Badged as the Daewoo Lacetti in Korea and the Holden Cruze in Australia, it is known everywhere else in the world as the Chevrolet Cruze. Already available in Mexico (that’s right, Mexico), the Cruze will go on sale in this part of North America in the third quarter of next year as a 2011 model.

Earlier today, GM released new details as well as some of the first official interior shots of the newest model to wear the bowtie. The Cruze, which will be built at the General’s Lordstown, Ohio assembly plant, is expected to hit showrooms in the third quarter of next year.

“Cruze is already a hit across Europe and Asia; and now, it’s coming to America to challenge the status quo,” said Brent Dewar, GM Vice President, Chevrolet Global brand. “Along with the Volt electric vehicle, Cruze is the latest tangible example of how Chevrolet is working on exciting products that range from gas-friendly to gas-free.”

According to the press release, the new Cruze will include the following features:

•    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

The stakes

While the Chevrolet Volt represents the direction the manufacturer is taking with leading edge technology, chances are slim that the company will ever make enough money on the model to even recover its development costs. But expectations for the Cruze are much higher. Not only is GM hoping for a hit with its latest small sedan, it is pulling out all the stops in order to change the way Americans think about what a small car should be.

A case in point – the body shop at Lordstown was retooled with the latest equipment in order to produce a body with gap tolerances of 3mm or less between most exterior panels and minimal production variances.

Inside, the Cruze features a headliner covered in a knit material that is color and grain-matched to the interior pillar and other moldings, while the seats are color-matched (a’ la the Malibu) to the instrument panel accent trim – giving the entire interior a high-quality feel. Instrument panel gauges are backlit using LED technology and all Cruzes feature a standard driver information center.

New powertrain

Standard on LT and LTZ models is a 1.4-liter turbo four producing 138 horsepower and 148 lb.-ft. of torque, while the base LS model with feature a normally-aspirated 1.8-liter four with 136 horsepower and 123 lb.-ft. of torque. But here’s the kicker – both come with either a 6-speed manual or optional 6-speed automatic transmission.

Here at LotPro.com, we’re always complaining, and rightly so, that Americans very rarely get to drive the good stuff – especially when it comes to some of the world’s best small cars.

But with a new mileage mandate from the feds and the gas price spike of two thousand and eight still on the minds of the world’s manufacturers, it appears that North American drivers will finally get the chance to join the rest of the world in enjoying some of the finest small cars on the planet.

And just as every journey begins with a first step; it appears that that first step will take place at this year’s Los Angeles Auto Show.

L.A. 09

We should begin by stating that much of what is new to North American drivers will be old news to most folks in both Europe and Asia. Both the Mazda2 and the Chevrolet Cruze (not to mention the Ford Fiesta) have been around for a year or more on both continents. Nonetheless, they will soon be ours.

2011 Mazda2

Based on the DE platform which also underpins the Ford Fiesta, the Mazda2 (also called Demio in some markets) is the first B-segment Mazda since the Mazda 323 of the 90’s. Currently available in either a 3-door or 5-door hatchback body style, European Mazda2’s are available with the choice of a 1.3-liter four producing either 74 or 85 horsepower, a 1.5-liter four with 102 horses, or a 67 hp 1.4-liter turbo-diesel four.

The Mazda2 really is a good measure of the good stuff, as it was named the 2008 World Car of the Year.

2011 Chevrolet Cruze

Badged as the Daewoo Lacetti in Korea and the Holden Cruze in Australia, it is known everywhere else in the world as the Chevrolet Cruze. Already available in Mexico (Mexico?), the Cruze will go on sale in the US of A in the third quarter of next year.

The Cruze will be available with a plethora of engines (with expected fuel economies of up to 40 mpg) including a 1.4-liter turbo four. Available amenities will include navigation, Bluetooth, XM Satellite radio, OnStar and a total of 10 air bags.

1958 Thunderbird

COTY award

In 1949, Motor Trend became the first U.S. magazine to offer a Car of the Year award. For the next 50 years, it was handed out to domestic vehicles only (an Import Car of the Year category was established in 1970 and the two were combined for the 2000 award year).

