Chevrolet Sales Thailand outpaced the industry with a new sales record in Thailand in December 2011, achieving a year-to-date growth of 58 percent and selling more than 4,300 vehicles – the highest since Chevrolet began operations in Thailand.

Meanwhile, the automaker continued to make headway across major markets in the Southeast Asian (SEA) region, with sales for the region from January to December 2011 totaling 42,297 units, representing a year-to-date (YTD) growth of 46 percent over the same period in 2010.

For the month of December 2011, the automaker gained a market share of eight percent in Thailand, 122 percent higher than the same month in 2010.

On Chevrolet’s growth in Thailand, Mr. Antonio Zara, Vice President, Sales, Marketing and Aftersales, General Motors Thailand/Southeast Asia and Chevrolet Sales Thailand said, “It came from across the model range. We have exceeded the sales targets of each model, and the Chevrolet Captiva did exceptionally well. When we launched the new Captiva back in August (2011), we aimed to sell 5,000 units by the end of 2011. We have exceeded that number. In December 2011 alone, we sold more than 1,500 Captivas. The Centennial editions of the Captiva and Cruze also received very positive response since their introduction at the Motor Expo 2011.”

He continued, “Demand for the all-new Colorado has remained strong and, in December 2011 alone, we received well in advance of 2,000 bookings. We expect to break the record soon with full supply and delivery of the Colorado to the market commencing this month (January 2012).”

Chevrolet expects the industry to rebound in 2012, with the potential of achieving an industry total of 950,000 units, as the industry and the nation recovers from a tumultuous last quarter in 2011. However, pent-up demand due to the flooding crisis may drive the industry beyond the projected figure.

Mr. Zara added, “We have also grown in other markets in Southeast Asia, particularly in key markets including Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.”

Malaysia continued to post three-digit YTD (January to December 2011) growth, at 126 percent, over the same period in 2010, against an industry growth of -1 percent. Sales in Malaysia in December 2011 was also the highest since Naza Quest Sdn. Bhd. took over as Chevrolet’s distributor, recording a growth of 143 percent over the same month in 2010.

Chevrolet also outgrew the industry in the Philippines, posting a YTD growth of 37 percent against the industry’s -2 percent. In terms of monthly sales, Chevrolet achieved another new, all-time high record, posting a 57 percent growth in December 2011, compared with the same month in 2010.

Indonesia averaged a three-percent growth over 2011, against an industry that rebounded with a 12 percent YTD growth. In month-on-month comparison, Chevrolet grew 66 percent in the month of December 2011 over the same month in 2010.

In terms of models, the Chevrolet Captiva continued to be the favorite amongst customers in markets like Indonesia (53 percent of total sales) and Malaysia (61 percent of total sales). In the Philippines, which has a more extensive model line-up, the Chevrolet Spark accounted for 42 percent of Chevrolet’s total sales.

“The Chevrolet team has worked very hard this past year and customers have rewarded us with their confidence. We grew faster than the industry everywhere in our region. In our largest market, we outgrew the market multiple times faster than the pace of the market’s growth. And we have so much more coming in 2012 – more great and new products, and more dealer-points in Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. There will also be more customer-centric activities in all markets,” said Mr. Martin Apfel, President, South East Asia Operations, General Motors Thailand and Chevrolet Sales Thailand.

Mr. Apfel concluded, “It is a fitting end to a successful 2011. We have of course set our sights on breaking this new record, as we move forward in 2012.”

What’s better than a 638-horse, USD $112,000 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1? A 758 horse ZR1 with  715 pound-feet under its hood, of course. Luckily, German tuner Tikt has gone through all the trouble of carefully crafting such a beast and calls it the Tripple X.

How it came up with such a beast is an interesting story. First, the ZR1’s heart and soul, a 6.2-liter supercharged V-8, received a few substantial tweaks. Its cams, valve springs, seats and throttle body were all replaced with stronger, lighter versions. The Eaton supercharger’s PSI was upped to an undisclosed number and the exhaust tuned for a freer flow and deeper growl.

Next came a suspension retuning. Engineers left the rear leaf springs intact but replaced the standard magneto-rhelogical shocks with stiffer racing-spec iterations. The new shocks, along with revised wheel mounts, lowered the well-known speed bump scraper by nearly 2 inches.

