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The AutoGuide News Blog is your source for breaking stories from the auto industry. Delivering news immediately, the AutoGuide Blog is constantly updated with the latest information, photos and video from manufacturers, auto shows, the aftermarket and professional racing.

26/04/2010 | By: Jason Siu

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Last year, Lingenfelter Performance Engineering announced its new Chevy Camaro Engine Packages bragging about major horsepower upgrades while maintaining daily-driving performance. A little less than a year later, Lingenfelter is lighting up the quarter-mile track, putting on a display with their own Chevy Camaro demo vehicle.

This Camaro packs a real punch, sporting a built LS9 supercharged V8 throwing down 855-hp. The motor has been reinforced with JE forged aluminum pistons while the head has been CNC ported with upgrade cams from LPE. At South Georgia Motorsports Park, the Camaro laid down several mid-to-low 10 second passes with a best of 10.36 @ 139.95 mph. This was done with the stock six-speed transmission.

This new generation of American muscle is capturing a whole new audience, with many previously devoted import fanatics looking at the new Chevy Camaro as a great platform to customize. If you need some inspiration, make sure to check out the video of Lingenfelter’s Camaro lighting up the track after the jump.

[Source: Autoblog]

Continue Reading…

17/04/2010 | By: Huw Evans

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Given that it’s now spanned almost a full decade, the Fast & Furious franchise can likely be labeled as a success, at least from a commercial standpoint. Last year’s film, the fourth installment, dubbed Fast & Furious, (new model, original parts), saw a bit of a return to the original script and original cast, but with more emphasis on proper cars.

If modified vintage muscle is your thing, then watching this latest F&F film brought about a veritable feast of automotive eye candy. Among them was the F-bomb Camaro, that takes center stage in the final act. Well, not one to shy away from the spotlight, the F-Bomb is hitting the limelight once again, this time because it’s up for sale. The 1973 Chevy Camaro, looks street tough with it’s skinny front tires, side exit exhaust and matte green paint with contrasting stripes, grille and bumpers. However being a movie car, all is not what it appears. In place of a reportedly 1,500 horsepower twin turbo V8 is an evergreen 350 Chevy small block, coupled to an automatic transmission. Nevertheless, it is a genuine Hollywood film vehicle, not a replica. Currently up for sale by Volo Auto Cars, part of the Volo Museum in the Illinois town of the same name, the asking price is $39,998. While that may seem a lot for a garden variety Camaro, even a second gen, consider this: While you could build your own replica for less, this is the real deal. And imagine how cool you’d look when your friends come over on a Saturday and see this thing in the garage. While we’re on the subject of Fast & Furious specials, apparently one of the Buick Grand Nationals used in the movie was also up for sale recently, but no word on the Chevelle or the bad guy’s Torino.

Get more info on the F-Bomb Camaro at the link below

GALLERY: Vin Diesel’s Fast & Furious F-Bomb Camaro

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[Source: VoloCars]

05/11/2009 | By: Colum Wood

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One of the many Camaros on display at the 2009 SEMA Show is the Formula Drift Camaro SS. Sponsored by Hankook Tire and displayed prominently at the General Motors booth, the car was built by BR Racing, Luke Lonberger and Conrad Grunewald Racing and will compete in next year’s Formula D drift championship piloted by none other than Conrad Grunewald.

In race-prepped form, the Camaro gets a GM Performance LS-A suercharger along with an AEM Universal EMS to make in excess of 600-hp at the rear wheels. The heavy beast has also been put on a diet with a striped out interior and a full cabon fiber body made by Seibon Carbon.

The car will also sport a set of custom Forgeline three-piece wheels and will (obviously) run on Hankook tires  of the Ventus R-S3 variety.

GALLERY: Hankook Tire, Formula Drift Camaro SS

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04/11/2009 | By: Colum Wood

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The Lingenfelter Trans Am Concept wasn’t the only TA on display at the 2009 SEMA Show, with Kevin Morgan Designs debuting its version of the iconic car. Based on a slightly more modern interpretation of the Trans Am, the Kevin Morgan car takes its cues from the 1977-’78 model and is based on the all-new 2010 Chevrolet Camaro.

The car certainly looks aggressive with a low slung front air dam and a massive gold Screamin’ Chicken on the hood. And of course, there’s a big ducktail spoiler and a stylish set of golf mesh wheels.

The team even went so far as to built a classic Pontiac logo into the car’s new front end.

On the whole, we like it more than the Lingenfelter design, although the gold interior accents are definitely excessive.

