In the wake of the humanitarian crisis that has unfolded since a 7.0 earthquake devastated the nation of Haiti on the evening of January 12th, individuals and organizations around the world have stepped up to help the people of Haiti cope with this disaster. Many businesses are included in the list of those contributing, and members of the auto industry are among them. A notable example of this comes from Chevrolet, who raised $250,000 in relief money from the auction of a limited edition Corvette Z06.

Take a look at the Corvette Z06 that brought in $250,000 in relief funds for Haiti’s earthquake victims

The following is a list of some of the Automotive Industry’s earthquake relief efforts, listed by company:

GM – Chevrolet will be collecting monetary donations of all denominations at the Washington, DC Auto Show, as well as at the Philadelphia and Chicago shows. The funds will be donated to the American Red Cross Haiti Relief and Development fund and will be added to $350,000 resulting from GM contributions and the auction of the aforementioned Corvette.

Chrysler – Chrysler brought a Chrysler 300c to the Golden Globe Awards, where it was signed by several hundred celebrities. Dubbed the “300C Haiti”, the car, after being shown at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show, will next be showcased at the Washington, DC Auto Show before being auctioned to contribute to the American Red Cross Haitian relief fund. Chrysler has also provided both Oxfam and the US fund for UNICEF with $50,000 and dealerships in Puerto Rico are collecting tangible good to be shipped to Haiti.

Toyota -  Toyota Motors North America has pledged to Donate Haitian relief funds totalling $500,000, to be divided equally among the American Red Cross, Save the Children, and Doctors Without Borders. The company has also pledged to match contributions to the organizations made by its team members and associates. These efforts are separate from those of independent Toyota distributors operating in the Southeastern and Gulf coast states.

Fiat – The Fiat group, in collaboration with the Fondazione Francesca Rava, is providing $1,000,000 worth of technical and financial support. Included in this are construction machinery, ambulances, automobiles and technical personnel.

Click for more about the auto industry’s Haitian earthquake relief efforts

In its most recent encounter with a Corvette—July 2006—the Mustang didn’t fare well against Chevy’s Corvette. Road-course lap times favored the Vette, and even on something as uncomplicated as a drag strip, the big-horsepower Mustang didn’t cover itself with low-ET glory.So at a glance, this may look like another mismatch. On the other hand, Chevy’s new Camaro inventory has nothing that measures up to this latest Carroll Shelby–anointed Mustang, in either price ($50,895 as tested) or power.

Photo Credit: CarandDriver.com

Ford forecasts runs to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds. But even though it enjoys a power-to-weight advantage versus the Vette, in four tests with four different GT500s the best we’ve achieved is with this example: 4.5 to 60 and the quarter in 12.7 at 115 mph.There’s certainly no shortage of thrust. The GT500’s supercharged and intercooled 5.4-liter V-8 delivers potent midrange response and sounds terrific. But all that power makes it tough to keep launches from going up in smoke.

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Away from the track, the Mustang is more likable. We gave it a small edge in ride quality (though this is like the difference between flint and granite—both are hard). The quality of the paint, assembly, and interior materials is consistent with the big price tag—not a squeak or a rattle with 6400 miles on the odo—and if the seats aren’t as supportive as those in the Vette, they look snappy with their red-and-black color scheme. We gave a clarity advantage to the GT500’s nav system, and, of course, the Mustang has a back seat—extra points for that. We’d like the front buckets better if the seatbacks were power adjustable, and we’d like the Alcantara-clad steering wheel better if it adjusted for reach as well as rake—not an unreasonable expectation in a $50K car.

Still, no one was surprised that the Corvette took the trophy again. In part, this is due to the difference between a sporty car and a true sports car. But it’s also due to the Ford’s archaic rear suspension. The SVT troops have done a remarkable job of keeping it viable, but it’s like prepping for a hundred-meter sprint by connecting your ankles with a three-foot tether. Adding power can’t completely fix it.

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Check out Car and Driver’s piece on the Top 10 Muscle Car Tests of 2009. Featuring videos from the 2010 Chevy Camaro SS V-82010, Ford Shelby GT500, Ford Mustang Cobra Jet, 2009 Cadillac CTS-V, 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP, 2010 Roush Ford Mustang 427, R2010 Chevy Corvette Grand Sport vs. 2010 Ford Shelby GT500, 2010 Chevy Camaro SS vs. 2010 Ford Mustang GT, 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T, 2008 Dodge Viper, SRT10 Coupe, and the 2009 Chevy Corvette ZR1.

