Production Volt Details Emerging

2011 Chevy Volt

Autoblog has collected the few known photos of the production Chevy Volt and combined them in a convenient gallery.

The highly anticipated plug-in hybrid could be a game-changer in the booming market of alternative fuel vehicles. In case you don’t know; the Volt is a plug-in electric vehicle that can run 40 miles on electricity alone. The kicker, however is the Volt’s 1 cylinder gasoline engine which doesn’t propel the vehicle. Instead it recharges the battery to extend the range past the 40 mile battery threshhold. Obviously, short treks won’t require a drop of gas, and Chevy anticipates up to 400 mpg on longer drives!

Understandibly, GM has kept a tight lid on the details of such a revolutionary project. But, as the anticipated debut of the production design draws near at the Paris Motor Show in October, the General has let a few teaser images slip. Now, there’s even appeared this video on YouTube in which Bob Boniface (director of the Volt’s design) gives a presentation on the thinking behind the shift in design from the concept to the real thing:

Can’t wait!

Steve Saleen’s New Challenger

Automotive performance legend Steve Saleen and his new company, SMS Limited, are making a splash with their newest supercar; the SMS 570 Dodge Challenger.

SMS 570 Challenger

The SMS 570 starts with a 2009 Challenger RT, then throws on an SMS 296-S supercharger to kick the horses up between 500 and 700. Of course the car gets the requisite Saleen body mods, suspension, brakes and exhaust upgrades, as well as custom interior.

No word yet on price, but my guess is that if you want one….start saving.

Foose/Year One Braselton Bash

Saturday, September 20th, 2008 will see the return of Chip Foose to Braselton, GA for the annual Year One Braselton Bash. The event will take place between noon and 8pm at Year One’s tech center.

Admission is free for spectators but there is a $30 entry fee to show off your ride in the participant-voted car show. Or, if you’re feeling confident, there’s a “Select Show” limited to 100 cars judged by Chip Foose.

All proceeds benifit the Progeria Research Foundation.

In addition, HorsePower will be in attendence filming an upcoming episode, so Chip will reunite with former Overhaulin’ co-host, Courtney Hanson for special autograph sessions!

Prankin’ Foose on Overhaulin’

I was browsing YouTube today during a break at work and ran across this video. It’s presumably an excerpt filmed during the CNN Hummer“Warrior One” episode. I don’t remember seeing it during the show (but sometimes my memory isn’t so good). In it, airbrush artist extraordinaire, Dru Blair, fools Chip with a little help from the A-Team.

Pretty impressive!

Chris Jacobs on Speed Freaks

Chris Jacobs

Overhaulin’ host and all-around car guy Chris Jacobs will be appearing on the Speed Freaks radio show this Sunday night. Check out speedfreaks.tv for local stations and times. The show can also be heard at 10:00pm on Sirius satellite channel 122.

Tune in and listen to some great car talk, hear what Chris has been up to lately, and maybe even get a little Overhaulin’ info!

Foose Featured at West Coast Nationals

August 22-24th will see the Goodguys West Coast Nationals roll into Pleasanton, CA. This year’s show will feature an appearance by automotive designer Chip Foose. This local article promoting the show is pretty standard Foose bio stuff, but there is this line of interest relating to the possibility of a 6th season of Overhaulin’:

“Overhaulin’” is a car-restoration show that is in negotiations to have its sixth season air on the Discovery Channel.

That’s it. Nothing concrete or too substantial, but it does suggest that the show may return. And, as patient fans of Overhaulin’ have learned, any news is better than no news. So, if you’re planning to be in the Bay area the weekend of the show, stop by and ask Chip for yourself (then let the rest of us know what’s happening).

Ring Brothers win 2nd Goodguys SMoY

Congratulations to Jim and Mike Ring for their 2nd consecutive Goodguys Street Machine of the Year Award!

The RingBrothers: Back to Back SMoY Winners

The Goodguys Nationals in Columbus, OH showed Chevrolet plenty of love over the July 11th weekend. The brothers beat out three other ‘69 Camaros in the top five, as well as the much-publicized Rad Rides “Notorious” 1970 Nova with their own ‘69 Camaro, “Razor”. Adding to last year’s win with the 67 Mustang “Reactor”, the RingBrothers were the first builders in 14 years to win the prestigious award back-to-back! Great job, guys!

Watch a cool video of the top 5 awards on the Hub!

Foose Coupes Hit the Street

Foose Coupe

Edmunds reported last week that the long-awaited Foose Coupe has been delivered to the first customer. The Hemisfear inspired supercar will be limited to a production run of 50 vehicles. One can be yours for a mere $300,000.

So, what do you get for that money? How about a fully custom carbon fiber body pushed by a 6.4L V-8 Hemi cranking 500hp and 480ft/lbs of torque? Plus, a one-on-one design session with Chip Foose to personally choose interior and exterior colors and graphic layout.

Foose Coupe Interior

Superformance Distribution of Irvine, CA is now handling distribution of the cars for Foose Design, since the highly publicised scandal at Unique Performance in TX forced the seizure of the company’s inventory and subsequent shut-down of the shop’s operations.

Trepanier to Host Woodward Dream Cruise

It was announced earlier this week that Troy Trepanier of Rad Rides will serve as the Grand Marshall of this year’s Woodward Dream Cruise. The 14th edition of the annual event will be held this year on Saturday, August 16th along Woodward Ave in Michigan.

From the press release:

Troy Trepanier

“Troy is a down-to-earth, Midwestern guy who builds incredible custom cars that people actually drive,” said Don Tanner, executive director of the Woodward Dream Cruise. “He also just happens to be one of the most prolific hot-rodders ever and a huge fan of our event.”

Trepanier will appear throughout the Dream Cruise, including at the Friday night ribbon cutting in Ferndale and parade through downtown Berkley. He will also serve as the Guest of Honor and Honorary Judge at the first-ever Woodward “Dream Show”—a juried car exhibition and competition at Northwood Shopping Center (northwest corner of Woodward Avenue and 13 Mile) and appear on this year’s official program cover.

Congratulations, Troy!

2010 Camaro Unveiled

This week Chevy finally released pictures and specs of the production 5th generation Camaro.

The important numbers? How about 422hp and 408 ft/lb of torque for the 6.2L V8 SS model?

What’s equally impressive to fans of the concept, however, is how true GM stayed to the original design. Obviously, safety and cost requirements dictate what’s possible when making the jump from concept to showroom, but Bob Lutz insisted in this case, that designers not stray from the design elements which garnered rave reviews the past couple of years.

Along those lines, Jalopnik recently sat down with GM designer Jeff Perkins, who worked on the new design, and put together this analysis of where changes were made and why.