Shanghai GM introduced the new Chevrolet Sail sedan, the first passenger car created in China by a Sino-foreign joint venture. The new small car was developed by Shanghai GM and the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC), both GM-SAIC joint ventures. In addition to being sold in China, the Chevrolet Sail will also be exported to other emerging markets.

Shanghai GM offers five variants of the Chevrolet Sail with the base model priced around RMB 60,000 (US$8,800). This marks a breakthrough in the under-RMB 70,000 (US$10,300) small car segment, where Chinese brands have traditionally been dominant.

“Our mission has always been to enable more individuals and families to realize their dream of owning a car,” said Kevin Wale, President and Managing Director of the GM China Group. “With the Chevrolet Sail, we are setting a new standard for the lower-end small car segment while fully living up to the global standards of Chevrolet, one of the world’s leading vehicle brands. The fact that the Chevrolet Sail will be exported is a testament to the capabilities of our product development organization in China.”

Class-Leading, Fuel-Efficient Powertrains

The Chevrolet Sail is available with a choice of class-leading 1.2-liter S-TEC II and 1.4-liter S-TEC III engines. The 1.2-liter engine achieves best in class fuel economy under comprehensive road conditions of 5.7 L/100 km. It also generates power of 53.1 kW/L, enabling the Chevrolet Sail to go from 0 to 100 km/h in 12.9 seconds. The 1.4-liter engine offers power per liter of more than 54.3 kW/L, goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 11.9 seconds, and has fuel economy under 5.9 L/100 km.

The engines incorporate the Variable Geometry Intake System (VGIS), which provides smooth power delivery and torque across all engine speeds. Lightweight materials are used in the engine, transmission and body, further increasing fuel efficiency. The optimized friction coefficient in the transmission and tire rolling coefficient reduce energy loss caused by mechanical operation. In line with Shanghai GM’s Drive to Green strategy, both engines meet China’s Phase IV emission standard (as well as the Euro IV standard) and can be upgraded to meet China’s Phase V emission standard.

Even though it is classified as a small car, the Chevrolet Sail ensures a fun driving experience. Its five-speed manual transmission offers smooth gear shifting. The sporty-looking steering wheel provides pinpoint handling and easy control, while the sporty yet solid chassis provides comfort and excellent handling. The driver enjoys maximum visibility courtesy of the Chevrolet Sail’s large windshield, seats designed for local users and no-blind-spot rearview mirror.

Stylish Exterior, Spacious Interior

Like other vehicles wearing the Chevrolet bowtie, the Chevrolet Sail is sporty, enjoyable to drive and offers good value for money. The Sail features Chevrolet’s trademark horizontal split grille with the gold Chevrolet emblem showcased in the middle. Three muscular sidelines provide the car a three-dimensional look. A unique short-in-front, long-in-back suspension brings a sporty edge to the exterior. The streamlined shape of the vehicle adds a dynamic styling element while reducing drag, for lower fuel consumption. The Chevrolet Sail is initially available in six exterior colors: Crescent Silver, Jasmine White, Sky Blue, Coral Red, Amber Orange and Starfish Blue.

The interior is likewise unique and all Chevrolet. It includes the brand’s twin-cockpit design as well as a flexible, modern central control panel equipped with a radio, CD player and MP3 interface. Designers have added a sporty touch through a double-digital screen and chrome plating. The Chevrolet Sail’s adoption of a central fuel tank, a short front and rear suspension, and arch-shaped doors maximizes interior space for up to five people. There are 24 interior storage compartments for added convenience.

Advanced Safety

The Chevrolet Sail is expected to achieve four stars in China New Car Assessment Program (C-NCAP) testing. The Chevrolet Sail’s safety cage construction with crumple zones offers class-leading passenger protection. A steel frame surrounds the fuel tanks, for added safety. Dual air bags in front, a retractable steering column, antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution, child safety locks and a stronger child seat system are standard. The Chevrolet Sail also offers outstanding pedestrian protection.

Developed in China for Emerging Markets

The Chevrolet Sail was jointly developed by Shanghai GM and PATAC off a new architecture in accordance with GM’s Global Vehicle Development Process (GVDP) and worldwide standards for engineering and quality. The development team for the Chevrolet Sail factored in local climate and driving conditions as well as local fuel quality and Chinese driving habits in the new model’s design. The vehicle’s assembly followed the DTS global C-BOB (best of best) standard.

The Chevrolet Sail was put through more than 2 million kilometers of testing in extreme hot and cold weather conditions.

To ensure that parts and components meet Chevrolet’s international standards in terms of quality, service, technology and price, 95 percent of components were supplied by members of GM’s global supply chain, with more than 40 percent coming from industry-leading component groups or their joint ventures.

GM’s global quality management processes and regulations were also applied in R&D, procurement, quality recognition and manufacturing. Shanghai GM’s paint shop adopted Generation 6 Zero-Emission Painting for the Chevrolet Sail. The vehicle meets all European Union environmental protection standards in terms of heavy metal proportion and the recycling rate of the full vehicle.

World-class Chevrolet Gold Tie Service will be offered to Chevrolet Sail buyers by Shanghai GM. Approximately 380 dealers in more than 200 cities across China will offer customers nine free services as well as 24-hour emergency assistance.

