2019 Chevrolet Blazer RS AWDJil McIntosh OVERVIEW The Blazer returns as a whole different animal PROSDecent driver, comfortable interior CONSThirstier than the competition, a couple of cheap bits VALUE FOR MONEYIt’s impressive, but it gets pricey WHAT TO CHANGE?Let me turn off the idle-stop HOW TO SPEC IT?Id get the $43,300 True North Thanks to the overwhelming popularity that crossovers and sport-utes enjoy these days, automakers are busy filling every size gap in their liftgate lineups. Thats the case at Chevrolet, where the new-for-2019 Blazer slides into a very thin slot between the slightly-smaller Equinox and somewhat-larger Traverse.A Blazer for the timesIts not rough-n-tough and truck-based as the original Blazer was. Instead, the company opted for unibody construction and an all-wheel-drive system that predominantly drives the front tires. That marketing move initially surprised me, because I thought the name might be reserved for a smaller off-roader especially since Ford is bringing back its rival Bronco name on a truck base. Instead, while the new Blazer might not be what I expected, its very impressive and a well-rounded performer.The entry model carries a 2.5-litre, 193-horsepower four-cylinder engine, and its strictly front-wheel drive. The four other trim levels all use a 3.6-litre V6 that makes 305 horsepower and 269 lb.-ft. of torque. Both engines use a nine-speed automatic transmission. The base V6 model comes in front-wheel drive but can be optioned to all-wheel. The True North, RS, and the top-level Premier use a more sophisticated AWD system that sends torque to the rear and then splits it between the wheels as needed for better traction and handling. Whats likely to be the biggest hurdle for buyers is that impressive doesnt come cheap. The lineup starts at $35,100 and finishes at $48,700, and thats before any options. My $46,300 RS was beefed up with a panoramic sunroof, 21-inch wheels, a block heater and wheel locks that took it to a hefty $49,320 before freight and taxes.In addition to its gloss-black exterior styling cues, the RS also gets a specially tuned suspension and quicker steering ratio family haulers can be sporty too, it seems.Im not entirely sold on the big-grille nose, apparently designed to draw comparisons to the Camaros front end, but the rest of the Blazer is handsomely styled, especially with its floating rear roofline and chiselled butt. The liftgate is hands-free on the RS, obediently opening when you kick your foot under it; to guide you, a light projects a Chevy bowtie on the ground at the right spot how cool is that? Interior quality and practicality almost live up to the price tagIn keeping with that Camaro theme, the interior is similarly styled to that sports car. That means the handsome dash has a minimum of clutter, but while its climate system is operated by simple buttons, theyre too small and tucked away. However, I give top marks to the Camaro-style twin-turbine vents in the centre stack: you aim them by moving the centre button, open or close them by twisting it, and then you spin their big outer dials to change the temperature. Even so, there were a couple of spots where my tester seemed a little lacking in the face of its heftier price tag: the shifter and turn signal switch felt cheap and clunky.Both the front and rear seats are roomy, and Chevy wisely resisted the urge to stuff in a third row. I took the Blazer on a three-hour drive, and the seats stayed comfy and supportive the whole way. At the rear, the RS includes a wonderfully useful cargo fence that slides back and forth to corral ones luggage or groceries, and which can be removed if the whole space is needed. Power and poise to spare, but far from perfect in refinementThe V6 is just right for the job, with smooth acceleration and more than enough power for highway passing. The nine-speed automatic is also a very slick unit, and while some of these lots-of-gears transmissions can be a little overeager, hunting for gears or staying in the highest ones too long when you want a downshift, that never happened with the Blazer; engine and gearbox were always perfectly-matched.It also handles remarkably well for a sport-ute: the steering is well-weighted, and it takes corners with sharp precision and very little body roll. The ride is smooth and well-controlled, and it proved to be a great choice as a comfy highway cruiser.What I don’t like is that the Blazer is equipped with a fuel-saving idle-stop feature that shuts it off when you come to a stop, and while most automakers give you the option of temporarily disabling the system, the Blazer has no such switch. Yes, its for fuel economy, but I should be able to make the choice. And even with the unalterable idle-stop, the Blazers fuel figures put it a bit thirstier than most of its competitors.The all-wheel-drive system increases the handling prowess as well as the traction,
