Skip to content
 
GrandSport Superformance

By Andrew Nabors –  July 10, 2017

Chevrolet Performance Presents "El Nino" by Superformance

Back in 2003, we were lucky to be at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance to witness history being made. All five 1963 Corvette Grand Sports were together in the lobby of the Ritz-Carlton. Since they are among the most significant cars ever built, it is rare to see one in public. Corvette's Chief Engineer Zora Duntov built the cars in secret, to avoid GM's corporate ban on racing. When they finally discovered the blueprints and fiberglass molds, the cars were hidden by Chevrolet Performance and the program was shut down.Also Check Out: Indy Pace Car 2017: Corvette Grand SportYou can't deny the appeal of the widebody Grand Sport. But if you want one for yourself, your choices have been limited until now. For those with unlimited budgets, cutting up an original '63 is an option, but you might find a target on your back from the Corvette faithful. So our friends in South Africa have the next best thing: My former career was a marketing manager at a Corvette aftermarket shop, and the notion of a new 1963 Grand Sport left me speechless. That was a decade ago, and GM was hesitant to embrace the idea at first. Chevrolet still builds a Corvette Grand Sport, and it's the mid-level edition between Stingray and Z06.But a customer who is in the market for a C7 doesn't exactly go running to a race-ready classic. GM and Superformance worked out the details, so now you can order a Superformance Grand Sport with modern LS3 power. The 6.2 Liter V8 and Super Magnum six-speed transmission are available as a package for any classic. The monster camshaft is from the ASA late model series and can cause hearing loss with open headers. Nothing sounds better than side pipes, even if they burn you once in awhile. So if you want modern power with a classic look, Superformance and Chevrolet Performance have the solution. If you want the real thing, our dealers will be happy to find a classic Corvette for you. Stay with us for all your Chevrolet Performance news. 

Malibu Feature

By Andrew Nabors –  June 13, 2017

Reviewed: 2017 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid

Proverbs tells us that a good name is better than wealth, but does that apply to automobiles? We've noticed a strange trend in the industry where automakers change the name of a model or series for no apparent reason. But Chevrolet chose to breath new life into one of the oldest names in production. The Malibu was originally a trim package for the 60's era Chevelle and El Camino. In the 70's and 80's it rolled on the G-body as its own model until 1988. We will not speak of anything between then and 2008 because that's when Bob Lutz and his team decided to make Malibu great again.A massive amount of money was spent on reverse engineering other midsize cars along with an expensive ad campaign. The result was the 9th generation that launched last year. In our partnership with Motor Trend, Chevrolet's display of an unmarked example always draws a comparison to German or Japanese luxury sedans. The skilled hands of UAW Local 31 in Kansas City received all new tooling and state of the art paint shop to compete on the world stage. What they build is the best Chevrolet in years. We have driven the turbocharged 1.5-liter example several times and it feels better than some cars twice its price.Honestly, we didn't know a hybrid was available, so we jumped at the opportunity. A hybrid in the traditional sense, it has no plug for the external charge because the battery is only 1.5 kWh. Driving is nice thanks to more electric assist than you would imagine. Battery mode works up to 55 mph in most situations, much like the Volt. That's because most of the electronics and the transmission are shared between them. The tradeoff in battery size keeps the trunk usable, so you have room for family stuff and groceries. Styling is sleek and it stands out in a parking lot. Combined output o the electric motor and the 1.8-liter gas engine is 182 horsepower with 277 lb-ft of torque. The latter is more than most V6 sedans on the market, and it makes for spirited driving along with over 40 mpg. Try as we might, it just sips on fuel. Mileage is rated at 49 city and 43 highway since gas is needed to go faster than 55 mph.It took serious engineering to build an attractive & comfortable sedan that approaches 50 mpg. The price you pay for such a car is $32,730. If you only drive 5 miles a day you may not even need gasoline anymore, what a day to be alive. Stay with us for more reviews.

