Consider it the ultimate example of automotive sibling rivalry: Shortly after the announcement of the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible—destined to set new performance benchmarks for a Camaro drop-top—big brother is answering with the fastest, most capable convertible Corvette to ever come down the production line: The 2013 Chevy Corvette 427 Convertible.

It’s a reincarnation of a classic that also celebrates some notable landmarks for Corvette.

“The 2013 model year will be historic for Corvette, marking its 60th Anniversary and the final year for the current ‘C6’ generation,” said Chris Perry, vice president, Global Marketing and Strategy for Chevrolet. “We couldn’t think of a more fitting way to celebrate these milestones than bringing back one of the most-coveted combinations in the brand’s history—the Corvette convertible and a 427 cubic-inch engine.”

For the metrically inclined, that means the latest Corvette gets a 7.0-liter heart transplant, with the donor being the hi-po Corvette Z06. And keep in mind: This hand-built LS7 engine pumps out 505 hp and 470 lb.-ft. of torque. Installed in the 427 Convertible, the results include a 0-60 time of 3.8 seconds, a quarter-mile time of 11.8 seconds and top speed north of 190 mph. Lateral acceleration is an impressive 1.04 g.

The only choice in transmission is a six-speed manual, but there is one unique option available car’s powertrain: Corvette 427 Convertible owners can enjoy the Corvette Build Experience, in which they travel to GM’s Performance Build Center in Wixom, Mich., to assemble their car’s engine themselves.

Also included are other core elements drawn from the high end of the current Corvette lineup, like the driveline and rear axle system of the Z06, ZR1-style Michelin PS2 tires wrapped around the lightweight, machine-faced wheels that debuted on the 2012 Z06, standard Magnetic Selective Ride Control—one of the fastest-reacting suspension enhancers in the world—and plenty of carbon fiber body work.

In fact, thanks to a carbon-fiber raised hood, Z06-style fenders and floor panels, with an available carbon-fiber front splitter and rocker panels that are standard on the 60th Anniversary package, the 427 Convertible weighs a mere 3,355 lbs. That’s good for a power-to-weight ratio of 6.64 (each horsepower is driving 6.64 lbs. of Corvette) and good enough to beat drop-tops such as the Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet, Audi R8 5.2 RSI Spyder, Aston Martin DBS Volante Convertible and Ferrari California Convertible.

The rest of the new 60th Anniversary package, which will be available on all 2013 Corvette models, adds an Arctic White exterior/Blue Diamond interior, a cabin swathed in leather and suede, a ZR1-style rear spoiler, 60th Anniversary badging and logos, gray-painted brake calipers and, for convertible models, a blue top. Chevy also will offer a graphics upgrade to the package for further flair, courtesy of full-length Pearl Silver Blue racing stripes, including, for convertibles, a stripe stitched right into the top.

Both the Corvette 427 Convertible and the 60th Anniversary package are set to reach dealers this summer.

Consider it Chevrolet’s version of the Build-a-Bear Workshop—only in this case, what’s being built is a bear of an engine that’s capable of more than 500 hp, and the workshop is the GM Performance Build Center in Wixom, Mich. You see, not only is the 100,000-square-foot facility dedicated to producing the high-powered, hand-built motivators found in some of the General’s most compelling vehicles, but it’s also home to the new Crate Engine Build Experience, which allows customers to help put together their very own crate V8s.

Among those taking advantage of the opportunity are hot-rod aficionados like Jeff Kasper, who recently became the first customer to enjoy the experience when he traveled to Wixom to assemble a 505-hp LS7 V8 for his latest project.

“The build program was the thrill of a lifetime,” said Kasper. “Going inside the assembly facility and actually participating in building my very own engine greatly exceeded my expectations—and I’d absolutely recommend it to every enthusiast.”