Origin: SUV Review: 2019 Chevrolet Blazer RS
Chevrolet
First Look: 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible
The launch of the 2020 C8 Chevrolet Corvette held, we have to admit, plenty of surprises for us. It started around $70,000 in Canada and promised a zero-to-96 km/h time of under 3.0 seconds.We expected the C8 to be competitive, but I dont think many were expecting that.But the reveal of the C8 convertible? Not so surprising. Chevy chose to reveal the C8 drop-top in the Kennedy Space Centers Rocket Garden in Orlando, Florida.Thats partly because rockets are just plain cool, but moreso because astronauts have been driving Corvettes for almost as long as there have been astronauts. Alan Shepard, Alan Bean, Neil Armstrong and many others famously owned examples of the classic plastic sports car.But lets talk about the car itself. For starters, it gets the same 6.2-litre 490-hp V8 as the coupe, which makes it the most powerful Corvette base model ever. The top is a folding hardtop arrangement, and no soft-top will be available. According to engineers, the tops six motors, linkages and hinges add a reasonable 35 kg to the total weight of the C8.Like most modern convertibles (and especially mid-engined ones) there are twin nacelles behind the driver headrests. Chevy says they hearken back to the faired-in headrests of 1950s prototypes and visually connect the top of the windshield to the rear of the car, but we think the less-sexy reason for them is simply to provide more rollover protection. Nonetheless, they are well-executed and not an eyesore. And while the C8 coupe shows off its engine under glass, the vert obscures it, since the roof is stored on top of the engine compartment when folded down. To accommodate the thermal demands this covering-up adds, some rather stylish vents have been sliced into the top of the rear deck for engine cooling. And, yes, even with the top stored, you can fit two sets of golf clubs in the C8. Sigh.Impressive numbers? Well, the C8 vert has plenty. The coupe starts at about $70,000 in Canada, and the new convertible will begin at $78,998 when it arrives here. Production of the C8 will start in January, and deliveries will happen two months after that.But that wasnt all Chevy revealed among the rockets; it also pulled out a very fierce-looking C8.R race car. Flared and spoilered, wearing massive slicks and roll cage, the C8.R is very much the real deal. Chevy was reticent to divulge technical details about the C8.R, but said it would compete at Petite Le Mans soon.One thing to note about it: It sounded for all the world like a flat-plane-crank engine. We dont know whats under the hood, but it does not sound like a typical cross-plane
Origin: First Look: 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible
SUV Comparison: 2019 Chevrolet Blazer vs. 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe
Welcome to Dude Said, Punk Said — a special series devoted to skewering the automotive ramblings of young punk Nick Tragianis with the infinite wisdom of old dude Brian Harper. This week, the duo see if Hyundai’s all-new Santa Fe can defend its title as the superior two-row family SUV against the reborn Chevrolet Blazer.Brian Harper: Ive said it before and Ill say it again: mid-sized sport-utes are the workhorses of the entire SUV market the high riding, trailer towing, wagon-shaped family haulers. They usually arent sexy; theyre not (with some exceptions) overpowered or overpriced. They just quietly go about their business.And it is one crowded segment, with about 20 nameplates Ford Edge, Hyundai Santa Fe, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Kia Sorento currently the most popular all fighting for market share. This field has been substantially increased in the past year or so with additions such as the Volkswagen Atlas, Honda Passport and Subaru Ascent, plus the Chevrolet Blazer, which we going to put up against one of the established players, the aforementioned Santa Fe. Initial thoughts, kid? Nick Tragianis: Its a crowded segment for sure, but while three-row family haulers are a dime a dozen, lets focus on a pair of two-row trucksters, specifically the Santa Fe and Blazer. Both are all-new for 2019 and both have the same mission statement to haul your family in relative ease and comfort but they go about doing so in very different ways. Were no strangers to the Hyundai; we recently