AutoWeek Claims Corvette ZR1 Sports “As Much Power as Niagara Falls”

When seasoned experts begin to talk about the Corvette, it's no surprise that the reviews are glowing, thorough, and overly excited about an abundance of pure power. Autoweek has long been doling out the goods on the best and baddest cars in the business, and last week all of us Corvette fans here at West Chevy were excited to read the in-depth feature about the 2019 Corvette ZR1. Right off the bat, the blog claims that the ZR1 provides “better performance for your dollar than anything with four wheels,” a heaping sentiment of pride and prowess that we don't take lightly!

The ZR1 is the top-of-the-line Corvette model, situated above the Stingray, Grand Sport, and Z06. It includes the Track Performance Package, which comes with a large rear wing, and plenty of swagger to defeat any rival that claims a corner-bending and throttle-heavy approach. This aggressive and appealing new model builds 755 hp from the 6.2-liter supercharged V8, which is simply a lot to play with on any desired plateau. There has always been an abundance of power in the ZR1: you always feel the pull, no matter what gear you are in.

The testing staff at Autoweek drove a ZR1 that came with the Track Performance package, and so the grip was applauded for being perfectly plentiful. This was most noticeable while driving up on-ramps and noticing how much energy it took to appropriately slow down to merge with freeway traffic. When fully in gear and active lapping up the track, the 6.2-liter V8 makes its presence known: you don't purchase a Corvette to instill any sense of silence on a daily basis. Ask us here at West Chevy how you can add Comp seats, red brake calipers, satin graphite aluminum wheels, or a chrome badge to properly deck out your new purchase.

The folks over at Road And Track blatantly admitted last week that “large swathes of the public never seem to take Corvettes seriously,” and also recognized that the ZR1 absolutely pushes the power envelope to the extreme. For many years, the engineering team has been stressing the fact that the Z06 was pushing the envelope of what is capable for the configuration of the C7, hinting along the way that a mid-engine variant may be the fix.

What excites us most about this car is options such as the ZTK track package add race-ready wings, and other cool features. Just to give you an idea of how much power we are dealing with, the C7 ZR1's supercharged V-8 creates more than double the horsepower of the V-8 in the 1990 C4 ZR1: this is a car that warrants a test drive through winding fall roads right away!

2019 Camaro Debuts Stealth New Yellow Shock Exterior During Annual SEMA Show

This week, many of us eager Camaro fans here in Knoxville were able to get an exciting preview of the new Shock exterior color that will be available to beef up the outer appearance on the new 2019 model. It was shown on a 2019 Camaro SS show car that will be on display at the SEMA Show Oct. 30 – Nov. 2 in Las Vegas, where it will be shown with brand new performance parts and accessories available from Chevy dealers. The new model already offers a completely reinvigorated style and multiple new technologies, and sits as an ideal blank canvas to have to build on.

The goodies that you can add include second-generation sound effects, a black wing spoiler, fuel door with exposed carbon-fiber insert, black Camaro fender badges, 50-state legal cold-air induction kids, RECARO performance seats, Brembo six-piston front brake upgrade kit, and 1LE suspension components. These awesome additions were put together by the same designers and engineers responsible for the Camaro itself, and were put through the same rigorous testing standards as the components that were factory-installed.

You can check out Chevrolet.com/accessories to get the scoop on all of the details, and choose home or dealer delivery, as well as the option to select dealer installation. This awesome-and-able Shock show vehicle features concept front-end styling that includes a relocated bowtie emblem and concept hood/fender graphics, and will be accompanied in the display by a Satin Steel Grey Metallic personalized Camaro LT convertible, which also sports unique red accents, and additional accessories. Everyone from diehard classic fans to those who just fell in love with the Camaro namesake this year will go nuts over the new front-end styling: on LS, LT, and SS models, there is an entirely new face with fascia, grille, dual-element headlamps, hood, and new LED signature lighting.

