Chevy Colorado, GMC Canyon, Hummer H3 to get more power
GM has announced that the platform-mates that are the Chevy Colorado, GMC Canyon, and Hummer H3 (and very likely the Isuzu pickup, though no mention has been made so far) will get larger versions of the I-4 and I-5 engines they currently use (only I-5 on the Hummer).
These engines promise better performance and improved emissions.
The 2.8l I-4 is being replaced with a 2.9l I-4 with 6% more power and 3% more torque.
The 3.5l I-5 is being replaced by a 3.7l I-5 with 22 more horsepower and 17 lb*ft more torque.
Both engines promise to also be quieter while the I-5 also promises better emissions performance.
These engines promise better performance and improved emissions.
The 2.8l I-4 is being replaced with a 2.9l I-4 with 6% more power and 3% more torque.
The 3.5l I-5 is being replaced by a 3.7l I-5 with 22 more horsepower and 17 lb*ft more torque.
Both engines promise to also be quieter while the I-5 also promises better emissions performance.
Leaked - new Chrysler Sebring
Leftlane News has gotten their grubby little hands on early photos of the new Chrysler Sebring that Chrysler is expected to unveil tomorrow (what, you expected a long lead time?)
The resemblance to the Chrysler Airflite is quite striking, but minus the hatchback design and a bit of the visual punch that had me going ga-ga over it back when it was originally shown.See the article at LLN here:
LLN - 2007 Chrysler Sebring Revealed
Pontiac sets Solstice GXP pricing at $25,995
We should have seen this coming...today is the Summer Solstice...what better time for Pontiac to make a Solstice related announcement?Pricing for the 260hp turbocharged, direct-injected, uber-Solstice will be $25,995 including the $600 destination charge. This is $6000 more than the base Solstice, but only $1500-$2000 more than a regular Solstice with similar options.
This bodes well for a Sky Red Line price around $27k.
Corvette Blue Devil gets a name
*Sorry this story is so far behind...it has been sitting in 'draft' for over two weeks - I just noticed it had never officially published it to the site - Scott K*
Rumors abound about a mythical 'project Blue Devil' within GM. Rumor has this as a ultra-Corvette that would humble even the renowned 505hp Z06 that has been called everything from the best supercar ever (505hp, under $80k does that to some people) to the best performance bargain of all time.
'Blue Devil' would pack a supercharged version of the 7.0l LS7 V-8 and good for at least 600hp. I'd guess recent reports of a 600+hp Viper will cause the Corvette team to try to eek out a few more ponies, if only for bragging rights.
Now there's a new piece to the mystery that should have all the Corvette fans salivating...the proposed real name for the über-Vette...
Sting Ray
This is a storied name for a Corvette, but it certainly sounds like this variant of the C6 will certainly do it justice.
Expect an official announcement within a year (possibly at the NAIAS in Detroit in January) with a sticker price in the low 6-figures.
Read about it over at Autoweek.com:
Autoweek.com - Corvette Blue Devil project reportedly now called Sting Ray
Rumors abound about a mythical 'project Blue Devil' within GM. Rumor has this as a ultra-Corvette that would humble even the renowned 505hp Z06 that has been called everything from the best supercar ever (505hp, under $80k does that to some people) to the best performance bargain of all time.
'Blue Devil' would pack a supercharged version of the 7.0l LS7 V-8 and good for at least 600hp. I'd guess recent reports of a 600+hp Viper will cause the Corvette team to try to eek out a few more ponies, if only for bragging rights.
Now there's a new piece to the mystery that should have all the Corvette fans salivating...the proposed real name for the über-Vette...
Sting Ray
This is a storied name for a Corvette, but it certainly sounds like this variant of the C6 will certainly do it justice.
Expect an official announcement within a year (possibly at the NAIAS in Detroit in January) with a sticker price in the low 6-figures.
Read about it over at Autoweek.com:
Autoweek.com - Corvette Blue Devil project reportedly now called Sting Ray
Autoshow Season - MX-5 (Miata) to get available, retractable hard top
Mazda has officially announced that their new MX-5 (Miata to most of us in the US) will be shown with a new, power retractable hard top at the upcoming British International Motor Show.This confirms rumors that have been circulating lately that Mazda was working on such a device.
It is likely that this will be an upgrade option and the manual cloth top will remain on lower priced models.
The media day for the BIMS will be Tuesday, July 18, 2006. Expect photos of the hard top around that time.
*UPDATE: Expected cost for the hard top option is around $2000, with about a 75lb weight increase*
GM to limit Solstice production
Leftlane news has the following info about Solstice production from John Larson, General Manager of Buick, Pontiac and GMC...Even though demand is expected, at least in the near term, to be for over 35k Solstices per year, GM will hold production to 17k 2006 Solstices and 20k 2007 Solstices (this includes the new 2007 Solstice GXP).
The goal, other than to preserve enough production capacity to build a sufficient number of Saturn Sky roadsters, Opel GT's, and Daewoo G2X's is to make sure that resale values stay high and no incentives are needed to move surplus Solstices from dealer lots.
Now, if they'd just build enough so that dealers don't feel justified to charge 'market adjustments' we'd all be happy.
Read the LLN article at:
Leftlane News - Confirmed: GM to limit Solstice, G6 convertible production
Undisguised 2008 Silverado spotted
Dubspeed Driven has some great, undisguised photos of the upcoming Silverado.Surprises include more differentiation from the Tahoe than expected and, at least in this Z71, somewhat ungainly styling. I, for one, will wait to see it in person to judge for sure.
Take a look at larger shots, etc at:
Dubspeed Driven - 2008 Chevy Silverado Uncovered
Lotus announces cheaper Elise
In news that was both exciting and ultimately frustrating for my sports car loving self...Lotus today announced a new model of the Elise, the Elise S.In place of the previous Elise's 190hp Toyota 1.8l 4-cylinder, the S gets a 134hp version. Before you muscle car fans scoff and lose interest...realize that the Elise weighs less than 2000lbs and this 134hp can push this mid-engine speed machine to 60mph in under 6 seconds.
On top of this, the S comes in about 15% cheaper than the standard Elise.
Okay, now the bad news...currently there is no plan to bring the S to the USA.
Take a trip over to Leftlane News to see a gallery of pics of this new addition:
Leftlane News - 2007 Lotus Elise S