As hindsight is inevitably 20/20, it’s easy to knock some of the past recipients, such as the 1971 Chevrolet Vega (with its engine block design that led to a history of head gasket failures), the 1980 Chevrolet Citation (that set a new standard in fwd-induced torque steer) and the 1983 AMC/Renault Alliance (which has been universally acknowledged to have been perhaps the magazine’s greatest faux pas).

But that being said, the Motor Trend Car of the Year award has also been bestowed on many of the most historically significant vehicles to grace our roads, including the 1958 Ford Thunderbird, the 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado, the 1968 Pontiac GTO, the 1985 Volkswagen GTI, the 1998 Chevrolet Corvette and the 2005 Chrysler 300.

2010 nominees

For 2010, there were 23 contenders for the Motor Trend COTY award. As usual, vehicle eligibility is determined by a totally new or substantial redesign and all vehicles must have been available for sale between now and November 1st of the previous year. The list for 2010 was comprised of the following vehicles:

BMW 7 Series
BMW Z4
Buick LaCrosse
Chevrolet Camaro
Ford Mustang
Ford Fusion
Ford Taurus /SHO
Honda Insight
Hyundai Genesis Coupe
Kia Forte Koup
Kia Soul
Lexus HS 250h
Mazda3
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sedan
Nissan 370Z
Nissan Cube
Porsche Panamera
Subaru Legacy
Suzuki Kizashi
Toyota Prius
Volkswagen Golf /GTI
Volkswagen Routan

2010 Ford Fusion

In a first-ever live webcast event, Motor Trend announced this afternoon that the entire 2010 Ford Fusion model line had taken the honors for the 2010 Motor Trend Car of the Year.

“Ford has proven its resilience in these tough times by delivering to market a car with broad appeal to a broad range of consumers,” said Angus MacKenzie, MOTOR TREND editor-in-chief. “The Fusion range has matured into a competitive roster of midsize sedans, able to compete with sales juggernauts such as the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. It is no surprise the Fusion now ranks in the top 10 best-selling cars in America.”

Mark Fields, Angus MacKenzie, Derrick Kuzak

There to receive the award for Ford Motor Company was a plethora of executives from the company, including Mark Fields, executive vice president of the company and president, The Americas.

“The MOTOR TREND Car of the Year award is another testament of our commitment to delivering a world-class car lineup,” said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president, Ford Global Product Development, who accepted the golden calipers on behalf of the Ford team. “Whether it is the best-in-class fuel economy or quality unsurpassed by Toyota or Honda, the Fusion and Fusion Hybrid are clear evidence that Ford is serious about our car lineup.”

Green Car of the Year

In the world of automotive awards, GCOTY is a fairly new one. Established just four years ago, the first one was awarded to the 2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid. A year later, the 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid was the recipient, while the following year the 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid received the award that was presented, for the first time, at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Last year, the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI became the first-ever clean diesel to win Green Car Journal’s Green Car of the Year honor.

Requirements

In order to qualify for a nomination, a vehicle must, according to Green Car Journal, “exhibit characteristics that substantially raise the bar in environmental performance and be in production by January 1 of the award year.” In addition, each nominee is driven by Green Car Journal so that its driving characteristics can be observed first-hand. Nominee vehicles must also be in production to make sure they are readily available to the market during their award year.

The winner is selected by an 11 member panel that is comprised of both automotive as well as environmental experts. Past jurors have included such luminaries as Jean-Michael Cousteau of the Ocean Futures Society and Carl Pope of the Sierra Club as well as TV personality and major car aficionado Jay Leno and legendary race car driver and designer Carroll Shelby.

2010 Nominees

In alphabetical order, here are the 2010 nominees:

2010 Audi A3 TDI

Audi makes its first appearance on the list with the A3 TDI clean diesel. Equipped with a 2.0 liter TFSI turbocharged direct injection diesel, this smallest of Audis produces 200 horsepower and 207 lb.-ft. of torque.

