A History of Greatness: GM Produces 100-Millionth Small Block Engine
GM Produces 100-Millionth Small Block Engine
A ZR1 LS9 Engine just produced by Chevrolet was the 100-Millionth manufactured by the company.
In the past 56 years, since Chevrolet began producing small block engines, the bowtie emblazoned automotive company and the small block engine has been synonymous with one another. In that time, every iconic car produced by Chevrolet has been known and linked to their famous small-block engine design in some manner. Most recently, the fifth generation Camaro has become a small block powered icon on both road and track, much like it's LS small block powered big brother, the Corvette.
The sheer number there--100,000,000 for those who like lots of zeroes--really highlights the durability, reputation, and potential of the small block and speaks to the iconic nature of the GM engine. It is fitting then to also consider that the first small block, introduced in 1955, was built for the first generation Corvette and the 100-millionth produced was a hand-crafted work of art LS9 made specifically for the sixth generation Corvette's special edition ZR1--the fastest Corvette ever produced.
Of course, the transition from the first small block to the modern pinnacle LS9 is a long one, filled with numerous exciting and memorable engines. In 1992 Chevrolet first introduced its second-generation Small Block, known as the LT1, in to its Corvette. This engine became an absolute staple on tracks across the globe, and adorned various vehicles from that Corvette, to the F-Body Camaro and Firebird, and the B-Body Impala SS and Caprice Police car. The LT1, which featured a newly developed reverse cooling, is still being used in races all across the globe today.
Following the second generation, Chevrolet then introduced their first LS Engine in 1997. This third generation small block, which was first placed in the C5 Corvette, was an even greater step forward. The LS engines are all-aluminum small blocks, and the first of them, the LS1, was rated a naturally aspirated 350HP and 365 lb ft of torque--numbers that, today, are still incredibly impressive for a naturally aspirated 5.7L engine. The LS engine was then featured, in some form, in numerous different vehicles and even had a more powerful, LS6 version introduced in the C5 Z06 Corvette in 2001. This LS6 featured the same 5.7L displacement as its LS1 brethren, but put out a stomach churning 405HP and 400 lb ft of torque.
Those numbers were fairly mind-shattering for a naturally aspirated engine of the LS6's size and weight, at least, until 2005 when the first of the fourth generation small block was released. In 2005 the Corvette went from its fifth generation vehicle to the now current sixth generation, and with the change in body also came the biggest change: the introduction of the Chevrolet LS2. The LS2 was almost identical to the LS6 engine in performance and displacement, but also featured a much more even Torque curve through-out the RPM range, and had the potential to be modified for incredible gains. It was from this base LS2 that the LS7--the now revered 505HP and 470 lb ft torque monster--was produced and introduced to the 2006 Corvette. Just one year after the update of the small block, this engine seemed to be where everything was building, and the Z06 became the undeniable greatest performance bang for the buck on the globe. Within the year, there were Z06's running against quarter-million dollar European exotics on racetracks all across the globe, and each one came with the distinctive sound and tone that only a Chevrolet small block V8 can deliver through the exhaust.
Of course, Chevrolet wasn't finished there (thankfully, they're dedicated to the production of envelope-pushing performance machines) and we saw such engines as the 430HP LS3 (now outfitting the base-level C6 Corvette and the Chevrolet Camaro SS), the LSA (a 556HP Supercharged monster that can be found in the world's fastest production sedan, the Cadillac CTS-V and will also hit the streets in the body of the new super-Camaro ZL1 this year), and the engine that would be made as number 100,000,000--the LS9.
The LS9 is an absolute marvel worth talking about as well, especially considering that everything before it brought us to this point. The LS9, which can only be found in the top of the line Corvette ZR1, produces an amazing supercharged 6.2L engine based on the LS3 block and putting out a ferocious 638bhp and 604 lb ft of torque. Those numbers, in combination with the Corvette's lightweight body and wide, aggressive stance, have produced a vehicle that runs track times that best it's $250,000+ competitors. Today, the ZR1 is the undeniable greatest bargain on wheels that exists for the performance minded consumer, and, as such, is the only engine fitting to be given the designation as number 100,000,000 of its kind.
