LS9 Production In Full Swing
The ZR1's 638-horsepower LS9s are being screwed together as we speak, and their meticulous assembly says volumes for GM's newest supercar. In this shot, the Eaton TVS supercharger has been installed, and the engine is sealed and pressure tested. Air is forced into the oil and water passages and the computer makes sure there are no leaks. If the pressure isn't held, the builder has to figure out where the leak is occurring-and fix it-before the engine can move down the line.
Once the manifolds and the dual-disc clutch are installed, the LS9 is cold balanced and cold dyno tested. Finally, finished engines are shipped to the off-site hot dyno facility. And then, they're bolted into your ZR1s, which we're hoping one of you will lend to GMHTP for the sickest drag test of all time.
GM Celebrates 100 Years With Volt Intro
William Durant filed the incorporation papers to form General Motors Corporation on September 16, 1908. 100 years later, GM remembered the past-then looked to the future by unveiling the 2011 Chevy Volt. The aerodynamic Volt is powered by a 16-kWh, lithium-ion battery, with a gasoline/E85-powered engine generator seamlessly providing electricity to power the Volt's electric drive unit, while simultaneously sustaining the charge of the battery. This new car can go 40 miles on battery power alone (with at-home 120 and 240-volt recharging), and "several hundred" additional miles with generator assistance. The battery pack contains over 220 lithium-ion cells, and the power equates to 150 horses and 273 lb-ft of instant torque. Top speed is said to be 100 mph. The Volt will begin production in late 2010...no word yet on a mega-voltage SS version, but we've got our fingers crossed.
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