GM and So-Cal Speed Shop Team to Run 800-hp HHR at Bonneville
POMONA, Calif. — General Motors has teamed with So-Cal Speed Shop to develop a streamlined, high-performance version of the 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The car will be one weapon in the GM Performance Division's four-vehicle attack on the Bonneville Salt Flats. GM also is fielding a custom-built Ecotec Lakester and two different variations of the Chevrolet Cobalt at the 57th Annual Bonneville Speed Week, which runs from August 13-19. The HHR was chopped 7 inches, modified and painted at So-Cal Speed Shop. So-Cal president Pete Chapouris said the HHR's tailgate was modified to house twin parachutes. The roof contains a NASCAR-style rear flap and side rails to prevent the car from becoming airborne and to help slow it down should it spin. A funny car-style exit flap is built into the roof as an added safety feature.
Crossovers come of age as popularity, sales soar
The segment -- which combines the shell of a sport-utility vehicle with the frame of a passenger car -- is smoking hot, the result of a perfect storm of consumer desires and unstable gasoline prices.
There's a reason it has become the auto industry's fastest growing segment. It appeals to millions of motorists who like the high-riding, cargo-carrying versatility of an SUV and are equally pleased with the more-nimble handling and better fuel economy ratings of a crossover vehicle.
Warner's playbook
When Curt Warner left behind his pro football career in 1990, he quickly began exploring new opportunities.
Auto sales soon popped to the top of his list.
Warner, a communications major out of Pennsylvania State University, found appeal in the personal interaction and business complexity that comes with owning a dealership.
Maybe not surprisingly, he sees similarities between playing on a football team and leading a full-service automotive business.
"Every department is unique ... retail sales, used car sales, service, parts ... with their own sub-cultures," said Warner, who has owned Curt Warner Chevrolet in Vancouver since 1999. "Like football, every department has a responsibility to the overall success of the organization. It involves a lot of communication.
When listing priorities in a new car, fuel economy isn't close to ...
CHICAGO -- Even $3 gas isn't enough to make fuel economy a priority for most new-car shoppers.
It ranked 18th among 56 buying considerations for shoppers early this year, says CNW Marketing Research, but it fell to 21st in September as pump prices began to retreat.
A low monthly payment was tops in the CNW's surveys, followed by quality, styling, visibility, and the manufacturer's reputation.
Other factors that beat fuel economy were passenger protection; front air bags; interior conveniences, such as cupholders; and the sound system.
Safety got the call when Mike Carter bought a 2007 Hyundai Sonata in August.
Carter had three fuel-sippers on his shopping list, the Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit, and Nissan Versa, but with a 17-year-old daughter starting to drive, he chose a large sedan instead.
Abel Chevrolet announces the launch of its new online portal for ...
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