Each corner got lighter Zerra Ultralight Evo 2 wheels that reduced unsprung weight. “Brakes of suitable size” eliminate the forward speed that’s guaranteed to arrive. Inside, carbon fiber buckets and patches of Alcantara fill the space.

How speedy is the Tripple X? Unfortunately, Tikt didn’t reveal any performance numbers, nor did it say anything about expected retail price. Rest assured we will keep you in the loop if we hear anything

The 2013 model year of the Corvette not only marks the 60th anniversary of Chevy’s iconic sports car but also the final production year for the current C6 before it is replaced by an all-new model.

To celebrate the event, Chevrolet has created the new 2013 Corvette 427 Convertible Collector Edition and the 60th Anniversary Package that will be available on all 2013 Corvette models.

Chevy says that the 427 Convertible Collector Edition, which blends elements from the Z06 and ZR1 models, is the fastest and “most-capable” convertible in Corvette’s history.

As the name suggests, the special edition convertible is powered by the Z06′s 7.0L V8 engine rated at 505bhp and 637 Nm of torque, making it the most powerful series production Corvette Convertible ever. It’s available exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission.

Aside from the powerful V8, the collector’s edition gets the same driveline and rear axle system as the Corvette Z06, a rear-mounted battery and standard Magnetic Selective Ride Control, along with 19” front and 20” rear wheels wrapped in ZR1-style Michelin PS2 tyres and several carbon-fibre components such as the hood, Z06-style fenders and floor panels.

The 2013 Corvette 427 Convertible Collector Edition tips the scales at 1,522 kg delivering estimated 0-100 km/h performance of 3.8 seconds and a top speed of more than 305km/h.

The new 60th Anniversary Package is available on all 2013 Corvette models including the 427 Convertible. It features an Arctic White exterior with a Blue Diamond leather-wrapped interior with suede accents, while the Convertible models also get a blue top.

Other features include a ZR1-style rear spoiler, special badging inside and out, grey-painted brake callipers and the “60th” logo on the wheel centre caps, steering wheel and seat headrests, plus optional graphics package with full-length racing stripes in Pearl Silver Blue.

The NAZA Group of Companies has sailed a convoy of Chevrolet Captiva SUVs to the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) 2011, Asia Pacific’s premier trade event of its kind.

During the 5 days exhibition which is being held from 6 – 10 December, a grand total of 160 Chevrolet Captiva SUVs are being provided by NAZA Quest Sdn Bhd, the exclusive distributor of the Chevrolet brand in Malaysia. As official cars, the Captiva transport VIPs and the media in true comfort as they travel to and from the conference daily.

“As a home-grown group of companies, we take great pride in promoting and supporting events which demonstrate Malaysia’s capabilities in the international business arena. Therefore, NAZA Quest is delighted to be sponsoring these Chevrolet cars for LIMA – an event which garners such international acclaim for our country,” stated Datuk Wira Haji SM Faisal Tan Sri SM Nasimuddin, Joint Group Executive Chairman of NAZA Group of Companies.

“With significant business deals being made, the importance of traveling in comfort becomes all that more essential. I’m sure the visiting delegates and media will feel most relaxed in our Chevrolet Captiva,” he added.

LIMA is a platform from which aerospace, maritime manufacturers and other related industries can display and promote the latest technology to senior civil and military Government officials from all over the Asia Pacific region.

In the past, the exhibition has attracted more than 210 delegations from 40 countries with billion dollar deals and numerous memorandums of understanding (MOUs) being made.

The Chevrolet Miray, introduced at the 2011 Seoul Motor Show, is a hybrid roadster that celebrates Chevrolet’s 100-year heritage of combining stunning designs and the latest technologies.

Developed at the GM Advanced Design Studio in Seoul, it combines cutting-edge hybrid powertrain technology and advanced styling, and balances iconic Chevrolet design cues with a future design visions.

The Miray pays tribute to Chevrolet’s sports car heritage. It is small and open like the 1963 Monza SS, and light and purposeful like the 1962 Corvair Super Spyder. Its expressive, aerodynamic fuselage is reminiscent of modern jet fighters.

Made of carbon fibre and CFRP (carbon fibre-reinforced plastic), the wedged body side is divided by an angled character line, with ambient lighting underneath. This accent creates a sweeping line of light when the car is in motion, bringing a warm glow to the sculptured body. Le Mans racer-style scissor doors open up and out of the way for dramatic access to the interior.