Of course, Chevrolet's not stopping at 100,000,000 and the future of the small block engine holds a great deal of excitement. Already, official reports have come out that Chevrolet is updating their engine for the seventh-generation of their Corvette, and we may see the introduction of such features as direct injection and an upgraded combustion chamber design, as well as the improved performance and efficiency numbers to match. GM enthusiasts should expect to see the next small block engine first hit the streets in the C7 Corvette, scheduled for release some time in 2014.
Chevrolet Hands Over the ZL1 to Reviewers for the First Time
Reviewers Get Hands on Production Camaro ZL1
Some of the Automotive community's largest media outlets were handed the keys to the new Camaro ZL1 this past week
Ok, so, no reviews have hit the web just yet, as Chevrolet seems to have requested the few media outlets lucky enough to their hands on the ZL1 withhold them until after the Detroit Auto Show, we do know that they're not far off. That being said, the indications are there that the reviews had a whole lot of fun in the new super-Camaro.
MotorTrend posted a set of fantastic photographs that one of their photographers snapped of their test model ZL1 on the Inde Motorsports Ranch, a track they describe as "a high-speed technical track that puts as much emphasis on suspension as it does horsepower. Plenty of elevation changes, off camber, increasing and decreasing radius turns means the driver has very little time to rest during laps. The track is almost like running a “best of” mix-tape with replicas of the most challenging corners from around the world." Along with the photos, they indicate that they took the ZL1 out and let their driver "flog" it. What this means to me is that they really opened it up and had a fantastic time.
While they're the first to officially indicate having a ZL1 in hand--and it appears they had exclusive first rights to the vehicle--there are some insiders noting that MotorAuthority, Jalopnik, Road and Track, and a small handful of other media outlets have either been given the same privilege now or will be given such in the weeks to come. It seems that after the Detroit Auto Show--an event Chevrolet seems to have marked as their final large display of the ZL1 and its style and abilities before letting the vehicle really go public--reviews and review videos will begin hitting the web in torrential numbers, and, if my same inside information is true--the reviews will be positive. Very positive.
Until then, and until we're all able to get behind the wheel of one of these amazing automobiles, we'll just have to settle for some fantastic photos courtesy of MotorTrend showing off the tester ZL1 they were given in high-speed motion around one of the nation's more technical tracks.
Also from MotorTrend, a list of highlights on the Camaro ZL1 that we, the adoring public, already know but love to read over again:
- The ZL1 is powered by a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 producing 580 hp and 556 lb-ft of torque with an active exhaust system
- Choice of two six-speed transmissions: automatic or manual transmissions
- Brembo brakes
- Corvette ZR1’s Performance Traction Management system standard.
- GM claims the new Camaro ZL1 coupe will hit 60 mph in 3.9 seconds
- It unofficially lapped the famed Nurburgring in 7:41.27
- Engineers spent more than 100 hours in the wind tunnel to achieve zero-neutral lift or negative lift – a GM first
- The coupe goes on sale springtime next year with a base price of $54,995
- The convertible will be available next summer as a 2013 model
- GM expects the convertible to give up little performance to the coupe
- The Camaro’s chief engineer said Mustang fans can thank the Camaro ZL1 for the GT500’s recent improvements
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- The 2012 Camaro ZL1 is truly a thing of beauty.
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- The 2012 Camaro ZL1 will certainly be an American muscle car for the ages.
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- Wow. Just wow.
Ford Steps Up to the Plate, and then, when realizing that Chevrolet was actually prepared to pitch, backs away slowly…
Ford has obviously been planning this move for some time now. Their marketing guys have surely been waiting and salivating for the precise moment to strike and drop this bomb. It's brilliant marketing, it really is, but it also shows how afraid they are of the Chevrolet beast. The Mustang, which for the longest time was the de facto best-selling American sports car, has been dethroned by the Chevy Camaro and it looks like Ford was afraid of losing even more market share with the release of the ZL1.
Knowing that Chevrolet has spent the last 6+ months talking up their new Camaro (and, seemingly, with great reason), Ford waited until the precise moment--when Chevrolet announced the vehicle's price--to strike. They've just announced an updated version of their GT500 come 2013 that will be sporting a new, upgraded, 5.8L version of the same engine and promising HP numbers somewhere are 650HP, and a top speed of 200mph+. These numbers are impressive. Very impressive, in fact; also, they're most certainly a play against the ZL1 to steal some of its thunder as anticipation over the new Camaro has reached a new peak.
