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Chevrolet Cruze hatchback show car revealed
Confirming the recent rumours that have been circulating on the web, General Motors have released the first images and details of the 5-door Chevrolet Cruze hatchback. The show car will be officially unveiled at the 2010 Paris Motor Show on the last day of September.
In typical GM fashion, the Cruze hatchback shown in Paris is technically a show car, but is really little more than a gussied-up version of the upcoming production model. It’s a safe bet that styling will remain unchanged, with the only likely styling changes applied to the blue headlights, LED fog lamps, and blue-painted brake calipers.
Chevrolet designed the Cruze hatchback to retain the same stance as its sedan sibling. To make that task simpler, it looks as though each body panel forward of the B-pillar is identical to the sedan — and that’s not a bad thing.
The range of engines and trims will mirror that of the saloon, although the new hatchback will be launched with Euro V-compliant engines, which will find their way into the saloon in due course.
This five-door Cruze, which sits on GM’s Delta II platform like the Opel Astra, has neat proportions and shares styling cues with the sedan – the front end is mostly identical while the profile signature line and the placement of door handles are familiar. It remains to be seen if there’s any change to the “double cockpit” interior.
The company has confirmed that the five-door, five-seat car will have a 400-litre boot (50 litres less than the saloon), with 60/40 split-folding rear seats. GM currently intends to launch the vehicle across Europe in mid-2011 and we can expect the model to reach other markets soon after.
Chevrolet Malibu LTZ 2010
The 2010 Malibu has three trim levels: LS, LT, and LTZ. All models come with a 169-hp, 2.4-liter E85-compatible four-cylinder engine as standard equipment. The LS includes a four-speed automatic transmission. The LT and LTZ include a six-speed automatic transmission. Optional on the LT and LTZ is a 252-hp, 3.6-liter V6, matched with a six-speed automatic. The Malibu comes with standard safety features such as seat-mounted thorax airbags, side-curtain airbags, stability control, traction control, and anti-lock brakes. Bluetooth is standard on the LTZ, optional on the LT. New for 2010, driver power lumbar is standard on all trims.
This latest Malibu mirrors the dressy exterior styling of several mega-bucks German touring sedans, while the fit and finish of body parts, the precise consistency of seams as body panels merge, also compares keenly to German cars. The stylish treatment carries over to the interior design of the Malibu, as the cabin looks handsome and deploys deluxe materials to cover dash, doors and seats.
The Malibu’s unibody platform features a long wheelbase and wide track with world-class chassis dynamics to set up its superior handling traits. A fully independent suspension features MacPherson struts with aluminum L-shaped control arms up front with a four-link rear suspension. V6-models like our LTZ tester get a slighter larger rear sway bar as well.
The exterior of this car is terrific. The exterior is sleek, handsome, and much fitter and hipper than the old Malibu. The headlights have a great design to them and the dual port Chevrolet grille works well on the front end. The panel gaps are all ridiculously tight!
Like the exterior the interior is sharp looking. It’s good in that it’s a creative design using contrasting colours and materials; the basic black is broken up with swathes of colour and aluminum-look plastic, and it does break up the humdrum. There were some nice touches inside: soft, teal mood lighting, a USB connector on the stereo (though, its removable rubber cover would be lost in a week), a cavernous centre console box and big, comfy, leather seats that are electrically adjustable. The leather seats looked great and were supportive. The fit and finish was terrific just like the exterior. The top of the dash has soft touch material (lesser trim models do not feature soft touch material). The wood is definitely fake. The upgraded Bose branded sound system sounded fine but not mind blowing. A USB port was on the head unit and connected to my iPhone quickly without an issue. The front seat backs are scooped out to increase rear seat leg/knee room. The automatic climate control is simple to use and the radio is the General Motors black tie unit. Overall the interior looked nice but I know the materials fall slightly in the lower trim models.
Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport 2010
Chevrolet recently gave a large crowd of Corvette fanatics a most welcome surprise. Rather than unveiling the 2010 Grand Sport at the New York auto show, the company instead chose to pull the covers off this hot new model during the 12th annual Corvette Bash at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
The 6.2-liter LS3 V8 remains, pumping out the same extremely capable 430 horsepower and 424 lb-ft or torque (436 horsepower and 428 lb-ft with the optional two-mode sport exhaust) and is easily manipulated to do your bidding through either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.
The engine, however, remains the LS3 small block V-8 from a standard Corvette, with horsepower figures of 430 or 436, the latter when equipped with the optional 2-mode exhaust system. Unlike the Z06, model the Grand Sport will be available as a convertible and with an automatic transmission. Gear ratios and final drives are those of the Z51 performance package.
