2014 Chevrolet Corvette C7 Mule Spy Photos - Future Cars review and news

 
America’s sports car. A brutally effective track weapon. A favorite of hairy-chested, gold-chain-wearing old dudes. Or simply one of the world’s best dollar-for-dollar performance bargains. The Corvette is at least a little of all of those, and that’s why any word of a major overhaul sets the enthusiast world on fire. Going beyond gearheads, it’s also one of the few cars on which everyone has an opinion.
We’ve just spotted the first physical evidence of the next-generation C7: Two mules, a convertible and a coupe, caught testing on public roads while wearing current C6 bodies. While the pictures themselves don’t tell us much, we have some good ideas about what you’ll find in the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette.
Do the Evolution
The current C6 Corvette underpinnings are pretty ancient by automotive standards. Introduced in 2004 as a 2005 model, it was only a small evolution of the previous C5. The C6 is an extremely capable machine, but the C7 won’t receive the dramatic shift to a mid-engine layout many predicted. (That could be in the cards for C8, however; GM commenced work on such a platform, although it was put on hold during the company’s bankruptcy brouhaha.) The front-engine layout will carry over—as will the rear transaxle, helping to retain optimum weight balance—and we believe the current suspension, transverse leaf springs and all, will appear on the 2014 model. We also don’t expect any drastic dimensional changes; while the mules here appear to have a narrower track, their bodies were donated by C6 Grand Sports, which have wider fenders and tracks than do base Corvettes. Besides, it wouldn’t be logical for the Corvette to get narrower without a commensurate shrinkage in overall length and wheelbase. The C7 is likely to shed some mass, which will yield a better power-to-weight ratio.
The engine room, however, should see more-significant changes. GM already has invested nearly $1 billion in the American plants that produce its small-block V-8, and the fifth-generation of the powerplant should appear in the C7. Downsizing is almost a given for efficiency reasons, so expect a naturally aspirated 5.5-liter in place of the current 6.2 in the base model. (As for the oft-rumored twin-turbo V-6? We’re thinking C8.) The 5.5 will continue to use an aluminum block and should make roughly the same 430 hp as the current 6.2, however, with a higher compression ratio and direct fuel injection. The V-8 also may get cylinder deactivation, variable-valve timing, and could even have stop-start functionality—the latter not exactly ideal for stoplight tête-à-têtes. GM has already announced that its next-gen small block would have an “all-new advanced combustion system,” which we take to mean it will feature Viper-esque ‘cam-within-a-cam’ variable valve timing. Finally, the Z06 and ZR1 models—with their larger and supercharged eights, respectively—should return.
A Radical New Look?
In the looks department, we hear that CEO Dan Akerson and design chief Ed Welburn are in agreement that the current Vette’s rear is simply too wide, and so you can expect the C7 to get slimmer and tauter there. A split-window treatment may also be offered as an option, paying homage to the ’63 Sting Ray coupe. The cabin is expected to be of a similar size and layout, and we’re optimistic that it will make use of higher-quality materials. Interiors across the rest of the Chevy lineup have steadily improved of late, so the company has shown that it has the know-how.
Chevrolet is keeping a very tight lid on all things Corvette, but the C7 ought to debut sometime in late 2012 or early 2013, with sales commencing in the first quarter of 2013. Prices shouldn’t change much from current levels, with the base car starting in the neighborhood of $50,000. We’ll undoubtedly learn more about the C7 as development progresses, so stay tuned to this space.
  by caranddriver.com

