For more than 100 years, the North American International Auto Show (known by most as the Detroit Auto Show) has taken place every year in the beginning of January. For many automobile makers and car enthusiasts alike, the Detroit Auto Show is the premiere car show in the world. Why, you might ask? Because as many as 50 new production and concept cars make their debut at this show.
This show is also a good way to generate publicity and inform people of what’s to come. All types of popular and creditworthy magazines write articles and reviews about the cars on display. Some even shoot videos to give their audience a first hand look. And that’s exactly what Consumer Reports has done with the innovative, best-in-its-class 2013 Chevrolet Spark.
The Chevy Spark falls into the “mini car” class. Most popular over seas, mini cars are desperately trying to make their way into the hearts of us Americans who haven’t been known for typically liking “small” vehicles. Especially in Texas… where we like everything bigger including our Chevys. With that being said, it’s not surprising that other mini cars, like the Fiat 500 and SmartCar, have not had a whole lot of success in the states. I strongly believe that that is all about to change, though, because the Chevy Spark is not your typical mini car. Apparently, I’m not the only one who thinks so. Check out what Consumer Reports had to say about the Spark at the Detroit Auto Show earlier this month and get a great, up-close look at the Spark.
The Spark is aimed at those of you Dallas Ft Worth Chevrolet city dwellers and young buyers on a budget. Thoughts? In my personal opinion, the Spark has a bright future ahead of it. Pun intended.
The Corvette has been around for what seems like decades… six to be precise, and this year, GM has something special planned to mark the Corvette’s 60th anniversary – a special edition 2013 Corvette 427 Convertible. A lot of times, “special editions” usually just mean a different trim, paint job, wheels or little logo. But that’s hardly the case here.
The 427 Convertible borrows hardware from the Z06 and has the same rear axle as the Z06 along with magnetic ride control. Under the hood, the 427 sports a 427-cubic-inch LS7 V8 under its hood producing 505 horsepower and 470lb-ft of torque. You know what that means, don’t youDallas Ft Worth Chevrolet lovers? If you guessed that this is the most powerful Corvette Convertible ever produced, you are correct. The 427 Convertible blends elements of the Z06 and ZR1 models to create the fastest and most-capable convertible in Corvette’s history. Excited yet?
The 2013 model is more than just a “special edition” for Corvette’s 60th anniversary. It also marks the final year for the current ‘C6′ generation. In a press release last week, Vice President of Global Marketing and Strategy for Chevrolet, Chris Perry, said “We couldn’t think of a more fitting way to celebrate these milestones than bringing back one of the most-coveted combinations in the brand’s history – the Corvette convertible and a 427 cubic-inch engine.”
Like the Z06, the 427 Convertible is only available in a six-speed manual transmission (as it should be in my opinion) and also features several carbon-fiber components that help reduce weight, including a carbon fiber raised hood, carbon fiber Z06-style fenders and carbon fiber floor panels.
Now lets talk power-to-weight ratios. This is a calculation that measures actual performance of an engine. It’s also used as a way to compare overall performance between vehicles. The ratio is the engine’s power out divided by the weight of the vehicle. Here’s a few ratios from some of the well-known speedsters out there:
Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet – 6.90
Audi R8 5.2 RSI Spyder – 7.58
Aston Martin DBS Volante Convertible – 7.82
Ferrari California Convertible – 8.31
With the weight reduction, the 427 Convertible’s curb weight comes to 3,355 pounds (1,522 kg). Combined with its 505-horsepower LS7 engine, it gives the 427 Convertible a power-to-weight ratio of 6.64. In case you didn’t notice, that’s better than all the mentioned above.
According to Chevrolet, the combination of low mass and high output will make the 427 Convertible one of the fastest convertibles in the world, delivering estimated 0-60 performance of 3.8 seconds, quarter-mile performance of 11.8 seconds, lateral acceleration of 1.04 g and a top speed of more than 190 mph.
