Fifth Generation LT1 Small-Block

On October 24, 2012, we got our first look at the 5th generation Chevy-small block. On this date, the Warren Michigan GM Tech Center was filled with journalists to view, photograph, and learn more about this hot new power-source. It was labeled as the best one yet, and is said to appear in the 2014 Corvette.


The LT1 is a new engine with only a few similarities to the LS3. Here are some statistics surrounding the new engine:

• 6.2 liters
• 450 horsepower
• 450 lb-ft of torque
• Compression = 11:5:1
• 0 to 60mph in 4 seconds
• Octane tolerant

In addition, the LT1 will beat the LS3's fuel economy which is currently 26 mpg on the highway. Basically, it is built to last, take a beating, and last throughout it's entire warranty.

What is there to learn about the 2014 Corvette LT1 V8 Powerhouse? First off, it offers advanced technologies in several different areas including active fuel engagement, direct injection, and continuously variable valve timing support advanced combustion system. It is said to offer the best fuel economy in any Corvette yet. It is said to offer over 450 hp with 450 lb-ft of torque. It will be able to reach 0 to 60mph in less than four seconds! This will make it the quickest standard Corvette yet!

According to senior vice president of Global Product development, Mary Barra, the LT1 was designed to raise the bar for engines in performance vehicles. She believes that this objective was obtained by creating a "masterpiece" that uses advanced technologies that can only be found in a small few engines around the world. Each time a performance vehicle is created, the goal is to offer greater power and greater fuel economy - and that is exactly what the new 2014 Corvette does. Not only does the LT1 offer excellent horsepower and fuel economy, but it also produces a broader power band than ever before, staying below 4, 000 rpm.

  by  au_tiger01 

Another new component of the 2014 Corvette? Active Fuel Management. For the first time ever, the engine's cylinders are shut off during light-load driving, helping to save on fuel during lighter drives.

The very first Corvette with a Small Block V-8 was designed in 1955. It had a 4.3L and 195hp. Today, the 2012 Small Block powered Corvette Racing C6.R beat out other top model vehicles in the American Le Mans Series GT class, making Corvette the most successful team in the championships history.

So what is it that makes the Small Block so successful? The combination of power, efficiency, durability, and compactness. These qualities are what makes the engine so desirable for production and race cars alike, and with the addition of such new and advanced technologies, the engine is made even better.

Other features of the Corvette LT1 include:

• all aluminum block and oil pan
• an advanced oiling system with available dry-sump system
• Tri-lobe cam shaft
• Cam driven fuel pump
• PCV integrated rocker covers
• Intake manifold and throttle body assembly
• 4-in-1 exhaust manifolds

If you live in the Southern California region and need to take your vehicle in for service, head to your local Ramona Tire. Operating for over 40 years, Ramona Tire & Automotive Service Centers are among the most trusted service shops in California. To get the best prices on tires and some of the most competitive coupons in the industry, visit their website at ramonatire.com and search for a location near you.

To learn more about the features of LT1, visit http://www.popularhotrodding.com/hotnews/1210phr_gen_v_lt1_small_block/

2014 Cadillac ELR

The Chevy Volt is a unique car with an impressive pedigree and an intense production schedule. Chevy's team had to put a brand-new power train in a new car basically, all under par where time and budget where concerned. There wasn't a lot of room for error or extension. This worked fairly well, but GM caught some flak for a kind of dumbing-down of the concept car.

The 2014 Cadillac ELR uses that same super-efficient drive train, just with a little more gestation time. You may, in fact, recognize it as a concept car GM displayed to great acclaim four years ago, the Converj. With the Volt's successes and criticisms in mind, then-Chairman Bob Lutz made maintaining the Converj's style a clear priority. If you look hard enough, you can see a few sharp lines that have been smoothed down. Still the sharp wedge shape and aggressive styling have remained mostly intact. This can be seen in the higher drag coefficient of the ELR compared to the Volt: 031 to 028. Lowered efficiency or no, the ELR has a sense of style and presence that's gratifying to see in a mass-manufactured car, let alone in an ecologically-minded one.

Where the Volt missed the mark, the ELR hits a clear bullseye. One shining example is the interior quality, featuring two kinds of wood, various luxurious leathers, and sleek carbon fiber. It is a Cadillac, after all, and carries with it the sense of opulence the brand is famous for. An underbody brace and active dampers keep the ride Caddy-smooth, too, even offering multiple ride settings. It also comes with the price tag Cadillacs usually bear, with MSRP estimated at $70,000.

