JSwain: August 2016

Thursday, August 11, 2016

2016 VW Beetle Convertible 1.8T Denim Edition Tested: Dress Your Fantasy in Denim

“If you remember the '60s, you weren't really there.” That quote is attributed to a lot of folks who definitely were there, including rockers and acid-heads Grace Slick, Pete Townshend, Wavy Gravy, and Timothy Leary, but the earliest citation extant-1982-credits comedian Charles Fleischer. Conversely, those of us who remember the actual '70s don't need That '70s Show reminding us of what we only wish could be forgotten, such as Whip Inflation Now buttons, lining up to buy gasoline, or watching yet another rerun of Gilligan's Island because, no, James Hunt was not racing Niki Lauda live on cable. READ MORE ››

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Taking Wing: More Spy Photos Hint at Active Aero for 2018 Corvette ZR1

No one at GM challenged our recent informed speculation concerning the 2018 Corvette Stingray ZR1, silent confirmation that we're probably right on. As further evidence that something special is heading our way early next year we offer a second round of sky-view photos of this ultimate C7, which we expect will boast 700 horsepower.

These pics, recently scored in broad daylight at GM's Milford Proving Grounds in Michigan, clearly reveal two substantial struts attached to the Stingray's tail, obviously for supporting an aerodynamic appendage. Look through the test car's hatch to see said appendage swaddled in bubble wrap. Click through the photo gallery to see more.

The Corvette development group is in the midst of choosing between hydraulic and pneumatic actuators for an adjustable rear wing intended for production. Will adaptive aerodynamics provide a dramatic statement for the ZR1, or is this research for the mid-engine C8 generation that begins in 2019? That we can't say with certainty. But, given the flood of photos coming from high above Milford as evidence that development is proceeding apace, the answer could surface soon.