Chevrolet Sail, 2011

 

Chevrolet Sail, 2011

The Shanghai GM introduced the new Chevrolet Sail sedan, the first passenger car created in China by a Sino-foreign joint venture. The new small car was developed by Shanghai GM and the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC), both GM-SAIC joint ventures. In addition to being sold in China, the Chevrolet Sail will also be exported to other emerging markets.

The Chevrolet Sail with the base model priced around RMB 60,000 (US$8,800). This marks a breakthrough in the under-RMB 70,000 (US$10,300) small car segment, where Chinese brands have traditionally been dominant.

Class-Leading, Fuel-Efficient Powertrains
The Chevrolet Sail is available with a choice of class-leading 1.2-liter S-TEC II and 1.4-liter S-TEC III engines. The 1.2-liter engine achieves best in class fuel economy under comprehensive road conditions of 5.7 L/100 km. It also generates power of 53.1 kW/L, enabling the Chevrolet Sail to go from 0 to 100 km/h in 12.9 seconds. The 1.4-liter engine offers power per liter of more than 54.3 kW/L, goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 11.9 seconds, and has fuel economy under 5.9 L/100 km.
Chevrolet Sail

The engines incorporate the Variable Geometry Intake System (VGIS), which provides smooth power delivery and torque across all engine speeds. Lightweight materials are used in the engine, transmission and body, further increasing fuel efficiency. The optimized friction coefficient in the transmission and tire rolling coefficient reduce energy loss caused by mechanical operation. In line with Shanghai GM's Drive to Green strategy, both engines meet China's Phase IV emission standard (as well as the Euro IV standard) and can be upgraded to meet China's Phase V emission standard.

Even though it is classified as a small car, the Chevrolet Sail ensures a fun driving experience. Its five-speed manual transmission offers smooth gear shifting. The sporty-looking steering wheel provides pinpoint handling and easy control, while the sporty yet solid chassis provides comfort and excellent handling. The driver enjoys maximum visibility courtesy of the Chevrolet Sail's large windshield, seats designed for local users and no-blind-spot rearview mirror.

Stylish Exterior, Spacious Interior
Like other vehicles wearing the Chevrolet bowtie, the Chevrolet Sail is sporty, enjoyable to drive and offers good value for money. The Sail features Chevrolet's trademark horizontal split grille with the gold Chevrolet emblem showcased in the middle. Three muscular sidelines provide the car a three-dimensional look. A unique short-in-front, long-in-back suspension brings a sporty edge to the exterior. The streamlined shape of the vehicle adds a dynamic styling element while reducing drag, for lower fuel consumption. The Chevrolet Sail is initially available in six exterior colors: Crescent Silver, Jasmine White, Sky Blue, Coral Red, Amber Orange and Starfish Blue.

The interior is likewise unique and all Chevrolet. It includes the brand's twin-cockpit design as well as a flexible, modern central control panel equipped with a radio, CD player and MP3 interface. Designers have added a sporty touch through a double-digital screen and chrome plating. The Chevrolet Sail's adoption of a central fuel tank, a short front and rear suspension, and arch-shaped doors maximizes interior space for up to five people. There are 24 interior storage compartments for added convenience.

Advanced Safety
The Chevrolet Sail is expected to achieve four stars in China New Car Assessment Program (C-NCAP) testing. The Chevrolet Sail's safety cage construction with crumple zones offers class-leading passenger protection. A steel frame surrounds the fuel tanks, for added safety. Dual air bags in front, a retractable steering column, antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution, child safety locks and a stronger child seat system are standard. The Chevrolet Sail also offers outstanding pedestrian protection.

Developed in China for Emerging Markets
The Chevrolet Sail was jointly developed by Shanghai GM and PATAC off a new architecture in accordance with GM's Global Vehicle Development Process (GVDP) and worldwide standards for engineering and quality. The development team for the Chevrolet Sail factored in local climate and driving conditions as well as local fuel quality and Chinese driving habits in the new model's design. The vehicle's assembly followed the DTS global C-BOB (best of best) standard.

The Chevrolet Sail was put through more than 2 million kilometers of testing in extreme hot and cold weather conditions.

