Chevrolet COPO Camaro Goes From Concept to Production

DETROIT – Chevrolet will build 69 COPO Camaros for 2012, the brand’s first purpose-built Camaro drag-racing specialty car designed to compete with the quickest in NHRA’s Stock Eliminator and Super Stock classes. National records for quarter-mile times in these contests are in the nine-second range.

As such, the COPO Camaros are expected to be the quickest Camaro ever offered by Chevrolet.

“The COPO Camaro is going to shake up the sportsman drag racing ranks this summer and give Chevy fans a great new reason to cheer on the Bowtie,” said Jim Campbell, GM U.S. vice president of Performance Vehicles & Motorsports. “COPO builds off the strengths that have made the Camaro the best-selling sports car in America. And while it was developed strictly for the drag strip, the COPO Camaro is infused with the same performance pedigree that every Camaro shares.”

The 69-car production for the 2012 COPO Camaro matches the number of “ZL-1” COPO Camaros made in 1969. COPO stands for Central Office Production Order and was Chevrolet’s special-order system in used by dealers to build high-performance models in the 1960s.

The new COPO Camaros will be built using factory “body-in-white” body structures produced at the Oshawa, Ontario plant that manufactures regular-production Camaros. They are the same body-in-white body shells available to all racers under Chevrolet Performance part number 19243374.

Customers will order and complete the transaction for their COPO Camaro at their preferred Chevrolet dealer with delivery at the General Motors Performance Build Center in Wixom, Mich.

Deliveries will begin early this summer.

Highlights of the new COPO Camaro program include:

• A sequenced build number matched to the engine but sold without a Vehicle Identification Number and cannot be registered for highway use
• Three racing-class engine are available, including a naturally aspirated 427 (7.0L) and two supercharged 327 (5.3L) V-8 engines
• Engine assembly at GM’s Performance Build Center, where the buyer can opt to participate in the engine assembly similar to Chevrolet’s Corvette Engine Build Experience and the Chevrolet Performance Build Your Own Crate Engine programs
• Engines pairing with a Powerglide automatic transmission designed for drag racing
• Five colors: Black, Summit White, Victory Red, Silver Ice Metallic and Ashen Gray Metallic
• A COPO graphics package similar to the one introduced on the concept vehicle available in Metallic White, Flat Black, Inferno Orange Metallic and Chevy Racing Blue
• Pricing starting at $89,000
• A special collector’s package offering the purchase of all three engines with the COPO Camaro – including one installed in the car at delivery – with each engine serial number matched to the car

Selection process
The COPO Camaro concept was first shown at the 2011 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas, where the overwhelming response by more than 2,000 racing enthusiasts shaped the decision to produce a limited number of COPO Camaros.

To ensure fair access to the limited number of COPO Camaros, an independent third party was used to identify the first individuals who would be offered the opportunity to buy one of the new COPO Camaros. Those selected will receive a confirmation letter with instructions on how to fulfill the purchase contract, choose the engine option for their intended racing class, and take delivery.

Designed to win
The COPO Camaro is designed to NHRA racing specifications including a solid axle and a full chrome moly roll cage. Inside, most of the standard sound deadening and power accessories have been deleted in order to optimize weight for NHRA racing. Also included is a pair of racing bucket seats (no rear seat), a safety harness for the driver, a competition floor shifter and Chevrolet Performance gauges.
The three engines offered in the COPO Camaro program were developed to align with the top classes in NHRA’s various Stock Eliminator and Super Stock ranks. They are:

• An LS7-based naturally aspirated 427 (7.0L) V-8
• A supercharged, LSX-based 327 (5.3L) V-8 featuring a 2.9L supercharger
• A supercharged, LSX-based 327 (5.3L) V-8 featuring a 4.0L supercharger

The 2012 COPO Camaro is being offered as a performance part, with a specific part number (P/N 20129562). It cannot be registered, titled, licensed, or driven on public roads or highways. COPO is specifically offered for off-highway, competitive NHRA use only.

Racing enthusiasts interested in more information can go to www.gmperformanceparts.com to sign up for COPO Camaro updates through the Fuel online newsletter. Production updates will also be posted on Chevrolet Performance’s Facebook page.

Newt Gingrich Says you cant put a GUN RACK in a Chevy Volt..GM Says You Can!!

It seems like each day the auto industry is becoming more and more mired in the frenzy of election-bid politics, especially with the Michigan primary fast approaching. Earlier this week, the Chevrolet Volt landed in the thick of it.

During a speech in Georgia, Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich raised a lot of eyebrows when he lambasted the Volt for its inability to hold a gun rack. Chevrolet executive Selim Bingol fired back this morning via GM's new blog, called BTW:

"Newt Gingrich has taken up saying that 'You can't put a gun rack on a Volt.' That's like saying 'You can't put training wheels on a Harley.' Actually, you can. But the real question is 'Why would you?' In both examples:

It looks weird,

It doesn't work very well, and

There are better places for gun racks and training wheels -- pickup trucks and little Schwinns, respectively.