First Retail 2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE to be Auctioned by Barrett-Jackson

By Andrew Nabors –  May 17, 2017

Chevrolet Releases 2018 Camaro ZL1 1LE Extreme Track Pack

If you need a new track car, you should consider the Camaro ZL1 1LE. We saw the first example in person earlier this year, and its ready for a fight. The 650 horsepower LT4 V8 is the same 6.2-liter small block found in the Corvette Z06 and the Cadillac CTS-V. Yes, we've mentioned it before, but now Chevrolet has given it a price an option code. ZL1 buyers will need to add$7,500 to their order and select the A1Z package.On top of the already potent ZL1, the 1LE will arrive with much more carbon fiber and less weight. New forged wheels are an inch shorter and an inch wider all around. They are wrapped in Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3R tires. Multimatic DSSV shocks on all corners will adapt to any situation. Caster and ride height are adjustable on the front, and the rear sway bar has 3 settings. A fixed rear seat along with thinner glass and the new wheels give the 1LE a 60-pound weight advantage over the ZL1. Get your racing shoes ready, because automatic transmissions are not an option. The Tremec six-speed manual is the only gearbox offered, and it has active rev-matching. That feature has divided us on the fun factor. We first experienced it in the ATS-V and it took some getting used to. I am all for lighter flywheels in the name of fuel economy, but it would be nice to control the engine speed between shifts. Thankfully it can be disabled after start up.Other included luxuries are dual-zone climate and Bose audio for a grand total of $69,995. That makes it the most expensive Camaro ever offered, but also the most capable. With a skidpad rating of 1.1g, it will be able to keep up with cars several times its price. As soon as they hit our dealers you will see them here. But until then, check out these great offers on Chevy Camaros for sale.

2017 Colorado ZR2

By Andrew Nabors –  May 12, 2017

Chevy's New ZR2 Truck Proves its Worth on Tight Trails

Some drive their trucks in the city, never taking their tires onto the dirt. For those of us who prefer to get lost in the wilderness in a truck, Chevrolet has pulled out all the stops with the Colorado ZR2. The original ZR2 was an aggressive 4WD upgrade for the old S10, but its 90's era performance was cringe-worthy.Horsepower is great for track days, but torque will get you up a hill. So Chevy developed a new four cylinder turbo diesel for the Colorado. The baby Duramax is rated at 181 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. It sends power to an active transfer case to both locking differentials. They turn 31" Goodyears on 17" ZR2 specific wheels. Multimatic's DSSV shocks are appearing on everything from the Camaro ZL1 1LE to the Ford GT, but Chevrolet needed something unique.Going back to the drawing board, Multimatic delivered a new shock with three response curves. An industry first, it has different rates for compression and rebound based on the position of the tire. Six parameters in one shock is the key to road manners and tail survival. Colorado can go places others cant, tow 7,700 lbs and deliver still 30 mpg on the highway. The first examples left the factory on May 1st, so stay with us for big updates from Chevy's small performer.

2017 Pace Car Feature

By Andrew Nabors –  May 10, 2017

Indy 500 Pace Car Revealed: 2017 Corvette Grand Sport

Outside of the Indianapolis Speedway Hall of Fame is a bronze memorial bust of Louis Chevrolet. He and his brothers Gaston and Arthur were racers who competed in the Indy 500 for over a decade. Their cars were reliable and over engineered which caught the eye of William Durant, and the rest is history. The Chevrolet brothers and the cars that bear their name have been a dominant force at the track since the beginning, which is why more Chevys have paced the race than any other. The countdown to the 101st running of the Indianapolis 500 is underway, so Team Corvette has built something special for Memorial Day.The first example was a 1948 Fleetmaster convertible, but thankfully technology has advanced beyond splash-oiled straight six engines. The 14th Chevrolet Indy 500 Pace Car is a custom version of the Grand Sport Convertible. As always, a few cars are outfitted with lights and radios to serve as the actual pace cars, and a few dozen others are built as festival or parade cars. These serve to introduce the drivers to the crowd and give Indy enthusiasts something special at dealerships across the country.Sporting a white and blue paint scheme, a snazzy graphics package compliments the Z07 carbon fiber package. It is one of the more subtle designs considering Pace Cars of the past. My 2007 Indy Pace Car was Atomic Orange with wild stripes. Memories...But at least it doesn't have the "unique" looks of the 1998 Indy Pace Car... Can Not Be Unseen...The press release also reveals some nice features of the new car. Magnetic ride control with special sway bars and springs are standard equipment. Sorry stick enthusiasts, all cars will have the 8-speed automatic transmission. Giant Brembo brakes measure 15.5" front and 15.3 rear. The 460 horsepower LT1 allows it to reach 60 mph in 3.6 seconds with a quarter mile time of 11.8. No mention of price or availability was made, but hopefully, they will a few for us 'Vette fans. Chevrolet has been burned by quantity in the past. Orders were unrestricted for the 1978 model, and over 6,500 were built!We're not going to show you the 1986 or 1995 pace cars because C4s seem to evoke fights in the comments section. Tell us your most loved and disliked examples from the past and stay with us for updates on when the 2017 cars will be available. As always, Autofluence has all your Chevy news.2017 Indy 500 Pace Car Gallery