To ensure that parts and components meet Chevrolet's international standards in terms of quality, service, technology and price, 95 percent of components were supplied by members of GM's global supply chain, with more than 40 percent coming from industry-leading component groups or their joint ventures.

GM's global quality management processes and regulations were also applied in R&D, procurement, quality recognition and manufacturing. Shanghai GM's paint shop adopted Generation 6 Zero-Emission Painting for the Chevrolet Sail. The vehicle meets all European Union environmental protection standards in terms of heavy metal proportion and the recycling rate of the full vehicle.

World-class Chevrolet Gold Tie Service will be offered to Chevrolet Sail buyers by Shanghai GM. Approximately 380 dealers in more than 200 cities across China will offer customers nine free services as well as 24-hour emergency assistance.

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Chevrolet Miray Concept, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chevrolet Miray Concept, 2011

The Chevrolet Miray Concept was developed at the GM Advanced Design Studio in Seoul. Combining cutting-edge hybrid powertrain technology and advanced styling, it balances iconic Chevrolet design cues with a future design vision as Chevrolet celebrates its centennial in 2011.

The Classic Exterior
The Miray pays tribute to Chevrolet's sports car heritage. It is small and open like the 1963 Monza SS, and light and purposeful like the 1962 Corvair Super Spyder. Its expressive, aerodynamic fuselage is reminiscent of modern jet fighters.

Made of carbon fiber and CFRP (carbon fiber-reinforced plastic), the wedged body side is divided by an angled character line, with ambient lighting underneath. This accent creates a sweeping line of light when the car is in motion, bringing a warm glow to the sculptured body. Le Mans racer-style scissor doors open up and out of the way for dramatic access to the interior.
 

The Chevrolet Miray Concept's dual port grille is flanked by LED headlamps with new signature daytime running lamps. The front and rear fenders evoke Chevrolet Corvettes of the past and express the concept's sports car spirit. At the corners, carbon-fiber spoilers help control down force and airflow.

Distinctive retractable flaps provide additional airflow control while providing access to the charge port on one side and the fuel filler on the other. The charge port also features an external battery charge indicator. Each rear fender contains individual cargo space for the storage of small items. Under the ducktail surface, the taillamps provide a new interpretation of Chevrolet's twin element identity.

The Chevrolet Miray Concept features aluminum-carbon fiber composite 20-inch wheels in front and 21-inch wheels in the rear. The strong turbine theme evokes movement, even when the Miray is stationary.
The heavily tapered top view enhances the Miray's purposeful image. From above, the cabin has a unique diamond shape.

Sporty Interior
The interior of the Miray echoes Chevrolet's racing heritage. As with the exterior, it takes inspiration from jet fighters. The Chevrolet Miray Concept contains a melange of brushed aluminum, natural leather, white fabric and liquid metal surfaces, for an overall effect of sculptural velocity.

The interior compartment is surrounded by a carbon fiber shell, which gives it a lightweight yet rigid structure. Its flowing, yet slightly tensioned, twin cockpit tightly wraps around the driver and passenger. The cockpit is driver focused, drawing inspiration from the iconic Chevrolet sports car. However, the passenger is also fully engaged in the driving experience.

Asymmetric seats flow from the door, forming a symmetric interior that gives the driver a feeling of being fully connected with the car. Ambient lighting, which starts from the upper instrument panel and flows into the seat back area, adds a sense of luxury. Seat cushions and headrests are connected by the lightweight carbon fiber shell and mounted on a single aluminum rail. The headrest area follows the exterior form, integrating with an air scarf for open-air driving.

Designers took a unique approach to displaying information, using back projection on the instrument panel. Information in front of the driver has been prioritized into three zones. Immediately in front is vehicle performance. It is flanked on the left by range and on the right by navigation and mileage figures. This eliminates unnecessary visual clutter, allowing the driver to focus on the thrill of driving.

The center touch screen flows down to an aluminum support, which evokes a fighter jet's nose with the landing gear down. The exterior surface waterfalls down into the interior to meet the reinforced console, connecting the front and rear of the car.

