out at you is how different an original car feels from a restored one. This is what it must have looked like in the showroom, down to the whitewall tires.”

New 2014 GTO Judge (6T9 Goat)

The GTO Judge goes back a long way, all the way back to the muscle car era. After being dropped out of production in 1974, the GTO was just another muscle car that didn't survive. But Pontiac brought it back for 2004, '05, and '06 before dropping it again due to marketing issues and poor sales.

Like with the Trans Am, the GTO Judge still has die-hard fans who still want to see vehicles produced with the famous badges and colors that we all know and love.

Two brothers, Tod and Scott Warmack and Jim Dowling from Tallahassee, Fl. felt the same way about the Pontiac brand. So with the same love and respect that other Pontiac fans had, they started up a Trans Am program ran from their Tallahassee shop known as the Trans Am Depot. To this day they are the only company that is allowed to use the Trans Am moniker.


The company started creating awesome versions of what the Trans Am would have looked like if they were still in production today and then sold them. Needless to say, they looked great and made a big hit. Now the Trans Am Depot is venturing out into the business of making a 2014 GTO Judge or what the Trans Depot calls it "6T9 Goat."

Just like with the Trans Am, they will be mocked up by using the '10 Camaro frame and body. Different bumpers, quarter-panels, hoods, spoilers, rims and interior styling, as well as other components, are implicated to differentiate the GTO Judge from the Camaro and Trans Am.

What do they have for power?

The GTO will get a supercharged 600rwhp, 600lb-ft of torque LS3, with 12 pounds of boost and SLP long-tube headers.

The 2014 GTO Judge and Trans Am are available for order, just contact the boys at the Trans Am Depot and get your dream car started.

2014 Corvette's Price Rises $2,000

If you have already ordered your Corvette Stingray you are safe from the price jack, but if you have been sitting back and waiting for the right moment you can now expect to pay an extra $2,000 for the good looking, great selling sportscar.

General Motors decided with such great success so far selling the beauties it was time to try to squeeze a little more out consumers. The Stingray coupe will move from $51,995, including destination, to $53,995. The convertible gets a similar price jack, from $56,995 to $58,995.

The Z51 Performance Package will also see an increases of $1,200 to level out the final package price to $4,000. So if you are looking to get into a base coupe with a Z51 package, you will end up paying $57,995, and if you opt out for a convertible you will find yourself buying one for about $62,995.

March 1st is when the change took place. A spokesmen for Chevrolet has confirmed that there is no need to worry about any orders purchased prior to that, as they will honor the original price even if it has not yet made it into the owners possessions yet.

Corvette is still on the top-ten fastest selling vehicle list of this winter according to  cars.com. Even with the $2,000 increase, one can only image that this will have no effect on sales. The redesigned 2014 Stingray has been a hit every since its debut at the 2013 North American Auto Show.

Even with the $2,000 price jack, the Stingray still puts out performance and comfort with a price tag that can not be matched by any other car on the market. 

The New Silverado Reaper

The Lingenfelter and Southern Comfort Silverado --

AvailableThis Month At Participating Dealerships

 

Originally started as the T-Rex, Lingenfelter gave the Silverado the name because the truck was designed to go head-to-head with the Ford Raptor. And the hope for the T-Rex was a Dinosaur square-off that would eat the Raptor alive.

But when Ligenfelter found out that Southern Comfort Automotive was also doing a similar project, the two joined forces and the name was dropped to make way for a more marketable name, the Silverado Reaper.


The Silverado Reaper made its first debut at the Chicago Auto Show, where its larger than life presences was immediately notice. The beefier hood was designed to fit two different massive power-plants: A 5.3-liter with 475hp and a 6.2-liter with 550hp, both of which are topped with Magnusom supercharges and fitted with Corsa exhaust.

The Suspension is lifted 3-inches over stock and Fox Reservoir Shocks that provide 9.2-inches of wheel travel in the front and 11.2-inches in the rear are bolted on.