Hennessey Exorcist

By Andrew Nabors –  April 28, 2017

The Exorcist Camaro From Hennessey Performance

If you or your loved ones find yourselves at the mercy of a Demon, John Hennessey's latest creation will bring forth a deliverance. He teased us a few weeks ago with the name and photos, leaving many to speculate about the details of the build. So in a YouTube upload last night, The Exorcist was strapped to the dyno to measure its power. Dropping a monster cam into the 6.2 liter LT4 would be more than enough to deal with your in-laws or possibly an ex who is off their medication, but something unprecedented is needed to rebuke Dodge's evil creation. Roots superchargers are all the rage because they include the intercooler in a convenient location in the engine valley. But even the most well-engineered examples are limited by their physical size.Also Check Out: Popular Cars That Are Illegal In The USAThat is why Hennessey Performace took a page from the history book and worked with ProCharger to make the largest centrifugal blower we've ever seen. The matte black monster is mounted above the steering column and it sends boost to a front-mounted intercooler that is larger than your radiator. It feeds a carbon-fiber tunnel ram intake that looks like something out of Formula1. No detail was overlooked, as a Crucifix can be found in the graphics and hanging from the rear view mirror. You probably have the Demon's horsepower and torque memorized by now, but those readings were at the flywheel, not the ground. If you factor in drivetrain losses, The Exorcist is among the most powerful cars in the world. Click here to learn more, and stay with us for all your Hennessey updates!

Zl1 1le

By Andrew Nabors –  April 11, 2017

Rick Hendrick Buys First Camaro ZL1 1LE at Barrett-Jackson

If your supercharged Camaro isn't enough for you anymore, your wait is over. The new Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE is lighter and more capable than any Chevy in recent history. To make it faster on the track, engineers cut 60 lbs with clever improvements. I saw it firsthand at Barrett-Jackson last weekend, and it made us smile knowing it would help the less fortunate. NASCAR owner and philanthropist Rick Hendrick likes low VIN numbers, especially the first production models of each new Chevrolet Performance car. A gentleman's agreement with Craig Jackson allows him the rights to give 100% of the proceeds from the hammer price to go to charity, and that means the United Way received $250,000 for ZL1 1LE #001. So they added carbon fiber to the ZL1? No, the 1LE is much more focused. The shocks are DSSV from Multimatic, offering brutal tire control and light weight. Wheels are an inch smaller in diameter but much wider. In combination with Goodyear tires developed to warm up quickly, the 1LE is much more competent on the track. Sway bars, camber and ride height are easily adjustable for perfect grip. To shave every last ounce, the rear seats are now fixed because hinges are heavy. 1LE has always translated to the ultimate track day Camaro. In the 80's you couldn't order it with A/C or radio. Times have changed but 1LE will always dominate. If your local dealer attempts to adjust the retail for such a rare model, our dealers will be happy to work with you. Stay with us for all your Camaro & Chevy Performance news.

