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You Can Get An Active Rear Wing On Your C8 Corvette For $3.5K

October 28, 2021 in Uncategorized | Permalink

Rumors have swirled around the Corvette C8 adopting some form of active aerodynamics for quite some time but as of yet, such technology hasn’t been implemented into the mid-engined sports car.

That’s where Victor Racing comes in as it has developed an active wing that consists of a 70-inch carbon fiber airfoil which is operated by a pair of fast-acting actuators. Dubbed the ACT-C8 Smart Active Aero Wing, it needs to be plugged into a 12-volt power source and from there, its onboard sensors and software automatically fire up.

Victor Racing says the wing includes GPS, accelerometer, and gyroscopic sensors that can adjust it into five different positions, dubbed DRS, Downforce 1, Downforce 2, Downforce 3, and Aerobraking. Users can also define the speeds at which they want the wing to adjust and can also determine how much G-force is required under braking before the wing starts to act as an aerobrake.

The ACT-C8 Smart Active Aero Wing isn’t as subtle as some other active rear wings produced by leading OEMs and the silver actuators are clearly visible. Nevertheless, an advanced wing like this could be perfect for C8 owners looking to eke out as much performance on the track as possible. Moreover, it also includes a demo mode that allows the operator to adjust it for displays at car meets and events.

Victor Racing will showcase the wing at next month’s SEMA Show in Las Vegas and start shipping units from December 1, 2021. As for the price, it’s a cool $3,499.

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Tags: Chevrolet, Corvette, news, Tuning

GM Extends Chevrolet Bolt Production Pause For Another Two Weeks

September 10, 2021 in Uncategorized | Permalink

General Motors is extending the production shutdown at the Michigan plant, where the Chevrolet Bolt is made, for another two weeks following a recall related to the battery units catching fire.

Reuters reports that the pause in production will last until at least September 24 as “a result of a battery pack shortage.” GM added that it will not resume production or sales of the Bolt until it is satisfied that the recall remedy will address the fire risk.

GM stopped production of the Chevrolet Bolt on August 30 as it sought to determine the cause of fires that are originating from the battery modules in some cars built since 2017. That shutdown was initially supposed to end on September 6. Just three days before that, though, GM said it wasn’t yet satisfied that its supplier, LG Chem, had yet become capable of building new batteries without any defects.

“If we took the battery stock that’s in the field right now or at a warehouse, we’re not confident that it is defect-free,” a GM spokesperson told the Detroit Free Press. “Because we are not confident that LG has the capability to build defect-free products, we’ve put the repairs on hold and we are not building new Bolts. We’re not going to start recall repairs or start building new Bolts until we’re confident LG will build defect-free products.”

Indeed, GM has reason to be cautious, since it has had to recall the Bolt twice. In July, it announced that Bolts that had already received the fix from a 2020 recall had to be recalled again. As a result, the automaker has had to widen its recall to 140,000 vehicles at a cost that is estimated to reach $1.8 billion.

GM’s spokesperson said earlier this month that it and LG Chem have hundreds of people working round the clock to find the cause of and a solution to the battery defects.

Tags: Chevrolet, Chevrolet Bolt, Electric Vehicles, GM, news, Production, Reports

First Batch Of 2022 C8 Corvettes Sold Out In Australia Before The Cars Reach Local Shores

July 23, 2021 in Uncategorized | Permalink

The first allocation of 2022 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray models have been accounted for in Australia, even though the mid-engined sports car has yet to reach local shores.

General Motors Specialty Vehicles (GMSV) has confirmed that all 250 examples have been sold, although it reiterated that this is only the first allocation and more are on the way.

Chevrolet’s Bowling Green assembly site will begin building right-hand drive Corvettes for Australia later this year before customer deliveries begin in late December or early January. Those who missed out on the initial allocation will still have a chance to buy a 2022 example, although GMSV failed to reveal how many more 2022 models are earmarked for the country. It did confirm to Car Advice that 2023 models will also be available at a later date.

Local pricing for the Corvette 2LT Coupe starts at AU$144,990 (US$106,756) before on-road costs and increases to AU$160,500 (US$118,000) for the 3LT Coupe and AU$189,990 (US$139,889) for the flagship Corvette Carbon Edition. Convertible variants of the 2LT and 3LT are also available, each with an AU$15,000 (US$11,044) premium over their coupe counterparts. It remains to be seen how many buyers have actually managed to lock in an allocation for these prices, however, as many GMSV dealerships are said to be charging between AU$20,000 (US$14,726) and AU$40,000 (US$29,452) in delivery fees to boost their profits.

