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Tag: Corvette

  • 2015 Corvette Z06: Chevy’s Most Powerful Convertible

    ’tis the season to be breezin’ down winding roads – radio up and top down – in your convertible.

    Just in time for these warm weather fantasies, Chevy lovers will get a chance to see the new 2015 Corvette Z06 convertible as General Motors Co. debuts it at the New York International Auto Show next week.

    Earlier this year, the Corvette Z06 coupe was displayed at the Detroit Auto Show – and compared to the coupe, the 2015 Corvette Z06 convertible does indeed share some superficial similarities. There are the carbon fiber accents, extra cooling parts, similar fender and spoiler designs, and even an interior that is described as looking not terribly unique from the coupe’s.

    However, the new Z06 Corvette convertible sounds like it certainly packs a punch from its LT4 6.2-litersupercharged V-8 engine. While precise specifications have yet to be released, expectations are that the transmission options will include a seven-speed manual as well as a new eight-speed automatic alternative. With at least 625 horsepower and 635 foot-pounds of torque, it’s said to be the most powerful convertible Chevy’s created to date. Another fun fact for Corvette fans is that it’s also the first Z06 convertible Chevy’s done since 1963.

    GM’s global product development head, Mark Reuss, said in his released statement, that: “The Z06 Convertible is a world-class supercar in every sense.” He went to add:

    “Only a handful of convertibles in the world bring more than 600 horsepower and 600 pound-feet of torque. Even fewer can match the advanced technologies, aerodynamic design, and visceral driving experience of the Z06 Convertible.”

    While the Corvette coupe will be sold later this year in limited amounts, the availability and dollar amount you’ll be dropping on your drop-top has yet to be announced.

    Image via Youtube

  • Corvette Sinkhole: Last Of The ‘Great 8’ Rescued

    On February 12, 2014 at 5:44 am, the National Corvette Museum received a call from its security company notifying it that motion detectors were being triggered, according to a blog post on the Museum’s website. The cause: a sinkhole, approximately 40 feet across and 60 feet deep that swallowed up eight Corvettes.

    On April 9, 2014, the last Corvette was pulled out of the muddy pit—a 2001 Mallett Hammer Z06 that was the most heavily damaged out of all the corvettes. It’s the featured picture and video of this article.

    According to the most recent blog post on the Museum website, “The Mallett Hammer was donated to the Museum this past December by Kevin and Linda Helmintoller of Land O’ Lakes, Florida, Lifetime Members of the Museum and previous R8C Museum Delivery participants.”

    When hearing that the car had been located, Kevin traveled to Kentucky to witness the rescue operation. “I expected bad, but it’s 100 times worse,” he said. “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.”

    Two of the vehicles recovered were on loan from General Motors. They include the 1993 ZR-1 Spyder and the 2009 ZR1 “Blue Devil.” Six of the vehicles were owned by the museum, including the 2001 Mallett Hammer Z06. The others were a 1962 Black Corvette, 1984 PPG Pace Car, 1992 White 1 Millionth Corvette, 1993 Ruby Red 40th Anniversary Corvette, and a 2009 White 1.5 Millionth Corvette.

    General Motors has already announced that Chevrolet will oversee vehicle restoration.

    “The vehicles at the National Corvette Museum are some of the most significant in automotive history,” said Mark Reuss, executive vice president of General Motors Global Product Development. “There can only be one 1-millionth Corvette ever built. We want to ensure as many of the damaged cars are restored as possible so fans from around the world can enjoy them when the Museum reopens.”

    After the sinkhole was discovered, the process of recovering vehicles was thought to only take days. The very day the 2001 Mallett Hammer Z06 was pulled out of the sinkhole marked eight weeks since the sinkhole originally appeared. It marks the end of the first stage of rebuilding.

    “We’re happy to have the completion of our major goal to recover all eight of the Corvettes,” said Wendell Strode, Executive Director of the Museum. “Next week we have a meeting with all the major players, including the construction team, geo-technical firm, cave and karst specialists, engineers, our insurance company and others to review all the findings and have discussions on the next steps and a mutual understanding about rebuilding.”

    A “Great 8”—the name given to the eight Corvettes—display will officially open next week at the museum and the sinkhole Corvettes will be available for viewing as they are.

    Image via National Corvette Museum Blog

  • Corvette Sinkhole: Museum Finally Recovers All Eight Cars

    The last of eight Corvettes that fell into a museum sinkhole has finally been recovered.

