CAR CRAFT Magazine Summer Nationals Release: June 30th, 2010
Hear the rumble, see the shine, yes, it’s that time again…CAR CRAFT Magazine Summer Nationals. GM Performance Division (GMPD) is proud, once again, to be the presenting sponsor of the 2010 CAR CRAFT SUMMER NATIONALS. Working in cooperation with the talented team from Car Craft Magazine, GMPD will be showcasing a variety of exciting vehicles including some specialty builds and performance-based production variants. The three-day event, hosted in St. Paul, MN. is sure to be the hottest Car Craft Magazine Summer Nats yet.
Patrons can look forward to seeing a host of 2010 Camaro’s, Chevrolet’s hottest new muscle car. Enthusiasts will also see the Chevy Corvette Z06 and the amazing Cadillac CTS-V sport sedan. Here are few details on the display vehicles to whet your appetite:
Camaro “Inferno” Concept –
It looks like the custom creation of a tuner shop, but the Camaro INFERNO simply demonstrates how carefully selected accessories, available through Chevy dealers, can create a look like nothing else. The Camaro INFERNO is based on an SS/RS model in Inferno Orange and uses a combination of current and soon-to-be-released components.

50th Anniversary Corvette Stingray Concept –
Chevrolet delivers a futuristic vision of technology and design with the 50th Anniversary Corvette Stingray Concept. This version of the model was first shown at the 2009 Chicago Auto Show and stars as "Sideswipe" in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen movie. The Corvette Stingray Concept represents both the iconic legacy and an exciting future for Corvette.
The Stingray Concept takes the form of a sleek, vision concept dreamed up by the Corvette designers at GM. The design is influenced by the original Stingray race car, introduced in 1959, but also draws on Corvette heritage cues from other generations. It brings them together in a futuristic shape that seems to be equal parts racecar and space ship.
The Corvette Stingray Concept was developed as an internal design challenge to combine classic Corvette cues with surprisingly high-tech features, modern materials, and a striking new appearance. The car is well-appointed with a clamshell hood, scissor-style doors, ergonomic seats, rear-view camera with night vision enhancement, and a high performance hybrid drive. Interactive touch controls allow the driver to customize the power and efficiency of his or her ride and share it with friends via the in-car camera system and advanced telemetrics.

The GM Team looks forward to seeing the Car Craft enthusiasts and show participants throughout the weekend from July 16th through 18th. Stop by the GMPD Mobile Display and check out the awesome cars. CAR CRAFT Magazine is bound to have so awesome surprises throughout the event. We’ll see you in Minneapolis/St. Paul.

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HOT ROD Magazine Power Tour recap.
Well another HOT ROD Magazine Power tour is in the history books. What can we say, the 2010 Tour went from “HOT” to “HOTTER”. Based on the great support from the HOT ROD Magazine Team, GM Performance Division had an outstanding time, showcasing the products from GM. As the temperature increased, so did the enthusiasm from all of the great patrons. Whether you’re a “Long Hauler”, “Day Tripper” or just out with the family, one thing is for sure, America has a unique love of automobiles.
The GM Performance Division Team extends appreciation for all of the positive feedback we received during the tour. We had an outstanding program and were elated to see some of the awesome cars that the participants rolled out this year. With the assistance of the team from GM Performance Parts, event visitors were offered product information on crate engines, aftermarket parts/accessories as well as overviews of the current GM vehicles. Patrons were offered insight into current production-based performance variants and some of the specialty/accessorized vehicles that GM put together for the event.
Some of you may have seen the GM Performance Division Motor Medics in action along the tour or at the select venues. We actually had two mobile units assisting ‘rodders’ along the way this year. Our team of talented technicians was able to assist over 100 vehicles (of all makes, shapes and sizes) along with providing technical advice to many more.
Special thanks to HOT ROD Magazine and all of the great people that participated in the 2010 HOT ROD Magazine Power Tour. It the people and their passion that make this event even better every year.

Cruise Night Sponsor at DuQuoin, IL.

