The Chevrolet Corvette has a storied history of lapping the Indianapolis 500 that dates all the way back to 1978. In fact, the Corvette leads all cars with a total of 11 appearances as the pacesetter for the famous race, including five straight years from2004 through 2008.
Now with the all-new 2014 Corvette Stingray hitting showrooms soon, it was only a matter of time before Indy asked Chevy to allow the `Vette to pace the race again. Well, apparently that timeframe was much shorter than we originally thought. According to Road and Track, the Stingray will be the pace car for the 2013 running of the Indy 500. In fact, they even caught the model testing with camo covering the “Official Pace Car” logo on the rocker panels.
The reports aren’t officially confirmed yet, but the sources are rather reliable and the spy shots the R and T dug up are pretty convincing. What’s more, this will likely bring an “Official Pace Car” package to the 2014 Corvette Stingray lineup.
We’ll keep an eye out for confirmation and bring you more information as soon as possible.
*Image Note: The above image is of the Corvette Stingray, not the “Official Pace Car.”
Though it doesn’t bring increased power to the table — a privilege reserved for the future Z06 or a ZR1 – the new Z51 package for the Corvette Stingray does bring along significant upgrades that customers can benefit from, if they regularly plunder a track.
With this package installed, your Corvette Stingray will be fitted with a dry-sump oiling system that plays a crucial role while cornering, slightly shorter gear ratios, larger-capacity Bilstein dampers, a rear-stabilizer bar and forged rims that have grown up to 19 inches up front and 20 inches in the rear, an inch bigger than the standard Stingray.
What can arguably be called the most significant addition is the limited slip differential — an electronically controlled hydraulic clutch pack – which modulates the rate at which the differential transfers torque across the axle. When the car corners, the LSD acts like an open differential to reduce understeer, but when power is added, electronic slip diff is engaged to handle the traction and balance it all out.
Along with ride tweaks, the Z51 also focuses on the tweaking the aerodynamics of the Stingray. While the standard one has impressive figures, the Z51 package makes it better with the addition of a rear spoiler to keep it planted to the ground and gaping air inlets at the rear fenders to cool transmission and differential.
People opting for the Z51 package have the option to choose the Magnetic Ride Control that promises track-like performance with a more comforting ride for $1,795.
All of these upgrades play a role in its impressive cornering at 1.0g and a 0 to 60 sprint of less than 4 seconds.
GM has set the package at a premium of $8,005, bringing the total cost for the Stingray Z51 to $60,000. We are still uncertain if the Z51 package will be available on the convertible model; if so, the package total will be $65,000.
Though the C7 Stingray is proving to be a great track-day car, as well as a pleasant cruiser, the Z51 package takes the excitement and thrill of driving the new Corvette Stingray up a notch.
UPDATE 4/26/13: GM has released the pricing and more details on the Z51 package.
Once Chevrolet dropped the new-generation Corvette Stingray, it was just a matter of time before the convertible version would hit the market.
Today was the day it happened, as the new Stingray Convertible made its world debut at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.
The convertible version is nearly identical to the coupe version, except of course its three-ply fabric top that opens and closes at speeds up to 30 mph. Next to this innovative concept, the convertible version also features sound-absorbing padding and a glass rear window - all features that contribute to a quieter cabin and a more premium appearance.
The new Stingray Convertible will be put on sale in late 2013.
UPDATE 04/26/13: GM has just released nearly all of the pricing details on the Corvette Stingray Convertible, as well as standard features and options. See the details after the jump.
Click past the jump to read all about the 2014 Stingray Convertible
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After months of speculation, spy shots and “leaked” 3-D images raising the anticipation level and the excitement of the fanboy in us, here it is folks, The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, and yes, the iconic Stingray name is back since it was last seen in the ‘Vette C3.
As promised, Chevrolet has taken off the wraps of what’s arguably one of the most highly anticipated cars in 2013 at the Detroit Motor Show. This is the day we at TopSpeed have been waiting for since all of this C7 talk started about a year ago.
Rather than calling it the “Corvette,” Chevy boldly calls it the “New Corvette.”Calling it “New” is absolutely correct, as everything on the car is brand new. From a new design to a new powertrain to a brand new interior, Chevrolet has revolutionized every nook and cranny of the `Vette. But it still has that modern Corvette philosophy that has been retained for the past six generations, maybe even made it better.
Click past the jump to enjoy our full review and check out whether we were impressed by the all new ‘Vette or if Chevy could’ve done better.
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Rumors have been swirling since 2011 regarding the Chevrolet SS and we were amongst the first to start discussing it. The rumors cooled off up until a few weeks ago when after 40 years of using the “SS” logo, GM finally decided to trademark it. Later the rumors became even more certain, as OnStar, GM’s in-vehicle communication system, mistakenly put the 2014 model lineup on its site. Within that lineup was a model dubbed the SS Performance.
