It’s no secret that the new Camaro is not available everywhere. In fact Europe won’t see our new Camaro until next year. They are excited. As they should be! The popular show Fifth Gear finally got a chance to take the 2010 Camaro SS for a spin. You can tell from the video below that host Jason Plato was having himself a grand old time. Thanks to AutoBlog for sharing this video so that I could share it with you. I think you will enjoy it. Here’s the story followed by the video. Let me know what you think. Your local Fort Worth Chevy dealer is loving this Camaro and we have plenty available if you’re interested in a test drive.
The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro has been in U.S. dealerships for over a year now, and demand for Chevy’s newest pony car has been strong from the get-go. And though the Camaro is based off the Australian Zeta platform and built in Oshawa, Canada, it still rocks a Bowtie badge and carries a 6.2-liter small block V8 under the hood. That makes the Camaro an American pony car in our book; one that will (finally) officially go on sale in England early next year.
But before our allies to the east get a chance to pick up a Camaro of their own, Fifth Gear host Jason Plato took the reins of a Bumblebee-flavored Camaro out on the track. Hit the jump to watch Plato show no mercy to the 3,860-pound coupe. In typical UK-reviewer-on-American-car-ese, we definitely hear words like “lazy” and “heavy,” but Plato still looks like a very happy man behind the wheel. If you like smoking tires, oversteer and burnouts you’ll definitely like this video.
No this car is not sold in the United States. It is a Chevy seen only in Europe, but a very unique Chevy none the less. Needless to say this is supposedly how Britain is paying homage to the old Chevy cars of the 50′s. What do you guys think? Too much? Would you drive one if your local Dallas Chevy dealer carried them? I think they are kinda cool looking. I like the white wall tires too.
At some point in history, the notion of having a wood-lined automobile went from the pinnacle of awesome to the depths of loathsome. We’re guessing that demarcation falls at about the same point in time when automakers stopped using real wood and started gluing vinyl recreations to the sides of vehicles that were an affront to cool to begin with. If you need proof, please direct your attention to any number of woody Chrysler PT Cruiser models or, if you’re of stouter stomach, the self-proclaimed Chevrolet Spark Woody Wagon art car pictured above.
Chevrolet UK decided to wrap one of the company’s diminutive people movers in wood-grained Di-Nocto harken back to the company’s American, youthful roots – or at least that’s what the press release says. If that’s not enough to send your head spinning, take a good close look at those tires. Yup, they’re wide whitewalls.
The company has rolled out a few different one-off art Sparks so far, and plans to keep it up with a new British Touring Car Championship inspired version set for an unveil later this month. We’re guessing that one will strike our fancy a bit more than the trans-generational pastiche above. Hit the jump for the press release.
Some people are so stupid. I can not even imagine how this guy thought he wouldn’t get caught. Thanks to Matt Rigney over at Camaro Blog for breaking this story. How hysterical! I just feel bad for the Camaro!
A brazen thief made off with a brand new 2010 Camaro as a truck driver unloaded it from his transport vehicle. The transport driver was delivering new merchandise to a Chrysler Jeep Dealership in Tigard, Oregon and as a result had to unload the Camaro to get other vehicles off. When the transport driver left the new 2010 Camaro unattended for a minute the thief jumped in the drivers seat and took off. The transport driver chased after the Camaro on foot and eventually grabbed and held on to the drivers door as he sped away. The transport driver held on for about a quarter-mile at speeds of around 45 mph until he was tossed when the thief drove through some grassy areas.
What the car thief did not realize is the new 2010 Camaro was outfitted with OnStar so the police were contacted who than contacted OnStar to find the location of the vehicle. The police located the stolen Camaro and a pursuit ensued with the thief doing some fancy driving to avoid being captured but in the end one of the Camaros tires was spiked by police and as a result the Camaro crashed right after. The thief exited the Camaro only to be met by two police officers and they thought he might run so they tased him. The thief was arrested on multiple charges including auto theft and evading arrest. Sadly the new Camaro met a grim fate.