The ‘powerful’ front end offers a reinterpretation of the Chevrolet face, with the dual-port grille flanked by LED headlamps with new signature daytime running lamps. The front and rear fenders evoke Chevrolet Corvettes of the past and express the concept’s sports car spirit. At the corners, carbon-fibre spoilers help control down force and airflow.

Distinctive retractable flaps provide additional airflow control while providing access to the charge port on one side and the fuel filler on the other. The charge port also features an external battery charge indicator. Each rear fender contains individual cargo space for the storage of small items. Under the ducktail surface, the tail-lamps provide a new interpretation of Chevrolet’s twin element identity.

The Miray features aluminium-carbon fibre composite 20″ wheels in front and 21″ wheels in the rear. The strong turbine theme evokes movement, even when the Miray is stationary.

The heavily tapered top view enhances the Miray’s purposeful image. From above, the cabin has a unique diamond shape.

The interior of the Miray echoes Chevrolet’s racing heritage. As with the exterior, it takes inspiration from jet fighters, and is finished in brushed aluminium, natural leather, white fabric and liquid metal surfaces.

The interior compartment is surrounded by a carbon fibre shell, which gives it a lightweight yet rigid structure. Its flowing, yet slightly tensioned, twin cockpit tightly wraps around the driver and passenger. The cockpit is driver focused, drawing inspiration from the iconic Chevrolet sports car.

Asymmetric seats flow from the door, forming a symmetric interior that gives the driver a feeling of being fully connected with the car. Ambient lighting, which starts from the upper instrument panel and flows into the seat back area, adds a sense of luxury.

Seat cushions and headrests are connected by the lightweight carbon fibre shell and mounted on a single aluminium rail. The headrest area follows the exterior form, integrating with an air scarf for open-air driving.

Designers took a unique approach to displaying information, using back projection on the instrument panel. Information in front of the driver has been prioritized into three zones. Immediately in front is vehicle performance. It is flanked on the left by range and on the right by navigation and mileage figures. This eliminates unnecessary visual clutter, allowing the driver to focus on the thrill of driving.

The centre touch screen flows down to an aluminium support, which evokes a fighter jet’s nose with the landing gear down. The exterior surface ‘flows’ down into the interior to meet the reinforced console, connecting the front and rear of the car.

The centrally located start button is also inspired by a jet aircraft. When the button is pressed, the column-mounted retractable meter cluster rises like a jet fighter canopy and ‘Interactive Projection’ appears on the white surface.

Retractable rearview cameras, which replace traditional rearview mirrors, extend from the side glass electrically. In city driving, the forward-facing camera operates in conjunction with GPS to overlay navigation information with real-time video.

The Miray features a concept ‘mid-electric’ propulsion system, located primarily behind and beneath the driver, that maximizes performance and fuel efficiency.

It is propelled by two front-mounted 15-kW electric motors for quick acceleration and zero emissions in urban driving. The motors are powered by a 1.6-kWh lithium-ion battery that is charged through regenerative braking energy. The roadster has the capability of being switched from front-wheel drive to rear-wheel drive.

For performance driving, the Miray’s 1.5L four-cylinder turbocharged engine combines with the electric motors, providing spirited torque control to both the left and right wheels as needed. The high-tech engine, mounted behind the cockpit, drives the rear wheels while seamlessly integrating electrification technology that defines a new standard in the compact roadster segment.

A dual-clutch transmission (DCT) enables a reduction in the powertrain’s size by eliminating the torque converter. Shifts are quick and firm. The shift pattern has been tuned for improved top speed in performance mode. A start-stop system works in conjunction with the DCT.

Chevrolet underlined its leadership in future automotive technologies at the 28th Thailand International Motor Expo 2011, via the display of two concept vehicles; the Chevrolet EN-V (Electric Networked-Vehicle) and Miray, in line with its theme ‘Further and Beyond the Future’.

It also took the opportunity to display the new Captiva 2.0L diesel, in addition to a host of exciting models, including a crew-cab version of the all-new Chevrolet Colorado, special ‘Centennial Editions’ and other popular Chevrolet models.

