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Video: Corvette Racing Series Ep. 2: 2010 12 Hours of Sebring

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 11:40:00 EST

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Chevrolet, Racing

Click above to view the video after the jump

"As long as we stay on the track, don't run into anybody and the pit stops are good..." were the famous last words of Dave Binks, Corvette Racing crew chief. He spoke these words on the afternoon of Friday, March 19 following qualifying for this year's 12 Hours of Sebring. Some 24 hours later, they turned out to be a bit too prophetic, and not in a good way.

The second episode of the Corvette Racing Series takes a look back at a less-than-successful outing for the C6.Rs at the American Le Mans Series opening round. The two Corvettes actually ended up running into each other in the pitlane and spent extended periods getting repaired.

As program manager Doug Fehan closes out with, the team now has to go back to the shop, looks at what they did wrong and learn so that it doesn't happen again. Now on to Long Beach. Check out the video after the jump.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Corvette Racing Series Ep. 2: 2010 12 Hours of Sebring

Video: Corvette Racing Series Ep. 2: 2010 12 Hours of Sebring originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Mar 2010 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Corvette Racing boss Doug Fehan confirms new 5.5L V8 for Sebring debut

Sam Abuelsamid — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 19:55:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Chevrolet, Racing

Corvette C6.R GT2 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Back in August when General Motors introduced the all-new GT2 class Corvette C6.R, it ran downsized 6.0-liter version of the 7.0-liter V8 from the long-dominant GT1 car. At the launch, Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan told us the 6.0-liter was just an interim engine. With revised GT rules on tap for 2010, GM was already planning a brand-new engine for its race Vette.

Unlike the 6.0/7.0, which is a ground-up race engine that only shares basic architectural dimensions with the production small block, the 2010 C6.R's V8 is a new 5.5-liter unit that will indeed be derived from the production engine found in roadgoing Corvettes. In fact, the 5.5-liter race engine will be built at GM's Performance Build Center alongside ZR1 and Z06 V8s.

Fehan has confirmed that the 5.5 is running on the dyno and will make its race debut at the 12 Hours of Sebring in March. We don't have any additional details on the new engine yet, although we were told earlier that it is based on the next-generation production small-block, which we expect to see in the Corvette soon.

Gallery: Mid-Ohio 2009: Corvette GT2 racing

Photos Copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading Corvette Racing boss Doug Fehan confirms new 5.5L V8 for Sebring debut

Corvette Racing boss Doug Fehan confirms new 5.5L V8 for Sebring debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 02 Jan 2010 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #146 - WSG Corvette racer Johnny O'Connell!

Dan Roth — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:45:00 EST

Filed under: Podcasts

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Episode #146 of the Autoblog Podcast puts Chris, Sam, and Dan in fast company, talking to Corvette racer Johnny O'Connell. Johnny's heading out to run the Petit LeMans, but he took some time to chat with us first. Once the crew settles down about apexes and back straights, we head off into a couple of topical discussions. Jay Leno's two-lap challenge starts us off, and GM's new "May the Best Car Win" ads get our attention next, and then we move on to Nissan's settling of the class-action lawsuit over GT-R transmissions. Some questions finish us off near the hour and a half mark. Thanks for listening, and if you like what we're doing, be sure to let us know in our survey or by leaving reviews in iTunes. Our friends over at Engadget and Joystiq do great podcasts as well, in case you need a fix before we circle around again next week.

Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #146 - WSG Corvette racer Johnny O'Connell!

Autoblog Podcast #146 - WSG Corvette racer Johnny O'Connell! originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM CEO says future of Corvette secure

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 06 May 2009 15:58:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Supercars, Chevrolet

According to Fritz Henderson, the recently-appointed CEO of General Motors, the future holds exciting things for Chevrolet's iconic sportscar. This news comes despite the admission late last year that development of the next-gen C7 Corvette platform was put on "indefinite hold, with no official or set timetable."

In a bit of good news for Corvette fans, Henderson asserts that the "Corvette pays its rent," meaning that it's a money-making operation for The General. Obviously, the longer the automaker can rely on the current C6 architecture, the more profitable it will likely be.

There's still no indication of when we'll see a new architecture underpinning the Corvette, but Henderson is quick to point out that the current C6 chassis is still an excellent unit to build off and one that's fully competitive with the best sportscars from around the world. Disagree? You've obviously never gotten behind the wheel of the latest ZR1.