I can appreciate all of the things that various manufacturers are doing to combat smog and emissions coming from our vehicles. It seems to me that at the moment it’s kind of at a stand still. I know it is getting better and is better than in years passed but we aren’t quite there yet. I watch the news I see the air quality alerts that we have daily in the DFW area. There has to be more than one way to combat this. Right?
I found this article over on Autoblog.com and I thought it was so interesting that I had to share it with you. This could be a major break through in the world of pollution and emissions.
Researchers at the Eindhoven University of Technology (EUT) may be on the brink of discovering a breakthrough that will lead to reduced pollution and cleaner air for all. According to the EUT, a roadway made of concrete blended with titanium dioxide can effectively remove up to 45 percent of the nitrogen oxides that it comes in contact with. The titanium dioxide, a photocatalytic material, captures airborne nitrogen oxides and, with the aid of the sun, converts it to nitrates that are harmlessly washed away by the rain.
The EUT conducted real-world studies on a 1,000-square-meter section of repaved road in the Netherlands. Such testing showed that the laced pavement could reduce nitrogen oxides by 25 to 45 percent more than traditional concrete. As Jos Brouwers, professor of building materials at the EUT remarked, “The air-purifying properties of the new paving stones had already been shown in the laboratory, but these results now show that they also work outdoors.”
Additional testing is still underway and although the pavement laced with titanium dioxide does cost some 50 percent more than regular cement, overall road-building costs only increase by a marginal 10 percent. Costs aside, the advantages of the titanium dioxide are readily apparent, but the implementation of such a product requires repaving our roadways – a time intensive and costly endeavor.
What are your thoughts on this latest information? Do you think it’s good?
Now here is an idea…. Build your own Corvette! Thanks to AutoBlog for breaking this story. I think this is a great idea and a great thing that Chevrolet is doing. This gives our customers the ability to be even more hands on than in previous years. Do you think you would want to build your own Corvette? I know I would! Your Dallas Chevy dealer could get it all set up for you and ready to roll. Pick your colors and so so much more.
Allowing customers to customize colors and materials has become a popular and profitable option for many automakers in the last several years. Most offer customers the opportunity to pick up their new ride at the factory and even watch it being built. For the 2011 model year, Chevrolet is going one step further by giving buyers of the Z06 and ZR1 the option to build the powerplant for their new Corvette.
The LS7 and LS9 V8s used in those two models are both assembled at the Performance Build Center (PBC) in Wixom, MI which we visited last fall. The nature of the PBC production process, where a single technician starts with a bare block, then takes it through the entire assembly process and finally applies a name plaque before delivery, makes it well suited to this new program. The Engine Build Experience is not for those hoping to save a few bucks by taking on some of the labor involved in building their ‘Vette. In fact, it will cost an additional $5,800 plus travel to Detroit. Those not familiar with the engine building process will likely come away very impressed with the care and technology that goes into creating these high-performance engines.Check out our chronicle of an LS9 build to see what you’ll get for your money.
This article was a must share for me. I know most of my readers are Camaro lovers and well who wouldn’t be? This just so happens to be a very good looking modified Camaro. There are tons of pictures of it over on AutomotiveAddicts.com.
Shown is a Chevy Camaro SS that has a set of 22-inch wheels from Vossen, their newest VVS-CV1 Concave Wheels. The new wheels set this Camaro apart from any other.
Just remember when you are ready to test drive a new Camaro head on over to your Fort Worth Chevy dealer and take a ride of a lifetime!
