Midlife crisis? New Corvette convertible unveiled

Paul A. Eisenstein, the Detroit Bureau 11 clock.

It was the star of the hometown car show now motor hopes General but to prove that his new seventh generation Chevrolet Corvette international broadcasting has, how it up on the so-called "C7" is, by the introduction of the convertible Edition of next week Geneva Motor Show.

Although a few hazy last "spy shots" in the weeks to come up, these are the first official pictures of the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette convertible, and they reveal that GM designers and engineers went very far, to maintain the distinct shape of the Coupe, which was first introduced at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January.

In fact, Tadge Jadhav, senior engineer on the C7 Corvette program, stressed in conversation with TheDetroitBureau.com, that "the convertible in mind designed." That is different than the way GM and many other auto manufacturers have been developing an advertising traditionally approached.

All too often, they start with a Coupe and then way find the roof panels. But that weakens the entire vehicle platform, something clearly sports car, which supports the introduction of significant and bracing shall not in a required. With 2014 Corvette convertible but there essentially added nothing. Even Jackie said, is the basic model of the C7 Droptop 20% stiffer than the old hardtop Coupe version of the more powerful Corvette Z06.

There is a modest gain in weight, he acknowledged, because of the wrinkles on the roof rails and the motor drive system. Specific details are not released to Geneva, but the new convertible is expected to be served with a single button and is looking can be raised and lowered during the movement slowly. When you consider that competitive convertible sports cars like the Porsche 911 can operate convertible in less than 20 seconds, the new C7 convertible is probably faster, just be.

Chevrolet plans a range of Corvette Coupe variants finally as in the past with the camp hardtop shown in Detroit, and a more powerful Z06 and a track ready-ZR1 follow in the next few years, according to various sources. It is still not clear whether the Detroit manufacturer offer several versions of the convertible, but that seems very likely.

Chevrolet marked the last year - and the 60th anniversary - the Corvette nameplate by the introduction of a tire-shredding version of the last generation, "C6" ' Vette. Dubbed the Grand sport, it was the most powerful version of the 2-seater, which ever produced 430 HORSEPOWER and 424 pound-feet of torque.

When starting the new C7 convertible of the same Powertrain as the share new 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe, meaning that it lb-ft would run sports 450 HORSEPOWER and 450 more power than the Grand. And although slightly heavier than the hardtop, the al-fresco Edition should also deliver 0-60 time of 4 seconds or less.

All that is fine, but why go to Geneva to introduce that the new Chevrolet Corvette convertible rather than say, wait less than a month, and while the last of the big US car of the season show above in New York shows?

The answer has to do with changes in the essence of the Chevy itself. While you think of him as "the heartbeat of America," perhaps as it is long settled, the modern reality that all three Chevrolet products outside are sold almost two of North America this year. In an otherwise retrenching European automotive market, it is one of the few growing Marques. It is an increasingly powerful player in China and the bowtie brand traditionally is one of the most powerful in Latin America as well.

While many of these markets have unique products, such as for example the Captiva crossover, we don't see even in the States the Corvette was as much a show car for Chevrolet abroad as at home. And with GM's largest brand with the aim of the C7 remake of "America's sports car" make a truly global competitors, to their own turf takes targeting exotics such as far afield as Porsche and even Ferrari, Geneva in the fight.

Copyright © 2009-2013, the Detroit Bureau

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Japan crisis could squeeze car world production

While the immediate focus of Japan is to rescue the wounded, recovery of the dead and caring for survivors, slowly natural disaster comes the island nation with the impact of last week on their largest industry: automotive manufacturing.

The massive earthquake and the devastating tsunami that followed seem destroyed or washed, to sea, thousands of new cars have. The power of the natural disaster plants ground and left manufacturers large and small fight, the damage to.

Automatic production is held at least temporarily, and it remains to be seen how long it will take to production run again. The effects of the stoppage could be felt for months in Asia and around the world - from car manufacturers, workers, investors, and drivers, found, some of their favorite vehicles in short supply.

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"The disaster will have an impact and not only in Japan,", said an auto analyst George Peterson automotive research and consulting firm AutoPacific.

So far, it appears that only a car industry worker was killed while at work while the quake - crushed a Honda employees, when the wall of the cafeteria tumbling the technical center in Tochigi carmaker fell.