Of course, while these numbers are impressive, they didn't seem to scare Chevrolet. Upon hearing them, Joel Ewanick--the senior VP of Marketing at Chevrolet--came out and said "We should take a Camaro, Ford brings a Mustang, we each pick our drivers, and see who has the best time on the Nürburgring". This was a direct response to Jim Farley, head of Ford's marketing division, making a public claim that he would like to "take a bat" to Chevrolet with their new GT500. However, upon hearing of this "I wish we could," challenge, all Farley had to say was: "I wish we could. Who wouldn't want to do that?"
Wish you could, but you can't, or you won't? This reads to me like maybe Ford's blue oval is a little yellow about facing the ZL1--which has already released official Nürburgring times. Seems like maybe Ford knows their heavier, solid transaxle Mustang can't run the ring with the Camaro.
Of course, none of this is meant to lampoon Ford here, either, as the vehicles they've made and are in the process of developing have all been fantastic. In fact, when America's two largest automotive companies start competing head-to-head like this, everybody wins--especially the consumers. Here's to hoping the release of the GT500, and what will certainly be drag-racing numbers in that vehicle's favor, will bring GM to continue pushing the envelope and having Ford push back.
VS
24 Hours of Testing the Camaro ZL1
At this point, most everything that there is to say about the soon to be released Camaro ZL1 has been said. Everything about Chevrolet's ante-upping racecar has been published, it would seem, but that's not enough for the engineers for Chevrolet. Before releasing the vehicle to the public, they had to be certain they knew all of the vehicle's abilities and limitations.
One of the most difficult things you can do to a vehicle is test it on a track, where it's running at 100%+, for a full twenty-four hours. In fact, many of the high-end endurance racers that are built and optimized for just this fall short in their attempts to complete a twenty-four hour race. Watch a complete twenty-four hour Le Mans race and you'll see million dollar car after million dollar fall out of the field as result of mechanical failures that occur under such grueling conditions, and that's exactly what Chevrolet wanted to see.
Normally, in testing, a breakage of any sort would be considered a failure; however, in this test, breakage was exactly what Chevrolet was looking for. Doing this test would allow them to see what aspects of the vehicle would be most likely to experience issues and correct them before it hit the market, and in that sense, the ZL1 made it look like a cake walk. The car seemingly ran all 24 hours without many hiccups, and, I'm certain that any hiccup they did notice the Chevrolet engineers involved in this project took care of with intelligence and craft.
I don't want to talk too long on it, because, the video really speaks for itself. Suffice it to say that Chevrolet is making some great promotional videos pending the upcoming release of this car, and my excitement over it grows with each new day and each new video.
Product Spotlight: Camaro Painted License Plate Frames
Here's a great product I came across that's available at a great price: Painted Aluminum Camaro License Plate Frames. Trying to keep up with a semi-regular product spotlight series, these seemed--based on their quality, great looks, and affordable price--like a logical next product.
The manufacturing for these is really cool, and, SouthernCarParts--who is one of the major retailers for them and a company that I personally enjoy dealing with (I feel like, as far as Camaro products go, they're like my everyday Cheers-esque bar)--provides a lot of information for how they're produced. Beginning with a solid brass, heavy cast mold, the base aluminum plate is formed. Each plate is then CNC machine cut for precision, and given a precise, fast machine engraving. The Engravings on these are of the Camaro lettering, with your choice of either RS or SS badging emblem to accompany it. Once engraved, the plates are given a multi-coat paint job using actual GM paints. I questioned this, but, was assured that the paint being used is derived from the GM WPA code, and, I'll be damned if the one I received didn't match perfectly. The paint is applied in a multi-coat process, with a final clear coating, for shine and durability and looks just like the stock Camaro paint job.
The last part of the production process is the one that impresses me the most. The Camaro engravings on these plates are actually hand-filled with an acrylic epoxy. Typically, hand-filling means that a product is prohibitively more costly than machine ones, but these are definitely affordable. The quality of the acrylic epoxy is perfect, there are no imperfections, and the plate looks awesome to be finished off with these emblems. These things are absolutely gorgeous.