Don't forget to check out the Turbo 1LE model: it really is part of the integral glue that ties together the Camaro's performance lineup. There is a brand-new 10-speed paddle-shift automatic transmission available on the Camaro SS, which features both line lock and launch control. Launch Control enables the driver to achieve the highest levels of acceleration possible in a straight line, and is also a form of traction control that manages tire spin during the vehicle's exit. The entire Infotainment system has been redesigned, along with enhanced available navigation. Along with Shock, the 2019 Camaro color scheme also features Shadow Gray Metallic, Satin Steel Grey Metallic, Crush, and Riverside Blue Metallic. The spirit of the Camaro has long been born and bred on excitement, and “yearning for yellow” as far as a color scheme can now be easily satisfied!

Business2Community.com Heralds 2018 Chevy Bolt as “Appealing, Futuristic, and Fast”

Nigel Atkinson of Business2community.com was an earlier adopter of an electric vehicle, having a 2014 Chevy Spark EV as his reliable daily driver. Since he has had heavy doses of love for electric cars for so long, he was eager to get a long week's worth of driving in the Chevy Bolt EV. While he generally was satisfied with his Spark EV, he sometimes got a bit uncomfortable during long drives, and the slightly limited cargo space. There was also cause for occasional wheel spin, due to the 140 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque rating, even though he deemed it as “an absolute hoot” to drive.

First launched two years ago with U.S. Sales getting their start in California during December, demand is now surpassing supply, much like the housing market itself in some areas of the nation. He thought that styling is definitely a drastic improvement over the original Spark, as the exterior does not wear the futuristic badge as loudly as some. Nigel thought after his first drive that the new Bolt was “particularly fast,” and happily took to the wheel of a Chevy Bolt EV Premier, which was fully loaded and decked out in Orange Burst metallic paint. Under the hood is a 60-kw lithium-ion battery, resting just below the floor.

This motor offers up 200 horsepower, and 266 lb-t of torque, making it a blast to drive right off the bat. Hooked up to the Vbox, the Bolt completed the 0-60 trot in 6.4 seconds. Driven with care, the Bolt has an EPA range of 238 miles, and once you are on the move, it is seamless, and very easy to drive. Light steering with minimal feedback, well-dampened suspension, and responsive acceleration all are huge assets to the typical urban drive through elements like rush hour traffic.

Nigel thought after an entire week that the shape provides ample headroom up front and in rear, as well as ample visibility. The 10.2-inch touchscreen runs the Chevy MyLink infotainment system, and opting for the Premier trim is quite obviously the way to go. Here you receive blind spot detection, rear-cross-traffic alert, as well as one of the coolest back-out aids/safety features in existence: the 360-degree camera. Pedestrian detection also makes sense for a car that can sometimes seem silent, with the dash rapidly displaying an outline of any person who happens to be too close to your path.

Trunk space has gone up from the Spark's 9.6 feet to a more practical 16.9 ft in the Bolt, and it was quickly decided that the pros of new Bolt ownership easily outweigh any cons. What we think will impress West Chevy of Knoxville customers the most is the extreme benefit of low running costs: without oil, radiator, or a fuel pump, just keeping the tires rotated and battery charged can leave you ready for travel. According to Repair Pal, a gas-powered Chevy Spark would cost an average of $411 per year in routine maintenance, which is around $1,200 during a 3-year period. This purchase is the ultimate way to see much less of the service department in your future, and all of us here are happy to show you the multiple perks of the new Bolt at any time this fall!

SEMA Stage Set to Showcase Silverado RST Sport and Offroad Editions

As fall is in full swing right here at West Chevy, we are constantly browsing the news wires and web to see what is next for all of the models customers are constantly asking us about. Trucks have been “hotter than hot” as of late, and folks in and around Knoxville have been presented with some killer options to haul, tow, and climb their way around any fun weekend or workday situation! Chevrolet has now released a selection of concept trucks that will debut at the SEMA show in Las Vegas next month, and each one is designed to showcase the large number of personalization options that exist for the extra-cool all-new 2019 Silverado pickup.

The High Country concept is currently on display at the Texas State Fair, and makes the already-luxurious High Country next-level with a two-inch suspension lift, bronze exterior accents, and 22-inch wheels. Ultra-cool available accessories and performance parts, including six-piston Brembo front brakes with color-matched rear calipers, a 6.2-liter cat-back dual exit exhaust, and a cold-air intake upgrade are also available to put to peak performance standards.

