Posted on February 7th, 2008 by Auto News
In its continued push to convert its products to E85-capable vehicles??”meaning they can run on a gasoline blend that contains up to 85 percent ethanol??”General Motors announced its first four-cylinder model will be the 2009 Chevrolet HHR.
Troy Clarke, GM??™s president of North American operations, made the FlexFuel HHR announcement at the 2008 Chicago auto show. It goes on sale later this year.
The HHR is available with a choice of a 2.2-liter or 2.4-liter Ecotec engines. Studies cited by GM show a 23-percent reduction of carbon dioxide emissions when the engines are run on E85.
GM has 11 Flex-Fuel models available in its 2008 lineup with more than 15 planned for 2009, including the first Hummer. An E85 Hummer H2 goes on sale in August.
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Posted on February 7th, 2008 by Auto News
Here??™s the first official look at the Traverse SUV, which completes the family that already is comprised of the Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, and Saturn Outlook.
Shown at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show, the Traverse rides on the same Lambda platform as the other full-size crossovers, with the same 3.6-liter V-6, but it??™s the first of the large utes to get direct injection, as found on the Cadillac CTS and STS. Horsepower is up 11 hp to 286 (with dual exhaust, 5 hp more than the single-exhaust Traverse) and 255 lb-ft of torque, a gain of four. Channeling the power is a six-speed automatic transmission.
GM officials claim it is not just capitulating to dealers and the Chevrolet variant was part of the plan from the start, although execs have said in hindsight they might have branded the fruit of this family tree differently??”especially now that Buicks and GMCs are sold in the same showroom.
With only a $1500 gap between the Saturn and the GMC, the only place we can see the Chevy fitting in is right on top of its platform-mate. We await Traverse pricing to see just how GM plays this out.
The Traverse is an eight-passenger vehicle designed to look like the Chevy Malibu. It will be available in LS, LT, and LTZ trim levels, in both front- and all-wheel drive, with a four-wheel independent suspension and 17, 18, and 20-inch wheels.
Because the Lambda products essentially replace minivans as family vehicles in the GM portfolio, the Traverse has a rear-seat DVD entertainment system, OnStar, navigation, XM satellite radio, and Bluetooth connectivity. There is a power panoramic sunroof, parking assist, rear-view camera, and remote vehicle start.
The Traverse goes into production this fall at GM??™s Spring Hill, Tennessee, plant. We suspect its entry means the eventual demise of mid-size SUVs such as the Chevy TrailBlazer and GMC Envoy (the Buick Rainier was discontinued at the end of the 2007 model year).
GM is giving pickups the same treatment, as evidenced by the Denali XT concept also debuting in Chicago. This mid-size pickup is of unibody design, similar to the Honda Ridgeline.
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Posted on January 22nd, 2008 by Auto News
The 2008 Chevrolet Colorado 2WD is, unfortunately, due for a major renovation or death by default. This compact truck may carry the GM trademark, but it would appear the GM’s focus has been elsewhere. Despite the fact the MSRP is relatively low and that this compact pick up truck is available in a variety of sizes and configurations that offer above average performance, a decent towing capacity and many of the comfort and convenience features typically found in a sedan intended for the luxury minded, the Colorado is still quickly losing consumer appeal, industry interest and sales to the competition.
Still unchanged, despite negative press for the last few years, the interior of the Colorado 2WD is still significantly less refined and comfortable than the cabins of its competitors. Although the interior design is quite user friendly and functional, the mediocre materials throughout are sub par at best. The beneficial abundance of front leg room is nice for the driver but thwarted by the fact that rear leg room is very tight in even extended and crew cab models, not to mention the fact that the small rear door openings make entry and exit very awkward.
The many variations of the Colorado 2WD come with either a 2.9 liter 4 cylinder engine that delivers 185 horsepower or a 3.7 liter 5 cylinder that produces 242 horsepower. The majority of the 4 cylinder models are mated to a 5 speed manual transmission; while a 4 speed automatic is found standard on most 5 cylinder models. Although performance is adequate, the competition boasts larger V6 and V8 engines that are able to easily soar past and transport more than the Colorado.