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GM Performance Division is once again proud to sponsor the HOT ROD Magazine Power Tour for 2010. We were recently paid a visit from Bill McGuire, from HOT ROD Magazine, who was looking for the inside scoop on what GMPD would be rolling out for this years tour. Here are a few blurbs from Bill in his HOT ROD Article:

"It's Power Tour(r) time again, so HOT ROD stopped by the General Motors Tech Center in Warren, Michigan, to see what the folks at title sponsor GM Performance Division are taking along this year. They weren't prepared to show us everything, but they did line up a few of the vehicles that will make the entire Long Haul(tm). When we asked for a piece of pavement to set up a quick photo shoot, the tech center's helicopter pad-most often used by Vice Chairman Bob Lutz, who will have retired again by the time you read this and who flies his own personal chopper-was made available. We managed to get the cars photographed before Bob dropped in on us.

As you surely guessed, GMPD will be bringing some Camaros. The three pictured here are the '10 Indy 500 pace car, the Camaro Dusk, and a Synergy Special Edition. Dusk made its first appearance at the '09 SEMA show with Berlin Blue paint and one-off billet wheels, while the Synergy is a regular production option for 1LT Camaros, complete with electric green paint. Production is limited, though, so hurry if you want one. This year's Camaro pace car is the fifth to lead the Indy 500 field since the Camaro was introduced back in 1967.

The Motor Medic is also returning this year so the Performance Division technicians can continue doing their good-deed thing. Originally built as an ambulance for the U.S. military, the Motor Medic was converted into a hot rod rescue vehicle just for the Power Tour(r) and other gearhead events. Vehicle breakdowns are never fun, but it's comforting to know the Motor Medic is on the way. There will be more from Performance Division, but you will have to drop in on the Power Tour(r) yourself to get a look. This year's edition starts in Newton, Iowa, June 5 and winds up in Mobile, Alabama, June 12. To see how you can join in, go to hotrod.com/2010/Power Tour for more info."

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CAMARO EXTRAVAGANZA: CHEVROLET HITS THE SEMA SHOW WITH FIVE INSPIRED CONCEPTS OF THE RED-HOT SPORTS COUPE

Desert-ready Silverado Vision Concept and Accessorized Corvette Grand Sport Also on Display

LAS VEGAS – Chevrolet unveiled five dramatic Camaro concepts at the annual automotive aftermarket extravaganza known as the SEMA Convention, each representing a different vision of style, personalization and performance.

The Camaro concept vehicles include:
• A race-ready, twin-turbocharged V-6 concept built for talk show host and auto enthusiast Jay Leno
• The Camaro Synergy concept that reveals a new, limited-production exterior color for spring 2010 and is accented with a number of production accessories and custom touches
• The Camaro Chroma, an SS-based concept with a number of future accessories
• The Camaro Dusk, which incorporates current and proposed accessories to create a contemporary tuner aesthetic
• Camaro Graphics, highlighting six proposed accessory graphics packages, with online voting by the public to gauge interest in potential future production of one or more of the packages

“During the annual SEMA Convention, the popularity of a new car can be easily judged by the number of ‘tuner’ versions used by various companies to showcase their latest products; and the Camaro is our runaway hit this year, with countless examples displaying everything from mild styling accessories to wild performance modifications,” said Brent Dewar, vice president, Global Chevrolet Brand. “We’re thrilled by all the creative ideas, but especially proud of the cars we developed in-house. They represent modern interpretations of the Camaro that could easily be created by owners using the accessories offered by Chevrolet.”

Many of the Camaro accessories can be ordered through Chevy dealers for installation at the time of the vehicle’s purchase. This allows customers to personalize their cars to their exact wishes, with installation handled by the dealer and the cost rolled into the monthly payments.

In addition to the Camaro contingent, Chevrolet is also showing the Silverado ZR2 concept and an accessorized Corvette Grand Sport at SEMA.

Please checkout the "Garage" Section of the website for further details and specifications on each of these great specialty vehicles.

The Jay Leno Camaro at the 2009 SEMA Show

Chevrolet Camaro "Chroma" Concept at the 2009 SEMA Show

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On May 9, the Cadillac "V- Day Vanquishment" event took place at Shanghai's Formula 1 track. It demonstrated the Cadillac CTS-V's advanced performance technology and made a strong statement about the brand’s “V Spirit" – Velocity, Victory and Vanquishment. John Heinricy, an SCCA champion driver and a leading performance driving expert, piloted the CTS-V through a lap of the track in 2:32.80. This made the CTS-V the fastest production sedan to ever race on the track. Last year, Heinricy completed a lap of the legendary Nordschleife with the CTS-V in 7:59.32. This blistering time is the fastest ever publicly documented for a production sedan.

