Filed under: Aftermarket, Classics, Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet

2009 marks the 40th anniversary of the legendary 1969 Yenko Camaro. The king of classic Camaros, the Yenko was the clever creation of Don Yenko, owner of a Chevy dealership in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, who figured out Camaros could be ordered with an L-72 427CI V8 through GM's Central Office Production Order program, originally intended as fleet vehicles for police cars and taxi cabs. Each car came equipped with power disc brakes, a 4.10 rear end, upgraded suspension, a heavy duty radiator, front and rear spoilers, a cowl-induction hood, and plenty of Yenko badges and graphics. Just over 200 '69 Yenko Camaros were built, making them some of the most rare and valuable muscle cars in existence today.

To commemorate the anniversary, Chop, Cut, Rebuild teamed up with Original Equipment Reproduction (OER) and D&P Classic Chevy to build a Yenko Camaro tribute car. The goal was to create a new pony car that Don Yenko himself would have built using today's technology, and it looks like they did an incredible job. Starting with an all new '69 Camaro body shell from the OER parts catalog, the team of builders dropped in a brand news LS7 crate motor from GM Performance Parts and added a six-speed transmission, rack and pinion steering, six-piston brakes, 18-inch wheels and tires, and more. To boot, they got their hands on a 2010 Camaro and painted it to match complete with the OEM body kit and upgraded Stoptech brakes. You can read more details on the tribute Yenko Camaro after the jump, and we snapped a few pictures of the cars at OER's shop that you can view in the high-res gallery below.



Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Original Equipment Reproduction]

Continue reading Matching Camaros commemorate 40th anniversary of 1969 Yenko 427

Matching Camaros commemorate 40th anniversary of 1969 Yenko 427 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet

While the 24 Hours of Le Mans was the swan song for the GT1-class Corvette C6.R, the fellas at Corvette Racing will unveil the next chapter of the story this coming Tuesday, August 4th. According to the crew at BadBoyVettes.com, that's the day we'll see the new GT2-class Chevy Corvette racer, which will allegedly wear "ZR1-influenced" styling. Beyond that, well, we're waiting along with the rest of you. We can't imagine Corvette Racing would abandon the Jake-emblazoned Velocity Yellow-and-Black livery that has become synonymous with success over the years. They'll need all that mojo and then some in GT2, where the competition is fierce and Ferrari presently rules the roost. And that's fine. Consistent, healthy competition has been sorely lacking for the Vettes, which have essentially just raced each other recent years, so this ought to be fun. The GT2 Vettes spring into real action on August 8, when ALMS visits Mid-Ohio. To Ferrari: Check your mirrors. They're coming. To the rest of you in readerland: Check your local listings and set those DVRs.


[Source: BadBoyVettes.com]

Corvette Racing GT2 car to be unveiled on Tuesday originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Truck, Chevrolet, GM, GMC

A couple of years ago, pickup truck comparisons were all about power and towing capacity. Today, fuel efficiency is the new battleground. For the 2009 model year, the GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado XFE took their fuel economy figures up a notch by hitting 21 mpg on the highway and 15 in the city. Then Ford unveiled the F-150 SFE that matched those numbers, though without requiring the use of a tonneau cover. The Blue Oval dropped the SFE badge for 2010, but kept the improved fuel economy.

General Motors, however, is not content with a tie, and is upping the EPA numbers for its 2010 XFE Silverado and Sierra to 22 mpg on the highway, which just so happens to match the highway figure for the Sierra Hybrid. The combined fuel economy of both GMT900 trucks has also increased from 17 to 18 mpg.

Chevrolet spokesperson Brian Goebel told Pickuptrucks.com that the increased fuel economy is due to several engineering improvements. The XFE model's 5.3-liter V8 now has variable valve timing, optimized shift pattens in its six-speed transmission, and new tweaks for its Active Fuel Management system that enables the truck to run on four cylinders at cruising speeds for longer.

[Source: Pickuptrucks.com]

REPORT: 2010 Chevy Silverado XFE updated to achieve best-in-class 22 mpg highway originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Please join Kevin Williams, GMNA Vice President, Service & Parts Operations, on Tuesday, Aug. 4 at 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time for a one hour live chat to answer your questions about customer service and GM making the customer the center of everything we do. Kevin is also interested in your thoughts on what constitutes a great vehicle ownership experience. Look forward to hearing from you. – Tom Henderson, Communications Manager, Service & Parts Operations

(Note: While we can’t address specific customer concerns in this chat, resolving them is very important to us. If you have any questions or concerns about a specific GM vehicle you can reach us Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Eastern Time, by calling the appropriate Customer Assistance Center telephone number. Buick: 1.800.521.7300, Cadillac: 1.800.458.8006, Chevy: 1.800.222.1020, GMC: 1.800.462.8782, Hummer: 1.866.486.6376, Pontiac: 1.800.762.2737, Saab: 1.800.955.9007, Saturn: 1.800.553.6000)

M-F 8am – 9pm Eastern

Filed under: Spy Photos, Minivan/Van, China, Buick

General Motors is apparently well into the development of the next-gen Buick GL8 MPV for the Chinese market, as this series of spy photos clearly shows. Previewed by the Business MPV shown off at the Shanghai Motor Show a few months back, this revised vehicle will be targeted at upwardly mobile business types and - though based on the same platform - is a far cry from the GM minivans we've seen Stateside like the unloved Buick Terraza.

