Corvette ZR1 Named “Best Car to Buy 2019” by Motor Authority

The Corvette is one of those vehicles that absolutely redefines “Special:” incredibly distinctive bodywork and performance are just two of its noteworthy characteristics. The very first model was introduced at GM Motorama in 1953 as a concept, followed a decade later by coupe and convertible styles. We know all about the appeal of Camaros, Mustangs, and many more options out there that exist for the track-loving and corner-hungry crew, but this is the one that has been widely known as “America's Sports Car” for decades. After being featured in the early 1960s show “Route 66,” Automotive News claimed excitedly that it was “synonymous with freedom and adventure.”

The experienced and knowledgeable staff at Motor Authority named the 2019 Corvette ZR1 as its “Best Car to Buy 2019” this past week, as all of us here at West Chevy of Knoxville celebrate it outshining rivals such as the Ford Mustang GT Performance Pack Level 2, Audi RS 5, the BMW M5, and Jaguar I-Pace. This very important and badge-flaunting decision was made after a day spent as the 2.0-mile Atlanta Motorsports Park course, where the judges were thoroughly impressed by the sheer force and speed of the ZR1. It's no surprise that after being put to the test, this able crew thought that “It's a missile pointed relentlessly forward, and it's capable of amazing speed in skilled hands.”

Affordable price was another element that weighed itself heavily in the judges' decision, ranking considerably lower than the others it was up against. The small-block LT5 puts to use a supercharger that offers up 52-percent more displacement, while at the same time generating 715 lb-ft of torque, and a very amazing 755 horsepower. Superior downforce was another quality that did not go unnoticed by experienced managing editor Aaron Cole, who also appreciated the way in which the driving experience became laid back when they hit the highway. Flaunting the first-ever automatic transmission on the ZR1, it is also available for the first time in a sun-kissable convertible option, for the first time since it originally was offered in 1970.

When it comes to cars that are lucky enough to have instilled in them this much raw power and appeal, we recognize that sometimes people talk. They wonder if every single individual who has ever fallen in love with a 'Vette will love it, if the shape is perfect, if it looks too modern, does it borrow too many accents from a Ferrari, and even if it is reminiscent enough of models before it to fare worthwhile. All of us here at West Chevy believe that the new ZR1 is everything that Corvette fans should ever demand from a finished product: it is lean, mean, and full of futuristic flair that will impress anyone who has been watching cars progress.

Back in 1974, we were overly proud of the Stingray Coupe: as we look at just how far our favorite line has come in many ways, we remember that this was the first year that both front and rear bumpers were polyurethane. There are so many reasons to be excited about the upcoming ZR1's release, and the snagging of yet another award was no surprise: not a single fan will want to wait an extra minute for a test drive when this winged warrior hits the showroom soon!

2019 Chevy Volt Billed By Roadshow as “Lightweight, With Excellent Ride Quality”

If you are looking into adding a car with electrification as one of your daily driving options, you surely have been attentively watching how charging times have improved drastically. Updates for the 2019 Volt give even faster 240-volt charging times, and the electric range within is beginning to really overshadow our competitors satisfyingly. The folks at the Cnet.com Roadshow blog did a piece last week highlighting the Volt's refresh for next year, and all of the exciting and Eco-Conscious reasons that you would want to own one.

The first thing that expert writer Jon Wong noticed about the new Volt is the front-end and silver grille inserts: they give the Volt a bit of what he deemed a “Transformers vibe,” and we feel this is a suitable comparison for our favorite and very futuristic offering. Tucked inside the body is a carryover powertrain, made up of a 1.5-liter inline-4, 18.4-kilowatt hour battery pack and electric motor, for a combined output of 149 horsepower, and 294 lb-ft of torque. EPA-rated mileage sits at a quite lofty 53 miles, which daringly champions over rivals such as the Hyundai Ioniq, Kia Niro, and the Toyota Prius. For the most part “doubling down” on mileage, this alone will be a massive selling point for many in the current climate.

