Chevrolet builds Sonic B-Spec racer concept

by: Zach Bowman

 
Chevrolet Performance worked over the Chevrolet Sonic just for this year's SEMA show to create this B-Spec racecar concept. Built to conform to all of rules and regulations of the B-Spec subcompact classes in both the SCCA and the Grand-Am series, the five-door features new coilovers on all four corners with revised mounts, adjustable front stabilizer bar links and a rear axle shim kit. The requisite air inlet restrictor has also been shoved in place, and the ECM and EBCM have been recalibrated accordingly. That's exciting in all, but we're more thrilled about the fact that Chevrolet says the parts are intended for production as a kit any consumer can buy.

That would leave competitors to independently source pricey pieces like the roll cage, seat and associated harnesses. The automaker says some of the parts may change en route to production, including the lightweight 15-inch alloy wheels.

Underhood, buyers can expect to find a stock 1.8-liter four-cylinder mated to a factory five-speed manual gearbox. Look for the production kit to go on sale in the first quarter of 2013. Check the full press blast below for more information.

Chevy to show SS in Vegas in race trim

by: George Kennedy

 A lot of speculation has been made with regards to the SS, the promised new Chevrolet rear-wheel drive performance sedan. The Holden Commodore-based muscle saloon will be prowling the open road as early as next year, while a NASCAR version is set to compete in 2013. Shots of the cars testing in their respective natural habitats have led to endless speculation, and it appears we now know which car will debut first.

Word from Speed is that the 2013 Chevrolet SS NASCAR Sprint Cup car is set to bow on Thursday, November 29 at the Wynn Las Vegas hotel and casino. The car will reportedly be shown in full race trim, sans sponsor graphics for Bounty, Skoal or Taylor Swift.

The Vegas debut will mark the introduction of the final vehicle to enter in the 2013 NASCAR season. Dodge unveiled its Charger racecar in March before leaving the race series. Toyota showed off its V8, RWD Camry NASCAR in May, while Ford debuted its race-spec Fusion in January of this year. The remaining entries are expected to (visually) bear a closer resemblance to their road-going counterparts.

While the SS racecar is debuting next month in Vegas, no mention of the production version SS was made. We are still under the impression that February 21, 2013 will still be the launch date for the road-going version of the rear-wheel drive Holden-based sedan that has GM enthusiasts so worked up.

2013 Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Super Trofeo racecar is unveiled

by: Seyth Miersma

Lamborghini has announced its 2013 Gallardo LP570-4 Super Trofeo racer, a version of the standard LP570-4 that has been prepped to race in the Italian company's one-make series sponsored by Blancpain.

The racing Gallardo has been revised for the 2013 season, with a new rear wing and diffuser, new wheel arches and a different livery (the Blancpain collateral is still in full effect, of course). Specification of the new car was not disclosed by Lamborghini, but expectations are that the same 570-horsepower V10 is delivering power to all four wheels.

As a refresher, the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo is a series that sees drivers competing in identical Gallardo racecars. 2012 saw a six-race series take place in Europe, and for the first time, Asia. Lamborghini President and CEO, Stephan Winkelmann, says that the Super Trofeo will eventually make its way to North America and the US, too.