2012 Chevrolet Caprice PPV - First Drive Review -Auto for Police

As evidenced by the law-enforcement community’s loyalty to the Ford Crown Victoria, dynamic prowess is not a high priority for police cruisers. Neither is interior space. In fact, the Crown Victoria’s success suggests that the only things police departments look for in their cruisers are a V-8 and rear-wheel drive.
Nevertheless, in the new Chevrolet Caprice PPV (Police Patrol Vehicle), the cops are getting much more than just any old rear-drive, V-8 sedan. Basically, they’re getting a stretched Pontiac G8, with all that car’s attendant strengths. And then some. The front struts were stiffened, as was every component in the rear suspension. Talking to the Caprice’s chassis engineers, you’d think they’d been developing a track package for the defunct G8. They say they focused mostly on strengthening transient response. Their new cruiser feels planted but will happily wag its tail when properly coaxed.
Officers transitioning into this car from a Crown Victoria are in for a surprise the first time they spin the bow tie’s steering wheel. What is this? Effort? Feedback? Revelation? A car this planted and responsive seems like overkill for patrolling broad, flat highways, but officers and troopers in twisty locales will be praying for pursuits.
Two Engines, One Price
Chevy will offer two engines in the Caprice PPV, a 3.6-liter V-6 and a 6.0-liter V-8. The six makes 301 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque; the eight ups the count to 355 and 384, respectively. The last V-8 G8 we tested needed 5.2 seconds to get to 60 mph and 13.8 to rip through the quarter-mile. Figure on the 2012 Caprice needing a couple extra 10ths, thanks to a few additional pounds. The V-6 car should need an extra second to hit the same marks. Departments hoping to put on drifting exhibitions with their cruisers will have to opt for the V-6 car, as the V-8’s stability-control system can’t be fully disabled to keep the cops in the more-powerful cars from getting in over their heads.
Interestingly, the Caprice’s price with either engine will be the same $31,495—before contract and bid pricing enter the picture to lower it, anyway. Considering that the bulk of GM’s development costs for pushrod V-8s was amortized sometime in, oh, say, the early ’70s and that the V-6 is a modern—and recently developed—dual-overhead-cam aluminum piece with direct injection and variable valve timing, that actually makes some sense. It also leaves each department to choose more freely whether it wants the higher performance of the V-8 or the better fuel economy of the six. With the eight, the Caprice is rated at 15 mpg in the city and 24 on the highway. The V-6 car hasn’t been tested by the EPA yet, but figure on its bettering those numbers by a couple mpg in each category. (Should probably go with the sixes, fellas, fuel costs and whatnot. And the higher the speed in a pursuit, the greater the danger to the public.)
Both engines will be paired with six-speed automatics. Like the civilian G8, the transmission has a sport mode that holds gears longer and downshifts under braking, but we take issue with the name for that function. Shouldn’t it be “pursuit”? Or if two Ps on the shifter surround are going to be too confusing, maybe “chase”? As opposed to other police cars, which have their shifters relocated to the column—somewhat clumsily in the case of the last Dodge Charger police car we drove—the Caprice’s shifter remains on the center console, albeit offset to the driver’s side. This is done to make room for computers, but we drove a car with the computer mounted on a pedestal that lifted it above the shifter, which seemed fine. The PPV will also be offered in a “detective package” set up for stealthier duty. In this car, the shifter remains where we remember it from the G8 and even retains its manual-shift gate. (We’d be impressed to see the in-car footage of an officer banging off manual shifts during a pursuit.)
An Important Fundamental Difference
With other police cars, there’s a long list of what’s been changed from the civilian version. But with the Caprice, the mere existence of the car is unique to the police market. In the U.S., there simply is no civilian version. Of course, our late G8 lives on in Australia as a Holden—and in the Middle East as a Chevy—and the differences between this car and those follow the usual police-duty script: upgraded suspension components, cooling system, and brake calipers, rotors, and pads. In the police market, the testing performed by the Michigan State Police and the California Highway Patrol is referenced by departments and posts throughout the country. Chevrolet says the Caprice’s braking performance was the best ever recorded in California’s testing. There’s also a second battery to power the myriad auxiliary systems in a police car, with an isolator between it and the primary battery to make sure the car always starts even after sitting on location with lights, computers, and cameras sucking juice.
The biggest difference between this car and that formerly known as the G8 is its size. Stretched 3.7 inches between the wheels—overall length is up 8.1—the Caprice has a startling amount of space inside. We’d be happy to sit in the back seat for overnight stakeouts, the 43.1 inches of legroom nearly equaling that of a long-wheelbase BMW 7-series. That volume shrinks significantly with the perp partition fitted, the most devastating loss being the total abolition of toeroom. But we’re not too upset by the discomforts forced on those who find themselves behind the glass in a cop car. Neither is Chevrolet, apparently, as the PPV only has curtain airbags in the front seat. Pipe down, ACLU. That’s because, with the partition blocking off the front and rear seats, the regular full-length curtain can’t deploy. Based on the number of times we’ve seen baddies on TV and in the movies bonk their heads getting into the back seat—we can only assume this is an accurate depiction—an external curtain airbag might be more useful anyway.
Now that the Ford Crown Victoria is dead (long live the queen!) and replaced by the Taurus, the rear-wheel-drive V-8 cop-car market is left exclusively to the Dodge Charger police car and the Caprice. We’ve heard a lot of cops gripe about not having enough space inside the Charger. We can’t see that complaint being very common in the Caprice, and there is no dynamic reason the Chevy shouldn’t be the go-to pick of police officers everywhere. The law-enforcement community is about to get a very effective tool.

