2011 Chevrolet Camaro SS

Last year, we pitted the 2010 Ford Mustang GT against the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS. Not so surprisingly, we left that week with a common thought, the Camaro looks awesome, but on par, the Mustang wins our vote.

Last year, the Mustang had over a 100 horsepower disadvantage, yet with less weight to push around the Mustang could more than hang with the Camaro. For 2011, Ford stepped up its game dropping the new “Coyote” 5.0 engine into the GT. This engine upgrade changed the game giving the Mustang GT a whopping 412hp. GM upgraded the new 2011 V6 engine, but the V8 in the SS Camaro is basically the same with 426hp. Dont get us wrong, 420hp is a great deal of power and the SS is by no means a slow car, but with its weight disadvantage, it’s not much of a match to the Mustang anymore.

What’s new for the 2011 Camaro then? Not much as far as we can tell. Our favorite new feature is the Heads Up Display. It’s crisp and clear with nice transitions between info and has lots of info that displays. It’s not just a speedo and RPM tach, it also displays radio information, cruise control information, and even alerts for things like leaving your blinker on too long. The retro style of the interior is still appealing to us as well, although style over function was definitely key in the design of the Camaro. You still get gauges that are hard to read, the steering wheel that doesnt fit or form to your hands, seats that are flat and cooshee – not bolstered or supportive – and you still have the big plasticy door panels. The trunk is somewhat large but with a small opening and shallow floor, loading things is difficult at best.

So the reasons for purchasing the Camaro are the same as well. It’s opposing looks, loud exhaust, and 426hp powering the rear wheels makes for a fun and exciting car. All of this in an affordable car, most people would say the benefits certainly outweigh the negatives of this great American muscle car. As for the power issue, there are plenty of performance upgrade available, and GM has anounce recently that they will be launching a special edition of the Camaro every six months starting with the ZL1 showed at the Chicago Auto show. The ZL1 sports the LSA V8, 6.2 liter supercharged engine with 550 horsepower. So keep an eye out for more great Camaros coming from GM soon.

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Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1

The Corvette has been around since the 50’s and in its long lifespan, it’s never really gotten respect from the European market or the racing community. That is until the C5’s started dominating in GT racing. Building on the success of the C5 racing, Chevrolet built the C6 Corvette ready to take on the big boys. First came the legendary Z06 with its massive 7.0 liter (427 cubic-inch) engine pushing 505 horsepower.

Next the ZR1, and a nameplate from the old C3 and C4 Corvettes returned. The ZR1 rewrote the book for the Corvette. With a 638 horsepower supercharged 6.2 liter, the ZR1 is the most powerful production Corvette to date. At over $100,000, it’s also the most expensive Corvette to date.

It’s not just the numbers that make this hit our list. Everything that the Corvette should be was implemented in this car. It looks amazing, sounds amazing, and goes like hell.

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Hennessey ZR700

The March 2010 issue of Corvette Magazine will feature the Torch Red Hennessey ZR700, quoting “The ZR700 idles and drives like a standard ZR1 at sane speeds, but when I finally got the chance to roll into the throttle hard, the Corvette really came alive.”

Hennessey has taken the already spectacular ZR1 and gave it an extra kick in the backside giving the LS9 power plant some extra thrust. We are talking 705hp and 717 lb-ft torque, and that’s just the beginning. Hennessey is also making available a ZR750 package with, yep you guessed it 750hp!

Check out Corvette Magazine’s article here.

Or check out Hennessey Performance here.

Specs ZR700:

Power:

• ·  • 705 HP @ 6,400 rpm
• ·  • 717 lb-ft Torque @ 3,800 rpm  

  Performance:

• • 0-60 mph: 3.1 sec.
• • 0-150 mph: 13.9 sec. (stock = 17.1 sec.)
• • 1/4 mile: 10.9 @ 136 mph (tested on factory Michelin tires)
• • Top Speed: 217 mphZR700 Upgrade Package Includes:
• • Supercharger Pulley & Blower Snout Upgrade (increases boost from 11 to 14 psi)
• • Re-program Engine Management Computer
• • Stainless Steel 1 7/8 inch Headers
• • High Flow Catalytic Converters with Mid Pipes
• • Hennessey & ZR700 Exterior Emblems (Optional)
• • Hennessey ZR700 Premium Floor Mats
• • Professional Installation at HPE
• • Dyno Testing & Tuning

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2010 Hennessey Z700

Looking for a Corvette? C6 just not doing it for you? Z06? Well the ZR1 surely will be enough to keep u smiling on a race track? No? Hennessey didn’t think so either! If you had the option to get a 911, a 911 GT3, or a 911GT3RS what would you pick?

