With the seventh-generation Corvette due out soon, Chevy is reportedly already looking ahead to the C8 model with major changes planned. General Motors had planned a major revamp of the Corvette for the C7 model but when the economy took a turn for the worse, it was decided that less ambitious changes had to be made. As a result the C7 is to follow after previous Vettes, but with improvements. In other words, it’s more of a stop-gap, to keep the iconic sports car alive until the C8 arrives to usher in a new era of the Corvette.

“That [the C7] will be the last of the traditional, old-style Corvettes,” said a senior GM representative to AutoWeek. Reportedly under consideration for the C8 is a light-weight aluminum platform with a mid-engine layout. It is may also be smaller in size and could even use a V6 engine. That might sound crazy, but if a V6 is planned, you can expect a few turbochargers to also be a part of the package.

We’ve already seen reports mentioning GM’s plans to make the Corvette a more global car with improved youth-appeal, and as much as cosmetic changes to the C7 platform are expected to head in that direction, the C8 is now looking to update every aspect of the car.

[Source: Autoweek]

We’re not exaggerating when we say that the Corvette Z06 Carbon Edition might just be the sexiest looking Vette ever created. That’s why when Chevy released a new selection of photos of the stunning Supersonic Blue sports car, we thought it warranted a whole new post.

Created to celebrate 50 years since a Corvette first competed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 2011 Corvette Z06 Carbon Edition gets brake and suspension upgrades, as well as a lighter overall weight thanks to plenty of carbon fiber. The changes, says Chief Corvette Engineer Tadge Juechter, are enough to shave up to 3.0 seconds per lap off a standard Z06 on a track like Laguna Seca.

“For track use, the Z06 Carbon is the best balanced Corvette yet. It combines the lightweight and naturally-aspirated Z06 engine with the road-holding and braking of the ZR1,” he comments.

Upgrades include Brembo carbon ceramic brakes, straight from the ZR1, as well as 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels, coated in Michelin PS2 tires. Upgraded engine and transmissions coolers are part of the package, as is a Magnetic Selective Ride Control system. And let’s not forget a special carbon fiber hood (lighter than the one used on the ZR1), as well as a carbon fiber engine cover, carbon fiber rocker panels and front splitter. There’s even a ZR1-inspired rear spoiler, plus black headlights and mirrors.

The body of the Carbon Edition Vette will be offered in two colors (either, Inferno Orange or the all-new Supersonic Blue, pictured above), while the interior gets ebony leather and suede with blue or orange stitching. Suede is used for the steering wheel, shifter, seat inserts, armrests and doors. Unfortunately, we can also tell from some of the photos that there’s still some el cheapo plastics used on places like the steering wheel.

Just 500 Carbon Edition models will be made, although Chevy will make some of the items available in packages for Z06 models. A Z07 Performance Package includes the performance upgrades, while a CFZ Z06 Carbon Fiber package includes many of the carbon fiber components (but not the hood) as well as a rear spoiler.

The Z06 Carbon Edition will be available this summer.

Now you’ve probably heard all this before (when we posted the original story earlier this week), so stop reading and get to the gallery.

GALLERY: 2011 Chevy Corvette Z06 Carbon Edition

Over the past year, Chevy has been proud of the success of the new Camaro, with sales exceeding targets. The Camaro sold 61,648 units in 2009, just shy of the Mustang with 66,623, despite the fact that the Camaro wasn’t even on sale for a whole year. But now it appears as though the Camaro’s success has come at the expense of another Chevy, the iconic Corvette. Surprisingly, according to Wards Automotive data, the Camaro is the most cross-shopped vehicle with the Corvette, despite the significant price difference ($18,000) and performance potential.

Last year all sports cars saw a big dip in sales, but the Corvette really got rocked, with units sold down 48.3 percent compared to the year before. It’s not yet clear if this trend will continue as many factors may have contributed to potential Corvette buyers opting for a Camaro instead. The economic downturn is an obvious factor, as is the fact that the Camaro boasts a brand new style and is new on the market, while the current C6 Corvette has been around for over half a decade. Then there’s the obvious fact that a base Corvette and a top-level Camaro SS have roughly the same horsepower.

Supporting the Camaro cannibalization theory, however, is the fact that while sports cars often rely on high-volume V6 sales, up to two-thirds of Camaro buyers opted for the V8. How many of them were really interested in a Corvette we’ll never known.

