Hasta La Gadget!

This week the difference between generations in the Chevrolet Corvette have come down to the overall weight of the vehicles. In the 2014 Corvette Stingray, aka the Corvette C7, we’ve had our own up close and personal look and run-down of the vehicle straight from Chevrolet, complete with assurances that the interior of this vehicle has been given special care this time around. With the transition in parts and style, has Chevrolet made the C7 too heavy?

Additions like the Infotainment system in this year’s Corvette add a significant amount of weight – at 31.5 pounds on its own, this system weighs more than any other single totally new element in the vehicle. According to GM Authority, a list of items from bigger breaks to new structural safety requirements add their own bulk to the system. New seats come in at 17.2 pounds, a larger fuel tank adds 3 pounds, reinforced differential and half shafts at 18.5 pounds, and together a 35.2 pound addition is included in Active Fuel Management (AFM), variable valve timing, and direct injection.

The total estimated weight of the Corvette C7 coup without the Z51 package was confirmed this week by Chevrolet to be 3,298 pounds (1,496 kg), that is 90 pounds (41 kg) heavier than the standard 2013 Corvette C6 coupe’s curb weight. Weight additions in the Z51 performance package are not yet confirmed, but have been estimated at between 150 and 200 pounds on top of it all.

According to Chevrolet, the weight is not going to bring you down. On the contrary, they’ve made it clear that this model will be more capable and handle better than any model in the past, and they’ve made every effort to emphasize the luxury points throughout the vehicle since it was first revealed.

Corvette C7 ups C6 weight by 90 pounds: technology not feather light is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Back on February 8, we reported that Nissan had unveiled the 2014 GT-R Track Edition, a limited-production racer that, at the time, was without a price tag. Fast forward a couple months and Nissan has announced the pricing for the GT-R Track Edition, which is set at $115,710, making it an option only for racing enthusiasts with deep pockets.

Says Nissan, the 2014 GT-R Track Edition is meant to take the popular GT-R car up a notch, heading towards the realm of competition racers. To facilitate the differences, the Track Edition features things like specialized brake cooling guides, carbon fiber air ducts, and – instead of normal backseats – a quilted cloth. Other cars in the GT-R family include the GT-R Black and the GT-R Premium.

Both of those GT-R models are cheaper than the Track Edition model, with the Black being priced at $109,300 and the Premium being priced at $99,590. The Track Edition in particular will have a very limited production of 150 vehicles, which are already on sale at select Nissan GT-R dealers across the United States. Both the Black and Premium editions are also available.

Unlike the other GT-R models, the Track Edition features Bilstein DampTronic gas-pressure shock absorbers and high spring rates, giving it an updated suspension system. Nissan says that the Nurburgring was heavily used in the suspension’s development, putting it through testing and aiding with benchmarks. The front seats are high-grip, the tires are nitrogen-filled, and the rear spoiler is handmade from carbon fiber.

[via AutoBlog]

Nissan reveals 2014 GT-R Track Edition pricing is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

While Tesla has several car dealerships located around the US, some states still aren’t letting the company in (including Texas and Virginia) since they require that cars be sold through a middle man, and without the middle man, car dealers wouldn’t make any money. However, a prominent car dealership in Houston is speaking up by saying that the ban on Tesla should be lifted in the state.

A long time ago, car dealers ended up getting their state lawmakers to pass legislation that would ban the direct sale of cars straight from the manufacturer. This was a precaution to prevent auto makers from undercutting the car dealers. However, Sterling McCall, who is a popular retired car dealer based in Houston, says that this kind of ban is hogwash.

McCall says that “we ought to welcome competition — and the innovation — that Tesla brings, just as dealerships already compete to sell more gas-powered, hybrid and natural gas vehicles from the country’s larger manufacturers.” McCall continues by saying that this is essentially something that the public wants.

However, it’ll be a hard fight Musk and company, as Tesla was recently denied a dealer license in Virginia for the same reasons that they can’t sell cars in Texas. Musk is currently urging lawmakers to introduce a new bill that would either reverse the ban, or simply allow direct sales in these states.

Prominent car dealer supports Tesla sales in Texas is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

We’ll most likely hear about iOS 7 at some point this year, possibly at WWDC in June, but in the meantime we’re left to speculate on what we could see in the new update. However, it’s reported that iOS 7 will focus more on in-car integration with Apple Maps and Siri. The company is said to be improving in that section of iOS in order to deliver their technology to more cars.

According to 9to5Mac, several sources “familiar with the initiative” say that Apple is in talks with multiple auto makers to bring iOS integration to more cars once iOS 7 hits the mainstream. It’s said that Apple is trying to get auto makers to add native iOS integration to infotainment systems in more vehicles in time for the launch of iOS 7.

It’s not exactly certain as to how Apple wants its products to be integrated into cars, but one possibility is that users can plug in their iPhones into the infotainment system and have a redesigned version of Apple Maps show up on the infotainment display, instead of using the iPhone’s smaller screen.

Siri would also be another feature that Apple is trying to get inside of more cars. It would be similar to what Ford and Chevrolet offer, which we took a look at both recently. Chevrolet is putting Siri integration into the new Sonic, and Ford has its SYNC program, which we also took a look at during CES back in January.

[via 9to5Mac]

Apple looks to boost in-car integration with iOS 7 is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

The Indianapolis 500 will be taking place later next month, and it’s known as “the greatest spectacle in racing” and one of the biggest racing events in the world, right up there with the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The pace car that will lead the pack to the green flag will be Chevrolet’s all-new 2014 Corvette C7 (a.k.a. the Corvette Stingray).

Of course, this shouldn’t come as much of a surprise if you’ve been following the Indy 500 the past few years. The race has used a Corvette as the pace car every year for the past 10 years or so, but this will be the first year that the Indy 500 will be using a brand spankin’ new 2014 Corvette C7.

The photo below is a spy shot of the pace car that will be used in the race next month. Obviously, it’s nothing too special, save for the blue and white paint scheme and the strobes plastered all over the car. We’re guessing that the car will eventually be suited with Indy 500 decals on the sides to make it look more official, but in the meantime, the car sports a rather plain look.

We took a look at the new Corvette last month at the New York Auto Show, where we also got to chat with the chief engineer behind the new car, as well as get a look at the interior since the outside of the car is only half the story. If you’re curious about learning more on the 2014 Corvette C7, we highly suggest you check out our in-depth look at the car.

[via Road and Track]

2014 Corvette C7 set to be Indy 500 pace car is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.