As with any license plate frame, this is easy to install. The painted screw caps are a nice touch to help keep the whole thing looking uniform, and once installed, the plate really looks like it belongs on the vehicle. All-in-all, I'm really happy with the product, considering that it cost under $115 and adds more Camaro badge-ing with an OEM (or better) quality finish. That can never be a bad thing, can it?
Camaro ZL1 Runs the Nurburgring in 7:41.27
Expectations for the Camaro ZL1 are huge. I mean, when you have a 580HP LSR powered, MRC Suspension blessed, monster of a Camaro coming in at a sub $50k price tag it's difficult to keep them tempered. Well, fear not: there's no reason to temper them.
Last week, Mark Reuss, the president for GM North America, confirmed that the Camaro ZL1 lapped the Nurburgring in 7:41.27. 7:41.27! That's super-car level good. In fact, that time is better than a lot of official times by super-car level vehicles, such as: 2006 Porsche 911 GT3 (7:42.00), 2009 Lamborghini Murcielago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce (7:42.00), 2009 Audi R8 V10 5.2 FSI (7:44.00), 2007 Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera (7:46.00), 2006 Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano (7:47.00), 2009 Ferrari California GT (7:56.00), and many many others. That's very good company for a sub $50k American sports car. Very very good.
Now, that great time isn't all. No, what makes this already impressive feat even cooler is the excitement with which Reuss delivered it.
From MotorAuthority's article on the Nurburgring time announcement:
Mark Reuss, president of General Motors North America flew from sunny and warm Detroit to rainy and chilly Los Angeles to address media members on Wednesday. Once he arrived, the climate change was evident in the room close to Los Angeles International Airport; this man's enthusiasm for automobiles, motorsports and General Motors is evident by his demeanor and excitement for the future.
The first item Reuss addressed was the vehicle on display outside the hotel where the meeting was held - Chevrolet's Camaro ZL1. The street and circuit-worthy Camaro wasn't terribly pretty but it looked, at first glance, that it was worthy of great performance.
Reuss stated as much - from personal experience - as he was one of the drivers to conduct performance validation on this machine on the famed Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit of 14.173 miles in Germany, where the LSR-powered V8 muscle car turned an incredible 7 minutes, 41.27 seconds in a single lap, he said. Can anyone remember a GM president that was enough of an enthusiast to take part in a session of this type? Didn't think so.
The ZL1 was "forgiving and neutral," Reuss, a Grand-Am-licensed competitor said. "I was able to drive deeper than I ever have." He especially enjoyed passing the Porsche GT3's that were lapping concurrently, before the car was boxed and returned from Germany to the GM proving grounds and then brought to Los Angeles for this morning appearance. The street car will have its debut during the mid-November Los Angeles International Auto Show.
It's great, ultimately, to see that the man in charge of the Camaro ZL1's production is such a fan of the vehicle himself. That sort of joy and excitement is rare in the world of automotive executives and provides even more reason to be excited about the release of the Camaro ZL1. At sub $50k, this car will be, without doubt, among the greatest performance bargains in the automotive world, and for that reason, and all the others we've talked about before concerning this ZL1, it's very difficult to temper my expectations and excitement concerning this exciting new vehicle.