According to Shanghai GM President Ding Lei, “Several years ago, Shanghai GM made the strategic decision to broaden our customer base by developing the Chevrolet Sail. We improved cost efficiency while setting new quality, fuel efficiency and value standards for economical family cars. With the arrival of the Chevrolet Sail, we now have an entry in every major passenger car segment.”

America’s sports car.

The Chevrolet Corvette is the great American sports car. It’s thrilling to drive, with breathtaking acceleration performance and exceptionally tenacious grip for hard braking and high-speed cornering.

Value isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when talk turns to the Corvette but, when it comes to high performance, it might be the best bang-for-the-buck deal on the planet. For the price of a midsize luxury sedan, the Corvette delivers supercar performance. It’s easy to drive on a daily basis and maintenance costs are not exotic.

We love the standard Coupe, with either the manual or Paddle Shift automatic. It quickly infuses a driver with confidence. Its brakes are fantastic. And, it’s blazingly fast. The six-speed automatic transmission works great and lives up to the advanced technology in the rest of the car; it can be shifted manually with levers on the steering column.

The Convertible on the other hand is plain wonderful. Drop the top on a nice day, pop in your favorite CD, and you might have what psychologists call a peak experience, a moment where you revel in being alive. It’s a fantastic feeling, and at those moments the Corvette more than justifies its price. The aural sounds of the burbling V8, the body-colored trim that surrounds the cabin, the feel of power beneath, it is automotive heaven.

The Corvette can be a reasonably comfortable daily driver in most locales, for at least three of the four seasons. The latest-generation Corvette is a sophisticated car, and its performance does not exact a painful toll on driver or passenger. And, with all that performance, it still gets an EPA-rated 26 mpg on the Highway, better than most SUVs.

The Z06 is a true supercar for a price that’s merely expensive, as opposed to insanely expensive. The Z06 is powered by the 7.0-liter 505-horsepower LS7 V8, has a lightweight chassis and is fitted with upgraded brakes. If any $70,000 car can be called a bargain, this is the one, at least in terms of raw performance. The Corvette Z06 accelerates faster, grips better and stops shorter than European sports cars that cost twice as much. And we find it easier to drive than a Viper. Indeed, it takes an expensive machine, well driven, to compete with a Z06.

Moving even further upward is the ZR1, a limited-production extremely high performance iteration that boasts a 6.2-liter V8 that’s supercharged and cranks out 638 horsepower and 604 pound-feet of torque. It is the most powerful, quickest, fastest, most capable and highest-performing production car ever built by General Motors, which also makes it the highest-performing Corvette ever built, and carries a hefty price tag of $103,970. According to Chevrolet, it has a top speed of 205 mph.

For 2009, changes to the Corvette line are minimal. There is a lower-priced Convertible, the 1LT, which makes it possible to have a Corvette Convertible for less money. The power convertible top is standard on the 2LT trim level and all versions above that. The Coupes have a standard power hatch pull-down. And there are some new colors inside and out and minor enhancements to trim and features. The Z06 has new 10-spoke alloy wheels and its engine has a bigger dry-sump lubrication system, with 10.5 quarts capacity instead of the former 8.0 quarts.

It has been rolled out of the factory on May 28, from Bowling Green, Ky. it has taken a really long time to reach this milestone. In 1977 it produced 500000 units which is around 24 years after it started, then again 15 years to porudce 1 million in 1992 and another 17 years to reach 1.5 million mark milestone. And all the milestone cars come with the red interiors.

For some promotions the Chevrolet No. 1.5 million will be kept at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green.The museum also has Vettes No. 50000 and no. 1 million. The grand sport models are being sold out high because of this milestone.

Source: Autoweek

Fresh exterior styling wraps a body which has basic dimensions within one inch of the outgoing 2009 Equinox. There is evidence of chassis carryover given how both years share the same 2.86-metre wheelbase; fully independent suspension and unibody construction remain.

There are two all-new engines offered with the 2010 Equinox. Chevrolet is relishing an estimated 6.7 L/100km highway fuel consumption rating. Of course this is when equipped with the smaller 2.4-litre 182-hp four-cylinder motor and front-wheel-drive, but that 6.7 figure is noteworthy. No four-cylinder motors were offered with the outgoing Equinox; this downsizing spares roughly two litres for every 100km compared to the past entry-level 3.4-litre V6, but power ratings are not as strong.

The new 3.0-litre V6 is also at a loss of some power when compared to the 2009 Equinox’s 3.6-litre V6, but fuel consumption ratings are improved marginally to 11.9 and 8.1 L/100km on the city and highway, respectively. The new V6 is rated at 255-hp and 214 lb-ft of torque, and will pull a trailer of up to 1588 kg (908 kg more than the four-cylinder model). Both engines in this 1710-kg crossover SUV use efficient direct injection of regular unleaded fuel.

Both motors apply power via six-speed automatic transmissions, but only that of the V6 offers a manual-shift mode. This unit is carried over from 2009. New to the Equinox is a driver-selectable ECO button, which adapts the transmission for better economy.

On the efficiency track, the 2010 Equinox has an improved 0.36 coefficient of drag, which is down from 0.42. Models equipped with four cylinders will also feature electric power steering and low rolling-resistance tires. Tire sizes will range from 17-inches to 19-inches depending on the model – LS, LT, or LTZ.