2017 Colorado ZR2 Is Stepping Up In The Off-Roading Game

The new Colorado has been on sale for a few years now and has offered strong performance capabilities and solid sales for Chevrolet, even winning Motor Trend Truck of the Year. However, when compared to the Toyota Tacoma, some will say just a little something is missing- like its off-roading abilities. Chevy has apparently taken this into consideration, as they were caught testing a rougher and tougher version of the vehicle- something all Knoxville off-roaders will love.

At the Los Angeles Auto Show in 2014, Chevrolet revealed a Colorado ZR2 concept, proving that something was definitely in the works (although they insisted it was just a concept). These recent pictures have us thinking otherwise.

Although the front of the vehicle was heavily camouflaged, it seems as if a new bumper has been added, along with a pretty robust skid plate underneath. The wheel arches are certainly more aggressive and the overhangs have been reduced- to avoid any kind of scraping. Additional suspension upgrades are still unknown but historically, ZR2 suspension packages added lift and offered shocks, sway bars and much more.

As far as power goes, it’s expected that the Colorado ZR2 will be paired with the 3.6-liter V-6 gas or perhaps the 2.8-liter turbo-diesel engine.

Be on the lookout for the 2017 Chevy Colorado ZR2 the end of this year...we’ll keep you updated!

'Vette Fanatics- A Mid-Engine Corvette Is Coming

Calling all Knoxville ‘Vette fanatics! After a recent string of spy photos, it’s looking like the next Corvette isn’t going to be your typical C7 Stingray, but rather a mid-engine model! We know what you’re thinking- you’ve heard these rumors before- but it’s looking like there may be some truth behind it this time around.

Sporting heavy camouflage (C7 body panels and all), the new Corvette was caught in the act while test-driving at GM’s Milford Proving Grounds and a few things point to the fact that this one may not be so ordinary. The biggest hint- the vehicle’s rear hatch looks as if it is missing it’s glass cover so if there is an engine behind the seats, this would ensure that it is receiving enough cool air.

Just last year, GM engineers and executives were seen testing a prototype that combined the C7 Corvette and the Holden Commodore SSV, so it seems as if this mid-engine vehicle has been a long time coming.
We will be sure to keep you posted but while you wait, be sure to stop by and see us at West Chevrolet in Knoxville, TN to give the 2016 Corvette Stingray Coupe a test drive!

Wishing a Happy 50th Anniversary To the Chevrolet Camaro

 

In September of 1966, the Chevrolet Camaro made its debut, and now in its sixth generation, has been going strong ever since (we’ll ignore the little break it took in the early parts of the 21st century). This year, the Camaro is celebrating its 50th birthday and Chevrolet plans to celebrate accordingly!

At the 2016 Woodward Dream Cruise, an annual classic car event taking place in Metropolitan Detroit, Chevrolet has multiple public events planned for the Camaro that any fanatic will want to attend. To kick off the celebration, tours of the Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant, where the Camaro is built, will be offered to ticketholders. The following day, a “Camaros and Coffee” event will take place at the Joe Louis Arena Riverfront parking lot and on the official day of the Dream Cruise, Chevy will have a special heritage collection of the Camaro on display.

At this display, the new 2017 Camaro ZL1 and 1LE variants will be available to view. The 2017 ZL1 will feature a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 engine with 640 horsepower and 10-speed automatic transmission, so we’re excited, to say the least.

To continue with the party, Chevrolet also plans to release a 50th Anniversary Special Edition Camaro- available on coupes and convertibles with the 2SS or 2LT trims. Each vehicle will come in Nightfall Gray Metallic and will advertise the car’s birthday with badges and 50th Anniversary logos throughout.

To find out more information about the anniversary or any events taking place, be sure to visit www.camarofifty.com.

In the meantime, check back here for more updates and be sure to stop in West Chevrolet in Knoxville, TN to give the 2016 Camaro a test drive!

How Does the Silverado Steel Bed Hold Up?

If you haven’t seen them all over the Knoxville stations already, Chevrolet recently released videos that demonstrate the strength of the Silverado’s roll-formed steel bed when compared to Ford’s F-150 stamped aluminum bed and we bet you can guess which one outperformed the other… This campaign proves that the right materials, along with the right manufacturing process for the right application can do wonders for a vehicle.

In order to demonstrate the advantages of the high-strength steel bed of the Silverado, Chevrolet performed three separate comparisons to the F-150 stamped aluminum bed. In one test, an empty metal toolbox was pushed off of each truck’s side rail and into the bed. Of the 14 demonstrations, the corner of the 28-pound toolbox left a puncture the F-150’s bed 13 times. The Silverado, on the other hand, held up pretty well with a mere dent in all but two instances. Another test involved 55 landscaping blocks, collectively weighing in at 825 pounds. These blocks were then dropped into the beds from 5 feet above the bed floor. The Silverado ended up with only scratches and dents that did not affect the utility of the bed, one thing we all know St. Louis buyers can appreciate.The F-150 sustained punctures in every single drop, totaling to an average of 4.3 punctures per drop. In a real-life scenario, this kind of damage would reduce the utility of the bed.

Sandor Piszar, Chevrolet truck marketing director states, “Obviously, any material can be pushed to the breaking point if you subject it to enough impact energy. If a customer does manage to puncture the high-strength steel bed of the Silverado, they have the added peace of mind knowing steel tends to be easier to repair than aluminum- potentially saving money and minimizing time without their truck.”

Watch the video below to see these tests for yourself!

Stop in West Chevrolet in Alcoa, Tennessee today to check out and test drive the 2016 Silverado!

 Source: Chevrolet Media