Engine: 2.0-liter inline-four diesel
Emissions, EU5; PZEV or ULEVII
Horsepower: 200
Fuel Economy, city/hwy mpg: 21/30 (EPA) with manual transmission
Base MSRP: $30,775

2010 Honda Insight

The second generation Insight brings with it a new level of affordability to the hybrid sedan segment. Borrowing its name from Honda’s first production hybrid vehicle, the Insight is a completely new model from the ground up.

Engine: 1.3-liter inline-four, gasoline-electric hybrid
Emissions, EPA/CARB: Tier 2, Bin 5/AT-PZEV
Horsepower: 98
Fuel Economy, city/hwy mpg: 40/43 (EPA)
Base MSRP: $20,510

2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid

The Mercury Milan hybrid is the mechanical twin of Ford’s Fusion hybrid. Under the hood, the Milan benefits from the same new 2.5-liter Atkinson cycle 4-cylinder engine with intake variable cam timing as the Escape/Mariner hybrids, the green-friendly models produce 156 hp and 136 lb.-ft. of torque.

Engine: 2.5-liter inline-four Atkinson-cycle
Emissions, EPA/CARB: Tier 2, Bin 5/AT-PZEV
Horsepower: 156
Fuel Economy, city/hwy mpg: 41/36 (EPA)
Base MSRP: $26,280

2010 Toyota Prius

The new Prius is certainly the latest way for environmental fashionistas to wear their colors. It also represents the third generation of the most popular hybrid on the planet. Completely re-designed and re-engineered while retaining its unmistakable styling, Toyota has endowed the latest Prius with such cutting edge engineering features as a “Touch Tracer” display and an electric water pump, thus requiring no accessory drive belts on the engine.

Engine: 1.8-liter inline-four Atkinson-cycle
Emissions, EPA/CARB: Tier 2 Bin 3/SULEV AT-PZEV
Horsepower: 98
Fuel Economy, city/hwy mpg: 51/48 (EPA)
Base MSRP: $22,750

2010 VW Golf TDI

Here’s where the fun starts. The VW, it must be noted, is the antithesis of the Prius. It has terrific handling that engages the driver and a clean diesel engine that meets emissions certification in all 50 states. To top it all off, fuel economy is 30 city/41 highway, with many drivers claiming close to 50 mpg.

Engine: 2.0-liter inline-four, diesel
Emissions, EPA/CARB: Tier 2, Bin 5/SULEV
Horsepower: 140
Fuel Economy, city/hwy mpg: 30/41 (EPA)
Base MSRP: $22,690

Not a rebadged G8

DENVER – An all-new Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle (PPV) will join the ranks of law enforcement departments across North America in 2011. It’s a modern, full-size, rear-drive sedan that will offer both V-8 and V-6 engines, as well as a host of specialized equipment and features.

With that press release from the International Association of Chiefs of Police convention in Denver, Colorado, the Chevrolet Division of General Motors has announced that it’s back in the game of supplying vehicles to America’s Finest.

The new vehicle, which brings back the Caprice name (albeit in Caprice PPV nomenclature), will not be based on any current “civilian” vehicle sold in North America (the wheelbase of the PPV is 118.5” as compared to 114.7” for the G8).

“The new Chevrolet Caprice police car is the right tool at the right time for law enforcement,” said Jim Campbell, general manager for GM Fleet and Commercial Operations. “We asked for a lot of feedback from our police customers, which helped us develop a vehicle that is superior to the Crown Victoria in key areas.”