The Chevrolet EN-V encapsulates the core principle of personal mobility – freedom – while helping remove the motor vehicle from the environmental debate and redefining design leadership. It is a two-seater electric vehicle designed to alleviate concerns surrounding traffic congestion, parking availability, air quality and affordability for tomorrow’s cities.

Chevrolet EN-V

The EN-V, representing GM and Chevrolet’s vision of what personal mobility is by 2030, was first launched at the World Expo Shanghai in 2010. Currently in its second generation, the EN-V is the perfect, physical iteration of Chevrolet’s 100-year heritage of delivering innovative technology that improves lives, is accessible and affordable, to the people. It is also the perfect representation of Chevrolet’s direction for the next 100 years.

Meanwhile, the concept hybrid roadster, Miray, pays tribute to Chevrolet’s sports car heritage in a futuristic package. With an expressive, aerodynamic fuselage reminiscent of modern jet fighters, the body ismMade of carbon fibre and CFRP (carbon fibre-reinforced plastic). Distinctive retractable flaps provide additional airflow control while providing access to the charge port on one side and the fuel filler on the other. The charge port also features an external battery charge indicator.

Chevrolet Miray

The Miray is propelled by two front-mounted 15-kW electric motors for quick acceleration and zero emissions in urban driving. The motors are powered by a 1.6-kWh lithium-ion battery that is charged through regenerative braking energy. It also has the capability of being switched from front-wheel drive to rear-wheel drive configuration. When more performance is needed, a mid-mounted, 1.5L four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine will integrate seamlessly with the electrification technology of the vehicle.

In addition to the concept vehicles, Chevrolet also showcased the new Captiva 2.0L diesel, which features a new in-line four-cylinder, 16-valve turbo-diesel commonrail VCDi engine, capable of delivering 160bhp of power and 360Nm of torque. All the power and torque will be transmitted to the driving wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission with DSC (Driver Shift Control).

Chevrolet Captiva 2.0L Diesel

The airy and spacious interior of the new Captiva, accentuated by mid-silver and chrome finishing, makes a statement in premium comfort and practicality. Standard on the LTZ variant is a 7″ LCD ‘infotainment’ screen, which also comes with a navigation system. First-in-class features include the integration of the heat, ventilation and air-con (HVAC) controls on the steering wheel, and electrically-operated parking brake, via a switch on the centre console.

Entertainment is provided via an eight-speaker sound system incorporating clever digital programming known as ‘3D Sound Staging’, which provides a well-rounded sound spectrum across the interior of the vehicle. The audio system also includes auxiliary-in, USB and Bluetooth connectivity.

Chevrolet Colorado C-Cab

Visitors to Chevrolet’s booth will also get to see, for the first time in public, the crew-cab version of the all-new Colorado, which will be available in the first quarter of 2012. As usual, customers can expect a comprehensive combination of ride heights, engine capacity and drivetrain configurations.

Other exciting displays visitors can expect include a range of Chevrolet vehicles decked out in special trims, in celebration of Chevrolet’s centennial. The limited ‘Centennial Edition’ models include the Chevrolet Cruze 1.8 LTZ and Captiva 2.4 LSX.

Chevrolet Cruze 1.8 LTZ "Centennial Edition"

The Chevrolet Cruze Centennial Edition is distinguished by a metallic white exterior, with newly-designed 17″ 5-spoke alloy wheels. A ‘med titanium’ interior colour scheme adds to the sporty feel. Only 230 units of the Cruze Centennial Edition will be built, enhancing its exclusivity.

The Captiva Centennial Edition also features a metallic white exterior, but comes with bigger, 19” alloy wheels and a complement of ‘aero’ parts in front, at the sides and at the rear. The cosmetic makeover is completed by clear-lens tail lights. The interior offers upgraded comfort and a navigation system as well as USB connectivity.

The Chevrolet EN-V, Miray, new Captiva 2.0L diesel, all-new Colorado crew-cab, Centennial Edition models and other exciting Chevrolet products will be on display at the 28th Thailand International Motor Expo 2011 from 1st till 12th December, 2011.