Those looking for a classy expression of the ecological car will probably be happy to note that this is basically the suave version of the Chevy Volt. It incorporates the ground-breaking drive train, and the electric motor, gas engine, and battery are nearly identical to the Volt, just tweaked with the experience a few years of road experience provides. The ELR does boast a nearly 40% boost in horsepower and an accompanying, and impressive, 400 ft-lbs of torque, compared to the smaller Volt's 365 ft-lbs. The ELR does take a small hit in mileage, however it is fairly minimal: just under 80 miles.

Those looking for true and real innovation in the 2014 Cadillac ELR will be disappointed. It retains many hallmarks of the Cadillac brand: a sharp sense of style, immense comfort, and that all-important luxury. A price tag as large as the ELR's usually comes paired with something more than a souped-up version of last year's cutting edge. If the only thing preventing you from buying a Volt was the slightly dumpy design, well, now you have the ELR. To be fair, it is more exotic hardware than most SUVs, and those looking to blend sensible gas consumption with high style and comfort have finally found a pairing with GM's new offering. It's just a bit of a heft price tag to swallow.

If you live in the Southern California region and need to take your vehicle in for service, head to your local Ramona Tire. Operating for over 40 years, Ramona Tire & Automotive Service Centers are among the most trusted service shops in California. To get the best prices on tires and some of the most competitive coupons in the industry, visit their website at ramonatire.com and search for a location near you. Remember we always have the best deals in town on Cadillac ELR.

Read the Whole Article here: http://www.automobilemag.com/auto_shows/detroit/2013/1301_2014_cadillac_elr/

2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

There are some classic American cars that just can't be kept down. The Chevrolet Corvette is one of them. This is the first production Corvette to bear the Stingray since '67, and, boy howdy, does it deserve it. The 2014 model does what the Corvette does best. It couples top of the line engineering and blood-pumping power and acceleration, then wraps it up in a sleek and sexy red dress for the world to see.

This seventh generation of a classic American sports car proudly claims its heritage, taking, with pride, its place in the long line of beautiful machines produced by Chevrolet. It's a self-aware improvement over its predecessors, boasting augmentation and change in every aspect. It smoothly and quickly transitions from stop to GO back to stop again, with better acceleration and stopping speeds. It even has a more efficient motor, leading to (slightly, let's be honest) better fuel consumption rates. This more tightly-tuned, more efficient engine also lends itself to more power. There are humble increases in both torque and horsepower made possible by the new economy.

The new Stingray will also boast the industry's second seven-speed manual transmission, and new Corvettes that bear clutches will also come with paddle shifters. These serve to toggle the automatic rev-matching program, allowing drivers to work around the rev-matching software, but are awfully prominent if you don't plan to be working around it very often. New improvements also include an all-aluminum frame, previously exclusive to the Z06 and the ZR1. The new frame is both stiffer and almost one hundred pounds lighter than the steel frame of the C6 Corvette, but most of the lost weight is made up by new and important safety equipment.

The design of the C7 is groundbreaking for the Corevette. Hallmarks of traditional design remain, but the way lines are treated in the new shape is jaw-dropping and awe-inspiring. There's a rear window for the first time in decades, helping to set the tone for the overall design. Yes, it is sleek. Yes, it is sexy, and speaks of raw power wedded to exceptional precision. But, for what feels like the first time in ages, the new Corvette doesn't speak to fake retro stylings. It is pure function in form, in a way that is novel to this American classic.

The C7 marks an interesting juxtaposition for Corvette, too. New technology infuses the machine from front bumper to the trailing exhaust tip, and many fundamental changes have shaped the new model. Long-time Corvette lovers will be pleased to hear that Chevrolet made new seats (a longtime source of discomfort) a priority in the new interior, which has been completely restyled. Almost nothing in the new Stringray is like any other Corvette. There is nothing superfluous here, even all the aggressive-looking vents are practical and actually provide air for some crucial part or other. Interestingly, perhaps ironically, this departure from tradition marks a return to what made the Corvette a household name: innovation and pure, beautiful functionality.