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An excerpt from the TopSpeed Award Announcement.

So let the dissention begin as TopSpeed’s 2008 car of the year is…


Cadillac CTS-V

Vast improvement is not how vehicles get the nod for car of the year; it takes lot more than that. The CTS-V got on our list because it can stand toe-to-toe with the benchmark BMW M5 at a $28,000 discount. What made it top our list was being an all-around performer.

What gets our attention first, of course, is the engine. It’s a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 that shares a bloodline with the Corvette ZR1 and puts out 556 hp.

The powerplant isn’t everything. It has to work well with all the other elements, and Cadillac didn’t leave that on the design table. The Magnetic Ride Control uses electrically charged fluid to give infinite ride characteristics and instant adjustments. The six-speed manual (which we prefer to the seven-speed paddle shifter) has short throws and a dual clutch. All of this is topped off with an aluminum Brembo disc brake package.

When General Motors gave us some track time with the car we were smitten.



The fit and finish of the interior were on the level with it competitors, which is a big improvement on GM’s part. The layout isn’t as smart as the Europeans, but we are willing to forgive.

This is the kind of car that has the everyday usability to drop the kids off at school; but it’s also got the huge wild side that allows us to then play hookey from work and go pick up the mistress.


For the full article please visit:
http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/topspeed-car-of-the-year-2008-ar68766.html

Cadillac's Dominating Force

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Turbo Upgrade Kit for Solstice GXP, Sky Redline, HHR SS
(19212670) MSRP $750

The turbo upgrade kit for the Solstice GXP, Sky Redline, and HHR SS was designed by General Motors Performance Division Engineers to get the most power possible out of the 2.0 Liter LNF Turbo engine. This kit will take your vehicle from 260 hp and 260 ft-lbs to 290 hp and as much as 340 ft-lbs of torque. All this power and you will still retain the full factory warranty. This kit also provides emission standards that accommodate the legal criteria in all 50 states. This kit is a quick an easy install that will not affect the driveability of your vehicle in any way, but will have plenty of extra power and torque when called upon. Because of the different drivetrain combinations, there are several different calibrations with slightly different power outputs. The specifications are as follows:

• 2007 & 2008 Solstice/ Sky Manual 290 Hp @5200 rpm and 340 ft-lbs @3600
• 2007 & 2008 Solstice Auto 290 Hp @5200 rpm and 325 ft-lbs @3600
• 2008 HHR SS Manual and Auto 290 Hp @5200 rpm and 315 ft-lbs @4800

This kit includes the “No Lift Shift” feature for faster accelerations with manual transmissions.

This kit will also be available for the 2008-2009 Cobalt SS and the above 2009 Turbo vehicles in Q1 2009.

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Chevrolet introduces a quartet of stunning concepts based on the all-new, 2010 Camaro at the 2008 SEMA Show. The concepts join regular-production and accessorized models, along with a dream collection of vintage Camaros – including rare COPO, Indy Pace Car and early Z28 models – to mark the introduction of Chevy’s re-born sports car. The Camaro is the official car of the 2008 SEMA show.

Each of the concepts represents a different interpretation of the new Camaro’s performance, styling and personalization possibilities, from no-holds-barred high-performance to carefully crafted, street-savvy customizing.

Camaro LS7 Concept: Designed to highlight the capability of the new Camaro as a weekend bracket warrior, the Camaro LS7 Concept combines the power of a GM Performance Parts’ LS7 crate engine and targeted bolt-on upgrades to deliver the wheels-up spirit of the legendary COPO Camaros.

Camaro Dale Earnhardt Jr. Concept: NASCAR star Dale Jr. is fan of vintage Camaros – he cruises around in a Pro Touring-style ’72 Camaro powered by a GM Performance Parts LS crate engine – and the heritage-inspired design of the 2010 Camaro appeals to him like a checkered flag at Daytona. His vision for the car was channeled to GM’s designers and crafted in a multi-color combination of style, capability and comfort.

Camaro GS Racecar Concept: One of the most iconic cars of the legendary Trans Am road racing series was the distinctive blue-and-yellow Camaro of Mark Donohue. He was a dominant racer in the series and drove his #6 1969 model to the series championship that year.

