GM Set To Announce Revamped Chevy Corvette Plant

GM is set to announce tomorrow morning that it will spend about $100 million to refurbish the Bowling Green, Kentucky, plant that houses assembly of the Chevy Corvette.

The Bowling Green plant opened in 1981, and has the capacity to build more than 30,000 cars a year. Through March 2011, it's built 3,070 cars. Even with Corvette sales up 15 percent so far this year, the plant is running at less than 50 percent of its capacity.

For all of 2010, some 15,791 Corvettes were built at the facility.

GM has tried in the past to squeeze more efficiency out of the Kentucky plant. The Corvette used to share its assembly line with the folding-hardtop Cadillac XLR, which was produced for the 2004-2009 model years before being cancelled for slow sales.
The $100 million investment suggests serious product plans afoot for Bowling Green. According to the plant's own Web site, annual investments of $3 million to $19 million have paid for regular updates to the facility. The $19 million was spent in 2005, when the plant was retooled to produce the current C6 Corvette.

A new Chevy Corvette is due sometime after 2013, its timing delayed due to GM's bankruptcy.
UPDATE: GM says there are no plans to add a second vehicle to the facility's production lines. Read More ...

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Posted in: Automotive,Car,Chevrolet

BMW’s new 6-Series Coupe revealed

First came the convertible and finally we get this: the new BMW 6-Series Coupe.

The first thing you'll likely notice is that it sports a new found elegance and a touch more styling restraint than its divisive predecessor. Which is good. This third iteration of the Six Coupe will launch later this year - after the convertible - in two guises: the 640i and 650i

Sadly, labelling the two GTs appears to have been left to a workie as they no longer match the engine size: the 640i gets a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-six engine with 320bhp, while the 650i gets a detuned version of the 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 currently startling regretful owners of the X6 and X5 M models. In the Six, it bangs out 407bhp and 442lb ft of torque.

Although ‘bangs' is probably the wrong word. We tested this engine in the convertible and found it's less of a singer, more a heavy-handed tour-guide. The 640i hits 62mph in 5.4 seconds, tops out at 155mph and returns 36.7mpg, while the 650i does the 0-62mph dash in 4.9 seconds, and emits just 243g/km of CO2 and returns 27.2mpg.

Both cars get an eight-speed Sports auto gearbox as standard, together with Start-Stop, electric power steering and brake energy regeneration. There are some driver aids to keep you out of a hedge fund, including brake/traction/stability control and even a brake-drying function.

A trio of optional chassis control settings, including damper control, adaptive drive and dynamic drive (Normal, Sport and Sport+), are standard fit, while the instrument dials are angled towards the driver as in BMWs of old.

You get a bewildering array of Stuff you can option: Bang & Olufsen surround sound, a head-up display, DVD changer, TV module, DAB receiver and USB interface are just some. Though we hope that unlike the convertible, you don't have to option in some excitement too...

Your thoughts, please. This, the SL or the XK?

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Article Source: http://www.topgear.com 

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Posted in: Automotive,BMW,Car

Audi of America established prices for the limited-production 2012 Audi R8 GT

Only 333 Audi R8 GT models will be built worldwide; 90 for U.S sales
Extensive use of carbon fiber parts makes the Audi R8 GT about 180 pounds lighter than the Audi R8 5.2 quattro coupe
Modified 5.2-liter engine achieves 560 hp, 0-62 mph time of 3.6 seconds, top speed of 199 mph


Audi of America established prices for the limited-production 2012 Audi R8 GT starting at $196,800 at the launch of sales in the U.S. market. The Audi R8 GT is the lightest, fastest and most powerful entry in the Audi supercar lineup, which has won global acclaim. Only 333 Audi R8 GT models will be produced worldwide, with 90 slated for U.S. buyers.

R8 GT Coupe (R tronic) $196,800 (excluding $1,250 destination charge, taxes, title, options and dealer charges):

The 2012 R8 GT receives significant exterior modifications aimed at enhancing its already stellar handling, and it is powered by a modified 5.2-liter V10 FSI engine that produces 560 horsepower (35 hp more than the R8 Coupe 5.2 quattro and the R8 Spyder 5.2 quattro). The 2012 R8 GT employs the R tronic sequential manual transmission. This pairing produces a top track speed of 199 mph, and a 0-62 mph time of 3.6 seconds. Overall, the Audi R8 GT will provide drivers with high lateral acceleration and a low center of gravity.

The signature Audi ASF® lightweight construction of the Audi R8 GT, combined with extensive use of lightweight carbon fiber body parts reduces the weight by approximately 180 pounds when compared to the Audi R8 Coupe 5.2 quattro. Key carbon fiber components are the rear hatch, spoiler and diffuser.

The Audi R8 GT continues the heritage of mid-engine configuration with quattro® all-wheel drive that has distinguished all R8 variants. The axle load distribution of the R8 GT will be 43/57 front/rear. Integrated into the front differential is axle-load-optimized torque split with self-locking differential in the rear axle.

The newest member of the Audi sports car family was inspired by the Audi R8 LMS GT3 race car. To convey its limited-edition nature, the Audi R8 GT will come with a variety of exclusive interior and exterior touches. Each car will have a numbered gearshift knob. The instrument cluster will be white with the R8 GT logo and the interior will feature carbon matte inlays. The seats, headliner, steering wheel and handbrake lever will be black Alcantara® with contrast stitching. Door sills will include aluminum inserts with the R8 GT logo.

On the exterior, the grille, distinctive sideblade and other trim parts will come in exclusive matte finishes. The Audi R8 GT will also be available in an exclusive new color: Samoa Orange.

Optional carbon-fiber reinforced ceramic brakes are available to provide superb fading resistance even in racetrack conditions. Brake calipers with a red anodized finish come with the ceramic brakes. A 12-speaker, 495-watt Bang & Olufsen® sound system is also available. The Audi R8 GT offers other trim and wheel options to personalize the full array of standard features.

Article Source: http://europeancar.automotive.com

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Posted in: Audi,Automotive,Car