Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Chevrolet announces 1.5 millionth Corvette produced, confirms Grand Sport pricing]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/11/chevrolet-announces-1-5-millionth-corvette-produced-confirms-gr/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/11/chevrolet-announces-1-5-millionth-corvette-produced-confirms-gr/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/11/chevrolet-announces-1-5-millionth-corvette-produced-confirms-gr/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


The 1.5 millionth Corvette - Click above for high-res image gallery

The very first Chevrolet Corvette built way back in 1953 was Polo White with a red interior and a black top. It was practically made by hand, cost $3,498 plus tax and shipping, and the only options were an AM radio and a heater. Fifty six years later, the 1.5 millionth Corvette is white with a red interior and black top. But this one was made in a dedicated assembly plant, would cost you more than $60,000 -- if you could buy it -- and is equipped with the option laden 3LT package.

It's good news for tumultuous times at the Bowtie. A note of trivia: it took 17 years to get from one million to 1.5 million cars, but only 15 years to get from 500,000 to one million (1977 - 1992). Viva la Eighties and the C4. And Viva Chevy... congratulations, guys.

In related news, Chevy also confirmed what we already knew, which is that the 2010 Corvette Grand Sport will start at $55,720 for the coupe and $59,530 for the convertible. Both prices include a $950 destination charge. The official press release is posted after the jump.


Gallery: Chevy builds the 1.5 millionth Corvette


[Source: GM]

Continue reading Chevrolet announces 1.5 millionth Corvette produced, confirms Grand Sport pricing

Chevrolet announces 1.5 millionth Corvette produced, confirms Grand Sport pricing originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bowling greenBowlingGreenchevroletchevrolet corvetteChevroletCorvettechevychevy corvetteChevyCorvetteconvertiblecorvettecoupemilestoneplantssportsvetteThu, 11 Jun 2009 15:29:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORT: Slow Corvette sales to result in plant shutdowns through July]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/31/report-slow-corvette-sales-to-result-in-plant-shutdowns-through/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/31/report-slow-corvette-sales-to-result-in-plant-shutdowns-through/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/31/report-slow-corvette-sales-to-result-in-plant-shutdowns-through/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

UPDATE: We just got off the phone with Andrea Hales, GM Bowling Green Assembly Communications manager, who informed us that while there will be six weeks of down time from now until the end of June, the plant actually has about 600 workers and they will continue to build 11 Corvettes per hour, not eight.


Click above for a high-res gallery of the Chevy Corvette Competition

Two years ago, the Chevrolet Corvette plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky housed 1,000 workers - that number is now down to 400. In order to align production with demand, those workers that remain will reportedly be getting much more time off as General Motors is idling the plant for two weeks every month for the next four months.

The pace of production is also being reset, from 11 cars an hour down to eight. Chevrolet sold half as many Corvettes in February of 2009 as it did the year previously, and sales are down 54% this year, from 4,086 for the first two months of 2008 versus 1,869 in 2009 over the same period. As the Bowling Green UAW local secretary said, the rest of them "are just worried if we will be here next week." Hat tip to Alex


Gallery: 2008 Chevy Corvette Competition


Gallery: Tour of Corvette's Bowling Green Assembly Plant


[Source: Courier-Journal]

REPORT: Slow Corvette sales to result in plant shutdowns through July originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bowling greenBowlingGreenchevroletchevrolet corvetteChevroletCorvettemanufacturingplantsproductionsportssupercaruawunionTue, 31 Mar 2009 13:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Chevy to temporarily halt Vette production due to economy]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/15/chevy-to-temporarily-halt-vette-production-due-to-economy/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/15/chevy-to-temporarily-halt-vette-production-due-to-economy/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/15/chevy-to-temporarily-halt-vette-production-due-to-economy/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 Corvette ZR1

It's been more than a decade since the "recession-proof" Chevrolet Corvette had to endure a production cut due to excess dealer inventory, but that's apparently the case once again. Citing slow sales related to the ongoing automotive recession, GM will turn off the Corvette's factory lights during the week of October 6th. When Vette assembly resumes the following week, production will be scaled back to 15 cars per hour (normal speed is 18.5 cars per hour). Unfortunately, GM says layoffs will accompany the new schedule at the Bowling Green facility, with up to 75 workers losing their jobs. While surprising, the news isn't entirely unexpected. Corvette sales were down 8.5 percent for the year through August of 2008. They only rebounded after GM included the model in its employee pricing sale... and we all know a shot in the arm like that won't hold out over time.

