corvette Archives | Page 5 of 5

Corvette engine-building program gets first taker

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Plants/Manufacturing, Chevrolet, GM

Todd Schnitt with his Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 – Click above for high-res image gallery

In what may be the ultimate experience for the ultimate Chevrolet Corvette fan, General Motors is allowing buyers of the ultimate versions of its sportscars the opportunity to build their own engines. It’s… ultimate, and it’s called the Corvette Engine Build Experience. The first person to take The General up on its offer is Tampa, Florida-based radio talk show host Todd Schnitt.

Total cost for the experience rings in at $5,800 (plus travel to Detroit), but Schnitt doesn’t seem to mind shelling out a few extra greenbacks: “To build my own engine is over the top,” said Schnitt. “When my dealer told me about the option, it was like ‘Of course, I’ll do it, sign me up!’. I can’t wait to get there and build my own LS9. It will be the ultimate personalization for my car. I’m anticipating it being one of the coolest things I’ve done in my life.”

Reading between the lines a little bit, it’s obvious that Schnitt is something of a GM super fan. This is the third ZR1 he’s purchased in as many years, and he bought a Z06 in ’07. He’s also attended GM’s high performance driving school and traveled to the National Corvette Museum to pick up a previous ‘Vette. Oh, and his daily driver is a 2010 Cadillac CTS-V.

Feel free to click on past the break for all the details and a video of the process, and be sure to check out our high-res image gallery below to see what it takes to screw together a supercharged LS9 engine from GM.

Gallery: Corvette Engine Build Experience

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading Corvette engine-building program gets first taker

Corvette engine-building program gets first taker originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Corvette engine-building program gets first taker”

Chevrolet Corvette headed back to UK?

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet, UK, Luxury

Corvette ZR1 and Jeremy Clarkson

Chevrolet is air-dropping the Corvette and Camaro back into the UK retail market next year. Corvette supplies dried up in 2009 when the importer closed its doors, and it’s been 34 years since the mothership last sold the Camaro in Britain. Autocar reports that Chevy UK is seeking approval for the entire Corvette lineup, while Camaro buyers will be limited to the SS model in coupe or convertible body styles.

Pricing hasn’t been finalized, but in 2008 (when Corvettes were last offered in the UK) a standard C6 cost £39,999 ($62,117 U.S.) and the Z06 was £54,995 ($85,405 U.S.). The new pricing is expected to be in the same ballpark, with additional cars like the Grand Sport and ZR1 factored into the mix. Shoppers should see the American sports cars in UK showrooms next May, but in the meantime, Chevy UK would like to interest you in an Orlando MPV, which goes on sale in early 2011.

[Source: Autocar]

Chevrolet Corvette headed back to UK? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 21 Aug 2010 09:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Chevrolet Corvette headed back to UK?”

GM quells Corvette rumors: No mid-engine, maybe a hybrid [w/poll]

Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, Chevrolet, Rumormill

Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Concept – Click above for a new high-res image gallery

Karl Stracke, General Motors VP of global engineering, has unequivocally denied the recent rumors about a mid-engine version of the next-generation Corvette with a wet-dual-clutch transmission. Stracke spoke with editors at Automotive News and Autoweek and addressed the latest batch of rumors. For decades, speculation about what will be done with a next-generation Corvette invariably pops up almost immediately after a new model is introduced.

For example, a mid-engined Corvette has reportedly been on the cards since at least the mid-60s, thanks in part to a string of concept and experimental models of that configuration. The last Corvette-badged mid-engine concept was the 1990 CERV-III, but that hasn’t stopped the speculation – especially in recent years as the Corvette has gained increased respect among the ranks of high-end sports cars. According to Stracke, “There is no mid-engine in the plans.”

The same goes for a the story revealed by a Saab engineer about development of a wet DCT. Automakers are increasingly moving away from wet-clutch gearboxes to dry-clutch units because they are less expensive and more efficient. While Stracke shoots down the wet DCT, no mention is made of a dry-clutch unit… if Chevrolet follows Ferrari and Porsche down the dual-clutch path, that is almost certainly the type we will see.

