Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Government/Legal, Chevrolet

General Motors has been cranking out the Chevrolet Corvette in Bowling Green, Kentucky since 1981, employing around 500 people at the same time. Early in this year's legislative season, Bowling Green Representative Jody Richards introduced a bill into the state House of Representatives to name the Corvette the official Kentucky state car. But that was before GM came out in opposition of legislation that would force the company to give former General Motors dealers first dibs on new franchise opportunities.

Now both the House bill and a similar piece of legislation in the Kentucky Senate have been sent to committee to die a slow, painful death. Why? No one knows for sure, or at least they aren't willing to go on record and give any solid reason. If you believe Representative C.B. Embry Jr., who had introduced similar legislation back in 2007, the move is a snub to GM for closing a number of dealerships in the state last year as part of the company's post-bankruptcy restructuring plan. There's still a chance either bill will pass, but with scant few days left before a legislative recess, it doesn't look good.



[Source: Business Week]

Bill to make Corvette the Official Car of Kentucky killed to snub GM? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 18:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: New York Auto Show, Budget, Sedan, Chevrolet, GM

Here's the skinny: The Cruze RS is an appearance package for Chevy buyers who want a Cruze with a higher level of panache. That out of the way, the RS sports sexier front and rear fascias along with more aggressive rocker panels. Don't forget the pretty OK-looking fog lamps. There's a slick rear spoiler, too. We're also pretty smitten with the big, aluminum wheels that are slathered in some impressive rubber - 235/40/19 to be specific. That's pretty large. Inside features a blacked out interior with leather seats and fabric dash materials.

The Cruze RS get's the same 1.4-liter VVT turbo as the Cruse Eco (as well as 70% of all Cruzes, so says Chevy) and should be coming on line just after the regular Cruze (finally) arrives in the third quarter of this year to eventually replace the aging Cobalt. Until then, make the jump to read the press release.



Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading New York 2010: Chevrolet Cruze RS ups the entry level ante

New York 2010: Chevrolet Cruze RS ups the entry level ante originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: New York Auto Show, Sedan, Chevrolet

For the past week, we've been hearing all about the latest iteration of the Chevrolet Cruze, the 40-mpg Eco model. While the name is rather uninspired (Eco's the best they got?), the technology that allows the Cruze Eco to hit that lofty number is anything but. Here's the really interesting part: Chevy is claiming that fully 70% of Cruzes will feature the 1.4-liter variable-valve timing turbo I-4, including the Eco model. But wait a moment, how does the Cruze Eco achieve such lofty mileage with the same engine (same power, too - 138 horsepower @4,900 rpm, 148 pound-feet of torque @1,850 rpm)? Keep reading.

Starting with the front of the Eco, there's a new, wind tunnel-massaged front fascia complete with a class-first "Aero Shutter." Take a look at the air inlet area below the grill. During low speed driving (say stop and start city type stuff) the aero shutter is open. However, at higher speeds when cooling the turbocharged engine isn't as much of an issue, the shutter shuts, allowing air to more efficiently stream around the vehicle.

There's also a slim lower chin spoiler and "tire blockers," which we typically call spats. Moving on to the rear, there's a new fascia back there that's also been wind tunnel tested for more slippery-ness. Surface area is further decreased by lowering the car by 10 mm compared to other Cruzes. There's a full-body underpanel to keep air from getting hung up on stuff like the exhaust and suspension components, as well as ultra low rolling resistance tires shared with the Volt. Finally, there's an ultra-tall 6th gear (the Cruze Eco is manual-only) that allows the rpms to greatly drop when the vehicle is at cruising speed.

As you may imagine, Chevy has also done its very best to reduce mass as much as possible, going to far as to shave welds down by a millimeter. But here's the thing: while working on the body in white, Chevy discovered that the mass-saving measures they made to the Eco could easily be applied to other Cruze models, which means that the not-quite-yet-on sale Cruze will have across the board improved mileage. Nice, no? The Chevy Cruze should go on sale in the 3rd quarter of 2010 with the Eco (probably) making it out of the gate by the 4th quarter of this year.

