Video: Episode 1 of Chevrolet’s Corvette Racing Series hits the interwebs cinema
Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Chevrolet, Racing
Corvette Racing Series, Episode 1 - Click above to watch video after the jump
As Chevrolet Corvette Racing team heads into its first full season of competition in the American Le Mans Series GT2 class, the first full episode of a new General Motors video series chronicling their journey has been posted on YouTube. The 12-part series will follow the team as it gets ready for the nine race series as well as the annual June treck to Le Mans for the 24 Hours.
Episode one begins with a look back at where 2009 left off. On the final corner of the final lap of the Laguna Seca race last October, Jan Magnussen slammed into a retaining wall with a 57 g impact after making contact with one of the Flying Lizards Porsches.
As soon as the cars returned to the team’s Wixom, MI shop, the crew set about getting ready for 2010 including preparing for the all-new 5.5-liter V8. First, though, they had to rebuild the #3 C6.R. Check out the first episode of the series after the jump.
Gallery: 2010 ALMS Corvette C6.R
[Source: YouTube]
Continue reading Video: Episode 1 of Chevrolet’s Corvette Racing Series hits the interwebs cinema
Video: Episode 1 of Chevrolet’s Corvette Racing Series hits the interwebs cinema originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: chevrolet, chevrolet corvette c6r, chevrolet-corvette, corvette-racing, corvetteracing, flying-lizards, general-motors, racing
Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 3.11.10
Review: Ducati Hypermotard 1100 EVO SP induces grins, wheelspin and wheelies
Ducati Hypermotard 1100 EVO SP - Click above for high-res image gallery We’re going to get ahead of ourselves a little bit with our review of the new Ducati Hypermotard 1100 EVO SP. We…
2012 Chevrolet Malibu design completely revealed in patent filings?
2010 Chevrolet Malibu patent drawings - Click above for high-res image gallery Over the past nine months, we’ve seen the next-generation Chevrolet Malibu twice at General Motors media…
DetNews: New Ford Police Interceptor to be Taurus-based
Will the new Police Interceptor be a toughened Taurus SHO? - click above for high-res image gallery Just a quick note: The Detroit News is reporting that the next Ford Police Interceptor will be…
Also of interest:
- Alleged patent images for Porsche Panamera convertible turn up
- Nissan only offering GT-R Premium for 2011, priced from $�85,060* - will volume be constrained?
- Report: Chrysler reconsidering light-duty diesel for Ram
- Study: Where do our nav systems take us most? Walmart
- Report: New GMC Sierra Denali HD to get the dually treatment
- Report: Toyota sales may bounce back big time in March
- Chevrolet to employ new “Excellence for Everyone” ad campaign
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Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 3.11.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: a-little-bit, a-sport-air, chevrolet, corvetteracing, detroit-news, ducati, ducati hypermotard, general-motors, high-res-image, next, review, sierra-denali, slk 55 amg, sports
Chevrolet to employ new "Excellence for Everyone" ad campaign
Mar 11, 2010 Object
Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Chevrolet, GM
General Motors is working hard to improve the image of its core brands, and the largest GM division, Chevrolet, will be getting some fresh new marketing in the near future. The theme, “Excellence for Everyone” will debut in ad spots over the next two months.
In a web chat yesterday, GM’s North American president Mark Reuss told the Detroit Free Press that Chevrolet will be using the Camaro and Corvette more frequently in its advertising to improve the brand’s overall image. “When have you ever seen ‘Vettes and Camaros in ads for Equinox and Malibu?” Reuss stated. And speaking of the Malibu, Reuss says that GM needs to “re-energize the car,” so expect a new set of ads focused around Chevy’s well-liked midsize sedan, as well.
[Source: Detroit Free Press | Image: Stan Honda/AFP/Getty]
Chevrolet to employ new “Excellence for Everyone” ad campaign originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: a-web-chat, advertising, alfa romeo, chevrolet, chevroletmalibu, everyone, general-motors, generalmotors, its-advertising, mercedes benz sls amg, mercedes sls amg roadster, overall-image-, reuss, roadster-, sports
Nissan unveils NV commercial van, available in three different flavors
Mar 10, 2010 Object
Filed under: Truck, Work, Nissan, Misc. Auto Shows
Nissan NV commercial vans - Click above for high-res image gallery
Historically, America’s commercial vehicle marketplace has been dominated by domestic automakers. Besides a small percentage of Sprinter sales from Dodge while under Daimler ownership, the fullsize van market has really only been occupied by Ford, General Motors and Chrysler. Nissan is ready to change all that, and its opening salvo in the commercial vehicle marketplace is its NV series of vans.
Nissan’s NV series - “NV” rather unimaginatively stands for Nissan Van, for what it’s worth - relies on three different designations, NV1500, 2500 HD and 3500 HD, and two different roof heights (the High Roof is only available on the NV2500 HD and NV3500 HD models) to provide a platform for every conceivable need. Opting for the tall version will provide enough room for most people to stand up inside with no need to duck.
Interestingly, Nissan’s research indicates that commercial van owners are the least satisfied of any vehicle segment, and as such, the automaker says that the NV design is that of an armored car a ‘clean-sheet’ approach resulting from one of the most researched projects Nissan has ever undertaken. That research has yielded a vehicle that utilizes a fully boxed steel ladder frame and rear-wheel drive with either a 4.0-liter V6 or an optional 5.6-liter V8. Both engines are mated to a standard five-speed automatic transmission.
No matter which engine or roof style is chosen, the NV will come with a user-definable interior layout that can accept standard-size drywall or plywood or any number of aftermarket cargo solutions. Up front, there are a number of storage pockets and compartments to hold whatever is needed, while High Roof models offer an overhead console for additional storage options.
Pricing is not yet available, but Nissan promises the NV series will hit authorized commercial U.S. dealerships before the end of the year. Want to know more? Be sure to check out our gallery of high-res images below and click past the break for the official press release.
Gallery: 2011 Nissan NV
[Source: Nissan]
Continue reading Nissan unveils NV commercial van, available in three different flavors
Nissan unveils NV commercial van, available in three different flavors originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: a-platform-for, before-the-end, econvertible, engine-or-roof, general-motors, nissan commercial, nissancommercial, nv hd, nv van, nv2500, porsche 918 spyder hybrid, porsche918spyder
Toyota dealer group peeved over tax dollar use for GM incentives targeted at Toyota owners
Mar 9, 2010 Object
Filed under: Car Buying, Marketing/Advertising, GM, Toyota
Recently, General Motors has been offering special buying incentives specifically tailored to steer people away from Toyota and Lexus dealerships, and even get current Toyota owners out of their cars. And while most people look at this as just a clever marketing technique to promote other automakers in the wake of Toyota’s recall wound, a group of dealers are none too happy about the marketing campaign. What’s more, because the U.S. government currently owns a 60 percent stake in GM, Toyota dealers have made accusations that American taxpayer dollars are being used to fund these incentives.
The Toyota National Dealer Council, which represents approximately 1,250 Toyota dealers across the United States, claims that using taxpayer dollars for this purpose is “reckless, unfair and detrimental to the entire auto industry.” And while we believe it’s a completely rational argument for the TNDC to make, we must remember that no specific proof has been presented to completely prove their point. GM may be mostly owned by the U.S. government, but it’s still an autonomous company, and no one can say for sure if its marketing decisions are, in any way, influenced by the officials in Washington, D.C. Hit the jump to read the entire TNDC press release.
[Source: Toyota National Dealer Council | Image: Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP/Getty Images]
Toyota dealer group peeved over tax dollar use for GM incentives targeted at Toyota owners originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: a-dealer-group, a-dealers-have, dealer, entire, entry, general-motors, generalmotors, images, marketing, read-the-entire, toyota
Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 3.9.10
Review: 2011 Jaguar XJ is indisputably British and not afraid of a storm
We endure the most powerful storm to ever hit France to sample the all-new Jaguar XJ. And it was totally worth it.
Rendered Speculation: Ford Taurus SHO wagon is the apple of our eye
We love wagons almost as much as we love pavement pummeling power. Meld the two together and you’ve got something special. Too bad this SHO five-door is just a glint in one designer’s eye.
Video: Honda execs talk up historical link between CR-Z and CRX
The connection between the CRX and the CR-Z might be hard for enthusiasts to swallow, but Honda tries to tie the two together in a new promotional video.
Also of interest:
- Mazda reportedly adding brake override systems to all future models
- Video: San Diego ‘runaway Prius’ has media buzzing
- Cadillac distancing itself from parent GM to elude bankruptcy stigma?
- Report: BMW working on new FWD model below 1 Series
- Video: Gran Turismo 5 “Nights” trailer has it all
Browse our archive of Daily U-Turn posts or subscribe to the RSS feed
Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 3.9.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: a-friend-via, almost-as-much, brake-override, dealer, entry, general-motors, generalmotors, historical-link, images, new-promotional, uturn
Report: Audi R8 to spawn sportier model, dual-clutch gearbox cometh
Mar 9, 2010 Object
Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Audi
Audi R8 V10 - Click above for high-res image gallery
We already know that Audi plans to fit the standard R8’s 420-hp, 4.2-liter V8 into its all-new Spyder variant early next year, and now comes word that at least one more version of the R8 is in the pipeline and that the R tronic sequential automatic might not be long for this world.
