Chevrolet revealed earlier this week its plans on introducing a new 4-cylinder 2.0-liter turbocharged engine for the 2013 Malibu. This power unit is going to be available starting with this fall and it produces 259 hp (263 PS /193 kW) and a maximum torque of 260 lb.-ft (353 Nm), allowing the car to do the 0-62 mph sprint in a more than decent 6.3 seconds. At the moment we don’t have additional details about this engine but we can tell you that it features direct injection and it will be available in various markets, including U.S., Canada and Israel.
2013 Chevrolet Malibu
Chevrolet also said that the 4-cylinder 2.5-liter Ecotec engine will be offered for the Malibu, an engine that generates 197 hp (200 PS / 147 kW) and a peak torque of 191 lb.-ft (259 Nm), which is 7 hp (7 PS / 5 kW) and 11 lb.-ft (15 Nm) more than the specs that were originally estimated for this engine.
General Motors has announced earlier this week that the Chevrolet Camaro will be returning to the United Kingdom market this spring. Clients will be able to get the car with only a V8 6.2-liter engine that generates 426 hp (432 PS / 318 kW) and a maximum torque of 420 lb.-ft (569 Nm). The coupe version can do the 0-62 mph sprint in 5.2 seconds while the convertible needs an additional 0.2 seconds, en route to a top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h).
2012 Chevrolet Camaro 45th Anniversary Edition
When this engine is linked to the optional 6-speed automatic gearbox, it manages to produces 399 hp (405 PS / 298 kW) and 410 lb.-ft (556 Nm) of torque. Even though it has less power, the Chevrolet Camaro still can do the 0-62 mph run in 5.4 seconds for the coupe and in 5.6 seconds for its convertible sibling, before reaching 155 mph (250 km/h).
2012 Chevrolet Camaro 45th Anniversary Edition
Chevrolet is already taking orders for the Camaro in the United Kingdom where the coupe costs 34,995 pounds while the convertible starts from 39,995 pounds. Clients are also able to order the 45th anniversary edition of the Camaro which costs from 36,495 pounds for the entry-level model while the top-spec variant of this anniversary edition is priced at 41,495 pounds.
Earlier this week, Chevrolet published the first official photo with the Estate version of the Cruze which will make its public debut next month at the Geneva Motor Show. Scheduled to go on sale shortly after that, the Cruze Estate is 4,675 mm long which means that it is 165 mm longer than the hatchback version and 78 mm longer than the sedan.
It will be able to offer a cargo capacity of 500 liters when the seats are up while folding them down will increase the cargo room to 1,500 liters. The car is going to be available with a choice of three gasoline engines (1.6-liter, 1.8-liter and a 1.4-liter turbo) and two diesels (1.7-liter and 2.0-liter).
As standard, the Chevrolet Cruze Estate fitted with the 1.4-liter turbo, 1.7-liter or the 2.0-liter will benefit from the stop/start technology that promises to increase the fuel efficiency. Some of the goodies offered with the car include a 7-inch color high-res touchscreen, button start, keyless entry, MyLink onboard infotainment system and smartphone connectivity.
The car you see in these pictures was built for an unnamed customer by the engineers from Pogea Racing. The gorgeous Chevrolet Corvette has been upgraded with an adjustable coilover suspension, a tube frame chassis and high performance brakes. The superb convertible is wearing a Ferrari Rosso paint job and comes with LED taillights.
Chevrolet Corvette by Pogea Racing
It rides on a fresh new set of wheels that are covered in Bridgestone Potenza tires. Inside it comes with an Alpine audio system, a flat-bottomed steering wheel and new seats.
Chevrolet Corvette by Pogea Racing
Under the hood of this Chevrolet Corvette developed by Pogea Racing is an impressive V8 6.2-liter engine that has bigger fuel injectors, a sports exhaust system and a high-flow air filter. After the tuner implemented these upgrades, the engine is now capable of producing 478 hp (485 PS / 357 kW) and a maximum torque of 431 lb.-ft (585 Nm).
