638 Hp From The Supercharged LS9 V-8

PONTIAC, Mich. – When it was introduced at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit earlier this year, the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1’s power was estimated at 100 horsepower for each of its 6.2 liters of displacement. GM Powertrain has completed SAE certification of the ZR1’s supercharged LS9 V-8 and the results exceed the estimate: 638 horsepower (476 kW) and 604 lb.-ft. of torque (819 Nm).

The LS9’s output is nearly 103 horses per liter, or just about 1.7 horses for each of the engine’s 376 cubic inches. It is unquestionably the most powerful automotive production engine ever manufactured by General Motors and enables the Corvette ZR1 to achieve a top speed of more than 200 mph (322 km/h). Read the rest of this entry »

DETROIT - Consumers looking to squeeze the most mileage from every gallon of gas will find much to appreciate with the new Chevy Cobalt XFE. It delivers a segment-best 36 mpg in highway driving, outdistancing competitors like the Honda Civic, Ford Focus and Toyota Corolla.

The Cobalt XFE - for Xtra Fuel Economy - is on sale now and includes LS and 1LT coupe and sedan models with the manual transmission. It uses revised engine calibration, low rolling-resistance tires, a new, 3.74:1 final drive ratio and other technologies to achieve an EPA-estimated mileage rating of 25 mpg in the city and 36 on the highway. That’s an improvement of more than 9 percent over the previous highway mileage. Read the rest of this entry »

A few months ago we had the opportunity to get a close look at the Chevy Volt Concept and speak with key people surrounding the project. Whenever GM releases news that the Volt is getting closer to its 2010 production date, we get all tingly inside. Basically, GM announced Thursday that it’s going to test lithium-ion batteries, the core of hybrid vehicles, at the end of April. It has already constructed a test vehicle with the battery system to be installed. The battery power alone is predicted to develop the speed of 40 miles.

A little back-story:
To help spur battery research, GM selected two companies to provide advanced lithium-ion batterypacks: Compact Power, which would use cells made by its parent company, LG Chemical, and Continental Automotive Systems, which would use cells made by A123Systems. GM established a more close-knit relationship with A123Systems so that the two companies could co-develop a Volt-specific battery cell. On January 31, 2008, A123 and Continental delivered their first prototype to GM’s European test facilities.

GM executives report that battery technology will have a large impact in determining the success of the car.

General Motors said it will have the Volt on the market in 2010. The initial production run for first year of sales of the Volt is most likely 10,000 vehicles. Lutz has indicated a target retail price of at least $30,000 and more likely something nearer $40,000.

The following is a press release from General Motors:

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DETROIT – Chevrolet announced the 2008 Corvette 427 Limited Edition Z06, a limited-production model that pays homage to the big-block Stingray models of the mid-1960s. The 427 designation refers to the cubic-inch displacement for the highest-performance engines offered between 1966 and ’69 – and is also the cubic-inch equivalent of the Z06’s 7.0L LS7 small-block V-8.

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Overview Chevy Malibu Specs Consumer Reviews of Malibu LTZ Chevy Malibu Photo Gallery

By Kurt Gensheimer

Blings:

• More soundproof than Abbey Road Studios
• Tire-scorching 252 HP V-6
• Hectares of interior space
• Attractive interior and exterior

Dings:

• Steering wheel controls aren’t the most ergonomic
• Artificially heavy steering feel
• Thick A-pillars and steep windshield make for poor front visibility

Ruling: If the Malibu a sign of things to come, GM will put the good ol’ US of A back in the auto industry driver’s seat.

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Today we have hit a major milestone. 10,000 people have signed up on our waiting list, expressing their desire to buy a Chevy Volt. This site was started on January 12, 2007 in response to GM unveiling the Chevy Volt five days earlier. It was my intent to create a place where like-minded people interested in driving this car could convene to observe and discuss the development and eventually create an ownership community. Read the rest of this entry »

By Kurt Gensheimer

Genius in theory. In reality? We might know by 2010.

For decades, American automakers, Washington politicos, oil companies and consumers alike have been caught up in the lure of cheap gasoline. It’s led to fuel inefficient vehicles, lax legislation, and even more lax energy innovation. But in the end, the root of all these behaviors comes back to the American consumer. The American consumer has always wanted and purchased gasoline-powered products, so that’s what the market delivers. But like repeatedly putting one’s hand on a burning stove, at what point do American consumers conclude the financial pain at the pump has gotten too great? And when do their automobile choices start changing the behavior of automakers, politicians and oil companies? Read the rest of this entry »

On a wet and windy winter morning in California we get a close up view of the Chevrolet Volt. Kurt interviews Clay O. of GM and picks up a few details of the upcoming Chevy Volt and the new E-Flex system.

 

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More details and photos of the Chevrolet Volt can be found in our full article: First Look - Chevrolet Volt Concept Car GM-VOLT: Chevy Volt Concept Site - Real-time news, information, and discussion about the Chevrolet Volt.

2009 Corvette ZR1 Powered By The Most Powerful Production Engine Ever From GM: The Supercharged LS9 Small-Block V-8

PONTIAC, Mich. – When it arrives next summer, the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 will be the most powerful and fastest production car ever produced by General Motors, with performance enabled by a new, supercharged 6.2L LS9 small-block V-8 engine.

Incorporating the engineering experience already found in the Corvette Z06’a LS7 engine and the new-for-2008 6.2L LS3 of the Corvette, GM Powertain is targeting 100 horsepower per liter for the LS9, or 620 horsepower (462 kW), and approximately 595 lb.-ft. of torque (807 Nm); final SAE-certified power levels will be available in early March 2008.

It is, indeed, the ultimate small-block engine for the ultimate Corvette. Read the rest of this entry »

Chevrolet further champions its green initiative today by offering its first full-sized pickup with the Two Mode hybrid powertrain.

The Silverado Hybrid, which will be available only in crew cab configuration, gets a claimed 40 percent increase in city fuel economy, and 25 percent increase in overall fuel mileage, compared with comparable trucks with conventional powertrains. In the Two Mode, an electrically variable transmission with two electric motors channels power to the wheels.

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