Rob Huff wins the two races in Macau, finishing only 3 points behind Muller

Yvan Muller conquered the 2011 WTCC Drivers title, his third in total and his second at the wheel of a Chevrolet, at the end of a sensational championship finale in Macau, after Rob Huff challenged him fiercely until the very end. In an impressive show of bravura, the Brit won both races on the streets of the former Portuguese enclave, bringing his personal number of successes in Macau to five, while Yvan Muller took a second and a third, showing once again all his mastery of touring car racing.

Eventually, the two are separated by only the small margin of 3 points at the end of an exciting season that has provided a great Champion, an equally great Vice-Champion and an unprecedented string of record results (21 wins out of 24 races, and 12 pole positions in 12 events) for Chevrolet, the RML team and the new Cruze 1.6 turbo, a car and a new engine that hit the track for the first time in September 2010. Alain Menu, who also played a key role in this year’s triumphs, was the unlucky hero in Macau, as his weekend finished in lap 1 of Race 1 after being involved in a race incident he did not cause.

Race 1 was pretty stressful with a start delayed by one lap and two safety car periods in the early stages, one of them for the incident that brought Menu out of contention. Rob Huff made a good use of his pole position, keeping the advantage at the start and at the two re-starts, but was permanently under Muller’s threat. Yvan attacked Rob several times at the end of the very long straight, as he was close enough to be towed, but the Brit was able to stay ahead until the chequered flag.

Race 2 only saw one safety car period. Rob Huff, who started from P3, took the lead in lap 3 after two great overtakes on Nykjær, while Muller, who was starting from P8, quickly put himself in P4, which was enough for securing the title, before passing Nykjær and finish the season on the podium.

Rob Huff (1^st / 1^st): “It is a very emotional moment, of course. I did everything I could to defend my chances, but it wasn’t enough. I am both disappointed to miss the objective by such a small margin and very happy of my two wins here and of my season. I finish the championship with the same number of wins and poles as Yvan and I think I have showed great consistency throughout the season, finishing all races in the points. Yvan has pushed me to the limit at all times, and here again in Race 1, and that has made me a much better driver. I congratulate Yvan, who has proved once again why he is one of the very greats of touring car racing. I want to stress the great job that the team has done and also the excellent relations we have with Yvan and Alain. Next year, we’ll be back and I already look forward to it …”

Yvan Muller (2^nd / 3^rd): “It’s just fantastic to be Champion again, especially after such a stressful week end here in Macau. It has been an incredible season, which started not very well for me. By mid-season, things became much better, thanks to the great work done with my engineer, Chris Cronin, and the whole team. This allowed me to progress step by step and then this thrilling finale…I knew Rob could win both races here, as he did, and that I could not take any risk. The championship could have gone either way, and I am sure Rob will win it soon. It’s a fantastic day for the entire team, and I really feel an intense and deep satisfaction.”

Alain Menu (DNF/DNS): “Obviously, not the end of the season I had dreamt of. I took a good start in Race 1, passing a couple of cars. I knew the track was quite dirty at the Mandarin bent and tried to avoid trouble. Unfortunately, Couto was touched by another car and pushed me to the outside and then hit me twice when he lost control of his car. That was the end of it as the car was quite damaged and there was not enough time in-between the races to repair it. This meant I could see both races from the pit wall and I congratulate both Yvan and Rob for their great season.”

Ray Mallock: “It was a very intense week, with a lot of pressure in the cockpits, on the pitwall and in the pits, but what a great battle we have seen. Both Yvan and Rob proved to be worth of the World Champion title, and I want also to congratulate them for being so gracious in victory and in defeat. I am really proud of how everybody in the team conducted this campaign and this finale.”

Eric Nève: “We could not have wished a more exciting and wonderful conclusion to this exceptional season. Yvan and Rob both deserved the title, but you can have only one winner. What really pleases me is that they have given us a tremendous show and they have honored the sports by fighting fiercely and fairly. I also want to congratulate the entire team for their professionalism and for being able to prepare the cars perfectly, so that no mechanical issue would interfere in the title’s battle.”

