When it goes on sale in Australia in the second quarter of 2009, the right-hand drive Cruze will be offered with a 1.8-litre 4-cylinder ECOTEC petrol engine and a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged common rail diesel engine. Power will be transferred to the front-wheels through a five speed manual transmission or optionally, a six speed automatic transmission with Active Select.
"We think Volt has the potential to change the game in Australian motoring," said GM Holden Chairman and Managing Director Mark Reuss. "Since we announced our plans to introduce Volt to Australia, we have been overwhelmed by public interest in the car and the technology that makes it work. At Holden, we believe Volt will play an incredibly important role in our efforts to make motoring better for the environment," he said.
According to GM's estimates, when compared to similar sized petrol-powered vehicles, the Volt will save motorists up to 1892 litres of fuel a year. This calculation is based on US research that identifies 75 percent of commuters travel an average daily distance of less than 40 miles or 64 kilometres.
After all the rumors and more leaks than a New Orleans levy, the wait is over for General Motors' latest Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Concept that will play the role of 'Sideswipe' in the next Transformers movie dubbed "Revenge of the Fallen" due for release on June 26, 2009. Stylistically inspired by the original Corvette Stingray race car, introduced in 1959, the Autobot concept also draws on Corvette heritage cues from other generation models to create a shape that we wouldn't mind seeing influencing the next Vette.
"SIDESWIPE represents an exercise in exploration for the Corvette," said Ed Welburn, vice president of GM Global Design. "By giving my creative team the freedom to design no-holds-barred vision concepts, it helps them push boundaries and look at projects from different perspectives."
Stay tuned on Carscoop as we'll be bringing you more news from GM's Transformer stand at the Chicago Auto Show, including the first official photos of the Autobot-ized Chevy Volt.
GM claims that under certain listening and driving conditions, the energy savings result in increased all-electric drive capability equivalent to removing up to 50 pounds of mass from the Volt.
As for those wondering what kind of savings are achieved with the specific tires, GM said that internal tests showed that these tires will allow for approximately one mile more of electric-only range under certain driving conditions on a fully charged battery when compared to other tires of a similar performance level. We remind you that the Volt is said to achieve up to 40 miles of electric-only range.
"Everything we do with the Volt is about maximizing its mechanical, electrical and thermal efficiency. From the Voltec propulsion system down to individual components such as tires or sound systems, we have been analyzing every part of the Volt so that we can offer a vehicle that is as efficient as possible to maximize the electric range. I think we have achieved this with Bose and Goodyear," said Frank Weber, vehicle line executive, Voltec propulsion system and Chevrolet Volt.
Specialty car builder n2a Motors has released details about their new Anteros coupe and roadster models which are based on the 2009 Corvette. Originally shown at the 2008 Los Angeles International Auto Show, the new models feature Italian inspired bodywork made from lightweight carbon fiber.
The black Anteros roadster is based on the standard Corvette and features the donor car's original LS3 V8 engine that cranks out 430 hp and 424 lb.-ft. of torque. On the other hand the pictured Anteros coupe is built around the Corvette Z06. Under the hood is GM's LS7 7.0-liter V8 engine which has been outfitted with a Lingenfelter performance package that boosts the engine's output from 505 horsepower to 630 hp.
All models come equipped with a carbon composite body, three-piece aluminum wheels, a custom cat back exhaust system, and a high quality interior that features hand-stitched leather. Perhaps the greatest benefit is that the customization doesn't void Chevy's 100,000 mile powertrain warranty and the cars can be serviced at any Chevrolet dealer.
Pricing for the standard coupe starts at $149,500 and convertible goes for $154,500, at the top of the range is the Z06 based Anteros coupe which costs a hefty $176,500. A variety of performance packages are available and they will allow the engine to produce anywhere from 525 to 1000+ horsepower.
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