 

by caranddriver.com

GM Recalls 2011 Chevrolet Cruze For Steering, Shifter Issues

2011 Chevrolet Cruze

General Motors [NYSE: GM] is recalling nearly all of its 2011 Chevrolet Cruze compact sedan models built to date for two potential issues both related to vehicle assembly.
According to the automaker, in about 154,000 Cruze models, the intermediate steering shaft covers need to be inspected for proper installation, while the automatic-transmission shift linkage needs to be checked in more than 120,000 Cruze sedans. All of the affected Cruze models were built in Lordstown, Ohio, and about 129,000 of those 154,000 Cruze models recalled are in the U.S.
The concern with the steering issue is that the shaft might not have been properly installed; GM cited one complaint in which the owner, in a parking lot, turned the steering wheel without a change in direction from the vehicle. Likewise, the automatic transmission shifter could potentially still be in gear when it's in the 'Park' position.
This isn't the first steering-related issue for the Cruze, or for compact GM sedans. Just last month, GM recalled some Cruze models for a steering-wheel issue, in which it might not have been properly fastened to the steering column at the factory. The action had been prompted by an incident in which the steering wheel actually detached into a Minnesota driver's hands at 65 mph.
Since the recall doesn't actually involve any redesigned parts, expect to hear from General Motors soon regarding the recall effort; otherwise you can call Chevrolet at 800-630-2438, or check in with the GM Owner Center.
by thecarconnection.com

Announced the 2012 Chevrolet Corvette

According to the latest information, said the new model 2012 Chevrolet Corvette is equipped with new seats, steering wheel and a center panel is adjusted to create conditions favorable for the driver.

Release 2012 Chevrolet Corvette

Furthermore, Chevrolet also offers new options for the 2012 Corvette include a speaker system sound quality brands Bose, a technology package (with navigation equipment for automotive GPS navigation) and color options brakes red, gold, silver or gray.

Meanwhile, the Z06 version can be ordered with a new slider control systems PTM (Performance Traction Management), the control system to drive GM's Magnetic Ride Control, the hood is made of carbon fiber and encased in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tire Zero Pressure tires are standard for racing cars.