MACAU RACE 1 RESULTS

1. R Huff                     Chevrolet Cruze                   11 laps in 35m01s903

2. Y Muller                Chevrolet Cruze                  + 1s016

3. G Tarquini               SEAT SR León 1.6T                    + 5s666

4. T Coronel                BMW 320 TC                                  + 8s239

5. M Nykjær                 SEAT SR León 1.6T                     +10s778

DNF A Menu              Chevrolet Cruze                   0 laps (Accident)

MACAU RACE 2 RESULTS

1. R Huff                     Chevrolet Cruze              11 laps in 33m23s223

2. T Coronel                BMW 320 TC                          + 4s680

3. Y Muller                   Chevrolet Cruze                   + 8s695

4. G Tarquini               SEAT SR León 1.6T              + 9s047

5. M Nykjær                 SEAT SR León 1.6T              +10s218

DNS A Menu              Chevrolet Cruze                  

DRIVERS POINTS STANDINGS AFTER RACE 24 OF 24 (FINAL)

1. Y Muller (Chevrolet), 433 points; 2. R Huff (Chevrolet), 430; 3. A Menu (Chevrolet), 323; 4. T Coronel (BMW), 233; 5. G Tarquini (SEAT), 202; … 12. D O’Young (Chevrolet), 43; 15. C Bueno (Chevrolet), 25; … etc

MANUFACTURERS POINTS STANDINGS AFTER RACE 24 OF 24 (FINAL)

1. Chevrolet, 973 points
2. BMW, 583
3. SEAT, 522
4. Volvo, 154

Fast cars, screeching tires and billowing smoke return to Kuala Lumpur as the adrenaline-pumping action of the Achilles Formula Drift Malaysia 2011 returns on 17-18 December 2011.

Following a successful event last year that brought Malaysian motorsport fans heaps of babes and right to the edge of the drifting action, ESPN STAR Sports (ESS) and Title Sponsor Achilles Radial have announced the return of the third edition to the historic site of Dataran Merdeka.

This year, spectators can look forward to catch some 40 professional drivers from across Asia-Pacific pushing their rear-wheel-drive cars to the limit with impeccable precision and vehicle control. This year’s edition will see the return of defending champion Daigo Saito of Spark Achilles Motorsports, who has stamped his authority on the series having won the Singapore and Indonesian legs earlier in convincing fashion.

Daigo will be facing stiff competition from his fellow countryman and race legend Orido Manubu in his iconic RSR Toyota Supra. This will be Orido’s debut in the Formula Drift Asia series and fans can expect no less than some world-class drifting skills on display by this legend. Other top drivers from the region include Thai stars Kiki Sak Nana and Saranon, in addition to Australian champion Josh Boetchher, who will make his maiden appearance in Malaysia.

Malaysia’s top drivers will be looking to capitalise on the local partisan support and their homeground advantage as they eye for podium finishes at the championship in front of their fans in Kuala Lumpur. Local crowd favourites such as Ivan Lau, Tan Tat Wei, Ariff Johanis and Ee Yoong Chern will be sure to give the international drivers a run for their money.

“With the support from Kuala Lumpur City Hall, Dataran Merdeka has been the perfect host for our hugely successful event last year and we expect a bigger response in this upcoming edition. We are delighted to stage the Achilles Formula Drift Malaysia 2011 and we look forward to having this high calibre of world-class drivers entertain and thrill our drifting fans again,” said Harvey Davis, Vice President, Event Management, ESPN STAR Sports.

Said Pieter Tanuri, the President Director of PT. Multistrada Arah Sarana, Tbk: “Formula Drift is one of the fastest growing motorsports in ASEAN today and we’re delighted to be associated with this premium event and our goal has always been to advance the world of drift racing. Malaysia is a major motorsports nation and we look forward to a great event in Kuala Lumpur with top drifters from across Asia, Australia, Japan and the USA.

“Achilles won a perfect victory at FD Indonesia 2011 that had Daigo Saito from Spark Achilles Motorsport winning top place, followed by Rulli Armando from Achilles Drift Indonesia Team and Pond from Redbull Achilles Drift Thailand Team. We’re proud to be behind the three podium winners and we look forward to another great performance in Kuala Lumpur next month.”

The Malaysian edition of the Formula Drift has become a highlight on the sporting calendar, attracting regional interest and talent, as well as world-class drivers hailing from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Japan and Australia. Fans in Malaysia can expect a thrilling experience as top-class drivers burn up the course two-at-a-time, often only inches apart, featuring aggressive side-by-side action, nail-biting power slides and spectacular drifting along a series of tight corners as powerful engines roar and tires bellow smoke.

