A new Chevrolet midsize truck is on the pipeline of General Motors in their factory in Thailand. The units will be sent to Europe and to some countries in Southeast Asia. This strategy forms part of the plan to beef up their operations in these pickup regional markets.
GM executives reveal to the press that the company aims for 100,000 units of this new truck for its first year with productions taking place mainly in Brazil and Thailand. The production in Thailand also helps GM keep the prices of the vehicles down in the region. Brazil is another ideal center for the demand for midsize trucks.
The demand for vehicles domestically and abroad is on the rise as economies of different countries start to recover with GM and other car makers like Nissan and Honda increasing their productions for the year. The production in Thailnad for these carmakers has doubled from January through May.
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If you’re in Europe and you’ve been dying to get your hands on a Corvette ZR1, you may be in for quite a challenge. Shortage of the model’s demand is reported today. It might not be able to meet the European demand. No worries, GeigerCars came up with a solution. After all, they’re not nicknamed the “German tuner of American Iron” for nothing. The company tinkered with the Corvette Grand Sport and was able to boost it up to near-ZR1 levels.
First of all, GeigerCars installed a 6.2L V8 engine on the Grand Sport. This boosted the car’s power from 430HP to a tantalizing 588HP on the tracks. This definitely made it possible for Gieger GS to hit the 60-mark in less than 4 seconds. It might not be quite as fast or powerful as the ZR1 supercar, but 639 horsepower and a 3.3 sprint are certainly figures worth boasting about.
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When Corvette released the Z06 in 2006, they gave consumers a bridge to connect with the racing world. The ZR1 even got production cars closer to racing. Tract to street tradition is further strengthened this year when Chevrolet releases the Limited Edition Corvette Z06 Carbon.
The limited edition Corvette is a celebration of 50 years of memory when the car first joined the 24-hour race in Le Mans. The new Corvette is a combo of the 7.0L V8 LS7 of the Z06 and the brake package and suspension setup of the ZR1. The peak output is still pegged at 505 horsepower.
The aggressive stance of the car can be attributed to the 20 inch rear and 19 inch front wheels hugged by PS2 Michelin tires. Carbon ceramic brakes from Brembo make sure you can stop on time. The suspension employs a Magnetic Selective Ride Control. Completing the package are carbon fiber elements to accessorize the car.
Consumers who want to get mechanical upgrades can get the performance package for Z07. When you get the upgrade, you will have your 2011 Z06 pimped with all the chassis upgrades and the new wheels.
Another carbon package for your regular Z06 is the CFZ Z06 which will give it carbon fiber rockers, roof panel, splitter, and spoiler (by the way, word on the street is that Hertz is planning to use some of these carbon fiber items on their next-gen Corvette ZHZ Convertible). You can get these with or without the Z07 package.
The Corvette Z06 Carbon Limited Edition upgrades will be rolling out this summer. By the way, there will only be two colors for this setup, you can get Supersonic Blue or Inferno Orange.
The recent SEMA auto show displayed great Camaro concepts. Chevrolet may have taken the spotlight as they took off the covers of five tuned Camaro showcasing the full range of medications that can be done with the car.
The Chevrolet Camaro concepts are radical but what is nice about them is that the car maker kept everything feasible and realistic so they can be seen in production units. Most of the accessories and modifications can be ordered through dealerships for installation. This move allows owners to personalize their ride with the charges rolled into the cost of the vehicle.
Here’s the Camaro line up at SEMA:
- Jay Leno Camaro – this one has the turborcharged version of the V-6 3.6L engine which comes standard for the LT and LS models. The force-fed engine boasts of 425 horsepower.
- Camaro Synergy – The Synergy employs a special green paint that will be offered through a special edition by mid 2010. It also comes with a 21-inch rim, performance intake setup, and full bodykit.
- Camaro Chroma – What will magnet you to this car are the custom graphics that emphasizes how the ride can be customized depending on your personal taste and how everything can be done through a dealer of Chevrolet.
- Camaro Graphics and Camaro Dusk – Both cars display extensive graphic details which are aimed at getting feedback from Chevy fans for its potential production.
Chevrolet also displayed the Silverado ZR2 concept and the 2010 Corvette Grand Sport in full accessories.
So with the acknowledged success of the Camaro, and even the (dare I say it) the Mustang, one thing is clear to the automotive industry: retro is back, in a big way. And with the pending redesign of the classic American sportscar, the Corvette, slated for 2012, many Chevrolet car fans and Corvette owners are asking an increasingly pressing question – what does the future (or in this case, the past) hold for this brand-leading icon? And how do current Corvette owners satisfy their retro-car thirst in the meantime?