To enroll in the program, customers simply place an order through their local Chevy dealership, after which they will be contacted by a special Performance Build concierge who will facilitate local lodging, meals, ground transportation to the facility, and all activities at the Build Center itself. (The customer is responsible for transportation to the metro Detroit area.) The Experience is offered for both LS7 and supercharged LS9 crate engines, and features an MSRP of $22,756.10 for the former and $32,050 for the latter. Engines are included, of course, as is expert assistance from one of GM’s highly trained engine makers—and the unbeatable feeling that only comes from a job well done.

“I got the most satisfaction and pride when I heard my engine fire up for the first time,” said Kasper. “When the engine came to life, it was the payoff for a day’s work and it was a satisfying success.”

The new year is just days old, but demand is already starting to build for two all-new Chevy products that are set to debut in the coming months—and not just among shoppers: The team at Forbes magazine just named both the Chevy Malibu and the Chevy Camaro ZL1 Convertible among its “Most Anticipated Cars of 2012.”

The first entry in the reinvented Malibu lineup—the 2013 Malibu Eco—will launch in the first quarter of the year, with the rest of the gang expected to follow soon after. All will offer a fresh, highly aerodynamic new shape, a premium interior displaying high levels of attention to detail, and plenty of other customer-satisfying content, including:

• Chevy MyLink—The brand’s high-tech connectivity/infotainment system, with easy access to apps like
• Pandora and Stitcher Internet radio, as well as a full-color, high-res touchscreen.
• Fuel-efficient powertrains—Showcasing an all-new 2.5-liter I4 engine, as well as the available eAssist light-electrification system, which enables EPA ratings of up to 25 mpg city/37 mpg highway in the Malibu Eco.
• Numerous safety measures—10 airbags are available, including dual-stage driver and front passenger air bags, driver and front passenger pelvic/thorax side-impact air bags, driver and passenger knee air bags, roof rail air bags with rollover protection, and second-row head/thorax side-impact air bags.

As for the 2013 Camaro ZL1 drop-top, when it launches late next year it will be nothing less than the most powerful Camaro Convertible ever offered as a production model. That’s courtesy of a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine that leverages a Roots-style blower to unpack some 580 hp and 556 lb.-ft. of torque. And while that’s enough to overpower supercar convertibles like the 2012 Aston Martin DB9 Volante or 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG, it won’t discompose the Camaro ZL1—the architecture underlying the car was designed right from the start to provide a stable platform for drivers, with significant underhood and underbody bracing.

“The Camaro ZL1 convertible will be one of the most powerful and most capable, convertibles available at any price,” said Al Oppenheiser, Camaro chief engineer. “This is a car that is guaranteed to put a smile on your face every time you drop the top—or hit the gas.”

“I have a pretty acute sense of hearing,” says Frank Delekta, a development engineer for General Motors. “Outside of work, if I ask someone ‘Did you hear that?’ the answer is almost always ‘No.’ I hear noises that others don’t.”

But Delekta’s not complaining—and neither are drivers of the Chevy Cruze: Thanks to the former’s sharp hearing, the latter enjoy one of the quietest cabins on the road. Extensive efforts by Delekta and the crew at GM’s Squeak and Rattle Lab made sure of that.

Their work throughout the Cruze’s development process led to the use of a number of volume-reducing measures, including an innovative “Liquid Applied Sound Deadener.” This material is applied to key areas of the Cruze’s body structure, then melts into place as the car’s body travels through the paint oven. In addition, the Cruze’s doors are triple sealed and feature fiberglass “blankets” that act as barriers to noise, water and disruptive airflow.

Extensive real-world and in-lab testing was done as well, with engineers driving thousands of miles in a wide variety of different road conditions in all markets where the Cruze is sold, and putting the car through its paces in special GM labs specifically designed for extreme conditions. Among them: A climactic anechoic chamber used to evaluate sounds at temperatures ranging from -20 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

“A component may squeak or rattle at 100 degrees but not below freezing or vice versa,” explained Delekta.

