Chevrolet to offer limited number of 2010 Camaro Indy 500 Pace Car replicas to public

DETROIT (GM) -- For the first time since 1993, Chevrolet will build and sell a replica of a Camaro Indianapolis 500 Pace Car.

“We set out to build a collectible vehicle that will appeal to the die-hard Camaro and Indianapolis 500 fan,” said Jim Campbell, U.S. Vice President, Chevrolet Marketing. “We believe we’ve done just that with the 2010 Chevy Camaro Indianapolis 500 Pace Car Limited Edition.”

This limited edition replica includes all the features found on a top-of-the-line regular production Camaro SS, but adds some additional features unique to the actual pace car to be driven by Robin Roberts, anchor of “Good Morning America,” during the this year’s Indianapolis 500.

Test Drive: 2010 Volkswagen GTI

This week's Test Drive takes place in the 2010 Volkswagen GTI.  Small. Sporty. Stimulating.

My first impressions are very good. I'm finding this car to be quite comfortable. The leather bucket seats are great, though I don't understand why driver's seat has a power recline feature, but adjusts forward and backward manually.

I really dig the race car inspired steering wheel.

This GTI test model is fairly well equipped.  Features include DVD navigation, Sirius satellite radio and a premium sound system which includes an iPod connection.  Bluetooth connectivity is also included for both cell phones and audio devices.  There is no automatic lights feature.

Test Drive: 2010 Ram 1500 Laramie Edition

Pickup trucks are not just for hauling construction supplies and towing horse trailers anymore.  While sales were down in 2009 for every major manufacturer, U.S. consumers still purchased more than 1.4 million pickup trucks.

Trucks remain popular and therefore, automakers continue to give consumers options ranging from small to large and basic utility to sheer luxury.  The 2010 Ram 1500 Laramie Edition is clearly in the big and luxury columns.

As a former HUMMER H2 owner, I like big vehicles.  There is something about their practical utility and bodacious image that make you feel invincible.  When I stepped into the 2010 1500 Laramie that Ram sent for review, I felt like I was back in my old H2 but with upgrades.

The leather seats are comfortably wide and—like the H2—they can warm your body when it’s cold.  However—unlike the H2—the Laramie seats can also cool your body when it’s hot because, in addition to being heated, they also are ventilated.

Another advantage the 1500 Laramie has over my former HUMMER is very good rear access.  This crew cab has large rear doors making it easy for passengers to enter and exit.  Rear leg room and shoulder room are quite ample allowing three-- maybe four, depending on size-- guests to ride in comfort almost matching the driver and front passenger.

Of course, the true mettle of a pickup truck is its utility.  In the case of the Ram 1500 Laramie edition, the crew cab configuration allows for the shortest payload length in the 1500 lineup; just 67.4 inches.  However, my test model was equipped with an extender allowing you to open the tailgate to accommodate and secure longer items.

This truck also provides several storage options including two glove compartments; a deep, split-level center console; and map pockets on the inside.  Outside, the 1500 Laramie has fairly deep, lockable side storage boxes on both sides of the payload area providing good space to securely keep tools or other items.

Under the hood, the Ram 1500 Laramie has the venerable 5.7-Liter HEMI V-8 engine which produces 390 horsepower and 407 lb-ft of torque.  Acceleration is brisk; cruising is smooth.  And, if you have something to tow, the muscular powertrain allows you to pull up to 9,900 pounds and carry a maximum payload of 1,430 pounds.

Features

Standard features on the Ram 1500 Laramie Edition include remote keyless entry, security alarm, tire pressure monitor, SIRIUS satellite radio, heated and leather wrapped steering wheel, 20-inche chrome wheels, and more.

Optional features on the test model included leather-trimmed bucket seats, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, rear park assist system, RamBox cargo management system, and more.

Summary

The Ram 1500 Laramie Edition is a good combination of size, strength and suppleness.  It provides the comfort you expect from a luxury SUV and the utility you expect from the average pickup truck.  If you are in the market for a truck, do not write this one off before you give it a serious look.

Editor’s Note:  While the Ram series is America’s #3 selling full-size pickup behind the Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado, MotorWeek—television’s original automotive newsmagazine—has named the Ram series its 2010 Drivers’ Choice Award winner for the second consecutive year.

Cadillac to Unveil 2011 CTS-V Coupe at NAIAS

DETROIT (GM) – Cadillac today announced the 2011 CTS-V Coupe, which debuts at the 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. It combines the new CTS Coupe’s dramatic design with the 556-horsepower (415-kW) supercharged V-8 engine from the CTS-V sedan. The result is a luxury sports coupe aimed at driving enthusiasts.

“The CTS-V Coupe marries our most potent and sophisticated technology with our most dramatic production design,” said Bryan Nesbitt, Cadillac general manager. “This combination of visual and technical attributes is designed to create a very compelling choice for luxury sports car consumers.”

The CTS-V Coupe begins production this summer. Its suite of technical and performance elements includes Magnetic Ride Control, racing-bred Brembo brakes and an available automatic transmission with paddle-shift control.

The V-Series Coupe includes a unique grille that doubles the car’s air intake volume, an important enabler for its high-performance capabilities. It is also visually identified by a raised center section of the hood that provides clearance for the supercharger, as well as specific front and rear fascias. Like the CTS Coupe, its exhaust is centered inside the rear fascia, but with unique twin outlets. The car rolls on 19-inch cast aluminum wheels, available in either painted or polished finishes, and Michelin Pilot Sport 2 performance tires.