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Chevy is answering customer demands for a more Z06-like Corvette, minus a couple limitations like the coupe-only and manual transmission-only features. Chevy’s solution is the 2010 Corvette Grand Sport. Adding larger wheels and tires, a stiffer suspension, bigger brakes, and shorter gearing, this Vette is two seconds quicker around the 2.9-mile road course than last year’s model with the Z51 handling package.

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The Grand Sport will keep the base car’s 430-hp LS3 V-8 and steel frame, while adding several Z06 features. Fuel economy remains unchanged at an impressive 16 city/26 highway mpg. Staring at $55,720, which is $5,840 more than the base Corvette, Chevy predicts that nearly half of future Corvette sales will be Grand Sports.

Car and Driver is planning to re-launch its site. This new and improved site promises to be much more interactive and user-friendly. With increased functionality, it will be even easier to navigate. There is much more information and links on the new homepage, allowing for quicker, more efficient search.

In addition, one of the best features of the new site is the increased functionality of the buyer’s guide, which allows you to more easily search for vehicles specifically tailored to your needs. For example, if you choose a make such as Chevrolet, the new site instantly provides you with several links to the latest reviews, comparison tests, news, and advice on different models.

Then, selecting a model, such as the Corvette allows you to view all of its top competitors in that class. With the ability to drill down on specifications and view tons of interior and exterior images, the new Car and Driver site is definitely more interactive and user-friendly, and will enhance your Chevy muscle car shopping experience. Check out a screen-shot of this below, and feel free to email any feedback to caranddriver@hfnm.com.

With 505-hp, the Z06 has not only surprised America – the Europeans are awed to see an American sports car that can outperform German models, starting at only $65,800.

The Corvette Z06 is the lightest, most powerful model put out by Chevy. Carbon fiber has been used in the Z06’s wheel housing, front fenders and floorboards, and the aluminum body structure also helps to keep the weight down. The magnesium roof structure and engine cradle reduce weight even further.

The Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is powered by a new pushrod 7.0 liter V-8 engine. The flat and wide torque curve comes with nearly 400 pound-feet, that is available between 2400 and 6400 rpm.

The Z06 is controlled by a six-speed manual transmission. Chevy has installed larger brakes and wider wheels in this powerful Z06. The robust platform has been added to deal with the heat and the stresses of the big motor. The engine has a dry-sump oil system (containing a shallow pan and an external oil reservoir) that maintains the oil pressure.

The Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is not only a powerful sport car – it’s accented with various luxury features and styling cues. It would not be an exaggeration to crown Z06 as one of the best vehicles of the decade.

What Auto Critics are Saying

“… the Z06 is just drop dead, ferocious-gorgeous. I swoon when I see one. And melt when I drive one.” – Jonny Lieberman

“I also think Dave Hill and crew did a great job, the package is stunning. I talked to Mr. Hill for a little while, he’s the coolest engineer I’ve met. If I ever meet him again, I’ll ask if they could have accomplished the same thing with a smooth bodyside and more Ferrari-like downforce appendages…if GM made the budget for it.” – Sanjeev Mehta

Comment courtesy: thetruthaboutcars.com
Image courtesy: autospectator.com

The highest priced, most powerful, and best performing Chevy in history has been revealed – the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. This ultra-high-performance sports car is poised to make history, surpassing the performance of all other American sports cars to date.

With a 638-hp 6.2-liter V8 engine, the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 finds itself in supercar territory. The ZR1 boasts a 6-speed manual transmission with an optional TAP shift automatic transmission. The roof bow, hood, front fascia splitter, rocker molding and roof panel are all crafted out of lightweight carbon fiber.

With ungodly acceleration, suspension tuning and drilled disc brake rotors,  as well as a bevy of other features, we’re amazed at the $100K sticker price. That’s certainly not cheap, but it’s nowhere near the seven figures you can expect to pay for a comparable Ferrari.

Rock on Chevy!

Image courtesy: howstuffworks.com