pitched it against the Honda Passport and the Santa Fe came out on top, because its just a no-frills sport-ute that does what its supposed to very well, even if its a little uninspiring in the powertrain department.Depending on the trim, the Santa Fe comes with either a normally aspirated 2.4-litre four-cylinder with 185 horsepower, or a 2.0L turbo-four pumping out 235 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque. Our fully loaded Ultimate tester was equipped with the latter; its smooth and easy to live with on city streets, but when you need a burst of power to merge onto or pass someone on the highway, throttle response is dull. Switching the Santa Fes drive mode into Sport sharpens it a touch, but otherwise it feels a bit lackluster on the highway and thats too bad, because the Santa Fe is otherwise a fantastic cruiser. The eight-speed automatic operates smoothly and invisibly, the soft suspension soaks up bumps and rough pavement well, and wind noise barely filters into the cabin. As a family road-tripper, the Hyundai excels. Pun intended. So, whats so special about the Blazer, old dude?BH: Its not as though Chevrolet is lacking in SUVs and crossovers. God knows every niche of the entire segment has been filled, from the diminutive Trax to the large-and-in-charge Suburban. And if it doesnt wear a Chevy badge, one of GMs other divisions Buick, Cadillac, or GMC can pick up the slack. Yet, Chevrolet has seen fit to slot in a new, mid-sized sport-ute with an old name, splitting the difference in size between the Equinox and Traverse.This newest Blazer is nothing like the old Blazers neither the full-size K5 Blazer, based on the C/K pickup chassis and built from 1969 to 1999, nor the compact S-10 Blazer, based on the S-10 pickup and built from 1983 to 2005. No, this one is built on the same platform as the GMC Acadia and the Cadillac XT5. Power comes from either a 193-horsepower, 2.5-litre four-cylinder or an optional (and plenty punchy) 3.6L V6 with 308 horsepower, which was the engine we tested here. A nine-speed automatic transmission is standard; a twin-clutch AWD system is available. <img
Origin: SUV Comparison: 2019 Chevrolet Blazer vs. 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe
One-off Chevrolet eCOPO Camaro headed to auction block
Chevy shocked the aftermarket world when it zapped into SEMA last year with its eCOPO Camaro, a concept car that amped up drag racers across the nation so much it hertz.We all good on dad jokes, now? Cool.At the time, the eCOPO concept was based on the 2019 COPO (and not the hideous 2019 SS, thankfully) and driven by an electric motor providing the equivalent of more than 700 horsepower. With about 600 lb.-ft. of torque, Chevy estimated the thing could pull a quarter-mile in the nine-second range.Now, the works of it is being auctioned off by Russo and Steele as part of the action at Monterey Car Week. The thing is an electrical tour de force, as the electric motor is based on a pair of Borg-Warner HVH 250-150 motor assemblies.Each of them generate 300 lb.-ft. of torque and completely replaces the gas engine. It is connected to a conventional racing-prepared Turbo 400 automatic transmission that channels the motors torque to the same solid rear axle used in the production COPO Camaro race cars.When it was being developed, Chevrolet partnered with Hancock and Lane Racing partly because of the teams success in NHRA drag racing but also its involvement with Patrick McCue. You may recognize that name as a driving force behind the record-holding Shock and Awe electric drag racing car and his Seattle-area Bothell High School automotive technology program.(Its worth mentioning that, thanks to the latter, more than a dozen students participated in the development and assembly of the electrified drag car.)Its the Hancock and Lane connection that likely allows this eCOPO to appear on the auction block. The general understanding is that the racing company, not Chevy, actually owns the car, meaning it may not be GM whos offering it for sale. Russo and Steele plan to auction the eCOPO on Friday night around 8:45 pm, according to its website, and goes on to say the car has many unique parts other than its drivetrain, including a one-off hood and a copious number of special badges.And, yes, the eCOPO does have a real VIN. Just dont try to pull any funny stuff at the
Origin: One-off Chevrolet eCOPO Camaro headed to auction block
First Look: 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