[Source: Autoweek]

GM CEO says future of Corvette secure originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 May 2009 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pics Aplenty: 2009 C3R Retro Corvette Stingray

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 13:58:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Performance, Chevrolet, Rendered Speculation

Click above for high-res image gallery of the C3R concept

Might it be possible that the General would consider going retro for its next Corvette? It's worked wonders for the current crop of remade pony cars, with Chevy's own Camaro being a prime example. Some might argue, though, that the modern 'Vette has never really strayed from its core ethos of offering big performance for a relatively low price, so perhaps it's not in dire need of visiting the past for inspiration. On the other hand, its current styling is an evolution of the C4 design and doesn't bear much resemblance to past classic generations.

One enthusiast by the name of Christian Cyrulewski has taken matters into his own hands by using the third-generation Corvette as inspiration for a rebodied C6, the current version of America's sports car. This is the second version of the C3R, as it's designer calls it, and it's received some tweaks since last time we showed it to you, with more to come we're told. Design elements like the Mako Shark-inspired front fender peaks and steeply flowing rear buttresses from the early C3 series are present, as are hideaway head lights, which were a Corvette staple until the latest C6.

While there are no firm plans to produce a car based on these renderings, past indications are that Cyrulewski would like to see the first C3R running down Woodward Avenue for next year's Dream Cruise. We'll be there, of course, and will definitely keep our eyes peeled for the C3R.

Gallery: 2009 C3R V2.0

[Source: Serious Wheels]

Pics Aplenty: 2009 C3R Retro Corvette Stingray originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Nov 2008 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA Preview: Rossi 66 melds Corvette C2 looks with C6 hardware

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: SEMA Show, Classics, Performance, Chevrolet

Click on the image to enlarge and view another angle of the Rossi 66

There is a trend in the works that takes a modern Corvette chassis, jettisons the stock fiberglass bodywork and adds a new shell that mimics the look of an older, classic 'Vette. We have seen Classic Reflection Coachworks' take on the '62 'vert with C5 underpinnings, and now a company by the name of Blue Fusion has tackled the iconic split window. One problem: their press release continually refers to the 1966 split window, which doesn't exist as the only year the two-piece rear glass was produced was '63. But, let's not let silly little things like facts get in the way. The resultant Rossi 66 cribs the workings of a modern C6 Corvette and adds a unique Sting Ray look.

Blue Fusion plans to debut its Rossi 66 at the upcoming SEMA event in November, assuming that the company is able to find the funding it needs to actually produce its first car. So far, all we have to look at are the renderings below, though we can clearly see that the '66 '63 body looks much better grafted onto a modern platform than the '62 does. We'll see if it makes an appearance in Sin City later this year.

Gallery: Blue Fusion Rossi 66

[Source: Blue Fusion via Jalopnik]

Continue reading SEMA Preview: Rossi 66 melds Corvette C2 looks with C6 hardware

SEMA Preview: Rossi 66 melds Corvette C2 looks with C6 hardware originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Only in Dubai: Corvette fire fighter

Siddharth Raja — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 10:03:00 EST

Filed under: Chevrolet

Dubai is fast gaining a reputation as the "Vegas of the Middle East" because of its impressive rate of development and sometimes crazy amounts of money thrown at government projects.

This time, the city's Civil Defence department has acquired a Corvette to help fight fires by being able to attend to them more quickly than ordinary vehicles. Brigadier Rashid Thani Al Matroushi, Director of Dubai Civil Defence goes on to explain that due to the Corvette's speed, the car can get vital rescue equipment to the scene of the fire, and in the case of people being trapped in cars, can help remove them.

The article doesn't go into much detail about the "special equipment" the 'Wette is fitted with, but it does mention a portable fire extinguisher, hydraulic equipment and first aid kits.

One of the primary reasons behind its development is that the distance between fire stations and accident scenes are larger than normal, so it makes sense to have a fast first response vehicle. It took a team of four people two months to develop.

It's also the latest GM product to be adapted for civil use by the Dubai authorities. Previously they've used a Hummer H2 and a fleet of Chevy Tahoes.

Thanks to Cataen for the tip!

[Source: Gulf News]

Only in Dubai: Corvette fire fighter originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Sep 2007 10:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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