    In February, a sinkhole formed under the National Corvette Museum, swallowing eight classic Corvettes, including a 1962 black Corvette, 1984 PPG pace car, 1992, white Corvette, 1993 ruby red Corvette, 1993 ZR1 Spyder, 2001 Mallet Hammer Z06, 2009 white Corvette, and a 2009 ZR1 also known as the “Blue Devil.”

    The sinkhole was about 30 feet deep and 40 feet wide.

    Workers have been hard at work in retrieving the classic cars, but they are also extra careful in doing so to prevent adding further damage to the classic Corvettes. The first to be recovered from the sinkhole was the “Blue Devil,” which came out pretty much intact.

    The last to be recovered was the 2001 Mallet Hammer Z06 that was said to look like a piece of tin foil, according to Kevin Helmintoller, the man who donated the car to the museum. Helmintoller, and his wife, donated the Mallet Hammer just a few months before the museum collapsed. “I expected bad, but it’s 100 times worse,” he told the museum authorities.

    The Mallet Hammer was found upside down at the bottom of the sinkhole. According to CEO of Scott, Murphy and Daniel Construction, Mike Murphy, the last car to be recovered looked the worst among the eight cars. “It took a lot of punishment from a lot of big rocks,” he said.

    After the sinkhole incident, executives from General Motors decided that they will restore all the eight classic Corvettes. However, there may not be enough pieces left of the Mallet Hammer for it to be restored properly.

    The museum’s Executive director, Wendell Strode, said that he will be having a meeting with the construction team, specialists, engineers, and the big players to talk about rebuilding the museum.

    All eight cars that were swallowed by the sinkhole will be on display at the museum until August before being shipped to Michigan for repairs.

    Cars rescued from the sinkhole

    Image via Corvette Museum, Twitter

  • ZR1 Blue Devil Corvette Recovered From Sinkhole

    The National Corvette Museum has started recovering the eight cars that fell into the sinkhole that appeared in the museum last month.

    The museum, which is located near the assembly plant where Corvettes are built, houses more or less 80 vehicles. The sinkhole appeared in the museum’s Skydome and swallowed eight vehicles. The hole has grown to 30 feet deep and 40 feet across. Cars that fell into the hole include a 2009 White 1.5 Millionth Corvette, 2001 Mallet Hammer Z06 Corvette, 1993 Ruby Red 40th Anniversary Corvette, 1992, White 1 Millionth Corvette, 1984 PPG Pace Car, 1962 Black Corvette, 2009 ZR1 Blue Devil, and the 1993 ZR-1 Spyder.

    The first vehicle to make it out of the sinkhole is the “Blue Devil” that made its way out of the doorway using its own power. The “Blue Devil” was driven a short distance and the only problem that they saw so far was an oil leak.

    Museum authorities reported that the vehicle came out nearly intact, but Chevrolet will still meticulously inspect it. Chevrolet has also offered to restore all the cars that fell into the hole, and all of them will be displayed in the museum for the public until August 3.

    A timeline for the other vehicles’ recovery was also provided by the museum. Next to be recovered is the Ruby Red 1993 40th Anniversary Corvette, followed by the 1962 Black Corvette that will be recovered tomorrow. The latter is said to be tricky to retrieve as a big concrete slab is partially resting on the front part of the car. They will be using two cranes to lift the concrete slab and the car at the same time.

    The museum has positioned webcams throughout the Skydome and time-lapse videos have been provided by the museum on their official YouTube channel.

    Image via YouTube

  • Sinkhole Swallows 8 Corvettes at National Corvette Museum

    According to the National Corvette Museum, a 40 ft-wide sinkhole opened up early Wednesday morning under the Skydome area of the museum. And with “heavy hearts” they are reporting that 8 corvettes fell victim.

    The cars affected include a 1993 ZR-1 Spyder on loan from General Motors, a 2009 ZR1 “Blue Devil” on loan from General Motors and six cars owned by the museum itself– a 1962 black Corvette, 1984 PPG Pace Car, 1992 white 1 Millionth Corvette, 1993 ruby red 40th Anniversary Corvette, 2001 Mallett Hammer Z06 Corvette, and a 2009 white 1.5 Millionth Corvette.

    Luckily, the incident happened early in the morning and nobody was in or around the museum at the time. The museum officials were notified of the sinkhole by motion detector alarms.