With its suspension gently tuned to provide a comfortable ride, the Colorado still performs quite well in all regards off road when equipped with the Off Road option package. Standard safety features, such as antilock brakes, OnStar emergency communication system, traction control and a full array of airbags have made the Colorado one of the safest small pick up trucks on the market to date.
Both of the 2008 Chevrolet Colorado’s engines are relatively smooth, though acceleration and hauling performance is lacking when compared to the compact pick up truck models with V6 and V8 engines presented by Dodge, Toyota and Nissan. Overall, build quality, passenger comfort and performance are all adequate-but there is more to be found for less in the compact pick up category.
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Posted on January 15th, 2008 by Auto News
The Impalas of today are a far cry from their rear-wheel-drive forebears such as the first stand-alone 1959 model with a 355-hp, 348-cubic-inch V-8 or even the 1961 ???SS??? model that tore up drag strips with a 409-inch V-8 that inspired the Beach Boys??™ song ???409.??? Gone, too, are the coupe and convertible models that used to fill Chevy dealerships.
But in a wave of nostalgia, Chevy plans to introduce the Impala 50th Anniversary Edition at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January.
The anniversary model uses the same 3.5-liter V-6 and four-speed automatic of the regular Impala LT on which it??™s based. But with only 211 horsepower powering the front wheels, there??™s little similarity to Impalas of yore.
That didn??™t stop Chevrolet from increasing the sporting factor. The anniversary model gets anti-lock brakes (they??™re only optional on the LT) and the FE3 sport suspension normally reserved for the Impala SS. A trunk spoiler and 18-inch chrome wheels add to the sporting image.
It??™ll be hard to miss these anniversary Impalas with all their nostalgic touches. The doorsill plates, the C-pillars, and the front headrests wear ???50th Anniversary??? badges. The car also gets two-tone leather seats and ebony carpeting and floor mats.
So, essentially, aside from an eight-way power driver??™s seat and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, this special Impala is an LT with some extra options.
The 50th Anniversary model will go on sale this spring, a last hurrah of sorts before the next-gen Impala potentially shifts to GM??™s Zeta global rear-wheel-drive architecture, a move that has been in question following program delays over concerns about new fuel-economy and emissions standards.
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Posted on December 27th, 2007 by Auto News
The ZR1 is the most expensive and most powerful production Corvette in history, with a price of about 100 grand ($110,000 for the loaded 4LZ trim level) and an estimated 620 horsepower at 6500 rpm and 600 pound-feet of torque at 4000 rpm from its supercharged LS9 6.2-liter V-8.
It is the first factory-built Corvette to feature forced induction, and it will also be the first Corvette to top 200 mph off the showroom floor. The idea that such a Vette could exist is certifiably bonkers.
And yet here it is. Thank you, Rick Wagoner. Thank you, Bob Lutz. And thank you, Corvette vehicle lead engineer Tom Wallace.
Spearheading the myriad mutations needed to turn a run-of-the-mill Corvette into a ZR1 is, of course, that blown hunk of aluminum residing between the front wheels. Contrary to what you might think, the LS9 isn??™t based on the Z06??™s 7.0-liter LS7 but rather the base Vette??™s 6.2-liter LS3 (the LS3 has 76-percent carryover parts) with which it shares a 4.06-inch bore and a 3.62-inch stroke. The LS7??™s cylinder walls were deemed too thin to reliably handle the extra grunt of the supercharger. The LS9 has been validated to 150,000 hours and had no piston, rod, or crank failure in 6800 cumulative dyno hours. The hand-assembled engines come from GM??™s Performance Build Center in Wixom, Michigan, and each one is hot-tested before it goes out the door.
The all-new blower is provided by Eaton and is the sixth in its series of Roots-type superchargers. This Twin Vortices Series rides between the cylinder banks, making max boost of 10.5 psi, and Chevy claims an increase in efficiency and noise reduction over past superchargers. An air-to-liquid intercooler sits on top of the supercharger. By lowering the engine inside the car, engineers were able to avoid the telltale hood bulge required for most superchargers. As a result, hood height only increases an inch, although there is little space between the outside of the hood and the engine.