[Source: Wards Automotive]

Back in 1980, General Motors toyed with the idea of producing a 4-door Corvette America. A prototype was built but the project was later dropped. As absurd as the concept sounds, GM now appears to be revisiting the idea and with Porsche seeing great success with its Panamera, the 4-door Vette might very well see reality three decades later.

According to a report by Wards Automotive, news of the rebirth of the Corvette America comes from none other than soon-to-retire GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz, although its not clear that a 4-door Vette would actually wear the Corvette name. In fact, we’d think such a model would make more sense as a Cadillac, although considering the CTS-V, there might not be enough to differentiate the two.

Creating a 4-door Corvette would also allow Chevy to introduce a higher-volume V6-powered version, an idea it has debated in the past with the 2-door Corvette as a way to attract female buyers and those less interested in the car’s V8 performance and more its stylish good looks.

Aficionados of the car will no doubt have great disdain for the idea, but it may help GM reduce costs, increase profitability and offer a unique product. Would it devalue the Corvette name? Probably not, considering the Panamera doesn’t seem to have hurt the Porsche 911. Would it be hideous? Quite possibly. But again, that hasn’t seem to hamper sales of Porsche’s new 4-door.

[Source: Wards Automotive]

Corvette Racing has just released the first part of a 12 part series, chronicling the team’s build up and follow-through for the 2010 American Le Mans Series. The first video in the series doesn’t waste any time dealing with Corvette Racing’s crushing finale at Laguna Seca, where contact by one of the Flying Lizard Porsches sent driver Jan Magnussen into the wall, just seconds from the finish line. (see below).

Crew Chief Dan Binks expresses his anger, but says that the best way to avoid that situation in the future is to build a car that’s so far out front, this problem won’t occur. Corvette thinks they’ve got such a car, but this year the competition is even tougher, with the GT1 and GT2 classes amalgamated into a single GT class. Plus, for 2010 (like in 2009) the new C6.R is much more closely based on the street car and new for 2010 is a smaller 5.5-liter V8 engine.

We’ll be sure to keep an eye on how the new car stacks up, with the 2010 ALMS Season beginning with the 12 Hours of Sebring, March 17-20.

See after the jump for a video of last year’s season ending crash.

If you’re eager to know what the upcoming 2012 Chevy Malibu will look like, thanks to some new patent drawings, we now have a pretty darn good idea. Sort of. You see, the sketches were recently filed by General Motors with the U.S. patent office for an unnamed Chevrolet sedan. In other words, this could any any number of models, but with the Malibu set to arrive next year as a 2012 model, it’s a safe bet.

What the photos do show is a more muscular appearance that takes the current ‘Bu’s styling to a new level. The Malibu, we should remind you, was the first to get Chevy’s new front end, which is now seen across the rest of the product line, so the 2012 Malibu is likely to inspire all other future Chevys as well.

The windows appear to be a bit smaller with a higher belt-line, giving a more aggressive (300C-like) look, while the rear end is most certainly inspired by the Camaro.

Chevy has already shown a select few an early version of the 2012 Malibu and with the auto show season about over, if the car doesn’t make an appearance at the New York Auto Show in just a few weeks time, we don’t expect to see it until the end of the year at either the LA or Detroit shows.

GALLERY: 2012 Chevy Malibu Patent Drawings

[Source: CarScoop]

With all the focus on small cars and fuel economy, there’s some good news for sporty and performance minded individuals looking for a GM product that suits their desires. In an online web chat GM’s new North American president Mark Reuss made some exciting comments about the potential introduction of both a Chevy Cruze Coupe and a RWD sedan based on the Australian Zeta architecture.

“2 door Cruze is a nice idea, and it may show up in the global market,” said Reuss. “As we have 2 door Cobalts currently, NA [North America] would naturally look at a Cruze 2 door, but I believe our small car portfolio will be WAY beyond what it is now, so a 2 door something still is needed.”

This really comes as no surprise, as Chevy has often delivered a coupe model shortly after the sedan.

Next up, Reuss made a surprising remark when asked if a rear-wheel drive sedan based on the Australian Zeta platform could eventually make its way state-side. “Quite possibly,” he remarked, something which is sure to be celebrated by those who bemoaned the demise of the Pontiac G8. Currently, the only Zeta platform model available in the U.S. is the Camaro, although some reports have suggested a next-generation Camaro could ride on a more adaptable Zeta architecture that could also be used for a North American sedan.