The high-performance look of the Grand Sport has brought with it some genuine performance benefits, if not exactly in the same league as the Z06. First there’s the increased footprint represented by the wider tires. Then tucked inside the new, wider wheels are Z06-size brakes (14 inches across up front carrying six-piston calipers and 13.4 inches in the rear squeezed by four-piston calipers). These stoppers should help combat the bit of brake fade we noted in our test of the ’09 coupe, especially since the generous Z06-style cooling ducts in the bodywork should make a difference. The Grand Sport also uses the Z06′s stiff antiroll bars, and the damping and springs have been revised (though they are not the same spec as the Z06).
The Grand Sport’s calipers are distinguished by their silver with red lettering and the rotors have been enlarged to Z06-spec, 14-inch with six-piston calipers in front and 13.4-inch with four-piston grabbers in the rear. Also equipped are revised shock/spring settings and heavier duty stabilizer bars. The 2010 Grand Sport rides on unique 18-inch front and 19-inch rear wheels wrapped in sticky 275/35ZR18 and 325/30ZR19 tires, front and rear.
Every 2010 Corvette equipped with a manual transmission, including Grand Sport models, comes standard with a nearly foolproof launch-control program. Put the traction and stability control system in Competitive mode, depress the clutch, put the right pedal on the floor mat, and sidestep the clutch. Chevy says it has no worries about the durability of its driveline while using launch control, a little needle-poke to the folks at Nissan. A guy whose job it is to track-test cars can squeeze a slightly better acceleration figure than the launch control can. But he can’t be as consistent. And while using it, even the lamest Corvette driver never need worry about performance anxiety and/or clumsiness resulting in stoplight humiliation.
Think of the Corvette Grand Sport model as a “Z06 Light.” The suspension, Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar runflat tires, dry sump, rear mounted battery, front splitter, big brakes and cooling ducts are derived directly from the Z06 model.
Chevrolet Camaro Concept 2009
The 2009 Chevrolet Camaro SS is based on GM’s Zeta platform, which underpins Australia’s Holden Commodore and the new Pontiac GTO as well as the Pontiac G8. The Zeta platform was designed from the start to be adaptable, and so far it looks as if it’s going to spread through most of GM’s brands.
Camaro Concept recaptures the spirit of one of the most popular sport coupes of all time and redefines the Camaro for new generations of fans. The Camaro Concept embodies the performance and passion that have made first-generation Camaros some of the most sought-after collector cars, updating the formula with a fuel-efficient powertrain, sophisticated chassis and contemporary design execution.
Elements such as a forward-V shape at the front of the car and “gills” in the rear quarter panels are distinctly Camaro cues, as are the broad rear fender “shoulders.” Those elements make the new Camaro instantly recognizable, but their execution is smoothly integrated into the contemporary exterior form. A family of large, 18-, 19- and 20-inch wheels also contributes to the Camaro’s modern appearance. The long hood, short deck and wide stance of the Camaro Concept leave no doubt that it is a serious performance car. Those looks are backed up by a 400-horsepower aluminum small-block V-8, a six-speed manual transmission, and a sophisticated chassis with four-wheel independent suspension.
Like its forebears, the Camaro Concept would be practical enough for everyday use. It features fuel-saving features like Active Fuel Management cylinder deactivation technology, yielding highway fuel economy of 30 mpg or better. Its overall size is a comfortable fit for city streets and suburban parking lots, and its back seat provides occasional seating for two adults.
The standard V6 model will use the 3.6 liter version of GM’s global V6, tuned to between 240 horsepower and 260 horsepower, while the V8 option will most likely be the 6.2 liter version of the GEN VI with around 400 horsepower. But GM is also currently working on a direct injection version of the V8, gaining more horsepower while increasing fuel economy from between three to six percent. That engine may well make an appearance in the Camaro, either in the standard car or the SS model.
The new car will feature multi link independent rear suspension and there will be choices of manual and automatic gearboxes, as well as V6 and V8 engines. The gearboxes will likely be the same six speed manual and six speed auto found in the Holden Commodore.
The Camaro Concept’s six-speed manual transmission provides a wide spread of ratios for aggressive acceleration off the line, confident passing and merging and efficient highway cruising. Enhancing both the performance and appearance of the Camaro Concept are unique five-spoke cast alloy wheels, 21 inches in the front and 22 inches in the rear.
The same purposeful design is reflected in the interior of the Camaro Concept. The gauges and splash of orange trim hint at classic first-generation Camaros, but the overall design and execution reflect the no-nonsense functionality that drivers expect from a high-performance Chevrolet sports car.
“The new Chevrolet Camaro delivers a thoroughly modern, advanced package of performance, comfort and technology,” said Peper. “It’s a sports car for a new generation of enthusiasts that doesn’t forget the heritage that helped make the original a cultural icon . That is no small feat and it took a worldwide commitment to achieve it.”