World Concept Cars

With the 2011 Cruze set to enter Chevrolet's American lineup and replace the quirky Cobalt, GM has gotten itself two big steps away from the bland-as-a-box Cavalier.

Now, they plan on taking things one step further by offering unique packages that will hopefully allow it to compete with segment top dogs like the Civic and Focus.

First comes the Cruze RS, which boils down to an appearance package (and a pretty snazzy one at that) available on LT and LTZ models. According to the PR people, said package "bolsters the car's styling with unique fascias, rocker moldings, rear spoiler and fog lamps."

Inside, drivers get classy chrome-rimmed gauges and "opaque cluster bezels" for a sporty, glowing appearance at night...right. Well, at least the chrome trim will be a nice touch.

Next is the Cruze Eco, which packs a 1.4 liter turbocharged 4 cylinder underhood. With variable valve timing and the 6-speed manual transmission, Chevrolet expects the Eco to return up to 40 mpg Highway (City mileage and that of Automatic-equipped cars will be announced shortly).

The ECO isn't just an efficient power/drive train either. A lot has gone into the whole package, from the lightweight wheels and "ultra-low" rolling resistance tires to the lowered ride height, this particular Cruze was prepped for good fuel economy.

It seems like the entire front end was engineered for aerodynamics; it has "a lower front grille air shutter that closes at higher speeds to improve aerodynamics and opens at lower speeds to optimize engine-cooling airflow, [the] upper grille has more 'closeouts' to improve aerodynamics, [and a] lower front air dam extension."

As expected, the gearing is for fuel mileage, not roaring fun. Chevrolet says you expect to pass the 60 mph mark in 10 seconds with the the stick (or about 9 with the automatic). Hey, if you want fast, rumors ave been spreading around of a sportified SS variant. Be patient.

Source: Carscoop

0 comentarii

In what could go down in history as the shortest automotive stillbirth, the right-hand drive version of the Chevrolet Camaro has been canned just six weeks after it got the go-ahead. This version of the Camaro was supposed to be exported the UK, Japan and Australia (where it was largely developed), but has been pushed down the priority list as General Motors focuses on hybrid and electric cars.

At the 2010 Detroit auto show, GM's vice chairman, product development, Bob Lutz, told a room of international media, including a group from Australia: "I think you can pretty much count on a right-hand drive Camaro. The Camaro at some point will be factory right-hand drive...built in the plant in Canada and shipped to right-hand drive markets from Canada."

But at the Geneva motor show last week, when asked by an Australian journalist how the right-hand-drive Camaro was tracking, Lutz said: "Not good. It's been pushed back, perhaps indefinitely." Lutz confirmed a right-hand drive Camaro was not that high on GM's priority list.

"No matter which car company you work for, there's never enough engineering money, talent and capital to do everything you want to do," said Lutz. "So when we looked at the hybrids that we have to do, and the plug-ins that we have to do, we just had to priority rank it and I couldn't argue with the priorities."

Weak projected sales numbers from the key right-hand drive countries were the problem, Lutz said. "Unfortunately all of the markets came in with relatively low volume estimates. "The UK was low, and...frankly I think Australia could have stepped up to the plate with some more. But when we finally looked at it there weren't enough units to justify after all what is a fairly large investment.

"I am always personally sad when we create an exciting car and there's demand for it in an interesting country like Australia, and we can't afford it. It seems particularly ironic since all of the chassis development and the engineering was done there.

"If there is a country in the world that deserves to have the Camaro, it's Australia."

The Camaro may still make it to the UK and Japan in limited numbers because left-hand drive cars are allowed to be driven on public roads in those countries, but Australians who want a Camaro can only buy one through private importers who convert the cars locally to right-hand drive and sell them for as much as $140,000.

Source: Motortrend.com

0 comentarii

For the first time, General Motors studios across the world have submitted design studies for the next-generation Chevrolet Corvette.

Late last year, Ed Welburn, GM's vice president of global design, invited GM's 10 styling studios to submit design proposals.

Some "were absolutely phenomenal," Welburn said. "There is a lot to pick from. The direction that we take is very important, and the decision has not been made."

Global input on the Corvette's design is one of several steps GM is taking to attract buyers in Europe, where the car has little appeal, and young U.S. buyers who favor imports.

"We have challenges in the States with the Corvette," Welburn said in an interview at the Geneva auto show. "The average age of the customer is really rising."

The current average age of a Corvette buyer is 54, according to the Power Information Network, a unit of J.D. Power and Associates.

Corvette sales are in a tailspin. Last year 13,934 were sold in the United States, down 48 percent from 2008.

The current Corvette debuted in the 2005 model year. Prices range from $49,880 for the base coupe to $107,830 for the ZR-1. Both prices include shipping.

A redesign is due in two to three years, industry sources say.

Corvette critics often cite the sports car's size, saying it looks big. They also point to what they say is a cheap-looking interior.

Welburn admitted the interior has a problem: "The execution, materials selection--it's got to be a much better interior. Our customers desire that."

Welburn said today's Corvette is about the same size as the Porsche 911, but the styling makes it look bigger. "We have to develop a design that feels trimmer, meaner, to go along with the incredible performance that the car has," he said.

In addition to styling, content, pricing and marketing strategy are under discussion, he said.

"It is a key time in the development of the Corvette," Welburn said. "There is a lot of debate and a lot of study on the bandwidth of Corvette."

But, he added, "It can't mutate into something that gets so far away from Corvette that it is no longer a Corvette."

Source: Autoweek.com

0 comentarii