If you live in the Southern California region and need to take your vehicle in for service, head to your local Ramona Tire. Operating for over 40 years, Ramona Tire & Automotive Service Centers are among the most trusted service shops in California. To get the best prices on tires and some of the most competitive coupons in the industry, visit their website at http://ramonatire.com/ and search for a location near you. Remember we always have the best deals in town on Chevrolet Corvette Stingray.

Click Here: http://www.automobilemag.com/auto_shows/detroit/2013/1303_2014_chevrolet_corvette/

The New Audi RS7

First debuted in 2010 at the Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich, the 2011 Audi A7 Sportback comes complete with a 3.0 liter V6 engine. Sound impressive? It is! So impressive, in fact, that many people are wondering why the Audi even needs to upgrade to the 2013 Audi S7. Debuting in the 2011 Frankfurt auto show, this vehicle upgrades to a 4.0 liter turbo V8 engine. So why was this vehicle created? Was it to stand up to the competition of the Mercedes Benz E63 AMG, the Cadillac CTS-V, and the BMW M5? Absolutely not. In fact, there was another vehicle that was designed for such competition - The Audi RS7 Sportback.


Premiering in mid-January at the Detroit auto show, the Audi RS7 blasts the S7's horsepower out of the park. Compared to the S7, which offers a 4.0 V8 engine with 414 horsepower, the new RS7 offers 4.0 liter engine with 560 horsepower. Compared with the V7's 406 lb-ft of torque, the Audi RS7 sits at 516 lb-ft. And when it comes to speed? The original V7 was said to reach 0 to 60mph in 4.8 seconds. The new RS7 is said to hit 0 to 60 in 3.9 seconds - that's a .9 second improvement!

With the new 4.0 engine, the intake is on the outside of the vee and the exhaust valves are on the inside. To make for shorter gas pathways and a quicker response time, the two twin scroll turbos are placed within the intercooler. The new RS7 also allows for engine management, allowing the operator of the vehicle to change the note of the engine with a button that controls the flaps in the exhaust system. You can also opt for a sport exhaust.

  by  sarahlarson 

Also offered with the Audi RS7 is COD, or cylinder on demand. An "Audi" version of power shutoff, this helps to improve gas mileage by shutting down cylinders during low load conditions. To be more specific, under light loads, this 4.0 liter engine becomes a 2.0 liter engine by closing off the valves for cylinders 2,3,5, and 8. The Audi RS7 is said to have fuel mileage of 24 miles per gallon.

Other standard features of the Audi RS7 include:

• Quattro permanent all-wheel drive
• 16.5 carbon fiber ceramic disc brakes
• 8 speed Tiptronic transmission
• A 7 twin spoke 20 inch forged wheel
• Torque vectoring
• Leather wrapped steering wheel
• Lap timer

Optional features of the Audi RS7 include:

• 3 designs of 21 inch wheels
• Adaptive air suspension
• Sport suspension with dynamic ride control
• All leather interior

So does the RS7 feel faster than the S7? Until it is taken for it's first drive, we simply won't know. As for now, you can tell the difference between the two vehicles by looking at the bumpers. Keep your eye out for the new Audi RS7 and you can decide for yourself whether it stands up to it's BMW, Mercedes, and Cadillac competitors.

If you live in the Southern California region and need to take your vehicle in for service, head to your local Ramona Tire. Operating for over 40 years, Ramona Tire & Automotive Service Centers are among the most trusted service shops in California. To get the best prices on tires and some of the most competitive coupons in the industry, visit their website at www.RamonaTire.com and search for a location near you.

Click here to read more: http://www.automobilemag.com/auto_shows/detroit/2013/1301_2014_audi_rs_7_sportback/

2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Jeep's Grand Cherokee is one of the most recognizable brands on the market, and Chrysler's best seller behind the Ram. As such, it is a model watched especially closely for updates, changes, and potentially, mistakes. Like many “classic” brands, its followers are split between those those enthusiastically endorse any changes and those who rabidly decry any changes. This model year should be an interesting one for both kinds of fans.

This is a big year for efficiency for the Grand Cherokee. Big changes include the introduction of a diesel model, a first for the Cherokee, as well as the introduction of a ride-height selecting feature. These features, called “Quadra-Lift” in this model, seem to be very popular this model year, especially with bigger cars made by American manufacturers. The Quadra-Lift tech, combined with various other drivetrain features, rounds the diesel model out to an impressive mpg. The 4x2 models boast 21/30 city/highway and a 20/28 for the 4x4's. The diesel models also meet B5 compliance metrics, utilizing a fluid based SCR catalyst system to make it Tier II compliant, meaning it will be available in all 50 states.