Two sets of rims and tires will be available. 20-inch rims and tires are standard, but for the real off-road enthusiast you can order 17-inch beadlock wheels with 33-inches of General Grabber rubber

Other goodies include: a front skid-plate, integrated rock-rail with side steps, flood lights and day time running LED lights, auxiliary switch panel and a custom gauge cluster.

This new beast will be available at select dealers this month. Price has not yet been released but roomers have it that a price tag will be around $50,000 to $60,000 depending on options.

How Does The 2014 Z28 Kill the Road Course

Since its outstanding performance at Germany’s Nürburgring racetrack -- the toughest road course in the world -- otherwise known as the Green Hell -- talks about just how badass the new Z/28 really is, have never slowed down.

Not only was the Z/28 amazingly fast and ran a whole four seconds faster around the Green Hell (7:37.47) than it's more powerful sibling, the ZL1, it also ran faster than the Porsche 911 Carrera S and Lamborghini Murcielago LP640.

What made this 505hp monster so quick around the Green Hell? Chevrolet engineers say it has to do with three main key factors that they put most of their focus on: increasing grip, increasing stopping performance, and reducing weight.

Recently, Chevrolet released a list of 28 improvements that made it possible for the Camaro to accomplish such impressive times:


1. LS7 engine with dry-sump oiling: features a durable forged-steel crankshaft, lightweight titanium connecting rods and high-flow cylinder heads with lightweight titanium intake valves, as well as racing-style dry-sump oiling system.


2. TREMEC TR6060 six-speed manual transmission: with short throws, smooth gear synchronization and shift feel, the gearbox has the capability to stand up to high-performance engines.


3. 5.1-ratio short-throw shifter: provides quicker, more precise-feeling gear changes.


4. Track capable fuel system: he road course-ready fuel system is designed to keep the primary fuel pump reservoir full even under hard cornering.


5. Air intake system: the LS7 uses a unique open air box intake system to make the most of high-rpm airflow into the engine.


6. Differential cooler: incorporates an integral heat exchanger, eliminating the need for an external pump, wiring, relays, temperature sensors and fan.


7. Strut tower brace: the same as on the Camaro SS 1LE, provides extra chassis stiffness by tying the towers together.


8. Uprated lower control arm ride link “travel limiter” bushing: offers 50-percent greater stiffness at high load than the SS.


9. Active dual-mode exhaust system and high-flow converter assembly: engineered to provide high-flow and muscular sound character under aggressive acceleration, while attenuating noise levels in cruising conditions.


10. Belly pan: helps reduce front lift and contributes to drivetrain cooling.


11. Carbon ceramic brake rotors: 21.16 lbs lighter than steel brake rotors.


12. Brembo carbon ceramic brakes: 60-0 mph in less than 120 feet (36.6m).


13. 19-inch wheels and Perille P Zero Trofeo R tires: the widest front wheels/tires of any comparable sports coupe: 19x11-inch wheels with P305/30/ZR19 tires.


14. Lightweight wheels and tires: 29.1 lbs lighter wheels and tires than on the Camaro SS.


15. Zero-preload limited-slip differential: features a concentric helical gear set that generates friction proportional to the input torque.


16. Higher-rate coil springs and smaller-diameter stabilizer bars: the stiffness rate of the Z/28’s coil springs was increased by 85 percent in the front and 65 percent in the rear.


17. DSSV damper technology: the Z/28 is the first high-volume production road car to use Dynamic Suspensions Spool Valve damper technology from Multimatic.


18. Uprated rear upper control arm bushing and lower trailing link bushings: 400 percent and 25 percent stiffer, respectively, compared with the SS.


19. Unique front fascia: although the Z/28’s fascia is based on the Camaro SS, the fog lamps, air dam and the upper-base grille are replaced with covers, reducing weight.