The centrally located start button is also inspired by a jet aircraft. When the button is pressed, the column-mounted retractable meter cluster rises like a jet fighter canopy and "Interactive Projection" appears on the white surface.

Retractable rearview cameras, which replace traditional rearview mirrors, extend from the side glass electrically. In city driving, the forward-facing camera operates in conjunction with GPS to overlay navigation information with real-time video.

Fuel-Efficient, High-Performance Propulsion System
The Chevrolet Miray Concept features a concept "mid-electric" propulsion system, located primarily behind and beneath the driver, that maximizes performance and fuel efficiency.

The Chevrolet Miray Concept is propelled by two front-mounted 15-kW electric motors for quick acceleration and zero emissions in urban driving. The motors are powered by a 1.6-kWh lithium-ion battery that is charged through regenerative braking energy. The Miray has the capability of being switched from front-wheel drive to rear-wheel drive.

For performance driving, the Chevrolet Miray Concept's 1.5-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine combines with the electric motors, providing spirited torque control to both the left and right wheels as needed. The high-tech engine, mounted behind the cockpit, drives the rear wheels while seamlessly integrating electrification technology that defines a new standard in the compact roadster segment.

A dual-clutch transmission (DCT) enables a reduction in the powertrain's size by eliminating the torque converter. Shifts are quick and firm. The shift pattern has been tuned for improved top speed in performance mode. A start-stop system works in conjunction with the DCT.

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Chevrolet Cruze, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chevrolet Cruze, 2011

The Cruze also affirms Chevrolet's commitment to building refined, fuel-efficient vehicles, with new, small-displacement four-cylinder engines. It is expected to deliver segment-leading fuel economy with a new Ecotec 1.4L I-4 turbo with variable valve timing - including up to 40 mpg on the highway with a high-efficiency model.
Leveraging Chevrolet's design and engineering talent in Asia, Europe and North America, the Chevrolet Cruze brings to market a progressive, globally influenced design complemented by exceptional levels of quietness, quality and attention to detail - from precise tolerances between body panels to the use of premium materials throughout the interior.

Chevrolet Cruze goes on sale in the U.S. in the third quarter of 2010 but has already logged more than 4 million miles in quality and durability testing worldwide, making it one of the most real world-tested GM products prior to a U.S. launch. The U.S. and Canadian versions of the Chevrolet Cruze will be built in Lordstown, Ohio, where $350 million was invested for their production.

The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze offered in LS, LT and LTZ trims. Standard and available equipment, like:

•     New family of efficient four-cylinder engines, including a 1.4L turbo and 1.8L
•     Six-speed automatic and manual transmissions
•     Ten standard air bags, including frontal, side-impact, roof rail head curtain, rear seat side air bags and new knee air bags
•     Electronic stability control with rollover sensing
•     Bluetooth, USB connectivity and navigation system
•     XM Satellite Radio and OnStar
•     MacPherson strut front suspension and Watts Z-link rear suspension, with a family of 16-, 17- and 18-inch wheels
•     Standard StabiliTrak electronic stability control, traction control and anti-lock brakes
•     Fuel-saving, rack-mounted electric power steering
•     Unexpected levels of quietness, smoothness and refinement for the segment

Arching roofline
Chevy Cruze's design is distinguished with a bold face - including a two-tier grille with the iconic Bowtie logo - that is Chevrolet's signature look around the globe. An arching roofline connects a steeply raked windshield and fast-sloping rear pillars to give the car a sporty, coupe-like proportion.

The sporty aesthetic is also seen in prominent headlamp housings that wrap around the corners and sweep upward in the fenders and sculpted hood, as well as a short rear deck typically found on sports coupes. The wheels are at the corners, too, with minimal front and rear overhangs. All the elements work cohesively to give Chevrolet Cruze an aggressive look that is complemented by a wide, confident stance.

The Chevrolet Cruze is wider and longer than most of its competitors. Taut, tightly drawn bodywork conveys solidity, while restrained use of exterior trim enhances the car's high-quality feel. The overall appearance is one of purposeful precision.