Hennessey knows there is a market out there for taking a high performance Super Car and making it that much better for the track, so they give you the Z700. Power is jumped from 638 to 705hp and from 604lb-ft to 717 lb-ft torque. This isn’t just a horsepower monster Hennessey has also put the fat American car on a diet by adding more carbon fiber. They threw in some carbon fiber seats, carbon fiber wheels, and a new carbon fiber front splitter enhancing down force. There will be only 24 examples produced of this limited edition Corvette ready to drive home for only $207,150 Dollars. With numbers like 0-60 in 2.9 seconds and to 100mph in just 6.4 seconds it’s defiantly has the numbers to back the price.

Be sure you’ll see one of these on a track near you in Texas.

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[source: Hennessey]

2010 Z700

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A “Start-Up” Auto company is hard to conceive in America, oddly enough, with all the technology and regulations in cars today. There is one small American “Start-Up” that I can think of that has worked to an extent and that’s Panoz. The big problem with using Panoz as an example is that they have not done much outside of LeMans racing in nine years. Panoz based out of Hoschton Georgia, started its life in 1989 first developing their Roadster then in 2000 developing the Esperante and that’s about it.

What about here in Texas? There is a local North Texas man with a dream to build a sports car and make a “Start-Up” company called BXR Motors. Bailey and his partner have been working on the Blade since 2007 and are expecting a working prototype by the autumn of this year. He has really shown that it is possible to take a concept and an idea and turn it into reality in a small shop in Texas. Yet the question still remains, will BXR Motors survive or be prosperous? I have always said that the big problem with GM and the big auto industry is that they are too big. There is a place for big auto makers building cars but they also need to be offset by small car companies that build limited production cars. Look at Europe there are as many small companies building cars in sheds or on industrial estates, as there are big car companies. This is one reason why they make more attractive cars, there is more competition from enthusiast building cars and not just big companies.

On to the car!

All we have to work with is the looks and the numbers on paper, but that’s great because the looks are stunning and the numbers match the looks. While being all hand built and carved, what we do know is that the car is being built on a modified Cobra Kit Car chassis. The windshield, doors, and roof are based off an early nineties Miata. The engine of choice is a 550HP 5.4L Ford sourced V8 with a Roushcharger bolted on for good measure. The big V8 will be mashed to a six-speed gear box, powering the rear wheels of course, mounted behind the front axles to give the car a front/mid engine layout with an almost 50/50 weight distribution. Other major parts like suspension, brakes, and differential will be sourced from Ford or Roush as well.

The styling, Bailey says, is not from one car in particular but more the best bits from the best cars. It has almost a mean face with big open chucks in the front fascia letting the car breath in and supplying air to the massive brakes. The headlights look menacing, although sourced from the Mazda 3 you would never know. The hood has a GT40 style LeMans vents sucking air through the radiator and helping with the down force of the car. The dual bumped hood swings down to bulging hips covering the rear tires with an almost sensual rear end. All in all, the car looks fantastic, on paper.

The true test will be on the track. The now growing team of BXR Motors just moved their facilities to Texas Motorsport Ranch in Cresson Texas, one of the only country club style race tracks in the country. There they will tune and optimize their beast to lay down the massive 550 HP and tear up the track. Getting the handling and interior style down is a must as this car will be priced in the $100,000 range. This means that they are priced to compete with the likes of Panoz and the great sports cars of Europe, as well as the new Holy Grail, the ZR1. Those are big shoes to fill but with the unique styling and limited production of this car I’m sure it will be able to make its mark in the enthusiast world.

To find out more about BXR Motors visit their web site http://bxrmotors.com there they have what seems to me as a first ever, you are able to watch him build the car and he gives tips and tricks that he has found for making a ground up sports car.

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