LOS ANGELES, Calif. When did the good folks at General Motors become such wizards at PR?Ham-handed at times, and occasionally downright counterproductive they can be, but when it comes to the mid-engine Corvette, The General has been playing us you, the consumer, and we, the media like a Stradivarius.Dribbling out information like pronouncements from the mount, the unveiling of a Chevrolet-badged mid-engine supercar has turned July 18 into the automotive media event of the year.So, never mind that theyve been spooning out details like were toddlers in high chairs. Or that we all already knew, thanks to the most easily-accessed spy photos in the history of new automobiles, every angle of its silhouette. Ignore the fact that, even though Driving was given a super-secret, hush-hush advanced briefing by none other than Tadge Juechter, the C8s chief engineer, we still dont know all the performance metrics of this new Corvette.Yes, all that aside, heres what we know, what we think we know and even to paraphrase the immortal Donald Rumsfeld what we dont know we dont know about Chevys new C8 Corvette. They really were worried Corvette loyalists would hate the C8Rumours that GM execs were worried the Corvettes traditional audience old, male and shirtless, according to one brutally honest wag would hate the new mid-engined C8 were absolutely spot-on. Indeed, according to Juechter, rumours Chevy would produce the C8 and C7 simultaneously as a sop to all those hairy-chested geriatrics were at one point true, GM execs hedging their bets in a fine example of Detroit mawkish indecision.But, as Juechter tells it, as soon as they saw the first rendition of the new C8, all plans for a C7 continuation were dropped. According to Automobile magazines 2014 Man of the Year, thats because the new mid-engine Vette is stunningly gorgeous. But I also suspect a large measure of newfound confidence came from the fact that, from the front or rear dead-on, the C8 looks very much like a refreshed mildly refreshed C7. Oh, some angles and creases have changed, but from directly behind or ahead, theres no mistaking the C8 for anything other than an evolution of the Corvette.From the side, however, the C8 looks all genuine mid-engined supercar, and a truly gorgeous rendition at that. From almost every perspective, the new Vette looks purposeful in its aerodynamics, subtle in its proportions and positively dynamic in its stance.Oh, there will be critics. A few nay-sayers will compare it to a McLaren-cloned this or deride it as an NSX-derived that. Then there will be those who will call the styling too American-centric, as if that were insult.They would be dunderheads. The new C8 is, in a word, stunning.The (base) engine is another ode to Corvette’s pastThe only truly solid powerplant information we have is about the base 6.2-litre small-block V8. Juechter cites compact dimensions (important for space considerations in a mid-engined car), a low centre-of-gravity (c-of-g is allegedly right around the drivers inner hip to allow better steering feedback) and sufficiently attractive looks all those hide-bound loyalists will no doubt be thrilled by the large 3.2-mm-thick glass panel in the rear hatch shows off the LT2 as reasons to stick with the small-block.Its unlikely anyone will be disappointed with the performance. Thanks to a new intake system and a wild set of immaculately crafted individual equal-length up-and-over headers, the LT2 pumps out 495 horsepower (at 6,450 rpm) and 470 pound-feet of torque (at 5,150 rpm), the most horsepower and torque for any entry-level model in Corvette history. It will be mated to a new Tremec-sourced eight-speed dual-clutch transaxle. No, there will not be a manual offered, the new C8 yet another resounding admission the stick-shift transmission is all but dead.As with previous Corvette gearboxes, 7th and 8th gears are essentially overdrives, the LT2 loafing as low as 1,200 rpm on the highway. Second through 6th, meanwhile, are track-ready close-ratios, for minimal rpm drop between shifts. Most impressive, however, says Juechter, is how short first gear will be. You wont believe how hard this car launches, still talking about the base small-block.In fact, if Chevrolets testing is right, the new Corvette is going to be scary-fast. Officially, GM claims the new C8 will break the three-second barrier to 60 miles per hour (97 kilometres per hour). That would indicate even the slowest C8 will be a genuine three-second zero-to-100-km/h supercar. On the spec sheet at least, the base C8 would seem a real challenge to lesser McLarens and Lamborghinis.Were basically certain Chevy is sticking with the overhead-valve layout, at least in the base car, so loyalists will be comforted by the rhythmic clickety-clack of the pushrods know and love. As Juechter puts it, its a true big-bore Corvette sound. If you dont like the sound of the small-block, youre not going to like this one, because it sounds just