So now we reach the final part of our Behind the scenes of the Chevy Camaro series. The Camaro is almost completed now. It’s almost time to ship it off to it’s new owners. Do you feel like you’ve seen some cool stuff in these videos? Or, did you already know all of this? For those of you who have never been to a GM plant or seen a car being built in action, I hope that you learned something and enjoyed them. They may have not be Oscar worthy performances but still neat none the less. Thanks again to CamaroBlog.com for sharing these videos with us. Your local Dallas Chevy dealer is packed full of Camaros that are just ready for you to take for a spin!
In this 2nd installment of behind the scenes of the Chevy Camaro, we are again taken back to the Oshawa Assembly Plant as the Chevy Camaro is closer and closer to being completed! Is your Camaro currently being built? Are you waiting patiently in anticipation? Well continue to watch what your car is going through!
Like Matt Rigney over at CamaroBlog.com said these aren’t the best videos in the world but you are getting a glimpse into the Chevy plant watching the miracle that is the Camaro being built! Is your mouth watering yet? Check out the deals on the Chevy Camaro at your local Grapevine Chevy dealer.
I thought you guys might like to meet the new electric car from GM. Introducing the all new 2011 Chevrolet Volt. Personally I am very excited about this new car and can’t wait to see what other people think about it. This is a different direction for GM and this much anticipated car is on a lot of peoples minds right now. Check out these figures courtesy of Consumer Reports.
The Chevrolet Volt is one of the most-hyped cars expected to debut this year, with all-new drivetrain technology that General Motors has termed EREV, translated as “extended-range electric vehicle.”
Yesterday, the company brought two examples up to our test track, along with several engineers to explain the car, point out its new features, and allow the staff to get behind the wheel. GM drove the two cars to our Connecticut Auto Test Center from Milford, Michigan—a trip of about 750 miles.
The Volt’s electric drive motor is rated at 110 kW, equivalent to about 150 hp. It uses another motor/generator—GM engineers call this an “electric machine”—connected to the gas engine rated at 50 kW. This is used to start the engine and also provides electrical power to drive the vehicle when the battery is depleted. The gas engine is a 1.4-liter four cylinder similar to the Chevrolet Cruze base engine, though configured for this unique application.
The Volt uses about half the capacity of its 16 kWh lithium-ion battery. This ensures good durability of the battery pack and provides extra boost than can be delivered from the engine-driven generator so the driver sees/feels no difference between EV mode and gas engine. To maximize the battery’s life expectancy, the battery is never allowed to run completely down, nor is it ever allowed to take a maximum charge.
On long up hills, such as what you might experience climbing the Rocky Mountains, if that battery reserve is used up, the car’s power may be reduced to what’s available from the generator. GM engineers say there are only seven or eight such grades in the United States, and they have designed the car to be able to maintain the speed limit on these roads. The car has a “mountain mode,” which will increase the size of the battery reserve to assure there is enough power to maintain speed even on the longest, steepest hills. The trade off is reduced range.
GM has said before that the car will have a 300-mile overall range (including 40 miles on pure electric), but they have never before disclosed the capacity of the gasoline fuel tank. It will likely hold about nine gallons, in which case the range based on these figures would be well above 300 miles. The tank will be pressurized, so it will take a few seconds for the fuel door to pop open.
The Volt comes with a 20-foot, 110-volt charge cord. When plugged in, the car’s on-board charger tests the circuit to ensure that the house system is safe to connect to. A yellow light shows on top of the dashboard while the circuit is being tested. Once it passes, the car-horn chirps briefly, and the light turns green. If it fails the test, the light stays yellow, and the charger unit indicator lights show a fault.
Volt owners will receive OnStar for free for an extended period. Dedicated OnStar agents will be able to answer a wide range of questions about using an electric car. In addition, OnStar will automatically work with any Volt buyer to help arrange installation of an appropriate 240-volt electrical outlet for home charging.
GM is also building an app for iPhone and Android smartphones that will interface with the Volt to control and set up charging. It will also be able to interact with OnStar. Perhaps most significantly, Volt customers will be able to download their electric utility rates, and the software in the car will automatically set the car to charge when energy rates are lowest. The car can then notify a phone when the charge is complete.