All that testing resulted in improvements to some 74 different components to help create a significantly quieter interior for the Cruze—and a significantly more enjoyable driving experience for hundreds of thousands of Cruze owners.

Winter weather can make for tough sledding in many of today’s crossovers, but not the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse with all-wheel-drive. That’s the verdict from Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com, which recently added the Traverse to its list of Top 10 Winter Cars for 2012.

Website writers unleashed a blizzard of compliments on the Traverse, noting that: “Fitted with a torquey 3.6-liter direct-injected V6 that makes 281-288 horsepower and a six-speed automatic transmission, the Traverse integrates its torque-managing intelligent AWD with the standard StabiliTrak dynamic control system and anti-lock brakes plus hill-start assist to help reduce driver stress under less-than-ideal road conditions.”

Other standard and available stress reducers include a rear-seat DVD entertainment system, 10-speaker premium Bose sound system, navigation, rearview camera, Bluetooth functionality for hands-free calling, heated front seats, tri-zone climate control, remote start, heated and power-adjustable outside mirrors, head curtain side airbags with rollover protection for all rows, and a complimentary six-month subscription to GM’s OnStar Directions and Connections service with Turn-by-Turn Directions.

Plus, with seating for up to eight and a best-in-class maximum cargo capacity of 116.4 cubic feet, the Traverse can handle plenty of winter gear, too.

All that makes the Traverse “A popular choice anytime of the year for anyone needing a full-size crossover with style, space and a bounty of features,” according to KBB.com, while “the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse with optional all-wheel drive really shines when the sun doesn’t.”

The 2012 Chevrolet Traverse—chosen as a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)—is on sale at local Chevy dealerships now.

Chevy’s growing expertise in developing high-quality small cars that people love to drive will expand yet further in January, when the brand introduces the new 2013 Chevrolet Sonic RS. Engineered to be a true enthusiast’s car—and packing an enthusiastic turbocharged I4 engine—the Sonic RS will make its public debut in Detroit next month at the North American International Auto Show. Which makes sense, since the sharp new Chevy is based on the Aveo RS concept that debuted at the Detroit auto show last year.

“The Sonic RS remains true to the progressive spirit of the concept and brings an unmistakable attitude to the segment,” said John Mack, design director for the Sonic. “From every angle and every touch point, it is a car that is unabashed in its performance statement—and one that drives Chevrolet’s performance legacy into its second century.”

Putting the exclamation point on that statement: A powertrain that truly lives up to its name. The forced-induction four-cylinder engine in the Sonic RS will be the only turbo in its segment, and it brings along a healthy 138 hp and 148 lb.-ft. of torque. Then, to get the most out of those ponies, Chevy offers two six-speed transmissions specifically engineered for the Sonic RS. The standard manual unit has all-new gear ratios as compared to the cog-swapper from the “regular” Sonic, while the available automatic transmission gains a unique final drive ratio.

To put that power on a solid footing, the Sonic RS wears a lowered, stiffened suspension with a MacPherson-strut design for the front, accented by coil springs and a stabilizer bar; that setup is then backed up by a semi-independent, torsion-beam compound link-type rear suspension with gas-charged shocks. Performance-tuned dampers are in the mix as well, as are four-wheel disc brakes featuring a four-channel anti-lock braking system—and electronic brake-force distribution.

The Sonic RS also boasts a full complement of style enhancers, inside and out, including:

• A full body kit with new front fascia, grille, rear fascia, rear spoiler and rocker moldings
• Redesigned fog lamps
• A retuned and chrome-tipped exhaust system
• Model-specific 17-inch five-spoke wheels
• Plenty of RS badging
• Front sport seats
• A racing-inspired, flat-bottomed sport steering wheel
• Aluminum sport pedals
• RS-only instrument panel graphics
• A sport gearshift knob on manually transmissioned models
• Unique interior trim colors and four bold exterior shades—Victory Red,
• Summit White, Cyber Gray Metallic and Black Granite Metallic

Also standard on the Sonic RS will be the Chevy MyLink infotainment system, which enables smartphone-based navigation, a seven-inch color touchscreen, and both Pandora and Stitcher Internet radio connectivity.