Origin: First Look: 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
Car Review: 2019 Chevrolet Camaro 2.0T 1LE
OVERVIEW Chevy imbues its four-cylinder Camaro with track-ready underpinnings PROSRazor-sharp handling, great six-speed manual, affordable, looks as badass as the V8 CONSOutward visibility, cheap interior, you still have to tell people you drive a four-cylinder Camaro VALUE FOR MONEYGood WHAT TO CHANGE?Bring some higher-quality materials into the cabin HOW TO SPEC IT?If you want the cheapest track-rat Camaro, this is it Youd be forgiven for thinking the four-cylinder version of a signature V8-powered pony car as just a throw away model here only for its fuel economy and low starting price.Yet when it comes to the Chevrolet Camaro, youd be wrong. GM is serious about giving its 2.0L turbo-four Camaro which starts at just under $30,000 for the base 1LT trim with a six speed manual some serious performance bona fides. For 2019, the $5,195 1LE Track Performance Package, previously offered only on the naturally-aspirated V6 and V8 models, is now available on the four-cylinder Camaro.Power from the turbo-four does not get a boost with this package, remaining at a healthy 275 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque. The 1LE package is all about handling, and its the hardware turn this Camaro into a track star upgraded performance suspension featuring larger-diameter front and rear stabilizer bars, uniquely tuned dampers, stiffer rear cradle bushings, and upgraded rear toe links designed to improve lateral stiffness. You also get a limited-slip differential, 20-inch forged alloy wheels finished in black and wrapped in Goodyear Eagle F1 performance rubber, Brembo brakes, heavy-duty cooling and an an engine oil cooler. Rounding out the package are LED headlamps, and a black hood and rear spoiler, plus a flat-bottom steering wheel and shift knob wrapped in suede. The Camaro starts with the stellar Alpha platform that first broke cover under the Cadillac ATS seven years ago, and continues to win over enthusiasts. So, what can make this rear-wheel-drive chassis better? Less weight in the front end, thats what. Some cars tell you theyre already well-sorted right from the get-go, and the Camaro is one of them. The structure feels rock solid, the steering is sharp and direct, and the car itself is planted, poised, and hungry for corners. You probably wont find the Camaros handling limits on the road, but youll have fun trying. Adding to the notion that engineers had their priorities straight are the Camaros positive short-throw shifter, excellent brake feel, and pedal placement suitable for heel-toe shifting action.About the only mechanical part not really inspired here is the engine. Chevy has given this turbo-four some extra snarl, but it still sounds a bit flat and theres no joy to be found in the in the upper rev range this engine does its best work between 2,000 and 5,000 rpm. Theres a bit of turbo lag too, but the Camaro is hardly a slug; Chevy boasts a zero-to-100 km/h time of 5.4 seconds. That, by the way, matches the 1970 Chevelle SS 454 with 390 fume-spewing, bias-ply tire-melting horses.At least Al Oppenheiser, the Camaros chief engineer, points to a faction of enthusiasts who want this small turbocharged engine for its high degree of tune-ability. You can get crazy horsepower out of these, given that Oppenehiser says these guys want to be able to out-drag the 6.2L V8 car. Safe to assume, in this case, their warranty goes up in smoke as fast as their rear tires. The Camaros outward visibility is pretty abysmal its the price you pay for that chopped roof look and gun-slit windows. Its like sitting in a bathtub while wearing a very large sombrero. Add in thick A-pillars, and placing this car in a sharp corner can turn into a guessing game. Cabin quality is subpar, too, with lots of cheap plastics and big panel gaps. The seats arent heated and the infotainment systems graphics looks a generation behind.But GM got the parts that matter right the well-contoured sport buckets, plus the steering wheel and shifter. As with all GMs, theres generous standard connectivity, including 4G LTE wireless hotspot, OnStar, Apple Car Play and Android Auto, and more. Get past the visibility issues, and the Camaro 2.0T 1LE makes for a perfectly suitable daily driver. its fuel efficient, relaxed on the highway, and for such a track-focused car, the ride is surprisingly acceptable.So yes, this bargain performance Camaro is the real deal. Plus, theres no badging here to give away its four-cylinder status. Fitted with the 1LE package, it looks as nasty as any V6 or V8 Camaro and youll probably take them in the
