Cars Chevrolet Caprice Police Vehicle

Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol VehicleAn all-new Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle (PPV) will join the ranks of law enforcement departments across North America in 2011. It's a modern, full-size, rear-drive sedan that will offer both V-8 and V-6 engines, as well as a host of specialized equipment and features.

Chevrolet made the announcement at the annual International Association of Chiefs of Police convention, in Denver, Colorado. The Chevrolet Caprice PPV will be available for ordering next year and will hit the streets in early 2011.

"The new Chevrolet Caprice police car is the right tool at the right time for law enforcement," said Jim Campbell, general manager for GM Fleet and Commercial Operations. "We asked for a lot of feedback from our police customers, which helped us develop a vehicle that is superior to the Crown Victoria in key areas."
Vice President, Global Chevrolet Brand Brent Dewar added, "Along with Impala and Tahoe, the Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle gives agencies a greater range of choices for police and special service vehicles that are all available from Chevrolet."
Unlike other police cars on the market, the Chevrolet Caprice PPV is not based on existing "civilian" passenger-car model sold in North America. It has been developed in key areas specifically for police duty, containing modern equipment and features:

Powerful 6.0L V-8 with fuel-saving Active Fuel Management technology and E85 capability delivers expected best-in-class 0-60 acceleration (sub six seconds) and top speed; a V-6 engine will also be offered, beginning in the 2012 model year
Optional front-seat-only side curtain air bags allows a full-width rear-seat barrier for greater officer safety
Two trunk-mounted batteries, with one of them dedicated to powering various police equipment
Designed for five-passenger seating, meaning the upper-center section of the dashboard can be used for equipment mounting without the concern of air bag deployment interference
Compatibility with in-dash touch-screen computer technology
Special front seats designed for the long-term comfort of officers whose car is their effective office, including space that accommodates the bulk of a typical equipment belt



The front seats are sculpted to "pocket" the equipment belt, which greatly increases the comfort for a great range of police officer sizes. The foam density of the seatback and cushion insert surfaces are designed to conform to the shape of an equipment belt's various items, too, allowing the officer's back to rest properly on the seatback surface.
"The Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle's seats represent a revolution in comfort and utility for officers who spend long hours in their car," said Bob Demick, lead seat design manager. "The shape also enhances entry and egress, making it easier for officers to exit the vehicle quickly. The seatback bolsters, for example, have been purposefully contoured to help pocket the equipment on the belt, which includes the gun, Taser and handcuffs, which rest comfortably in the sculpted lower bolsters. That also increases the longevity of the trim cover surface."
Along with comfort, the materials used in the seats were also carefully selected. High-wear materials were chosen to stand up to long hours of everyday use, while breathability, long-term durability and ease of cleaning were also important criteria.
Engineers worked on several iterations of the seat, testing a couple of versions in the field to get real-world feedback from police officers, who used prototype seats in their cruisers for a month. Their input helped determine the final design.
Class-leading space
The Chevrolet Caprice PPV is based on GM's global rear-drive family of vehicles that also underpins the Chevy Camaro. It uses the longest wheelbase of the architecture - 118.5 inches (3,010 mm) - along with a four-wheel independent suspension that delivers responsive high-performance driving characteristics that are crucial in some police scenarios.
Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle's long wheelbase also contributes to exceptional spaciousness. Compared to the primary competition, its advantages include:

A larger interior volume - 112 cubic feet / 3,172 liters - than the Ford Crown Victoria, including nearly 4 inches (101 mm) more rear legroom
The barrier between the front seat and rear seat is positioned farther rearward, allowing for full front-seat travel and greater recline for officer comfort
At 18 cubic feet (535 liters) free space (beyond battery located in trunk), the Caprice's trunk volume is large enough to accommodate a full-size spare tire under a flat load surface in the trunk storage area. The Chevrolet Caprice's 6.0-liter V-8 is rated at an estimated 355 horsepower (265 kW) with an estimated 384 lb-ft of torque. It is backed by a six-speed automatic transmission that is performance-calibrated for police duty. Additional, police car-specific powertrain and vehicle system features include:

• High-output alternator

 

• Engine oil, transmission and power steering coolers

 

• Standard 18-inch steel wheels with bolt-on center caps

 

• Large, four-wheel disc brakes with heavy-duty brake pads

 

• Heavy-duty suspension components

 

• Police-calibrated stability control system

 

Driver information center in the instrument cluster with selectable speed tracking feature. A host of complementary features are also offered, including special equipment packages such as spotlights; lockouts for the power windows and locks; and an "undercover" street-appearance package (9C3).
To enable more room for interior equipment, the standard radio can be relocated to the trunk, allowing for an in-dash, touch-screen computer to be used.

Source : Netcarshow.com

new Corvette In 1963 to replace the C1 generation

This Corvette featured a high beltline and the body featured more chiseled lines. The C2 Generation `Vette was nicknamed the “Sting Ray” by its designers, Bill Mitchell and Larry Shinoda, and that eventually became adopted as part of the name and the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray was born. released an all-new Corvette In 1963 to replace the C1 generation.

The 1967 model year was the final one for the Sting Ray, but it was also its peak year, as its top level L88 427 cubic-inch power plant produced upwards of 500 horsepower, even though Chevy claimed it only produced 430 horsepower. The lower engines, the L68 427 and L71 427, were no chumps either, pumping out 400 horsepower and 435 horsepower, respectively.

Classic car specialists, RK Motors Charlotte, decided that the stock Sting Ray was just not enough and decided to heavily modify this classic muscle car. The resulting vehicle is the sexy and ultra-desirable 1967 Corvette Sting Rat Pro Touring, a one-off special edition designed by the folks at RKM.

Typically, we are totally against the hacking up of a classic muscle sports car like the Sting Ray, but RKM has a habit of improving these cars without ruining the original look and feel of them.

Source : Topspeed.com

Cars Reviews Chevrolet Sonic Price

Chevrolet Sonic priced at $14,495

The Sonic will be offered as a four-door sedan and a five-door hatchback. It replaces the Chevy Aveo, which was priced $2,249 below the new Sonic's sticker

USA AUTO - Prices for the Chevrolet Sonic small car will start at $14,495, including shipping, when sales begin this fall, General Motors said today.

That puts the Sonic $500 above the base-model Ford Fiesta, a key competitor in the subcompact segment. But the Sonic will be priced below the Honda Fit, which stickers at $15,870, including shipping.
The Sonic will be offered as a four-door sedan and a five-door hatchback. It replaces the Chevy Aveo, which was priced $2,249 below the new Sonic's sticker.
GM says the Sonic will come with the most standard safety equipment among subcompacts, including electronic stability control and 10 airbags. Keyless entry and 15-inch alloy wheels also are standard.
"Today's customers have high expectations for small cars," Rick Scheidt, vice president of Chevrolet marketing, said in a statement. "Sonic comes with an unexpected level of standard equipment so that every customer will have comforts and amenities they desire."

The car, which comes with a base 1.8-liter Ecotec engine mated to a five-speed manual transmission, will come in three models. The lineup, with prices that include shipping, includes:
* LS: Sedan starts at $14,495; hatchback at $15,395. In addition to the safety features, the package includes traction control and antilock brakes.
* LT: Sedan starts at $15,695; hatchback at $16,495. The package adds a six-speaker premium sound system, heated front seats and side mirrors, 17-inch alloy wheels and cruise control.
* LTZ: Sedan starts at $17,295; hatchback at $17,995. It gets all the features on the LT plus a connectivity package that includes a USB port, Bluetooth and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls.
Buyers can upgrade to a six-speed automatic transmission for $1,070. The LT and LTZ models offer and optional 1.4-liter turbo with a six-speed transmission for an additional $700.
GM will build the Sonic at its Orion assembly plant in suburban Detroit. It will be the only U.S.-made subcompact, the result of a 2009 agreement with the UAW that will allow GM to hold down costs by paying an entry-level wage to 40 percent of workers at the plant.

Source : http://www.autonews.com