Highlights

According to the General, the new Caprice PPV will help law enforcement officers fulfill their mission by offering the following amenities:

•    Powerful 6.0L V-8 with fuel-saving Active Fuel Management technology and E85 capability delivers expected best-in-class 0-60 acceleration (sub six seconds) and top speed; a V-6 engine will also be offered, beginning in the 2012 model year
•    Optional front-seat-only side curtain air bags allows a full-width rear-seat barrier for greater officer safety
•    Two trunk-mounted batteries, with one of them dedicated to powering various police equipment
•    Designed for five-passenger seating, meaning the upper-center section of the dashboard can be used for equipment mounting without the concern of air bag deployment interference
•    Compatibility with in-dash touch-screen computer technology
•    Special front seats designed for the long-term comfort of officers whose car is their effective office, including space that accommodates the bulk of a typical equipment belt

Firmly planted

As the last point would indicate, particular attention was paid to the front seats of the new Caprice. Foam density has been designed to conform to the shape of various items found on an equipment belt. Any officer, thus equipped, will still be able to rest correctly on the seatback surface.

“The Chevrolet Caprice PPV’s seats represent a revolution in comfort and utility for officers who spend long hours in their car,” said Bob Demick, lead seat design manager. “The shape also enhances entry and egress, making it easier for officers to exit the vehicle quickly. The seatback bolsters, for example, have been purposefully contoured to help pocket the equipment on the belt, which includes the gun, Taser and handcuffs, which rest comfortably in the sculpted lower bolsters. That also increases the longevity of the trim cover surface.”

Power to the pavement

The Caprice PPV will be equipped with a 6 liter V-8 with an estimated 355 hp and 384 lb.-ft. of torque mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission performance-calibrated for law enforcement duty. Other standard features include:

•    High-output alternator
•    Engine oil, transmission and power steering coolers
•    Standard 18-inch steel wheels with bolt-on center caps
•    Large, four-wheel disc brakes with heavy-duty brake pads
•    Heavy-duty suspension components
•    Police-calibrated stability control system
•    Driver information center in the instrument cluster with selectable speed tracking feature.

Note: for those of you out there hoping to spot one early in order to avoid the long arm of the law, an “undercover street appearance package” (order #9C3) will be available as an option.

All images courtesy General Motors

Hyundai Genesis

NACOTY and NATOTY awards

At LotPro.com, we normally have to wait for the short list of candidates to be released by Automotive News. This year, Marty Padgett of The Car Connection (and also a juror) was kind enough to reveal the list just a bit early.

Patterned after the European “Car of the Year” award, the North American awards were first given in 1994. The jury is composed of no more than 50 journalists from the United States and Canada. In order to be eligible for consideration, a vehicle must be “substantially changed” from the previous model and be on sale shortly after the announcement of the award in early January. In addition:

•    Cars must have reasonably foreseeable annual sales in North America of 5,000 vehicles.
•    Trucks must have reasonably foreseeable annual sales in North America of 2,000 vehicles.

Ford F-150

From the short list of vehicles you see here, the three finalists in each category are announced in December and the winners are unveiled at a press conference at the beginning of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit (although the show does not sponsor the awards in any way).

Award trivia: During the sixteen years of the car award, hybrids have been honored 4 times. Domestic automakers have garnered eight awards, Japanese automakers have won the award three times and European automakers have received the award four times (for Car of the Year), while 2009 marked the first year a Korean automaker was honored (the Hyundai Genesis for Car of the Year). In the Truck of the Year competition, domestic automakers have taken the award home 10 times (including the 2009 winner, the Ford F-150), Japanese automakers have won 4 times, while European automakers have won twice.

This year’s short list is comprised of the following vehicles:

Ford Taurus SHO

Car of the Year

BMW 335d
Buick LaCrosse
Cadillac CTS
Chevrolet Camaro
Ford Fusion/Fusion Hybrid
Ford Taurus
Honda Insight
Kia Soul
Mazda3/MazdaSpeed3
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Porsche Panamera
Subaru Legacy
Suzuki Kizashi
Toyota Prius
Volkswagen Golf/GTI

Cadillac SRX

Truck of the Year

Acura ZDX
Audi Q5
Cadillac SRX
Chevrolet Equinox
Ford Transit Connect
Honda Crosstour
Land Rover LR4
Lincoln MKT
Subaru Outback
Volvo XC60

A first

At LotPro.com, we love cars that get great fuel economy. So it was with keen interest that we read this week that General Motors had announced that the Chevrolet Volt had become the first mass-produced vehicle to claim more than 100 mpg in the composite fuel economy rating. The EPA results also showed an electrical efficiency rating of 25 kilowatt hours/100 miles in the city cycle (equivalent to 230 miles per gallon).