20. Front splitter: designed to withstand 250 pounds of down-force at its tip, it is matched with an aero closeout panel under the front of the engine compartment that also enhances aero characteristics.


21. Hood extractor: made of carbon fiber, it provides increased engine cooling by allowing hot air an exit route.


22. Front wheelhouse liners: work with the vehicle underbody to make the most of airflow.


23. Performance Traction Management: integrates the chassis mode selection, Traction Control and Active Handling Systems.


24. Rear spoiler with wickerbill: to meet down-force requirements for the Z/28, the spoiler was modified with a wickerbill--a small, vertical tab at the edge of the spoiler.


25. Thinner rear window glass: Chevrolet saved 400 grams by reducing the thickness of the rear window glass from 3.5 mm to 3.2 mm.


26. Lightweight rear seat: 10.3 lbs lighter due to reduced seat foam and a fixed seatback design.


27. Rocker moldings and wheel flare moldings: help increase the car’s down-force.


28. No air conditioning: 28.4 lbs were saved.

Rare Corvettes Damaged By Sinkhole at National Corvette Museum

Bowling Green, Kentucky "National Corvette Museum"

Bowling Green is not only the home to the biggest Corvette plant in the world, but also home to the famous Corvette Museum. The museum is host to some of the most rarest Corvettes know to man. From vintage to new to prototype, a lot of Chevrolet's prized possessions sit on display in the museum.

Unfortunately, Wednesday morning, their quiet comfortable home came under attack by a force of nature. A sinkhole the size of 25-35ft deep and 40ft around, swallowed several Corvettes right in the Sky Dome area of the museum.

The museum stated in a press release, "It is with heavy hearts that we report that eight Corvettes were affected by this incident."

Corvettes that were effected:

• 1993 ZR-1 Spyder
• 2009 ZR-1 Blue Divel
• 1962 Black Corvette
• 1984 PPG Pace Car
• 2001 Mallett Hammer ZO6
•  1992 White 1 Millionth Corvette
• 2009 White 1.5 Millionth
• 1993 Ruby Red 40th Anniversary Corvette

Luckily one Corvette was saved that was in danger. Thanks to emergency officials okaying the move, an 1983 Corvette was saved. There is no telling what kind of danger other undamaged cars are in, but they will stay put for the time being while the rest of the structure of the Sky Dome is inspected along with the rest of the museum. 

Bowling Green sits in the midst of Kentucky’s Western Pennyroyal area, where many of the state’s longest and deepest caves run underground. To this day nothing like this has happened and comes as much of a surprise to the community. Luckily no injuries were reported in this incident.

As a car guy, I visited the museum when I was young, it was an awesome place. It is very sad to see what happen to some of Americas most beautiful cars.

The Black Widow Corvette and Captain America: The Winter Soldier Join Forces

 

The amazing looking and performing Corvette Stingray scored a side job for early this spring. It will play host to a Superhero S.H.E.I.L.D agent Natasha Romanov (Scarlett Johansson) in the new movie Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

You really couldn't choose a better car for an American Superhero, especially considering that the Corvette Stingray itself is somewhat of an American Superhero. Since its unveiling at last years Detroit North American Auto Show it has taken the auto industry by storm with nothing but rave reviews, following those reviews up with the car of the year at this years Detroit Auto Auto.

Those honors are what could have helped Marvel Entertainment make the decision for using the Stingray in the up coming flick. No word yet if there will be any aftermarket up-grades done to it for the movie, but one can only speculate that even if there isn't any up-grades made for its movie debut, that the black-on-black beautiful will still be more than enough to impress movie goers.

If you want to catch a glimpse of the Black Widow before you see it on the big screen, you will have your chance in Chicago when they host their Annual Auto Show.

Although it seems that there will be no special edition Black Widow Stingray offered to the general public, Chevrolet will be producing a special edition comic book to celebrate the teaming-up of Chevrolet and Marvel Entrainment, LLC.