GMSV isn’t concerned with this, though, simply stating that “delivery fees are at the discretion of the dealer.”

Tags: Australia, Chevrolet, Corvette, GM, news, Reports

One Car Dealership Tried Remote Delivery Services For 7 Years, Didn’t Work Out As Expected

June 19, 2021 in Uncategorized | Permalink

Remote services are all the rage these days following the first pandemic wave in early 2020 that forced many business, including dealerships, to close their doors to the public. We’ve come a long way since then, but many car dealers are still bucking the trend of offering remote delivery.

Not everyone is sold on the practice though, including Alderman’s Chevrolet-Buick-GMC in Rutland, Vermont, which had experimented with delivering their vehicles all over New England free of charge for seven years, from 2011 through 2018 before ending the service for good. Even during the pandemic lockdown, the dealership decided to go against the prevailing wisdom and continue serving customers locally exclusively with in-story delivery.

What happened?

The decision to end remote services, the practice of delivering vehicles to buyers from hither and yon for free, was not reached easily. Intended as a way to improve customer service, the offer was taken up by many buyers, but the dealership found itself dedicating employees to making deliveries and retaining fewer and fewer customers.

“What we were doing was really spreading ourselves thin, not executing as well and raising expenses,” Mark Alderman, general manager, told Automotive News.

It’s all comes down to returning customers

The dealership found that up to 30 percent of the 1,100 new and used vehicles it sold annually were delivered across state lines, to people for whom it would not make sense to return for service. It also found that finance and insurance revenue was hurting as a result of the free deliveries.

“We were doing it because we wanted to sell more cars,” Alderman said. “When we looked back on it, there were a lot of benefits to the dealership and the customer experience that get lost when you ship a car.”

By 2014, the dealership reached its lowest customer retention rate of 42 percent. In 2018, Alderman decided to stop offering the service and instead mandated that each new vehicle be delivered in the dealership’s service lane, where customers could take a picture with their new car and a sign proclaiming where they got the car. The photos would then be posted to Facebook and the customers tagged.

Even through the pandemic, when low inventory meant that people from all over New England were shopping for cars anywhere they could find them, Alderman says he doesn’t regret focusing on local. Salespeople do have to make their sales online, but they’ve taken to posting videos that demonstrate vehicle features and hosting Zoom chats with customers to talk them through the purchasing process.

All of which is leading to some of the highest loyalty levels the dealership has ever seen. In 2020, 62 percent of customers were returning customers and so far in 2021, 69 percent have purchased a vehicle with Alderman before.

Dealerships “are afraid of the customer walking away,” Alderman told Autonews. “We just made a deep commitment to not try to be everything to everybody, of trying to be just really excellent in our space.”

Tags: Buick, Chevrolet, Dealers, GMC, news, Reports, USA

Corvette Lineup Set To Expand With Five Variants Including A 1000+ HP Zora And An EV

February 9, 2021 in Uncategorized | Permalink

The Corvette C8 is a hot commodity and it will reportedly be joined by five additional variants in the next few years.

According to Automobile Magazine, the first to arrive will be the 2022 Corvette Z06. It’s slated to feature a 5.5-liter flat-plane crank V8 similar to the one used in the C8.R.

While that’s been expected, the publication says it will produce between 615-625 hp (459–466 kW / 624–634 PS) and have approximately 480 lb-ft (651 Nm) of torque. They go on to say the naturally aspirated engine will rev to 9,000 rpm.

Pricing could start around $80,000 and the model is slated to be offered with optional carbon fiber wheels.

Also Read: 2022 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Prototype Spied With Aggressive Wing, Covered Wheels

One year later, Chevrolet will reportedly introduce the new ZR1. It’s slated to have a twin-turbo version of the aforementioned 5.5-liter V8. This will reportedly enable the roughly $120,000 sports car to produce around 825–850 hp (615–634 kW / 836–862 PS).

The 2023 model year is also expected to see the introduction of a plug-in hybrid Corvette that could be called the E-Ray. It will reportedly have two front-mounted electric motors and possibly a third one sandwiched between the engine and transmission.