Similarly, the ZR1 version will be equipped with PDE package details such as a wing back, Dad was designed aluminum wheels wider. Remarkably, the car also received amended as better gear to help it save significant fuel

Currently, Chevrolet has not announced any information about the price of the 2012 Corvette, but is expected to begin in July to sell.

allaway Supercharges Chevy Pickups and SUVs to Create SportTrucks

Callaway, known for building hotted-up Camaros and Corvettes, has assembled a package to be applied to Chevy’s trucks and sport-utes. Callaway will build a SportTruck from any Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500HD, Avalanche, Tahoe, or Suburban with a gas engine. The package is the same for each, and tops the engine with an Eaton TVS supercharger not unlike the ones GM uses on the Corvette ZR1 and Cadillac CTS-V. Regardless of engine—5.3-liter, 6.0-liter, 6.2-liter—the cost is $15,995 to upgrade any two- or four-wheel-drive pickup or SUV.
The package comes in strength-defined names based on how much power results from the supercharging. Trucks with the 5.3-liter V-8 are called SC450, as the engine’s output is raised to 450 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque, up from the stock 315 hp and 335 or so lb-ft (the output for all of these engines varies from model to model). The 6.0 is christened SC490, with output of  490 hp and 496 lb-ft, up from around 350 and 380. The top-dog SC540 supercharges the 6.2-liter V-8 to 540 hp and 522 lb-ft from stock levels of 403 and 417. The supercharger is accompanied underhood by an intercooler, higher-flow injectors, carbon-fiber injector covers, and a Callaway high-flow intake. A low-restriction Callaway exhaust also is fitted.

Along with the engine upgrades, Callaway dresses up the exterior with subtle badging and adds embroidered headrests and floor mats inside. Additional options include wheel-and-tire packages, upgraded brakes (chef recommends), suspension upgrades, and a sport interior package. Callaway includes a three-year/36,000-mile limited warranty that can be extended to five years/100,000 miles. The trucks and SUVs can be ordered at participating Chevy dealers and are modified at one of Callaway’s U.S. facilities.

allaway Supercharges Chevy Pickups and SUVs to Create SportTrucksby 
by blog.caranddriver.com

2012 Chevy Camaro: Ch-Ch-Changes

There were a number of complaints with the Chevrolet Camaro when it finally reached reality after years as a well-known concept. For the 2012 model year, a few complaints have been addressed with upgrades to interior materials as well as a backup camera to help with coupe’s poor visibility.
The most significant change comes under the hood. The base V-6 engine has been tuned to produce 323 horsepower, up from 312 hp in the current model and more than the 305 hp from the Ford Mustang’s base engine. A rear spoiler is now standard on all Camaros as are taillight treatments from the RS Package.
The V-8-powered SS model doesn’t get more power, but it adds suspension upgrades to improve handling.
There will also be a 45th Anniversary Edition 2012 Camaro shown in the pictures above and below. The cosmetic package will be available on top trim levels for both V-6 and V-8 powertrains in either coupe or convertible body styles.
The anniversary editions come in one color, Carbon Flash Metallic, with a red-and-silver stripe package. It also has unique 20-inch wheels, high-intensity-discharge headlights, a white instrument panel and anniversary logos on the steering wheel, seats and just about anywhere else Chevy can find space.
The 2012 Camaro and 45th Anniversary Editions will go on sale this summer.

By David Thomas

2013 Chevrolet Malibu to Launch Four Months Early

When GM first teased the next-generation 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, the carmaker was expecting to launch the vehicle in May 2012. It now appears GM is trying to move that date up by four months, according to the Detroit News.
Malibu production is being accelerated to a January 2012 launch, according to an internal GM report from earlier this year. This means the new model could arrive at U.S. dealerships in as little as eight to nine months from now.
While the current Malibu is a competent car, it’s still not selling at the same volume as the Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Ford Fusion or the redesigned Hyundai Sonata. The Malibu is GM’s third best-selling car — after the Cruze and Impala — year-to-date. The vehicle came in seventh place in our $25,000 Family Sedan Shootout, where the Malibu was dinged for its outdated interior and weak four-cylinder.
From what we know about the 2013 Malibu, including exterior and interior teaser shots and GM’s top brass’ public comments, we can expect a more competitive product.
GM’s CEO Daniel Akerson advocates an early Malibu launch to put the car on a better footing with new and upcoming midsize competition; a new Nissan Altima is coming next summer and a new Toyota Camry is in development, according to the Detroit News.
The 2013 Malibu will be unveiled Monday at the 2011 Shanghai Auto Show. It will be Chevrolet’s first global midsize sedan.
GM puts Malibu production on fast track (The Detroit News)