The 427 Convertible will makes it’s first public appearance on Jan. 21 at the Barrett Jackson collector car auction in Arizona, and is scheduled to arrive at Chevrolet dealerships early this summer. I’ll be sure to post more updates as they come, DFW Chevy fanatics.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Association decided to spice things up last year and revised its New Car Assessment Program. The Overall Vehicle Score is the combination of frontal and side crash tests and rollover resistance testing. With the 2012 Sonic earning itself a five-star rating, Chevroletnow has a total of ten 2012 models that have earned the highest ratings possible.
The Sonic was tested under NHTSA’s revised New Car Assessment Program implemented starting with the 2011 model year the number of General Motors 2012 models with 5-star overall vehicle scores for safety. Pretty impressive, given that these new rigorous test procedures are by no means easy. For example, the NHTSA has added a new side pole test simulating a 20-mph side-impact crash into a 10-inch-diameter pole or tree at a 75-degree angle just behind the A-pillar on the driver’s side.
“We developed Sonic to exceed customer expectations of subcompacts in terms of segment-leading safety features,” said Gay Kent, GM executive director of vehicle safety. “From the largest vehicles in our lineup to the smallest, we are putting overall crash-worthiness and state-of-the-art safety technologies at the top of the list of must-haves.”
So why exactly did the Sonic ace the test? I’m willing to bet that the exceptionally strong body structure through the incorporation of a single welded side ring unit and the vehicle safety being made of more than 60 percent high-strength steel had a little something to do with it.
The 2012 Chevy Sonic was designed to help drivers avoid crashes, while protecting occupants in a crash. In addition to the tougher-than-nails structure, other standard safety features include:
Driver and front passenger dual-stage frontal air bags, seat-mounted side pelvic/thorax air bags, knee air bags and head curtain side air bags with rollover protection that cover front and outboard rear seating rows. The Sonic also has side impact air bags in the outboard rear seating positions for a total of ten standard air bags.
Rollover sensors, which can activate the head-curtain side air bags if sensors determine an imminent rollover. In a rollover, the air bags stay inflated longer to provide increased occupant protection.
StabiliTrak electronic stability control helps the driver maintain control by comparing the path being steered by the driver with the actual response and, when necessary, applying the brakes or adjusting the throttle or a combination of both.
Power-assisted front disc and rear drum brakes with ABS, full-function traction control and panic brake assist that activates when an emergency braking maneuver is detected. The system automatically develops additional brake pressure to more quickly engage ABS
Front safety belt pretensioners to reduce forward occupant movement and load-limiting retractors to help manage forces during a collision
OnStar, which features the Automatic Crash Response System that uses GPS and cellular phone technology to automatically call for help in the event that a crash is detected.
What more could we ask from the Chevy Sonic? In case you’ve missed the daredevilish stunts the Sonic’s been performing, you can check them out here. Crazy to think that this daring little car is one of the safest out there.
If you enjoy extreme – and sometimes ridiculous – “sports”, then I’m sure you’ve heard the name Rob Dyrdek before. If you haven’t, he’s a professional skateboarder, actor, entrepreneur, producer, philanthropist, and reality TV star. He is best known for his TV series “Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Factory” where he constantly does crazy and sometimes dangerous tricks involving all sorts of motor vehicles. And now, he’s decided to jump on board the Chevy Sonic’s adventure and become the first man on Earth to successfully kickflip a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic.
I’m sure you may be wondering two things. First, what the heck is a kickflip? Well, think of a barrel roll performed by a skateboard. Second, how in the world do you perform a kickflip in a Chevy Sonic? The answer lies in this video.
Pretty impressive if I do say so myself! The Chevy sonic has had quite the year of adventures thanks to the “Let’s Do This” campaign including skydiving and bungee jumping. So it’s not surprising that the Chevrolet stunt team would want to try out it’s own set of skateboard antics after Dyrdek’s kickflip. One of the team members who actually worked on Dyrdek’s stunt decided he was going to take his Sonic skiing. No, not the type of skiing you do in the Rockies… but the skateboarding definition of putting it on two wheels. Check it out below. Also be sure and swing by Classic Chevrolet and check out the Chevy Sonic for yourself.