“The new Chevrolet Sonic RS pushes Chevrolet’s performance heritage in a new direction, for a new generation of drivers,” said Chris Perry, vice president of Global Chevrolet Marketing. “It takes the Sonic’s great design and latest connectivity features and combines them with a more performance-oriented look and feel.”

The 2013 Chevrolet Sonic RS is scheduled to go on sale later next year and will be built here in this country at GM’s Orion Assembly Center in Michigan.

The all-new Chevrolet Cruze has made a big splash in the U.S. auto industry, but on water-logged roads? Not so much. That’s because Chevy engineers developed an innovative underbody splash shield to protect key Cruze components from potential road hazards.

Said Dave Schoener, a splash-test engineer with GM: “With the Cruze, you have a very comprehensive splash protector on an entry sedan that you typically wouldn’t see except in high-end luxury vehicles.”

He first suggested deploying the shields after extensive Cruze testing at GM’s new “Flooded Road Lab,” which was recently added to the automaker’s Milford (Mich.) Proving Ground at a cost of $1.4 million. The facility lived up to its name by allowing Chevy engineers to put the Cruze through its paces on a flooded road covered with up to 12 inches of standing water, while traveling at up to 35 mph.

According to Schoener, the underbody protection helps keep water, grit, salt and other potential contaminants away from the Cruze’s powertrain, and it’s a noticeable contributor to the Cruze’s high fuel-economy marks, too. The added aerodynamic benefits of the underbody shielding help the Cruze Eco reach a best-in-class 42 mpg with a fun-to-shift six-speed manual transmission or 39 mpg with GM’s advanced six-speed automatic.

Perhaps more importantly, it also represents another example of GM’s commitment to quality for the long haul, something Schoener—a marathon runner—knows all about.

“Just as I train to build endurance before each race, achieving long-term vehicle durability comes from putting the Cruze through its paces here at the Proving Ground,” he said. “We do intense durability testing to ensure our customers get top-quality vehicles they will enjoy for many years.”

The small crossover segment is packed with strong entries, but few can deliver the kind of value offered by the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox. Just ask the team at MSN Autos, which recently named the ’Nox to its “Best Bang for the Buck: Crossovers” list.

The popular Chevy gained acclaim for a wide range of features, starting with its strong fuel-economy numbers. The 2012 Equinox is capable of EPA ratings of 22 mpg city/32 mpg highway/26 mpg combined, providing a highway cruising range of more than 600 miles. Also earning praise from MSN Autos was the vehicle’s high-versatility interior. Thanks to Chevy’s Multiflex seating system, the Equinox’s rear seats can be moved forward or backward by almost eight inches to offer either best-in-class rear legroom or a rear cargo area capable of holding more than 31 cubic feet of gear.

There’s further versatility under the skin, too. In addition to its advanced 2.4-liter Ecotec I4 engine with direct injection—the best choice for fuel economy—Chevy also offers a powerful 3.0-liter V6 that makes 264 hp and a robust 222 lb.-ft. of torque. Both engines also can be mated to GM’s proven all-wheel-drive system for an added dose of surefootedness.

For the new model year, Chevrolet has improved the Equinox’s value proposition even further with a host of available new features, including:

• The Chevy MyLink connectivity system
• A rearview camera system (standard on the Equinox 1LT)
• A seven-inch color touchscreen audio system with USB port (standard on 1LT, 2LT and LTZ trims)
• OnStar-enabled Bluetooth phone functionality and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls (now standard on the Equinox LS)
• 18-inch chrome-clad aluminum wheels (available on the Equinox 2LT and LTZ)
• Blind-spot mirrors (now standard on all models)
• A lane-departure warning and forward collision alert system (available on the Equinox LTZ with a V6)

Closing the deal for MSN Autos: Even with all that “bang,” the MSRP of the Equinox opens at just 23,450 bucks.