For reference, here's a list of vehicles and their Nurburgring times. The ZL1's place cements it squarely in the realm of super-car:
Pos Make / Model Time Speed (km/h) Year Power (hp) / Weight (kg) Driven by
1. Radical SR8LM 6:48.00 182 0 455 / 650 Radical
2. Radical SR8 6:55.00 179 '05 363 / 650 Radical
3. Gumpert Apollo Speed 7:11.57 172 '09 700 / 1200 Gumpert
4. Dodge Viper SRT-10 ACR 7:12.13 172 '08 600 / 1536 Dominik Farnbacher
5. Lexus LFA Nurburgring Package 7:14.64 171 '12 570 / 1509 Lexus
6. Donkervoort D8 RS 7:14.89 171 '05 350 / 600 Michael Duechting
7. Porsche 911 GT2 RS 7:18.00 169 '10 620 / 1370 Porsche
8. Radical SR3 Turbo 7:19.00 169 '03 320 / 500 Phil Bennett
9. Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 7:19.63 169 '08 647 / 1530 General Motors
10. Dodge Viper SRT-10 ACR 7:22.10 168 '08 600 / 1536 Motor Trend
11. Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Z07 Package 7:22.68 168 '11 512 / 1394 General Motors
12. Lexus LFA Nurburgring Package 7:22.85 167 '12 570 / 1509 Lexus
13. Gumpert Apollo Sport 7:24.00 167 '07 700 / 1200 Sport Auto
14. Nissan GT-R 7:24.22 167 '11 530 / 1736 Nissan
15. Maserati MC12 7:24.29 167 '04 632 / 1335 Marc Basseng
16. Pagani Zonda F Clubsport 7:24.65 167 '05 650 / 1230 Marc Basseng
17. Ferrari Enzo 7:25.21 167 '02 660 / 1365 Marc Basseng
18. Nissan GT-R 7:26.70 166 '08 479 / 1740 Toshio Suzuki
19. Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 7:27.00 166 '11 500 / 1360 Porsche
20. Ferrari 458 Italia 7:28.00 166 '09 570 / 1485 Scuderia Autoropa
21. Porsche Carrera GT 7:28.71 165 '03 612 / 1380 Marc Basseng
22. Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 7:30.00 165 '11 500 / 1360 Sport Auto
23. Porsche 911 GT2 7:31.00 164 '07 530 / 1440 Auto Motor und Sport
24. Porsche 911 Turbo S 7:32.00 164 '10 530 / 1585 Porsche
25. Pagani Zonda F 7:33.00 164 '05 602 / 1371 Sport Auto
26. Porsche 911 GT3 RS 7:33.00 164 '10 450 / 1400 Sport Auto
27. Koenigsegg CCX 7:33.55 164 '06 806 / 1456 Marc Basseng
28. Koenigsegg CCR 7:34.00 163 '04 806 / 1418 Sport Auto
29. Audi R8 GT 7:34.00 163 '10 560 / 1520 Sport Auto
30. Nissan GT-R Spec-V 7:34.46 163 '09 492 / 1680 Best Motoring
31. RUF RT12 7:35.00 163 '05 650 / 1573 Sport Auto
32. Porsche 911 Turbo 7:38.00 162 '06 480 / 1585 Porsche
33. Lexus LF-A 7:38.00 162 '10 560 / 1609 Sport Auto
34. Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera 7:38.00 162 '10 570 / 1430 Sport Auto
35. Ferrari 430 Scuderia 7:39.00 162 '07 510 / 1402 Sport Auto
36. Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 7:40.00 161 '06 640 / 1805 Auto Bild Sportscars
37. McLaren Mercedes SLR 7:40.00 161 '03 626 / 1693 Auto Bild
38. Porsche 911 GT3 7:40.00 161 '09 435 / 1376 Walter Rohrl
39. Porsche 911 Carrera S 7:40.00 161 '11 400 / 1415 Porsche
2012 Camaro ZL1 7:41.27
40. Porsche 911 GT3 7:42.00 161 '06 415 / 1395 Walter Rohrl
41. Radical SR3 7:42.00 161 '02 205 / 495
42. Lamborghini Murcielago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce 7:42.00 161 '09 670 / 1664 Sport Auto
43. Chevrolet Corvette Z06 7:42.90 160 '05 513 / 1437 Jan Magnussen
44. Porsche 911 GT3 RS 7:43.00 160 '03 381 / 1360 Motor
45. Pagani Zonda C12 S 7:44.00 160 '02 555 / 1250 Sport Auto
46. Audi R8 V10 5.2 FSI 7:44.00 160 '09 525 / 1620 Sport Auto
47. Mercedes CLK 63 Black Series 7:45.00 159 '07 507 / 1745 Berndt Schneider
48. Gardner Douglas GD T70 Spyder 7:45.00 159 '10 710 / 900 Dario Margutti
49. Porsche 911 GT2 7:46.00 159 '00 460 / 1430 Sport Auto
50. Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera 7:46.00 159 '07 530 / 1520 Auto
51. Jaguar XJ220 7:46.37 159 '92 549 / 1470 John Nielsen
52. Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano 7:47.00 159 '06 620 / 1748 Sport Auto
53. Wiesmann GT MF5 7:47.00 159 '08 507 / 1380 Sport Auto
54. Porsche 911 Turbo 7:47.00 159 '09 500 / 1570 Sport Auto
55. Porsche 911 GT3 RS 7:48.00 158 '06 415 / 1375 Sport Auto
56. BMW M3 GTS 7:48.00 158 '10 450 / 1543 Sport Auto
57. Lamborghini Murcielago 7:50.00 158 '02 580 / 1800 Sport Auto
58. BMW M3 CSL 7:50.00 158 '03 360 / 1385 Sport Auto
59. Porsche 911 Carrera S 7:50.00 158 '08 385 / 1425
60. Mercedes SL65 AMG Black Series 7:51.00 157 '09 670 / 1870 Sport Auto
61. Lamborghini Gallardo 7:52.00 157 '03 500 / 1613 Sport Auto
62. Ford GT 7:52.00 157 '04 550 / 1538 Sport Auto
63. Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 7:52.00 157 '08 560 / 1530 Sport Auto
64. Mercedes CLK DTM 7:54.00 156 '04 582 / 1678 Sport Auto
65. Porsche 911 GT3 7:54.00 156 '03 380 / 1380 Sport Auto
66. Ferrari F430 7:55.00 156 '05 489 / 1450 Sport Auto
67. Caterham R500 1.8L K Series 7:55.00 156 '99 233 / 450 EVO
68. BMW M5 7:55.00 156 '11 560 / 1870 BMW
69. Porsche 911 Turbo 7:56.00 156 '00 420 / 1540 Sport Auto
70. Ferrari 360 CS 7:56.00 156 '03 425 / 1280 Sport Auto
71. Ferrari California GT 7:56.00 156 '09 460 / 1787
72. Porsche Panamera Sport Chrono Turbo 7:56.00 156 '09 500 / 1974 Auto Bild
73. Porsche Panamera Turbo 7:56.00 156 '09 500 / 1870 Walter Rohrl
74. Chevrolet Corvette Z06 7:56.00 156 '02 411 / 1414 General Motors
75. Porsche 911 GT3 7:56.33 156 '99 360 / 1350 Walter Rohrl
Camaro Caliper Covers
Just came across a very cool product that I wanted to share: Caliper covers for both the Camaro SS (which I bought for myself) and the Camaro RS also.
Made from aircraft grade aluminum (not sure what classifies something as being aircraft grade, but, it sounds fancy) these caliper covers look great and apparently are very functional. When I first saw the product listing, I didn't believe in the claims of functionality. They're caliper covers, and I just always assumed that caliper covers were purely a cosmetic upgrade.
However, the heat reductive properties of Aluminum, as well as the heat channels formed by the placement of the caliper cover, actually result in lower brake surface temperatures (of 20-50 degrees! a huge jump). Lower temperatures means lessened brake fade and increased performance and explains, ultimately, why even the most expensive big brake kits utilize similar covers.
Of course, the actual benefits don't stop there, either. Caliper covers are great for shielding brake dust and keeping that annoying stuff off of my alloy wheels. That helps to keep the wheels looking great-- a plus considering that caliper covers highlight the wheels even further.
Of course, some people go for the same look by painting their calipers. This is definitely an option, but, one that will cost an equivalent amount to caliper covers, and be less removable if you wanted to return the brakes to stock down the road. Also, painted calipers wont offer the same brake heat dispersion or dust blocking benefits of covers. I used to paint the calipers on my older vehicles, but, with these aluminum covers now being available, I can't ever see myself going that direction again.
Ultimately, these are affordable, effective, and great looking modification pieces. I was really happy to get them and, even though the install took a little longer than advertised, was happy to install them. Coupling them with my DBA rotors, and Hawk HPP+ pads, I'm pretty certain my brakes are performing at a level comparable to a $6000 big brake kit for just a fraction of the price.