I’m sure most of you avid Chevrolet lovers in Dallas and Ft. Worth already know that this year marked Chevy‘s 100th anniversary. Hard to believe that Chevrolet has been winning the hearts of Americans for a century, isn’t it? Known as the top-selling auto brand of all time, Chevy was always a step ahead of the game when it came to bringing all-steel bodies, electric headlamps, automatic shifting and power steering to the working class at a reasonable price.
An article from Business Week noted that Chevy even embedded itself in American culture, sometimes changing it by knowing what people wanted to drive before they did. Not to mention their spectacular advertising and marketing efforts. Their slogans and jingles have dominated radio and TV. Here’s a fun fact for you Dallas Ft. Worth: Bands reference Chevys in more than 700 songs. Can you name a few?
In a press release, Vice President of Chevrolet of Global Marketing and Strategy, Chris Perry said, “We understand Chevrolet is more than a brand – it belongs to everyone who owns, designs, builds, sells or loves Chevrolets. The past 100 years wouldn’t have been possible without millions of people who have each made Chevrolet a part of their life’s journey.”
Boy was he spot on. As a Chevy driver, I’m sure you know exactly what he’s talking about. No other auto brand has come close to adoration Chevydrivers feel for their vehicles especially during the 1950s and `60s.
“The American car from the mid-1930s to the end of the `60s was a Chevrolet,” said John Heitmann, an automotive history professor at the University of Dayton and author of The Automobile and the American Life. “It was the car of the aspiring American lower and middle classes for a long period.”
So how do you feel about your Chevy DFW? Are you driving a new Chevrolet car or truck for the first time or have you been a lifer? Share your stories with us, we’d love to hear them! In the meantime, check out these great videos about Chevrolet history. The second one is a bit longer than the first and is for all of you history buffs out there. Enjoy!
It’s not too often that we associate sports cars, like the Chevrolet Camaro, with safety. As of last week, this is no longer the case. The 2012 Chevrolet Camaro Coupe became the first car to score the highest possible five-star rating in every individual test of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) New Car Assessment Program since the introduction of the new standards in 2011.
Last year, the NHTSA introduced new, more rigorous federal testing procedures including a new side barrier test and a new side pole test. The side pole test simulates a 20-mph side-impact crash into a 10-inch-diameter pole or tree at a 75-degree angle just behind the A-pillar on the driver’s side.
Camaro Chief Engineer, Al Oppenheiser, said that the Camaro has always been about performance including safety performance. He continued to say, “We always strive for five-star ratings, and the fact that we achieved them under more rigorous requirements is a great accomplishment.”
After watching the videos of the 2012 Camaro Coupe’s NHTSA testing, I’m inclined to agree with Oppenheiser. The 2012 Camaro’s safety specification includes six airbags, the StabiliTrak electronic stability control system and seat belt pretensioners as standard. Now one of the most popular, best-looking sports car out there is also one of the safest. Hats off to General Motors.
If you’ve been holding off on getting a Camaro for awhile due to safety issues, you no longer have an excuse. Head down to Classic Chevrolet and hop into one. I promise, you won’t be disappointed. In the meantime, check out the official NHTSA videos below and see just how safe this beast is for yourself.
I have a Friday treat for all my Camaro lovers in the Dallas Ft Worth area – an inside look at the engineering behind the 2012 Camaro ZL1 from none other than the Chevrolet engineers themselves! With more than 100 development hours spent in the wind tunnel, the ZL1 is the first vehicle in General Motors history to boast neutral or negative lift. Excited yet?
