Hot Holdens star at UK Festival of Speed
The fastest Holden was the 2008 Holden Racing Team (HRT) VE Commodore driving by current British Touring Car Champion Jake Hill, who clocked a 48.35-second run up the narrow 1.86km course.
That was good enough to come home fifth overall in the 20-car field, won by the 43.22 second run set by a 1030kW electric Ford Supertruck driven by Romain Dumas, who set an unofficial lap record around Bathurst in an electric Ford Transit in 2024.
The VE Commodore V8 Supercar that Hill drove at Goodwood ran HRT's 2008 livery and, while it was originally built by the factory Holden team, the car was first raced that season by sister outfit, the HSV Dealer Team, by Rick Kelly.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Supplied Credit: CarExpert
New Zealand Supercars star Greg 'Murph' Murphy – a four-time Bathurst 1000 winner – was also in top form at the wheel of the Holden Monaro 427C which he co-drove with Peter Brock, Todd Kelly and Jason Bright to win the 2003 Bathurst 24 Hour.
The Monaro 427C was built by Garry Rogers Motorsport for the Australian Nations Cup Championship, with its crown jewel event a 24-hour race at Mount Panorama, Bathurst.
It was so-named as the road-going Monaro's 5.7-litre V8 was replaced by a 7.0-litre version – which is 427 cubic inches – with the wild Monaro winning both 24 Bathurst races held in 2002 and 2003 and spawning a limited-edition 'HRT 427' showroom model.
Running it in its 2003 Bathurst race livery, including Peter Brock's famous '05' racing number, 'Murph' took the red Monaro up the Goodwood hill more than two seconds faster in his last run for a 50.37 time. Supplied Credit: CarExpert
The effort saw the Kiwi jump from 11th in provisional runs to storm home seventh overall, pipping the Ford Mustang GTD of Dirk Muller in the process.
Making it three antipodean top ten results, fellow New Zealander Steven Richards – a five-time Bathurst winner – came home tenth in the Nissan Skyline GTS-R which took the 1990 Australian Touring Car Championship by his father, Jim.
MORE: Everything Holden
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
Four new Mahindra concepts preview safer, smarter future SUVs
Mahindra has revealed four new concept SUVs at a special event in New Delhi, India, and they could preview a new range of models to take on rivals from the Mazda CX-3 small SUV to the Toyota RAV4 mid-size SUV, while addressing a key issue for Australian buyers. The Global Vision 2027 event showcased the Mahindra Vision Series, which consists of four distinctively different small-to-medium SUVs: the Vision T, the Vision SXT and the smaller Vision X and the Vision S. Mahindra Australia hasn't confirmed whether the concepts, which are not officially confirmed for production, are earmarked for local showrooms – but it does want to expand its current three-SUV lineup as part of its goal to become a top-15 auto brand here by 2030. Crucially, Mahindra says all Vision Series vehicles have been engineered to achieve a maximum five-star safety rating in India, Europe and Australia. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new Mahindra. Click here to get a great deal. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Above: Vision T The lack of ANCAP safety ratings of any kind, let alone a five-star rating, for some of its models is an issue Mahindra Australia has previously said it will address for its local model range from 2026. Two of its current models on sale here have yet to be assessed by ANCAP, while the other received a zero-star rating. All four of the concepts are underpinned by a new 'NU_IQ' modular global platform, which the Indian automaker says has been engineered to offer both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, in both left-hand and right-hand drive forms. The platform is also capable of supporting internal combustion, hybrid and battery-electric powertrains, with Mahindra's president of automotive technology and product development, Velusamy Ramasamy, telling Autocar India that all four vehcles are on the table for potential showroom introduction. Above: Vision S Mahindra currently doesn't have a hybrid vehicle in its global lineup, but at the recent launch of its smallest SUV, the new XUV 3XO, Mahindra Australia said it's looking to add hybrid vehicles as well as its first EV, which is set for local showrooms by the end of 2027. However, it is yet to confirm details of which models these will be. The concepts could also bring the first software-defined vehicles (SDV) for the brand, with Mr Ramasamy saying more advanced software capability may come in the less cost-conscious larger models. 'It is a modular architecture, so the hardware is separate to the software,' he said. The four concepts share the same 2665mm wheelbase – longer than the XUV 3XO small SUV's (2600mm), but shorter than the XUV700 seven-seat mid-size SUV's (2750mm) – but range in overall length between 3995mm and 4320mm. That suggests a replacement or a companion for the XUV 3XO, which is just 3990mm long to avoid higher taxes in India for vehicles over four metres long. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Above: Vision X The key change enabled by the platform is a shorter overhang at each end of the vehicles – which is now between 745mm and 850mm at the front and 590mm and 805mm at the rear – which, according to Mahindra, will allow it to achieve a (yet to be tested) independent five-star safety rating in Global NCAP, Euro NCAP, and ANCAP testing. There was no confirmation of powertrains across the quartet, but the new platform will have a stronger structure than that of existing Mahindra models, and will support lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. It will also employ advanced 'Davinci' dampers and multi-link independent rear suspension – which is more advanced than the torsion-beam rear-end arrangement of the XUV 3XO – while still offering cargo space of 644 litres, measured from the boot floor to the roof with the second-row seats in place. Like the exterior designs, which show distinctly different approaches to the five-door SUV genre – and a focus on both off-road customers and urban buyers – the interiors also bring significant variations, such as the portrait-oriented screen in the Vision T to the more horizontal design of the Vision X. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Above: Vision SXT 'What you're about to see today is the first step in towards to two distinct paradigm changes. One is a paradigm shift in design; and the other is a paradigm shift in technology,' said Mahindra Group CEO and managing director, Anish Shah, at the New Delhi event. Mahindra's automotive business has been in transition since 2021, when it moved from offering a somewhat agricultural product line as part of its goal to become a mainstream auto brand. In Australia, it will introduce a new model every year as it looks to grow its local lineup, which currently comprises three SUVs and a ute but will be renewed via a next-generation Pik-Up ute and expanded via new models including the next-generation Thar large SUV. MORE: Explore the Mahindra showroom MORE: Mahindra studying its first hybrid models
The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Honda Civic Type R is more expensive, but now comes in a pretty blue
The Honda Civic Type R has copped a price increase of close to $5000, but is unchanged apart from a new colour and a new option. Now priced at $79,000 drive-away, an increase of $4900, the Civic Type R is available from tomorrow. Honda hasn't confirmed how many vehicles are in the 2025 production run for Australia, but it has said it's prioritising customers who registered their interest online. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. A bold new Racing Blue finish joins the colour palette, alongside carryover Championship White, Crystal Black and Sonic Grey. There's also an optional carbon-fibre spoiler priced at $5300. There are no other specification changes for this 2025 production run. That means the Civic Type R continues to use a high-revving, turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 235kW of power and 420Nm of torque, mated with a six-speed manual transmission with rev matching. Like other Hondas, the Civic Type R is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty and five years of capped-price servicing. Each visit is priced at just $199. Standard equipment on the Civic Type R includes: The steeper price tag means the Civic Type R is more expensive than a Toyota GR Corolla (from $67,990 before on-road costs) and the Volkswagen Golf R ($70,990 before on-roads). The Civic Type R isn't exactly a vehicle you'll find a lot of sitting around at Honda dealerships. It has traditionally come here in limited allocations, and as recently as early 2023 it was sold out for 20 months. Honda opened orders for the current generation on December 1, 2022, with the first customer deliveries in Australia taking place early in 2023. MORE: Explore the Honda Civic showroom Content originally sourced from: The Honda Civic Type R has copped a price increase of close to $5000, but is unchanged apart from a new colour and a new option. Now priced at $79,000 drive-away, an increase of $4900, the Civic Type R is available from tomorrow. Honda hasn't confirmed how many vehicles are in the 2025 production run for Australia, but it has said it's prioritising customers who registered their interest online. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. A bold new Racing Blue finish joins the colour palette, alongside carryover Championship White, Crystal Black and Sonic Grey. There's also an optional carbon-fibre spoiler priced at $5300. There are no other specification changes for this 2025 production run. That means the Civic Type R continues to use a high-revving, turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 235kW of power and 420Nm of torque, mated with a six-speed manual transmission with rev matching. Like other Hondas, the Civic Type R is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty and five years of capped-price servicing. Each visit is priced at just $199. Standard equipment on the Civic Type R includes: The steeper price tag means the Civic Type R is more expensive than a Toyota GR Corolla (from $67,990 before on-road costs) and the Volkswagen Golf R ($70,990 before on-roads). The Civic Type R isn't exactly a vehicle you'll find a lot of sitting around at Honda dealerships. It has traditionally come here in limited allocations, and as recently as early 2023 it was sold out for 20 months. Honda opened orders for the current generation on December 1, 2022, with the first customer deliveries in Australia taking place early in 2023. MORE: Explore the Honda Civic showroom Content originally sourced from: The Honda Civic Type R has copped a price increase of close to $5000, but is unchanged apart from a new colour and a new option. Now priced at $79,000 drive-away, an increase of $4900, the Civic Type R is available from tomorrow. Honda hasn't confirmed how many vehicles are in the 2025 production run for Australia, but it has said it's prioritising customers who registered their interest online. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. A bold new Racing Blue finish joins the colour palette, alongside carryover Championship White, Crystal Black and Sonic Grey. There's also an optional carbon-fibre spoiler priced at $5300. There are no other specification changes for this 2025 production run. That means the Civic Type R continues to use a high-revving, turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 235kW of power and 420Nm of torque, mated with a six-speed manual transmission with rev matching. Like other Hondas, the Civic Type R is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty and five years of capped-price servicing. Each visit is priced at just $199. Standard equipment on the Civic Type R includes: The steeper price tag means the Civic Type R is more expensive than a Toyota GR Corolla (from $67,990 before on-road costs) and the Volkswagen Golf R ($70,990 before on-roads). The Civic Type R isn't exactly a vehicle you'll find a lot of sitting around at Honda dealerships. It has traditionally come here in limited allocations, and as recently as early 2023 it was sold out for 20 months. Honda opened orders for the current generation on December 1, 2022, with the first customer deliveries in Australia taking place early in 2023. MORE: Explore the Honda Civic showroom Content originally sourced from: The Honda Civic Type R has copped a price increase of close to $5000, but is unchanged apart from a new colour and a new option. Now priced at $79,000 drive-away, an increase of $4900, the Civic Type R is available from tomorrow. Honda hasn't confirmed how many vehicles are in the 2025 production run for Australia, but it has said it's prioritising customers who registered their interest online. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. A bold new Racing Blue finish joins the colour palette, alongside carryover Championship White, Crystal Black and Sonic Grey. There's also an optional carbon-fibre spoiler priced at $5300. There are no other specification changes for this 2025 production run. That means the Civic Type R continues to use a high-revving, turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 235kW of power and 420Nm of torque, mated with a six-speed manual transmission with rev matching. Like other Hondas, the Civic Type R is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty and five years of capped-price servicing. Each visit is priced at just $199. Standard equipment on the Civic Type R includes: The steeper price tag means the Civic Type R is more expensive than a Toyota GR Corolla (from $67,990 before on-road costs) and the Volkswagen Golf R ($70,990 before on-roads). The Civic Type R isn't exactly a vehicle you'll find a lot of sitting around at Honda dealerships. It has traditionally come here in limited allocations, and as recently as early 2023 it was sold out for 20 months. Honda opened orders for the current generation on December 1, 2022, with the first customer deliveries in Australia taking place early in 2023. MORE: Explore the Honda Civic showroom Content originally sourced from:
The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Chevrolet Corvette EV, V8 concepts present two very different visions of the future