The RST Off-Road is a much more rugged truck, designed to handle the elements of the wild and less-explored regions that abound right here in Tennessee. Here you get to put to the test goodies such as a 40-inch LED light bar, off-road Squadron lamps from Baja designs, sport assist steps, Sport Bar package, and illuminated black bowtie grille emblem. You'll get to tackle the tundra, dirt or dust with the help of 18-inch off-road wheels, wrapped in very knobby and able all-terrain tires.

The aggressive and urban-inspired Silverado RST Street is designed for city use, and is based on the new RST trim for the 2019 Silverado 1500. The suspension system is lowered, body-side graphics added, as well as exterior-enhancing performance parts. Specific tailoring has also taken place to make the 5.3-liter V8 engine sound meaner, and pleasantly throaty for sporting on the more crowded variety of streets! There are also now carbon fiber-look accents on the grille bar, mirror caps, door handles, and interior trim, along with high-gloss black 22-inch wheels, carbon fiber exhaust tips by Borla, a one-piece hard tonneau cover, and a blatantly-blasting 200-watt powered subwoofer and DSP amp kit from tried-and-true audio geniuses Kicker.

The LTZ Concept showcases the advanced trailering technologies available on the 2019 Silverado 1500, and performance parts for the 5.3-liter V8. There is a 5.3-liter cold-air intake upgrade system, cat-back single exit exhaust, and six-piston Brembo brakes up front as well as 22-inch chrome aluminum wheels. There are six-inch rectangular assist steps allowing for easy access, and the concept features a Chevrolet Trailering Camera Package, which is a removable accessory camera that can be viewed through the center stack display, after being securely mounted to a trailer.

2020 Chevy Tahoe Described By “FastLaneTruck.com” as “Successful, Capable, and Stable”

2019 Chevy Tahoe and Suburban

View the spy shots by clicking here.

 Spy shots are one of the prime outlets out there to alert us as to what new models will sport as far as new features, safety tech, and exterior appearance. 2020 will be here soon even though it does not seem like it, and the 2020 Chevy Tahoe spy shots we got our hands on recently revealed a new shape, independent rear suspension, quad exhaust pipes, and new door-mounted side mirrors. It is exciting every single day for us here at West Chevy that the current Tahoe is the absolute winner in the full-size SUV sales lead. The Tahoe, GMC, Yukon, and Cadillac Escalade have all been nipping at the heels as of late, and so when the Tahoe was due for a redesign, many different questions were posed about just how it could be improved.

The staff at TheFastLaneTruck.com were smart enough to know that since the frame is very large, some improvements to the ride quality and rear suspension may be ideal. Can it be the best on deck without making sacrifices in the towing capacity department? Visibility could be improved a bit, as the side mirrors may be prone to be moved down just a touch. Fuel efficiency is always one area where everyone from corporate bean counters to die-hard driving fans want to see gains, as fluctuations in price may be imminent on the horizon.

An aluminum hood may be expected, as well as rear hatch, and door on the 2020 Tahoe. With a close look at the prototype, you see that performance is still a very serious issue with the Tahoe, and that engine types will probably be shared with the new Silverado. The 5.3-liter and 6.2-Liter V8 with dynamic fuel management are expected to be on the list, as well as the 2.7-liter turbocharged gas engine, and the 3.0-liter straight-six turbo-diesel Duramax. Known as a people-hauler, one of the things that the future versions will undoubtedly boast is ride technology that will greatly encourage solo drives, edging the Tahoe out of the “family-in-tow-only” niche.

The other day we were lamenting that this would be the perfect vehicle for a surveyor, someone with an extensive drone of photography business, or coach of a constantly-traveling sports team. Traditionally, the Suburban and very similar Tahoe use a very solid rear axle, which is instrumental in enhancing the towing capability of the vehicle. An independent rear suspension is the key to providing the overall lower weight, and improved ride quality.

The seasoned staff on duty at Carpreview.com claimed that since every current rival uses an independent rear suspension, that the coming-soon Tahoe will be well worth the wait. The likely return of the Rally Sport Truck editions should offer the pristine and very-high-powered V-8, which ups the ante in the grunt department. Magnetic Ride Control and high-performance brakes will be another very noticeable asset during any long or short haul: it's safe to say that the arrival of the 2020 Tahoe will tempt anyone with a larger-than-average group to cart around!