C7 Corvette rendered by design student with good ideas

It isn’t easy redesigning an icon, especially one as popular and well-known as the Chevrolet Corvette. Nevertheless, a seventh-generation Corvette is coming, and while rumors of an exotic mid-engine layout for America’s supercar are unlikely to pan out, it’s possible that the Bowtie brand’s designers could take the Corvette’s look in an entirely new direction.

Student designer James Robbins has his own ideas for what the C7 Corvette will look like. His renderings look like a logical next step in the car’s design evolution, though we’re not fans of some of the details. We particularly like the rear end’s reimagination of the Corvette’s signature round taillamps, albeit perhaps without some of the edgy detailing on the car’s hood. What say you? Check out the rest of the renderings in the gallery below and let us know what you think of Robbins’ C7 Corvette.

Are you the facelifted 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG?

Now that we’ve seen the facelifted 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class in its bread-and-butter C250, C300 and C350 forms, it’s time to start thinking about the holier-than-thou, unabashedly hardcore C63 AMG. The folks at Germany’s EvoCars have stumbled upon what appear to be production-spec images of the AMG-laden 2012 C-Class, and while the brash bulginess of the current car has been toned down somewhat, there’s certainly nothing sedate about this new menacing Merc.

The biggest question about the next-generation C63 is whether or not Mercedes-Benz will ditch the current car’s glorious naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8 in favor of the new twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter mill that will be used in the CL63, S63 and CLS63. EvoCars states that only the new C63 AMG Coupe will receive the 5.5-liter heart, and that power of the 6.2 will be bumped up for use in the sedan. Still, with either engine, we’re sure the C63 will be as lively as ever out on the road.

2012 Mustang 5.0 comes with lower price, new features

For those of you desperate to get your hands on Ford’s new 5.0-liter Mustang GT, it just got a little easier. Pricing has dropped for the base model of the 412-horsepower pony car by $500 for the 2012 model year, edging back under the 30k mark to $29,995. In contrast, the Premium GT model sees a price increase of $200 while the Premium GT Convertible is $700 more than last year.

While the 2012 Mustang lineup carries over relatively unchanged, there are a few updates to keep the cars fresh. Ford will be offering a new color, Lava Red Metallic, available on both the exterior and interior, while Sterling Gray Metallic will no longer be available. Ford has also added a few minor features like a universal garage door opener and sun visors with a storage system and illuminated vanity mirrors, and the EPAS steering system will now also come with three modes – Comfort, Normal and Sport.a

National Automotive History Collection dubs Chevy Camaro ‘Collectible Car of the Future’

If you’re looking for the most collectible American-made vehicle on sale right now, you might want to stop by your local Chevrolet dealer. According to the Friends of the National Automotive History Collection, the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro is the most collectible car on sale right now. Each year, members of the organization get together to vote for the single domestically produced car or truck that’s bound to be a good return on investment later down the line. There’s no arguing that the 2010 Camaro is a hot piece of metal, but we could think of a few other vehicles that could have nabbed the honor.

Such as? We’re glad you asked.

If it were us picking, we’d lay a finger on the 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor. With the amount of abuse those trucks are designed to take, we can imagine that the future won’t exactly be littered with operational examples, much less show-room quality trucks. Throw the simple fact that Ford will only build a small number of the desert pounders compared to the fleets of Camaro models rolling out of Canada, and you’ve got an even better case for a future moneymaker. But hey, who are we to argue with the group that picked theChrysler Sebring Convertible as a winner in 1996? Hit the jump for the full press release.

Chevy to unveil Volt-based Amp crossover in Detroit

According to Car and Driver, General Motors may have something special planned for the Detroit Auto Showin January. Word on the web is that The General is planning to pull back the sheets on the next vehicle to use the extended-range hybrid drivetrain from the Chevrolet Volt. The next branch in GM’s electrified family tree will be a five-seat crossover, potentially called the Chevrolet Amp. Using the same basic architecture, engine, motor and batteries from the Volt, a production Amp would help GM spread its substantial Voltec development costs over more than one model.

GM has been making noise about a crossover with Volt guts for some time, and thanks to the sleuth work of the detectives at Car and Driver, we know we may be closer than ever to seeing the vehicle become a reality. The company has gone through the pains to register a host of web domain names associated with the Amp moniker, some of which were snapped up as recently as October. Combined with the unveiling of the Volt MPV5 Concept at the 2010 Beijing Motor Show, there’s a good chance that a battery-operated Crossover will grace Detroit with its presence next month.

Morgan Threewheeler marks the return of an icon

After building 30,000 trikes between 1909 and 1953, Morgan is bringing the automotive tripod back for 2011.

The original three-wheeler was quick, but also achieved great fuel economy numbers. Fifty miles per gallon was regularly achieved thanks to its light weight, low rolling resistance and small engine, and in 1913 a trike won the French Grand Prix while averaging over 100 miles per hour on the banked curves of Brooklands.

The new 2011 Morgan Threewheeler is powered by a Screaming Eagle 1,800cc Harley-Davidson engine, mated to the five-speed manual transmission from a Mazda5. The powertrain is good for 100 horsepower at the rear wheel, which can scoot the 1,100-pound trike from 0-60 miles per hour in 4.5 seconds and on to an estimated top speed of 115 mph.

Buyers will be able to select one of eight exterior color choices, which are all accented by black components in matte or gloss finish. The interior is available in either black or tan leather and features aircraft-style toggle switches for the various accessories. The initial run is for standard Morgan Threewheelers and then a bespoke version will be made available for customers who want a trike tailored to their liking. No word yet on pricing.

New Chevrolet small car to officially be called ‘Sonic’

General Motors has officially announced that its all-new B-segment car will be called Sonic, marking the end of the Aveo nameplate here in the United States. We first saw the 2012 Aveo at the Paris Motor Show earlier this year, and the vehicle will officially start production sometime in 2011 at GM’s Orion Assembly Center in Michigan.

The Sonic nameplate will only be used in the United States, Canada and Mexico; the car destined for other markets will retain the Aveo name. Chris Perry, GM’s vice president for Chevrolet U.S. marketing explains the reason for the name change here in North America:

“The Sonic represents a new beginning for Chevrolet in the small car segment and so we felt it was time to give it a new name. The new car is roomy, stylish and fun to drive, and Sonic is a youthful, energetic name that helps convey what this vehicle is about.”

If GM really wants to capture some youth, we suggest offering the Sonic in “Hedgehog Blue.” Follow the jump for the official press release.