Other less noticeable changes were made under the hood, too. The LS9??™s heads are made of an alloy meant to handle higher temperatures, and they sit on four-layer steel gaskets rather than on the two-layer ones found in the LS3. The intake ports have swirl wings, which increase the efficiency of the combustion process but unfortunately also cramp airflow. The supercharger??™s forced air, however, mitigates the airflow problem, according to Corvette engineers.
The LS9 uses a forged steel crank and pistons and has a lower 9.1:1 compression ratio compared with the 10.7:1 ratio of the LS3. The connecting rods are titanium, like the LS7??™s. The LS3 and the LS9 have identical valve diameters, but the blown engine gets titanium intake and sodium-filled steel exhaust valves.
As the LS9 does its work, its many, many ponies invade the transmission, where they encounter a beefed-up six-speed Tremec unit with closer ratios than the one found in the Z06. However, first gear will still be good for 60 mph, ensuring insane performance stats. A dual-plate clutch offers enough feel and modulation, according to Chevy, to make launches a snap. We expect 0 to 60 in 3.5 seconds or better and the quarter-mile in 11.0 seconds.
The spring rates have been softened from those of the Z06, and the ZR1 will get as standard equipment the second generation of Delphi??™s auto-reactive magnetic shocks tuned to produce a docile ride around town in a car that required a new speedometer to 220 mph. The footwear is fat. The ZR1 gets 285/30-19s up front and 335/25-20s at the rear. By comparison, the Z06 uses 275/35-18s in front and 325/30-19s in the rear. As GM vice-chairman and head of global product development Bob Lutz puts it, ???It??™s wonderfully easy to drive, but once in it, Clark Kent turns into Superman.???
The Corvette uses the same Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes as the ones found on the million-dollar Bugatti Veyron supercar. Vented and cross-drilled discs measure a whopping 15.5 inches at the front and an even 15 at the back. The front calipers utilize six pistons and the rears four. Essentially, everything was brought up to the level needed to handle the rush of power the car can create, says Lutz.
The ZR1 will likely weigh 150 more pounds than the roughly 3200-pound Z06, despite the liberal use of carbon fiber for the hood??”which has a see-through panel in the middle for an excellent view of the top of the intercooler cover??”front fenders, sill extensions, front splitter, and roof. The car has eight major panels of carbon fiber compared with six made of other materials. GM says the ZR1 will be first to offer clear-coat carbon-fiber exterior panels designed to last the life of the car. The chemical additive in the clear-coat costs more than $60,000 a gallon, officials say.
The weight gain was inevitable, given all the extra hardware under the hood. ???It??™s literally like being fired out of a slingshot in a time-warp continuum,??? Lutz says, but with stability enhancement to help keep the tail straight when nailing the throttle while exiting a corner.
Production starts in July, and the ZR1 will be on sale in August or September. GM can build about 2000 ZR1s a year with a choice of seven colors. Each car will have a unique VIN that incorporates the sequential build number, which should please collectors.
Since its launch, the Z06 has always been ???the best dollar-for-dollar sports car on the planet,??? but that??™s kind of like being called the ???best pound-for-pound fighter??? in boxing. You might be very good, but there are still bigger, stronger opponents out there who??™ll knock you flat on your rear. In the case of the Ferrari 599??“baiting ZR1, however, it doesn??™t look as though we need any qualifiers whatsoever??”it??™s going to rock, plain and simple.
And with the fear that high-performance vehicles like this may be legislated out of existence in the future because they can??™t meet emissions standards, we plan to enjoy every minute we can, just in case.
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Posted on December 27th, 2007 by Auto News
This is cause to celebrate or a sign of Armageddon: Hybridization has made it to the full-size truck. Say howdy to the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado hybrid.