Additional information is limited, but speculation suggests the all-wheel drive E-Ray will slot between the Z06 and ZR1. If that’s the case, we can expect performance specs and pricing to mirror its positioning. In other words, around 700 hp (522 kW / 710 PS) and $100,000.

Roughly one year later, Chevrolet will reportedly introduce an electric Corvette. It’s expected to be based on the plug-in hybrid variant, but feature a larger battery pack and a rear-mounted electric motor or motors.

Last but not least is the long-rumored Corvette Zora. It’s slated to have the twin-turbo 5.5-liter V8 from the ZR1 as well as the plug-in hybrid system from the E-Ray. This could give the model a combined output in excess of 1,000 hp (746 kW / 1,014 PS). Despite producing four figures, the Zora could be a relative bargain as the publication suggests pricing could start around $150,000.

Tags: Chevrolet, Corvette, Electric Vehicles, news, PHEV, Reports

Some C8 Corvette Owners Are Experiencing Condenser Damage

February 1, 2021 in Uncategorized | Permalink

While the Chevrolet C8 Corvette has been extremely well-received by the press and customers alike, owners are starting to experience one particularly annoying problem.

Found at either corner of the front bumper are large openings for both the air conditioner and radiator condensers. For whatever reason, General Motors didn’t design any kind of grille to prevent damage to them. And now, with deliveries of the 2020MY Corvette wrapped up, owners are starting to report damage to these condensers.

Images and videos posted to social media show that the fins of the condensers are being damaged and bent after impacts with small stones and other road debris. Of course, this isn’t a problem exclusive to the ‘Vette as many other cars (and motorcycles) experience similar damage to the fins of radiators, condensers, and front-mounted intercoolers. Pictures of the red C8 Corvette you see show how its condensers look like after just 689 miles of driving.

A C8 Corvette with a mesh grille protector

In a statement issued to The Drive, General Motors confirmed that damaged fins will not impact the performance of the sports car.

“What people are seeing is cosmetic,” GM said. “We have determined that it does not degrade the performance of the vehicle.”

While the damage doesn’t impact performance, it can be quite an eyesore, particularly since the condensers of the C8 are so visible.

Fortunately, a number of aftermarket companies, such as Custom Car Grills, RaceMesh Grilles and Radiator Grill Store, are offering grille mesh inserts designed to solve this problem. All of them are very affordable and appear to work effectively in preventing damage to the condenser fins. Makes you wonder why GM didn’t offer mesh covers in the first place, doesn’t it?

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Tags: Chevrolet, Corvette, news, Reports

QOTD: Which Discontinued Cars From 2020 Will You Miss The Most?

January 1, 2021 in Uncategorized | Permalink

With a number of cars leaving the US market this year, many people might be disappointed to see some of their favorite vehicles ride off into the sunset. The silver lining is that there will be plenty of new ones to look forward to in the next 12 months, but it still begs the question: which cars being discontinued for 2021 will you miss the most?

This list is in no particular order, but of the many cars leaving the market, the following are what we think are eight of the most notable ones.

1. Mercedes-AMG GT R

Read: Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series Costs As Much As Two AMG GT Rs

The AMG GT R, whose demise was confirmed a few days ago, was one of the best sports cars on the market. With its raucous 4.0-liter biturbo V8, the top-of-the-line AMG was a blast to drive, but also livable if you were willing to put up with its track-focused suspension. However, we can’t be too disappointed with its discontinuation, as Mercedes also has the Black Series and plans to fill the GT R-shaped void in their lineup by buffing up the other GT models a bit.

2. Chevrolet Impala

See: GM Builds The Last Chevrolet Impala, Exits The Large Sedan Segment In North America

While certainly not the most exciting car on this list, the Chevy Impala undoubtedly has the longest history, stretching back 62 years and only taking a break from production twice, between 1985 and 1994, and 1996 to 2000. Having earned its reputation as an everyman’s large sedan, the Impala has fallen victim to the ever-growing crossover and SUV craze. Despite the nameplate’s history, in a market with such a proclivity for these high-riding vehicles, large sedans are making increasingly less sense. As a result, Chevy is discontinuing the Impala for 2021.

3. Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 / GT350R

Watch: Which Ford Mustang Shelby Is Better At Autocross: The GT350R Or GT500?

