Car FYI

Photo Credit: Bavi Bas/ GM Canada In an event taking place ahead of Christmas, General Motors of Canada contributed two fast vehicles for Durham Children’s Aid Foundation supporting Sharon's Kids. Occurring back in October, I would like to call attention to this event as a constant reminder of how, even despite the difficulties and challenges almost everyone has endured in some form or another in 2020, there remained the capacity to recognize a good charitable cause.  Part of an online auction that was held between October 21st and October 28th, a pair of special Chevrolet Corvettes represented a classic end as well as a new beginning for the long-running sports car in Canada. The first vehicle of note is the final seventh generation Corvette assembled for the Canadian market, a 2019 Corvette Grand Sport Coupe featured a 460-horsepower V-8 engine and a Torch Red colour scheme. The second car positioned in the charity auction was the first of the radical eighth generation model . ...

Photo Credit: Chevrolet Though the commitment to a Chevrolet Corvette with an engine positioned ahead of the passenger compartment remained the production standard for another generation, a host of concept cars would continue to sell notion of a different powerplant layout. Intended as a research vehicle, the Astro I featured a fiberglass body that did not use conventional doors. An electric-powered roof would open in concert with elevating seats provided a unique entry and exit experience for passengers for a vehicle measuring only 35.5 inches in height. Finished in Crimson-Flame Acrylic Pearl paint, the Astro I design study also consisted of an air-cooled engine, fully automatic air conditioning, twin grip steering wheel and active aerodynamics to facilitate emergency stops. Another concept vehicle displayed a more reality-focused proposal. The XP-880 concept car came to fruition in 1968 under the engineering expertise of Frank Winchell and Larry Nies. Using existing productio...

Photo Credit: Chevrolet On April 11th of 2019, the sports car world was mesmerized by a sight roaming the roads of New York City. A camouflaged version of the upcoming 2020 Corvette teased what would be one of the boldest iterations of the sports car seen the vehicle’s nearly 67-year history. For 2020, the Chevrolet Corvette will operate with an engine mounted behind the driver and passenger for the first time. The Corvette’s retention of a front engine had been viewed as a personality trait for the American performance machine Opening new possibilities in aerodynamics and handling, the notion of a Corvette using this powertrain layout has actually been debated for decades. As the new car debuts on July 18th of 2019, the moment marks the conclusion of a historic battle within General Motors and Chevrolet dating back to the early days of the Corvette taking place with many forms. The first seeds of a mid-engined Chevrolet Corvette were planted in 1960 through the creation of ...