    The National Corvette Museum is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and was established in 1994 “as a home, library, archives and museum exhibit space for all things Corvette.”

    “The mission of the National Corvette Museum is the celebration of the Corvette’s invention, and the preservation of the legendary automobile’s past, present, and future. The Museum will serve as an educational and research model for all to enjoy,” says the museum.

    The National Corvette Museum is one of the most-popular automotive museums in the country. It sits right across the street from GM’s Corvette assembly plant, where all of the classic American sports cars are currently made.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Cadillac CTS Named Motor Trend’s Car of the Year

    Cadillac CTS Named Motor Trend’s Car of the Year

    Motor Trend Magazine has named the Cadillac CTS ‘Car of the Year’ for 2014, the second time the model has received the award in the last six, after first taking top honors in 2008.

    After testing twenty-one cars at the Hyundai proving grounds in the southwest California desert, Motor Trend whittled down the pack to seven finalists. In addition to the CTS, the BMW 4-series, the Chevrolet Corvette, the Jaguar F-type, the Kia Forte, the Mazda3, the Mazda6 and the Mercedes-Benz S-class all advanced to the final round.

    Motor Trend editor in chief Ed Loh said that the “responsive powertrains and masterful balance of smooth ride and sporty handling” of the 2014 CTS was what set it above the rest. The CTS takes the trophy from the 2013 car of the year, the Tesla Model S.

    The 8-speed 2014 CTS Sport Sedan has a base MSRP of $45,100, and ships with a direct-injection Twin Turbo V6 engine. This version of the CTS can hit 60 mph in 4.4 seconds, with 420-horsepower and 430 lb.-ft of torque.

    The CTS is also available with a 272-horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, as well as a 321-horsepower V6. Motor Trend described the four-cylinder engine as being “the most surprising,” saying that if offers “class-leading power with competitive fuel economy.”

    The 21 cars tested were ranked using six criteria – Advancement in design, engineering, efficiency, safety, value and performance. “The CTS’s intended function was to take the fight to BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi – and win. And it has,” Motor Trend said.

    In related news, Elon Musk, CEO of the aforementioned Tesla Motors, has called the media coverage over Tesla Model S crash-related fires “extremely unreasonable.” As Tesla runs damage control on its reputation, its stock has fluctuated since the first fire incident was reported on October 1, dropping almost $50 from its highest point, at $176 per share.

    Image via YouTube.

  • Corvette Stingray 2014 Is ‘Automobile of the Year’

    Everyone wants one of these added to the Christmas list. No, I’m not talking about PlayStation 4, which is arguably more affordable than the wish list item of a 2014 Chevy Corvette Stingray C7. The desired vehicle boasts to having enviable features such as: 460 horsepower, 29 miles per gallon (Eco driving mode), LED lamps, 6.2-liter V-8 engine, as well as a thinner, sleeker frame.

    The new Stingray comes in five model options (Eco, Normal, Winter, Sport and Track) and is priced in the range of $52,000-$70,000 — slightly more than the PlayStation 4.

    The Chevrolet website details the features of the Stingray.

    “Lean materials and efficient new processes forge the light, stiff Stingray space frame, which helps achieve a near 50-50 weight distribution and impressive power-to-weight ratio. One-third the weight of steel, aluminum improves rigidity, which in turn enhances cornering and handling. Lightweight Carbon-Nano Composite underbody panels bond to aluminum, further reducing weight for more precise driver control. This revolutionary chassis improves torsional rigidity, reducing noise and elevating performance to an art.”

    The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray has even been named “Automobile of the Year” by Automobile Magazine. The review reads as follows: “The Corvette has long been a tremendous performance value wrapped in an all-American package. Now, however, with new-found sophistication and user-friendliness, the [new Corvette] should melt the barriers that have kept away so many driving enthusiasts.”

    Right now the only reported complaint relates to the Ackermann Effect that is named after Rudolph Ackermann and involves a “bumping” noise when turning the steering wheel abruptly at low speeds. However, this has done nothing to dampen the enthusiasm for fans of this vehicle line.

    [Image Via Chevrolet]

  • Alfa Romeo 4C Launch Delayed to 2014

    Chrysler and Fiat are planning to make their next big push in the American market with the release of the Alfa Romeo 4C. However, Chrysler will have to wait until the second quarter of 2014 to unveil the car to Americans.