If Chevy does decide to move ahead with a rear-drive sedan for the North American market, it’s not likely to arrive for several more years. By then, the Cruze Coupe will most certainly be on the market and perhaps even a high-performance Cruze model.

[Source: LeftLaneNews]

To celebrate 50 years since a Corvette first competed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Chevy has just announce the new 2011 Corvette Z06 Carbon Edition with brake and suspension upgrades, as well as a lighter overall weight thanks to plenty of carbon fiber. The changes, says Chief Corvette Engineer Tadge Juechter, are enough to shave up to 3.0 seconds per lap off a standard Z06 on a track like Laguna Seca.

“For track use, the Z06 Carbon is the best balanced Corvette yet. It combines the lightweight and naturally-aspirated Z06 engine with the road-holding and braking of the ZR1,” he comments.

Upgrades include Brembo carbon ceramic brakes, straight from the ZR1, as well as 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels, coated in Michelin PS2 tires. Upgraded engine and transmissions coolers are part of the package, as is a Magnetic Selective Ride Control system. And let’s not forget a special carbon fiber hood (lighter than the one used on the ZR1), as well as a carbon fiber engine cover, carbon fiber rocker panels and front splitter. There’s even a ZR1-inspired rear spoiler, plus black headlights and mirrors.

The body of the Carbon Edition Vette will be offered in two colors (either, Inferno Orange or the all-new Supersonic Blue, pictured above), while the interior gets ebony leather and suede with blue or orange stitching. Suede is used for the steering wheel, shifter, seat inserts, armrests and doors.

Just 500 Carbon Edition models will be made, although Chevy will make some of the items available in packages for Z06 models. A Z07 Performance Package includes the performance upgrades, while a CFZ Z06 Carbon Fiber package includes many of the carbon fiber components (but not the hood) as well as a rear spoiler.

Oh, and did we mention it looks amazing!

The Z06 Carbon Edition will be available this summer.

GALLERY: 2011 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Carbon Edition

Official release after the jump:

With Ford announcing its F-Series Super Duty power, payload and towing capabilities just a few weeks ago, Chevrolet has responded with some big numbers for the all-new 2011 Chevy Silverado HD. The new 6.6-liter Duramax V8 is rated at 397-hp at 3000 rpm  and 765 ft-lbs of torque at 1600 rpm. This tops the F-Series Super Duty that’s rated at 390-hp at 2800 rpm and 735 ft-lbs of torque at 1600 rpm. The increase for Chevy is a total of 32-h and 105 ft-lbs over the previous Duramax.

Those numbers don’t tell the whole story, however, as the new truck still follows behind the Ford in payload and towing capability. The new Duramax Silverado HD can tow up to 20,000 lbs and has a payload rating of 6,335 lbs. The F-Series Super Duty is rated at 21,600 lbs and a payload rating of 6,520 lbs.

GM is proud to boast that fuel economy with the new engine has been increased by 11 percent (although not mpg numbers are available), with a total driving distance of 680 miles on a tank.

As for the new base Vortec 6.0L V8, it gets 360-hp at 5400 rpm and 380 ft-lbs of torque at 4200 rpm. A total of 90 percent of the engines torque is available from 2000 rpm allowing for a 13 percent increase in fifth-wheel towing for a total tow rating of 14,700 lbs.

GALLERY: 2011 Chevy Silverado HD

See the official release after the jump, plus full info on the all new GMC Sierra Denali HD:

With the start of the 2010 American Le Mans Series (ALMS) just around the corner, Corvette Racing has announced a new 12-part video series that will take an in-depth look at the new car, while following the team’s season this year.

Each of the videos will be posted on the Corvette Facebook page, starting with this first trailer. Over the past decade, Corvette Racing has been a dominant player in the GT1 category, switching to GT2 last year after there was really no one left to race against. For 2010 the GT1 and GT2 classes have been joined to form a single GT class and the racing will be ultra-competitive with Ferraris, Porsches and numerous other exotics looking to take the win in each and every race.

For 2010 (like in 2009) the new C6.R is much more closely based on the street car and new for 2010 is a smaller 5.5-liter V8 engine.

The 2010 ALMS Season begins with the 12 Hours of Sebring, March 17-20.

GALLERY: 2010 Corvette C6.R