Autoblog

Yea, we know - the automotive press has featured a whole bunch of Corvette ZR1 content lately (including us!), and readers are probably getting a bit tired. However, we figure that a cutaway of the mighty supercharged LS9 should be interesting enough to justify yet another post on the revived King of the Hill.

Painted in monochrome silver as GM is wont to do, this particular display isn't particularly photogenic. Still, we were able to capture some details that aren't easily observed in 2D drawing or press releases, so click through the jump for a variety of shots.

click on the above image for a bunch of high-res shots showing the new Pontiac G8

The last decade has been difficult for General Motors enthusiasts who desired an affordable V8 RWD sedan (we love the V-series Cadillacs, but alas, they're not exactly budget rides). With the introduction of the Pontiac G8, however, all is forgiven, for this muscular four-door appears poised to offer a blend of attitude and sophistication appropriate for the brand that claims to build excitement.

This Poncho is based upon GM's new Zeta platform, and the base model offers up a 261-hp, DOHC 3.6L V6. GT models get the 362-hp, L98 OHV 6.0L V8 with Displacement on Demand. No bonus points will be awarded for correctly guessing which we'd pick. The V6 will come with a five-speed slushbox, while the V8 will initially be backed with GM's new 6L80 six-speed auto, and a row-your-own manual with a half-dozen ratios will follow at a yet-undetermined later date. Naturally, the GT gets a bigger wheel/tire package and larger brakes, and a sport package will be offered for either engine type. Under the skin lies a McPherson strut suspension arrangement in the front and multi-link in the rear, with the full array of adjustments available at each corner.

Elements of the show car that won't make it to production include the big brakes, lowered ride height, 20" wheels, and custom interior trim. Note the new badge design; what we're seeing here is a concept version of a new Pontiac logo that eschews the traditional red coloration for a metallic sheen.

Click on the photo above for a gallery of Pontiac G8 live photos and studio shots! Also, check out the exclusive VIDEO of the G8 and Bob Lutz introducing the new rear-wheel drive sedan after the jump.

General Motors' recent (and vague) announcement of a new V8 diesel has led to significant speculation, especially with regard to power output and packaging size of the engine. As a preemptive strike against doubters, the company recently allowed Diesel Forecast to take a spin in a Buick Rainer equipped with the mystery oil-burner.

For starters, the "light duty" (intended for vehicles with a GVWR of under 8,600 lbs) will produce somewhere in the neighborhood of 330 HP and 520 lb-ft of torque. All that torque comes online around 1800 RPM and extends to 4500 RPM. We feel that these numbers should keep the average driver quite happy (diesel power junkies will just have to wait until aftermarket PCM tuners become available). For this we can credit the wonders of variable-geometry turbocharging, although at this point GM is not saying how many hairdryers they are using (two would be our guess, given the direction in which others are moving).

We were skeptical that a DOHC turbocharged V8 would fit into the same space as GM's ultra-compact pushrod gasoline V8s, but this does indeed appear to be the case (see the above outline drawing from GM, where its outline is shown against the GenIV L92). The fact that it fits under the hood of a GMT360 - a surprisingly tight environment, given the vehicle's external dimensions - speaks to the compact packaging of this engine, and means that we could see it popping up in just about any RWD product from the General.

On the emissions front, GM sees the engine utilizing urea injection with selective catalyst reduction to meet the EPA's 2010 Bin 5 regulations.

[Source: Diesel Forecast]

After a year's worth of regulatory difficulty, Australia's Elfin Sports Car Company will finally start production on the stunning MS8 Streamliner. The Holden-styled roadster promises stunning performance, with its 325-hp 5.7L V8 reacting against only 2,315 lbs, but difficulty was encountered getting the vehicle through the Australia Design Rules (ADR) certification process. Particularly, the General Motors GenIII V8 was reluctant to perform within the prescribed noise limits, but a work-around was found that does not cause a reduction in rated output power.

Hanging from a tubular space frame, the suspension has all the adjustability one would expect from a racecar, and 13.5" front brakes with six-pot calipers (the rears are an inch smaller and shy two pistons) promise fade-free performance during lap sessions. Far from being a stripped-down track-only device, though, the ES8 provides features such as cruise control, traction control, and ABS, and the interior appears to be livable enough to make setting the idea of setting the cruise somewhat plausible.  

As everyone should have guessed by now, we shouldn't expect such a vehicle to make it to the US. Those living Down Under can place an order with Elfin and expect to receive a vehicle in about three months, and with a price tag starting around $120K AUD (that's just shy of $90K USD).

More photos after the jump...

[Sources: Carpoint Australia and Elfin]

Call it what you will - "Blue Devil", "Corvette SS", or just "#%$&ing fast" - but even though we don't yet know the moniker of the upcoming ÜberVette, a clearer picture is being painted of the 650-hp supercharged lump that should propel it past most of the supercar elite. A sharp-eyed and well-connected member of the Digital Corvettes forum managed to have a camera in the right place at the right time, and grabbed three shots of the blown GenIV V8 that is said to carry the SPID designation of LS9.

Most notable is the blower setup, which puts the compressor down low in the valley, with the blower drive snout sneaking past the front-mounted throttle body. Air flows upwards through an air-to-water intercooler (note the yellow caps on the coolant fittings at the rear of the IC), and then drops straight down into the intake ports. The arrangement is similar to that of Cadillac's supercharged Northstar, but this engine appears to be significantly more compact despite providing 40% more output. There's also a bit of bling in the form of valve covers and a intercooler housing formed from polished aluminum, which is certainly more fitting to a $100K vehicle than the usual plastic or stamped steel.

Speaking of GM's luxury brand, rumor has it that a lower-output version of this engine will make its way into the Escalade. That would seem to contradict Caddy's claim that there will be no V-series SUVs.

Is it too early to start wondering when this will be available as a crate motor?

[Source: DigitalCorvettes]

There are a few power-addicted types on Autoblog's staff that aren't impressed with the stock Pontiac Solstice's output, and apparently the guys over at Hot Rod magazine feel the same way. Bless their hearts, they decided to stop complaining and do something about it-- by shoehorning in the ferocious 505 HP LS7 from the Corvette Z06.

The cool thing about this build-up isn't that it involves sticking far more motor into the car than was ever intended (although that has a beauty all its own). Instead of just doing one of those "look at the cool car we built that you'll never own" articles, Hot Rod is basically publishing a DIY manual for those interested in building a modern-day Shelby Cobra. So far, there appears to be a few areas that would present a challenge to most gearheads - custom headers definitely being one of them - but a surprising number of the components come straight from the GM parts bin, and we suspect that the aftermarket may step up to cover any remaining gaps. Forego the pricey LS7 in favor of a junkyard GenIII from a pickup truck, scrounge up the rest of the parts on eBay, spend some nights out in the garage with a TIG welder, and this swap starts to look downright affordable.

[Source: Hot Rod]