Although the all-new 2013 Chevy Malibu has yet to travel its first mile with a retail customer behind the wheel, the car already has racked up more than a million of them at the hands of Chevrolet engineers from around the world. It’s part of an extensive program of on-road development aimed at ensuring a top-notch driving experience for everyone.

“You learn a lot about a car when you spend so much time in it—and that’s exactly the point,” said Mark Moussa, global chief engineer for the vehicle. “In the last year and a half, during every minute of the day, a 2013 Malibu has been driving somewhere around the world—all to make it the best car it can be.”

The million miles of driving—equivalent to two trips to the moon and back—included:

• Air-conditioning tests during the peak of the Death Valley summer
• High-altitude evaluations atop the Rocky Mountains
• Long-distance driving through the hills of North Carolina
• Hundreds of miles of rush-hour traffic in busy metropolises like Chicago

And because the completely redesigned Malibu will be Chevy’s flagship in markets around the world, plenty of testing also was done internationally. For example, to prepare the Malibu for extensive driving during the monsoon season in southeast Asia—where deep grooves are often carved into road surfaces to channel away water—Chevy engineers put 11 different tire designs through their paces before finding the one that best reduced road noise without sacrificing performance.

“We’ve got to test not only the big things,” said Moussa, “but the seemingly small ones, to make sure we are building a quality product that meets the needs of all these different markets and uses.

“You never know about those fine details until you get the vehicle on the road. Our million miles in testing should inspire confidence for anyone who considers buying a 2013 Malibu.”

As Chevrolet continues to extend its global reach by launching cars like the Chevy Volt and all-new 2013 Chevrolet Malibu in Europe, the brand also continues to extend its global reputation for safety: Each of those vehicles earned 5-star ratings—the highest possible—in the latest round of the European New Car Assessment Program (Euro NCAP). Similar to those of the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 5-star program, the Euro NCAP ratings provide valuable information for potential buyers.

“The results confirm that both vehicles meet today’s highest safety standards,” said Wayne Brannon, president and managing director of Chevrolet Europe, who also noted: “The Volt’s safety performance and propulsion concept highlight the reliability and practicality that is inherent to this outstanding design.”

In fact, the Volt became the first EV from any U.S. automaker to receive five stars in all facets of the Euro NCAP evaluations. It’s yet another notable accomplishment for the car, which, in this country, also has been named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and achieved a 5-star rating in NHTSA’s NCAP testing.

The completely redesigned Malibu—which will become the first Malibu ever to be sold in Europe—has not been tested yet by the IIHS or NHSTA, but Chevrolet has high expectations for its U.S. safety performance, too. That makes sense, because also high is the level of standard and available safety equipment on the U.S. Malibu, including:

• Standard dual-stage driver and front-passenger air bags, driver and front-passenger pelvic/thorax side-impact air bags, driver and front-passenger knee air bags, and roof-rail air bags with rollover protection
• Standard four-channel anti-lock brakes with full-function traction control, four-corner electronic stability control, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist system, corner brake control, hydraulic brake fade assist and drag torque control
• Available second-row head/thorax side-impact air bags
• Available lane-departure warning system with forward collision alert
• Available rearview camera system

And GM’s OnStar safety and security system, with Automatic Crash Response, is standard as well.

The 2012 Chevrolet Volt, featuring an EPA-certified all-electric driving range of 35 miles and the ability to go hundreds of more miles relying on its onboard internal-combustion range extender, is on sale now. The 2013 Malibu Eco, which relies on GM’s eAssist light-electrification system for expected EPA ratings of 26 mpg city/38 mpg highway, is slated to launch in February of 2012, with the other members of the new Malibu family to follow in the summer.