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Opel's own ad shows Ampera-e beating Opels in drag race

The Opel Ampera-e isn't expected to set any world records on a quarter-mile drag strip. But when it comes to crossing a major boulevard, though, the European version of the Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicle will more than hold its own, potentially scaring inattentive pedestrians everywhere. According to a 35-second video posted by General Motors' Opel division, at least. Opel set up the Ampera-e against four other small-and-sporty vehicles, including racing versions of the Opel Adam and Opel Astra as well as stock versions of the Opel Insignia and Corsa (what, you expected a Corvette to be in there?). With the EV's off-the-line torque as a selling point, Opel showed the Ampera-e beating the other vehicles in a 30-meter (100-foot) drag race. Of course, the video also shows the EV getting passed by some of the others soon after, but the point was made. Opel doubled down by adding the tagline "Fun to Drive" at the end of the video. While Opel hasn't revealed the single-charge range of the Ampera-e, it should be roughly the same as the Chevrolet Bolt, which will be about 200 miles. In addition, the Ampera-e, like the Bolt in the US, will get 200 horsepower from its electric motor, and will be able to go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in less than seven seconds. The Ampera-e will debut at the 2016 Paris Motor Show later this month. General Motors said in February that Europe would get the Ampera-e by next year. Opel had previously used the Ampera name with the Euro version of the Chevrolet Volt extended-range plug-in. Related Video: News Source: Opel/YouTube via Green Car Reports Green Chevrolet GM Opel Electric opel ampera-e ampera-e

Very first Chevy Camaro found and restored

Restoring an important classic car can lead people down rabbit hole upon rabbit hole of discovered history in a process that's essentially automotive genealogy. Take the recent rejuvenation of the very first Chevrolet Camaro as an example. The owners started with a strong hunch that the vehicle might be something special and spent years researching to figure it all out before the mechanical work even began. Fisher Body kicked off work on the first Camaro on May 17, 1966, and it was delivered to General Motors just a few days later for final assembly. While the model has earned a place as an American performance icon since then, the original was built more to develop the production process and boasted just a 230-cubic-inch (3.8-liter) inline six and 3-speed transmission. After spending its first few months appearing in promotions, a Chevy dealer in Oklahoma got the gold car in December of '66. It was touted on the sales floor there for years, and the first private owner didn't come until 1969. This short documentary goes into astonishingly comprehensive detail about every bit of the first Camaro's history. If you just want to hear the story of the latest owners and their work to get the vehicle restored since 2010, skip about 11 minutes into the video. Or, of course, you could just enjoy the whole thing. News Source: PilotCarRegistry via YouTube, Camaro NewsTip: Chris P. Chevrolet Automotive History Auto Repair Maintenance Coupe Classics Videos history

Fewer than 1 in 3 Chevy dealers earn right to initially sell C7 Corvette

Looking to make the launch of the 2014 Corvette Stingray as efficient as possible, Chevrolet will be limiting the numbers of its dealers that can sell the all-new coupe and convertible. According to Automotive News, sales of the C7 Corvette will initially be limited to less than a third of Chevy's total dealership network when the 'Vette goes on sale this summer.
Only 900 dealers out of more than 3,000 locations nationwide will be allowed to sell the new Corvette at first, and the reason for this is so that there are no shortages at dealers that can actually get the cars sold. The article says that the 900 dealerships chosen represented 80 percent of total Corvette sales in 2012.
Some of the requirements dealers had to make to get initial allocation of Stingray sales include having sold at least four Corvettes in 2012 and having a Corvette Stingray specialist who will be required to have gone through a training session costing more than $2,000 per attendee. Once demand for the 2014 Corvette Stingray begins to subside - approximately six to nine months after it goes on sale - then allocation could open up to more dealers, but the report indicates this could happen following the 2014 model year.