Kevin Morgan Designs has announced a deal with the Trans Am Depot and is expected to start offering the Phoenix Trans Am conversion in the near future.

GALLERY: Kevin Morgan Designs Trans Am

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04/11/2009 | By: Colum Wood

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NASCAR racing team Hendrick Motorsports chose the SEMA Show to officially debut its limited edition run of Camaro SS models, built to celebrate 25 years in the business. Called the Hendrick Motorsports 25th Anniversary 2010 Camaro SS, each car will be built by famed Corvette tuner Callaway Cars. The ZR1-inspired muscle car was displayed prominently at the General Motors booth.

The package include a stylish aerodynamics kit with a front splitter, side skirts, rear spoiler and diffuser all made of carbon fiber. Another very cool item is the ZR1-styled hood that not only makes room for a little extra something, but lets you take a look at it too. The clear opening gives view to an Eaton TVS supercharger that raises the Camaro’s output from 426-hp to 582!

Additional modifications include Callaway springs, shocks and anti-roll bars, as well as a stylish set of Callaway wheels.

The vehicle is rated at a 0-60 mph time of 3.9 seconds with a quarter mile pass of 11.89 at 120.1 mph!

Just 25 Hendrick Motorsports 25th Anniversary 2010 Camaro SS models will be built for a price of $76,181 each.

GALLERY: Hendrick Motorsports 25th Anniversary 2010 Camaro SS

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04/11/2009 | By: Colum Wood

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Along with a host of wild and wacky Camaros at the General Motors booth at SEMA, the General also built five in-house muscle cars that are noticeably more subtle. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t as impressive. In fact, one of the most original Camaros of the dozens on display at SEMA is included in this bunch. Called the “Jay Leno Camaro” this car was designed by the famous late night prime time comedian himself. At first it doesn’t look all that special, but in true Leno style, the real surprise is under the hood. There you’ll find a V6 in place of the big 6.2-liter V8. That might sound underwhelming, were it not for the two Turbonetics T-3 turbochargers that help boost the V6 engine to about 425-hp (the same as the Camaro SS). Under normal driving conditions, the engine gets V6 fuel-economy, but when required it delivers performance like the V8.

Next up is the Camaro Synergy, which, believe it or not, is a color that Chevy will offer for the Camaro in 2010. Much of the rest of the car’s add-on parts can also be bought though your local Chevy dealer, including the 21-inch wheels, ground effects kit, Cyber Grey Rally hood stripes and a cold air intake. Chevy also plans to offer the rear spoiler in the near future. Along with these modifications, the Camaro Synergy also gets a Pedders coilover kit, Brembo brakes and a custom Jet Black and Synergy Green interior.

Another favorite of ours is the Camaro Chroma, in Summit White with a nice silver stripe package. All the parts on this car are either currently offered through GM or will be offered in the near future. Those parts include a set of 21-inch wheels, a “Blade” rear spoiler, a ground effects package, rear fender graphics and a new front grille. There’s also a cold air intake, shorty headers and a performance exhaust, as well as a Victory Red engine cover and Hurst short throw shifter.

The Camaro Dusk concept is designed to be sporty and sophisticated, with much of the car’s highlights being inside the cabin. The interior gets a stunning Jet Back and Sedona leather treatment that really helps class-up the car. It also features plenty of convenience options for younger buyers with a Boston Acoustics sound system, an iPhone cradle and WiFi connectivity. Outside there’s a custom ground effects package that Chevy says may enter production. Other highlights include a set of 21-inch BBS wheels, a lowering kit and an SS spoiler. To help give the car’s exterior a more premium look, many of the exterior details have also been painted to match the color of the wheels.

Finally, there’s the Camaro Graphics car, which will showcase one of four potential new grahics packages on each of the four days of the SEMA Show. Chevy launched a graphics campaign in October to let customers and enthusiasts choose the next graphics package and this car is being used to showcase the four finalists. Chevy also launched a Facebook page (www.facebook.com/chevycamaro) dedicated to the campaign where you can vote for your favorite.

GALLERY: The Jay Leno Camaro

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GALLERY: Camaro Synergy

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GALLERY: Camaro Chroma

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GALLERY: Camaro Dusk

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Official release after the jump:

Continue Reading…

04/11/2009 | By: Colum Wood

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Inspired by Chevy’s highest performance vehicle, the Corvette ZR1, the Silverado ZR2 concept gets plenty of high performance options, like a supercharged LS motor and plenty of carbon fiber. Unveiled at the SEMA Show, this extended cab/short box truck also boasts a massive new front grille, carbon fiber fender flares, a four-inch suspension lift, a BDS shock set, 20-inch wheels and a set of 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler off-road tires.