Origin: Car Review: 2019 Chevrolet Camaro 2.0T 1LE
New Chevrolet Corvette could get hybrid or electric versions
The new mid-engined Chevrolet Corvette will feature electrified powertrains in the future – with a full electric version under consideration. The new C8 version of the two-seater was launched in Los Angeles, with the initial Corvette Stingray model featuring a 495bhp, 470lb ft 6.2-litre naturally aspirated V8 engine. Chevrolet sources have confirmed the powertrain has been designed to allow for electrification, with insiders suggesting mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid and, while less likely, full electric versions were being considered. Asked if an electrified Corvette might feature a mild hybrid battery-based starter motor, or use a small electric engine to provide four-wheel drive, one project member said: “You would not look stupid if you said that.” When asked by Autocar about future electrified variants of the Corvette, the president of Chevrolet parent company General Motors, Mark Reuss, said: “The company is committed to a strategy of 0-0-0: zero emissions, zero crashes and zero congestion. All of the technology rolling into this vehicle is meant to support that. This platform can carry a lot of different things into the future for General Motors.” Pressed on whether a fully electric Corvette was under consideration, Reuss said: “We’ll see. Stay tuned.” Reuss did confirm that the Corvette would be produced in right-hand drive and will be sold in European markets, which will most likely include the UK. The outgoing C7 model was only available with a limited number of British dealers. Chevrolet sources have confirmed that a convertible version of the Corvette will follow the coupé “in relatively short order”. Paul
Origin: New Chevrolet Corvette could get hybrid or electric versions
A British farewell to the C7-gen Chevrolet Corvette
This is going to be a most pleasant day. I have been tasked with the challenge of driving from the Brooklands motor museum in Weybridge to Brighton without using a motorway and preferably not using a dual carriageway. “Is it still possible,” asked the editor, “to enjoy driving on Britain’s congested roads?” It most certainly is. A couple of weeks ago, I joined some friends on a navigational rally around the Surrey hills followed by a pleasant lunch. It helped that I was driving an Alpine A110, but it would have been a wonderful day out in a Morris Minor. It’s going to help a great deal that today we are driving a brand new Corvette Grand Sport. The car has been loaned by Ian Allan Motors of Virginia Water who, as you have probably seen from their advertisements in the print version of Autocar, are the sole UK supplier of Corvettes and Camaros. More to the point, the Corvette has now been replaced by a new mid-engined C8 model and only a handful of EU type-approved cars are left. Allan has taken the immensely bold step of buying up 60 Corvettes and Camaros so that UK enthusiasts won’t go short. Including, on a temporary basis at least, this one. So let’s get cracking. Lovely weather but a few showers forecasted. Kevin Hurl at Ian Allan Motors had a red Grand Sport coupé lined up for us but someone bought it last week so he’s registered another Grand Sport from his secret stash. It’s red, it’s automatic and it’s a convertible. And he doesn’t want it back for several days. Goodwin is in his element. Not only did I grow up in Surrey but I was a motorbike courier based in Guildford for a year, so the Brooklands to Brighton route is right in my manor. I’m certainly not going to mess about with the car’s sat-nav and I probably won’t bother with the paper map that I’ve brought along. Our managing editor, Damien Smith, told me about a trip he’d done from Surrey to Williams’ headquarters near Wantage that inspired this feature. “I only,” he boasted proudly, “used a very short bit of dual carriageway.” I shall do better than that. I’m determined to not use an inch. By the time we’ve collected the Corvette and got to Brooklands, we are in the middle of what I call ‘the 10 o’clock sweet spot’. Van drivers are still loading up and mummies have dropped the kids off at school and have now put the X5 away and decamped to the coffee shop. And if you think I’m being sexist, come to Weybridge. The Corvette Grand Sport is wide, but the standard Stingray is actually two inches narrower than a Jaguar F-Type. Unlike the C6 model that we ran for one long-term test many years ago, it has straight edges on