By Colin Bird

2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco Rated at 26/38 MPG

2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco Rated at 26/38 MPG
Chevrolet just took the wraps off the redesigned 2013 Malibu on Monday. Today, it’s revealing a new high-mileage Eco trim. The move adds confusion to the earlier release, the mild-hybrid Eco — the company is not calling it a hybrid despite the lithium-ion battery and electric motor teamed to the engine — will be the first Malibu trim to go on sale in early 2012. The base four-cylinder car will follow in summer 2012 with the familiar LS, LT and LTZ trim levels, which don't yet have fuel economy estimates. Pricing has yet to be announced for any of these models.
The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu is estimated at 26/38 mpg city/highway.
More 2011 New York Auto Show Coverage
Unlike the Chevrolet Cruze Eco, which is a high-efficiency gas-only version of the compact sedan that gets an EPA-estimated 28/42 mpg with a manual transmission, the Malibu Eco uses GM's latest mild-hybrid technology, dubbed eAssist. The power pack for eAssist is behind the backseat, which reduces trunk room from 16.3 cubic feet to 14.3.

Unlike the Toyota Camry Hybrid and Ford Fusion Hybrid, which can move on battery power alone, the capability of the eAssist technology in the Malibu Eco is more limited. It can capture kinetic energy when braking that'd otherwise be lost and provide supplemental power when accelerating. The 2.4-liter four-cylinder gas engine shuts off automatically when the car comes to a stop, starting again immediately when the brake pedal is released.
As such, the Malibu Eco's 26-mpg city fuel economy trails full hybrids like the Camry Hybrid and Fusion Hybrid, which are rated at 31 and 41 mpg, respectively. However, the Malibu Eco is more efficient on the highway, with its 38-mpg estimate topping the Camry Hybrid's 35 mpg and the Fusion Hybrid's 36 mpg.
The Malibu Eco employs a number of fuel-saving tricks to maximize mileage. The sedan is equipped with electric shutters in the lower front grille that automatically close when conditions are right to better manage airflow, and it also features four underbody covers for less airflow disruption. Standard 17-inch aluminum wheels are fitted with low-rolling-resistance tires.
Without knowing the fuel-economy estimates for the gas-only 2013 Malibu, it's impossible to know what kind of an efficiency increase eAssist provides the Malibu Eco. Chevrolet touts eAssist as a value-oriented hybrid solution, so look for it to undercut the price of full hybrid competitors.

By Mike Hanley

2013 Chevrolet Malibu: Up Close News and View picture

2013 Chevrolet Malibu: Up Close News and View picture

The 2013 Malibu's exterior styling has an aggressiveness that the prior model lacked. It’s low and wide when viewed head-on, and the rising belt line blends into flared rear haunches that pay homage to the Camaro sports car. The taillights have a clear Camaro influence, too, and an integrated trunklid spoiler wraps up the design. It's a refined — but powerful — look.
More Coverage of the 2011 New York Auto Show
The two Malibus Chevrolet had on hand at the New York auto show were early prototypes, but even from looking at these, you could tell that the all-new interior will be pretty nice. Apart from unappealing woodgrain accents sprinkled throughout, the cabin has a number of rich-looking surfaces and unique design cues, such as ice-blue stitching. The production models that reach dealerships in 2012 will undoubtedly offer more refinement. All in all, the cabin looks nice enough to challenge the likes of the impressive Kia Optima.