Unlike conventional gasoline engines, the mileage testing on the Volt was performed using a new set of fuel economy standards that has been devised by the EPA specifically for Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs).

The EPA’s new methodology for PHEVs places more weight on the city driving cycle and uses kilowatt hours per 100 miles traveled, as opposed to miles per gallon, to define the efficiency of plug-ins (as in the aforementioned 25 kWh/100 miles). Given the current cost of electricity (11 cents per kWh), a Volt owner would pay about $2.75 for the amount of electricity it would take to travel 100 miles – an average of about 3 cents per mile.

The Volt

The Volt, you will remember, is GM’s most recent foray into the realm of pure electric vehicles and it is scheduled to start production near the end of next year and will be designated as a 2011 model. According to company estimates (using pre-production prototypes), it is expected to travel up to 40 miles on electricity alone from a single battery charge with an overall range of more than 300 miles through the use of a flex fuel-powered engine-generator.

“From the data we’ve seen, many Chevy Volt drivers may be able to be in pure electric mode on a daily basis without having to use any gas,” said GM Chief Executive Officer Fritz Henderson. “EPA labels are a yardstick for customers to compare the fuel efficiency of vehicles. So, a vehicle like the Volt that achieves a composite triple-digit fuel economy is a game-changer.”

The numbers

“The 230 city mpg number is a great indication of the capabilities of the Volt’s electric propulsion system and its ability to displace gasoline,” said Frank Weber, global vehicle line executive for the Volt. “Actual testing with production vehicles will occur next year closer to vehicle launch. However, we are very encouraged by this development, and we also think that it is important to continue to share our findings in real time, as we have with other aspects of the Volt’s development.”

Images courtesy of General Motors

Summer in the city

At LotPro.com, we’re fortunate to work just a stone’s throw from Meadow Brook Hall, the 110 room, 88,000 square-foot Tudor revival style mansion, built by the widow of John F. Dodge, which is arguably one of the largest historic house museums in the United States.

Although it is currently owned by Oakland University, and therefore not subject to property taxes, you can imagine that the upkeep on such a splendid structure is, to say the least, rather steep – a recent upgrade to the structure’s HVAC system, alone, is said to have cost a cool (no pun intended) $2 million.

To help defray these expenses, the Meadow Brook Concours d’Elegance was established and, over the past 30 years, has raised and contributed close to $6 million towards the mansion’s preservation costs.

The Best of Detroit

In a gesture of appreciation for their support in the past, this year’s Concours d’Elegance was dedicated to the three domestic automakers that are headquartered in and around Detroit. As part of the celebration, the event showcased a number of Detroit convertibles from 1959. Here are those from General Motors:

1959 Buick Electra 225 convertible

Prior to 1959, Buick’s top two vehicle models were the Roadmaster and Limited. In 1959, as part of a modernization effort, they were renamed, respectively, the Electra and the Electra 225.

The 225, or “deuce and a quarter” in street parlance, was so named as the overall length of the car was 225 inches.

1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz convertible

The 1959 Cadillac certainly marked the zenith of the brand’s tailfin era. Originally marketed as a low-volume convertible in 1953 based on the 1952 El Dorado Golden Anniversary concept vehicle, ’59 Eldos sported flamboyant tail fins, “rocket” style taillights and chrome-plated studs in the grille.

Riding on a 10 foot, 10 inch wheelbase, the overall width of the ‘59 Caddie was nearly 7 feet and the rear overhang measured 95 inches.

1959 Chevrolet Impala Fuel Injected convertible

Although more than 1.4 million Chevrolets were built during the 1959 model year, this particular convertible is just one of 26 full-sized Chevys (and one of only 3 known convertibles) delivered from the factory with “Ramjet Fuel Injection” – a feature prominently announced with a unique front fender script just ahead of the wheel openings.