One of those new drivetrain changes is an 8 speed automatic transition, which helps bump up the gas-powered models' mpg but only by one or two miles per gallon. Towing capacity sees a big jump, especially in the SRT model, which goes from a kind of wimpy 5000 lbs to a much beefier 7200lbs. All the new models also feature racing-inspired paddle shifters as part of a minor interior redesign. Most everything else is just tweaked. There's a new three-spoke steering wheel and the stubby T-bar shifter familiar to Charger owners makes an appearance here, too.

Cosmetically, however, there are plenty of new changes to the exterior. While the extra-functional Jeep styling remains at the fore, the Grand Cherokee is definitely going upscale this year. The foglights have moved and look like they're outlined in chrome, drawing an appreciative eye. The light clusters are grouped more tightly this year, with LED driving light standard on two of the premium packages. It is, of course, optional on the more basic Limited level. LED lights present themselves at the rear, too, making up the new taillights. As if by an occult hand, the tailgate's Jeep logo has jumped up and is now a larger piece of the visual detailing. But gaze upon it too long, mortal, and your very soul may be in danger. Black grille detailing is available on the sportier SRT model, too, for those wishing a more aggressive head-on view.

Overall, the new model year shows some very clever and forward-minded improvements. With gas consumption an ever-present concern, wise manufacturers are tweaking mpg where they can. Otherwise, some of our favorite classic models may disappear altogether. The 2014 Grand Cherokee has made some impressive improvements, keeping in mind the many Jeeps that serve double duty as both trailblazer and family car. The paddle shifters may excite your inner racer, but the Quadra-Lift tech is going to be equally exciting for the dad who has to drive precious cargo back and forth. All in all, it's going to be a pleasure to find oneself behind the wheel of the new Jeep.

If you live in the Southern California region and need to take your vehicle in for service, head to your local Ramona Tire. Operating for over 40 years, Ramona Tire & Automotive Service Centers are among the most trusted service shops in California. To get the best prices on tires and some of the most competitive coupons in the industry, visit their website at http://www.ramonatire.com and search for a location near you. Remember we always have the best deals in town on Grand Cherokee.

Go Here: http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/suvs/1301_2014_jeep_grand_cherokee_first_look/

Toyota Corolla Furia Concept

The Toyota Corolla has always been an important brand for Toyota, perhaps even one of the most crucial cars in their line-up, especially stateside. It's never really been a line of cars that has stirred passion in the hearts of red-blooded car enthusiasts. The Corolla has, however, helped cement Toyota's reputation for producing economical cars that are reliable, practical, and sensible. They're famous for great gas mileage and durability that often lasts well past the 250,000 mile mark.

So imagine the dropped jaws at the Detroit auto show when Toyota Group Division Vice President Bill Fray revealed the new Furia concept. Our girl next door Corolla was sporting carbon fiber accenting, a sporty orange paint job, and 19-inch wheels. Fray reportedly said, “We want to move the brand from more of a rational brand to more of an emotional brand.” I can't help but imagine that he was smug as a cat when he said it.

Now, keep in mind that this is only a concept car and just “could” preview a flashier, sexier Corolla. There's no date when this aggressively body-kitted Corolla could look at edging into the production line, but we can dream, can't we? Specifically, we can dream of a Toyota Corolla with boxier, more aggressive styling, with its new 19-inch wheels pushed to the edge of the frame in a sprawling crouch. The new LED headlights and blacked out grill help round out that predatory look in a way totally unexpected from Toyota's economy car.

This unexpected new styling could really shake up the Corolla's image, but the rapacious new design is really only cosmetic. Mostly. There's probably an update to the current models 1.8 liter engine for the 2014 model year, but fuel efficiency is the bread and butter of the Corolla's market. It would be nearly unthinkable for Toyota (commonly noted to maintain ecologically thoughtful mileage across model lines) to leverage the bold and brisk new design into an equally bold thirst for gas.

