Chevrolet Announces $54,995 Price Tag For 580-hp Camaro ZL1

If you ever need an example of poor timing, General Motors just provided a gem. The same day the company announces a $54,995 price for the Camaro ZL1, Ford nukes the collective minds of the automotive world with the news that ZL1's direct competitor, the Mustang GT500, will have 650 horsepower for 2013. The ZL1 has 580.

But hey, cars are about more than just horsepower, right? Handling, braking, steering, and ride are all other crucial aspects of the driving experience, and physical appearance matters quite a bit, too. And nobody knows yet exactly how much of a premium Ford will hang on the GT500. (It’s unlikely that the Shelby will cost much more than the ZL1, though.) To better comprehend the ZL1's standing among 6.2-liter screamers and the Shelby, check out our handy table below.

For 55 large (not counting the probable gas-guzzler tax of $1000 or so), the ZL1 comes well equipped. Leather seats with faux-suede inserts are standard, as are a rear-view camera and a premium audio system. The car comes with General Motors’ latest iteration of Magnetic Ride Control, as well as launch control and coolers for the differential and engine and transmission oil. In terms of options, there are few: A six-speed automatic transmission is an extra $1185, a sunroof commands $900, and a few cosmetic tweaks round out list.

This makes the ZL1 about $10,000 less than the cheapest Cadillac CTS-V, which is powered by a version of the same engine. (The Caddy’s has a mere 556 hp.) And with 580 hp on tap, the ZL1 is sure to offer a ton of performance—although saying how much exactly will have to wait until we get hold of one. It’s just a pity the ZL1 wasn’t quick enough to outrun Ford’s news.

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Porsche Announces Customer Delivery Center and Track in Los Angeles

November 17, 2011 at 5:22pm by Aaron Robinson

Somehow, Porsche has managed to carve 53 acres out of the crowded Los Angeles basin to build a test track and customer delivery center; the facility is slated to open in 2013. Echoing a similar facility that will be built near Atlanta—which will also have Porsche’s new North American headquarters on site—the Porsche Experience Center in Carson, California, will include a test track that is twice the size of Atlanta’s, plus a customer delivery center, a gymnasium, a gift shop, a café, and whatever else Porsche can think of between now and the groundbreaking next summer. Construction also begins next year in Atlanta.

Porsche is spending more than $100 million on the two facilities, which will resemble ones it already has in Germany, England, and China. And if nothing else, it may shut up those critics who said Porsche’s absorption by the mega-rich Volkswagen Group was a bad thing. The Carson facility will be located about 18 miles south of downtown L.A. and about 15 minutes from LAX airport (except from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., when it’s more like 45 minutes). Carson will have a handling course that includes special surfaces to replicate rain, ice, and snow, plus an off-road course that includes 45-degree inclines. There will be kids’ programs as well and it will be open to car clubs and other special events, the release says.

The facility also will boast a “Porsche Human Performance Center” that includes a gym and sports science laboratory that incorporates driver-training techniques into classes and “customized experiences” including “heat-acclimation training and hydration strategies,” which we’re pretty sure involves drinking lots of water.

Tags: Porsche |

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Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car Announces B-Spec Class for 2012 Season, Releases List of Competitors

The recent rash of B-Spec race cars automakers such as Honda, Mazda, Ford, and Kia have shown off at various auto shows and events this past year finally have a racing series in which to compete. The Pirelli World Challenge series has announced that its upcoming season will have a Touring Car class for the pint-size racers, and it released a preliminary list of seven models set to compete, as well the three World Challenge events in which they’ll take part. A few of the cars, like the Ford Fiesta, Kia Rio, and Fiat 500, we already knew about. In the case of the Honda Fit and Mazda 2, we actually raced them. The two cars we didn’t know would be participating, and whose manufacturers have yet to officially announce any B-Spec affiliation, are the Chevrolet Sonic and the Nissan Versa.

The cars will run in the exact same state of tune in the World Challenge as they do in SCCA Club Racing, save for tires. Modifications for racing are limited to shocks, springs, and required safety equipment such as roll cages, harnesses, and the like. None of the cars will be factory-backed, in keeping with the grassroots-style racing that the SCCA, Pirelli World Challenge, and the manufacturers want to push in the B-Spec class. The three Touring Car B-Spec events are slated for Miller Motorsports Park, Detroit’s Belle Isle, and Mosport International Raceway. Miller will be the first event, running in April. The B-spec class will run two 30-minute races plus one 40-minute race each weekend, for a total of nine events. Racing these things at the 25 Hours of Thunderhill was a blast, and we’re already envisioning our long-term Mazda 2 with a full cage and squatting over race rubber. Just kidding, Mazda…

Tags: B-Spec, Chevrolet Sonic, Chevy, Fiat 500, Ford Fiesta, Honda Fit, Kia Rio, Mazda 2, Nissan Versa, Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car, racing, SCCA |

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Hyundai Shows Teasers of 2013 Genesis Coupe, Announces Korean-Market Model to Debut November 12th

It looks like we are close to seeing the refreshed 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe in the buff. Hyundai announced the updated Coupe would debut November 12th in Korea and released a few teaser images of the car on its Korean blog. Spy photos of the 2013 Coupe taken this past summer showed the car wearing Hyundai’s new familial front-end styling, which integrates various elements from the latest Elantra, Accent, and Veloster. None of that appears to have changed in these official photos, but the shots reveal a few more details that we hadn’t seen before.

The spy photos we ran a few months ago were dark, blurry, and grainy, which made it difficult to pick out the new Genesis Coupe’s stylistic nuances. Hyundai’s (much clearer) photos show off a lot of subtle creasing on the Genesis Coupe’s hood and fascia. The hood strakes, specifically, look a lot like those on the outgoing BMW 3-series and toughen up the Genesis’s front view noticeably. The wheels on this Korean-market “380 GT” model—which is roughly equivalent to the 3.8 R-Spec trim we get here—look like larger versions of the up-level rims available on the Veloster. Finally, the shape of the taillights is unchanged, but the detailing is new and matches the upscale headlight elements. We think the updates make for an even better-looking Genesis Coupe, but we hope that rear spoiler is optional.

The cosmetic tweaks likely won’t be the only updates the 2013 Hyundai Genesis receives; the interior will be mostly new (you can see for yourself here) and a few mechanical updates also are in the cards. We expect the coupe’s current 3.8-liter V-6 engine will be replaced by the 333-hp, direct-injected 3.8-liter that was recently added to the Genesis sedan’s engine lineup. It’s not yet clear whether the Genesis Coupe also will poach Hyundai’s new eight-speed automatic from the Genesis sedan, or keep its current six-speed unit. Interestingly, the November 12th debut listed on Hyundai’s Korean blog is nearly two months ahead of the 2013 Genesis Coupe’s anticipated North American unveil at January’s Detroit auto show.

Tags: Hyundai, Hyundai Genesis coupe |

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