In October, we saw just how fast this little beauty is as it lapped the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife course in 7:41.27 minutes. For those of you unfamiliar with Nordschleife, all you need to know is that the Porsche 911 Turbo S, Lamborghini Murcielago LP640, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG and the Ferrari 430 Scuderia have all been timed at around seven minutes and forty seconds at this German track. In case you missed the video of the ZL1′s 7:41 time, you can watch it here.
The 2012 Camaro ZL1 is expected to hit the dealerships this spring and will have two wheel options: a five-spoke and a 10-spoke design and will be available in nine different colors. Both the manual and automatic versions will host a six-speed manual gearbox and will also come with the same four-pack console gauges as the SS model with a boost gauge now thrown into the mix. Stay tuned for more updates from your Classic Chevrolet dealership, Dallas Ft Worth Chevy lovers. In the meantime, enjoy a video from the Chevrolet engineers. Happy Friday!
It’s official. The Chevrolet Camaro has been named the “Hottest Car” at the SEMA show in Las Vegas for the second consecutive year. For those of you unfamiliar with the show, SEMA is the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world. The industry’s brightest minds and hottest products all travel to Las Vegas to basically show off. And this year, Chevrolet did just that by displaying four new Camaro concepts.
The CorvetteandCamaro are known for their personalization. In a press release about SEMA, Vice President of Global Marketing and Strategy for Chevrolet said, “Go to any Corvette or Camaro enthusiast event and you will have a hard time finding a factory-stock vehicle. These are cars that owners treat as canvases to express their personalization and high-performance dreams – and have been for decades.”
Here are the highlights from Chevrolet’s press release regarding the different concepts showcased at SEMA this week.
Camaro Red Zone Concept
Photo Courtesy of AutoBlog
A design statement achieved with current and future accessories is the inspiration for the Camaro Red Zone Concept. It uses the Camaro convertible’s style to demonstrate what’s possible with a carefully selected collection of accessories – and it debuts a new, heritage-inspired stripe graphic that will be available soon. The result is a tasteful combination that blends contemporary style with a classic flair.
“This is a Camaro for those who want great looks and a performance personality,” said designer Adam Barry. “It’s a simple yet dramatic statement that is uniquely Camaro.”
Camaro Synergy Series Concept
Photo Courtesy of AutoBlog
The Camaro’s Synergy special editions were born at SEMA, and this vehicle is a new take on the concept, using the best of the best of Camaro accessories – as well as a distinctive silver exterior with red accents.
Camaro 1LE Concept
Photo Courtesy of AutoBlog
Born in the Camaro’s third generation and refined further in the fourth generation as a road-racing performance package, the legendary 1LE option code designation returns to the Camaro as a concept intended to carve up road courses. While only a concept, it borrows production components from both the Camaro SS and forthcoming Camaro ZL1 to deliver a competition-ready package. Hash mark graphics on the front fender are pure Chevrolet racing cues, too.
“The Camaro 1LE concept is all about the track,” said Al Oppenheiser, chief engineer for the Camaro. “It’s an all-out race car package that pays tribute to that special option from the past.”
Camaro ZL1 Carbon Concept
Photo Courtesy of AutoBlog
Welcome to the dark side of Camaro ZL1. This concept incorporates all the technology and performance of the Camaro ZL1 – which goes on sale in 2012 – but with an added layer of carbon fiber to add a decidedly sinister-looking element of form to a car that’s all about function. Included on this concept is the new Ashen Gray exterior paint (available on all 2012 Camaro models).
“This concept’s dramatic appearance matches the extreme performance capabilities of the Camaro ZL1,” said Tony Roma, program engineering manager for the Camaro ZL1. “And even if its styling doesn’t intimidate you, its performance on the track will.”
Talk about an overload of Camaro awesome-ness. Oh, I almost forgot to mention. Chevrolet also displayed a full-size tribute to the “Custom Camaro” that was part of the original Hot Wheels 1:64-scale line in 1968. For those of you who remember playing with Hot Wheels as a kid, this is dream come true. So Dallas Ft Worth Camaro lovers, which one of these concepts is calling your name?
