CHEVY CORVETTE STINGRAY DEFEATING RIVALS WHERE IT MATTERS MOST

By Brandon Turkus, Autoblog.com - Everything is coming up roses for the award-winning Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, as new data from the North American Dealers Association dissected by GM Authority reveals that America's sports car is handily outselling two of its more expensive rivals.

Through June of 2014, the NADA notes that the Corvette has rung up 17,744 sales, handily besting the Porsche 911 and positively spanking the SRT Viper.  Of course, you're sitting there thinking, "Corvette is outselling the much more expensive Porsche and Viper.  Sky blue, water wet."  But what's impressive here is just how thoroughly the Chevrolet is beating its two rivals, with this data serving as a testament to just how popular the seventh-generation sports car has become.

So far this year, Porsche has managed to move 5,169 911s, according to NADA.  Considering that the base model starts at nearly $15,000 more than the most heavily optioned Stingray, and that Porsche owners have a vast, expensive options catalogue to select from, Stuttgart's sales are still plenty impressive in relation to the nearly 18,000 Corvettes sold.

The Viper, though, continues to simply flounder.  With a starting price of US$102,485 for a base model and US$124,985 for the GTS, the Viper doesn't cover as vast a pricing range as the 911, but with only 354 units sold as of last month so far this year, it's far, far behind either the Porsche or the Corvette.  Its more single-minded, uncompromising nature has undoubtedly served to limit its sales appeal to a larger audience.

And for those thinking that the Chevy is beating out its rivals simply because it's more affordable, GM Authority points out that it also easily bested the significantly cheaper (and older) Nissan 370Z in the first half of 2014.  The Fairlady tallied up just 4,100 sales.

All in all, it's not a bad time to be a Corvette fan - or a Chevy dealer.

2015 FORD MUSTANG VS CAMAR AND CHALLENGER

By Autoblog.com - The horsepower wars are tightening among the Detroit Three, as the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger are getting bigger, more powerful, and yes, more fuel efficient. 

That came into sharper focus this week as more information was revealed about the most insane Challenger ever - the 707-horsepower Hellcat - followed quickly by Ford's in-depth showcase of the 2015 Mustang in Dearborn.

It's shaping up to be a golden age for enthusiasts, and what's under the hood is becoming more important than ever.

The V8s

• Right now, the 5.0-litre Mustang GT has the lead among Detroit's V8 muscle cars in the power department, though there's a caveat.  The 435-hp output of the 5.0-litre 'Stang is ahead of the 6.2-litre LS3 V8 Camaro SS, which is rated at 426 ponies.  It's also better than the 5.7-litre V8 Challenger R/T's 375 hp.
• But, it trails the 6.4-litre V8 used in the 392 Challenger, which makes 485 hp.  Blue Oval enthusiasts could argue the 392 is a sort of "Hellcat Lite," and not the GT's true competitor.
• The tables are turned in the torque department, as the V8 Stang summons 400 lb-ft, which is behind the Camaro SS (420 lb-ft), the Challenger R/T (410 lb-ft) and the 392 (475 lb-ft).
• Of course, we're just talking about the 2015 Mustang's competition, and since we don't know what's in store for the SVT-tune example yet, we're leaving out any comparisons to the Camaro Z/28 and ZL1, as well as the previously mentioned, 707-hp  Challenger Hellcat.

The V6s

• Among V6s, the Camaro is the decided leader in power, boosting 323 hp, well ahead of the Challenger's 305 hp and the now-detuned Mustang, which dropped to an even 300 hp this year.
• The Blue Oval does pack the most torque among six-cylinders with 280 lb-ft, just ahead of the Camaro's 278 lb-ft and the Challenger's 268 lb-ft.

The Wildcard

• Of course, we're referring to Ford's EcoBoost inline four-cylinder, which pushes out 310 hp and an impressive 320 lb-ft from a turbocharged 2.3-litre mill.  Neither Dodge nor Chevy have anything similar in their current muscle car lines, and if there are any undecided potential buyers in this died-in-the-wool segment, it could prove to be a game-changer.