The only way you'll be able to drive the Chevrolet Corvette CX and CX.R Vision Gran Turismo supercars is by popping on Gran Turismo 7 on your gaming console, but that doesn't mean these two concepts are complete flights of fancy. The two show cars debuted in the metal – not in pixels – at The Quail exhibition in California, as part of Monterey Car Week. Chevrolet says its Corvette design team worked with Chevrolet performance engineers to create detailed blueprints for the chassis, drivetrain and aerodynamic features of both concepts so they can be raced digitally. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. "While not intended for production, the pair will serve as inspiration to inform Corvette design language for years to come," said Chevrolet in its press release. The CX is an all-wheel drive electric supercar. There's an electric motor for each wheel, with four-wheel torque vectoring providing maximum grip. A 90kWh lithium-ion battery is mounted in the chassis for a low centre of gravity and "ideal" front-rear weight distribution. Total system output is over 2000 horsepower (1491kW). The racier CX.R VGT produces bang on 2000 horsepower, but it does so in a very different way. There are three electric motors, not four, with one for each front wheel and a third incorporated into the eight-speed gearbox. At the heart of the CX.R VGT, however – or at least quite literally nearby – is a high-revving V8 engine running on renewable e-fuel. It's a little V8, too: a 2.0-litre with twin turbochargers, outputting up to 671kW of power and revving to 15,000rpm. Drive is sent to the rear wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The CX.R VGT is intended as an imagination of the future for Corvette GT racing, and is finished in a yellow and black colour scheme like Corvette GT race cars of the past 25 years. It also features more prominent active aero features and a lower ride height than the CX concept, while inside there's raw carbon-fibre weave used for the dashboard and more aggressive seats with suede-wrapped foam inserts. Not that the CX concept is a wallflower, with a dramatic opening canopy inspired by fighter jets. Once opened, there's a bright Inferno Red interior with silicone leather, milled aluminium and low-gloss forged carbon-fibre trim used throughout. Outside, there's an active front diffuser and rear wing, along with other elements intended to aid aerodynamics. The Vacuum Fan System uses built-in fans to draw air through the open-channel bodywork to generate "massive" downforce, while the suspension A-arms are wing-shaped to aid airflow and reduce front-end lift. Chevrolet says the CX was shaped in collaboration with the GM Motorsports Aero Group, and despite the various wild design elements, it was designed to be identifiably a Corvette. That includes the "forward-lunging nose", sleek silhouette, dual-element tail lights, and pronounced horizontal crease that have come to be expected of Corvettes. "While the shape of a Corvette has always been expressive and forward-looking, each crease and line has its roots in the generations that came before it. It is aspirational, it is cultural, it is the reason people want to come and work at Chevrolet," said Chevrolet executive design director Phil Zak. "The CX and CX.R Vision Gran Turismo demonstrate our design teams stepping away from the constraints of production vehicles and unleashing their creativity. Through this exercise, we've added to Corvette and defined the design direction for Corvette moving forward." Chevrolet has been busily showing off an array of Corvettes created by its various design centres, two of which have been electric vehicles (EVs). However, General Motors says it won't build a production electric Chevrolet Corvette "just to do it", with GM Performance lead engineer Tony Roma pouring cold water on the prospect of an electric version of the iconic sports car in the short term. "We talk about what it would take to make a capable enough car, but right now it's still science fiction," Mr Roma told Autocar. "And so that's our challenge – to come up with something different, that something engaging. "When you're buying a car like a Corvette, why are you buying it? You're buying it because you want something special. You want to be engaged in the art of driving. "And so, when we can figure out how to do that, and as we put more electrification in the car, we will, but we're not going to do an electric version of this car just to do it. That would defeat the entire purpose." In addition to being the first generation of Corvette with a mid-engine layout and available all-wheel drive, the current C8 was the first to include electrification. The E-Ray and ZR1X both feature a front-mounted electric motor. Click an image to view the full gallery. MORE: Even hotter Chevrolet Corvettes to come, but don't count on an EV MORE: Chevrolet Corvette EV? Battery-powered concept could become new supercar MORE: Second Corvette EV concept debuts, but won't go into production MORE: Explore the Chevrolet Corvette showroom Content originally sourced from: The only way you'll be able to drive the Chevrolet Corvette CX and CX.R Vision Gran Turismo supercars is by popping on Gran Turismo 7 on your gaming console, but that doesn't mean these two concepts are complete flights of fancy. The two show cars debuted in the metal – not in pixels – at The Quail exhibition in California, as part of Monterey Car Week. Chevrolet says its Corvette design team worked with Chevrolet performance engineers to create detailed blueprints for the chassis, drivetrain and aerodynamic features of both concepts so they can be raced digitally. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. "While not intended for production, the pair will serve as inspiration to inform Corvette design language for years to come," said Chevrolet in its press release. The CX is an all-wheel drive electric supercar. There's an electric motor for each wheel, with four-wheel torque vectoring providing maximum grip. A 90kWh lithium-ion battery is mounted in the chassis for a low centre of gravity and "ideal" front-rear weight distribution. Total system output is over 2000 horsepower (1491kW). The racier CX.R VGT produces bang on 2000 horsepower, but it does so in a very different way. There are three electric motors, not four, with one for each front wheel and a third incorporated into the eight-speed gearbox. At the heart of the CX.R VGT, however – or at least quite literally nearby – is a high-revving V8 engine running on renewable e-fuel. It's a little V8, too: a 2.0-litre with twin turbochargers, outputting up to 671kW of power and revving to 15,000rpm. Drive is sent to the rear wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The CX.R VGT is intended as an imagination of the future for Corvette GT racing, and is finished in a yellow and black colour scheme like Corvette GT race cars of the past 25 years. It also features more prominent active aero features and a lower ride height than the CX concept, while inside there's raw carbon-fibre weave used for the dashboard and more aggressive seats with suede-wrapped foam inserts. Not that the CX concept is a wallflower, with a dramatic opening canopy inspired by fighter jets. Once opened, there's a bright Inferno Red interior with silicone leather, milled aluminium and low-gloss forged carbon-fibre trim used throughout. Outside, there's an active front diffuser and rear wing, along with other elements intended to aid aerodynamics. The Vacuum Fan System uses built-in fans to draw air through the open-channel bodywork to generate "massive" downforce, while the suspension A-arms are wing-shaped to aid airflow and reduce front-end lift. Chevrolet says the CX was shaped in collaboration with the GM Motorsports Aero Group, and despite the various wild design elements, it was designed to be identifiably a Corvette. That includes the "forward-lunging nose", sleek silhouette, dual-element tail lights, and pronounced horizontal crease that have come to be expected of Corvettes. "While the shape of a Corvette has always been expressive and forward-looking, each crease and line has its roots in the generations that came before it. It is aspirational, it is cultural, it is the reason people want to come and work at Chevrolet," said Chevrolet executive design director Phil Zak. "The CX and CX.R Vision Gran Turismo demonstrate our design teams stepping away from the constraints of production vehicles and unleashing their creativity. Through this exercise, we've added to Corvette and defined the design direction for Corvette moving forward." Chevrolet has been busily showing off an array of Corvettes created by its various design centres, two of which have been electric vehicles (EVs). However, General Motors says it won't build a production electric Chevrolet Corvette "just to do it", with GM Performance lead engineer Tony Roma pouring cold water on the prospect of an electric version of the iconic sports car in the short term. "We talk about what it would take to make a capable enough car, but right now it's still science fiction," Mr Roma told Autocar. "And so that's our challenge – to come up with something different, that something engaging. "When you're buying a car like a Corvette, why are you buying it? You're buying it because you want something special. You want to be engaged in the art of driving. "And so, when we can figure out how to do that, and as we put more electrification in the car, we will, but we're not going to do an electric version of this car just to do it. That would defeat the entire purpose." In addition to being the first generation of Corvette with a mid-engine layout and available all-wheel drive, the current C8 was the first to include electrification. The E-Ray and ZR1X both feature a front-mounted electric motor. Click an image to view the full gallery. MORE: Even hotter Chevrolet Corvettes to come, but don't count on an EV MORE: Chevrolet Corvette EV? Battery-powered concept could become new supercar MORE: Second Corvette EV concept debuts, but won't go into production MORE: Explore the Chevrolet Corvette showroom Content originally sourced from: The only way you'll be able to drive the Chevrolet Corvette CX and CX.R Vision Gran Turismo supercars is by popping on Gran Turismo 7 on your gaming console, but that doesn't mean these two concepts are complete flights of fancy. The two show cars debuted in the metal – not in pixels – at The Quail exhibition in California, as part of Monterey Car Week. Chevrolet says its Corvette design team worked with Chevrolet performance engineers to create detailed blueprints for the chassis, drivetrain and aerodynamic features of both concepts so they can be raced digitally. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. "While not intended for production, the pair will serve as inspiration to inform Corvette design language for years to come," said Chevrolet in its press release. The CX is an all-wheel drive electric supercar. There's an electric motor for each wheel, with four-wheel torque vectoring providing maximum grip. A 90kWh lithium-ion battery is mounted in the chassis for a low centre of gravity and "ideal" front-rear weight distribution. Total system output is over 2000 horsepower (1491kW). The racier CX.R VGT produces bang on 2000 horsepower, but it does so in a very different way. There are three electric motors, not four, with one for each front wheel and a third incorporated into the eight-speed gearbox. At the heart of the CX.R VGT, however – or at least quite literally nearby – is a high-revving V8 engine running on renewable e-fuel. It's a little V8, too: a 2.0-litre with twin turbochargers, outputting up to 671kW of power and revving to 15,000rpm. Drive is sent to the rear wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The CX.R VGT is intended as an imagination of the future for Corvette GT racing, and is finished in a yellow and black colour scheme like Corvette GT race cars of the past 25 years. It also features more prominent active aero features and a lower ride height than the CX concept, while inside there's raw carbon-fibre weave used for the dashboard and more aggressive seats with suede-wrapped foam inserts. Not that the CX concept is a wallflower, with a dramatic opening canopy inspired by fighter jets. Once opened, there's a bright Inferno Red interior with silicone leather, milled aluminium and low-gloss forged carbon-fibre trim used throughout. Outside, there's an active front diffuser and rear wing, along with other elements intended to aid aerodynamics. The Vacuum Fan System uses built-in fans to draw air through the open-channel bodywork to generate "massive" downforce, while the suspension A-arms are wing-shaped to aid airflow and reduce front-end lift. Chevrolet says the CX was shaped in collaboration with the GM Motorsports Aero Group, and despite the various wild design elements, it was designed to be identifiably a Corvette. That includes the "forward-lunging nose", sleek silhouette, dual-element tail lights, and pronounced horizontal crease that have come to be expected of Corvettes. "While the shape of a Corvette has always been expressive and forward-looking, each crease and line has its roots in the generations that came before it. It is aspirational, it is cultural, it is the reason people want to come and work at Chevrolet," said Chevrolet executive design director Phil Zak. "The CX and CX.R Vision Gran Turismo demonstrate our design teams stepping away from the constraints of production vehicles and unleashing their creativity. Through this exercise, we've added to Corvette and defined the design direction for Corvette moving forward." Chevrolet has been busily showing off an array of Corvettes created by its various design centres, two of which have been electric vehicles (EVs). However, General Motors says it won't build a production electric Chevrolet Corvette "just to do it", with GM Performance lead engineer Tony Roma pouring cold water on the prospect of an electric version of the iconic sports car in the short term. "We talk about what it would take to make a capable enough car, but right now it's still science fiction," Mr Roma told Autocar. "And so that's our challenge – to come up with something different, that something engaging. "When you're buying a car like a Corvette, why are you buying it? You're buying it because you want something special. You want to be engaged in the art of driving. "And so, when we can figure out how to do that, and as we put more electrification in the car, we will, but we're not going to do an electric version of this car just to do it. That would defeat the entire purpose." In addition to being the first generation of Corvette with a mid-engine layout and available all-wheel drive, the current C8 was the first to include electrification. The E-Ray and ZR1X both feature a front-mounted electric motor. Click an image to view the full gallery. MORE: Even hotter Chevrolet Corvettes to come, but don't count on an EV MORE: Chevrolet Corvette EV? Battery-powered concept could become new supercar MORE: Second Corvette EV concept debuts, but won't go into production MORE: Explore the Chevrolet Corvette showroom Content originally sourced from: The only way you'll be able to drive the Chevrolet Corvette CX and CX.R Vision Gran Turismo supercars is by popping on Gran Turismo 7 on your gaming console, but that doesn't mean these two concepts are complete flights of fancy. The two show cars debuted in the metal – not in pixels – at The Quail exhibition in California, as part of Monterey Car Week. Chevrolet says its Corvette design team worked with Chevrolet performance engineers to create detailed blueprints for the chassis, drivetrain and aerodynamic features of both concepts so they can be raced digitally. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. "While not intended for production, the pair will serve as inspiration to inform Corvette design language for years to come," said Chevrolet in its press release. The CX is an all-wheel drive electric supercar. There's an electric motor for each wheel, with four-wheel torque vectoring providing maximum grip. A 90kWh lithium-ion battery is mounted in the chassis for a low centre of gravity and "ideal" front-rear weight distribution. Total system output is over 2000 horsepower (1491kW). The racier CX.R VGT produces bang on 2000 horsepower, but it does so in a very different way. There are three electric motors, not four, with one for each front wheel and a third incorporated into the eight-speed gearbox. At the heart of the CX.R VGT, however – or at least quite literally nearby – is a high-revving V8 engine running on renewable e-fuel. It's a little V8, too: a 2.0-litre with twin turbochargers, outputting up to 671kW of power and revving to 15,000rpm. Drive is sent to the rear wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The CX.R VGT is intended as an imagination of the future for Corvette GT racing, and is finished in a yellow and black colour scheme like Corvette GT race cars of the past 25 years. It also features more prominent active aero features and a lower ride height than the CX concept, while inside there's raw carbon-fibre weave used for the dashboard and more aggressive seats with suede-wrapped foam inserts. Not that the CX concept is a wallflower, with a dramatic opening canopy inspired by fighter jets. Once opened, there's a bright Inferno Red interior with silicone leather, milled aluminium and low-gloss forged carbon-fibre trim used throughout. Outside, there's an active front diffuser and rear wing, along with other elements intended to aid aerodynamics. The Vacuum Fan System uses built-in fans to draw air through the open-channel bodywork to generate "massive" downforce, while the suspension A-arms are wing-shaped to aid airflow and reduce front-end lift. Chevrolet says the CX was shaped in collaboration with the GM Motorsports Aero Group, and despite the various wild design elements, it was designed to be identifiably a Corvette. That includes the "forward-lunging nose", sleek silhouette, dual-element tail lights, and pronounced horizontal crease that have come to be expected of Corvettes. "While the shape of a Corvette has always been expressive and forward-looking, each crease and line has its roots in the generations that came before it. It is aspirational, it is cultural, it is the reason people want to come and work at Chevrolet," said Chevrolet executive design director Phil Zak. "The CX and CX.R Vision Gran Turismo demonstrate our design teams stepping away from the constraints of production vehicles and unleashing their creativity. Through this exercise, we've added to Corvette and defined the design direction for Corvette moving forward." Chevrolet has been busily showing off an array of Corvettes created by its various design centres, two of which have been electric vehicles (EVs). However, General Motors says it won't build a production electric Chevrolet Corvette "just to do it", with GM Performance lead engineer Tony Roma pouring cold water on the prospect of an electric version of the iconic sports car in the short term. "We talk about what it would take to make a capable enough car, but right now it's still science fiction," Mr Roma told Autocar. "And so that's our challenge – to come up with something different, that something engaging. "When you're buying a car like a Corvette, why are you buying it? You're buying it because you want something special. You want to be engaged in the art of driving. "And so, when we can figure out how to do that, and as we put more electrification in the car, we will, but we're not going to do an electric version of this car just to do it. That would defeat the entire purpose." In addition to being the first generation of Corvette with a mid-engine layout and available all-wheel drive, the current C8 was the first to include electrification. The E-Ray and ZR1X both feature a front-mounted electric motor. Click an image to view the full gallery. MORE: Even hotter Chevrolet Corvettes to come, but don't count on an EV MORE: Chevrolet Corvette EV? Battery-powered concept could become new supercar MORE: Second Corvette EV concept debuts, but won't go into production MORE: Explore the Chevrolet Corvette showroom Content originally sourced from:
