GM bringing Bumblebee 2 and Autobots to Chicago Auto Show

[Intrepidation]

We usually know what vehicles an automaker will debut at a major auto show the weekend before, but General Motors has kept us in the dark about its plans for the Chicago Auto Show next week. As such, we're not expecting any major product reveals, but today we learned that GM will be introducing us to the new Bumblebee from the movie Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. He's the same Bumblebee from the first film, but the Camaro into which he transforms has been spiffed up for the sequel with a new front bumper, chin spoiler, hood scoop and different wheels. Whereas the first Bumblebee was based on the Camaro Concept, it appears that the new one is based on the actual production car.

Joining the orange Camaro in Chicago will be other characters from the film in their car forms. New additions to the sequel brandishing a GM badge include a 2010 Chevy Volt called Jolt, a Chevy Spark called Skids and a Trax concept called Mudflat (together known as the Twins), and a character called Sideswipe based on the still-yet-to-be-revealed Corvette Centennial Concept. GM didn't specify in its press release (included after the jump) which characters are accompanying Bumblebee to Chicago, but the venue at McCormick Place is one of the largest exposition centers in the world, so the more Transformers the merrier.

Source: Autoblog

[Intrepidation]

I like the changes to the Camaro and it would sweet if teh Z/28 looked like this (if they produce such a car) or at least offer it as an appearance package. The Volt looks so much better in blue and in a real world photo than silver.

[G. David Felt]

SWEET! you can not get a better combination of Transformers, Megan Fox and a AutoShow. This year just got a bunch brighter! Lucky Dog's to those local that will be able to go and check this out.

I hope some Cheers and Gears folks will get to go and snap a bunch of pics for the rest of us to drool over.

Edited February 6, 2009 by dfelt

[NOS2006]

That Camaro looks retarded.

[Satty]

If only it had clear taillights.

[Oracle of Delphi]

Whoopee ...

[loki]

like the camaro other than the headlights.

[Intrepidation]

Looking at the Camaro closer, they should have given it the RS headlights. The ones on it look crappy. Also the dog lights are tiny and look like an afterthought. Still, I like the overall shape...and the red bowtie.

[Sixty8panther]

Holy Cow, that super-low slung "centennial concept" Corvette

is making my heart skip beats! Produce that as the 7th gen.

GM, pleeeeease!

That Camaro looks retarded.

It's not an improvement IMHO.

[Robert Hall]

I like the wheels on the Camaro...I wonder if part of the transformation process (into a robot) is to loose the B-pillars..

[BrewSwillis]

These new cars look goofy! The point of these robots being "Transformers" is so they can hide in plain sight. I think it's cooler if all the Transformers were "stock" vehicles. It seems like they are ricing the vehicles out to appeal to the Fast and Furious crowd. Lame!

[avant1963]

Hate the front bumper (looks like some of the home-made ricer kits I see around here on Civics - does it have 5 holes drilled out of the back bumper?) but love the return of the red and black bowtie. Gold bowties on SS's suck.

[FUTURE_OF_GM]

I think that's the sweetest Camaro I've seen! (Better pictures will do it justice) I would be perfectly fine with this being a sneak peek at the postponed Z/28 (Except, add the RS headlights.)

And the Cenntenial Concept is bad ass!

Edited February 7, 2009 by FUTURE_OF_GM

[aurora97]

Just make it official - drop an LS7 in there, call it a Z28, price it at $45k+ and watch all the GT500 owners squirm.

[ZL-1]

So will these be there because there are no production debuts from GM at Chicago, or are they just an added curiosity/attraction on GM display?

[balthazar]

Saw a pic in the newest Hemmings Muscle Machines of a new Camaro decked out in the blue & yellow colors of the '69 race car.... can't remember what it was dubbed, but it was shot from a 'worms eye' view and it looked fantastic.

... HERE it is - wow!

Edited February 8, 2009 by balthazar

[prinzSD]

I don't like that front end of the Camaro. It looks like something out of a JC Whitney catalog. The Vette looks like a cartoon but I do like the Volt in blue as well.

[NOS2006]

Just make it official - drop an LS7 in there, call it a Z28, price it at $45k+ and watch all the GT500 owners squirm.

You do realize the GT500 is 550 HP while the LS7 makes a mere 505 HP, right?

[aurora97]

You do realize that after having the LS7 in production since 2005 (for the 2006 model year) with the myriad of aftermarket parts and tuners out there that GM would be able to easily find a way to update the engine and get another 50 hp out of it.

Apparently, Chevrolet is already considering the return of the Z28 pending their current bailout prospects.

http://www.motortrend.com/features/auto_ne...urns/index.html

Why the insistence of using the LS9 for the Z28 is beyond me. The LS7 should be used to give more credibility to the ZO6. Otherwise, we should just be expected to find the same V8 in every car that GM would produce across all their divisional lineups.

[Turbojett]

You do realize that after having the LS7 in production since 2005 (for the 2006 model year) with the myriad of aftermarket parts and tuners out there that GM would be able to easily find a way to update the engine and get another 50 hp out of it.

Apparently, Chevrolet is already considering the return of the Z28 pending their current bailout prospects.

http://www.motortrend.com/features/auto_ne...urns/index.html

Why the insistence of using the LS9 for the Z28 is beyond me. The LS7 should be used to give more credibility to the ZO6. Otherwise, we should just be expected to find the same V8 in every car that GM would produce across all their divisional lineups.

why not? The GT500 has 560hp now. if you've got the arsenal, use it.

[FUTURE_OF_GM]

I think the Z28 will house the LSA (not the LS9)

[aurora97]

"You do realize that after having the LS7 in production since 2005 (for the 2006 model year) with the myriad of aftermarket parts and tuners out there that GM would be able to easily find a way to update the engine and get another 50 hp out of it."

http://www.gmhightechperformance.com/featu...o_ss/index.html

"GMPP was also quick to have the motor partially disassembled to install one of its new Hot Cams before shoehorning it comfortably into the fifth-gen's engine compartment. Though there was little to no increase in lift or duration with the GMPP-spec cam (p/n 12480033), it uses a tighter 112LSA to up the ante to 556 hp. The LS7 would also be breathing easier through a GMPP cold air induction kit and tubular shorty headers. It's safe to say the factory-designed and street legal components were taken as far as they could go."

If it's this easy to make the car, then GM should save their R&D money and make THIS the Z/28.

[knightfan26917]

Never got a chance to get to the CAS this year. Would've been interesting to see those in person finally....

Cort | 35swm | "Mr Monte Carlo"."Mr Road Trip" | pig valve.pacemaker ...MidW Event = 04/04/09

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