As with the Escalade hybrid and the Chevrolet Tahoe hybrid (which we recently tested and generally enjoyed), the Silverado hybrid is a full (two-mode) hybrid. As such, it is able to get on with electric power??”up to 30 mph??”or gasoline or a combination of both. In the interest of retaining a high tow rating, which is more than respectable at 6100 pounds, as well as a 1400-pound cargo payload, the Silverado hybrid (like all of GM??™s full-size-truck hybrids) uses a 6.0-liter V-8 with cylinder deactivation and variable cam timing mated to a 300-volt electrical system that also provides power to the electric power-steering system and accessories.
Also like the others, the Silverado hybrid will feature GM??™s innovative new dual-mode transmission, which is basically two transmissions in one: a CVT-style ???electrically variable transmission??? for low-load driving conditions and a four-speed automatic for towing and higher-load driving conditions, either of which can pass the power back and forth seamlessly.
The result is a full-size pickup that should achieve some 40-percent-better fuel economy in combined city and highway driving than a comparable gas-only Silverado. We expect its figures to be about the same as the Chevrolet Tahoe hybrid we tested, which is rated at 21 city/22 highway for two-wheel-drive models and 20/20 for four-wheel drive. With the Silverado??™s 26-gallon fuel tank, this gives the hybrid a cruising range of more than 500 miles.
The Silverado hybrid will be available only in crew-cab body style in the Pure Pickup trim level. It will come standard with stability control, a trailer package, three-zone air conditioning, a locking rear axle, and an aero-enhancing three-piece bed cover. The front end will have a lower air dam, and the 18-inch wheels will be wrapped in low-rolling-resistance rubber. Specifically tuned shocks with hydraulic body mounts are said to offer improved ride quality as a side effect, one we expect few people would throw back.
Oh, and of course there is a huge ???HYBRID??? decal that spans both side doors to make it easy for the ranch hands to figure out which one to use for target practice.
Offering hybrid power in a full-size truck is a significant step in the industry. Not that long ago, hybrid technology was seen as limited in effectiveness to small, often weirdly packaged economy sedans for which the sole mission was the highest possible fuel economy. Attempts to bring hybrid power to other vehicle types have had mixed success. But as the consortium of GM, Chrysler, and BMW continues to roll out planned uses for the two-mode system they designed together, in larger vehicles (the Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen two-mode hybrid SUVs are also debuting in L.A.) it has the potential to change consumer perceptions about hybrids. Skepticism regarding the feasibility of a hybrid vehicle larger than a Toyota Prius seems to be waning, and based on our recent experience driving the Tahoe hybrid, we approve.
We don??™t expect the hybrid onslaught to slow. Toyota has pledged to offer hybrid versions of all the vehicles it builds by decade??™s end, and that, presumably, means we??™ll have hybrid full-size Sequoias and Tundras in the future.
If enough people buy in, they might even prove profitable. GM execs admit that won??™t be the case in the first year of Silverado hybrid sales, but it certainly is the goal in subsequent years.
And so, if Chevrolet can keep the price of the Silverado hybrid within the realm of attainability (GM has pledged that the hybrid will not be the most expensive model in the Silverado lineup), we predict that the promise of low-20s fuel economy and a high, 500-mile range will be enough to win over the hardened hearts of truck buyers by the thousands.
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Posted on December 24th, 2007 by Auto News
It will be a big day for a little car when the Chevrolet Aveo makes its world premi??re at the Frankfurt auto show.
The successor to the five-door Chevrolet Aveo (n?©e Daewoo Kalos) is a fastback with a new, more fuel-efficient gasoline engine. Like the previous hatchback, the new model was engineered and designed by GM Daewoo and will continue to be built in South Korea.
This subcompact front-wheel-drive car will go on sale in Europe in March 2008 and will be known as the Aveo throughout Europe in the future??”which is good, since we weren??™t sure how to pronounce Kalos anyway.
Style-wise, the design of the all-new Aveo is marked by a large, horizontally split grille with a color-keyed cross bar to show off the brand logo.
There now are two available gasoline engines: a new 84-hp 1.2-liter and the existing 98-hp, 1.4-liter engine that is available with an automatic transmission. Look for versions to run on natural gas, as several European countries offer a retrofit program.
