1967 Chevrolet Camaro on 2040-cars

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Weekly Recap: Tesla loses money, still dominates the news

Some people get an inordinate amount of attention. In politics, it's Donald Trump. In football, it's Jim Harbaugh. And in the auto world, it's Elon Musk and his always-fascinating electric car company, Tesla Motors. General Motors is spending $877 million to upgrade a factory. So what! US auto sales are up. Who cares? Tesla has a metal snake that will recharge your car! So was the week in Tesla – er, the industry. Snarkiness aside, Tesla did dominate the news cycle, led by the announcement the company lost $184 million in the second quarter. Tesla also said it expects to deliver between 50,000 and 55,000 vehicles this year, and is preparing for a full launch of the Model X crossover in September. Musk also made news during the earnings call by simply not answering a question about ride sharing, leading to speculation Tesla could be considering its own operation. While the financials were the arguably the most important company news, reports of a Model S cyber hacking were more compelling fodder for Tesla followers. Researchers were able to attack the sedan and bring it to a stop, though they required access to the car first. Tesla says it already has deployed a remedy for the situation. On a lighter note, Tesla published a video of its metal charger prototype that autonomously uncoils like a snake to power up the company's vehicles, provoking plenty of humorous comments and comparisons. Watch it and decide for yourself. While some of this might seem trivial, much of Tesla's recent attention has been warranted. It's the first startup US automaker in decades to launch from nothing and actually gain traction in the market. Sure, Musk is a lightning rod and Tesla always seems to be in the spotlight. But amid all of the publicity, it easy to lose sight of the new reality: Tesla is a force. OTHER NEWS & NOTES 2016 Chevy Volt lights up 106 MPGe The Chevy Volt's vitals are looking healthier for 2016. The second-generation plug-in hybrid racks up a gaudy 106 miles per gallon equivalent, which is an increase of eight MPGe from the 2015 model. The new Volt can travel 53 miles on electricity, a significant jump from the 2015 Volt's 38-mile range. The new car also has a 420-mile total range when factoring in the capability of the gasoline engine, which is 40 miles greater than the current car offers.

Chevy Cruze gets first official tease

The Cruze has been a runaway success for Chevy. In fact the company has sold over 3.5 million of them since its introduction in 2008. And now the company is preparing to roll out the all-new second-generation model, previewed in the teaser image above. Set to be unveiled on June 24, the 2016 Cruze promises to be larger, yet lighter, that the model it replaces. It will pack new engines, safety features, and technologies – including the integration of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The new Cruze will be based on the same platform that underpins the new Volt and (among others) the new Opel Astra just introduced in Europe. It'll be a vital model for Chevy, which sells the Cruze in 115 countries around the world – chief among them China, Brazil, Canada, and these United States, where sales continue to rise despite the model's age and impending replacement. Look for the second-gen Cruze to hit dealers early next year, joining a revitalized Chevy lineup alongside such notables as the new Spark, Malibu, and Camaro. Cruze Control: Success Paves Way for Next Generation Chevrolet's best-selling global car surpasses 3.5 million sales 2015-06-03 DETROIT – Chevrolet Cruze, the brand's best-selling car around the world, has surpassed 3.5 million global sales, a milestone that comes as Chevrolet prepares to introduce the next-generation Cruze on June 24. "When we introduced the Cruze it replaced 15 other compact vehicles around the globe," said Alan Batey, president, General Motors North America and global Chevrolet brand chief. "By consolidating design, engineering and marketing efforts, we were able to produce an award-winning, value-driven sedan that won over customers around the world." Cruze is sold in 115 countries. The top global markets include China, the United States, Brazil and Canada. In the United States, Cruze total sales were 273,060 in 2014 – a 10 percent increase over 2013. It is also the segment's second-best seller to customers under 25 in the U.S. Importantly, Cruze brings new buyers to Chevrolet – 35 percent of all buyers are new to the brand. Additionally, of those who trade in a Cruze, 56 percent stay with Chevrolet and 23 percent trade in for another Cruze. "In every corner of the globe, Cruze has been successful at introducing new and younger customers to Chevrolet," said Batey.

Pure Vision Design TT Camaro has 1,400 reasons to want it

We've talked about Pure Vision Design before, a California-based company that made waves at last year's SEMA show with its Martini-liveried, Indy-car-powered Ford Mustang. That same car later starred in a Petrolicious video we showed you just a few weeks back. The company's latest creation is a menacing car it calls the Pure Vision Design TT Camaro. Based on a 1972 model, this car shares the Martini Mustang's clean styling and obsession with details.
Unlike the Mustang, which draws its power from a mid-60s Lotus-Ford Indycar engine, the "TT" in this Camaro's name implies something far more potent. The Nelson Racing Engines 427-cubic-inch V8 has been fitted with a pair of turbochargers, with a claimed output of 1,400 horsepower. That's almost 1,000 more than the Martini Mustang.
A six-speed Magnum transmission dispatches that power to the ground, while Pirelli PZero tires are tasked with (somehow) trying to grip the road. Baer brakes hide behind those HRE rims, while JRI coilovers and HyperTech springs bless the Camaro with some degree of competency in the bends.