RideLust

Over the years automobile manufacturers have spent millions upon millions of dollars with ad agencies trying to figure out how to pimp their latest and greatest to the masses. They’ve used explosions, catchy jingles, scantily clad women and of course, good ole’ rock and roll. Sometimes the hit with a true winner, other times however they simply screw the pooch and produce something like the ad you’re about to see here. Back in 1967 Chevrolet released one of the most iconic cars to ever grace the tarmac. It was the Camaro, and back then it took the automotive world by storm. It had a stout bulldog stance, multiple high performance engine choices and a beautiful shape which in turn helped it to become an instant automotive icon. What’s even more amazing however is that this is the ad that Chevrolet used to debut the car 44 years ago… man how times have changed.
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Earlier today, I gave you my take on the 2011 Camaro Convertible, which I found to be good fun with the 312 horsepower V-6. As a public service, I’m bringing you an alternate opinion from Henessey Performance Engineering, where the words “too much” are never spoken in regards to horsepower. If 312 horsepower doesn’t do it for you and even 426 horsepower isn’t enough to keep your interest for long, how does 755 horsepower in an open top Camaro sound? It sounds plenty angry, as you can see in the video below. Read More…

Thumbs Up: The cure for the summertime blues

Thumbs Down: The cure’s price of admission

Buy This Car If: You have a taste for ragtop pony cars with a bowtie on the grille

Eddie Cochran was only 21 years old when he died in a traffic accident during a U.K. tour. Had he lived until 2011, Cochran would have realized how wrong he was when he wrote the lyric, “there ain’t no cure for the summertime blues.” There is indeed a cure for the summertime blues, and it comes in the form of the 2011 Camaro Convertible. The regular strength cure, with its surprisingly-entertaining-yet-fuel-efficient 312 horsepower V-6 was all I needed, but don’t worry: the cure is also available in an extra-strength, 426 horsepower V-8 version. Read More…

As the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 ramps up for production, there has been speculation that the low-slung pony car will get an optional automatic transmission. Well, now according to Autoblog we’ve learned that not only will the new Camaro ZL1 get an automatic, but it will also be receiving the same Performance Traction Management system that’s found in the Corvette ZR1. That means traction control, selective ride control and launch control. Add to that the fact that the Camaro’s chief engineer, Al Oppenheiser stated that the ZL1′s Cadillac CTS-V derived 6.2-liter supercharged V8 will also pump out more than the originally estimated 550 hp, and you’ve now got a pony car that is likely to make mince-meat out of all of its competitors. Expect the ZL1 Camaro to show its face in the first quarter of next year.

Source: Autoblog.com

Guido’s, guidette’s, dirt bags and Aqua Net Warriors – that’s what roamed the halls of my high school in the late-1980s. For those of you not familiar with guido’s and guidette’s, just go and reference Jersey Shore. The dirt bags all looked like they fell out of a dumpster, and as for the Aqua Net Warriors. These chicks used so much hairspray that their heads didn’t even fit in the photos in our high school year book. In the mid-1980s we had jean jackets, Def Leppard and the Chevrolet Camaro. All of these things went along in conjunction with each other and it was a system that worked. However now, over 20 years later, some of those people have forgotten to let go. This Camaro photo was sent in by a buddy of mine who described the driver as:

“The woman driving this car looked like she attended concerts by Stinger and Poison back in the day…and still had big hair.” – that my friends is awesome.

Hat tip to Johnny Ru for the pic!

I’ll be the first to say that I wouldn’t be caught dead driving around in a fully chromed out automobile. For one it’s just not my style and two, I wouldn’t want to be responsible for blinding everyone around me. The idea of chroming full cars has been around for quite some time, but the chrome process is not only ungodly expensive, but a major pain in the ass as well. For those looking for a solution to expensive chroming there may in fact be an inexpensive way to fulfill your needs. You see a company called TinTek in the Czech Republic has come up with a chrome vinyl wrap that will transform your car into one big rolling mirror if you so choose. Keep in mind that it’s not a quick process, but once the wrap is applied you may be surprised at just how good the results are. TinTek also has the ability to do a full range of chrome-esque colors including green, violet, orange, blue and black. Click through for the video and check it out for yourselves.
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Why yes, that is an integrated exhaust manifold. Image: © GM Corp.

The design change is simple but brilliant: by casting the exhaust manifold into the head assembly of their 3.6-liter V-6 engine, Chevrolet engineers managed to eliminate 12 parts, shave 6.5 pounds per side, boost fuel economy and increase horsepower. Gone is a cast iron exhaust manifold, a high temperature gasket (and potential point of failure), a heat shield and a total of nine bolts. The weight savings of 13 pounds per engine helps fuel economy, but so does the more efficient flow of air through the heads. Better yet, more air in and out means more horsepower, and the 2012 Camaro V-6 gets a bump of 11 horsepower, to 323 hp. Read More…

The current 2011 Chevrolet Camaro boasts a 3.6-liter direct-injected V6 that pumps out 312 hp and 278 lb-ft of torque. This is enough grunt to push this pony from 0-60 mph in about 6 seconds while still getting 29 mpg on the highway. Not too shabby for a base model pony car that starts out at just over $22k. We’re now coming up on the 2012 model year and because of this Chevrolet has decided to give their V6 pony car a little boost by releasing a 45th Anniversary Edition. This new model will feature a more powerful V6, a new interior package, graphics and more.
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For some, letting others drive your car is like letting them date your girlfriend or wife, which means that the odds of it happening are slim to none. Yet for others, it’s really not that big of a deal and in fact, you actually get some enjoyment out of it. Personally, I think that cars are meant to be enjoyed and experienced by all those around them, but that’s if, and only if, you prove yourself to be worthy of the keys. As mentioned, a man’s car is probably third in line to only his wife and kids as far as his affections go. That means that if you are lucky enough to get behind the wheel you must treat it with respect. In the past I’ve let people drive my cars and in fact was quite free with the keys. However, there have been times where people have either damaged or abused my rides which has now made me much more cautious about who sits in the drivers seat. In the end I think it comes down to trust.
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The new Chevy Ke Mai Luo. Image: © GM Corp.

Let’s face it: we’re living in a global economy these days, so product manufacturers have to factor a lot more variables into the equation than in the old days. Whether truth or urban legend (since there are conflicting reports), Chevy failed with the Nova nameplate in Mexico, as Nova translated into “doesn’t go”. The slogan “Coke adds life” failed in China, because it translated to “”Coke brings your dead ancestors back to life”; if you guessed that manufacturers are particularly sensitive to the Chinese market (due largely to its massive potential), you’d be correct. The name “Camaro” doesn’t translate to anything offensive in Mandarin, but it doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, either. The solution? GM will change the car’s name to “Ke Mai Luo” for the Chinese market. Read More…