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This Week at eGMCarTech
Miss anything from this week? Here are a couple of important highlights from the week of 12-24-2007 to 12-28-2007. As always, check out the Archives Page for full coverage.
Archive for December, 2007
December 30, 2007
December 29, 2007
eGMCarTech launches ‘Buzz Garage’
So you’re probably thinking what’s all this ‘Buzz Garage’ stuff you’ve been seeing on eGMCarTech. Well we’ve been working hard to make eGMCarTech more fun and interactive for our visitors and this is our first of many steps.
Buzz Garage is great new feature that acts as a one-stop location for you to get all the new scoop, images and facts on the hottest upcoming cars. For example if you’re looking at the Buzz Garage for the new Nissan GT-R, you’ll find all the facts, as well as a list of all the recent posts made on the GT-R and an image gallery.
And if you really want to voice your opinion on a certain vehicle, we have opened up the ‘Post Your Comments’ in each vehicles Buzz Garage page in case you guys would like to start a discussion.
You can quickly access the main Buzz Garage Page via the sidebar (on the right) under the ‘Week in Photos’ section, or from the navigation bar on the top right. Also let us know what you think of this new section by commenting below.
December 28, 2007
First Corvette ZR1 to be auctioned for charity
The first 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 will be auctioned off at Barrett-Jackson’s annual Scottsdale auction in January. The ZR1 will be joined by the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 and the 2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR. According to Barrett-Jackson the 620 horsepower ZR1 at the auction will be the “first retailable unit built.”
Proceeds from the sale of the Corvette ZR1 will go to United Way, and the Challenger and GT500KR sales will go to Not My Kid, Inc. and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation respectively.
Make sure you join us next month as we bring you live images of the Corvette ZR1 from the 2008 Detroit Auto Show.
2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Gallery:
Continue reading…CAFE’s 35MPG is actually more like 26.5mpg
Much has been made about the new fuel economy numbers, everyone from auto industry executives proclaiming the death of sports cars to state legislators who feel the law doesn’t go far enough. As lofty of a goal as 35MPG seems to everyone, it’s not quite as high as we all thought.
In the 1980’s the EPA numbers were deflated by 10% city and 22% highway to ‘come closer to real-world numbers’ and then again just last year they were deflated as part of an initiative that included changing the testing procedures slightly. The CAFE numbers do not include such ‘corrections’ and as such, the 35MPG number is actually equivalent to 26.5MPG that one would see on a window sticker according to Dan Edmunds. The previous CAFE number, 27.5MPG was more like 21MPG. And the actual increase is closer to 24% then 40%.
Video: Mercedes GLK totally undisguised
As Mercedes gets ready to reveal the Mercedes GLK at the 2008 North American Detroit Auto Show in Detroit next month, spy shots and videos of the baby SUV have already hit the web.
Check out these latest videos showing the Mercedes GLK totally undisguised on the set of the “Sex and the City” movie. If you look closely at the first video you’ll find the arrow shaped indicators seen on the new 2008 Mercedes-Benz SLK.
Remember to join us on January 13th as we kick of live coverage of the 2008 North American Auto Show in Detroit.
Click through for the videos.
Volvo considering an SUV based on the C30 hatchback
It was recently reported that Volvo is considering a five-door hatchback based on the Volvo C30. A new report by Just-Auto suggests that Volvo is expanding its XC SUV range with a compact SUV based on the C30 hatchback by 2010.
The compact SUV is expected to be called the XC30 and will be a rival to the BMW X1 and Audi Q3.
Funny Friday: VW reveals Touareg Cabrio
If you head over to the Volkswagen Spain website today, you’ll be welcomed by an image of a new Touareg Cabrio bringing back horrible memories of the Audi Cross Cabriolet Quattro from the LA Auto Show. Well let’s just thank God that the Volkswagen Touareg Cabrio is just a practical joke by Volkswagen, celebrating ‘Day of the Innocent Saints,’ a holiday in Spain which resembles April Fool’s day.
Head over to touaregcabrio.com to see microsite.
Revealed: Mazda Furai Concept breaks cover
After giving us a little teaser earlier this month, Mazda has revealed official images of the Mazda Furai. The Mazda Furai, which stands for ’sound of the wind’ in Japanese, run on 100% ethanol and is built in partnership with British Petroleum.
The Mazda Furai’s design language is inspired by the Nagare with an America Le Mans Series racing car influence. Using a Courage C65 chassis the car is powered by a three-rotor rotary engine that produces 450 horsepower.
