Car Sport 2011: Chevrolet Concepts

Showing posts with label Chevrolet Concepts. Show all posts

4/22/10

2010 Beijing Auto Show: Chevrolet Volt MPV5

After we showed you some of the designs a few days ago, the plainly-named Chevrolet Volt MPV5 crossover concept has rolled silently out of the gates.

Big things first: power comes from GM's lithium ion T-battery and a 1.4 liter engine generator, as one would expect. The battery will provide 51.5 km / 32 miles per charge, while the gasoline generator contributes an extra 482 km / 299.5 miles.

So, what is it other than a smaller Orlando with a Volt nose-job and power train? An expander, that's what. This model is GM's next step in creating a new sub-brand within GM, much like Audi's upcoming e-tron line.

Other fun facts: the Volt MPV5 sits on 19s, seats 5, and is extra aerodynamic "thanks to its closed grille and aero-optimized lower air dam,...a full-underbody belly pan, along with rocker claddings, creased tail lamps and specially designed blades on the rear quarter".

It also offers more passenger space all-around, a glass-panel roof, and even provides up to 1,764 liters / 62.3 cu ft of cargo space with the back seats down (863 liters / 30.5 cu ft seats up).

While this new Volt vehicle is neat (and definitely important), it would have been nice to see a modern take on the Volt's face (which is SO 2008).

By Phil Alex

GM Wants to Lure More Non-Old, Non-Americans with New Corvette C7

GM is about to try something new: making Chevrolet's Corvette appeal to international markets. The General is soliciting designs from all ten of its styling studios, meaning that more than just American-market brains are weighing in.

The goal is to bring in younger buyers from the States, while also help gain sales in the all-important European market, among others.

"We have challenges in the States with the Corvette," Welburn told journalists in an interview at the Geneva Salon. "The average age of the customer is really rising." According to J.D. Power and Associates, the current average age of a Corvette buyer is 54.

"It is a key time in the development of the Corvette," Welburn said. "There is a lot of debate and a lot of study on the bandwidth of Corvette."

However, Welburn added that the sports car "can't mutate into something that gets so far away from Corvette that it is no longer a Corvette."

One major problem, according to GM, is the Corvette's styling, which makes the car appear larger than it really is.

When the redesign hits the market within the next two to three years, GM hopes to have "trimmer, meaner [design] to go along with the incredible performance that the car has."

All together now: Stingray (although that split rear window would kind of block the rear view).

As for getting younger people looking at the Vette, apparently GM wants stereotypes to walk in off the street and make purchases. The fact that GM still thinks "young U.S. buyers...favor imports" is proof positive that the old white men running GM have yet to wrap their minds around who their customers are.

Case in point: Buick, a brand that turned itself around in a hurry and is getting more and more attractive.

Young consumers don't all want "Fast&Furious" Hondas and Guido'd-out Bimmers. It doesn't have to do with "imports", it has to do with good design and quality.

Lastly, the detail that everyone seems to agree on is the Corvette's interior: sub-par for the price bracket. GM Vice President of global design says, "The execution, materials selection--it's got to be a much better interior. Our customers desire that." Doesn't everyone?

- By Phil Alex

Via: Autoweek

Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Concept (2009)

Twisted Tuning: 1969 Chevy Camaro SS Modded After the... New Camaro

In what could be one of the weirdest project cars we've ever shown you on Carscoop, this here is a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS that has been modified to resemble GM's 2006 Camaro Concept which previewed the 2010 production car. Ironically, the styling of both the concept and production versions of the new Camaros are heavily based on the 1969 model... More caricatures photos and the creator's description of the car after the jump.

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Danz Custom Description of the Camaro:

"This is a 1969 Danz Camaro SS concept car. I built the car in 2006. In 2006 the new Camaro was just a concept with no definite plans to go to production. I took a real 1969 Camaro and modified it to look somewhat like the 2006 concept Camaro.

Thinking that I would have the only one in the world if the Camaro never went to production. I combined the original 69 Camaro design with the 2006 concept Camaro design, with my own designs. Especially the hood scoop and rear spoiler design are my own. I gave GM pictures of my car in Jan 2007.

It appears that the 2010 SLP Camaro has a simular designed hood scoop and rear spoiler to my car. To power my car I went with a 427 small block with the vintage dual 4-barrel crossram manifold and carbs. I went in that direction because I wanted the legendary 427 cubic inch and also to use the vintage dual 4-barrel crossram. Backed with a 700 r transmission to a Ford 9" differential. If you're interested in learning more, call 920-830-4994."

Via: Carpictures

SEMA: 2010 Chevy Camaro Black Concept

Chevrolet Camaro Black Concept SEMA 2008

The Camaro Black is one of the four 2010 Camaro-based concepts that made their way to the Las Vegas convention center for this year's SEMA show. As its name suggests, this Camaro has been totally "blacked" out - from the black paint and the matte black-finished hood to the 21-inch alloy wheels, the tinted RS tail lamps, the darker grille finish and the color-matched exterior badging. The coupe's sinister looks are complemented by a ground effects kit that includes a rear diffuser, a SS rear spoiler and red-glowing HID headlamp halo rings.

Inside, the Camaro Black Concept features a Chevy Accessories' premium audio upgrade package along with MTX speakers, red LED instrument lighting and red footwell ambient lighting, black chrome trim accents, dark-finished accents and leather-covered seats with grey accent stitching.

There are no mechanical upgrades as under the hood lurks the Camaro's standard production 3.6-liter V6 engine producing an output of 300HP.

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2010 Camaro GS Racecar Concept Headed to SEMA

Race fans will get a kick out of Chevy's 2010 Camaro GS Concept that invokes memories of Mark Donohue's distinctive blue-and-yellow Camaro that took part at the legendary Trans Am road racing series. The SEMA show car which actually serves as an early prototype for the Grand Am Koni Challenge GS racing class features a race-ready suspension, reinforced chassis and drivetrain conform to the specifications required of racecars certified for the series.

This racing iteration of the 2010 Camaro is powered by a production LS3 V8 engine (used with solid engine mounts) that is mated to a Tremec 6060 six-speed manual transmission with close-ratio gearing. Other features include the lightweight carbon fiber hood, trunk lid, doors and fenders, the C&R racing aluminum radiator and the three-inch exhaust system with Coast Fab mufflers.

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Video: New Camaro SS Fooling Around with Corvette ZR1

The LS7 Concept is one of the factory-prepped 2010 Camaros that will take center stage at GM's SEMA show stand at the Las Vegas convention center. Painted in a Victory Red finish with matte black accents on the hood and taillamp panel, the concept features an LS7 V8 crate engine with a high-performance replacement camshaft from GM Performance Parts helping it to produce around 550HP. The LS7 crate engine is hooked up to a production Tremec 6060 six-speed manual with a GM Performance Parts Hurst shifter.

Other upgrades include GM Performance Parts-developed headers and air intake system that will be offered at the Camaro's launch in early 2009. Furthermore, the LS7 is modified with a wet-sump oiling system that replaces the production engine's dry-sump system that requires an external oil tank.

Finally, GM's crew fitted the LS7 Concept with some additional features such as the Brembo four-wheel disc brake package, lowered ride height, custom 20-inch wheels, a driveshaft safety loop and a sports exhaust system.

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