I was curious to see how roomy the new Malibu's backseat was in light of the car's shorter wheelbase. With the front seat adjusted for where I'd drive — I'm 6-foot-1 — I had enough room to sit comfortably in back but little extra space. Legroom and headroom are limited, and thigh support is minimal, too. In many ways, its roominess is comparable to the Hyundai Sonata's rear seat, which is decent for the segment.

The current-generation Malibu helped GM discard some of the baggage it was carrying in the public's mind, proving it can build competitive cars. The new Malibu should continue that trend, but Chevrolet is still at the beginning of a long journey to persuade many shoppers to give it a chance again in the heated midsize car segment.

by Mike Hanley

2013 Chevrolet Malibu at the 2011 New York Auto Show View picture and news

• Competes with: Ford Fusion, Hyundai Sonata, Toyota Camry
• Looks like: Chevy believes in understated but refined design
• Drivetrain: 190-hp (estimated), 2.5-liter four-cylinder with six-speed automatic transmission; front-wheel drive
• Hits dealerships: Early 2012

When it debuted for the 2008 model year, the current-generation Chevrolet Malibu served as proof GM was serious about competing in the family sedan segment. The competitive landscape has significantly shifted — and intensified — in the few years since then, and Chevy's answer to that is the redesigned 2013 Malibu. The new sedan's styling is evolutionary on the outside but a bit more daring inside, and it gains a new four-cylinder engine. Look for it to arrive early in 2012. Pricing hasn't been announced.
Dimensionally, the redesigned Malibu is similar in size to the Buick Regal, and despite having a shorter wheelbase than the outgoing Malibu, it's a few inches wider. The new sedan's front-end styling takes after the current one, with its split grille and wraparound headlights, but the overall design has more sculpting and detail, giving the car a more refined look. The design doesn't stretch any boundaries, but it will wear well. Wheel sizes range from 17 to 19 inches, and all are aluminum.

Chevrolet exhibited more risk-taking with the Malibu's tail. The back of the current-generation car is exceedingly bland, almost as if Chevy ran out of design funds when finishing the rear. Now the look is considerably bolder, thanks to square LED taillights that were inspired from the Camaro sports car, Chevrolet says.
Cabin styling continues one of the Malibu's signature elements — a dual-pod dashboard — but new detailing that stretches across the dash helps accent the design. A dash bin is tucked behind the audio system screen, which flips up to reveal its contents. More Camaro inspiration can be seen in the tachometer and speedometer shrouds in the instrument panel. The cabin features ice-blue ambient lighting, and a navigation system is optional.
Automakers are rapidly increasing the connectedness of cars, and the new Malibu will be offered with Chevrolet's MyLink entertainment and communication system. MyLink enables online streaming of Pandora and Stitcher SmartRadio content. Featuring a touch-screen interface, MyLink can also stream songs from a mobile device using Bluetooth.
The only engine Chevrolet has announced for the U.S.-bound Malibu is a 190-horsepower (estimated), 2.5-liter four-cylinder. It features direct injection and drives the front wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission. Gas mileage figures haven't been released as of this writing.
Notably absent from the Malibu's spec sheet is a V-6 engine option. Competitors like the Hyundai Sonata and Kia Optima don't offer a V-6, either, though both are offered with an optional turbo four-cylinder that produces V-6-like power but delivers better fuel economy. Chevrolet may very well offer a V-6 engine in the future, but a more likely scenario is the turbo four-cylinder currently available in the Regal.
A number of safety features are offered, and some of them, such as lane departure warning with forward collision warning, are more frequently seen on luxury cars. Additional available features include antilock brakes, an electronic stability system, side-impact airbags for the front seats, front knee airbags, side curtain airbags, rear-seat side-impact airbags and a backup camera.
The 2013 Malibu continues the trajectory of improvement that began with the launch of the current-generation sedan a few years ago, which is what the car needed in the face of new challengers like the redesigned Optima. Some important numbers — like estimated gas mileage and price — are still unknown, but based on what we've seen so far, the redesigned Malibu looks like a solid contender in the family car class.







by Mike Hanley