Retro Corvette C7
From the standpoint of pure anticipation, there’s much speculation but little hard fact to go on at this point regarding the C7. But recent revelations seem to indicate that Chevrolet will try to duplicate the success it has had with the Camaro by drawing upon the Corvette’s illustrious design history. In fact, as recently as September the head of global design for General Motors, Ed Welburn, was quoted by Inside Line as saying that the split-window design seen on the Corvette Stingray concept in the second Transformers movie is something he “expect(s) for the next Corvette.”
For Chevrolet car fans, this is a tantalizing glimpse into the mind of the man responsible for the Camaro, and who also holds sway over the future of the ‘Vette. What then, do you do if you thirst for a retro look and feel from a ‘Vette you already own while you are waiting on the release of the C7?
If you’re saving your pennies for the rumored 2012 release of the redesign, you might satisfy your retro-car thirst by adding an aftermarket product to your ‘Vette like a muscle-car sounding SLP Corvette Exhaust to give you a muscle car look and sound without burdening yourself with a new car payment. Or if you have a truly retro C4, you could get the benefits of modern engineering with a Corvette C4 exhaust and get the best of both worlds.
So while many hold their breath and wait to see the first spy photos of the real prototypes, they can enjoy the rich design history and the improvements of modern engineering on current and past generations of Corvettes – waiting, of course, on the C7.
Since the Chevrolet 2010 Camaro went on sale, the list of orders has stretched to 25,000 units of which
only half have been delivered. The demand for the car seems to be ironic with the current drop of overall sales in the auto industry.
A 2010 Camaro leaves dealerships in a matter of a few days with a smiling new owner behind the wheels. The high demand also causes the going on price to be $500 over the tag price. No one is complaining and unlike other cars in the market, the Camaro does not have to go with some cash back guarantee or any incentives.
If critics are looking for a good decision GM made, it may well be the production of this old muscle car. The Camaro is hitting the top of the charts.
Consumers can choose from a range of available 2010 Camaro in the market today. The entry level unit has a V6 power plant beneath its hood. There is also an LT midrange option, and a V8 SS models with a displacement of 6.2L.
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Small, fuel-efficient cars may be the current trend in Europe but manufacturers do not turn their heads away from a market which goes for performance vehicles. One of the hottest selling cars in America today will be crossing the waters and captivate Europe. The muscle car Chevrolet Camaro will be in European dealerships by 2010.
The details of the Camaro release in Europe have not been revealed to the public yet. The plan of bringing in the performance car to Europe has made some experts think if the Chevrolet badge will be used since it is linked to budget cars across Europe.
Chevrolet however reveals that they 
are planning to expand their range of products in Europe. According to insiders the American car manufacturer plans to double its European fleet by 2012.
Car industry experts are also looking into the high demand of the Chevrolet Camaro in the United States. They are worrying that there could be a supply shortage in case the Camaro will be shared with the European market.
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You might have seen the 2011 Volt from Chevrolet on the road, but in reality they were just mock ups built on the platforms of Malibu and Cruze. The real deal production prototypes cruise around the Warren Test Center of General Motors in Michigan.
The test mules are packed with lithium ion batteries, complex computer controls, a cooling system, and other necessities to make it cruise smoothly on the road. GM will be testing the configuration on 80 units until it goes to production by late 2010.
The prototypes that will eventually go into production are referred to as the integration vehicles since they combine the Volt power train and platform.
The integration achieves two goals. First, they validate the design, safety components, and performance of the car. The test runs also give GM designers and engineers an insight for their final moves before production kicks off.
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Chevrolet announced plans to update their whole line for the 2010 models of the Corvette brand. The changes will affect the entry level Corvette to the ZR1 supercar.
Corvette will be releasing the Grand Sport Model which will have a suspension system fit for the race tracks and wider body architecture. The Grand Sport Coupe is said to have a sticker price beginning at $55720 while the Grand Sport Convertible will require $59530.
The tag for the coupe increased by $6205 compared to the 2009 base model while the convertible is $5360 more expensive against the previous year’s release. Corvette owners say though that it is worth all the money.
The Grand Sport line can race from 0 to 60 in a matter of 4 seconds. Handling issues from the Z51 has also been improved with new gearing, stabilizer bars, spring configurations, revised shock absorbers, and wider rims and tires.
The LS3 engine is 0.2 second faster than the 2009 model’s performance. Consumers also have an option to upgrade the exhaust system to two modes which can boost the power from 430 horsepower to an impressive 436 hp. The torque will also be improved from 424 to 428 lb-ft.
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After the momentous release of the Corvette ZR1 and the Competition Sport, Chevrolet has unveiled a new addition their family, the Corvette GT1 Championship Edition.
This Corvette edition will be available in three models, a convertible, a coupe and Z06. All are to commemorate the finale of the Corvette C6.R team’s partaking in the GT1 class of Le Mans and ALMS.
The model road cars will begin its processing by spring. They will be released in a yellow base with black accentuation, or a black base with yellow accentuation. The design of the car is crafted with the “Jake” Corvette Racing logo. On the lower portion of the car it will display the racing team’s triumphs.
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