GM says it will take four hours to fully charge a Volt from a 220-volt designated charger, which will need to be professionally installed at your house (at an extra cost), or about 10 hours on a standard 20-amp, 110-volt outlet.
The four-passenger Volt has individual seats in the rear that fold down, as the large “T” shaped battery takes up the space between the back seats.
The white, iPod-like center stack will also be available in gray and nearly all the switches are touch sensitive like an iPod and have a click sound associated with them.
The most common reaction to driving the Volt is that it is quiet and the linear power delivery provides good acceleration, but the sedan feels heavy in the corners. It weighs about 3,800 pounds, making it porky for a car of this size.
The Volt will initially be sold in Los Angeles; Washington, DC; and Michigan in November. Within about a year, GM plans to have them available at select dealers nationwide. Chevrolet is expected to announce the price this summer. Overall, it’s an impressive piece of technology, but the proof will be how it performs in the real world. We look forward to buying our own Volt and putting it through our full test regimen once it goes on sale. —Eric Evarts
Want to see it in action? Check out the video.
I am not sure what dealerships in Texas are going to get this car when it goes live but you can guarantee that your Fort Worth Chevy dealer will keep you posted.
Eating in your car. I can’t say that I have never done that. I think at some point everyone eats in their car at least once. This is very true for commuters who travel long distances to work and home and almost have to eat in their cars. I came across this blog about how eating in your car could make you sick and of course I had to stop and read it. I am a firm believer that you should try to keep your new car or truck clean at all times. Mostly because it just looks good….but now it’s also because it can keep you healthy.
Check out the story from AutoBlog. After you are finished reading this and decide you need to have your car cleaned and detailed make sure you call your local Fort Worth Chevy dealer for help. We don’t want you getting sick either!
Ever eat in your car? If so, we’re thinking there is a good chance there is currently at least one french fry stuck between the driver seat and the center arm rest. That’s pretty bad, but a study by researchers from British auto accessories retailer Halfords shows that there probably are a lot more disgusting things in your ride than some fried potatoes or a few chunks of shredded lettuce. Scientists swabbed the door handles, steering wheel, shift knob, radio and seats and found bacteria ranging from Staphylococcus to Bacillus Cereus. Those names just sound unhealthy, and in reality they are the germs that cause food poisoning, impetigo severe nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Those nasty germs enter your car through the soil you walk on, the pets you travel with, the passengers you transport and the very hands you use to eat all that food.
That’s really bad news if you eat in your car regularly, and the study by Halfords shows that 70 percent of people do just that. Further, half of those study admitted to leaving food behind in the car, giving those bacteria the sustenance they need to help ruin your week. And don’t think that since this is summertime that the sun will bake your interior to the point where the germs die off. Quite the contrary, the nasty little microbes multiply faster as your vehicle heats up, bolstering the little buggers for the impending fight against your immune system.
To protect yourself from these germs, the best defense is to keep your hands clean and leave the eating for a clean kitchen table. But if you must eat while driving, scientists feel that car owners should clean their vehicles as often as one would wipe down that kitchen table. We’re not the type to shy away from every germ nature has to offer, but something as serious-sounding as Staphylococcus makes us want to make with the disinfecting wipes in short order.
What do you guys think? Kind of makes you want to never eat in your car again right?
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
It’s no secret that the new Camaro is not available everywhere. In fact Europe won’t see our new Camaro until next year. They are excited. As they should be! The popular show Fifth Gear finally got a chance to take the 2010 Camaro SS for a spin. You can tell from the video below that host Jason Plato was having himself a grand old time. Thanks to AutoBlog for sharing this video so that I could share it with you. I think you will enjoy it. Here’s the story followed by the video. Let me know what you think. Your local Fort Worth Chevy dealer is loving this Camaro and we have plenty available if you’re interested in a test drive. 
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