Hey Dallas-Ft Worth Chevrolet owners, the results from the FBI’s annual report on auto theft is in, and I’m sure you’ll be happy to hear that auto theft has continued to decline! According to the statistics for 2010, auto thefts are down more than seven percent from year’s 737,142. That’s a 38 percent drop from 2006 and 40 percent drop from 2001. Not too shabby, is it?
Unfortunately, there was still a reported $4.5 billion lost last year due to auto theft, which averages out to about $6,152 per vehicle. So even though it’s becoming harder and harder for criminals to break into vehicles (thanks to all of this wonderful technology), it’s still happening and will continue to happen if we don’t take precautions with our cars. Electronic immobilizers, keyless entries and alarms can only do so much, and in fact, driver error plays a huge role in auto theft.
So what can we do to keep ourselves from out of the statistics for 2011? First and foremost, lock you car. I know this may seem like common sense, but you’d be surprised at how often people feel comfortable leaving the doors unlocked in certain neighborhoods or places.
Second, don’t leave your car unattended while running. Keep your keys with you at all times. I’ll admit, this is something I’ve done time and time again. I either forget something in the house or run into the gas station and leave the car running. This is practically inviting criminals to steal our cars.
It’s also important to keep your windows rolled up. I know that we recently experienced a brutal summer and that cracking the windows actually helps with air circulation in the vehicle, but thieves can easily use a slender arm or clothes hanger to unlock your vehicles in a matter of seconds.
I’m sure you’ve all seen the “Hide, Lock, Take” signs in places all over the metroplex. This is excellent advice. Never leave anything valuable out in the open that will give someone incentive to break into your vehicle. Put your iPod or portable GPS in the glove box whenever you exit the vehicle. Our glove boxes have a lock on them for a reason, so why not use it?
Remember DFW, driver error is one of the leading causes of auto theft. So stay safe and be cautious out there, and lets see if we can contribute to even lower statistics next year.
Hey DFW Camaro lovers, I have some exciting news. Earlier today, Chevrolet announced that its most-powerful convertible ever, the 2013 Camaro ZL1, will debut at the LA Auto show next month. According to a press release issued by General Motors, this Camaro will deliver more performance and technology than many exotic cars and ultra-luxury convertibles. I told you I had exciting news!
The ZL1 will be powered by a 580-horsepower LSA 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 engine, so I’m sure Camaro Chief Engineer, Al Oppenheiser, wasn’t kidding when he said, “This is a car that is guaranteed to put a smile on your face every time you drop the top – or hit the gas.”
The convertible will share all its characteristics and engine parts with the 2012 ZL1 coupe model which recently lapped the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife course in 7:41.27 minutes. The only changes we’ll see are a tower brace under the hood, a transmission reinforcement brace, an underbody tunnel brace and a set of X and V braces under the body. All of these are aimed at stiffening the chassis to better handle and apply all the power the LSA generates. Check out this video of the 2012 Camaro ZL1 at Nordschleife.
Are you getting excited yet? The ZL1 convertible will most likely be available for purchase in the late months of 2012. Until then, I’ll be sure to keep you posted on the latest updates!
Hi, I'm Hagen Durant, General Manager of Classic Chevrolet in Grapevine, TX - I am a huge car and truck enthusiast and love talking cars. I'm a cyclist, health nut, father, geek, and drummer. I look forward to giving you great information about cars and trucks, driving tips, maintenance and so much more.
If you have any questions or would like to make suggestions feel free to email them to me at hagen@classicchevytexas.com
For more than 100 years, the North American International Auto Show (known by most as the Detroit Auto Show) has taken place every year in the beginning of January. For many automobile makers and car enthusiasts alike, the Detroit Auto Show is the premiere car show in the world. Why, you might ask? Because as many as 50 new production and concept cars make their debut at this show.
Top Posts