the top of its front wings so that it’s not too difficult to place on the road. Just as well because my route has taken us directly to some very narrow roads. We’ve crossed the A3 at Cobham and have run virtually parallel to it through the village of Ockham and then past the old Tyrrell Formula 1 factory. It’s now the home of an Italian cake decorations company. The buildings are as they were and even the old woodshed where Ken started it all is kept in perfect condition. Hard to imagine that a world championship-winning team was run from this small yard. Past another local motoring landmark, Bell Colvill, the Lotus dealers in East Horsley. Bobby Bell and Martin Colvill often used to have one of their classics in the showroom – a GT40 or BRM P160, perhaps – so this is another one of my regular haunts. I also went for a job in their service department in the 1980s but fortunately didn’t get it. We’re now on the route of the Olympic cycling road race and it’s surprising that we’re not surrounded by retired men in Lycra. You get a view right across to London from the high ground up here, including the Shard. The entry-level Corvette is the Stingray, and like this Grand Sport it’s powered by a naturally aspirated version of the classic Chevrolet small-block pushrod V8 that produces 466bhp. The most powerful ’Vette is the Z06, which uses a 659bhp supercharged version of the same engine. More money, more weight and a few tenths knocked off the 0-60mph time, with a top speed of 193mph against our car’s 180mph. All meaningless figures. What matters is the emotional appeal of cars like this and the sense of occasion. We’re now in the chocolate-box village of Shere, busy as usual with ramblers. A pub called The William Bray has the builders in and here we have another connection with Tyrrell: the landlord used to be ex-Tyrrell driver Julian Bailey. I once saw a band play here that had Eddie Jordan on the drums. We’re on single-track lanes here, cut into the Surrey hills with steep banks and passing places. In a big car like the Corvette, you simply have to think ahead and be relaxed, happy to give way. I had a massive moment on these roads in a Beetle when I was a teenager. The brakes went and I had to use the handbrake and bounce the car off the earth embankments to try to slow it down. Past
Origin: A British farewell to the C7-gen Chevrolet Corvette
Chevrolet Corvette: iconic sports car meets Britain’s country lanes
This is going to be a most pleasant day. I have been tasked with the challenge of driving from the Brooklands motor museum in Weybridge to Brighton without using a motorway and preferably not using a dual carriageway. “Is it still possible,” asked the editor, “to enjoy driving on Britain’s congested roads?” It most certainly is. A couple of weeks ago, I joined some friends on a navigational rally around the Surrey hills followed by a pleasant lunch. It helped that I was driving an Alpine A110, but it would have been a wonderful day out in a Morris Minor. It’s going to help a great deal that today we are driving a brand new Corvette Grand Sport. The car has been loaned by Ian Allan Motors of Virginia Water who, as you have probably seen from their advertisements in the print version of Autocar, are the sole UK supplier of Corvettes and Camaros. More to the point, the Corvette is about to be replaced by a new mid-engined C8 model and only a handful of EU type-approved cars are left. Allan has taken the immensely bold step of buying up 60 Corvettes and Camaros so that UK enthusiasts won’t go short. Including, on a temporary basis at least, this one. So let’s get cracking. Lovely weather but a few showers forecasted. Kevin Hurl at Ian Allan Motors had a red Grand Sport coupé lined up for us but someone bought it last week so he’s registered another Grand Sport from his secret stash. It’s red, it’s automatic and it’s a convertible. And he doesn’t want it back for several days. Goodwin is in his element. Not only did I grow up in Surrey but I was a motorbike courier based in Guildford for a year, so the Brooklands to Brighton route is right in my manor. I’m certainly not going to mess about with the car’s sat-nav and I probably won’t bother with the paper map that I’ve brought along. Our managing editor, Damien Smith, told me about a trip he’d done from Surrey to Williams’ headquarters near Wantage that inspired this feature. “I only,” he boasted proudly, “used a very short bit of dual carriageway.” I shall do better than that. I’m determined to not use an inch. By the time we’ve collected the Corvette and got to Brooklands, we are in the middle of what I call ‘the 10 o’clock sweet spot’. Van