Both General Motors and Ford are making big inroads into the aftermarket world for high-performance parts, and now GM Performance Parts is taking it to the streets-- literally. The company has put together a mobile exhibit of its offerings called the GM Performance Parts Power Shop, which is travelling the country this summer making appearances at various racing and car-oriented events.
One of the stars of the exhibit is a fully-operational display of the GMPP ZZ572 big-block crate engine - 720 hp of off-the-shelf motivation. The drag racing and hot rod-oriented display also features a brand-new drag racing simulator that promises the "full sensory experience of rocketing down the quarter-mile."
The Power Shop debuted this past weekend at "The Year One Experience" at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia.
[Source: GM]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Alex @ Apr 25th 2006 2:11PM
Nothing like carburated pushrod V8's to keep the hill billies happy.
Sanjay @ Apr 25th 2006 2:15PM
I've got to admit that being in Europe I'm very jealous of this! It's brilliant to see such great support for grass roots motorsport from big corporations. It makes great finacial sense as well since it creates such a strong brand awareness and enthusiast base. Can you imagine what'd it be like if we could get crate M3 & M5 engines, suppose they might end up being kinda expensive though.
samuel @ Apr 25th 2006 2:22PM
Congratulations to Alex, you made the obligatory "I have an IQ of a chimp" post in response to anything about GM. Way to go, little man:)
SaveGas @ Apr 25th 2006 2:41PM
With exception or straight line racing, what is the point of a 572 ci V8 that sucks more fuel than a Hummer?
I its mystifying how GM goes from Think green, Go Yellow to promoting gas guzzling crate engines.
Corey W. @ Apr 25th 2006 2:45PM
I'm just waiting for that crate LS7 to drop down in price.....Oh yeah!!!
Vinny @ Apr 25th 2006 2:50PM
Re: 4
"I its mystifying how GM goes from Think green, Go Yellow to promoting gas guzzling crate engines."
Jack of all trades, master of none.
Corey W @ Apr 25th 2006 3:11PM
SaveGas,
People use GM crate engines for applications other than straight line racing. This is not about fuel saving, it's about giving people choices. When it comes to raw PERFORMANCE, how much you same at the pump is not always top of the list.
If you don't believe me, I suggest you read up on the 1+ million dollar, 1000 HP Veyron, it gets 4 cty/10 hwy and being hailed as one of the greatest cars in history. If given the chance to own, I don't think anyone in their right mind would be concerned about how GREEN it is.
Corey W @ Apr 25th 2006 3:14PM
That should be "save at the pump..." ;-)
AC Brown @ Apr 25th 2006 3:21PM
Alex- The Toyota Prius blog is at a different URL. While your surfing you should check out the websites for Better Homes and Gardens, Redbook and Cosmo.
I don't know why a person that doesn't a appreciate a 700hp engine would bother visiting a car enthusiast blog.
Alex @ Apr 25th 2006 3:23PM
572 is amazing Engine.
But I belive the 572 will be for Hot Rods, Trucks and Drag racers.
I love the 572, I would put it 4x4 for great off roading fun.
Hill Billies, can't afford a 572, unless their the Duke Boys....
Alex @ Apr 25th 2006 3:25PM
Hey, Not the same Alex from Post # 1.
I'm Alex from Toronto Canada!
But, I do have a Cat.......
Tad @ Apr 25th 2006 3:29PM
Nothing like the earth shaking rumble of a big block V8...hopefully I have a chnace to visit this exhibit when it comes to NY.
SaveGas @ Apr 25th 2006 3:40PM
...Hill Billies, can't afford a 572, unless (sic)their the Duke Boys....
Appears to be yet another representation of an ill-bred yokel’s poor grammar skills.
Apparently little hick boy Alex failed high school English. For the sake of humanity, please use their/there/they’re properly.
Richard Warren @ Apr 25th 2006 3:45PM
"I its mystifying how GM goes from Think green, Go Yellow to promoting gas guzzling crate engines."
Vinny, Vinny, Vinny,
As long as it in the crate it's not using any gas at all, these things make great coffee tables with a piece of glass over it it's a real conversation starter. Want to see my 572?
Bob Miller @ Apr 25th 2006 3:49PM
I love 60s American muscle cars with big block motors and my wife and I have two very good little cats.
My Dad recently put a built 454 in his 1968 Impala Convertible (as if the original 396 wasn't enough). It may not be as efficient as my wife's Lexus IS300, or corner as well. But our Lexus just can't produce the kind of shit-eating grin that the 68 Impala produces when you mash the pedal all the way to the floor, sending the car sideways as it tries to gain traction going forward. It's an extremely stupid car, and *QUITE* fun I might add. hehehe.
SaveGas @ Apr 25th 2006 3:56PM
...it's an extremely stupid car...
Point well stated by Mr. Miller
The Other Eric @ Apr 25th 2006 4:04PM
To: Alex (post #1), SaveGas (post #5) and the rest of you anti-American car people:
You short-sighted, narrow-minded, myopic, tree-hugging idiots. It's called excitement! Ever tried it?
Oh yea... it's also called FREEDOM to do whatever the hell I want with MY MONEY. GET THE F#$% OUT OF MY WALLET.
If you don't like the idea of a motor consuming more fuel than yours, then just don't buy one!
Whatever you do, do the rest of the real car enthusiasts of the world a favor: SHUT UP!
Go back into whatever moss-infested green-peace hole you came from.
The first Alex @ Apr 25th 2006 4:22PM
A little inside market research information for everyone. The average Chevrolet Consumer has had 12 years of education ( High school graduate).
Chevrolet consumers have one of the lowest education levels in the automotive industry, and it shows when you read the posts of the pro-gm folks.
Lets face it guys, the Big Iron Block Engines you love so much are basically antiques. Why not throb after a flat head Ford V8 as well? There are many more efficient power plants - Formula 1 inspired engines (BMW M5)that will wipe the floor with the Carburated Boat Anchor pictured here.
The only problem is you can get the BMW engine as a crate engine, one has to buy the whole package- Which when you think about it is not such a bad deal. Much of the performance driving experience comes from road response, cornering, skidpad, and braking. Something those old rocket sleds perform poorly at.
Bob Miller @ Apr 25th 2006 4:41PM
The average may be 12 years of education for Chevrolet owners, but keep in mind we're talking about a brand that has more cars on the road than probably any other car company in the United States next to Ford in a country where most people aren't college educated.
Keep in mind Chevrolet sells a lot of cars to quite a wide range of demographics. So, there really isn't anything too terribly surprising about that statistic. Millions upon millions of Chevys on the road over the course of lets see, I don't know, 80 or 90 years...most Americans aren't college educated. It totally makes sense to me.
I'm sure quite a few college educated people are buying Tahoes and Suburbans, just drive through any suburban neighborhood like The Woodlands, TX. and you'll quickly see that there's plenty of well educated Chevrolet owners.
AC Brown @ Apr 25th 2006 4:41PM
I wonder what kind of car Alex drives. I bet it's not an M5, a Carrera GT or a Ferrari which are really the only cars that you could say are legitimately using F1 technology. Let's hear it big Al, what are you pushin'? (think hard about this, make sure it's somewhat believable)