AUTOMOBILE WORLD – CAR NEWS, CAR REVIEWS, CAR INTRODUCTIONS, ALL ABOUT CARS

The 1987, news leaked out from General Motors (GM) that it was working on a development of the Corvette nicknamed ‘King of Hill’. They key to the new car would be a very powerful engine. Codenamed LT5, GM handed development of the vehicle over to its UK subsidiary, Lotus. The original target set fir the ZR-1 was to create the fastest production car in the world, without sacrificing low speed drive ability or fuel economy. The new engine also had to fit in the engine bay, a task made more tricky because the Corvette engine was offered into the nose from underneath. The upshot was a space between the chassis rails of 27×27in (69×69 cm). The engine capacity had to stay at 5.7 liters, a figure much revered by US Corvette fans. Lotus’s development of the engine centered on sophisticated, but it ended up talking the best part of four years to get the LT5 engine into the production car. Clever features included two fuel injectors for each cylinder and a variable valve timing system, but the engine didn’t quite manage 400 lb/ft of torque, finally setting at 380 bhp. Even so, GM claimed 180 mph (288 km/h) for the ZR-1. GM took the ZR-1’s sheer power very seriously by equipping the car with two ignition keys.

One started the car and allowed it to run at 80 percent of its maximum power using just three valves and one injector per cylinder. The second activated a power key on the centre-console to open up all 32 valves and 16 injectors. According to GM’s boss, ‘Some owners wouldn’t want their spouses or sons in change of the car’s full potential’

Posted February 16, 2010 Comments(0)

The Monte Carlo was Chevrolet’s answer to the Ford Thunderbird. It was an urbane coupe with a sporty image in the then popular ‘personal luxury’ mould. Based on the same platform as the 1969 Pontiac Grand Prix, the handsome, clean out Monte Carlo significantly and outsold it handsomely. Chevrolet built 130,000 Monte Carlo in its first year, compared with just 40,000 Ford Thunderbirds. Inside, the Monte Carlo had a walnut dashboard and all the power operated devices you could want to make driving easy and stress free. It was also fast very fast for a car of its type, especially with the biggest SS 454 cu.in. V8 engine option in place. This 360 bhp workhorse could rocket the Monte Carlo to 60 mph (96 km/h) in a time of less than eight seconds, and push it to a top speed of more than 130 mph (208 km/h). All but a handful of Monte Carlos had automatic transmission as you might expect, and the car made a great long distance cruiser, capable of maintaining 110 mph (176 km/h) all day long. If you had to do a long journey, it was a dream of a car.

Smooth and quiet riding, the Monte Carlo also enjoyed some success on the stock cars tracks. It did particularly well in the hands of drivers such as Richard Petty and Bobby Allison. Production of the original shape Monte Carlo ended in 1972, to be replaced by an uglier, less powerful version that continued the models success.

Posted February 15, 2010 Comments(0)

Based on Chevrolet’s basic ‘senior compact’ sedan developed from the Chevy II line of the early 1960s, the Nova SS was a miniature muscle car built for body racers with a restricted budget and a passion for large amounts of power. Although they were big cars by European standards, in their humble six cylinder form the Nova SS provided everyday transport for thousands of American who regarded cars as mere domestic appliances. With the V8 engines fitted, however, the Nova took on a new personality; it became one of the most respected off the shelf hot rods around. The SS package offered small and big block V8s, the latter delivering up to 375 bhp in solid lifter L-38 form. These cars available only by special order and not always officially catalogued could complete a quarter mile (400 m) dash in 14 seconds and top 120 mph (192 km/h). There were three and four speed manual and three speed automatic transmission options. The SS package also included special decals, sports wheels and hood ornaments to let other drivers know what they were dealing with. It has an awesome engine of 5737 cc equipped with Monocoque chassis with independent suspension.

Other options included significantly beefed up suspension and front disc brakes. Power steering was an option the steering was very heavy without it, but despite this the Nova SS was well regarded for its handling. Hot rod like the Nova became less socially acceptable as the 1970s dawned, and after the 1972 no more up rated SS versions were offered. This helped to make it a highly collectable vehicle.

Posted February 13, 2010 Comments(0)

The SS was a new package on Chevrolet’s aggressive looking Impala line for 1961. Although no body knew it at the time, it was really one of the first ‘muscle cars’ produced and this has helped earn it a place in auto history. Presenting a slimmer profile with a large glass area and virtually no rear fins, the Impala was a sub series of the basic Biscayne and Bel Air models that formed the backbone of the Chevrolet range, yet it was a very different type of car. The shape dated back to the sea gull wing 1959 design. The SS, a dealer fitted option package, featured leather grained vinyl upholstery, bucket seats, swirl pattern instrument panel inserts, a silver anodized rear panel and special wheel trims. Power came from a choice of the five V8s, ranging in size from a relatively ‘soft’ hydraulic lifter 283 cu.in. (4639cc) unit 230 bhp, to a wild solid lifter 360 bhp 409 cu.in (6704cc) limp.Thus equipped, the Impala was a real brute, capable of 0-60 mph (96 km/h) in 7.8 seconds. SS models came with power brakes and steering, and had their suspension up rated with heavy duty shock absorbers and springs.

The drum brakes came with sintered metallic linings in an attempt to address the problem of fade during high speed use. The Impala spear head a brief American domination of saloon car racing in Europe where, driven by such legendary talents as Graham Hill and Dan Gurney, the Impala showed it could keep up with, and sometimes even beat, the MK II Jaguars who had grown used to having it all their own way in European competitors.