Chevrolet Corvette by Pogea Racing
The power unit has been mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox, allowing the car to do the 0-62 mph sprint in only 3.9 seconds, before reaching a top speed of 179 mph (288 km/h).
2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 production started in Oshawa, Ontario
2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Yesterday Chevrolet started making the 2012 Camaro ZL1 at GM’s assembly plant located in Oshawa, Ontario. As we previously reported, the car has a 6.2-liter engine that delivers 580 hp and 556 lb.-ft of torque, which makes it the most powerful Camaro that was every produced in the company’s history.
The base price for the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is $54,995, including here the $900 destination fee. The first unit features USB and Bluetooth connectivity, an impressive 9-speaker Boston Acoustics audio system, a black leather interior and a rear-park assist system that has a rear-view camera display.
For extra money, the ZL1 can be equipped with an exposed carbon fiber weave hood insert, a power sunroof, suede microfiber accents on the shift knob, steering wheel and on the shift boot. The 2012 Camaro ZL1 rides on a new set of 20-inch aluminum rims. It can be ordered with an optional 6-speed automatic transmission that has TapShift controls, a gearbox which will set you back an additional $1,185.
Last month, Chevrolet managed to sell 5,709 Camaro units, which is 20% in comparison to the same period of 2011, according to a press release published by General Motors. The overall sales of the Camaro in 2011 increased by 9% to a total of 88,294 units.
TIKT is a German tuner and its latest project is based on the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. Known as the Triple X, it comes with a significant aerodynamic package as well as massive modifications under its hood. By remapping the ECU, installing a modified supercharger system and a specially developed exhaust, the engine in this ZR1 generates 758 hp and a peak torque of 910 Nm.
Corvette ZR1 by TIKT
If our math is right, this means that the engine is 120 hp more powerful than the one in the standard ZR1. In order to accommodate the extra oomph, the German engineers from TIKT had to install new cylinder heads and camshafts, a larger throttle valve, strengthened valve springs and a more efficient cooling system.
Corvette ZR1 by TIKT
In addition, the Corvette ZR1 by TIKT comes with a 50 mm lowered suspension on the front axle and 30 mm on the rear axle. Other modifications include lightweight alloy wheels and racing shock absorbers. The body kit developed for this tuning includes a new front bumper that has bigger air intakes, along with new fenders, side skirts, front splitter and a huge rear wing made from carbon fiber.
This year at the Detroit Motor Show, General Motors brought two Chevrolet sports coupe concepts that offer seating for four while staying on a strict budget. Both concepts were developed based on the feedback that GM received from young consumers in the U.S. in 2011.
Chevrolet Code 130R
The first one wears the name Code 130R which even though looks like its wearing a Corvette face and Camaro tail lamps, its size, proportions and the profile remind us of the BMW 1-Series Coupe but considerably more attractive.
Chevrolet Code 130R
Wearing a red metallic paint with matte anodized rims, the car can be considered as a classic GT and it comes with a rear-wheel drive system and a front-mounted engine. It is motivated by a 1.4-liter Turbo Ecotec engine that features the eAssist micro-hybrid technology developed by General Motors for reducing CO2 emissions and fuel consumption.
Chevrolet Tru 140S
The second concept unveiled at NAIAS this year is the Tru 140S which is a more modern take on a small sports coupe. It has a 1.4-liter Turbo Ecotec power unit and features eAssist with a FWD configuration.
Chevrolet Tru 140S
According to GM, this engine can produce approximately 150 hp and is capable of returing 40 mpg on both concepts. If these concepts will see the light of day, their price will be “in the low $20,000s”.
2013 Chevrolet Corvette 427 Convertible Collector Edition
Earlier this week Chevrolet unveiled a special edition of the Corvette along with a 60th anniversary package that is going to be available for the 2013MY. The 2013 Chevrolet Corvette 427 Convertible Collector Edition and the new package are going to be auctioned in Scottsdale, Arizona at Barret Jackson on the 21st of this month. Both of them are scheduled to go on sale this summer but we don’t have any pricing information.