But thousands of vehicles lost or damaged, including 1,300 Infiniti luxury cars of the tsunami disaster in a warehouse of the port of Hitachi were flooded. Nissan said at least a further 1,000 vehicles were damaged - one of the cities most severely damaged on the port of Miyagi by the disaster.

Nissan, Japan second-largest automaker, production at four plants has exposed through at least Wednesday, with two other assembly lines running through at least Thursday.

What that means in the production have lost not yet an estimate of the automaker, but expected Honda, which is at least shutter their works by Sunday, losing production of 16,600 cars and trucks and a further 2,000 motorcycle and scooter fair.

Toyota created a larger share of its products in the domestic market as the Nissan or Honda, has also locked production and expected lose a minimum 40,000 vehicles of production. A spokesman said the standstill costs about 6 billion yen, or $72 million in lost profits for every day, where the plants remain closed.

The timing could not been worse for Toyota, the world's largest automaker and Japan's largest companies.

Drive just a few days before the 8, 9-brightness of the automaker announced a plan to the worldwide earthquake sales to 10 million and profits sharply up. Industry analysts suggest in the long run, before the current setback may only little impact on the "global vision" of President Akio Toyoda announced, but that could depend, the depth of the damage to Toyota facilities and their suppliers.

Part of the problem is that each plant is auto a network of hundreds of parts manufacturers, and it is unclear how badly the subcontractors of the disaster are affected, Jim Hall said automotive analysis company 2953 analytics. But "some assembly plants soon could feel it," said Hall, and perceived the effect of Japan.

About half of all the Japanese brand vehicles in North America sold are in the United States built. But many of these farms are still on Japanese parts manufacturer for everything from engines and transmissions, the the smallest "widgets", notes analyst Peterson. If there is no additional source of such components, car could US power plants such as the Nissan plant in Canton, Miss., or the Honda factory in East liberty, Ohio, in trouble, he said.

Japanese factories leave traditionally on a "just in time" - on inventory manufacturing system delivered the factory supplier only in case of need for Assembly - but there is a long time may not be a felt supply chain from Japan, Peterson, the impact on the said 'Transplantation' assembly plants until early April.

The impact of the crisis probably varies from model to model, say analysts. Early signs point Honda could be especially hard hit. His Sayama plant is located in one of the regions of Japan beat most of the disaster is a key Assembly, produce models such as the Honda CR-V, accord and fit, some of them for export to the United States, as also Acura's RL and TSX-model. Honda said the work of Ogawa in earthquake-stricken Saitama, engines also produced.

For U.S. consumers the situation could, at least some of which lack of experienced repeat the product when "voluntary" restrictions on exports to the United States agreed to Japanese automakers to so-called two decades ago. Led to a sharp run-up in the price of Japanese cars.

Although he is hope is expressed that car dealers take advantage of the situation, Phillippi of car WebTrends warned long-time automotive analyst Joe consulting, that "there is always a cohort of the traders, who never go a good crisis to lose can be." She tries to use "by charging premiums when they feel worried that US customers for Japanese products are willing to pay."

On the other hand, some observers believe that this could be a good opportunity in Japan's market share food United States and Korean car manufacturers.

But American automakers rely also on Japanese suppliers, and while they are using several sources for components, some important parts from only one source could be. In some cases, the absence of individual part could bring a whole plant to a halt.

The supply of automotive semiconductors said a major concern, automotive analyst Rod pool of Deutsche Bank. These are the central components for digital automotive race components, whether in engine management systems, airbag controller or infotainment systems used.  Japan produces nearly a quarter of the world's automotive semiconductor and the parts are very sensitive to damage during the production process.

Japanese battery suppliers are also central production of American hybrid-electric vehicles, such as the Ford Fusion hybrid.

The crisis in Japan could so, large problems to Detroit automakers, as well as create. In fact, are two Japanese automakers already estimate of the production at North American factories, period earthquake and tsunami in Japan continue availability of parts after Friday.

Subaru of America has suspended production at the plant in Lafayette, Indiana. The work, Subaru of only North American factory, employs 3500 employees and 150,000 vehicles last year including the outback and Tribeca cars and legacy sedan built. A spokesman of do not know when production will continue.

Toyota is on Saturday at all of its North American plants assess overtime and production, to suspend the availability of car parts. Toyota is trying to save parts after the great earthquake and tsunami, which is to interfere with shipments from Japan in the United States

Japanese automakers Honda and Nissan said its North American plants are not affected.

The associated press contributed to this report.

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