Tipping the Scales

• The turbo four is also the lightest Mustang and the lightest car among these offerings from Detroit, weighing 3,524 pounds (1,598 kilograms).  The V6 'Stang is just two pounds heavier though, which puts it well ahead of the V6 Camaro (3,702 pounds / 1,679 kg) and Challenger (3,834 pounds / 1,739 kg).
• This trend continues among the V8s, as the Mustang GT is 3,705 pounds (1,680 kg) - just three pounds (1.3 kg) heavier than the lightest Camaro V6.  The eight-cylinder Chevy comes in at 3,90 pounds (1,805 kg), which is still lighter than the Challenger's weight of 4,082 pounds (1,851 kg).

So those are the cold, hard numbers.  Objectively there are definite winners and losers, depending on what you value in a sporting automobile.  But in the end, this segment has always been about more than the numbers.  If anything, spec sheets trivialize it.  Muscle cars are about the visceral experience from behind the wheel.  Pick your favorite, plunk down your cash and hit the road.  Who are we to tell you that you're wrong?

 



HOW GM ALMOST SCREWED UP TOY STORY CARS, MONSTERS INC. AND MORE

 

By Chris Paukert, Autoblog.com - General Motors came within one week of buying Pixar in 1985, and would have subsumed the then-fledgling computer company to use its technology to help aid car designs.  That surprising almost-was historical wrinkle comes courtesy of Ed Catmull, co-founder of Pixar, in his new management book, Creativity Inc.At the time, Pixar was more of a computer hardware company than an animation studio.  Had the deal gone through, it would have likely "put an end to our dream of making the first (CGI) animated feature film," Catmull says in the book.  There would have been no Toy Story, no Cars, no Ratatouille, no WALL-E and no Monsters Inc.  It's not even clear if the name Pixar would have survived - it's likely that GM would simply have subsumed the organization into its design department.

The aborted GM deal, about which little has been revealed beyond its existence (it was mentioned in an earlier book, David A. Price's The Pixar Touch), is fascinating to ponder.  Catmull (above) said the failed negotiations to buy the then-ailing Lucasfilm computer division actually involved the automaker and Philips, the Dutch engineering and electronics giant.  "General Motors was intrigued because we were leading the way in the modeling of objects, which they felt could be used in car design," says Catmull.  Philips was interested in the technology behind the Pixar Image Computer, which could read huge amounts of data from imaging machines like CT scanners or MRIs.  Those two pieces of technology made Pixar a sweet acquisition target, one GM and Philips valued at around US$30 million.  The companies had agreed to pay George Lucas $15 million and invest a further US$15 million in Pixar's operations in order to consummate the deal.

In reading Creativity, Inc., it's not entirely clear what scuttled the deal, but in the book's afterword, Catmull makes it sound like Pixar executives were upset when the deal fell through.  "We'd made a promising match with General Motors, only to be left at the altar," he says.  In a recent lecture as part of the DFJ Entrepreneurial Series at Stanford, Catmull expounded a bit, saying the deal fell apart when "with General Motors - the EDS part - the Ross Perot holdovers and the car people got into a war with each other."  EDS, of course, being Electronic Data Systems, the technology and services company that the one-time presidential candidate sold to GM in 1984.

Instead, Apple's Steve Jobs "swooped in" to help prop up Pixar, and the rest is animation history.  Today, Catmull is president of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios.  He, and thousands of Buzz Lightyear, Mike and Sully and Lightning McQueen fans are probably eternally grateful the deal was never realized.

DETROIT 3 TO SHORTEN OR CANCEL SUMMER BREAKS AT PLANTS

 

By Stephen Elmer, Autoguide.com - Auto production plants usually shut down for about two weeks in July to provide employees with a vacation and to give the company time to upgrade or inspect their facilities, but strong sales are leaving no extra time to stop the assembly line.

The Detroit 3 will all have to modify their summer schedules this year to make sure that they can meet demands.  Ford will be cutting its usual two-week shutdown in half at four of its plants, Chrysler will keep two of its U.S. plants open with no shut down at all and General Motors will keep one third of its American assembly plants running.