Camaro Black Concept: It’s hard to go unnoticed in a 2010 Camaro, but the Camaro Black Concept suggests a stealthy approach to street style. From its matte black-finished hood and ground effects to its dark wheels and red-glowing HID headlamp halo rings, the Camaro Black Concept is a sinister-looking urban tuner vehicle.

For full vehicle details, check out the "Garage" Section under Show Vehicles

Camaro GS Racecar Concept

Camaro Black Concept

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A leading blogging site, Autoblog.com, provides a candid and compelling review on the new Chevrolet Cobalt SS Turbocharged vehicle. Check out the full article at the URL below.

In the Autobog Garage: 2009 Chevy Cobalt SS Turbo
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/13/in-the-autobog-garage-2009-chevy-cobalt-ss-turbo/

Some great quotes from the article...

"The result is – and we're not kidding here – the most impressive performance car to wear a bow-tie badge on sale today."

"...the turbo DI Ecotec does now what Ford promises its EcoBoost engines will do in a few years. That is, produce V6 power with four-cylinder fuel economy."

"Chevy claims the Cobalt SS Turbo will hit 60 mph in 5.7 seconds, which must be conservative considering how fast the trip feels."

"Our conclusion is that the 2009 Cobalt SS Turbo is freakishly good at going fast and the best bang-for-the-buck value below $30,000."

Best "Bang" for the "Buck"...

Cost-effective Domestic Demon...

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It devours road circuits and packs a smokin' 415kW and 747Nm wallop. Wheels' US correspondent, John Lamm hangs on for a white-knuckle drive in the potent CTS-V.

Every so often we drive a “WOW” car. Not just a “strewth” car or a “whooo” car or “damn, that’s nice” car, but a certified “WOW” car.

The latest would be Cadillac’s CTS-V.

Why “WOW?” How about 0-60mph (96km/h) in 3.9 seconds in an otherwise civilised sedan? Or a lap of the Nordschliefe at the Nürburgring in 7:59.32, dead stock? Or the ability to be a delightfully genteel four-seater – off to the opera? – and, just out of the phone booth, a Superman on a road circuit?

General Motors’ Zen master, Bob Lutz (he’s too tall, too silver-haired to be their Yoda), felt that if Cadillac was to succeed on the world stage, it needed its own sport arm. Hence the V series. So Cadillac knew from day one that the new CTS would have a ‘V’ version just as certainly as BMW planned an M edition of the 5 Series and Mercedes an AMG alteration in the E-Class.

To power the CTS-V, Cadillac opted for a version of the all-aluminium, overhead-valve V8 used in the new ZR-1 Corvette. For the Caddy, the 6.2-litre has a smaller supercharger and other details that mean instead of the ’Vette’s 476kW and 819Nm of torque, the CTS-V has a “mere” 415kW at 6100rpm and 747Nm at 3800 ... some 90 percent of torque available from 1000rpm.

CTS-V transmissions have six speeds, a rugged Tremec TR6060 or Hydra-Matic 6L90 automatic. The latter is a ‘pure’ automatic with steering wheel-mounted shift paddles. This is not the sort of SMG gearbox mounted in BMW’s 5 Series. If you’re one of us who finds the SMG annoying to live with off track from day-to-day, you’d find none of that in the Cadillac.

For the full article and some great vehicle shots, log on to http://www.wheelsmag.com.au/wheels/site/articleIDs/AFA1F49D2C32532CCA2574CC000B0399

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"So here's the question: Can the Chevrolet Cobalt SS, Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart or Subaru Impreza WRX dethrone the mighty Mazdaspeed3 as the King of the Sport Compacts?"

"The Cobalt SS won this test by virtue of being good (more often great) at just about everything. It won three of the seven Performance categories outright, while never finishing worse than second in the rest. In our Subjective section, it won six of the 12 categories, all of them performance-related. The WRX put up a phenomenal fight, and is a class act itself, but it just couldn't overcome the Chevy's performance advantages. Kim summed it up thus: "Dynamically, the Cobalt SS is the best — it completely shocked us.""

For the complete article from Road & Track, log on to the URL below:

http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=31&article_id=7103

The Chevrolet Cobalt SS Turbocharged tops yet another sport-compact comparison. Check out the full article for all of the details.