Join us next month as we bring you live coverage from the 2008 North American International Auto Show from Detroit.
Click through for more images.
Mazda Furai Concept Gallery:
Lexus LF-A breaks Porsche GT2’s Nurburgring record (unofficially)
Everyone is so proud of the Nissan GT-R and its Nurburgring lap time of 7:38.54 seconds. Well, according to a new report by AutoExpress, another upcoming Japanese supercar has unofficially smashed the lap record of the Porsche GT2 at Germany’s Nurburgring.
The Lexus LF-A has lapped the famous Nurburgring in 7 minutes and 24 seconds, beating the Porsche GT2 by one second. The beastly Lexus is expected to have a 5.0 liter unit that produces 500 horsepower with a top speed of 200mph. A hybrid variant is also in the work that will use a engine similar to the LS600h.
Detroit Auto Show Preview: Toyota A-BAT Concept
After winning over the U.S. market over with its large Toyota Tundra, Toyota is now returning back to its compact pickup truck roots with the A-BAT Concept that it will show at the 2008 North American International Auto Show next month.
The A-BAT Concept features a four-foot bed with a pass-through midgate that provides an additional two feet when folded down into the cab. An open tailgate provides an additional two-foot of bed length. Inside, the Toyota A-BAT Concept features a portable navigation unit with a seven-inch diagonal screen and Wi-Fi internet.
Power comes from a 4-cylinder gas engine with Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive providing low emissions and fuel economy.
Click through for the press release and more images.
Toyota A-BAT Concept Gallery:
December 27, 2007
Buzz Garage: 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
GM will debut one of the most anticipated cars of the year at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 is said to be ‘an American supercar that brings the technology and engineering refinement of carbon-fiber, ceramics and electronics together in a distinctive design.’
The 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 will be powered by the new LS9 supercharged 6.2L V8 engine officially produces 638-hp and 604 lb-ft of torque. The new Corvette ZR1 was built on the same aluminum-intensive chassis as the Corvette Z06 which features similar independent SLA front and rear suspensions, with aluminum upper and lower control arms. The ZR1, however, gets a new suspension tuning, which was optimized for the car’s steamroller-wide front and rear tires.
The 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 will only be available with two options including chrome wheels and a “luxury” package when it hits dealerships next summer. Pricing is expected to be around $100,000.
Keep checking back here for the latest coverage on the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. Have something to say? Start a discussion in the ‘Comments’ section below.
Buzz Garage: Dodge Challenger
Chrysler showed off a new Dodge Challenger Concept at the 2006 North American International Auto Show based on the famous 1970’s Dodge Challenger. After a positive response, a production version of the Challenger SRT8 was unveiled at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show. The car will arrive in dealerships in late April carrying a price tag of $37,995 plus a gas guzzler tax of $2,100. The 2008 model year will be offered in three color including HEMI Orange, Brilliant Black and Bright silver. There will be no other models for 2008.
Power comes from a 6.1 liter HEMI V8 engine that produces 425 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque. 0–60 mph comes in at the low 5-second range while 0–100–0 mph takes less than 17 seconds.
The whole production run of 6,400 cars is sold out.
Keep checking back here for the latest coverage on the Dodge Challenger. Have something to say? Start a discussion in the ‘Comments’ section below.
Buzz Garage: BMW 1-Series
In the spring of 2008, BMW will be launching its next legend in the U.S. with the BMW 1-Series Coupe. Available in two versions, the 1-Series Coupe will come in two versions including the 128i and the 135i, both which share engines with the 328i and the 335i.
The 128i will be powered by a 3.0 liter inline 6-cylinder engine producing 230 horsepower. The 135i will be powered by BMW’s twin-turbocharged 3.0 liter inline 6-cylinder engine that produces 300 horsepower and a peak torque of 300 lb-ft. That gives the 135i the ability to do 0-62 mph in 5.3 seconds with a top speed of 155mph.
When the 1-Series Coupe arrives on U.S. soil it will carry a price tag of $29,375 for the base 128i and $35,675 for the 135i. BMW has also officially announced the BMW 1-Series Convertible which will also join the coupe in spring of 2008. The 1-Series Convertible will be powered by the same engine variants. Pricing will be announced closer to launch date.
Update: BMW has announced pricing on the 2008 BMW 1-Series Convertible for the U.S. Pricing for the 128i Convertible will start at $33,875 and $39,875 for the 135i Convertible.
Keep checking back here for the latest coverage on the BMW 1-Series. Have something to say? Start a discussion in the ‘Comments’ section below.