2013 Chevrolet Corvette 427 Convertible Collector Edition
According to Chevrolet, the 427 Convertible Edition is going to be the fastest Corvette ever made and it will borrow some parts from the ZR1 and the Z06, including here the engine from the latter which is a massive 7.0-liter LS7 427 cubic-inch unit that pumps out 505 hp (377 kW) and a maximum torque of 470 lb.-ft (637 Nm).
2013 Chevrolet Corvette 427 Convertible Collector Edition
This special edition of the Corvette will be fitted with titanium connecting rods and intake valves, along with racing-inspired high flow cylinder heads as well as dry-sump lubrication. Also borrowed from the Z06 is the battery, rear axle and the Magnetic Selective Ride Control. In order to lower the car’s weight, Chevy’s engineers equipped the car with a bunch of carbon fiber parts, like the fenders, hood and the floor panels. Carbon was also used for the rocker panels and the front splitter but these are only available at extra cost.
2013 Chevrolet Corvette 427 Convertible Collector Edition
Thanks to the implementation of lightweight materials, this special Corvette weighs only 3,355 pounds (1,522 kg). It should be able to do the 0-62 mph sprint in only 3.8 seconds and can do the quarter mile in 11.8 seconds, en route to a maximum speed of 190 mph. During cornering, the car is able to generate up to 1.04g.
Set to make its first public appearance in 2012 at the Detroit Auto Show, General Motors decided to reveal the upcoming 2013 Chevrolet Sonic RS. The car will be powered by a turbocharged 1.4-liter Ecotec engine that develops 138 hp (103 kW) and a maximum torque of 148 lb.-ft (200 Nm). GM mentioned that this model will be the only car in the segment offered with a turbocharger.
2013 Chevrolet Sonic RS
Besides the extra muscles under its hood, the RS version of the Sonic will get a bunch of exterior updates that will enhance the car’s sportier heart. Its front fascia will have reshaped fog lights and an “RS” specific grille, while at the back the fascia will be completely new and will have a spoiler.
2013 Chevrolet Sonic RS
The 2013 Chevrolet Sonic RS will be riding on a set of 17-in alloys that will have a bespoke design and RS badging. Clients will be able to order the car with one of the following exterior finishes: Victory Red Black Granite Metallic, Cyber Gray Metallic and Summit White. The interior of the car will have sports seats new aluminum ports pedals and a sports steering wheel.
2013 Chevrolet Sonic RS
The car is scheduled to hit the dealerships towards the end of next year.
The video you are about to see features a Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 modified by the engineers at ‘Late Model Racecraft which say that this is the fastest ZR1 in the world. We don’t know if this is 100% accurate but taking into consideration that it can do the quarter mile in only 9.68 seconds, it sure is quick. The exit speed at the end of the quarter mile is 147 mph (237 km/h)!
Jim Federico is a GM executive and a few days ago he confirmed that Chevrolet will launch a plug-in hybrid version of the Cruze. The interesting news is that the car won’t be a range-extended model like the 2012MY Volt which as you know is motivated by an electric motor that gets its juice from a lithium-ion battery pack or from the gasoline-powered generator.
Instead, the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Plug-in Hybrid is going to use a conventional hybrid drivetrain which will be paired to a beefier battery pack that can be plugged in to recharge it. This hardware configuration is pretty much the same as the one you’ll find in the 2012MY Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid once it will reach the dealership in March next year. The green Cruze will feature a FWD adaptation of GM’s Two-Mode Hybrid system that at the moment is only available for pickup trucks and full-size sport utility vehicles.
The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu will be hitting the dealerships in the first quarter of 2012 and General Motors will also offer an Eco version of the car which will have a base price of $25,995, including here the $760 destination charge. GM says that this is the most efficient Malibu that they have ever made and it will use the eAssist mild-hybrid technology that has an electric motor-generator and a lithium-ion battery that enables regenerative braking, start/stop functionality and electric assist.
2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco
The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco comes with a 4-cylinder 2.4-liter Ecotec engine that is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. The conventional engine is capable of developing 180 hp but it can receive an additional 15 hp during more powerful acceleration from the aforementioned eAssist system.
2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco
EPA figures are still pending, but General Motors says that the upcoming 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco will be able to return 26 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway.
