Chevrolet unveils 580-hp Camaro ZL1 convertible

By Andrew Couts October 11, 2011

2013_chevrolet_camaro-ZL1-convertible — Image used with permission by copyright holder

General Motors has released some early details about its most powerful Chevy convertible of all-time, the 2013 Camaro ZL1. The super-charged softop is set to make its official debut next month, at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show.

“The Camaro ZL1 convertible will be one of the most powerful, and most capable, convertibles available at any price,” Camaro chief designer Al Oppenheiser told USA Today. “This is a car that is guaranteed to put a smile on your face every time you drop the top – or hit the gas.”

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Under the hood, the ZL1 packs a monstrous 6.2-liter LSA V-8 capable of cranking out a staggering 580-horsepower and 556 pound-feet of torque. As GM boasts, that makes the ZL1 more powerful than a wide number of exotic muscle cars, including the 2012 Mercedes SL63 AMG, 2011 Porsche 911 Turbo S and the 2012 Aston Martin DB9 Volante. It even smokes domestic competitors, like the 2011 Ford Shelby GT500, which has 30-hp and 46-lb-ft fewer than the ZL1.

One problem with convertibles, especially ones with a herd of ponies as large as the ZL1’s, is wheel shake and other sub-par performance issues. To cut down on these problems, GM reinforced the ZL1 with a four “strategic” braces: a tower-to-tower brace under the hood, a transmission support reinforcement brace, an underbody tunnel brace, a front “X” brace and stiffer cradles, plus underbody “V” braces.

To further help tame the beast, GM has included a variety of noise- and vibration-reducing qualities to the design. The Magnetic Ride suspension and new twin-wire/dual-coil dampers, located on all four corners, give the ZL1 a smooth-as-whipped-butter ride. And launch control, traction control and electronic stability control features all add the to the ZL1’s acceleration and cornering performance.

GM has saved the rest of the details about the ZL1 until its public unveil next month. But we do know that the carmaker plans to have the ZL1 available at dealerships by the end of this year. Pricing has not yet been announced.

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Cars

Nissan launches charging network, gives Ariya access to Tesla SuperChargers

nissan charging ariya superchargers at station

Nissan just launched a charging network that gives owners of its EVs access to 90,000 charging stations on the Electrify America, Shell Recharge, ChargePoint and EVgo networks, all via the MyNissan app.It doesn’t stop there: Later this year, Nissan Ariya vehicles will be getting a North American Charging Standard (NACS) adapter, also known as the Tesla plug. And in 2025, Nissan will be offering electric vehicles (EVs) with a NACS port, giving access to Tesla’s SuperCharger network in the U.S. and Canada.Starting in November, Nissan EV drivers can use their MyNissan app to find charging stations, see charger availability in real time, and pay for charging with a payment method set up in the app.The Nissan Leaf, however, won’t have access to the functionality since the EV’s charging connector is not compatible. Leaf owners can still find charging stations through the NissanConnectEV and Services app.Meanwhile, the Nissan Ariya, and most EVs sold in the U.S., have a Combined Charging System Combo 1 (CCS1) port, which allows access to the Tesla SuperCharger network via an adapter.Nissan is joining the ever-growing list of automakers to adopt NACS. With adapters, EVs made by General Motors, Ford, Rivian, Honda and Volvo can already access the SuperCharger network. Kia, Hyundai, Toyota, BMW, Volkswagen, and Jaguar have also signed agreements to allow access in 2025.
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Cars

Rivian gets Knight Rider spooky for Halloween

Michael Knight sitting on the hood of his car KITT in a scene from Knight Rider.

Rivian vehicles are known for giving drivers the chance to take the party on the road, whether it’s stowing a travel kitchen onboard or using its elaborate software systems to spice things up.With Halloween just around the corner, the automaker based in Plymouth, Michigan, is pulling out some treats from its bag of tricks: Rivian owners are getting a number of options to turn their vehicles into traditional spooky or full-on sci-fi entertainment hubs.A software update available on the Rivian Mobile App until November 4 provides Car Costumes, which take over the vehicle’s screen, lighting, and sound systems while in park to transform it into three different cars.Nostalgic fans of the Knight Rider TV series will be pleased with the option to turn their Rivians into the famous K.I.T.T. crime-fighting car. After choosing the option on the app, the car’s interior display system features K.I.T.T.’s diagnostics on screen while playing the original show intro music. Here's an extra treat for Rivian Gen 2 owners: The exterior light bar will feature K.I.T.T.’s iconic beaming red light while playing its scanner sound effect.No-less nostalgic fans of Back to the Future movies will also get their treat with a chance to turn their vehicle into the DeLorean Time Machine. With this option, the screen turns into the classic time-traveling interface while the audio system plays the movie’s music and acceleration sound effects. Once again, Rivian Gen 2 owners get an extra treat. Hitting the key 88 mph button will engage the car’s lighting and sound effects in the front and back of the car to whizz you through the sound barrier.For a more traditional spooky time, you can opt for the Haunted Rivian car costume, featuring eight different sound effects and three different color themes. Static and ghosts will take over your interior display.Rivian Gen 1 owners get a green animation on the outside of the vehicle. Gen 2 owners can turn the exterior light bar into whichever color option they find most frightful.

Cars

The Nissan Rogue is joining the plug-in hybrid club in 2025

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It might have taken a while, and slumping sales of its most popular SUV, but Nissan has finally taken the step to offer hybrid vehicles in the U.S. The Japanese automaker will add a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain to the 2026 Rogue compact SUV, which should be available stateside sometime next year, Nissan Americas chief planning officer Ponz Pandikuthira told Automotive News.A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) typically runs on electric power until its battery is almost depleted, at which point it automatically switches over to using a gasoline-powered internal combustion engine. The battery can be recharged conventionally from the outside or through regenerative braking.
While Nissan has been offering popular fully electric vehicles (EVs) such as the Leaf and the Ariya for years, it has surprised many by not joining the hybrid bandwagon, especially for the Rogue. Competitors such as the Toyota RAV4 and the Honda CR-V, which do provide the part-fuel, part-electric power capacity, have seen their sales surging. Meanwhile, sales of the Rogue have slumped this year.
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