Once you factor in the gas engine, the range is upped to 420 miles, and the brand-new 7.2-kw charger lays down a very impressive 240-volt charging time, from 4.3 hours all the way down to 2.3. If you are planning on deriving the necessary juice for the journey from a standard wall outlet, you'll have a 13-hour wait, which can still work for those turning in during a night of rest before prepping for the day that lies ahead. The staff at Roadshow felt that the handling on smooth roads was excellent, on a jaunt from Detroit to Columbus, Ohio. The suspension very easily took the edge off of impacts from the usual bumps, and enjoying the benefits of its mileage on longer-distance trips will be one of the best qualities the Volt offers.

Excellent additives like an 8-inch touchscreen were greatly enjoyed by the Roadshow crew, offering very crisp graphics, intuitive menus, and fast response times. One great reason to opt for the Premier trim is that navigation is standard, as well as Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and the all-important data gleaning Wi-Fi hotspot. Within this trim level, the wireless charge pad is relocated conveniently from under the armrest to a more convenient location right at the base of the center stack. There are two USB ports, as well as a 12-volt outlet up front, and those in the backseat have access to a 12-volt outlet between the seats. The backup camera is now an HD unit, and the pedestrian alert system has external speakers equipped as standard.

Forward Collision Warning with low-speed automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning with lane keep assist, and rear cross-traffic alert are available on the safety front, assuring you that every drive you take you will be covered with the utmost in high-tech protection. With all of these updates as well as faster charge times and better infotainment tech, the Volt commands a very exciting and futuristic presence here at West Chevy, where we invite you to come down and check out electrified options this holiday season!

Trucks.com Presents 2019 Chevy Tahoe Quick-Reference Stat Sheet

Always ready and able to be your choice for an excellent and tech-stocked vehicle seating up to nine people, our beloved 2019 Chevy Tahoe here at West Chevy of Knoxville is first on deck to compete with the Toyota Sequoia, Nissan Armada, and Ford Expedition during the coming year. This is the 4^th generation of the model, and one of our favorite websites Trucks.com ran a stat sheet this past week pointing out the most important features for those getting geared up to make purchases for the upcoming year. Built on the GM's K2XX platform shared with the GMC Yukon, this is one available vehicle that has raw power, spacious confines, and customization options to fit your own needs like crazy!

Trims:

·         The 2019 Tahoe is available in three trims: LS, LT, and Premier.

·         The Premier model comes equipped with 20-inch wheels, keyless entry with pushbutton start, 12-way ventilated and power-adjustable heated seats, and high-intensity discharge headlamps.

·         Every single trim does come with a 3-year, 36,000 mile bumper-to-bumper limited warranty, and the powertrain alone is warrantied for 60,000 miles, or five years.

·         Three trim levels offer all-wheel drive.

·         18-inch aluminum wheels are offered standard on the LS trim, and 20-inch polished aluminum wheels are now standard on the Premier trim. 22-inch wheels and 20-inch chrome wheels are also options for add-on with the Tahoe.

Dimensions:

·         The Tahoe sports a 116-inch wheelbase, 204-inch overall length, and 5-inch width.

Powertrain:

·         The base engine in the 2019 Tahoe is a 5.3-liter V8 that offers up 355 horsepower, at 5600 RPM, and 383 lb-ft of torque at 4,100 RPM. The Premier trim can come with a 6.2-liter V8 that produces 420 horsepower, and 460 lb-ft of torque.

·         All-wheel drive and two-wheel drive powertrains are offered on all trims.

·         The 2019 Tahoe uses a six-speed automatic transmission, sporting a 10-speed automatic in the Premier trim.

Towing:

·         The maximum towing capacity for a 2019 Chevy Tahoe sits at 8,600 pounds with RWD, and when equipped with the Max Trailering package.

Mileage:

·         EPA fuel economy estimates for the most efficient of the 2019 Tahoes are 115 mpg during city driving, 22 mpg on the highway, and 18 mpg combined for the 5.3-liter two-wheel drive version. The two-wheel drive Tahoe equipped with the 6.2-liter engine gets 23 mpg on the highway.

Safety:

·         All 2019 Tahoes are well-equipped with seven standard airbags, including frontal and head-curtain as well as seat-mounted side-impact airbags. Standard safety equipment also includes rear park assist, rear-vision camera, and an electronic stability control system.