Corvette Carbon 65

By Andrew Nabors –  April 10, 2017

2018 Corvette Carbon 65: It's Anniversary Time

Next year will mark Chevrolet Corvette's 65th model year, so a celebration is in the works. To be offered on top trim levels of the Grand Sport and Z06, the Carbon 65 edition will be limited to only 650 cars. To put that into perspective, only 300 cars were built in 1953 and each one was white with a red interior. Dealers didn't know how to sell a straight six fiberglass car with an automatic transmission, so many sat on the lot well into 1954. It wasn't until Zora Duntov wrote Chevrolet a scathing letter addressing the car's faults did marketing and engineering realize its potential.Anniversary edition Corvettes have been a hit or miss with collectors, as there were no restrictions on production in the old days. The 25th-anniversary model was so popular that dealers ordered over 6,300 of them! My own misfortune was in spending every dime I had on a 50th-anniversary model in 2003, only to see them everywhere in just a year. But instead of focusing on the numbers, let's look at what will make the Carbon 65 one for the ages. The new exterior is Ceramic Matrix Gray, and it has many pieces of exposed carbon fiber. Convertibles will have a blue soft top with carbon fiber tonneau cover, and all cars will have black wheels. It will be known as option code Z30, with a price tag of $15,000.Other changes for 2018 include magnetic ride as a stand-alone option. It was first offered in 2003 on the anniversary cars only. It is the best suspension I have ever encountered, so we're glad it's available on base model cars now. Cosworth has upgraded the Performance Data Recorder to include four more data channels. Individual tire speeds, intake air temperature, suspension loading, and yaw rate are now recorded. Base model wheels are now 19" front and 20" rear with 5 new wheel options.  If your dealer doesn't receive an allocation for the Carbon 65, our dealers will be happy to reserve one for you. Stay with us for more Chevrolet news and congratulations to Team Corvette for this historic milestone.

Camaro ZL1 Feature

By Andrew Nabors –  February 20, 2017

How Fast is the New 2017 Camaro ZL1? It's the Fastest Yet

Engineers at Chevrolet have a reputation for taking the Corvette's most powerful engine and stuffing it into a Camaro. The Camaro ZL1 is just such a machine, packing the 650 hp and 650 lb-ft supercharged LT4 from the Z06. Top Speed and Camaro are not normally heard in the same paragraph, but inquiring minds have been wondering how fast the supercar ZL1 really is. The location of the test was the 7.6-mile oval track in Papenburg, Germany. No changes were made to body or drivetrain and the first run was 202.3 mph. Equipped with the new 10-speed automatic transmission, the factory Goodyear Supercar 3 tires were pumped up to 44 psi to cope with the 49-degree banking of the track. After running both directions around the track the top speed was certified at 198 mph.Chief Engineer Al Oppenheiser said “It’s the most capable — and fastest —Camaro ever.” Other noteworthy accomplishments are a 0-60 run of 3.5 seconds and 1.02g of cornering grip. Camber was zeroed out to replicate a daily driven alignment, so the car is capable of more if given a few degrees. Having 10 gears in the transmission allows for agility out of the hole also, with quarter-mile times in the low 11s. It is nice to see Camaro receive such attention from GM, and we wonder how the aftermarket will respond to this factory built powerhouse. If it's not up to your standards, Hennessey Performance will bump it up to 800 hp. The sixth generation of Camaro is proving to be an incredible machine, and it gives the Super Troopers something new to focus on instead of my 2002 SS.Chevrolet Camaro For Sale

Cerv Featur A

By Andrew Nabors –  February 01, 2017

A Mid Engine Corvette May Be Coming

General Motors is not in the business of buying classic cars, so this one caught us off guard. In order to test the idea of a mid-engine Corvette, Chief Engineer Zora Duntov built the CERV in 1959. The Chevrolet Engineering Research Vehicle was his notion of the perfect Corvette. He built it to validate the independent rear suspension of the upcoming 1963 Stingray, and to see how hard a lightweight mid-engine car could be pushed. Weight was a major priority, so the 283 small block was cast of aluminum with a bellhousing of magnesium. Later on it was replaced by a fuel injected aluminum 377 ci small block rated at 500 hp. His goal was to offer a racing version of the Corvette, but the bean counters killed the program.(3,500 hp C7 Corvette Takes Flight Down Dragstrip)Chevrolet confirmed the Corvette ZR1 will be unveiled this fall, but something wicked has been spotting testing alongside it. The heavily camouflaged body has the right proportions to offer a mid-engine design, or it could just be a test mule for a new Cadillac halo car. Our friends at Motor Trend have the best images so far. GM has been guilty of building decoys to keep the media away from the real project, but something unprecedented happened at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale. GM paid $1.3 million to bring the CERV back home. Zora was reprimanded for wasting money on such futuristic concepts, so when the order came down to crush it he gave the car to Briggs Cunningham to be hidden away for years. If a mid-engine Corvette is truly on the horizon, the CERV would be the perfect marketing piece. Corvette fans are deeply divided on this topic so tell us if its time for something new, or a disgrace to such an American classic.Corvette ZR1 For Sale

Live Auctions