In North America, the lowest-priced Chevy used to be the sales leader in the subcompact segment, but a plethora of newcomers from the Toyota Yaris to the Honda Fit and Nissan Versa has taken a slice of the pie.
The Aveo sedan got a major refresh for 2007, and the hatchback got a new name: Aveo5 (little else changed in this body style). A full redesign of the North American Aveo is still a few years out.
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Posted on December 21st, 2007 by Auto News
Those days of losing your Malibu renter in the Wal-Mart parking lot may soon be over; Chevy is showing an all-new ??™Bu at next month??™s Detroit auto show that will stand out like Mel Gibson at a Bar Mitzvah.
New from the rubberware up, the 2008 Malibu??”it??™s due in showrooms next fall??”rides on the same GM Epsilon platform as Saturn??™s new Aura and Pontiac??™s G6 and, like the G6, features a choice of 2.4-liter four-cylinder or 3.6-liter V-6, both of which will be available with six-speed automatics.
But the nice surprise here is the car??™s striking styling??”something we haven??™t seen in a Malibu since, er, the ??™64 original. And you??™d better get used to that new, dual-port grille up front as it??™s, supposedly, the bold new face of Chevy.
Ed Welburn??™s design team has done a commendable job of giving the traditionally-invisible Malibu a much classier and, yes, cooler, set of duds. We like that new grille treatment, those over-sized headlights, the swept-back screen, and the high-waist, low-roof, wheels-out-to-the-corners stance.
There??™s some nice detailing too, like the Nicole Richie??“thin panel gaps, the way the wheels fill out the arches, and the classy use of chrome around the side windows. It certainly looks a lot richer than something that will likely kick-off in price from around 17 grand.
As you??™d expect, the new Malibu has blossomed in size to reflect America??™s ever-blossoming waistlines. Compared to its predecessor, this new version is more than three inches longer, half an inch wider, and six-inches longer in the wheelbase.
Inside, the new Chevy takes a big step up in both design and use of premium materials. Gone is the previous cliff-face fascia and Rubbermaid trim; instead there??™s a striking, twin cockpit design with some classy two-tone trim options. Cocoa and Cashmere anyone?
Chevy has also loaded-up on safety features to reinforce the Malibu??™s standing as a family fave. Standard fixtures will include side curtain airbags, front seat-mounted thorax bags, and anti-lock brakes. Stability control is available as an option.
Three models will be on offer; base LS, mid-range LT and gussied-up LTZ. Standard motivation is GM??™s 164-hp 2.4-liter Ecotec four-cylinder, with the all-aluminum 3.6-liter 252-hp V-6 as an option.
We think it??™s wise to offer a four-cylinder in this class (unlike the V-6??“only Saturn Aura), as those models are significantly cheaper and offer large fuel-economy benefits. They, not surprisingly, out-sell V-6 models by a wide margin as well.
Opt for a four-cylinder LS or LT and the 2.4 comes with a four-speed auto. Spend the green on an LTZ 2.4 and you??™ll get the new Hydra-Matic six-speed??”the only four-cylinder/six-speed-auto combo in this segment. Go for the V-6 and the six-speed comes standard, with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters just like those on the Aura.
Whether this all-new Malibu will have what it takes to extricate buyers from their beloved Camrys and Accords is probably unlikely, even with that Cocoa and Cashmere trim. All we know is that finally Chevy has, at least on paper, its strongest challenger yet.
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Posted on December 21st, 2007 by Auto News
Chevy??™s new amped-up Equinox Sport??”we??™re not sure why it??™s not an SS either??”is due in showrooms next fall as a 2008 model. It gets GM??™s 263-horsepower 3.6-liter V-6 coupled to a six-speed automatic, a stiffer suspension, forged 18-inch wheels, a new look inside and out, and will be offered with either front- or all-wheel drive.
Swapping in the new V-6 and six-speed??”the same powertrain now used in everything from the Pontiac G6 to Saturn??™s large Outlook SUV as well as Equinox platform-mate Suzuki XL7??”gives the Equinox a 42-percent power bump over the 185-horsepower 3.4-liter in the base Equinox. According to Chevy, that should make for an under-seven-second 0-to-60-mph dash.