Judging from the heavily camouflaged prototypes, many of the concept's most distinctive features have made it through to the production model intact, such as the shoulder-level bodyside dips, prominent chrome waterfall grille and exaggerated wraparound headlights. Unfortunately, we don't get a glimpse of the interior, which in the concept featured dual sliding and swiveling second-row captain's chairs with a power sliding center console.

It's also not clear if the concept's 2.4-liter mild-hybrid engine and six-speed automatic will make it into the production MPV when it arrives in 2011, but China Car Times reports a series of V6 powerplants ranging from 2.5 to 3.0-liters are likely, some with direct injection.




[Source: China Car Times | Spy Images: goche.sohu.com]

Spy Shots: Chinese-market Buick GL8 successor spotted testing originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Hybrid, Plants/Manufacturing, Videos, Chevrolet, GM, Alternative Fuel

Right now the crew at General Motors' pre-production operations center at the Warren Technical Center is in the midst of building 75 Chevy Volt IVER prototypes. IVERs, or integration vehicle engineering release prototypes, are the last stage of prototypes prior to pilot builds. For these IVER builds, pretty much all of the production intent parts and systems are in place and the intent of the build process is to evaluate final assembly processes. The cars are all built by hand, but the technicians and engineers are testing the build sequence as it will be done on the line to make sure everything actually goes together.

As always, the first stage of final assembly is the body shop. The video after the jump shows stampings that for the Volt that are assembled on jigs and then welded by hand before the complete body is painted. GM will apparently be releasing a series of videos documenting the complete build process, so stay tuned. Check out the first one after the jump.

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading VIDEO: See how prototype Chevy Volt bodies are built

VIDEO: See how prototype Chevy Volt bodies are built originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Report: National Corvette Museum to Raffle Off Custom 2010 Grand Sport
To celebrate its 15th anniversary the National Corvette Museum (NCM) is holding a raffle for a new 2010 Corvette Grand Sport. Tickets aren’t cheap at $150 a pop, but with just 2,009 tickets being sold the odds of winning are pretty good. The NCM Corvette Grand Sport Coupe was custom designed by the folks at the [...] more

Report: Last Pontiac Solstice Rolls Off Assembly Line as GM Closes Another Plant
Earlier this week General Motors officially turned off the lights and locked the doors at its Boxwood Road assembly plant for the last time, marking the end of the line for the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky. The two vehicles (along with the Opel GT) were manufactured at the plant in Wilmington, Delaware, which is [...] more

By Tom Stephens
GM Vice Chairman

Earlier today, the New GM took another step forward when we announced the new structure and leadership team for General Motors Global Product Development.  With this news out there, I thought I’d offer my take on where product development is headed, and why these changes support our focus on customers, cars and culture.

First of all, let me congratulate my colleagues Jim Queen, Ed Koerner, Denny Mooney and Gary White on their retirements, and thank them for their many, many years of service to GM.  Those are four top-notch, product guys and we all benefited a great deal from their leadereship.

Mark Reuss will come back from Holden in Australia and lead our global as well as North American vehicle engineering programs.  Terry Woychowski will assume the new, consolidated position of vice president, global vehicle program management.  Jon Lauckner moves to vice president, global product planning, succeeding John Smith, who is now on Fritz Henderson’s Executive Committee and in charge of corporate planning and alliances.  Let me also recognize four other direct reports, previously announced, who will continue in their product development roles:

• Dan Hancock, Vice President, Global Powertrain
• Jamie Hresko, Vice President, Global Quality
• Alan Taub, Vice President, Global Research & Development
• Ed Welburn, Vice President, Global Design

Over the last several years, our product line-up has improved dramatically.  With our most recent and upcoming launches, I feel strongly that GM’s line-up is as strong as it’s been since, well… ever!  My job is to keep that momentum going.

And with fewer brands and models, combined with the leaner, flatter organization announced today – we are in a great position to not only build on our success, but also to do it even faster and with more consistency.

The new organizational structure has far few layers of management – which will lead to fewer meetings, faster decision making, more risk-taking and accountability. In the end, the result has to be — and will be — great cars for our customers.  I’d be happy to hear your thoughts on our products, our new structure, or anything else that’s on your mind.

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet

The National Corvette Museum is celebrating its 15th anniversary in style by raffling off a one of a kind Corvette Grand Sport. The Artic White Vette has a unique yet tasteful black hood treatment with Corvette Racing's Jack mascot painted at the center bulge with a red stripe outline. The NCM has also placed its own seal of approval on the Grand Sport by adding its logo to the car's B-pillar. The Corvette Grand Sport being raffled off also has a six speed manual transmission, dual mode exhaust and a ZR1-sourced rear spoiler.

Participation in the raffle is no cheap feat, as tickets cost a cool $150 each. The Corvette Museum is only raffling off 2,009 tickets, though, giving anyone that ponies up for tickets a relatively good shot at winning. Second prize is $10,000 and third prize is a great consolation win at $5,000. The special edition Vette will be raffled off on September 6 during the museum's 15th Anniversary Celebration.



[Source: National Corvette Museum via Corvette Blogger]

NCM raffling off unique Corvette Grand Sport for 15th anniversary originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments