1966 Chevelle Malibu Convertible on 2040-cars

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Lutz dishes dirt on GM in latest Autoline Detroit

Bob Lutz sits down for Autoline Detroit - Click above to watch video after the jump
Autoline Detroit recently played host to Bob Lutz, and, as is always the case, the former General Motors vice chairman dished out some great commentary. Lutz was promoting his new book Car Guys vs. Bean Counters: The Battle for the Soul of American Business, and talk quickly turned to his role as it related to product development and high-level decision making at GM. While on the topic of brand management, Lutz revealed a few rather interesting tidbits about his former employer:
All Chevrolet vehicles were required to have five-spoke aluminum wheels and a chrome band up front, as part of the Bowtie brand's overall image.

Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat vs. Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in latest Head 2 Head

"Olympian" is one of the terms we use to signify the greatest height, the seat of the gods. Yet Mt. Olympus is the second-highest peak in the Balkans ranges, overshadowed by the crest at Musala in Bulgaria's Rila mountains. Both great heights, but one is a little higher. That's how we get the Olympian Chevy Camaro ZL1 pitched at the Musalic Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat in Motor Trend's latest episode of Head 2 Head. The side-by-side spec sheet is filled with farcical numbers. For the ZL1, that's a 6.2-liter V8 with 580 horsepower, 556 pound-feet of torque, a 4,051-pound curb weight, 0-to-60 miles per hour in 3.9 seconds, a quarter-mile time of 12.2 seconds and a base price of just $57,800. Opposing that, the Hellcat wrings out its 6.2-liter V8 for 707 hp, 650 lb-ft of torque, weighs 4,449 pounds, does the quarter in 11.7 seconds and has a base price of just $60,990. Except in the case of the Hellcat, when Motor Trend put it on the dyno the machine spit out a reading of 672 hp and 606 lb-ft at the wheels. If there's a 10-percent driveline loss through those beefed-up internals and heavy-duty eight-speed transmission, that means the Hellcat is actually rated at about 750 horsepower and 700 lb-ft. But once they get put on a closed-off strip of coast road in Northern California, there are only a few strands of hair between their respective performances. That's not the case for they sensations provide; host Jonny Lieberman calls one of them, "One of the most incredible cars ever made," and says, "It changes everything." Watch the video above to see who got the verdict and how. Related Video:

More 2017 Chevy Bolt powertrain details revealed

We've seen the production version of the Chevy Bolt electric vehicle. We've driven a prototype version. And now it's time to get some details about the powertrain. After the production version's reveal at CES last week, GM trotted out the Bolt EV for its Detroit debut this morning. The company brought with it a bunch of technical specifications. We'll start with the most important part of an EV: the battery. GM has put a 60-kWh lithium-ion battery that weighs just just 960 pounds into the floor of the Bolt. As previously announced, the Bolt's 288 cells will be able to go over 200 miles on a full charge. That full charge takes nine hours on a Level 2 EVSE thanks to the onboard 7.2-kW charger. Of course, a full charge won't be that important most days, which is why GM says that you can get 50 miles of range in "less than two hours" on Level 2. There's a SAE Combo DC fast charging option as well. The battery will have an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty. The Bolt will be able to sprint up to 60 miles per hour in "less than seven seconds" thanks to a 150-kW/200 horsepower motor in the Bolt. The motor is a new GM design that can produce up to 266 pound-feet of torque. The Bolt uses a shift-by-wire system and an, "offset gear and shaft configuration tailored to meet efficiency and performance targets." The Bolt EV's powertrain has a 7.05:1 final drive ratio. You can read all of the details direct from GM below. Related Video: Drive Unit and Battery at the Heart of Chevrolet Bolt EV Engineers focus on careful balance of range and performance DETROIT, Mich. – The 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV does more than set a new benchmark for affordable, long-range EV driving. It also raises the bar when it comes to driving performance. Engineers developed the Bolt EV's propulsion system to offer more than an estimated 200 miles (based on GM estimates) and a delightful driving experience that's more akin to a compact sports sedan than a small utilitarian crossover. "Being the leader in range and affordability means nothing if the car isn't going to excite you each time you get behind the wheel," said Josh Tavel, Chevrolet Bolt EV chief engineer. "That's why the team was tasked with delivering a propulsion system that would also make the Bolt EV an electric vehicle that owners would love to drive." Single Motor Drive Unit Like most EVs on the road, the Bolt EV's drive system uses a single high capacity electric motor to propel the car.