To sharpen the handling, the Sport gets stiffer bushings, beefier anti-roll bars, and slightly stiffer springs, while the ride height is dropped an inch. It also comes with a set of polished, forged-aluminum 18-inch rims wrapped with grippy 235/50 rubber (right).
Thankfully, the designers kept the changes subtle. Front and rear fascias come painted in body color, while up front there are new silver-painted trapezoidal air intakes, reminiscent of the Trailblazer SS, with matching chrome dual exhausts at the rear. The sporty theme apparently also entailed ditching the roof rack.
Inside, the front seats get extra bolstering, and can be ordered with optional perforated leather, all-black trim is standard, and there??™s a 140-mph speedo. The Sport also gets a new J-gate shifter??”What, Chevy??™s copying Jaguar these days? Pull down and across to get the manumatic feature. Too bad the steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters used in Saturn??™s Aura weren??™t incorporated, although we??™d probably make fun of paddles in an SUV like we did in the case of Mitsubishi??™s Outlander.
The new Equinox will go head-to-head with Mazda??™s fine-handling CX-7 (244 hp, starts at $24,345), and the punchy Toyota RAV4 Sport V-6 (269 hp, starts at $26,385). Rivalry in the GM fold will come from Saturn??™s next Vue Redline, which dumps the Honda V-6 for the identical 3.6-liter V-6.
There??™s no word on pricing for the Chevy, but expect it to kick-off around the $25-grand mark. And while the Suzuki XL7 may no longer one-up the Equinox in power, the Chevy still doesn??™t have a third-row.
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Posted on October 31st, 2007 by Auto News
There was a strange time warp at the 2006 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The calendar said it was January 2006 but the cars on display made many think the clock had been turned back more than three and a half decades.
On display were a new Shelby Mustang, a new Dodge Challenger and a new Chevrolet Camaro. The last time all of those constellations aligned was a quarter-century plus 11 years ago.
But it appears the pony car era, created in the mid-1960s with the birth of the original Ford Mustang and then resurrected a couple of years ago with the rebirth of the ‘69 Mustang as a 2005 model, is galloping again. Not only did Chevrolet unveil its Camaro concept but the Chrysler Group unveiled a very retro Dodge Challenger concept.
While the smoothly curvaceous Challenger looked like it was simply reissued, though in a somewhat more modern size because of its Chrysler LX underpinnings, the Camaro concept had a more contemporary and angular appearance that looked cutting edge, and we mean that both literally and figuratively.
This was not a retro or reissued ‘69 Camaro. In fact, some might have wondered if this car was designed in the Chevy studio at all. It’s edginess looked Cadillac inspired, and if all you caught was a quick glance through the crowd around the car, you might have thought you’d wandered out of the GM display and into the Mitsubishi stand.
GM says the Camaro concept is a “thoroughly modern interpretation of the classic sport coupe” with “dramatic design” and “responsive performance.”
GM still is working on the rear-wheel-drive Zeta platform on which a future production Camaro would be built. The concept version was based on the same architecture as the Pontiac Solstice, though that platform was modified to accept a 400-horsepower, small-block V8 powertrain borrowed from the Chevrolet Corvette.
By using Active Fuel Management to shut off cylinders not needed for highway cruising, GM figures the modern Camaro could achieve 30 miles per gallon in such circumstances, yet still provide the off-the-line muscle that made the pony cars appealing in the first place. Putting that power to the pavement in the concept cars are huge 22-inch rear wheels, with 21s up front to provide steering control and with 14-inch disc brake rotors to provide stopping power.
While the exterior has a modern edge and attitude, the interior has more retro styling cues with two large main gauges and with other gauges located at the front of the center console.
GM says the concept “is intended to explore customer reaction to design and engineering elements that might lead to an all-new version of the Camaro,” the Chevy pony car that ceased production after the 2002 model year.
The Camaro concept was unveiled at the 2006 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. We’re looking for production to resume as soon as 2008.
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