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Performance cars overpower the Detroit Auto Show

At precisely the stroke of noon on Monday, the 2016 Acura NSX rolled on stage at the Detroit Auto Show amid plumes of smoke and dancing lights. The sounds of the powerful engine revving soared to the rafters. It was the second coming of Acura's iconic sports car, and the reveal had all of the expected trappings. Afterwards, champagne corks popped and the bubbly flowed. It was noon in Detroit, but for the green-car movement, it seemed like the clock had struck midnight. That's an exaggeration, but performance was the overwhelming theme of North America's most important show. Ford – which has helped lead the way in smaller displacement engines and early adoption of hybrid powertrains – had more than 1,500 horsepower on stage one point after it revealed the GT concept, the new F-150 Raptor and the Shelby Mustang GT350R. The NSX is technically a hybrid (it has three electric motors), but with 550-plus hp, there's no doubt this Acura was bred on the track. The theme continued throughout the show at nearly every stand. Alfa Romeo showed off the 4C Spider, which is the open-air version of a car that purports to be the spiritual successor of the high-performance 33 Stradale from 1967. On Tuesday, Cadillac is scheduled to reveal the 640-hp CTS-V with the V8 transplanted from the Corvette Z06, and the Lexus was expected to roll out its own V8-powered beast, the 467-hp GS F. For enthusiasts – especially enthusiasts with money – these are halcyon days. But make no mistake, all of this power has a purpose. Ford product chief Raj Nair said the Blue Oval uses high performance cars to develop technologies, like aerodynamics and materials, which are then shared across its lineup. "It's another proof point about how serious we are in developing innovation through performance," he said. Ford, which is rolling out at least 12 performance cars by 2020, said the sporty cars attract younger and more influential buyers to its fold, which can help burnish its image beyond adding sales volume. Toyota is taking a similar approach, senior vice president Bob Carter said, noting the Lexus RC coupe draws people into showrooms and gets them excited about the brand, even if they don't end up buying one. "They provide an aspiration and a halo that provides the attention that gets you noticed in a cluttered market," he said.

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.

GM dealers unhappy about pickup prices

The backlash is beginning. Following General Motors' price hike of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra last week, dealers across the country are expressing their ire over increasing prices in the face of rebates and discounts on trucks from Ford and Ram.
Speaking to Automotive News, Sam Pilato, the general manager at Dimmitt Chevrolet in Clearwater, FL, Silverados are "selling very poorly." W. Carrol Smith, the president of Monument Chevrolet in the heart of truck country, Texas, said, "[GM's] position is that the vehicle stands on its own and it doesn't need a bigger rebate. That's not what the market is telling us."
According to AN, that's the general attitude amongst Chevy and GMC dealers across the country, where the twin pickups are getting butchered in sales by competitors offering up to $9,000 off their sticker prices. Part of the problem for GM is that its trucks are arriving on the market near the end of the current F-150's lifecycle, a fact that Ford has taken advantage of.