In 1959, two FI engines were available: one rated at 250 hp and a high-compression 290 hp version featured on this convertible. In addition to its special powerplant, this car also features another rare full-size Chevrolet option – a first-year four-speed manual transmission. Another rarity is the under-dash cigarette ash catcher that, with the flip of a lever, uses the engine’s vacuum to whisk the ashes through a tube to a collection receptacle located out of sight under the instrument panel.

1959 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight convertible

In 1959, the series 98 was Oldsmobile’s flagship trim level. Offered in four body styles, including a 2-door convertible, it had a wheelbase of 126.3 inches and a “Rocket” V8 engine that displaced 394 cubic inches and produced 315 horsepower.

Features that set the “98” apart from the lower-level “88” models included 98-specific emblems and trim moldings, an electric clock, power steering, power brakes and a “Jetaway” Hydra-Matic automatic transmission. This convertible also features whitewall tires mounted on steel wheels and “spinner” hubcaps.

1959 Pontiac Bonneville convertible

1959 was a big year for Pontiac. Not only was it the object of a dramatic re-style, but the Pontiac split grille, “Wide Track” stance and legendary 389 V8 were all introduced in 1959. To top it off, Motor Trend anointed Pontiac with its “Car of the Year” honors.

For 1959, Pontiac’s lineup consisted of three series: the entry-level Catalina, the mid-priced Star Chief and the top-of-the-line Bonneville, of which this convertible is an example.

Options on the car include tri-power carburetion (3 two-barrel carburetors “three deuces”), power steering, power brakes, “Wonderbar” signal-seeking radio and a four-speed Hydra-Matic transmission. 382,940 Pontiacs were produced in 1959 and, of these, 11,426 were Bonneville convertibles.

The Best of Detroit

As we stated in yesterday’s article on LotPro.com, the years 1955 to 1970 are looked upon as the golden age for many followers of the sport of drag racing. During this time, big corporate sponsorships were the stuff of dreams and most drivers who raced also had full-time jobs that helped support their passion for the sport.

In addition to the six vehicles mentioned on Monday, here are the seven more that appeared at the Meadow Brook Concours d’Elegance this past Sunday:

1963 Pontiac Catalina 421 Super Duty

This particular 1963 Pontiac Catalina 421 Super Duty was among a select number of Pontiacs (there were only 14 produced) that were dubbed “Swiss Cheese” vehicles. The name came from the fact that the perimeter frame had approximately 120 holes punched in the side sections and the side of the box section was also removed.

With a factory shipping weight of only 3,308 pounds, the body featured aluminum panels on the fender, hood, trunk and bumpers. Factory rated horsepower was 420, but the engine blue printed out at well over 500 horsepower.

This particular Catalina was raced out of the venerable Royal Pontiac dealership in Royal Oak, Michigan (which was to become famous for the Royal Bobcat Pontiac GTO). Driven by Jim Wangers, it went on to win the B/FX class at the U.S. Nationals.

1963 Ford Galaxie Factory Lightweight

Ford’s answer to the Pontiac “Swiss Cheese” vehicles was the “Factory Lightweight.” Built in Atlanta and L.A., on the Galaxie line, the bodies were modified with aluminum panels and the interiors featured little in the way of luxury – no heater, no radio, and no frills. A very few of these lightweights featured Ford’s high-performance 427 engine.

1963 Chevrolet Impala Z-11

The Impala Z-11 was Chevy’s answer to the need for more horsepower and lighter cars in 1963. Chevrolet produced 57 of these vehicles that featured a modified 409 cubic inch engine that, in different variations, produced anywhere from 340 horsepower up to 425 horsepower.

Like its counterparts at Ford and Chrysler, this particular Chevy had no radio, no heater and no sound deadener and, like the Ford Galaxie, it was assigned an RPO (Regular Production Order) number (RPO Z-11), although it took more than signing on the dotted line to buy one of these specials.

