New 2013 Corvette Sneak Preview Shock: Design Disaster

ATTENTION: Since this article was written, I had a quickie in person Q &amp; A about the next Corvette with GM design chief Ed Welburn - read his provocative comments here. Chevrolet produced two Corvette pace cars. One was a custom Z06 that ran on E85 ethanol/gas mixture. The other was a 30th Anniversary commemorative edition Z51 coupe and convertible, similar to the black/silver Corvette was the pace car in 1978. Five hundred were built. It may most likely include a smaller, but still very efficient engine and because of its lighter body it ought to preserve the essential power-to-weight relation called for from long-established Corvette owners. Day after day, they work diligently on their part of the 2013 Corvette, entrenched deep within the Assembly plant which is one million square feet or the size of 22 football fields. They expected to produce a quality car and they do. And they do it with an audience. Over 50,000 Corvette enthusiasts visit every year on the 1 mile walking public tour of the plant. Can you imagine being on display while you do your job? I'd think that would be nerve wracking, but Corvette Assembly Plant workers seem to embrace it. When you walk by you get a wave of the hand, or a tip of their hat, and a smile. If they are close enough to you they may even chime in to add something that your tour guide is telling you. The new LS7 7.0-liter OHV (overhead valve) V-8 engine for the 2006 ZO6 Corvette will not only achieve 500 horsepower, it will be capable of running up to 7100 rpm. The previous limit was 6600 rpm in the 6.0-liter LS2. With this new engine, GM is showing multi-valve overhead cam performance is achievable with a two-valve cam-in-block engine. For the new ZO6, higher rpm allows the driver to remain in first gear to just over 60 mph, contributes to higher top speed and improves overall vehicle performance. The LS7 is one of the first automotive OHV production engines in the industry capable of more than 7000 rpm. Being more than two inches wider than the 2010 Malibu, the new model has 113 litres more cabin space. Premium materials have given the cabin a classier feel and Chevy have included some very clever new storage, including a six inch deep storage space beneath the touch screen, perfect for storing mobiles. The new Chevrolet Malibu also comes with Chevy's MyLink in-car infotainment package, which links users smartphone to the system allowing them to control music, navigation and even make calls or text using voice recognition technology or via the 7-inch colour touch screen display. The system is the first real competitor for Ford's successful Sync system which uses the same principles of smartphone integration. The roof, fenders, rocker moldings and the hood are made with the Carbon fiber and the fenders and hood are painted. The vehicle is provided with the Carbon ceramic brakes. The name came from stimulating the mythological creature of Indigenous & native people of North America.. so I guess they put a lot of thought into it because they wanted to make the car & Factory Ford Thunderbird Wheels "classic" - mission accomplished. The Thunderbird & OE Ford Thunderbird Wheels had first entered production for the 1955 model year as a sporty two-seat convertible.