Camaro Two-Push Trunk Release Relay
It's a stupid mistake, but an annoying one, and one that I make all the time. When locking/unlocking my Camaro with my key fob, I tend to press the trunk release button. A lot. The placement of the trunk release button on the fob is front and center and, as such, way too easy to hit by mistake. I get tired of getting in to my Camaro, turning it on, and see my "Trunk Open" light on; thus, I was really happy to see this little unit.
Simple, cheap, and effective: this trunk release relay is perfect for people with fat-fingers like myself. A simple fuse relay piece, this release relay ultimately makes it so that to release the trunk you'll have to press the button twice. That's it. It's simple, and, it's handy. I ordered one (for under $40) and installed it in, maybe, 15 minutes time, and have been very happy with it since the install.
I get that this isn't a problem for everybody, and I know that some people will laugh at me for searching out a solution other than "don't press the button", but I'm obviously not the only person who has had this issue if a manufacturer makes and sells a solution. I like it for its simplicity and ease of installation/use, and for the fact that, simply, it keeps clumsy me from having to get back out of the car half of the time I get in to close my trunk. A handy, cheap, simple product that works exactly as advertised: cool!
A week of ZL1 Firsts – First ZL1 sells for $250K and Chevy releases First ZL1 Commercials
So, the release of the Camaro ZL1 to the public is nearing, and, excitement is really starting to build. To couple with this timing, Chevrolet made a few well-calculated moves this past week. The first of them was the auctioning off of the very first ZL1 to be sold. The second bit of news pertains to the release of the first set of commercials highlighting the power and potential of the ZL1 from Chevrolet. Both are exciting and fun.
First 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 goes for $250,000 at auction
The September 24th Barrett-Jackson Automotive Auction in Las Vegas, Nevada, saw the inclusion of one very special vehicle from Chevrolet. On that September Saturday the very first Camaro ZL1 of the new generation was sold, and it commanded a very serious quarter-of-a-million dollar price tag.
Purchased by renowned Chevrolet enthusiast, and owner of Hendrick Motorsports, Rick Hendrick the proceeds from the first ZL1 auction went directly to benefiting the Southern Nevada YMCA. This Camaro ZL1, in addition to being a ZL1 and the first sold, is a very special vehicle. This iteration of the 580HP GM Monster will be the only one produced in the 2012 model year in the gorgeous GM Carbon Flash Metallic paint finish. In addition to this beautiful and unique paint tone--just one other thing to set the ZL1 apart from all other vehicles on the road--this ZL1 will also bear the honor of being the official Camaro ZL1 number 69.
Possibly the only VIN Number more coveted than number 1 for this vehicle, the number 69 is meant to pay homage to the original 1969 Camaro. That vehicle, when first produced, made waves across the globe for its incredible all-aluminum reworking of the Corvette Big Block, and was produced in a very limited run of just 69 vehicles. In this way, this new ZL1 will not only replace the original '69 as the fastest production Camaro ever, but it will also honor the ZL1 that came before in both year and production numbers. In this instance, Rick Hendrick is actually purchasing a more viable collector's vehicle than even the coveted badge number 1. So, congratulations to Mr. Hendrick on his newest purchase, and thanks to Chevrolet for seeing that the sale of its very first Camaro went to benefiting a good cause.
Chevrolet Releases First Camaro ZL1 Commercials
Amazingly enough, one press attaining action wasn't enough for the men and women at Chevrolet this week. In addition to the ZL1 at Barrett-Jackson, Chevrolet also used this week as the ideal time to release their first official ZL1 commercials. These two 30-second spots are both well-made, and constructed to highlight the capabilities of the ZL1 in two very different applications.
The first ZL1 commercial focuses on the drag-racing power and potential of the ZL1, even as it's taken right off of the lot. The piece focuses on the Drag-Mode suspension option and shows a few clips of a test ZL1 burning some rubber on a drag racing track. The car, even in its camo-wrapped form, is still a beautiful and inspiring piece of American machinery certain to strike fear in the hearts of all other pony cars that try to go up against it.
Of course, in this world of YouTube videos and social media, Chevrolet also realizes that the drag race isn't the king of all American motorsport events anymore. Certainly focusing on the increased love of track and road race numbers and footage, Chevrolet's second commercial focuses on the suspension of the ZL1. This entirely unique ZL1 suspension package, highlighted by Chevrolet's Magnetic Ride Control suspension, is the focus of their second commercial and is certainly aimed at hinting towards the potential of the ZL1 around break-neck turns. Of course, with the Eaton Supercharged 580HP LSA engine, drag racing was never a question with the Camaro, and that's why I think this marketing angle is infinitely more important for the continued success of the Camaro brand.