As far as the seemingly random "not a stripper" fragment in the title goes, Chevrolet has made the decision not to totally decontent the Eco. According to Chevy, people's tastes are changing (ya think?) and they want high mileage vehicles to have lots of creature comforts. For instance, the Eco ships with 17-inch forged aluminum wheels. Nice. Make the jump to read the press release.



Live photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading New York 2010: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco is efficient, not a stripper

New York 2010: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco is efficient, not a stripper originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Today’s photo comes from kykorvette.

Be sure to look at all of  kykorvette’s photos and our other albums. And if you would like to recommend your favorite photo with a GM car or truck in it, put it up on Flickr and tag it with “gmfyi.”

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Performance, Wagon, Cadillac, GM, Luxury

The world's automakers are introducing around 20 new vehicles this week at the 2010 New York Auto Show. Some of those cars are pretty interesting, but here's the juice: In 20 years, there is exactly one car being shown here today that people will still be whispering about. That car? The Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon. You're reading this correctly. Cadillac, former maker of landau-roofed Boca Rotan retirement sleds will soon be offering a station wagon stuffed with a 556-horsepower, supercharged and Corvette-derived 6.2-liter V8. If that's not loony enough for you, yes, you can order it with a six-speed manual. Wowza.

We first glimpsed the V Wagon last night at a fairly gala Cadillac cocktail reception, complete with GM design boss Ed Welburn and none other than Maximum Bob Lutz, the man who may have single handedly willed pistonhead fantasy into production. The CTS-V Sport Wagon took center stage flanked on either side by the plain old CTS-V and our Detroit Show favorite CTS-V Coupe. To put the spectacle in photographic terms, even though it was surrounded by some pretty desirable metal, the newest V managed to "pop."

We pressed the flesh and asked our full battery of penetrating, hard hitting questions ("Can I go to the launch?"), but the general theme from Cadillac seemed to be this: They known they're not going to sell many, and they just don't care. Sometimes doing what logic dictates you shouldn't do makes the most sense. Remember the Buick GNX? There was simply no rational reason for GM to allow that monster off a production line. Yet 23 years later, what Buick are we still talking about? To our minds, the CTS-V Sport Wagon has a similar, skull-cracking je ne sais quo about it.

But should a recently Chapter 11 company be in the business of building small volume, high-performance station wagons? Well.... yes, absolutely. Here are all the reasons why that we can think of. First, when was the last time an American luxury brand offered a full line of anything? For decades now, BMW has been happy to sell you a 3-Series coupe, sedan, wagon and convertible. Cadillac has had... the CTS four-door. Until now. Besides, having a low production halo version of your halo vehicle is the stuff that builds legends.

Or how's this, BMW sells a hopped up M3 coupe, convertible and sedan, but no wagon. Sure, BMW makes the M5 Touring (i.e. wagon), but they won't sell it to Americans. And Audi won't sell us either of its hot rod grocery haulers, the RS4 and RS6 Avants. We know Mercedes-Benz will be making an E63 AMG Wagon, but will they sell it here? Dunno.

But Cadillac will happily sell you a CTS-V Wagon for just a small premium over the Sedan. Figure about $65,000 or so. And if you haven't been reading between the lines, a bangin' five-door might help Cadillac strengthen its tenuous foothold in Europe, especially if this show car's leather/Alcantara interior and massively bolstered Recaro sport seats make it to production. Either way, Caddy just dropped a mighty big gauntlet.



Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

New York 2010: Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon is fantasy writ large originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Aftermarket, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Chevrolet, Ford, Humor, Design/Style

"There are thousands of products available to customize a car's performance or handling. There are even more products for unique interiors, exteriors, lights, and sounds. But, in the midst of all the products and kits out there, no one has been able to alter their car's emblem... until now." So says Emblem Alive, a newly created company that seeks to change the face fascia of motoring forevermore.

Actually, we have seen custom emblems before, but we'll let them get away with their statement anyway. 'Cause it's just that cool. Or something. Seriously, who wouldn't want a galloping, neighing Ford Mustang emblem on their brand-new ponycar from the Blue Oval? Or, ya know, a golden Bowtie that beats like The Heartbeat of America?