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Monticello, New York — I'm back at the Monticello Motor Club, but this time I'm driving the new second-generation Cadillac CTS-V and not just watching John Heinricy chase down Bill Auberlen in a BMW M5 as reported in our October issue's "King for a Day." So, we already know the V can more than keep pace with the M5, and I can now confirm that the speed comes with a refinement and driving pleasure that are competitive with other sporting sedans.

Upping the ante is 556 bhp from a 6.2-liter supercharged V-8. Power peaks at 6100 rpm, just below the engine's peak speed of 6200. A staggering 551 lb.-ft. of torque is available at 3800 rpm. It's hard to resist the urge to generate billowing smoke clouds as it does this willingly and with ease. Gone are the trembling shift lever and hopping rear end of the first generation. The V is steady as a rock, thanks to the use of Magnetic Ride Control (MRC) shock absorbers and the efforts of Heinricy's team in fine-tuning the chassis.

From the most important seat — an optional leather Recaro with adjustable bolstering — I found the thick steering wheel and pedals to be placed appropriately for precision driving, an optional Alcantara package adding to the sporting feel. Most of the interior is from the CTS, but there are some detail differences. An important one is the lack of a mechanical parking brake, replaced by an electronic one, thus freeing up some foot space for a better-located dead pedal. I particularly like the piano black interior trim.

The gauges on the CTS-V are noticeably different. Red tracers follow the sweeping needles and add a technical sophistication. Other gauges include a multi-function display and boost gauge. To be honest, the speedometer in this car is pointless; it should just be a sticker that says "You're speeding." It's hard not to, as the car doesn't struggle to go fast. This feeling of ease is heightened by a light — yet quick — steering feel. A quick double-tap of the TC (traction control) button located on the steering wheel fixes that. Not only does that set the car in Competition mode, decreasing the stability-control restrictions, but also changes the amount of steering assistance.

For real fun, though, press and hold the traction control button to disable the entire system. Then select the Sport mode of the MRC system. That's what I did recently at the Milford proving grounds in both 6-speed manual and 6-speed automatic versions. At the test track I used up some of the custom Michelin Pilot Sport tires and performed instrumented testing. Both test cars were equipped with the optional brake package that simply swaps out front rotors and adds red paint to the Brembo calipers.

The Tremec TR6060 manual transmission handles power shifting with ease, which is good as the V is equipped with a no-lift shift feature. When near redline, the engine will hold boost for 1 second while the throttle is kept pressed to the floor. The exercise of power-shifting can be addictive. The automatic doesn't have the same insatiable desire to shred tires, but it offers an enjoyable experience nonetheless with quick upshifts and rev-matched downshifts that can be controlled by paddles on the steering wheel.

After my drive, it's clear that the CTS-V has come of age. No longer a harsh beast, the V can compete with the best in both performance numbers and subjective refinement. Price hasn't been announced, but if Cadillac can offer a sub-$70,000 MSRP, there will be a lot of happy buyers — regardless of what the competition does in the future, or even if the price of fuel doubles.

For the complete review and great slideshow check out the website at:
http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=10&article_id=7113

"Upping the ante is 556 bhp from a 6.2-liter supercharged V-8. Power peaks at 6100 rpm, just below the engine's peak speed of 6200. A staggering 551 lb.-ft. of torque is available at 3800 rpm. It's hard to resist the urge to generate billowing smoke clouds as it does this willingly and with ease."

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The 556-horsepower sedan is a speedster that provides superb cornering and control in a refined and seductive package.
By DAN NEIL
RUMBLE SEAT

With 556 horsepower under its tented hood and a cross-wire grille that looks inspired by the maximum-security wing at Chino, the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V seems, well, sort of aggressive. Remember when Cadillacs were soft and pillowy and ambled around town in a kind of Vicodin haze? Remember when you felt like you needed to slip into supportive undergarments to drive one? Doesn't that seem a long time ago?

I cannot gauge whether the investment General Motors has put into this 191-mph monster makes good business sense. I understand that Cadillac is trying, and succeeding, to gain parity with German luxury brands, and their high-performance divisions (BMW M, Mercedes-Benz AMG and Audi S). I further understand that these kinds of cars are halo products, bringing light and glory to the brand without necessarily returning a per-unit profit.

For starters, there is a 6.2-liter Corvette-ish engine under the hood, supercharged to within a hairy inch of its life. This engine does not produce a mellow flutter, a deep sonorous rumble, a seismic stirring like that of some distant underground fault. No. This engine screams like it's got its hand on the stove. It howls. It whines like the Season 1 DVD collection of "The View." Good Lord, somebody stop throwing those crows in the wood-chipper.