Precision is also seen in the Chevrolet Cruze's build quality. The Lordstown assembly plant's body shop was retooled with the latest in body-framing and welding equipment to optimize the manufacture of a very solid body structure. That strong structure fosters minimal production variance and repeatable gap tolerances of 3 mm or less between most exterior panels. To the customer, this means a better looking car when new and one that feels solid for years to come.

Interior refinement
Chevrolet Cruze's bold design cues and attention to detail carry over to the interior, where a Chevrolet Corvette-inspired twin-cockpit motif is matched with high-quality materials and exceptional assembly tolerances. Grained, soft-touch components and low-gloss trim panels exude a quality that is uncommon in the segment.

The instrument panel is an excellent example of how Chevrolet Cruze eschews expectations of compact cars. It features richly detailed instruments that are backlit with light-emitting diode (LED) technology. The LED lights provide a crisp, ice-blue illumination of the analog instruments, as well as lighting for other interior controls. A segment-rare standard driver information center offers a wealth of data for the vehicle owner.

Blending harmoniously with the instrument panels is an integrated center stack that houses the infotainment display, climate controls and radio controls. Flush-mounted components within the center stack have a gap tolerance of less than 1 mm, while the instrument panel-to-door panel gaps are less than 5 mm. Those tolerances are among the best in the class and contribute significantly to the Chevrolet Cruze's aura of refinement and precision.

Chevrolet Cruze's headliner and pillar trim exude craftsmanship, too. The headliner cover is made of a knit material that also serves as one of five layers of an acoustically designed headliner to help make the passenger compartment quieter. The interior pillar and other moldings are color- and grain-matched to the headliner, while seat inserts are color-matched to the color of the instrument panel accent trim, giving the cabin the detailed appearance of larger, upscale sedans.

New, efficient powertrains
Enhanced with its exhaust-driven turbocharger, the Chevrolet Cruze's Ecotec 1.4L turbo performs like a larger engine when needed, but retains the efficiency of a small-displacement four-cylinder in most driving conditions. It is standard on LT and LTZ models, with power ratings estimated at 138 horsepower (103 kW) and 148 lb.-ft. of torque (200 Nm).

Standard on LS models is an Ecotec 1.8L four-cylinder that has the same basic architecture as the 1.4L turbo. Both engines are part of GM's family of global small-displacement engines designed with fuel efficiency in mind, including technology such as full variable valve timing that optimizes performance and fuel economy across the rpm band.

Backing the Chevrolet Cruze's new four-cylinder engines are six-speed manual and automatic transmissions. Each contributes to Chevrolet Cruze's excellent fuel economy and, with their carefully matched gears, enhances its fun-to-drive quotient.

With the Ecotec 1.4L turbo, Chevrolet Cruze's fuel efficiency enables a cruising range of more than 500 miles (800 km), meaning it can go longer between fill-ups.
Chevrolet Cruze is backed by GM's five-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty - the best coverage in America.

Responsive, quiet driving experience
Complementing Chevrolet Cruze's new powertrains is a strong body structure and chassis system designed to deliver a responsive and fun driving experience. The body structure is tight and stiff; and its solidity enabled engineers to more precisely tune the chassis for comfort and driving control.

A MacPherson strut suspension is used up front, while a technically advanced Watts Z-link design is used with the rear suspension. It helps center the rear axle during cornering, helping to keep the Chevrolet Cruze's handling responses symmetrical on both left-hand and right-hand turns. The linkage's capability to center the axle during cornering delivers a more balanced driving experience, as the rear suspension better follows the lead of the front suspension.

Stabili Trak electronic stability control with rollover mitigation, as well as traction control and anti-lock brakes are standard. Electric power steering is also standard on all models. It helps save fuel because it removes the conventional power steering pump from the engine's driven accessories. Sixteen-inch wheels are standard on LS and LT models, with 17-inch alloy wheels standard on LTZ. Eighteen-inch alloy wheels are available on 2LT and LTZ models.