·         Other available safety and driver-assistance technology includes rear cross-traffic alert, lane-change alert with side blind-zone alert, low-speed forward automatic braking, and lane-keep assist with lane-departure warning.

Infotainment:

·         The standard infotainment system includes a six-speaker USB/CD/MP3 audio system, with an 8-inch touchscreen compatible with Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, and Android Auto. Integrated navigation, as well as Sirius XM radio, are also available.

·         A Bose nine-speaker audio system is standard in the LT trim, and a Bose Centerpoint surround sound 10-speaker system is offered as standard in the Premier trim.

Comfort and Convenience:

·         The base trim offers a manual liftgate, and the two higher trims have a powered version, either hands-free, or button-operated.

·         Cloth buckets are now standard in the LS, and leather-appointment front seats come in the LT and Premium trims. The LT's seats are heated, and have 10-way power seat adjusters. The Premier's seats are ventilated as well as heated in front, and feature 12-way power adjusters.

·         The Tahoe has 4 12-volt power outlets: two are located in the console, one in the third row, and one is situated in the cargo area. A 110-volt power outlet is standard as well.

50 Golden Years After the Beginning, eCOPO Camaro Race Car Concept is Born

It was fifty years ago that the original COPO Camaro was introduced to the public, and all of us here at West Chevrolet are constantly in awe of this car's potential for power, ability, and raw handling on the track. The new eCOPO Camaro Concept demonstrates a vision for electric drag racing, as the future has arrived, in the sense that planet responsibility and sustainability is at the top of many automaker's list, including ours. Developed by GM and built in conjunction with the Hancock and Lane Racing drag team, this new concept car is based on the 2019 COPO Camaro.

This is an entirely electric-powered car, driven by an electric motor that offers up the equivalent of more than 700 horsepower, and 600 lb-ft of torque. Testing time for the quarter-mile is estimated now in the 9-second range, and this is one concept that has pushed the power and racing envelope to the fullest, while at the same time channels the spirit of full-throttled and high-octane racing. Hancock and Lane Racing not only have a track record of success within the drag racing realm, but also benefit from strong ties to Patrick McCue, the brains behind the record-setting “Shock and Awe” electric drag racing car, and the Seattle-based Bothell High School automotive technology program.

The original 1969 Camaro models relied on the most creative engineering in existence to make them successful in the very exciting and challenging event of Stock Eliminator drag racing. The same level of dedication is evident in the ground-breaking new motor within the eCOPO, which sports GM's first 800-volt battery. This electric motor is based on a pair of BorgWarner HVH 250-150 motor assemblies, each with the capability to generate 300 lb-ft of torque, while utterly replacing the gas engine we have all become so accustomed to. It is mated to a conventional, racing-ready “Turbo 400” automatic transmission that boosts the motor's torque to the same solid rear axle put to use in the production COPO Camaro racers.

With the new 800-volt battery pack, there is a much more efficient transfer of power to the all-electric motor, and it is able to support faster recharging. This is all-important when it comes to the rapidly paced elimination rounds in drag racing, when time is of the essence. This is very exciting new territory in the technological realm, as drag strip racing is one very demanding and pavement-pounding performance arena that gasoline has dominated since its early origins. Each of the four included 200-volt modules in the battery pack weigh around 175 pounds, and are mounted strategically for ultimate weight distribution.

A full On-board Battery Management System monitors all temperatures and constantly changing critical voltages within the pack. It is also tied into a comprehensive safety system that is always evaluating the electrical components in a vehicle, for safe operation and proper function. This electric motor as the same bell house mounting pattern and crankshaft flange as the widely-used LS-family engines in Chevy's crate engine lineup. This is what allows it to bolt up to nearly any single one of the GM transmission family's lineup.

The possibilities are amazing and will open up numerous ways to limit fuel use in the drag racing realm, a place in which fully electric power was scoffed at just a few years ago. The eCOPO Concept joined the 50^th anniversary 2019 COPO Camaro race car along with two dozen additional Chevy concepts and show vehicles, finishing its run at SEMA in Las Vegas on November 2^nd.