Prototype2 2012 Chevrolet Camaro Ss Custom Promo Car Activision/gamestop on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Weekly Recap: Volvo buys Polestar, makes performance a priority

Volvo is taking its performance business in-house, and the Swedish carmaker announced Tuesday that it bought tuning company Polestar, which has long been known for producing sporty Volvos. The move allows Volvo to ramp up its performance business, and it plans to increase Polestar-branded vehicle sales to 1,000 to 1,500 annually, up from the 750 total projected for this year. The companies have been working together on motorsports projects since 1996. Financial terms of the sale were not released, and Polestar workers will move over to Volvo. Former Polestar owner Christian Dahl will keep control of the Polestar racing team and operate it under a new name. In addition to sales volume, Volvo has ambitious plans for other parts of Polestar, including its aftermarket business. Volvo also said it will use its twin-engine hybrid technology for Polestar models in the future, though specifics and timing were not revealed. Meanwhile, Volvo announced it will offer a run of 265 total Polestars in the United States for the 2016 model year, with S60 and V60s available. "Driving a Volvo Polestar is a special experience. We have decided to bring this experience to more Volvo drivers, placing the full resources of Volvo behind the development of Polestar as the model name for our high performance cars," Volvo CEO Hakan Samuelsson said in a statement. OTHER NEWS & NOTES 2016 Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra, get nose jobs Automakers tend to refer to light updates as 'facelifts,' and that's exactly what Chevy gave the 2016 Silverado and GMC Sierra. Chevy slightly changed the front end of the truck. Using the one photo released of the new Z71 model as a guide, we can see that the headlights went from a stacked vertical design to single bulbs, and they are set on top of LED running lights. The grille has more body-colored elements instead of shiny metal, and the hood has a new line running down the middle (look really closely). The design theme will be similar across the portfolio, though materials and details will vary, a spokesman said. Some models, like the High Country and LTZ will have more chrome, and the LEDs are only for the upper trims. Chevy also said it will use the eight-speed automatic transmission on more versions of the Silverado, and it updated the MyLink feature to support Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Corvette Stingray gets optional Z06 components

If you've got a Corvette Stingray in the garage and have been tempted by some of the upgrades incorporated into the Z06, but can't quite bring yourself to trade up, Chevy has got some good news for you. The Bowtie brand has announced a series of performance parts derived from those in the Z06, but applicable to the base Stingray. The list of parts includes new cooling elements, prop shafts, brakes, suspension components, and underbody braces. They can all be fitted to Stingray models with or without the Z51 performance kit, and promise to raise the Corvette's game if not quite to Z06 levels, then closer to them. And for Z06 owners interested in gaining a bit more advantage, Chevy is offering a new Level 3 aero kit as well. The parts were demonstrated on upgraded 'Vettes at the Ron Fellows driving school at Spring Mountain. The school is also serving as technical partner and the track as the location for a new spec racing series built around the C7 Corvette. Dubbed the Michelin Corvette Challenge, the calendar is composed of fifteen half-hour races held in pairs over eight weekends, all on the six-mile circuit near Las Vegas. The cars to be used in the series will be close to showroom stock and feature many of the new Z06-derived upgrades, with Michelin racing slicks for dry weather and Pilot Super Sport tires in the wet. Perhaps most compelling of all will be the payment plan that will allow participating amateur racers to pay in installments across the season and take home their Corvette after the season's conclusion in December. New Z06 Parts Enhance Corvette Stingray Performance Broad range of chassis, suspension and aero components enhance capability 2015-11-02 PAHRUMP, Nev. – Chevrolet today and drivers from the Ron Fellows Corvette high-performance driving school at the Spring Mountain track demonstrated Stingray models enhanced with components from a new lineup of Z06-based performance parts. They're designed for 2014+ Stingray models, including Z51-equipped cars. "We've selected specific components from the Corvette Z06 and engineered them to fit the award-winning Stingray," said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S. vice president of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. "These Z06 parts enhance the handling, braking, cooling and downforce performance of the Stingray." Ron Fellows, champion Corvette Racing driver, collaborated with Chevrolet Performance engineers on the all-new portfolio.

Recharge Wrap-up: Volt makes up third of Quebec Chevy dealerships sales, Tesla seeks Aussie talent

A Chevrolet dealership in Quebec has had the Volt make up 35 percent of its sales so far this year. Bourgeois Chevrolet in Rawdon, Quebec received recognition for the feat at the 2014 Electric Vehicle Conference, where it won the award for Leading Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle Dealership. To sell that many, Bourgeois Chevrolet had to import used Volts from the US, and keeps about 50 units on the lot in various configurations. The conference also saw Park Avenue Nissan of Brossard, Quebec win the Leading Battery Electric Vehicle Dealership Award, and Loch Lomond Mitsubishi of Saint John, New Brunswick receive the award for Electric Vehicle Dealership Inspiration. Read more at Green Car Reports. Tesla Motors has begun scouting Australian engineers as other automakers shutter operations there. Ford, General Motors and Toyota have announced that they will shut down their Australian factories, leaving behind a lot of unused talent. Tesla recently held a "Recruiting Open House" in Melbourne for engineers to fill positions at its plant in Fremont, CA, where they will be paired with other Aussie engineers already on staff. Read more at Green Car Reports, or at Motoring. Electric turbochargers may come to play a key role in making internal combustion engines more efficient. Valeo recently showed an electric turbo it plans to supply to an unnamed automaker at a fuel economy showcase event at the EPA's National Vehicle Emissions and Fuel Lab. Electric turbochargers have the advantage of greatly reduced lag when compared to exhaust-driven turbos. They also work well when paired with cylinder deactivation, providing a much-needed boost when driving on a grade, which can help reduce the need for cylinders to reactivate. Independence from the exhaust system also makes it easier to package the turbocharger wherever there is room. Read more from Navigant Research. US crude oil futures have dropped to their lowest in more than two years. Saudi Arabia cut oil costs for the US and raised them for Europe and Asia as the US has increased output. On November 3, US crude futures fell as much as 2.2 percent in New York. West Texas Intermediate closed at $78.78, the lowest since June 2012. Brent crude slipped $1.08 to $84.78 a barrel. Read more at Bloomberg.