The Chevrolet Cruze delivers quietness and refinement on the road. Hydraulic ride bushings and an isolated engine cradle reduce or eliminate vibration pathways that could be transmitted to the passenger compartment. Similarly, a number of noise-reducing and noise-cancelling technologies are employed throughout the body structure, including 18 distinctive acoustical treatments, like:

•     The steel front-of-dash panel is sandwiched between two damping mats
•     Nylon baffles are used in various hollow portions of the body structure and filled with sound-absorbing foam that expands when the body enters the paint oven
•     The headliner comprises five layers of thermal fiber acoustic material, including a premium woven fabric on the visible outer layer
•     Patches of sound-damping material are applied strategically throughout the body structure and melt into place when the body passes through the paint oven, allowing the patches to follow the contours of the sheet metal below
•     Sound insulation material between rear-body structural components that is made from recycled blue jean material
•     The doors have triple seals and feature fiberglass "blankets" that serve as water, airflow and noise barriers. The doors are also beta-braced, meaning they close with a solid, precise sound and no resonance

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Chevrolet Colorado Rally Concept, 2011

 

 

Chevrolet Colorado Rally Concept, 2011

Chevrolet's unmatched heritage in durable and dependable pickup trucks is exemplified in the Colorado Rally's sturdy and robust appearance. The show truck combines signature design elements with Chevrolet's legendary on and off road capabilities.
Chevrolet Colorado Rally Concept is a crew cab version with a tridimensional front grille featuring chromed details. Outfitted wildly, Colorado Rally's body color is a triple coat pearled White with golden particles, and other external components in textured charcoal. Skid plate and side moldings in liquid metal and bead lock off road wheels milled from a single piece of aluminium. The wheels machined from a single piece of aluminium, with two distinct surface finishing (machined and polished), 18" inch diameter, and Mud-Terrain T/A 305/60R18 tires to "attack" the off road's obstacles.

4WD, powered by an efficient 2.8 liter turbo-diesel engine, which generates high torque, Chevrolet Colorado Rally is perfect for the needs in the off road roads/tracks besides its technical aspects. Combining its high performance fox racing shox shock system with 140mm travel distance and adjustable suspension height system up to 50mm, the Chevrolet concept has two bumper integrated winch systems by Smittybilt with 5.5Hp and four metric tonnes pulling capacity, with 23,000mm of aeronautic cable. Off road optimized bumpers designed with high attack angle stylized side steps and moldings confirms the wild purpose.

For the adventures at night, Colorado Rally has a high performance frontal lights, with searchlight integrated to the side mirrors. LED, headlamps, tail lamps, fog lamps, search lights, and roof mounted high reach lights. The side blinkers are integrated to the side mirrors' shell.

The exterior details
In order to create a real rally vehicle, the GM South America Design Studio added up to Colorado concept a wide variety of off road features such as rally windows in acrylic for higher safety against side impacts with air inlets for better air circulation, two milled aluminium tow hooks integrated to each bumper, wide fiberglass fenders, spare tire support inside the bed and tool boxes integrated. Open tailgate to improve flux of air as well as optimize the rear view and reduce the weight, like:

•     Integrated bed roll bar
•     Quick operation exposed aluminium fuel cap
•     Body integrated rear bumper
•     Full roof rack
•     Fibreglass hood with differentiated detail

Ergonomics, safety and functionality set the Interior's theme

Designers focused on ergonomics, safety and functionality to create the Chevrolet Colorado Rally Concept's interior, such as the high performance steering wheel, designed for an aggressive handling, with a tighter (than a production model) curvature in the upper and lower arcs. The upper arc has LEDs integrated to the bar designed as a quick display tachometer. The side grips have two buttons on each side facing the driver, they are; high beam toggle, menu display for the cluster to change the displayed information, "Air Boost" control, and speed limiter for urban sections of a race.

The interior colour trims, like the plastic components, leather covered upper instrument panel, are textured in "Very dark ash grey". The center stack has some inserts in metallic satin finishing. All commands are finished with soft touch materials and to make it more practical and sporty, the seat materials and the steering wheel cover are in black neoprene with orange stitching, and a high depth "Rashel" effect fabric in orange with black under colour. Metal mats in "very dark ash grey" with orange rubber inserts, roll cage and other metal details painted in silver and reflective orange details on the door reinforces the detailed interior design. The metallic mat is positioned a few millimeters from the floor, perforated with integrated rubber details designed to help clean the occupants' footwear and provide a higher grip.