Despite a glorious flat-plane crank V8 and great handling, the GT350 and GT350R are being discontinued to make room for the upcoming Mach 1. The latter was met with a less-than-perfect reception upon its reveal, with many saying it’s not a true Mach 1 and that it doesn’t differentiate itself enough from the GT. While we’re sad to see the GT350/R go, Ford has not stopped trying to reassure us that the Mach 1 will be a suitable replacement.

4. Alfa Romeo 4C Spider

With the 4C Coupe having been discontinued in 2018, the convertible now follows suit. The 4C has always excelled in the “simplify, then add lightness” philosophy of Lotus founder Colin Chapman and while it’s no Lotus, the 4C Spider definitely embodies that philosophy, going so far as to not even include power steering. The car only produced 237 hp from its 1.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, but it also only weighed 2,487 lbs. This not only allowed it to handle very well, but also be pretty quick in a straight line, all thanks to that low power-to-weight ratio. Unfortunately, it seems most people found the $67,150 price tag to be a little too steep for the featherweight Alfa and it will be discontinued for 2021.

5. BMW i8

With its futuristic styling, the i8 stood out not just from every other BMW, but most other cars on the road. While we will miss its unique looks and all the attention they garnered, we can understand why it is being discontinued, as it didn’t really have the walk to back up the talk. Its hybrid powertrain made only 369 hp and didn’t quite deliver the performance to match the i8’s exotic appearance, leaving many potential buyers wondering why they shouldn’t just buy something that performs better for the same price.

6. Honda Civic Coupe

Read: The Death Of The Honda Civic Coupe Marks The End Of An Era

While the sedan and hatchback remain, the coupe variant of the Civic will be gone for the next generation. Being a staple of the cheap, fun performance car world, the Civic coupe and its Si variant remain fondly in the memories of many. Cheap enough to be a first car, and fun enough to be a fourth, the Civic coupe’s appeal has spread across many demographics over its lifetime. That being said, we can understand why a front-wheel-drive coupe such as the Civic is being discontinued as the segment is no longer popular.

7. Lexus GS

Driven: 2018 Lexus GS F Is Proof That Power Isn’t Everything

While the Lexus GS wasn’t too exciting, it did a very good job at what it was designed to do: be a comfortable, spacious luxury car. However, what we will really miss is the GS’ performance version, the GS F. The last of what many consider to be a traditional sport sedan, the GS F held on to its naturally aspirated V8 while its competitors turned to forced induction. Even though it made less power than its German rivals, Lexus dared to do something different from the norm. They understood that it’s not always about outright performance; sometimes it’s about the overall experience of driving the car, and in that, the GS shone. Axed to make room for the smaller and better-selling ES, the GS will likely be missed by many, and definitely by those who had the pleasure of sampling the F model.

8. Honda Fit

More: All-New Honda Fit Goes On Sale In Japan With Two Powertrains, Optional AWD

The Honda Fit was actually quite the little car. Very practical and spacious for its size, the Fit often surprised people, even its owners, about what could fit (no pun intended) inside the small hatchback. In addition, while not often talked about, it was actually a spritely little car, being able to handle pretty well due its low curb weight of about 2600 lbs. Despite everything good about it, the Fit will be discontinued for 2021 due to slow sales, and we’re sad to see it go.

What other models have been discontinued?

In addition to these eight, as listed by J.D. Power, there are many other cars being discontinued for 2021 in the United States. These include the Acura RLX, Aston Martin Rapide, Bentley Mulsanne, BMW M8, Buick Regal, Cadillac CT6, Chevrolet Sonic, Dodge Grand Caravan and Journey, Fiat 124 and 500L, Ferrari GTC4Lusso, Ford F-150 Raptor and Fusion, Honda Civic Si, Hyundai Elantra GT, Jaguar XF Sportbrake and XE, Kia Optima, Lincoln Continental and MKZ, Mercedes-Benz SL and SLC, and the Toyota Yaris.

It should also be noted that some of these aforementioned vehicles are being discontinued only because a successor is on the cards. Such is the case with the Ford Raptor, Honda Civic Si, Kia Optima (albeit under a different name), and Mercedes-Benz SL.

Tags: Alfa Romeo, Alfa Romeo 4C, AMG, BMW, BMW i8, Chevrolet, Chevrolet Impala, Ford, Ford Mustang, Honda, Honda Civic, Honda Civic Si, Honda Fit, Lexus, Lexus GS, Lexus GS F, Mercedes, Mercedes AMG GT, news, QOTD, Shelby

This Is NOT How You Do A Burnout In A C7 Corvette Z06

November 17, 2020 in Uncategorized | Permalink

Doing a burnout in a powerful car like the C7 Corvette Z06 is one way to show off. However, just because you can drive a Z06, that doesn’t mean you can actually do a burnout in one, as this video reveals.