1965 Plymouth “Color Me Gone”

A number of things took place in 1965 that were to profoundly change drag racing in the United States. That year, the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) created a factory experimental class that had less restrictive rules. The resulting Altered Wheelbase cars became the ultimate production-based muscle cars that would eventually bridge the gap between the Super Stock cars of the early ‘60’s and the Funny Cars that would emerge years later.

Chrysler eventually built 6 Dodges and 6 Plymouths and sold them to teams like the Ramchargers, Dick Landy and Roger Lindamood. Lindamood, in particular, won the 1964 Nationals and is a hall of fame driver.

1965 Mercury Comet “Dyno Don Nicholson”

Dyno Don Nicholson began racing in the 40’s and 50’s and was one of a select few drivers that helped propel the sport from a hobby to big business. Along with Jack Chrisman, The Ramchargers, Dick Landy and Gas Rhonda, he experimented with altering wheelbases, fuel injection, supercharging, big slicks and super duty transmissions.

His “Mercury Cyclone” was one of the most successful cars of its era and the car’s altered wheelbase, flip top and engine configuration led to the name “Funny Car” that is still used in drag racing today.

1968 Plymouth Barracuda “Ron Mancini Car”

By the 1960’s, all the major manufacturers were taking part in the “win on Sunday, sell on Monday” racing wars. In 1968, the Hurst Performance Center in Madison Heights, Michigan assembled 75 purpose-built cars specifically for drag racing. The new “Hemi” powerplant helped propel these cars to many NHRA victories.

This particular 426 Hemi Plymouth Barracuda was built by the team of Mike Dawson and Ron Mancini with the help of Gratiot Auto Supply and ran SS/AA.

1970 Chevrolet Chevelle “Red Alert”

Beginning in 1970, General Motors dropped its self-imposed rule of restricting mid-size cars to engines with less than 400 cubic inches of displacement. The LS6 package included a 454 cubic inch engine that produced 450 horsepower that resulted in quarter mile times in the low to mid-13 second range.

In 1969, drag racer Bob Hamilton purchased this Chevelle for his wife as a Valentine’s Day gift and, a year later, turned it into the “Red Alert” drag racer that competed in the NHRA SS/DA class. In 1971, model car company AMT created a model of the car that became their all-time sales leader. “Red Alert” continued to race until 1976 when it was Top Stock Eliminator in 14 out of 16 races.

Yo Bee, what’s up?

Fans of the movie Transformers (and possibly the toys as well) will now be able to get their hands on their very own Autobot wannabe as Chevrolet announced today that, beginning immediately, customers will be able to order a Bumblebee edition 2010 Chevrolet Camaro from their local Chevy dealer.

“When the first TRANSFORMERS movie was setting box office records, we had countless customers asking to purchase the ‘BUMBLEBEE’ Camaro,” said Karen Rafferty, product marketing director, Chevrolet. “Now, they can buy one with the new Camaro TRANSFORMERS Special Edition. Streets all over North America will be buzzing in no time.”

Specs

Here at LotPro.com, we see that the General’s latest über toy will be available in either LT or SS trim levels in “Rally yellow” and can be had either with or without the optional RS package.

The cost of the Transformers appearance package is $995 and will come with the following must-have amenities:

•    AUTOBOT® shield on the driver and passenger side panels
•    AUTOBOT® shield on each of the four wheel’s center cap
•    AUTOBOT® shield embroidered on interior center console
•    “TRANSFORMERS” logo on driver and passenger doors’ sill plates
•    “TRANSFORMERS” logo embedded into the hood rally stripes
•    High-gloss black center rally stripe package

Although the factory-spec version will not transform, it is available with all three production engines, i.e. the 304hp 3.6-liter V6 (available with a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic, the 400hp 6.2-liter L99 V8 (available in six-speed automatic guise only), or the 426hp 6.2-liter LS3 V8 (available only with a six-speed manual transmission).

Images courtesy of General Motors Corporation