The Achilles Formula Drift Malaysia 2011 is the third leg of the Achilles Asian Drift Series 2011, which covers Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia. Tickets are available from Ticket Pro from 21 November 2011 (www.ticketpro.com.my or Hotline 03 7880 7999). Walkabout tickets cost RM28 and Grandstand tickets go for RM128. For more information, log on to the official Formula DRIFT web site.

The Achilles Formula Drift Malaysia 2011 is organized by ESS and title sponsored by Achilles Radial. The event is also supported by Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur and the following proud Sponsors & Partners – Mansion 88 (Official Sponsor), Tune Talk (Official Telco), Chevrolet (Official Car), Hypertune & SHIFT (Official Partners), Tyrepac (Official Online Portal), DRIVE (Official Energy Drink), Tayaria (Official Tyre Changer), Spritzer (Official Water) and Doubletree Hilton (Official Hotel). ESPN STAR Sports is the official broadcaster for the Achilles Formula Drift Malaysia 2011, and the coverage will be aired across its networks, covering 24 countries to a cumulative reach of more than 300 million viewers in Asia

The new 2012 Chevrolet Camaro, the most powerful Camaro in Chevy’s history, now is packed with a supercharged V-8 with 580 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 556-lb-ft of torque at 4200 rpm which would help the boosted pony sprint to 100 kph in only 3.9 seconds and have a top speed of 296 kilometers per hour. In other words, it is well above the Ford’s Shelby GT500 which has 550 horsepower and 510-lb-ft of torque.

Among some of the hardware and technology enabling the ZL1 to deliver those formidable numbers are the third-generation of the Magnetic Ride suspension technology, which employs valveless damping and Magneto-Rheological fluid technology to quickly vary the damping firmness to match driving conditions. Performance Traction Management, which debuted on the Corvette ZR1, also makes an encore appearance on the ZL1, integrating Magnetic Ride, launch control, electronic stability control and electric power steering response to enhance overall performance. Launch control is available only on manual-transmission models. A six-speed automatic transmission also comes optional.

The ZL1 will be equipped standard with front heated, power-adjustable leather seats with suede microfiber inserts, a nine-speaker Boston Acoustics audio system, and USB and Bluetooth connectivity, and rear-park assist with a rear-view camera integrated into the center rear-view mirror. A suede package that also applies the material to the steering wheel, shift knob, and shift boot, is also optional.

The price of potent Chevy power will be priced at USD $54,995, including a USD $900 delivery fee. Pricing has not yet been announced for the GT 500. The ZL1 compares favorably to exotics such as the Audi R8 GT, Maserati GranTurismo, and Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, but for more than half their price tag.

The ZL1 coupe will go on sale in spring 2012 as a 2012 model, with the convertible going on sale in summer 2012 as a 2013 model. Its pricing will be announced later.

Chevrolet has just taken the wraps off the 2013 Spark mini car at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show.

The 2013 Chevrolet Spark is a sporty four-passenger, five-door hatchback targeted to the United States and Canadian markets and it will go on sale in the middle of 2012.

The tiny Spark measures just 144.7 inches long and 62.9 inches wide. Those dimensions put it in approximately the same territory as the Fiat 500.

Chevrolet claims that despite its compact dimension, the four-door hatchback offers more passenger cargo space than competitors like the Fiat 500 and the Scion iQ.

The 2013 Spark’s exterior features a revised grille, restyled headlights and modified bumpers. There are also new taillights and 15” alloy wheels.

Inside, the 2013 Spark features MyLink infotainment system. With MyLink, 2013 Spark buyers can bring their customized music libraries into the vehicle and use their smart phones and Bluetooth connectivity to access both Pandora and Stitcher Internet radio and navigation.

When the vehicle is stopped, owners can project video and even personal photo albums onto the screen.

The 2013 Spark will be powered by a 1.2L dual-overhead cam four-cylinder engine with variable valve timing that delivers an estimated 85bhp and 111Nm of torque.

It is mated to a standard five-speed manual transmission for competitive city and highway fuel economy. A four-speed automatic transmission will also be available.

In addition to crash-avoidance technologies such as StabiliTrak and ABS, the 2013 Spark is equipped with 10 standard air bags as standard.

The 2013 Spark also comes with an OnStar safety and security system, which uses GPS and cellular phone technology to automatically call for help in the event of crash.