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Sabine Schmitz to compete in WTCC race at Nurburgring, hopes for rain

The World Touring Car Championship is set to return to the Nurburgring this year after a 30-year absence. Who better, then, to lead the pack than Sabine Schmitz? One of the most skilled drivers around the Norschleife, 45-year-old Schmitz has been known to compete in the VLN series and in the 24-hour race at the Nurburgring (which she's won twice), and regularly drives tourists on hot laps around the Green Hell. Nobody can drive the circuit better than Schmitz when the rain starts to fall, and fall it often does in the German spring, but she'll have a new challenge on her hands when she makes her WTCC debut in a Chevy Cruze for the Munnich Motorsport team for the German round next month. It'll be interesting to see how Sabine does in the race, given that she has no experience with the vehicle she'll be driving, but has immense knowledge of the notoriously difficult track. She'll have the chance to acclimate a little during the WTCC test session at the 'Ring later this month, and hopes to compete in one of the two races – in Morocco or Hungary – before tackling her home track in unfamiliar machinery. News Source: WTCC via YouTube, BridgeToGantry.comImage Credit: Newspress Celebrities Hirings/Firings/Layoffs Motorsports Chevrolet wtcc

1970 Chevy Camaro gets 650-hp crate engine for SEMA

The latest edition of the Chevrolet Performance catalog arrives at the 2015 SEMA Show, and to demonstrate the insane creations that are possible with it, the company has a seriously powerful machine in tow. This custom 1970 Camaro RS boasts the new LT4 crate engine that makes a staggering 650 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque. The offering gives hot rod builders the ability to put the Corvette Z06's 6.2-liter supercharged V8 into any project where they can make the mill fit. This Hyper Blue Metallic Camaro should offer neck-snapping performance with its massively powerful engine and a T-56 Super Magnum six-speed manual gearbox. Chevy's show car is about more than just packing copious horsepower into a classic shape, though. The builders also overhaul the suspension with coilovers at the front and rear, in addition to a four-link setup at the back. Behind the 19-inch aluminum wheels, the coupe has Z06-based brakes at both ends. For better visibility, it wears LED headlights and taillights. Plus, the interior gets custom gauges and a six-point roll cage. With pieces like titanium intake valves and forged aluminum pistons, the LT4 crate engine comes ready to offer serious performance, but Chevy also gives builders a few options to fit their application. The mill is available with either wet- or dry-sump lubrication. Depending on the version, there are kits to fit front-end accessories, air conditioning, and power steering, as well. The new Chevy Performance catalog features other high-performance components like Z06-based parts for the standard Stingray and an array of performance upgrades for the 2016 Camaro, including suspension lowering kits, brake upgrades, and more. We look forward to seeing this vast collection of goodies at SEMA this year. Related Video: Classic 1970 Camaro Shows Supercharged LT4 Heart Contemporized muscle car highlights new Corvette Z06-based crate engine LAS VEGAS – Chevrolet Performance is showing off the new LT4 crate engine in the most attractive way possible – under the hood of a classic 1970 Camaro RS. The concept vehicle was introduced today at the SEMA Show, in Las Vegas. As the supercharged 6.2L heart of the Corvette Z06, the LT4 is rated at 650 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque, making it the most powerful production-vehicle engine ever from General Motors. The new crate engine – offered in dry-sump and wet-sump versions – allows builders to use the high-tech performance engine in their hot rod projects.

Recharge Wrap-up: BMW cars to share i tech, Jordan to build solar EV charging network

Jordan is looking to promote EVs and build a solar charging network. The country is waiving import tariffs on electric cars, and is spending $120 million on solar chargers. It plans to build 3,000 charging stations, along with 30 MW of solar power. Some chargers will be powered by solar canopies, while others will get electricity from nearby solar farms. Jordan's solar plan should also help to lessen the amount of energy it needs to import from nearby countries. Read more from Navigant Research, or at Green Car Reports. BMW's mainstream cars will benefit from technology borrowed from the i3 and i8, according to BMW sales head Ian Robertson. In an interview with Automotive News, Robertson said that next-generation cars will use carbon fiber more extensively, and that more cars will get plug-in technology. He said that about half of i3 buyers opt for the range extender and added that it is incorrect to refer to a range-extended electric vehicle as a plug-in hybrid. Read more at Automotive News. The ethanol market should remain healthy despite falling oil prices. While cheap oil could drive down ethanol prices, demand still remains due to the federal biofuels standard. Additionally, ethanol producers may find it cheaper to ship their products as domestic oil production drops and railroad shipping opens up. Ethanol byproducts like distillers grains continue to sell, and foreign demand continues as other countries impose their own renewable fuel standards. Read more at Yahoo News. Via Motors will launch the production of an electric Chevrolet Silverado. The company will convert the pickups into range-extended EVs at its assembly line in Mexico, near GM's Silverado plant. Via has the capacity to produce 10,000 vehicles per year at its Mexico facility. Via Motors Chairman (and former GM Vice Chairman during the early days of the Chevrolet Volt project) Bob Lutz wants to help make EVs mainstream in America, and believes that requires electrifying pickups and SUVs. Read more in the press release below. Bob Lutz to Announce Production Launch of the Electrified Chevy Silverado BY VIA Motors Media access to Bob Lutz, former Vice-Chairman of General Motors and father of the Chevy Volt Bob Lutz is now Chairman of VIA Motors who builds the "Volt Style" extended range electric drive system for the Silverado, the Express Van and is working on the SUV's (Tahoe, Suburban) 5 years in development. Now production Launch and Consumer Sales in 2015.