The CTS-V Coupe’s rear track is nearly an inch wider than the CTS-V Sport Sedan, adding to the car’s aggressive stance and enabling an extra measure of handling capability. The current CTS-VSport Sedan has quickly established itself among the world’s highest performing luxury sedans, becoming the first production four-door on street tires to break the legendary 8-minute barrier at Germany’s famed Nürburgring. The new V-Series Coupe’s sleeker shape and slightly lower mass ensure a similarly high level of performance.

Inside, the 2+2 cabin combines performance and luxury. A new Saffron interior trim color is offered, with contrasting microfiber seat inserts and stitching on the upper trim areas.

Form follows function

The CTS-V Coupe’s design is a clear visual statement of the technical precision and performance intent of the car.

The Coupe has the same wheelbase as the CTS-V Sport Sedan, but its overall height is about two inches (51 mm) lower and its overall length is two inches (51 mm) shorter. The two models share only the instrument panel, console, headlamps, front fenders and grille.

Key design features include:

• Classic hardtop styling, with no conventional B-pillar
• Touch-pad operation for the doors removes the need for conventional door handles
• Faster windshield angle (62.3 degrees) and a nearly horizontal backglass enable an aerodynamic profile
• Signature vertical lighting, highlighted with LED light pipes
• Signature center high-mounted stop lamp functions as a rear spoiler
• Aerodynamic roof-mounted antenna for OnStar and XM Satellite Radio

Supercharged powertrain

The CTS-V Coupe employs the LSA 6.2L supercharged V-8 engine also found on the CTS-VSport Sedan. Rated at 556 horsepower (415 kW) and 551 lb.-ft. of torque (747 Nm), it is the most powerful engine offered in Cadillac’s history and propels the CTS-V Coupe from 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds.

The LSA engine features an intercooled Eaton supercharger system, premium aluminum-alloy cylinder heads and numerous details designed to ensure it makes its power as quietly and smoothly as possible. The supercharger, for example, has a unique, four-lobe rotor design that enhances quietness while also optimizing the performance parameters of the engine.

A pair of six-speed transmissions is offered in the CTS-V Coupe: a Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual with a dual-disc clutch and a Hydra-Matic 6L90 six-speed automatic with paddle-shift control. Performance Algorithm Shifting is part of the 6L90’s programming and provides a performance-oriented shift pattern during sustained high-performance driving. As with many Cadillac models, the driver needs only to slide the shifter into the manual “gate” to put the transmission into that more aggressive mode.

The paddle shift control requires no shift lever movement. Steering wheel thumb controls allow immediate and quick tap up/tap down gear selection.

Magnetic Ride Control

The V-Series reaches elite levels of road-holding performance, but also maintains the poise of a luxury car in “regular” driving conditions. The technical enabler of that dual-mode driving character is Cadillac’s landmark Magnetic Ride Control. It is standard on the CTS-V Coupe and is the world’s fastest-reacting suspension technology. It uses shocks controlled by advanced magneto-rheological technology, rather than mechanical valves, to greatly accelerate response time and precision.

Electronic sensors at all four wheels literally “read the road” every millisecond, making constant adjustments to damping to create virtually instantaneous and extremely precise control of body motions. This is of particular benefit for a high-performance car because it helps keep the car very composed during hard cornering, acceleration, braking and other dynamic maneuvers.

The Magnetic Ride shocks also enable a broader range of damping control to optimize the ride and handling for all driving conditions. In the CTS-V Coupe, an extra measure of control is offered, with two selectable modes (Tour and Sport), enabling the driver to tailor the suspension for grand touring or more spirited performance driving.

Braking and tire systems

CTS-V includes sophisticated braking and tire systems, in partnership with two companies renowned for high-performance technology: Brembo and Michelin. Brembo brakes are at all four corners and include powerful, six-piston calipers in the front and four-piston calipers in the rear.

Slotted and vented rotors enable strong initial braking force while optimizing heat resistance and eliminating fade. The brake rotors from Brembo employ a “dual-cast” technology that combines cast iron and aluminum, resulting in excellent performance and weight reduction. CTS-V also includes an electric parking brake, enabling more legroom for the driver, key for high-performance driving.

Michelin partnered with Cadillac engineers to develop its acclaimed Pilot Sport PS2 summer tire for CTS-V and its exclusive 19-inch alloy wheels. The tires support high levels of grip in track conditions, while also affording good performance on the road.

Interior amenities

Recaro performance driving seats are optional in the CTS-V Coupe and provide excellent support for spirited driving. These 14-way adjustable performance seats include pneumatic bolster controls in the seat cushions and backrests.

The CTS-V Coupe also includes an exclusive new Saffron color option for the interior, providing a contrasting color accent carried on the seat inserts, as well as the stitching, which highlights the craftsmanship of the instrument panel, center console, door trim and seats.

The steering wheel, seat inserts and shifter are covered in microfiber, providing the luxurious character of suede without suede’s inherent drawbacks of difficult care and moisture sensitivity. These accents are standard, elegant to the touch and help support high-performance driving.

The car’s integrated center stack is trimmed in Obsidian black material that is also applied to the center console and door trim. Just like every CTS, the V-Series includes a hand-stitched instrument panel, door trim and center console. Leading-edge infotainment features extend to theV-Series. They include a 40-gigabyte hard drive, advanced navigation system with a deployable screen and Bose digital surround audio, as well as factory-installed Bluetooth phone integration, all standard features on the V-Series.

About Cadillac

Cadillac has been a leading luxury auto brand since 1902. In recent years, Cadillac has engineered a historic renaissance led by artful engineering and global expansion.