This all adds up to a solid case that the Chevrolet SS Performance is on its way to the U.S. According to the rumormill, this would also result in the Holden Commodore SS, which was once used as the Pontiac G8, becoming the vehicle that dons the 2014 SS Perfomance badges.
With this release, Chevy would finally have a performance sedan to stack up against the likes of the Charger R/T and the Ford Taurus SHO.
UPDATE 04/23/2013: The 2013 New York International Auto Show closed its doors long time ago, but now Chevrolet decided to drop a new video on its SS sports sedan. The video features John Fitzpatrick, marketing manager for Chevrolet performance cars, giving an official walk around of the 2014 Chevrolet SS. Enjoy!
Click past the jump to read our full review of the anticipated SS Performance and how it stacks up against the competition.
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At the 2013 New York Auto Show, Chevrolet decided to bring the "Z/28" badge back to its lineup. With this announcement came the sneaking suspicion that Chevy is preparing a convertible version to go along with the recently announced coupe.
The new Camaro Z/28 Convertible, if it ever hits the market, will offer the same design language as the coupe version, except for the soft-top roof that will make it even more fun to drive on those hot, summer days.
While Chevrolet decides whether it will offer a Camaro Z/28 convertible or not, we put together a nice rendering to help give you an idea of what the convertible model would look like.
We anticipate a convertible variant of the Z/28 to be unveiled sometime in late 2013 or early 2014 as a 2015 model. We’ll keep a close eye out for any details alluding to Chevy launching this model.
Hit the jump to learn a few more details on the Z/28.
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Back in 2011, the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 posted a 7:14.27 lap time at the Nürburgring. The ZL1 is powered by a 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 engine that delivers a total of 550 horsepower and 550 pound-feet of torque. Since then, Chevrolet has unveiled the Camaro Z/28, which is not as powerful as the ZL1, but it is significantly lighter and three seconds faster around Chevy’s testing track.
The question coming to our minds is whether the new Z/28 is also faster around Nürburgring? In the above video you can see that Chevy obviously had the same question, as the Z/28 was caught lapping the famed track. What we do not understand is why Chevrolet had the Z/28 so heavily camouflaged while testing it, considering we have already seen it.
Luckily for us, Youtube user "Nurburgdale" was also at the ring and managed to shot a very nice video of the new Z/28 lapping the ’Ring.
The launch of the revised 2014 Chevrolet Camaro also marked the return of the Z/28 nomenclature. The Z/28 name was initially used back in 1967 when a special Camaro was designed to compete in the Sports Car Club of America’s Trans-Am 2 class. Now, for the 2014 model year, the Z/28 nomenclature is applied to the most capable and fastest Camaro currently available on the market.
The new Camaro Z/28 was not built to compete in a specific race series, but it features track-focused capabilities. When compared to the ZL1, it is significantly lighter and, even though it is no more powerful, it is around three seconds faster around Chevy’s testing track than the Camaro ZL1. Also, as a tribute to the original Camaro Z/28, the new generation is only being offered with a manual gearbox.
Updated 04/12/2013: Chevrolet has unveiled a new video featuring Camaro Marketing Manager John Fitzpatrick whom is giving an exclusive walkaround of the track-inspired 2014 Camaro Z/28.
Hit the jump to read more about the 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28.
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After a small facelift that we saw at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, General Motors has already started to work on the next generation Opel Antara amd Chevrolet Captiva. Our spy photographers have caught the first mule out for a testing session, and even though the company tried to hide it under this chopped up Chevrolet Orlando, it is clear that it’s something completely different.
The new-generation Antara/Captiva will be built on a new platform, called D2XX, which will also be used for the new Chevrolet Cruze that will arrive in 2014.
Ok, so what makes us believe this is not a real Orlando? First, this prototype is offered with a four-wheel-drive system, which is not available on the Orlando, and there are also twin exhaust pipes. The wheelbase is slightly shorter than the standard Orlando and the front end is also chopped up to make room for the new engine and cooling system.
Of course, when it comes to exterior design, the next-generation SUVs will have nothing in common with the Orlando seen here. Rumors suggest it will borrow something from the recently announced Opel Mokka.
Expect the new Antara/Captiva to be unveiled sometime in 2015.
Click past the jump to read more about the Antara and Captiva
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This time on Motor Trend’s "The J-Turn" they got behind the wheel of one of the most powerful Hennessey models: a highly-modified Camaro ZL1. The test was made this week at the Texas Mile where a Hennessey-tuned Ford GT with Patrick O’Gorman behind the wheel set a new top speed record of 267.6 mph.
Jessi Lang got behind the wheel of the modified Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and tried to push it to the limit. So, what do you think: was she able to handle the 750-horsepower muscle car as well as John Hennessey usually does and hit its top speed of 203.9 mph?
Of course, we’re not going to spoil the fun for you. You’re just going to have to check out the video up above to see if Jessi was able to crest the 200 mph mark or not. Either way, it’s fun to watch that ZL1 stretch its legs a little.
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