    Sergio Marchionne, CEO of both Chrysler and Fiat, stated earlier this year that “For sure, it’s coming back this year. We’re finalizing the car now so it should be here by the end of the year.” Marchionne has been mum, though, as to why the launch of the 4C has been delayed.

    Early signs pointed to the engine as the reason for the later reveal. At the Detroit Auto Show earlier this year, Marchionne hinted toward concerns with the engine: “With all due respect to my American friends, it (the 4C engine) needs to be a wop engine.” Other signs have cited the delay as the failure to find an appropriate dealer.

    Whatever the delay, the US has now been “promised” that the Alfa Romeo 4C will launch in Q2 of next year. This will be Alfa Romeo’s first real foray into the American market since 1995. Once the 4C hits the markets, though, no one will be disappointed.

    The Alfa Romeo 4C is a sporty 2-seater which sports a 1.7L, 240 hp turbo DOHC engine. While that may not sound outstandingly impressive for a sports-car, the 4C weighs in at only 2,500 pounds due to its carbon-fiber chassis and fiberglass construction. Cars with similar chassis and body-construction are the Lamborghini Aventador, Pagani Huayra, and Bugatti Veyron.

    Fortunately for consumers, the 4C will not carry the same price-tag as the before-mentioned sports-cars. Instead, the 4C will be priced at $54,000, around the same price as the Corvette Stingray or the Porsche Cayman. The 4C also compares similarly with the Stingray and Cayman in terms of speed. The 4C can go from 0-62 in 4.5 seconds, which stacks it right between the Corvette (0-60 in 3.8) and Cayman (0-60 in 5.4).

    Unfortunately, however, the Alfa Romeo 4C will only be sold at Maserati dealerships, making it a hard find. Due to a limited release, the 4C may be sold out faster than it can complete a lap around the Nürburgring (which happens to be 8 minutes and 4 seconds).

    Image via YouTube

  • New Corvette Stingray Is A Fuel-Saver

    The new Corvette Stingray is set to be released in August, and auto lovers are amped up to see the latest incarnation of the car.

    Just the third model to carry on the name of Stingray, the 2014 C7 has plenty of power under the hood, but it also has something rarely seen in a sports car: fuel efficiency.

    “The 2014 Corvette Stingray’s LT1 engine is a triumph of advanced technology, delivering more power and torque than ever before with greater efficiency,” said chief engineer Jordan Lee.

    The car–which holds 455 horsepower and a LTI 6.2 liter V-8 engine–will only be available in Europe with the 7-speed manual transmission. Vice president of design Ed Welburn says the company wants to break away from being a purely American car and move into European markets, where a fast automobile is a highly revered thing.

    “Stingray is one of the hallowed names in automotive history. We knew we couldn’t use the Stingray name unless the new car truly lived up to the legacy. The result is a new Corvette Stingray that breaks from tradition, while remaining instantly recognizable as a Corvette the world over.”

    The Stingray can go from 0-60 in 3.8 seconds and can come to a full stop from 60 MPH in just 107 feet. In the company’s release statement, it’s clear that the auto makers are proud of their new creation.

    “The LT1’s performance complements the Corvette’s low mass with a tremendous feeling of power that builds as the rpm climbs,” Lee said. “Drivers will experience more power and acceleration than ever before with the standard engine – in fact, its power and torque surpass many uplevel engines offered by competitors.”

    The Stingray’s base price starts at $51,999 and goes up to $73,360.

    Image: Chevy

  • Free Corvette Stingray Gran Turismo DLC Coming Tomorrow

    Polyphony Digital, the developers of the Gran Turismo series, knows what racing fans want. They want Gran Turismo 6, with photo-realistic cars, settings, and weather conditions. Unfortunately, the developer will have to sit on any news of a new core title until Sony finally announces the PlayStation 4. Until then (which could come as soon as May), Polyphony will continue supporting and reminding gamers that Gran Turismo 5 is only a little over two years old.

    Today, Sony announced that a free 2014 Corvette Stingray DLC add-on will be available through the PlayStation Store starting tomorrow. The real-life car debuted earlier this week at the North American International Auto Show, and Chevrolet “worked very closely” with Polyphony to develop the in-game car.

    Sure, it’s a marketing gimmick for Corvette, but it’s also very shiny. Check out the trailer for the DLC below and make sure to download a free car tomorrow.