The commercial is a short one, but a good one, and it really gets me drooling in anticipation over the first few waves of Camaro ZL1 race videos that will certainly start hitting the internet following the vehicle's release next year. I love the video's primary tagline of "It's all very technical until you bury your right foot", as that is exactly what I want out of a true sports car.
So, in short, this was an exciting news week for Camaro fans. What do you think? Is the 69th Camaro ZL1 worth the exorbitant price tag? Which Camaro commercial do you most prefer? How excited are you to really see one of these bad boys in action?
Would you like that in Manual or Automatic? The death of the six-speed car.
In 1964 Bob Dylan famously sang, "The times, they are a changin". Now, I don't think he was talking about cars at that point in time, but, the song seems terribly applicable when looking at the transmission shift being seen in the American vehicle market today, a shift that was made all the more apparent by the admission of Chevrolet executives that they expect more than half of the new 2012 Camaro ZL1s they sell to be purchased in the two-pedal, automatic, form. What?!
That's right: Chevrolet is producing a 580 HP, MRC Suspension, monster of a Pony Car, and they expect more people to want to buy it in Automatic than Manual. To me, this is insanity. I come from the generation of drivers who worship the clutch pedal for all of its power and potential, and who can't imagine driving a sport vehicle without one, but it seems that my generation of driver is becoming an anomaly. The current most-powerful Camaro, Chevrolet's Camaro SS of over 400HP, sells over 70% of its vehicles in Automatic, and there's reason for this.
Can you imagine driving this 580HP beast with only two pedals? Is the move from Manual to Automatic, even in the performance vehicle market of today, ultimately a good one?
Once upon a time, the only reason to go to Automatic was for the ease of it. A talented drive could shift with much less delay than automatic transmission had, and had control over their RPMs when shifting. Beyond those numbers, larger numbers of gears and more race-friendly gear ratios meant that manual vehicles were built, quiet simply, to outperform their two-pedal counterparts. Today though, advancements in technology have made the Automatic transmissions in most cars just as performance viable as manuals (and, in the case of some Ferrari/Lambo level vehicles, more efficient and race friendly than a human being can even manage). The up-tick in Automatic sales over the last many decades, based primarily on their ease of use, has also lead to an interesting phenomenon: fewer and fewer and fewer people are able to drive a stick shift, and this is a self-perpetuating trend, also, because as fewer people who can drive stick-shift exist there are fewer people with that knowledge available to teach the newer generations of automobile drivers how to handle the three-pedaled transmission. Ultimately, the Automatic transmission has killed the Manual slowly over time, and in the modern-day (where ZL1's sell more than half their vehicles in Automatic, and the base Corvette sells Automatics at a 65% tick) we live in, it looks as though we're seeing the final swan song of the stick-shift car.
Of course, and this is the hardest part of all of this for me to swallow, this isn't a bad thing. The demise of the manual means that, eventually, automobile companies wont even need to bother with the manufacturing and production of two different transmission types, and the cost of the transmission--as a component of the vehicle--will go down. Also, with the incredible advancements in technology I've seen in my lifetime, and the advent of Automatic assisted Manual transmission options--like the world-famous, Porsche derived Tiptronic and its counterparts--Automatic or Automatic Assisted Manuals (Manumatics) can actually lead to increased performance numbers. In fact, most of the world's most high-end performance cars, like the aforementioned Porsche line, utilize some form of Manumatic transmission.
Am I happy about this? No, I'm not, but I'm also a cranky old man with an extreme nostamania. Do I understand this? Absolutely.
So, what do you think? Is this shift in transmission a good thing or a bad thing? Should I, as a car enthusiast and automotive nut, lament the death of the manual transmission? Will the experience of driving, even without the involvement of the left-foot and the feel of the clutch engaging and disengaging, remain the same? What do you think? Me, I think something is lost in an Automatic, but this thinking probably has me lost in the past in the modern Automotive market.