Let's play with the idea of a dancing and singing emblem a little bit, shall we? How about a growling Jaguar Leaper? Or a Rolls-Royce Spirit of Ecstasy that pops up from the grille (oh, wait) and speaks in the most pretentious voice you can come up with: "My other car is a Veyron" as it dances like a dashboard-mounted novelty hula girl. A Ram 1500 that proudly declares 'Yeah, it's got a Hemi.' Our personal pick: a Z-car emblem that whispers "Black Gold."

"The choices are amazing. The possibilities are endless." Why yes, they are. And don't you worry. A spitting Cobra is reportedly in the works.

By the way, we're well aware that Thursday is April 1st, and this could very well be an extremely elaborate joke intended to make us all look foolish. That said, somebody sure went to a whole heck of a lot of trouble if that's the case. We want to believe, we really do. You will too - just click past the break to watch the video and read the press release. All your dreams will come true. Trust us.

[Source: Emblem Alive]

Continue reading All-singing, all-dancing car emblems warp our fragile little minds [w/video]

All-singing, all-dancing car emblems warp our fragile little minds [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: New York Auto Show, Podcasts, Cadillac, GM, Hyundai, Infiniti

Sam and Dan kick off Episode #172 of the Autoblog Podcast with guest Jason Vuic, author of a historical treatise on the Yugo.

Alex Nunez joins us afterwards for news items. We cover sights coming to the New York Auto Show, including the next Mercedes R-Class, Infiniti QX56, Cadillac CTS-V Wagon and Sonata Hybrid, among other topics. We babble for an hour and twenty and then split.

Autoblog Podcast #172: YUGOMANIA!



In the Autoblog Garage:

Toyota Prius

News:
Cadillac CTS-V Wagon
Infiniti QX56
Mercedes-Benz R Class
Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

Hosts:
Alex Nunez, Dan Roth, Sam Abuelsamid

Guest:
Jason Vuic, author of The Yugo: The Rise and Fall of the Worst Car in History

Runtime: 1:16:45

---

Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
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[MP3] Download the MP3 directly

Feedback:
Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com
Voicemail: 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763)

Review the show in iTunes and take our survey

Autoblog Podcast #172: YUGOMANIA! originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Aftermarket, Sedan, Performance, Videos, Cadillac

We wouldn't blame you if you threw a skeptical eye on the 2010 Cadillac CTS-V Hennessey V700 power claims. After all, more than 700 horsepower at the crank is hefty chunk of grunt, even from a supercharged small block. Fortunately, John Hennessey has been kind enough to allow the kids at Inside Line to stick his four-door beastie on the rollers for all to see. How'd it do?

The big-bad Cadillac put down 636 horsepower and 656 lb-ft of torque. Run those figures through the time-tested 15-percent driveline loss, and Hennessey's claims of world-dominating horsepower seem pretty close to the mark. No wonder the breathed-on Caddy is so good at obliterating its tires. Click past the jump for a video of the fire-breathing action.



[Source: Inside Line]

Continue reading Dyno'd: Hennessey V700 Cadillac CTS-V [w/video]

Dyno'd: Hennessey V700 Cadillac CTS-V [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One of the best things about this month’s Chevrolet SXSW Road Trip Challenge was following the eight teams from across the nation as they tackled offbeat challenges on their way to Austin, Texas, for the SXSW Conference. And, along the way, there was some world-class smack talk exchanged between the teams.

We were fortunate enough to talk to some of the teams before the Road Trip kicked off and we’ve collected some of the best bits here for you to enjoy.

Sure, there’s some good-natured trash talk, but it’s also interesting to hear how the teams prepared for the trip and the role that technology played in those preparations. - Will Stewart, blog editor

Today’s photo comes from Rudy Malmquist.

Be sure to look at all of Rudy Malmquist’s photos and our other albums. And if you would like to recommend your favorite photo with a GM car or truck in it, put it up on Flickr and tag it with “gmfyi.”