Even the design changes show an economy of style. The Furia isn't a complete redesign of the Corolla's staid patterning. It's been squared-off and made boxier, and there's a few sharp lines that weren't there before, but it's still just an improved Corolla. Any new approach to this linchpin brand is more than likely only a new approach for a new market. Most of the hard edges will get sanded off for mainstream production, if I guess correctly. The idea is to expand market, not scare off mainstream car-buyers.

The sleek manipulation on display in the Furia is typical, and unsurprising, coming from Toyota. As a company, they've always been fairly good about having a finger on the market's pulse. I can only see this bold new direction, however much is left after corporate's pandering to mainstream, strengthening the brand. With more and more pressure placed on high fuel efficiency, the new Corolla won't translate rapacious design into gas-guzzling. It might, though, translate into a bigger bite of the marketshare.

If you live in the Southern California region and need to take your vehicle in for service, head to your local Ramona Tire. Operating for over 40 years, Ramona Tire & Automotive Service Centers are among the most trusted service shops in California. To get the best prices on tires and some of the most competitive coupons in the industry, visit their website at www.ramonatire.com/index.htm and search for a location near you. Remember we always have the best deals in town on keyword.

Click here to read the original article: http://www.automobilemag.com/auto_shows/detroit/2013/1301_toyota_corolla_furia_concept/

Motor Trend's 2013 Car of the Year Tesla Model S

Year-end awards are always tricky. Sometimes, tension makes the announcements electrifying, while other years have less charge than the surface of a balloon rubbed against a woolen sweater. Award shows often attract controversy like lightning rods. However, this year, there's no resistance to Motor Trends' shocking pick for Car of the Year: the Tesla Model S.

This is the very first time Motor Trends has highlighted an electric car as its Car of the Year, but Tesla surely deserves it. It may be full of new wonders (it is), it may be slickly stylish (it is), but at the end of the day, it's a damn good car. It's just not powered by an internal combustion engine, that's all.

The company's namesake, Nikola Tesla, demonstrated the basic principles of AC-induction type power way back in the 1880s, and that is the kind of engine the Model S uses. Tesla offers three battery pack levels: 40, 60, and 80 kW-hr, respectively. Make no mistake, the premium tier, the 80 kW-hr model, produces a not-to-be-ashamed of 363 hp and a sturdy 325 ft-lbs of torque. The battery packs are actually a load-bearing part of the car's structure, helping to rigidify the body and draw the center of gravity down to 17.5 inches.

The fine folks at Tesla claim no less than 250 patents on the Model S, and it's no surprise. The Model S is a testament to modern American engineering (the company's home is in Fremont, California). Everything from its super light yet strong aluminum body to its progressive design claim a mastery over the art of car manufacture. It's even the first hatchback, ever, to offer third-row seating.

The machine weighs just under two and a half tons, tipping the scales at a fighting 4766 lbs. Pretty impressive for a luxury car that hits 60mph at 4.0 seconds even, with a top speed of 113mph. The really arresting fact is that the Model S does this with an unmatched efficiency. While driving the winner around the test track, the 11 judges returned with a 74.5 mpg-e, though the Motor Trends editors report a remarkable 118 on a trip from LA to Las Vegas. Using California's 13 cents per kW-hr, the thing costs a majestic six cents a mile to run. To top it off, the Model S has photovoltaic cells on the roof, so part of your charge is covered by the generosity of the sun itself.

The Model S is a testament to everything that has ever made American cars great. It is a brilliant mesh of engineering, design, and entrepreneurship. While the interior could use some polish, the car as a whole brightly outshines every other model in its class. It tops the list of mid-size luxury cars in safety ratings, blows other electric cars out of the water in speed and electrical parsimony, and its looks incredibly stylish to boot. In fact, Motor Trends 11 judges voted unanimously for the Model S as Car of the Year. How often do you get 11 people to agree on anything? If all decisions were as easy as this, ordering pizza would be a sight easier, let me tell you.

If you live in the Southern California region and need to take your vehicle in for service, head to your local Ramona Tire. Operating for over 40 years, Ramona Tire & Automotive Service Centers are among the most trusted service shops in California. To get the best prices on tires and some of the most competitive coupons in the industry, visit their website at http://www.ramonatire.com/index.htm and search for a location near you. Remember we always have the best deals in town on motor trends 2013.

Check the Original Article: http://www.motortrend.com/oftheyear/car/1301_2013_motor_trend_car_of_the_year_tesla_model_s/