GM South Africa
General Motors South Africa
Kempston Road, Sidwell
PO Box 1137
Port Elizabeth 6000
www.gmsa.com
For Release: 17 October 2013
Chevrolet flexes muscles at JIMS
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Camaro ZL1 Convertible is the ultimate muscle car
New Sonic RS to debut in 2014
Facelifted Chevrolet Captiva, refreshed Trailblazer and locallyproduced Spark round off Chevrolet’s JIMS presence
The Chevrolet stand at the 2013 Johannesburg International Motor Show is exhibiting
a multitude of the brand’s product offerings, each of which shows off a different side of
the brand’s muscle.
“Chevrolet is the world’s fastest growing major vehicle brand with a heritage going back
more than a century. Anyone who visits our stand at JIMS this year will understand
why we are heading for the 5million sales mark this year. Customers all over the world
are embracing the Chevrolet spirit which is the power of ingenuity, underpinned by
performance, design and technology,” comments Chevrolet Brand Manager at GM
South Africa, Tim Hendon.
“The mighty Camaro ZL1 Convertible represents everything the Chevrolet brand
stands for today. It’s a beautiful vehicle which maintains its shape with the top up or
down and those looks are backed up by great performance. and even though it is only
produced in left-hand drive and thus won’t be making it to local showrooms, it is a
nostalgic retrospective take on the ultimate muscle car.
“The RS badge within the global Chevrolet stable stands for a sport iteration of an
existing model. Typically with sporty exterior and interior design detailing, the RS
model in the range tends to offer unique styling with an up-rated powertrain.
Chevrolet's performance flagships always carry the well-known SS or Z badging.”
Supplementing the indoor display in Hall 7 at the Show, Chevrolet is also exhibiting its
Trailblazer at the purpose-built 4x4 track where show goers are able to experience the
vehicle’s off-road capabilities first hand.
Muscle in every direction: ZL1
Owing its name to the legendary Camaro ZL1 of 1969, the modern day interpretation
of the most powerful, most focused Chevrolet Camaro ever is showing the South
African public just where Chevrolet’s muscle car know-how lies. The Camaro ZL1
Convertible is also the most powerful convertible ever to bear the Chevrolet badge.
Linked strongly to the Corvette ZR1 and indeed the all-new Chevrolet Corvette
Stingray, the Camaro ZL1 Convertible embodies the modern day muscle car perfectly,
with the added bonus of open-top motoring.
Driving the rear wheels through either a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox, a
front-mounted 6.2-litre supercharged LSA V8 petrol engine produces a mammoth 432
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kW and 754 Nm. Good for a 0-100 km/h sprint time of just 4.1 seconds, the Camaro
ZL1 Convertible also produces a typically American, raw V8 sound track which is
accompanied by the wail of the supercharger up front – which displaces 1.9-litres just
on its own.
Upgrades to the ZL1’s suspension setup including a front strut brace, a transmission
support reinforcement brace, and under-body tunnel brace as well as a stiffer cradle,
aid in supporting the extra power and performance. Third-generation magnetic ride
control also enhances handling and ride quality, which is then linked electronically to
the vehicle’s launch control, traction control and electronic stability control systems.
The Camaro ZL1’s performance and handling credentials were put to the ultimate test
recently when the Camaro ZL1 Coupe lapped the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife
in an entirely respectable 7:41.27.
Pegged as the halo model in the Camaro range, the ZL1 has been engineered with
reworked design elements and functional aerodynamic tweaks to complement the
increased power. The carbon fibre bonnet panel not only gives the ZL1 Convertible a
unique look but also serves as an aerodynamic and cooling aid. The larger, blackpainted 20-inch alloy wheels give the ZL1 Convertible a strong side profile which is
accented by the exaggerated rear wing and extended front bumper.
Interior detail changes include high-quality leather, accented red stitching throughout,
a flat-bottomed steering wheel and a glossy black design panel which connect both
doors in an uninterrupted curve which runs behind the dials across the dashboard.
More sport for Sonic hatch and introducing Chevrolet MyLink
The Chevrolet Sonic RS is a true driver’s car, a testament to the product focused
culture at Chevrolet. Featuring more power, improved handling and a sporty look, the
Sonic RS will be available in South Africa in the first quarter of 2014 to round off the
Sonic range.
Powering the Sonic RS is a turbocharged 1.4-litre ECOTEC® petrol engine which
produces 103 kW and 200 Nm. The sportier looks aren’t just for show either, because
thanks to the increase in power, the Sonic RS features improved performance and with
visual upgrades including the snazzy 17-inch alloy wheels, the Sonic RS is genuinely
sporty.
The more-aggressive exterior also features an RS-specific front grille and pronounced
chrome-accented fog light fixtures up front, black-painted side mirrors, distinct side
sills, chrome shoulder detailing and a very sporty redesigned rear bumper. The rear
also features a racing-inspired diffuser look with twin chrome exhaust outlets,
complemented by special badging and further chrome details. The exhaust outlets are
functional besides being visually appealing, the Sonic RS delivering a special exhaust
note from the sports-tuned exhaust system. Also upping the performance stakes is a
retuned suspension design, where a lowered ride height and stiffened and
performance-tuned dampers improve ride and handling characteristics.
On the inside, RS-specific detail changes not only enhance value and give the Sonic
RS a special feel, but also set it apart from the rest of the range. Changes include the
fitment of leather and alcantara upholstery, red stitching and chrome accents.
Contrasting glossy black and matt silver dashboard elements also allow the RS to
stand out.
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Also taking pride of place in the Sonic RS is the new Chevrolet MyLink infotainment
system. Available as standard in the 2014 Sonic RS and optional in 2014 Sonic LS
models, as well as being available on certain Trailblazer models in 2014, the MyLink
system is set to elevate Chevrolet vehicles above their competition with a smart, easyto-use and well-integrated infotainment system.
MyLink, which has been designed to work seamlessly with Apple, Android and
BlackBerry smartphones for full smart feature support like integrated apps and
advanced Bluetooth functionality, also features USB and auxiliary connections to
integrate a host of media formats – for music, photo and video playback regardless of
the device being used.
The Chevrolet product portfolio can be visited at the General Motors South Africa stand
in Hall 7 and outside at the 4x4 track at the Johannesburg International Motor Show.
Ends
About General Motors – General Motors, one of the world’s largest automakers, traces its roots back
to 1908. With its global headquarters in Detroit, GM employs 202,000 people in every major region
of the world and does business in more than 120 countries. GM and its strategic partners produce
cars and trucks in 30 countries, and sell and service these vehicles through the following brands:
Baojun, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Holden, Isuzu, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall, and Wuling. GM’s
largest national market is China, followed by the United States, Brazil, the United Kingdom,
Germany, Canada, and Italy. GM’s OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety,
security and information services. More information on the new General Motors can be found at
www.gm.com.
GMSA Contacts:
Lunga Ntsendwana
Product Communications Manager
General Motors South Africa
+27 41 403 2187 (tel)
+27 41 403 2922 (fax)
E-mail: lunga.ntsendwana@gm.com
Website: www.gmsa.com
Media On-Line: http://media.gm.com
Follow me on twitter: @LungzN
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