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2016 Chevy SS gets new face, clears throat

Chevy is tweaking the SS once again for the 2016 model year. While the changes might be minor, muscle sedan enthusiasts shouldn't need any more excuse to love the Bowtie brand's performance sedan. The 2016 Chevy SS benefits from revised front-end styling that incorporates new vertical ducts designed to direct airflow over the front wheel wells. It also gets new LED lighting and new functional hood vents to make it look even more aggressive than the current model. Although the 6.2-liter V8 carries over unchanged from the existing version – churning out 415 horsepower and an equal amount of torque – a new dual-mode exhaust promises to be both quieter at lower speeds and angrier-sounding at higher revs. And of course you can still get it with a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. In any event, it should also look the business with its new 19-inch alloys as well. Related Video: 2016 Chevrolet SS Designed for Performance DETROIT – Building on the performance-oriented updates made to the Chevrolet SS last year, the 2016 model features several exterior enhancements that reinforce its presence on the road. A revised front fascia features new, vertical ducts at the outer edges to direct airflow over the front wheel openings to improve aerodynamic efficiency. The fascia also incorporates new LED signature lighting, while new, functional hood vents and new-design 19-inch cast-aluminum wheels contribute to a stronger appearance for the rear-drive sports sedan. "The 2016 SS design changes more fully express the true driving character of the sedan while further enhancing the car's overall performance," said Todd Christensen, Chevrolet Performance Car marketing manager. What hasn't changed is the SS's unique blend of performance, comfort and spaciousness. It features a 6.2L V-8 engine under the hood and turns out an SAE-certified 415 horsepower (310 kW) and 415 lb-ft of torque (563 Nm), and offers a six-speed manual transmission or a paddle-shift six-speed automatic transmission. A new, dual-mode exhaust system for 2016 complements the V-8 engine with quieter performance at low engine speeds and a more muscular engine note at wide-open throttle.

PickupTrucks.com's latest test results in a familiar winner [w/video]

PickupTrucks.com has gone and thrown the latest batch of half-ton pickups into a cage match to see who would come out on top. The site put the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2013 Ford F-150, Ram 1500, Toyota Tundra and Nissan Titan through a battery of tests. Those included 0-60 miles per hour acceleration, 60-0 mph deceleration, fuel economy, a hill climb, and payload and towing. They even threw the rigs on an autocross course to evaluate overall handling. Each truck was given points based on how it scored in each evaluation.
Who came out on top? Somewhat surprisingly, the 2013 Ford F-150 walked away with the gold, though fewer than 50 points separated first and fourth place. Head over to PickupTrucks.com to read the full evaluation and the final results. You may be shocked to see exactly where some of the segment's newest additions placed. You can also watch a video on the test below.

Electric Corvette sets mile record at 186.8 MPH

When we first saw the Genovation GXE all-electric Corvette on its stand at the Battery Show 2015, we were given some impressive specs – a three-second 0-to-60 run and a 200-mile-per-hour top speed – all made possible by over 700 electric horses spittin' out more than 600 pound-feet of torque. Turns out, it may just live up to that high-speed hype. With Bob Simpson – project manager (and EVDrive co-founder) – riding shotgun and multi-record holder Johnny Bohmer holding the wheel and applying a heavy right foot, the battery-powered C6 Z06 hit 186.8 mph on the tarmac of the NASA Shuttle Landing Facility at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. That run puts the GXE in the International Mile Racing Association (IMRA) record books under the heading of "Top Speed Street Legal Electric Car." According to the press release, which you can read below, the record was set on the car's first day of testing. Its builders have confidence it's good for even more. Though they haven't said if, or where, further speed runs would occur, we can't help but think a one-on-one match up would be interesting, say, against a certain Zombie 222. Similarly fast – it reached 177.8 mph from a dead stop at the Texas Mile – it would make for a classic confrontation. Genovation vresus Blood Shed Motors; vintage pony car versus modern sportscar; DC drivetrain versus AC, the possibilities are endless. Genovation offers its GXE for $330,000 (or $290,000, if your supply the Vette donor). It features a 6-speed manual transmission, a 44kWh battery pack and is said to be good for 150 miles on a full charge. Related Video: FLORIDA (2/29/2016) -- Genovation Cars is proud to announce a new top speed record achieved by its prototype high-performance all-electric Corvette, the Genovation eXtreme Electric or GXE. The vehicle was being tested at the Johnny Bohmer Proving Grounds/Shuttle Landing Facility in Florida, conducting research to improve vehicle performance. During the course of testing, the car broke the record for the Top Speed Street Legal Electric Car category with a speed of 186.8 mph on the date of February 23, 2016. The record was certified by the International Mile Racing Association (IMRA). The previous record was 177 mph, set by a Finnish prototype car. The GXE, based on a 2006 Z06 Corvette, includes a state-of-the-art battery management system, inverters, batteries and electric motors that produce in excess of 700-hp and 600 lb-ft of torque.