Seriously, when is the last time you saw a gun rack in ANY sedan?"

During his speech, Gingrich also called the Volt an "interesting experimental car" and slammed it for being pricey. At the heart of Gingrich's message is his opposition to President Barack Obama's proposal to raise electric-car subsidies and the president's use of the auto bailout's success in his re-election campaign platform.

See Both Videos Below

RANGER RZR XP 900 Wins Two Classes at Dakar!

After two weeks of the Dakar 2012 -- the world's toughest off-road race -- the Official Team Polaris/Xtreme Plus and driver Willy Alcaraz proved the RANGER RZR XP 900 is one of a kind. Not only did the team reach the initial goal by crossing the finish line in Lima without any technical issues, it claimed wins in two different classes: T3 and solo.

The No. 374 also finished some of the longest and hardest stages in the top 30, finishing 42 overall in the car class. No doubt, this is a unique and historical performance for Alcaraz, the Polaris RZR XP 900 and Xtreme Plus Team!

"In Puerto Plata, at the start of the race, everybody was amazed to see me alone in my small car. Some of them were even laughing at me!" said Alcaraz. "But days after days, they were less and less smiling when I was overtaking them in the dunes. Even if my top speed was inferior on some trails, the RZR XP was just incredible and fun to drive in the toughest technical section. I managed to stay always in the top 50. This is an incredible result for Polaris, the team and myself!"

"We showed everybody the RZR XP is best lightweight buggy, with a dedicated class (T3) to race. It is very fun to drive and it has amazing capacities when the terrain is becoming technical," said Marco Piana, Polaris/Xtreme Plus Team Manager. "No doubt that a driver with a more expensive car and buggy will start looking at this affordable vehicle to race Bajas, Rallye Raid and Dakar."

2012 Traverse Is a KBB.com Winter Winner

Winter weather can make for tough sledding in many of today’s crossovers, but not the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse with all-wheel-drive. That’s the verdict from Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com, which recently added the Traverse to its list of Top 10 Winter Cars for 2012.

Website writers unleashed a blizzard of compliments on the Traverse, noting that: “Fitted with a torquey 3.6-liter direct-injected V6 that makes 281-288 horsepower and a six-speed automatic transmission, the Traverse integrates its torque-managing intelligent AWD with the standard StabiliTrak dynamic control system and anti-lock brakes plus hill-start assist to help reduce driver stress under less-than-ideal road conditions.”

Other standard and available stress reducers include a rear-seat DVD entertainment system, 10-speaker premium Bose sound system, navigation, rearview camera, Bluetooth functionality for hands-free calling, heated front seats, tri-zone climate control, remote start, heated and power-adjustable outside mirrors, head curtain side airbags with rollover protection for all rows, and a complimentary six-month subscription to GM’s OnStar Directions and Connections service with Turn-by-Turn Directions.

Plus, with seating for up to eight and a best-in-class maximum cargo capacity of 116.4 cubic feet, the Traverse can handle plenty of winter gear, too.
All that makes the Traverse “A popular choice anytime of the year for anyone needing a full-size crossover with style, space and a bounty of features,” according to KBB.com, while “the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse with optional all-wheel drive really shines when the sun doesn’t.”

The 2012 Chevrolet Traverse—chosen as a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)

Hoffpauir Auto Group

What Would Santa Drive?

Every December Santa embarks,
On a reindeer-guided journey around the globe in the dark.

He delivers toys in his trusty red sleigh
From house to house before the light of Christmas day.

But what if there were no sleigh in which to arrive,
He'd jump in a car but which would he drive?

He'd need a vehicle with all the right gear
What would be on Santa's wish list this year?
To determine which will take Santa beyond the stars.

All-wheel drive to conquer terrain with glee,
Like on the Tahoe, with a lot of capability

A vehicle with power and lots of "go,"
Can be found in the Camaro

A vehicle with room for hauling elves with grace,
Like the Chevy Traverse with Stow n' Go and plenty of space

With an in-dash navigation system to guide his way
The Equinox directs without delay

To deliver boats and ponies Santa will need to tow
Behind Chevy's Silverado, Ho Ho Ho!

To land on rooftops without a tip or roll
Maybe a Cruze with great control

One with heated seats keeping Santa toasty and warm
Like the Chevy Avalanche cruising through every storm

But only one vehicle in all the land
Will make this Christmas fine and grand

To keep Santa singing while flying alone,
The Prius's satellite radio offers carols in every time zone

With trimmings in leather and hardwoods throughout,
Santa rides in style without a doubt

But what color would he want as the winds whip to the right?
It's not hard to pick when it comes in Summit White.

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