Stracke also put the kibosh on a V6 Corvette. GM has already announced a direct injected small-block V8 is coming soon for its full-size pickup trucks and the Corvette will no doubt follow. Stracke did acknowledge that a hybrid is a possibility for the sports car and since competitors are going that way it wouldn’t be out of place.

That said, we want to know what you think – What should power the next Corvette? Click past the break to vote in our informal poll.

Gallery: Chevrolet 50th Anniversary Corvette Stingray Concept revealed again

[Source: AutoWeek]

Continue reading GM quells Corvette rumors: No mid-engine, maybe a hybrid [w/poll]

GM quells Corvette rumors: No mid-engine, maybe a hybrid [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “GM quells Corvette rumors: No mid-engine, maybe a hybrid [w/poll]”

Video: Corvette Racing Series Episode 8: Cascade engineering

Filed under: Motorsports, Technology, Videos, Chevrolet, Racing

Click above to view the video after the jump

Episode eight of the Corvette Racing series is up and this installment delves into what the team calls “cascade engineering.” It covers some of the same ground we discussed back in March when we toured the Pratt & Miller race shop where the C6.Rs are built and prepared.

The race team works very closely with the production engineering team, using most of the same computer aided engineering tools, and the lessons learned from the 10 years of the race program have been fed back into street car program. Proof? The face of the C6 with its flush headlamps and wider grille opening for better breathing were all inspired by the race car. Similarly, the track-bound coupes now use a 5.5-liter version of the LS7 V8 from the production Z06. Because of the limited in-season testing available to American Le Mans Series teams, the Corvette Racing crew relies on tools like computational fluid dynamics to improve the car from race to race, which you learn more about in the video after the jump.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Corvette Racing Series Episode 8: Cascade engineering

Video: Corvette Racing Series Episode 8: Cascade engineering originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Video: Corvette Racing Series Episode 8: Cascade engineering”

Report: Chevrolet considering twin-turbo V6 for next Corvette

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet, GM, Rumormill

Chevrolet 50th Anniversary Corvette Stingray Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Fans of classic Americana, here’s yet another anniversary to keep in the back of your mind: 2013 marks the 60th anniversary of the Chevrolet Corvette. And, while we don’t have to tell true Corvette aficionados this, here’s another interesting little nugget of knowledge: the original version of Chevy’s iconic sportscar came equipped with a six cylinder engine.

Where are we going with all of this? According to Autoweek, there is a distinct possibility that a downsized six cylinder engine will be offered in the next generation (C7, for those keeping track) of the Chevrolet Corvette, and there’s an apparent push to try and get the car out the door in time to celebrate the car’s 60th anniversary.

Yes, we know a downsized engine for the Corvette isn’t exactly the newest rumor ’round the block – we’ve been hearing whisperings about the C7 ‘Vette since before the C6 model went public – but with the recent revelation that Saab had been working on a transmission for a twin-turbo V6-powered Corvette, it’s worth sharing once again.

Gallery: Chevrolet 50th Anniversary Corvette Stingray Concept revealed again

[Source: Autoweek]

Report: Chevrolet considering twin-turbo V6 for next Corvette originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Aug 2010 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Report: Chevrolet considering twin-turbo V6 for next Corvette”

Mid-engined Corvette development confirmed… by Saab engineers?!

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Technology, Chevrolet, Rumormill

1990 General Motors CERV III concept

Before things went all tipsy in the auto market, the engineers at General Motors were apparently hard at work on some pretty interesting projects. How interesting? How about an actual mid-engine Corvette? Autocar says that an unnamed Saab engineer confirmed that the Swedish automaker had actually been charged with developing a transmission for such a beast when the company was still under The General’s wing. Evidently, the cog box used a wet clutch setup and was built to handle up to 590 lb-ft of torque. If you’re keeping score at home, you’ll likely note that those twist figures are just south of what the ZR1 puts to the pavement right now.

How about them apples.