2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco
This frugal version will be the first to be launched in the U.S., followed in the summer by the LS, LT and LTZ trim levels that are powered by a 2.5-liter Ecotec engine that develops 169 hp.
The biggest car market in the world is in China where General Motors have been leading the sales figures for 6 six years in a row and by the end of 2011 they plan on delivering more than two million units. In order to achieve this goal, GM will introduce the Volt model which will be available through 13 Shanghai GM Chevrolet dealerships in eight cities: Shanghai, Beijing, Foshan, Shenzhen, Wuxi, Suzhou, Guangzhou and Hangzhou.
This announcement occurred this week during the 2011 Auto Guangzhou exhibition where GM’s local joint ventures, SAIC-GM-Wulling and Shanghai GM are exhibiting more than 30 Buicks, Baojuns, Cadillacs and Chevys.
The bad news for Chinese people would have to be the very steep price of the Chevrolet Volt. When it will be available for purchase, GM’s extended-range hybrid is going to cost a hefty $75,533 which is almost double the price compared to the car’s price tag in the United States. Those who will afford to buy the car will also be able to join in the V+Club, which is an all-day bilingual hotline that offers one-on-one service. The owner of the Volt will also be invited to participate in various “green” activities.
The Chevrolet Spark was introduced in regions like Europe and Asia back in 2009 but it was this week when the car made its official debut on the North American continent with the occasion of the Los Angeles Auto Show. This is a four-seat, five-door subcompact hatchback that looks a lot like a toy and it will be available in the U.S. and Canada.
2013 U.S.-spec Chevrolet Spark
The 2013 U.S.-spec Chevrolet Spark will be available only with a tiny 1.2-liter 4-cylinder engine that develops 85 hp and is linked to a 5-speed manual gearbox or an optional 4-speed automatic transmission. Even though that we are dealing with a very small car, General Motors has mentioned that the Spark offers more room for passengers and their luggage in comparison with other mini cars like the Smart ForTwo, Scion iQ and the cute Fiat 500. None of these cars, except for the Spark, come in a 5-door configuration.
2013 U.S.-spec Chevrolet Spark
The Euro-spec Spark managed to grab a four-star rating when the guys from Euro NCAP tested it, scoring very high in child and adult protection categories (78% and 81% respectively). The good news is that the U.S.-spec version promises to be even safer than that, offering 10 airbags in the standard configuration along with the StabiliTrak electronic stability control system that isn’t available for the European model.
2013 U.S.-spec Chevrolet Spark
Other than that, the North American variant of the Spark will come with GM’s OnStar system that uses GPS and cellular phone technology in order to call for help automatically in case of an accident. The 2013 Chevrolet Spark also features the MyLink infotainment system which is standard for the 1LT and 2LT trim levels. With this system, owners of the Spark can transfer music libraries, access Stitcher internet radio and Pandora, and navigation via Bluetooth-connected smartphones. In addition, when the Spark is stationary, the built-in 7-inch screen can display a projection of photo and video albums.
Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible launched at L.A. Auto Show
Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible
One of the coolest cars launched this week at the Los Angeles Auto Show is the convertible version of the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 which shares its genes with the upcoming coupe version and it will go on sale in the last part of next year. At the heart of this model is the 6.2-liter supercharged LSA V8 power unit developed by General Motors which develops 580 hp (432 kW) and a maximum torque of 556 lb.-ft (754 Nm).
Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible
In order to compensate for the lack of a unifying roof structure, the engineers from GM fitted the convertible with tower-to-tower brace under the bonnet an underbody tunnel brace, a transmission support reinforcement brace, a rear underbody “V” brace and a front “X” brace and stiffer cradle.
Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible
They also added some structural reinforcements in order to improve vibration and noise characteristics and reduce body and ride motions. They managed to do this y installing a hydrofoamed tube in the A-pillars, a reinforced front hinge pillar, an inner reinforced bracket in the windshield header along with reinforcements inside the rockers.
Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible
Just like its coupe sibling, the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible will ride on the third generation of GM’s Magnetic Ride suspension and it will be fitted with a Performance Traction Management system.
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