This is the fierce, brain-baking sound of a super-sports car. What's interesting to me is that, at some point, Cadillac development engineers were weighing the sound quality of the engine -- how raw do we want it, how refined? -- and decided, "Ah, what the hell, let's make it sound psychotic." Good choice.

Said sound is accompanied by a very rude, soccer-mob style shove in the back as all 551 pound-feet of torque catch either the flywheel or the torque converter (the car is equipped with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic).

From a dead stop, this car accelerates to 60 mph in about 4 seconds. One-two-three-four. From there it's a rapid and delirious elevator ride to 191 mph (top speed for the automatic is 175 mph).

Let me take a moment to adjust my wedgie before I proceed.

Our test car was equipped with the computer-managed automatic transmission and -- obviously and for purposes of legal liability -- I will say I got nowhere near such speeds. I'd also note that there's a fairly fat band of softness under the torque curve, below the speed where the supercharger kicks in, so when you're just driving around town, the engine is docile, even servile.

But once you push the accelerator about halfway down, the CTS-V flexes its quads, lowers its head and barrels away.

And that's the sense of it, deep muscularity and biomechanical leverage pitted against the mass of the car. This sedan, I should say, is no lightweight. At 4,300 pounds, the 191.1-inch CTS-V is a big and heavy car. Thus the 15-inch Brembo front disc brakes, which are among the largest brakes known to man.

One stat of note is that the CTS-V rips a quarter-mile in under 13 seconds. But that's a rather old-school metric. For connoisseurs, the true measure is the Nurburgring time. The 'Ring is a slightly terrifying, 14-mile asphalt roller coaster of a racetrack in the Eiffel mountains in Germany. The current production-car record is held by the Corvette ZR-1, at 7.26 minutes. The Corvette-derived CTS-V lapped the course in 7.59 minutes, which is apparently a world record for a production sedan.

GM's boffins of high performance are about now, undoubtedly, sick of spatzel and potatoes, because they've spent so many months in Germany tuning up this car. The results are, however, unquestionable. The CTS-V has the finest, purest, most manageable lateral grip you could want in a big sedan. Armed with low-profile 19-inch Michelin Sport Pilots, the car grips the road like Antaeus.

One stat of note is that the CTS-V rips a quarter-mile in under 13 seconds. But that's a rather old-school metric. For connoisseurs, the true measure is the Nurburgring time. The 'Ring is a slightly terrifying, 14-mile asphalt roller coaster of a racetrack in the Eiffel mountains in Germany. The current production-car record is held by the Corvette ZR-1, at 7.26 minutes. The Corvette-derived CTS-V lapped the course in 7.59 minutes, which is apparently a world record for a production sedan.

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GM's Performance Division had some fun for 2009 and mixed the newly introduced flat panel HHR model with its sportier and racier HHR SS, resulting in the HHR Panel SS. If you're not already in the know, HHRs equipped with panels have no rear windows and doors, but instead metal paneling - a trait akin to the 1949 Chevrolet Suburban. Rear seating has been removed, giving the Panel a large, flat cargo floor complete with ties downs and hidden storage compartments.

Like the HHR SS, the Panel SS uses an Ecotec 2.0-liter direct-injection turbo four-cylinder taken from the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky Red Line. The boosted engine makes a hearty 260 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque that is sent to the front wheels via an F35 five-speed manual. An automatic gearbox is available, but those opting for it will lose 10 ponies. According to Chevrolet, both Nurburgring tested SS models can hit 60 in 6.3 seconds and reach a top speed of over 150 mph. Cornering ability is improved thanks in part to a standard limited-slip differential and a sport tuned suspension. Down the drag strip, the SS-badged HHR takes roughly 14.8 seconds at 98.5 mph to cover a quarter mile.

