With an SAE-certified rating of 650 hp, the 2015 Corvette Z06 is officially the most powerful production car in GM history. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.
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+ Details have leaked out regarding Porsche’s new flat-four engine family, including the available displacements: 1.6, 2.0, and 2.5 liters. More at Motor Trend.
+ John Bishop, co-founder of IMSA, the International Motor Sports Association, America’s premier road racing series of the 1980s, has passed away at 87. More at USA Today.
+ British specialty car maker McLaren Automotive declared a pre-tax profit $7.5 million in 2013, the first in its three-year history. More at Car Magazine.
+ The auto manufacturing sector in the United States added 8,000 jobs in May, its greatest monthly pace since 2008. More at The Detroit News.
+ Shares of Hertz, the car and equipment rental company soon to be split into two units, tumbled 10 percent on Friday after an earnings restatement. More at Bloomberg.com.
+ Russia’s largest carmaker, AutoVAZ, plans to cut 13,000 workers at its Togliatti plant in Somara, Oblast due to falling sales of its flagship Lada brand. More at Reuters.
+ With its ratings now set at 650 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque, the 2015 Corvette Z06 becomes the most powerful production auto in General Motors history. More at Autoblog.
+ Adrian Newey, chief technical officer at Red Bull, has signed a new multi-year contract that will reduce his daily responsibilities with the Formula One team. More at NBC Sports.
For the previous Executive Briefing from June 6, click here.
Corvette Z06: It’s a shame it’s so ugly. It looks like they found a bunch of black parts in the trash and just glued them on the car. At least they got rid of the Camaro tail lights.
The emphasis now is on creating visual identity, to the point where physical beauty is almost secondary. Hey, look at me.
Grotesque appearance and overpowered in the hands of the gold-chains and aftershave set.
I see where the average Corvette buyer is now well over 60. Does Corvette even have a future from that standpoint?
From a beautiful swan to an ugly duckling, the Vette has really went down hill. HP may be up, but the looks are gone, it looks like 10 year olds designed it with crayons.