According to company insiders speaking with Car and Driver, the herky-jerky gearbox will likely be dispatched in favor of Audi’s new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. There’s no word on the amount of torque the DCT can handle, but considering how much better the R8 V10 performed with the standard sequential tranny, we’d suspect that the dual-clutch setup will make its way onto the V8 models only. And if you’re worried about the gated six-speed manual being nixed from the options list, don’t be - it will continue to be available on all models.
C&D also reports that a sportier version of the R8, inspired by the LMS model, could be in the cards, packing more power (think: Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera) and a not-so-insignificant weight reduction thanks to the liberal use of carbon fiber. Expect that to only be available on the V10 model and yes, a fully-electric version based on the original e-tron concept is supposedly on the way and due to arrive in a few year’s time.
Gallery: Review: 2010 Audi R8 5.2 FSI V10
Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: Car and Driver]
Report: Audi R8 to spawn sportier model, dual-clutch gearbox cometh originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: a-few-year, a-friend-via, audi, audir8, entry, gearbox-cometh, general-motors, images, new-promotional, spawn-sportier
Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers in peril over Toyota recalls?
Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Toyota
After Dave Chappelle threw himself overboard the USS Hollywood, he did an interview in which he said, “When a person tells you something’s… just business, that means some ice-cold [stuff] might be about” to happen. We can imagine that Toyota, doing everything it can to make its case better in the eyes of the American government and public, called its fellow members of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers to let them know “Don’t take what we’re about to do personally…”
What Toyota did was send a graph of recent recalls and safety complaints to certain Congressional reps on important committees. That graph showed that the Detroit Three have led the way when it comes to recalls and safety issues, posting three times the number of issues seen at Toyota. The problem: Toyota is being questioned about its transparency and commitment, not about how many cars have been recalled and how that might compare to other automakers.
And that is said to have Ford, General Motors and Chrysler in black moods, since they see the graph as a disingenuous move to make Toyota look a little better at their expense. One Detroiter is said to have claimed “It’s tearing the whole industry apart.” That might be a bit much, but at the very least it could do some serious damage to the Auto Alliance, whose membership consists of Toyota, the Detroit Three, and the German automakers. But hey, it’s just business…
Tired of Toyota recall news? Try out the recall-free version of Autoblog.
[Source: Detroit Free Press]
Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers in peril over Toyota recalls? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: alliance, automobile, general-motors, german, news, press, public-relations, saab decal, safety, spykerdecal, waterproof-and
Report: GM CEO Whitacre still flies on AT&T jets equipped with golden parachutes
Filed under: Government/Legal, GM
When U.S. domestic automakers were commuting back and forth between Detroit and Washington while begging for government funds in the fall of 2008, a big deal was made of the fact that their CEOs were traveling in private jets instead of driving company vehicles. The backlash from JetGate was substantial, as each automaker quickly ended the use of expensive airfare for corporate travel and signed on with less pricey charter services. But while the private jet became taboo for auto executives, other industrial magnates kept their jets, including former AT&T CEO and current General Motors top boss Ed Whitacre, Jr.
In fact, The Detroit News reports that Big Ed’s retirement package from AT&T includes 10 monthly hours of access to a private plane. The pricey perk reportedly costs the telecommunications giant about $20,000 per month and Whitacre can use the jet for for whatever he wants. A spokesperson for GM says he doesn’t use the jet for GM business, which makes sense given the fact that 10 hours only allows for about two round trips to Whitacre’s San Antonio, Texas home. Whitacre’s use of an AT&T jet may actually help GM a bit given the fact that many automakers pay for CEO travel to and from their out-of-state homes. In 2008, for example, Ford reportedly paid a whopping $344,109 for CEO Alan Mulally’s non work-related travel expenses.
Lifetime use of a private jet is a pretty cool perk, but it’s not Whitacre’s only big ticket retirement item, either. He reportedly also gets $26,000 per year for a new car as well. We’re thinking Whitacre also has access to any vehicle in the GM portfolio, so chances are that perk isn’t being fully utilized right now. Unless, of course, Big Ed is actually paying for his GM vehicles. And why not? It’s not like the new car is coming out of his pockets.
[Source: The Detroit News | Source Image: Bill Pugliano/Getty]
Report: GM CEO Whitacre still flies on AT&T jets equipped with golden parachutes originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: 2011, 2011cr-z, a-pretty-cool, a-sports-coupe, ed whitacre private jet, edwhitacre, entry, fact, general-motors, gm jet, honda cr-z, honda hybrid
G.M. and Ford Channel Toyota to Beat Toyota
Mar 6, 2010 Object
As Toyota stumbles through its recall ordeal, G.M. and Ford have been handed a big chance to make their argument on quality to American consumers.
Original post:
G.M. and Ford Channel Toyota to Beat Toyota
Tags: argument-on-quality, automobiles, detroit (mich), general-motors, have-been, stumbles-through, toyota, toyota motor corp