As Autocar points out, that project was canned when credit went tighter than a fat man’s socks, but there may be a ray of light in this whole tale. The UK publication claims that GM has fired up the burners under the C7 project one more time, and that a mid-engine chassis will indeed be part of the recipe. If you’re buying what Autocar is selling – and we’re not necessarily in that group – a turbo V6 will supply the car’s grunt, too.

[Source: Autocar]

Mid-engined Corvette development confirmed… by Saab engineers?! originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Aug 2010 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Mid-engined Corvette development confirmed… by Saab engineers?!”

Video: Corvette Racing Episode 7 – Le Mans pre-race activities

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Chevrolet

Corvette Racing drivers in the Le Mans parade – Click above to watch video after the jump

After reviewing this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans in the previous episode of the Corvette Racing video series, the latest installment looks at the off-track activities that preceded the race. Once the cars and drivers have established their place on the starting grid, they’re able to take a short break from competition to interact with the fans – especially the rabid Danish crowd that showed up to cheer on Jan Magnussen. Judging from the narration, you’d think that eight overall victories at the Circuit de la Sarthe aren’t enough for Tom Kristensen to gain any attention from his countrymen. (If you’ve seen Truth in 24, however, you know full well that the Danes treat TK like a rock star, too.)

Apparently the narrator missed the memo from the marketing department about referring to Chevrolet as Chevy. Rather than vuvuzelas, Le Mans fans prefer to express their enthusiasm using air horns, so the Corvette crew brought a very special one of their own this year. Wanna see? Then check out video after the jump.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Corvette Racing Episode 7 – Le Mans pre-race activities

Video: Corvette Racing Episode 7 – Le Mans pre-race activities originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 25 Jul 2010 20:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Video: Corvette Racing Episode 7 – Le Mans pre-race activities”

Video: Corvette Racing Episode 6 – 2010 Le Mans recap

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Chevrolet, Racing

Episode six of the Corvette Racing Track to Street series went up this week and as expected, it’s a recap of what went down at the 24 Hours of Le Mans last month. 2010 marked the 50th anniversary or the American sports car’s first appearance at the French endurance race and a parade of 50 ‘Vettes took to the track prior to the race.

The first French appearance of the works Corvettes in the GT2 class started off well, with the cars starting first and second in class after the Risi Ferrari F430 time was disallowed. The Corvettes ran strong for the first 16 hours before both eventually succumbed to engine failures. Team manager Doug Fehan promises the C6.Rs will be back for blood in 2011. Check out the video after the jump.

Gallery: Le Mans 2010: The Race

Gallery: Le Mans 2010: Qualifying and practice

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Corvette Racing Episode 6 – 2010 Le Mans recap

Video: Corvette Racing Episode 6 – 2010 Le Mans recap originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Video: Corvette Racing Episode 6 – 2010 Le Mans recap”

Rumormill: Chevy Corvette production to leave Bowling Green for… Lansing?

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Plants/Manufacturing, Chevrolet, Rumormill

2010 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Convertible – Click above for high-res image gallery

Even though it was just named the Official State Sports Car of Kentucky not even a month ago, a story from WLNS speculates that Chevrolet Corvette production could move from Bowling Green, Kentucky to Lansing, Michigan. The UAW president and economist who brought it up apparently didn’t suggest that it would happen, they were really just throwing out possibilities to the WLNS reporter.

General Motors’ Corvette rep David Caldwell, though, has doused any idea of this happening. When Autoblog asked him about the story, Caldwell told us that there had been a roundtable about what the Lansing Grand River plant might produce, and various cars were mentioned, including the Corvette. However, as Caldwell notes, “Corvettes are born in Bowling Green,” and “nothing going on in the foreseeable future changes that long-time fact.”

In other words, all of you in the Bluegrass State can relax now.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Convertible

[Source: WLNS]

Rumormill: Chevy Corvette production to leave Bowling Green for… Lansing? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Rumormill: Chevy Corvette production to leave Bowling Green for… Lansing?”