This clip was shared online a few days ago and shows someone trying to light up the rear tires. While it’s unclear if it was the owner behind the wheel, the person driving maybe should have tried their skills on something cheaper before doing it in a car like the C7 Z06.

That’s because, as they attempt to spin up the rear wheels, all they do is burn the clutch to smithereens. Smoke can be seen billowing out from the underside of the car for several seconds before the driver decides enough is enough and lets off the accelerator.

One would have thought that, once they tried to do a burnout and realized the rear tires aren’t spinning, they’d let off the accelerator. In addition, most drivers would immediately recognize the smell of the burning clutch and again, let off the throttle. This driver did neither of those two things and kept on trying, destroying the clutch in the process.

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Tags: Chevrolet, Chevrolet Videos, Corvette, news, Offbeat News, Video

These Two C5 Corvettes Were Converted To Look Like The 1953 C1

November 8, 2020 in Uncategorized | Permalink

A pair of modified 2003 Corvettes will be available at the Las Vegas Mecum Auction event running from November 13-14.

Both vehicles were built by Advanced Automotive Tech (AAT) of Rochester Hills, Michigan, and were designed to make C5 Corvette models look like the original, first-generation Corvette from 1953. Just 200 examples are said to have been produced.

The first example featured is number 143 and is painted in Anniversary Red. It has a touch over 47,000 miles (~75,600 km) on the clock and has its seats and other interior components finished in Shale.

Few details have been provided about the second Corvette AAT conversion that will also be sold at the auction. With that being said, images show that it is painted in white and features an exceptionally bright interior dominated by red leather with a handful of white leather accents, including across parts of the dashboard, steering wheel and gear knob.

AAT-modified C5 Corvettes are interesting, to say the least. The front includes headlights similar to those of the original C1 Corvette, as well as a classic chrome grille mimicking the look of the C1. In addition, there are curvaceous front wheel arches to add to the classic looks of the car.

As weird as the front of the ‘Vette is, it is the rear where things become truly bizarre. Much like other Corvettes, as well as other classic American cars from the same time period, there are large fins stretching out from the haunches, as well as circular taillights.

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Tags: Auction, Chevrolet, Corvette, news, Tuning, Used Cars

GM Full-Size Truck Inventories At “Historically Low Levels” As Demand Surpasses Supply

September 18, 2020 in Uncategorized | Permalink

The coronavirus pandemic hammered the auto industry as plants and dealerships were closed due to stay-at-home orders.

Both have since reopened and auto sales have quickly rebounded following steep declines earlier this year. Unsurprisingly, trucks have led the way but demand is on the verge of outstripping supply.

While it’s no secret that truck inventories have been running low, CNBC reports GM is facing “historically low levels” of supply. In particular, the company only has about 20 days worth of GMC Sierra pickups which is far less than the typical 75-90 day supply. The situation is largely the same at Chevrolet as they have approximately 26 days worth of inventory.

Also Read: Pickups Are Cash Cows, But Supplies Are Starting To Run Low

Of course, GM got hit by a double whammy of last year’s UAW strike and then the coronavirus pandemic. Both caused plants to close and inventories levels to drop.

However, GMC’s Duncan Aldred suggested strong sales are primarily responsible as he said “We’re continuing to sell faster than we build. That’s not a comment on the build schedule, that’s a comment on how fast we’re selling them.”

GM’s second quarter results showed year-to-date sales of the Silverado 1500 increased 4.1% compared to 2019, while the GMC Sierra 1500 was up to 6.0%. Sales of the heavy duty variants also climbed on a year-to-date basis.

At the time, GM noted “solid demand translated to stronger average transaction pricing and lower incentives, with full-size pickup ATPs increasing $1,526 (£1,176 / €1,287) versus the first quarter.”

Of course, there are some downsides as customers can have a hard time finding the exact truck they want. Strong demand and low inventories also discourage discounts, so you might have to pay more to get behind the wheel of a pickup.

Tags: Chevrolet, Chevrolet Silverado, GM, GMC, GMC Sierra, news, Reports

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