Chevrolet’s hardcore Camaro ZL1 to come packing 425kW

July 21st, 2011 by Car and SUV

It looks like the horsepower wars are far from over in the States and may see Chevrolet’s new Camaro ZL1 released with a higher power output than was originally planned. The ZL1 (pictured) won’t reach American car dealerships until early next year, but fresh reports are claiming that power output for the pony car has been bumped up to more than 570 hp (425 kW).

When the ZL1 officially debuted at the Chicago Auto Show, GM said the supercharged 6.2-litre engine would have a max power output of approximately 550 hp (410 kW). That was all good until word came out that the 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 was expected to use a supercharged 5.8-litre V8 with up to 620 hp (462 kW). With Ford now throwing down the challenge, Chevrolet was left with little choice but to upgrade its hardcore ZL1, just to stay in the fight. Read the rest of this entry »

Making of the next-gen 2012 Holden Colorado concept video

July 11th, 2011 by Car and SUV

Holden’s new 2012 Colorado was recently shown for the first time in concept form at the Australian Motor Show and has already gained a load of interest. To keep up the hype, Holden has released a video showing what went into preparing the Colorado show ute for its unveiling. There’s plenty of behind the scenes stuff and footage of the show car in action.

While exact specifications for the production Colorado ute haven’t been released expect it too launch with a 2.8-litre diesel engine and be offered in various markets globally in Holden and Chevrolet forms.

Check out the video below to get an idea of what Holden’s latest ute will look like when it reaches NZ showrooms next year. Read the rest of this entry »

2012 Holden Colorado ute debuts at Australian Show

July 1st, 2011 by Car and SUV

Holden has pulled the covers off it’s next-generation 2012 Colorado concept ute at the Australian Motor Show in Melbourne.

The new Colorado was first shown in Chevrolet form earlier this year and Holden’s version has kept with a similar curvaceous body design and ‘dual port’ grille. The concept Colorado is presented in a crew-cab form with the production model to be launched in New Zealand and other global markets in 2012.

Holden New Zealand Managing Director, Jeff Murray said Holden’s most significant play in the growing light commercial segment is without a doubt the new generation Colorado. “Clearly this is a show vehicle however, the basic proportions and design are pretty much what you can expect for the production version of the Colorado which will arrive in Holden showrooms in this country in 2012,” Mr Murray said.

The Colorado design project was led by 26-year-old creative designer Ben Last who worked closely with General Motors‟ Colorado homeroom and design studio in Brazil along with operations in Thailand and the US to develop the final Australian show theme. Read the rest of this entry »

Chevrolet rolls out 2012 Camaro Transformers Edition

June 28th, 2011 by Car and SUV

Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon is the new installment in the Transformers film franchise and is due on the big screen in NZ very soon. The movie will be a familiar formula with large scale action scenes, some eye candy and shameless product placement of General Motors’ vehicles.

Perhaps the most famous of these superstar movie vehicles is the yellow Chevrolet Camaro that goes by the name stage name Bumblebee. As in the previous movies this banana-and-black Autobot is fashioned in a form that will be repeated as a special edition Camaro available to fans.

The road-going version is called the 2012 Transformers Special Edition Camaro, and keen American fans can order one from next month. The Transformers Camaro has special kit like Autobot badges on the guards, thick black stripes running along the roof and bonnet, a unique rear spoiler and blacked-out 20-inch alloys with Autobot-logo center caps. If that’s not enough to get everyone staring at you, American car dealers can also offer upgrades like a ground-effects lighting package and larger 21-inch alloys. Read the rest of this entry »

Chevrolet sells five million Camaro muscle cars

June 21st, 2011 by Car and SUV

Once it was reintroduced into the American market in 2009 the latest-generation Chevrolet Camaro began selling faster than party pills. Now the Camaro model line can celebrate a milestone that spans all the way back to its original 1967 version.

General Motors has just built the five-millionth example of its Camaro, but surprisingly few of the total amount of cars produced are the current generation. Only 225,844 of the total 5 million sales come from the 2010-2011 model. The remaining 4,774,156 models arrived in the years between 1967 and 2002.

As for the landmark five millionth vehicle, it’s a fairly modest example. Built at GM’s Oshawa plant the Camaro is a 1LS Coupe in black with the 3.6-litre V6 engine, a six-speed manual trans and steel wheels. The owner of this special machine is located in Kentucky, USA and paid $24,700 USD for the car.

Holden’s 2012 Colorado ute previewed with Chevy badged concept

June 20th, 2011 by Car and SUV

While it doesn’t have a big V8 engine under its bonnet Holden’s next-generation 2012 Colorado ute is still going to be a staunch looker. To whet the appetites of global truck fans General Motors has revealed an extra tough double-cab concept Colorado in Chevrolet form.

Named the Double-Cab Rally concept, this truck follows on from the unveiling of the Colorado Space Cab concept at the Bangkok Auto Show back in March. Clearly this is a off roading ute with a pair of winches (one at the front, one at the rear) ready to go if the mud gets too deep. To help keep it going forward there’s 305/60R18 BFGoodrich Mud Terrain tyres, long suspension travel and a unique rollbar/rail system across the roof and tray. At the rear there are special holes in the tailgate for bailing sand or gravel that may be caught in the tub during racing. To further reduce weight the side windows are made of clear acrylic.

Inside the Rally concept is fitted with racing seats and five-point harnesses. Read the rest of this entry »

Chevy rolls out Transformers inspired ad for Bumblebee Camaro (+video)

June 7th, 2011 by Car and SUV

Later this month, Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon will be reaching movie screens here in NZ with some fine metal on display.

In Transformers 3, like the first two movies, General Motors will have a large amount of product placement. Cars and Trucks, Autobots and Decepticons, GM has been smart with the Transformers movies and is already promoting the tie-in with a new ad showing the Bumblebee edition Chevy Camaro in action.

While a standard Bumblebee Camaro probably won’t be able to save you from huge angry robots it’s a pretty slick ride. Check out the new American ad below to see the shape-shifting Camaro in action. Also if you have a keen eye you can spot a speedster version of the 50th Anniversary Corvette Stingray concept. Read the rest of this entry »

New Nissan Leaf TV ad mocks petrol power (+video)

May 31st, 2011 by Car and SUV

Electric cars are becoming impossible to avoid in the media and its only a matter of time before they reach NZ shores. The Nissan Leaf is a pioneer among this new breed of automobiles and is promoting its environmentally friendly nature in a new advertising campaign that pokes fun at petrol power.

In the TV commercial entitled “Gas Powered Everything”, Nissan mocks the internal combustion engine by showing an electricity free world where all appliances run on gas.

It’s clever stuff and shows regular people using petrol-powered alarm-clocks, microwave ovens, computers and other appliances. Towards the end, Chevrolet’s Volt car gets a serve too for being a gas-electric hybrid. Nissan can go getting all high-and-mighty about its Leaf EV, but what about Nissan’s performance cars like the GT-R which go through petrol like its all going to run out?

Pays not to think too much, just enjoy the ad clip below. Read the rest of this entry »