Posted February 12, 2010 Comments(0)

Win the 1957 Bel Air, Chevrolet created one of the best loved American classic cars of all, it is strong simple lines and impressive performance (from a sporty new V8 engine) appealing to a whole generation of youthful American. Based on its 150 Series, the Bel Air was Chevrolet’s top of the range car. You could always recognized one instantly by the generous amount of extra chrome side trim it featured. By the standards of the day, its fins were rather slim and restrained, helping to give it a touch of elegance. The clean shape was derived from the completely redesigned 1955 model cars. As well as two and four door six passenger sedans, the Bel Air was available as a classy convertible, with optical power hood. A unique three door, hard top station wagon version was called the Nomad. The basic engine was a straight six, but the Bel Air like its lower priced siblings, could be had with a whole range of V8s. there went from a 185 bhp Turbo Fire to a potent 285 bhp fuel inject unit as found in the contemporary Corvette. Chevrolet claimed that the lather was the first production engine to provide one horse power per cubic inch (283 cu.in/ 283 bhp), but the Chrysler had actually beaten Chevrolet to it few months earlier with its 300 Series.

With this engine though, the Bel Air was a true 120 mph (192 km/h) car. At an extra cost of $500 dollars for the upgrade, there were few takers for the expensive option. Inevitably the Bel Air bacme less special with every passing year after the 1967 model. By the early 1960s, it had lost most of its native character and charm, and had been reduced to just another overweight American car.

Posted February 11, 2010 Comments(0)

In the early 1950s, General Motors (GM) was trailing behind its rivals. Ford and Chrysler, in sales terms, it didn’t even offer a V8 engine in its staid family Chevrolet range. So it was while searching for a more sporty image that Chevrolet launched the Corvette at Motorama in 1953. When this dazzling road show for General Motors’ latest models opened at the Waldorf Hotel in New York in January of that year, this new sports car took certain stage. For the first time, chief stylist Harley Earl had created a ‘dream’ car that looked as if it was going to go into production. So enthusiastic was the public reaction to this goes ahead right away, and the Corvette went from a city model to the Showroom in just 15 months. Under its awesome skin, though, enthusiasts were so disappointed by the car’s specification in its performance. The ‘Stovebolt’ six cylinder power unit barely produced 150 bhp. Worse still, the two speed Power glide automatic transmission was rightfully decided by sports car buffs, who wanted sporty, European style ‘slick’ shifts. What is more, the car was too expensive, its price was only a few dollars short of a Cadillac’s and with its credibility shattered, sales were poor. Only 700 were sold in 1965.

Basically, it was the released in the Ford’s fashionable Thunder-bird that spurred GM into making a proper excellent sports car form the Corvette, and from the 1956 model year new V8 engines became available to give the car the performance it deserved. Sales took of and the Corvette now a match for imported sports-cars in a straight line.

Posted February 10, 2010 Comments(0)

The even out of the all-new Chevrolet Traverse crossover efficacy vehicles is approaching, and the 1st vehicles are now being weathered at General Motors Corp.’s Milford Proving Grounds. Under the Traverse’s lid is a 3.6-liter V-6 with direct fuel injection to accomplish to some extent enhanced power and gas mileage than the engines in the variants Outlook, Acadia and Enclave. 3-row curtain airbags and an electronic solidity system are customary, and all-wheel drive is discretionary. The Traverse goes on trade in early October with an opening price of $28,990 (counting freight) for the base, 2-wheel-drive LS variant. 3 other trim levels will be proffered: 1LT, 2LT and top-of-the-line LTZ.

The Traverse sports the identical stacked grille as the revamped Chevy Malibu. The elevated beltline and soaring roof are archetypal of the majority of the large crossovers, while the taillights evoke Chevy’s Camaro model. A panoramic moon roof is elective. 17-inch steel wheels are customary, while up level variants have 18- or 20-inch alloys. Like practically all crossovers, the Traverse has a 4-wheel-independent suspension that augurs well for on-road soothe, if not off-road capability. Chevrolet reveals the Traverse’s suspension tweaking is the sportiest of its siblings. Frontage, side-impact and elevation curtain airbags are customary. The curtains wrap all 3 rows of seats. All-wheel disc antilock brakes and an electronic solidity system are also customary.

Posted July 17, 2008 Comments(0)

The Chevrolet Malibu nameplate has been hanging around for quiet some time, long time, in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Once a full-size car, the Malibu has in modern years been Chevrolet’s bread-and-butter sedan, fitting in the elite spruced up linage placed just below the larger Impala, which is itself a downsized variant of the elderly full-size Impala.

Chevrolet says it has customized the platform with some superfluous strength and additional steel right in the central tunnel area and on the body sides to assist quiet the car and enhance its collided performance. More steel was boosted with amalgamated inner fenders, thicker glass, and sprayed-on sound wadding throughout the body cavity. It’s a larger car inside than the preceding variant, but it’s less significant on the exterior, even further the design speculates that it looks even lengthier than the outgoing car.

We initiate that the Malibu to be a silky, comfy sedan with plethora of power and receptive. It smacks a nice sense of balance between well-controlled behavior and a silky ride. Overall, the novel Malibu feels silky, sophisticated and pleasing to drive. The cabin is adequately designed, gorgeous, and the whole lot is easy to maneuver, and the seats are comfy. In short, we believe that the Chevy Malibu strands up well when competed against the likes of Toyota Camry and Honda Accord gold standards.

Posted April 24, 2008 Comments(0)

Here are some pictures with Chevrolet Camaro.

Posted February 14, 2008 Comments(0)