To read the full article, check out the URL below:
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/wagons/112_0807_2009_chevy_hhr_first_look/index.html

The HOT Chevrolet HHR SS, is now offered in a panel version

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Text taken from Road & Track Magazine - "Fast and Frugal" vehicle comparison

Fast and Frugal Index 113.09

If the Corvette caused jaws to drop, certainly the Cobalt SS heading the index will leave them on the floor. In this case, the Cobalt has found a particular sweet spot when it comes to balancing fuel economy with all-out performance. The turbocharged 2.0-liter Ecotec four, which has 260 bhp on tap, deserves the lion's share of the credit with its EPA city rating of 22 mpg and its highway average of 30 mpg. Remember, this is the same engine that vaulted the Solstice GXP into the top 10 over its normally aspirated sibling. But also the work done by GM's Performance Division on the car, including some heavy track time at the Nürburgring, pays huge dividends in the fun department. Not only is the car quick (0–60 in 5.5 sec.), it sticks as shown by its 0.92g on the skidpad and 72.4-mph slalom time. Throw in launch control, no-lift shifting and a range approaching 400 miles all for a sticker that's under $25,000 and you have fast and frugal defined.

Catch the full article, including a comparison matrix and slideshow at :
http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=29&article_id=6870

Chevrolet Cobalt SS Turbocharged tops Road & Track "Fast and Frugal" List

Cobalt SS Turbocharged - Great performance, excellent mileage ratings and awesome 'fun factor' with a modest sticker price. All around solid package.

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Max Chevy Magazine provides the latest review on Chevrolet's HHR SS as engineered by GM Performance Division.

Check out this informative review with alot of great technical specifications on the exciting vehicle.

http://www.maxchevy.com/features/roadtest/iii_5-hhr-1.html

Article Link:

http://www.maxchevy.com/features/roadtest/iii_5-hhr-1.html

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2009 CTS-VBlisters Nurburgring
Breaks 8-minute barrier - potentially the fastest documented lap time for a production sedan

In testing today at Germany’s Nurburgring, Cadillac’s upcoming new 2009 CTS-Vcompleted a lap of the legendary Nordschleife in 7:59.32. This blistering time appears to be the fastest ever publicly documented for a production sedan.

Cadillac is nearing the completion of testing for the highly anticipated CTS-V, the limited-edition high-performance model based on the award-winning CTS sport sedan. John Heinricy, director of vehicle integration and an acclaimed racing driver, piloted the CTS-V through its sub-8 minute lap. The car itself had no performance modifications outside of those planned for consumer production, which is scheduled to begin this fall.

Estimated at 550-hp, the CTS-V is at the moment going through the final stages of intensive testing and development. One of the realistic objectives of the Cadillac team is to make the CTS-V the world’s fastest production sedan, as a part of the overall goal to make the V-Series Cadillac’s ultimate expression of performance and technology. More updates will be released in the coming weeks as testing is finalized, including the car’s certified SAE power ratings, acceleration specifications and U.S.-market pricing.

Video documentation of the car’s breakthrough Nordschleife performance will be posted online in the coming days at http://cadillac.gmblogs.com
The eight-minute mark has long been recognized as a major Nurburgring milestone, reserved for race cars and the fastest exotic sports cars. While there’s no single official repository for Nurburgring data from private test sessions, numerous reputable websites and publications report lap times from race teams, automakers and independent sources.

The new 2009 CTS-V includes a suite of advanced performance technologies, including a new version of Cadillac’s acclaimed Magnetic Ride Control suspension and the LSA 6.2-liter Supercharged V8 engine. For the first time, CTS-V will include the choice of 6-speed manual or automatic transmissions, with the new automatic sporting steering wheel-mounted shift buttons.

Cadillac CTS-V breaks 8-minute barrier - potentially the fastest documented lap time for a production sedan at Nurburgring

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Hummer H3 Apha captures "Best in Class" Honors from Truck Trend Magazine for 2008

Hardcore 4x4
Winner: Hummer H3 Alpha
Runner-Up: Jeep Wrangler Rubicon

If there’s one segment that creates the most debate (a polite term) among our judges, it’s this one. Jeep has many advocates with its basic technology and long 4x4 history, as well as its impressive Rubicon off-road package. However, the Hummer H3 Alpha trumps the Jeep in the all-important engine department with the newly available V-8 option (a 5.3-liter with 300 horsepower and 320 poundfeet of torque). Also, its 32-inch tires, locking differential, 4:1 transfer case, and a 6000-pound towing capacity put the Hummer H3 Alpha on top of a mountain very few others will even attempt to climb. And we hear the H3T pickup will get electronic front and rear locking differentials and the new six-speed transmission.

Can’t wait.

From the Editors of Truck Trend Magazine.

Award Winning Hummer H3 Alpha

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