1969 Chevrolet Chevelle on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Camo'd Chevy Camaro ZL1 is one bad boy

Thanks to a fresh gallery of spy shots, we're getting a much better look at the next Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 during its development, and this machine is looking seriously mean. Unlike the last photos, the heavy cladding is gone from the body this time and is replaced by a camouflage wrap. That switch makes checking out the details a whole lot easier. The first thing you'll notice at the front is the massive grille that looks ready to devour anything that gets in the way. To add a little more menace, the lower air dam appears to jut out a bit more, as well. While harder to see in these latest shots, our spies say the hood still boasts an extractor similar to what's found on the Cadillac CTS-V. The big, double spoke wheels look great in black and really dominate the styling in profile. Look past them, and you notice some tweaked side sills, as well. At the very back, you can also spot some styling adjustments to the rear bumper. There's an unmissable wing back there, too. The powerplant for the ZL1 is still a mystery, but it's rumored to use the LT4 6.2-liter supercharged V8. The similar hood design as the CTS-V is one piece of evidence to support that. Even with the same engine, Chevy's engineers could tweak the output higher or lower than the Caddy. The wait to find out isn't too long because the ZL1 is anticipated to launch for the 2017 model year. Related Video:

Chevrolet Camaros at SEMA are a mobile accessory catalog

Chevy's goal at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas this week seems to be to show as much of its Performance and Accessories catalog as possible. That's why it brought three different Camaros - two with V8s and one powered by a V6 - with all of the best goodies from the catalog already fitted.
We gave a more in-depth recap of the Performance Camaro V8 Concept, the Performance Camaro V6 Concept and the Performance Garage Concept already, but we figured you'd like a short recap for each. It should be noted, though, that you can order all of the items you see here for your own Camaro, so be sure to take a long, hard look at our live galleries, just in case you're in the market for some mods.
Essentially, the Performance Garage Concept and the Performance V8 Concept are the same car - the only difference is that the later features a whole host of aesthetic tweaks in addition to its aftermarket, shorty exhaust headers and 2.75-inch exhaust. (The Performance Garage Concept has been usefully placed on its side; the better to see the new parts added to the vehicle.) The Performance V6 Concept is notable because, despite being a V6, there's no shortage of performance goodies fitted. All three of the Performance Camaros benefit from items from the Camaro ZL1, which can also be ordered through the catalog.

Next-gen Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra may use carbon fiber

It's been generally accepted that the next generation of full-size GM trucks will use some sort of strong, lightweight material for the beds while retaining steel for the cab. While aluminum seems like the most obvious choice, according to Automotive News, the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra will incorporate both aluminum and carbon fiber in their beds. The publication cites sources from within GM, though it seems the introduction of this comparatively exotic material mix is still a few years off. While carbon fiber is both stronger and lighter than steel and aluminum, it takes significantly more time and money to produce, essentially relegating the material to small-volume cars. The main benefit for trucks is the resulting reduction in weight to improve fuel economy without sacrificing the tough, rugged capabilities truck buyers expect. The Ford F-150 made the switch to aluminum for the 2015 model year and it's proved highly successful. It seemed like it was only a matter of time before the competition followed suit. Automotive News says that the next-gen trucks will launch with aluminum beds and that it will take a couple of years before we'll see any carbon fiber incorporated into the design. Even then, only look for the composite material on higher-trim models, with a trickle down to lower-spec trucks possible further in the future. In 2011, GM announced it was working with Japan-based Teijin Limited on a carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic. There's a good chance that material's introduction will be on trucks. Related Video: News Source: Automotive News Plants/Manufacturing Rumormill Chevrolet GM GMC Truck