Carbon fiber was also used for the hood, front fenders, rocker extensions and the tailgate, and is easily visible thanks to a clearcoat. Other body components are painted Dune Metallic, to help the trunk blend in when hopping sand dunes on the Baja Peninsula.

Under the hood there’s a GM Performance Parts Supercharged LS engine that produces 550-hp!

Rumored to be a possible precursor to a Ford F-150 Raptor competitor, the folks at Chevy aren’t talking, but Chevy brand VP Brent Dewar has said that some of the trucks components are being explored for use on future models.

GALLERY: Chevrolet ZR2 Concept

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Official release after the jump:

Continue Reading…

03/11/2009 | By: Colum Wood

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On display at the Nitto tires booth at the 2009 SEMA Show is a modern interpretation of the Pontiac Trans Am. Based on a 2010 Camaro, the car was designed and built by the Corvette and Chevy tuning experts at Lingenfelter. The car takes cues from the 1971 second-gen TA and so in order to stay faithful to that car Lingenfelter decided to equip it with a 445 cubic inch V8 engine. That engine, claims Lingenfelter, makes a whopping 655-hp!

The car will also sports a duck-tail spoiler, fender vents, a twin-port front grille, 20-inch honeycomb wheels and the obligatory screamin’ chicken (although it is rather small). There’s even a retro-styled interior with a blue dash and blue leather, stitched in bars on the seats – just like the old days.

Called the Lingenfeler LTA (Lingenfelter Trans Am) Concept the car is a one-off, but there is certain to be huge demand for the car – especially considering the popularity of the new Camaro – so a limited number of production models is a definite possibility.

GALLERY: 2010 Lingenfeler Trans Am Concept

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03/11/2009 | By: Colum Wood

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Garnering more than just a few stares at the 2009 SEMA Show was the Lingenfelter 2010 Camaro. The car looks stunning with a complete aero kit including a more aggressive front and and a new hood.

And look more aggressive it should, with plenty of power on tap. Being Corvette experts, the team at Lingenfelter decided to toss the factory 6.2-liter V8 in favor of the Z06′s 505-hp 7.0-liter LS7 engine. But that’s not all. Also known for their expertise in forced induction, the boys at Lingenfelter have also strapped a supercharger to the big 427 to make no less than 750-hp.

The engine has even been built up to take all the extra boost with JE Pistons, titanium intake valves and Iconel exhaust valves – the same material used for making Formula One exhaust systems.

For the build Lingenfelter teamed up wit the suspension experts at Hotchkis for what they call a, “Total Vehicle System,” complete with springs, sway bars and a subframe brace – which is sure to be needed with 750-hp and (we imagine) an equal amount of torque. The shocks are a Lingenfelter/Sachs combo. On to of these addition, there’s a big set of Brembo bakes, big 20-inch Pirelli tires on LPE wheels and a pretty wild aero kit complete wit carbon fiber additions.

“Over the years we have been involved in dozens of OEM and racing development programs, but this one is special,” said Hotchkis Performance president John Hotchkis. “Lingenfelter builds some of the fastest, coolest and most refined domestic supercars in the world, and the fact that they asked us to help develop the suspension for a 200 mph Camaro and then offered to debut the car in our booth is very exciting. Everyone in attendance will certainly be impressed with this stunning piece of high-performance engineering.”

Hotchkis will also offer the springs, sway bars and a subframe brace individually or as a package.

GALLERY: Lingenfelter Camaro

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03/11/2009 | By: Colum Wood

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With the SEMA Show barely open for a few hours, we’ve only seen a small portion of the vehicles on display and while we don’t want to jump to conclusions, it’s entirely possible that the Bomex Camaro featured in the General Motors booth is the most extreme Camaro on display.

Looking like some sort of super villain straight out of an episode of Power Rangers, Japanese bodykit manufacturer Bomex has created an ultra-aggressive aero kit for the 2010 Camaro, with numerous modifications and massively flared fenders that would make even the standard Camaro (already a massive vehicle)

Inside those big fenders are a set of 22-inch Dolce Euro wheels and some big Rotora brakes, with eight-piston front calipers and four-piston rear calipers.

As extreme as the exterior is, the interior is actually a marked improvement over the Camaro’s otherwise bland cockpit, with leather and diamond-quilted Alcantara in both red and black.

A Bomex representative told us this one-off car was custom made for the SEMA Show, but that Bomex will offer a more subtle aero kit for the new Camaro in the future.

GALLERY: Bomex 2010 Camaro

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