drivers are still loading up and mummies have dropped the kids off at school and have now put the X5 away and decamped to the coffee shop. And if you think I’m being sexist, come to Weybridge. The Corvette Grand Sport is wide, but the standard Stingray is actually two inches narrower than a Jaguar F-Type. Unlike the C6 model that we ran for one long-term test many years ago, it has straight edges on the top of its front wings so that it’s not too difficult to place on the road. Just as well because my route has taken us directly to some very narrow roads. We’ve crossed the A3 at Cobham and have run virtually parallel to it through the village of Ockham and then past the old Tyrrell Formula 1 factory. It’s now the home of an Italian cake decorations company. The buildings are as they were and even the old woodshed where Ken started it all is kept in perfect condition. Hard to imagine that a world championship-winning team was run from this small yard. Past another local motoring landmark, Bell Colvill, the Lotus dealers in East Horsley. Bobby Bell and Martin Colvill often used to have one of their classics in the showroom – a GT40 or BRM P160, perhaps – so this is another one of my regular haunts. I also went for a job in their service department in the 1980s but fortunately didn’t get it. We’re now on the route of the Olympic cycling road race and it’s surprising that we’re not surrounded by retired men in Lycra. You get a view right across to London from the high ground up here, including the Shard. The entry-level Corvette is the Stingray, and like this Grand Sport it’s powered by a naturally aspirated version of the classic Chevrolet small-block pushrod V8 that produces 466bhp. The most powerful ’Vette is the Z06, which uses a 659bhp supercharged version of the same engine. More money, more weight and a few tenths knocked off the 0-60mph time, with a top speed of 193mph against our car’s 180mph. All meaningless figures. What matters is the emotional appeal of cars like this and the sense of occasion. We’re now in the chocolate-box village of Shere, busy as usual with ramblers. A pub called The William Bray has the builders in and here we have another connection with Tyrrell: the landlord used to be ex-Tyrrell driver Julian Bailey. I once saw a band play here that had Eddie Jordan on the drums. We’re on single-track lanes here, cut into the Surrey hills with steep banks and passing places. In a big car like the Corvette, you simply have to think ahead and be relaxed, happy to give way. I had a massive moment on these roads in a Beetle when I was a teenager. The brakes went and I had to use the handbrake and bounce the car off the earth embankments to try to slow it down. Past
Origin: Chevrolet Corvette: iconic sports car meets Britain’s country lanes
Chevrolet auctions off last front-engined Corvette for US$2.7 million
The last front-engined Chevrolet Corvette crossing the auction block at Barrett-Jackson on June 28, 2019Barrett-Jackson The next-generation C8 Corvette has finally been confirmed by Chevrolet to be mid-engined, ending a 65-year tradition of the front-engined sports car.This also means the C7 Corvette will be the last generation to have the engine in the front, something Chevrolet celebrated this past week when it auctioned off the final one built for a whopping US$2.7 million.The car itself is an all-black Z06 with no distinguishing characteristics.That is to say, it will be an all-black Z06 the car hasnt been built yet, of course, and the one that crossed the stage at the Barrett-Jackson Northeast auction June 28 was just a placeholder.All proceeds from that sale are going to the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which pays off mortgages for the families of firefighters killed in the line of duty and builds mortgage-free, accessible smart homes for injured service members. The last front-engined Chevrolet Corvette crossing the auction block at Barrett-Jackson on June 28, 2019 Barrett-Jackson The foundation is named after Stephen Siller, a New York City firefighter who was killed during the tower collapse on 9/11. Chevrolet has been a supporter of the foundation for many years, and most recently sold the first production 2019 ZR1 at auction to benefit it, to the tune of US$925,000.The C8 Corvette has been teased to the press since man first walked on land, but its finally going to be unveiled for real on July 18th.It was initially thought Chevrolet might sell the C7 Corvette alongside the new C8, but of course this news disproves that
Origin: Chevrolet auctions off last front-engined Corvette for US$2.7 million
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