In terms of safety and functionality, Chevrolet Colorado Rally has the Internal roll cage with custom railing profile, developed to provide an attaching system to additional equipment, such as cameras or auxiliary lighting. The 5-point seat belt directly connected to the Roll cage.

The vehicle integrated fire extinguisher activated through the IP, releases flame suppressing foam to the cabin and engine compartment, and plus two traditional fire extinguishing canisters positioned between the seats right behind the center console. The master switch integrated to the center stack, with two key functions, starting the engine, disconnects every system in the vehicle, in case of emergencies. For off road chases before overtaking other competitors during a race, there's the "Air boost" highly compressed air system developed to quickly clean the cabin after entering a dust cloud.
 

To face high temperatures inside the cabin during the race, Chevrolet Colorado Rally has a Hydration pack, which consists of dedicated containers for feeding and hydrating positioned behind each seat, the food solution is delivered to the occupant's through a small tube system.

Other features are the first aid kit stored in the center console and three dedicated tool boxes locked in the area behind the seats, being one for each occupant, containing the most used tools, and a third box in the center dedicated to specialized tools for harder jobs.

To keep the racers in the right track the concept vehicle has a Sat Nat, satellite navigation positioned directly in front of the navigator. Maps, sign plates, and road books are stored into the glove box and also fixated through bungee cords on the outside of the glove box access door. Communication devices for internal and external contact, center stack with gauges for temperature and pressure, as well as commands for adjustment of the suspension system, tire pressure regulator, fire extinguisher activation, and two separate commands for the fuel pumps and a tripmeter display are also part of the high featured equipment.

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Chevrolet Colorado Concept, 2011

 

 

 

 

Chevrolet Colorado Concept, 2011

The Chevrolet Colorado Concept was revealed in advance of the 2011 Bangkok International Auto Show, where it is making its global public debut. The concept previews the next-generation Chevrolet Colorado midsize pickup truck, which will build on Chevrolet's strong truck DNA and award-winning heritage. The Chevrolet Colorado goes on sale in Thailand later this year.

The show truck features an extended-cab body atop a high-stance AWD chassis and rides on large, 20-inch wheels and off-road tires. Power comes from an efficient 2.8L turbo-diesel engine, which produces a broad torque band for excellent cargo and towing capability.

While the new Chevrolet Colorado was developed within GM's global product development organization, engineers took careful steps to ensure it would meet local market needs. Roberto Rempel, GM's global vehicle chief engineer, lived in Thailand for several months during the truck's development, immersing himself in the market and observing how the Thai people use their trucks and the road conditions they experience.

Design details
The Chevrolet Colorado Concept's purposeful design conveys strength through bodywork that appears tightly wrapped over the chassis and a wide, confident stance. In the front, Chevrolet's internationally recognized gold bowtie and dual-port grille are framed by large headlamps that flow into the front fenders, and an extractor vent on the hood.

Pepperdust Metallic exterior paint is accented with polished aluminum details in the fascias, as well as integrated side steps and black-masked projector-style headlamps with LED lighting elements. At the rear is a full-width LED-lit taillamp, which creates a striking appearance when illuminated.

Additional exterior:

•     A streamlined "cab collar" design with a body-color hard tonneau cover on the bed
•     Gray accents on the side, front and rear lower moldings
•     20-inch aluminum wheels featuring a "liquid metal" finish, with Stone Gray color wheel ports
•     Cooper 285/50R20 ZEON LTZ tires
•     Outside mirrors with LED turn-signal indicators.

The inside, there's another signature Chevrolet cue: a dual-cockpit instrument panel design. It flows into the doors, with continuous lines that create a floating, wraparound effect, amplifying the Chevrolet Colorado's feeling of spaciousness. Ice-blue lighting and high-quality, "double-faced" leather-trimmed seats add sophistication and refinement.

A brace of motorcycle-inspired, three-dimensional gauges stand out on the instrument panel, projecting a sporty appearance.
Contrasting trim used with the light-colored leather seating, dark wood trim accented with chrome and low-gloss and soft-touch materials are used throughout for a premium feel. A number of storage compartments are located throughout the interior, including a covered center bin for concealment of valuable items, and a large, dual glovebox.

Additional features a dual-zone, digital climate control system and the latest in "infotainment" technology. The show truck highlights an ergonomically positioned 7-inch LCD display in the center stack, for easy viewing and intuitive control of Web access, navigation, music and hands-free phone features.

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Chevrolet Camaro SS Convertible Indy 500 Pace Car, 2011

 

 

Chevrolet Camaro SS Convertible Indy 500 Pace Car, 2011

A special-edition Chevrolet Camaro SS Convertible  serve as the official pace car of the 2011 Indianapolis 500. Chevrolet and Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials made the announcement at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale classic auto auction, where a bidder will have the opportunity to purchase the first of 50 Indianapolis 500 Festival Committee cars.

The pace car, along with the matching festival cars, features a Summit White exterior accented with orange stripes and door graphics. The interior is trimmed in orange leather, including front seat headrests embossed with the Indy 500 logo, along with white door panels and instrument panel trim. The instrument panel trim features extensions of the orange exterior stripes.

The color combination is similar to the design used on the 1969 Camaro Indy pace car - replicas of which have become among the most popular Camaros in the collector world.

Pace car details
Equipped with a 400-horsepower (298 kW) V-8 engine and six-speed automatic transmission, the actual pace car for the race requires no performance modifications to perform its duty in front of the racing field.

All 50 of the Festival Committees cars will be SS convertible models fitted with the 2SS equipment package, offering the following standard features:

•     Four-wheel disc brakes with Brembo four-piston calipers and hydraulic assist
•     StabiliTrak electronic stability control
•     Competitive/sport mode that enhances on-track performance
•     Performance Launch Control (with the manual transmission) that optimizes hard-acceleration launches for quicker, more consistent performance
•     Twenty-inch polished aluminum wheels and performance tires
•     Head-up instrument display
•     Center console with auxiliary gauge package.

Convertible refinement
The Camaro Convertible delivers coupe-like driving dynamics, with the unmatched fun of open air driving. The Convertible model contains an enhanced structure designed to eliminate the traditional compromises of open cars, such as cowl or steering wheel shake. The goal is a convertible that drives like the coupe. All the powertrain and suspension elements of the existing Camaro Coupe carry over unchanged in the convertible. The top has a smooth, tailored fit, with acoustical foam in the headliner that helps deliver a quiet ride with the top up.

Four strategic reinforcements enhance the already-stiff body structure to eliminate common convertible maladies of cowl and steering wheel shake:

1.     A tower-to-tower brace under the hood
2.     A transmission support reinforcement brace
3.     Underbody tunnel brace
4.     Front and rear underbody "V" braces.

The power-folding top retracts in about 20 seconds. It is built in partnership with the same manufacturer as the Corvette convertible top, and operates in a similar manner. That means it folds in a simple "Z" pattern and latches with a single, convenient handle located at the center of the windshield header. Other convertible models in this segment still offer convertible tops with dual latches, forcing drivers into two-hand operations reaching across the car.

The regular-production versions of the 2011 Camaro Convertible will begin arriving in Chevrolet dealerships in February 2011, opening a new chapter in the Camaro's ongoing 21st century rebirth. Even before the introduction of a convertible model, Camaro ended 2010 as the sales leader in its class in the United States for the first time since 1985.

Chevrolet's pace car heritage
Louis Chevrolet, who founded the brand with William "Billy" Durant in 1911, was a racer, mechanic and pioneering engineer. He raced in the early years of the Indianapolis 500, which also started in 1911, and served a luminary of the event in the years after he retired his racing helmet. That included driving the official Indianapolis pace car, which was developed by Indy 500 founder Carl Fisher, who believed a rolling start was safer than a standing start. The first Indianapolis 500 featured a pace car driven by Fisher.

The first Chevrolet selected as the Indianapolis 500 pace car was the 1948 Fleetmaster Six. The brand would go on to lead the racing pack more than any other manufacturer.

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