Overall, light vehicle sales have improved by 4 percent year-over-year to 8.2 million vehicles sold during the first half of 2014.

Chrysler plans to keep its Jefferson North and Sterling Heights plants open for the summer, where the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Dodge Durango and Chrysler 200 are built.

At GM, the plants that build the Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra and Chevy Corvette are not scheduled to be shut down.

As for Ford, the plants that build the Ford Explorer, Taurus, F series, Expedition and Escape along with the Lincoln MKS, MKC and Navigator will endure shorter shut downs than normal.  The company's plant in Dearborn, Michigan will shut down for most of September to retool in preparation for the new aluminum body F-150.

CHEVROLET CAMPAIGN LAUNCHING ON JULY 7 INVITES FANS TO CELEBRATE BRAND'S DEBUT ON MANCHESTER UNITED NEW HOME SHIRT

 

By General Motors, Detroit - Chevrolet today invited Manchester United fans worldwide to help celebrate Chevrolet's debut on the club's new home shirt by participating in a unique digital experience at www.chevroletfc.com starting July 7.  The new shirt kicks-off Chevrolet's seven-year agreement as Manchester United's shirt sponsor.

Fans visiting www.ChevrolerFC.com can be among the first to sign up to virtually wear and share the new shirt via their social channels as part of Chevrolet's "What Do You #PlayFor?" global campaign, which brings fans closer to the sport and celebrates the passion for play around the beautiful game.

"Our presence on the new Manchester United home shirt is a highly anticipated moment for the club's more than 659 million followers around the globe, and for the Chevrolet brand," said Tim Mahoney, chief marketing officer, Global Chevrolet.  "From the beginning of our partnership with Manchester United more than two years ago, we pledged to bring fans closer to the game.  This celebration of the new shirt will honour that pledge by making them part of the unveiling."

Chevrolet also released a video at www.ChevroletFC.com featuring Manchester United players, legends and fans.  The video pays homage to the history of Manchester United shirts, dating from the club's inception in 1878.  On July 7, the full video will be released to celebrate Chevrolet's debut on the new shirt.

Manchester United's Group Managing Director, Richard Arnold, said:  "Today is a historic day for our partnership with Chevrolet as they officially become only our fifth shirt sponsor in 136 years.  It is apt then, that as we look to the future, Chevrolet is honouring the club's past and involving our supporters in such an intimate way."

The video features Manchester United fans throughout history marching down the streets of Manchester, and singing the "Glory, Glory Man Utd" anthem.  The fans eventually arrive at Old Trafford where current players Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata, Robin van Persie and David De Gea, and assistant manager Ryan Giggs join them.  The video ends before the shirt is seen, building anticipation for the brand's debut on the shirt July 7.

Nine Manchester United legens also appear in the video: Sir Bobby Charlton, Alex Stepney, Denis Law, Lou Macari, Arthur Albiston, Norman Whiteside, Clayton Blackmore, Denis Irwin and GAry Pallister.

Celebrating its debut on the new shirt is one of several upcoming events highlighting Chevrolet's partnerwhip with Manchester United.  On July 23, Manchester United will play its first match in the new Chevrolet-branded shirt against the L.A. Galaxy at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, in the Chevrolet Cup.  Chevrolet also will serve as the presenting sponsor of Manchester United's August 2 match versus Real Madrid at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  Chevrolet has plans for a memorable fan moment at Manchaster United's 2014-15 opening Premier League match on the weekend of August 16/17 against Swansea City FC.

NATIONAL CORVETTE MUSEUM VOTES TO PRESERVE SINKHOLE

Since the catastrophe, attendance
has shot up 59 per cent.

 

By Chris Bruce, Autoblog.com - The people behind the National Corvette Museum really know how to turn lemons into lemonade.  In February, a 40-feet wide by 60-feet deep sinkhole opened up in the middle of the museum's Skydome, eating eight rare 'Vettes on display.  But the folks in Bowling Green, KY, are turning the tragedy into opportunity.  The natural disaster has turned into a major attendance windfall for the museum, pulling in record crowds.  And now, as previously hinted at, the museum's board has officially voted for new plans to keep the crater in place in modified form - even displaying cars in it.