Gallery: 2009 Chevy Corvette Z06


Gallery: First Drive: 2009 Corvette ZR1


[Source: Automotive News]

Chevy to temporarily halt Vette production due to economy originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Sep 2008 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Bowling GreenBowlingGreenbreakingCancelChevroletCloseCorvetteLayoffShutSlowdownZ06ZR1Mon, 15 Sep 2008 09:01:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: Corvette ZR1s aplenty stopping off for a burger at Wendys]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/28/video-corvette-zr1s-aplenty-stopping-off-for-a-burger-at-wendys/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/28/video-corvette-zr1s-aplenty-stopping-off-for-a-burger-at-wendys/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/28/video-corvette-zr1s-aplenty-stopping-off-for-a-burger-at-wendys/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above to view video

As fanboys of any great car will tell you, at some point in your life you have make a pilgrimage to the birthplace of your favorite car. For Corvette fans, that means a trip to Bowling Green, Kentucky, current home of the Vette assembly plant, as well as the National Corvette Museum. One of the cool things about being in the vicinity of an assembly plant like Bowling Green is that you occasionally spot vehicles that aren't generally available yet. Such was the case for one lucky Vette-lover who goes by the handle Blade3562.

After emerging from the museum, Blade spotted a veritable fleet of fresh C6 Corvettes sitting in a Wendys parking lot across the street from the factory. Upon closer inspection, he realized they were all of the ZR1 variety with the drivers apparently fueling up inside in preparation for the journey north to Michigan. Of the eight cars, one was in the particular shade of blue seen in the initial batch of press shots while the rest were split between yellow and red models. We've already seen a number of yellow prototypes from back when this thing was still wearing camouflage, including one that made a brief appearance at last year's Laguna Seca ALMS weekend. The red ZR1s, however, are new to our eyes and the shade works well with the carbon fiber roof. While we sit here twiddling our thumbs, waiting for Chevrolet to call and invite us out for a drive, you can enjoy the video after the jump that Blade3562 assembled from his photos.

Gallery: Detroit 2008: Chevrolet Corvette ZR1


Gallery: 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1


[Source: CorvetteBlogger]

Continue reading VIDEO: Corvette ZR1s aplenty stopping off for a burger at Wendys

VIDEO: Corvette ZR1s aplenty stopping off for a burger at Wendys originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Mar 2008 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bowling greenBowlingGreencorvettecorvette museumcorvette zr1corvette-factorycorvette-zr1CorvetteMuseumCorvetteZr1Fri, 28 Mar 2008 19:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Autoblog Podcast #64]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/03/autoblog-podcast-64/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/03/autoblog-podcast-64/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/03/autoblog-podcast-64/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

We're back with #64 after being laid low by illness and schedule last week. Starting it off is some analysis of the 430HP LS3 Corvette, which we were lucky enough to see unveiled in Bowling Green, KY. 430 horses in the base car...nice. Speaking of rear-wheel-drive sports cars, there's yet another special Mustang, the Super Snake. It's upper limit of 725 horsepower has instantly rendered the GT500KR that debuted in New York totally irrelevant. Wake us up when the rollouts of special Mustangs are over. *Yawn* Of course, we still manage to talk about some hot 'Stangs for a few minutes. We wrap the whole deal up with the new Hyundai coupe based on the Genesis sedan's architecture. Whether it's the new Tiburon (finally a contender?), we don't know. Nor do we know if the rendering we've seen is anywhere near accurate, but Hyundai's continuing with their aggressive push, so we'll see where it leads. It's a tight 27 minutes this week, so enjoy!

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Autoblog Podcast #64 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 May 2007 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autoblogbhblue devilBlueDevilbowling greenBowlingGreenc6c7corvettecoupegenesisgt500gt500krhyundails3mustangpodcastrear wheel driveRearWheelDriveshelbytauv8Thu, 03 May 2007 11:01:00 ESTAutoblog Podcast #64Dan Roth27:35autoblog, podcast, mustang, gt500kr, shelby, super snake, corvette, ls3, unveiling, bowling green, hyundai, coupe, tiburon, bh,