Trivia Tuesday, May 19 2015

What ever the entry level version is, I thought it was the Z06, but as @oldshurst442 pointed out would seem I am thinking of the base Stingray version as a focus point. Yet if it is a $60K car, I doubt many can think of having it as an extra weekend cruiser.

The Z06 starts in the 6 figure range. It starts at $112k. Add the "performance package" for another 9k (which should be standard on a Z06, right?) and it's a 120k car before changing paint, wheels or interior colors. 

Major announcement between GM and Hyundai. General Motors and Hyundai Motor Company Announce Plans for First Five Co-developed Vehicles - Hyundai Newsroom GM and Hyundai announce plans for first five co-developed vehicles The two companies will co-develop four vehicles for the Central and South American market, including a compact SUV, car and pick-up, as well as a mid-size pick-up, all with the flexibility to use either internal combustion or hybrid propulsion systems. Hyundai and GM also will co-develop an electric commercial van for North America. Hyundai and GM expect sales of the co-developed vehicles to be more than 800,000 vehicles a year once production is fully scaled. I have to wonder if the well-received PV5 electric van that Hyundai developed and sells under both Hyundai and Kia labels in Asia and Europe could not end up being part of the electric commercial van for North America?

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/lasalle-police-illegal-border-crossing-us-kayak-rcmp-windsor-1.7602298   https://www.ctvnews.ca/windsor/article/lasalle-officer-thwarts-attempted-illegal-entry-into-canada/   A routine property check turned into a surprising discovery early Wednesday morning, according to police. Shortly before 1:00 a.m., a LaSalle police officer checking a commercial property on the 1800 block of Front Road spotted a man at the water’s edge of the Detroit River with two backpacks and a kayak. Investigators say the 51-year-old U.S. citizen was attempting to illegally enter Canada. He was detained and handed over to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for further investigation. Police Chief Michael Pearce praised the officer, saying, “This is an outstanding example of how proactive policing can yield positive results. While conducting a simple property check, our officer helped prevent an illegal entry into Canada.”   A defector... Reminiscent of former Eastern block folk from  the 1980s...

I said the Z06, ZR1 twins will sell out.  GM will build as many as the demand needs GM to build.  And it will probably be a higher number than any Porsche 911 variant in that category.  Firstly, Porsche limits production of those track focused upper trimmed variants.  Secondly, like Ferrari, Porsche obliges the owners of would be GT3 RS owners to buy Cayennes and Macans and have a history of past 911 purchases. Only Ferrari gets shat on for that business practice... I dont think Chevrolet and Corvette as a manufacturing team and entity and GM ultimately, are ready to introduce a Corvette SUV as it once was presented a couple of years ago.  The Corvette engineering team is too focused on giving us mental performance from the C8 platform.  And more to come is rumored.  And then there is the 9nth generation.  The C8 is already on its 6th year.  Its close to the time where Chevrolet is thinking on the next gen Corvette.  Whether this next platform will come at year 8 or year 14 of C8 production, the 6th year of any Corvette generation is when Chevrolet starts thinking if another generation of Corvette is going to happen and is talking to General Motors corporate on what budgets are needed to follow. And then the engineering team starts to form to start thinking about what is the the next Corvette going to be like. And no...lifestyle vehicles have NOT replaced anything. The sportscar is still alive and well. For those that have the money to spend on secondary vehicles as toys, these people buy Hummer EVs just as much as Corvette and Porsches.  But those that do not have monies to spend, well, they cant afford groceries in this current political climate.   But sportscars are still being bought.  Lifestyle vehicles...too I guess.  I heard that Jeep is also tanking in sales.  I dunno if its only the Wagoneer or the regular Jeep, but regular Jeeps have gone insane expensive too.  And I do not see Rivians nor Broncos all that much on the roads nor do I see US peoples rave about Rivian and Broncos the way they once did 2 years ago...