The museum's board felt that it had three options available: completely repair the sinkhole, leave it as-is or modify it slightly to be somewhat smaller.  In a vote, the members decided on the third option, which would reduce the cavity's size to 25-feet by 45-feet wide and 30-feet deep.  That might be further modified after studies into how having an open hole in the Skydome will affect the humidity and heating costs.  Regardless, the hope is to leave enough room to display two Corvette models down there, possibly the ones most badly damaged in the collapse.

"We have to look at creative ways to generate interest in the Museum.  It would be so much easier to just be a regular automotive museum with our Corvettes on display, but we have to think outside the box," said Executive Director Wendell Strode in the museum's statement.

After the initial shock of the sinkhole subsided, the museum's administrators realized that the giant crater might turn out to be one of the best things to ever happen to the institution.  Since the catastrophe, attendance has shot up 50 per cent compared to last year, with increased revenue at its gift shop and restaurant, as well.  It has become a real tourist attraction.

Of course, going with the option of a reduced-size sinkhole always leaves the door open to fill it in completely, notes  Christy Thomas, the museum's chief financial officer.  "If the interest in the exhibit wanes, or if down the road we decided that we don't want the hole any longer there is always an option to put the room back how it was," she says.

If you want to see the original 60-feet-deep hole in all its glory, then don't worry.  The museum is leaving it open until construction begins on the modifications, which are scheduled for September. 

STINGRAY SCHOOL MAXIMIZES CORVETTE DRIVING EXPERIENCE

 

By General Motors, Oshawa, Ontario - Chevrolet in Canada is now helping owners get the most from their new Corvette Stingray through the Ron Fellows Performance Driving School.  The two-day program has been made available to Canadian 2014 Corvette Stingray owners for $1,000 US - a $1,500 reduction from the standard rate.

Developed and managed by legendary Corvette race Ron Fellows, the performance-driving curriculum at Spring Mountain Motor Resort and Country  Club in Pahrump, Nevada accommodates drivers of all skill levels.

"We designed the Corvette Stingray to make its owners better drivers through technologies such as the Driver Mode Selector, Active Rev Match, elecontric limited-slip differential and more, said Tim Mahoney, chief marketing officer, global Chevrolet.  "Through the Ron Fellows Performance Driving School, they'll learn to make the most of its technologies and delve deeper into the Corvette's capabilities, resulting in a more exciting and fulfilling driving experience."

The discount from Chevrolet is good for one year from the retail purchase of a new Corvette Stingray and applies only to the original owner.  Only one attendee per vehicle is eligible for the discount.  Attendees are responsible for the cost of travel and accommodations.

Owners do not have to bring their personal Stingray to Pahrump.  The school uses a fleet of Corvette Stingrays for instruction.

"We are proud to be the official high-performance driving school for Chevrolet and the Corvette Stingray," said Fellows.  "Our goal is to ensure every driver leaves with enhanced driving skills, more confidence on the street and track and, most of all, a deeper understanding of his or her Corvette's capabilities and how to safely enjoy the car to the fullest."

Along with class instruction, participants will spend extensive time driving the Stingray on Spring Mountain's world-class 2.2-mile road course where three levels of instruction cover novice track drivers to those with more experience.

"It's more than simply going fast and learning when to turn and apply the throttle," said Fellows.  "Mind speed and decision-making are key elements in the high-performance world, and our car control exercises and on-track training will help drivers improve their ability to process information quickly and accurately, resulting in a better coordination of eyes, hands and feet to improve their ability to process information quickly and accurately, resulting in a better coordination of eyes, hands and feet to improve their driving skill.  It's great fun - and drivers will definitely challenge their limits to find the limits of the new Stingray."

Fellows is recognized as one of North America's most versatile and successful road-racing drivers.  A charter member of Corvette Racing, Fellows was part of historic Corvette Racing victories at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and 12 Hours of Sebring.  In 2011, Fellows was inducted into the Corvette Hall of Fame, located at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky.