Autoblog Crew Highlights 2021 Chevy Tahoe and Suburban Suspension Improvements

Here at West Chevy of Knoxville during the holidays, many of us and our families are itching to load up a new vehicle with our closest kin and hit the town for merriment! Knoxville offers so many different things to do during December: on New Year's Eve itself, the Knoxville Museum of Art is having their annual soiree with live music, dancing, food, spirits, and a fantastic view of the fireworks on Market Square. Great choices for a vehicle to haul your most fun friends around in are the 2021 Chevy Tahoe and Suburban, and they both have big news in the suspension department.

As reported on Autoblog last week, this was a very important switch and improved the test drive this team spent with the SUVs greatly. Ride quality and utility are where the improvements are the most evident, where Chevy chose a four-link independent rear suspension design. It has three lateral arms, one longitudinal arm, coil springs, and a stabilizer bar. The front suspension incorporates the same hardware as the Silverado, but the tuning allows it to be ideal for a large SUV.

Traditional steel coil springs and passive dampers are standard, but buyers will be able to choose GM's Magnetic Ride Control dampers as well as a new Air Ride Adaptive Suspension. This is so exciting because inside is the next generation of Magnetic Ride Control, expected to be better than ever before. The Milford Proving Grounds was where the team was able to treat themselves to a spin in a pre-production 2021 Chevy Tahoe.

It felt more compliant and controlled than before over a range of rough road conditions, and was equipped with both the magnetic dampers and air suspension. Just minutes before, the group drove a Ford Expedition equipped with Ford's adaptive “Continuously Controlled Suspension”. The Tahoe offered up the trait of not being tossed around as much, and the load floor is lowered by 5.3 inches. This makes for more legroom and cargo room, and even third-row passengers will see great comfort on long hauls. The 2021 Suburban sees third-row legroom increased by 2.2 inches, and cargo space behind the third row by 1.8 cubic feet.

Both V8s use the very advanced Dynamic Fuel Management system, with the larger of the two cranking out 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. The standard infotainment system for the Suburban is a 10-inch touchscreen, and an 8-inch digital screen in the instrument cluster comes as standard on Premier and High Country. If you are certain that long trips will be the norm for your business or family clan, be sure to check out the rear-seat entertainment package: here you see two 12.6-inch touchscreens mounted to the back of the front headrests.

2021 Chevy Tahoe and Suburban Poised to Dominate Lavishly Large Segment

During this time of year here at West Chevy of Knoxville, our thoughts are drifting to our favorite holiday desserts, classics such as “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”, and loved ones finally getting to visit from far away. This is when many customers are coming to ask as about the various details and features regarding upcoming models, and begin to plan for which truck, SUV, or sedan will be fitting for them. Last year was good enough to us to bring about an all-new Silverado, and now it's time for large-size SUVs to follow suit and deliver the best in what buyers want in the way of new features. 

New LED lights as standard will be both on the front and rear of the 2021 Chevy Suburban and Tahoe, as well as 18-inch wheels. You'll have the choice of 9 exterior colors, and the wheelbase on the Suburban has 1.3 inches more length and a 4.1-inch stretch. The Tahoe boasts wheelbase expansion by an extra 4.9 inches, and length growth of 6.7 inches. Both of these new vehicles brandish a completely-new underside, and there is a massive upgrade in regards to the multi-link, independent rear suspension. With the solid axle no longer in place, ride quality is going to be much smoother, no matter what elements the weather and terrain condition brings. 

One of the most common concerns that those who are looking at the largest in vehicles have is about cargo space: how much is there inside for the times when you are leaving for longer than just the weekend? The new Suburban gains 19 percent in the back for a total cargo capacity weighing in at 144.7 cubic feet. Both new models also are equipped with sliding second-row seats that provide easier access to the back. To keep everyone in tow entertained, it is pretty imperative to have multiple displays in the back, and both of these new models have as many as five available. Among the five in selection is a standard 10-inch infotainment screen that now lays claim to being the largest in the category. 

It was not too many years ago when long trips that took the entire family away from town made the need for distractions such as books and board games to keep everyone in tow entertained. While those options are still an excellent way to keep passengers' minds off of how many miles are left in the journey, it is true that the digital screen has become the most frequently picked diversion. Rear-seat passengers in these two vehicles can now enjoy two 12.6-inch LCD displays, which allow for anyone not having to navigate the road the means to kick pack and enjoy their favorite form of online or pre-recorded content. 

For the incoming model, there is also the option to add the brand-new 3.0-liter Duramax turbo-diesel engine, which cranks out 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. When you know it is finally time to come down and see us here at West Chevy for a test drive, remember to inquire about the High Country trim level: it offers a visually distinct grille and 22-inch wheels that are the best Chevy “Holiday turkey-trimming treat” we've seen! 

Origins and Individuality: Chevy Silverado Carhartt Release in GM Authority

Last month in the sizzling desert at the 2019 SEMA show in Las Vegas, the Chevy Silverado HD Carhartt Edition made its big public debut. The original concept was shown at SEMA 3 years ago, and is based on the Chevy Silverado 2500HD LTZ Crew Cab model, and equipped with the Z71 Off-Road Package. The expert staff on duty at GM Authority had a great feature last week about the details, and spoke with Silverado marketing manager Hugh Milne, that laid out the origins that lead to eventual completion.

During 2016 was the original release of the 2017 Chevy Silverado HD, and it was the year the new LSP Duramax diesel engine was released. Carhartt had always had a supreme and awesome reign of everything work-clothing related: fire-resistant clothing, hunting clothes, and gear for the railroad. The connection to Silverado buyers was already existent and fairly seamless, and also hailing from Dearborn, Michigan, the company was a no-brainer as far as hefty partnership potential. The more that Chevy continued to work with Carhartt, the more they realized that both entities were pretty much talking to the same customers, and a solid bond was formed.

The next step was to put together a promotional agreement, and so Carhartt was then linked into a tour that goes to state fairs and large events, and Chevy reps wore Carhartt gear while Carhartt reps hosted Chevy trucks on-site for grand opening events. The reveal of the initial concept truck at SEMA 2016 solidified further the relationship between the two, but at the time a production version was just not quite in the cards. The reveal generated wild interest, but it was late in the last truck's lifecycle. Nonetheless, numerous customers were contacting both entities asking if they would ever be lucky enough to see it built.

The initial Silverado Carhartt Edition Concept was released late in the cycle regarding the last-generation K2 platform-based truck and was about two years away from the release of the current-generation model. With the new truck now out, the green light was given to begin the production stage of the concept. It is available in Mosiac Black metallic paint and is also equipped with Carhartt gold pinstriping, unique badging, a soft rollup tonneau cover, and other exterior upgrades. On the inside, you are greeted with exclusive two-tone leather seats, embroidered headrests, and Carhartt-branded all-weather floor mats. Don't forget to visit us here at West Chevy of Knoxville this holiday season to check out this and all other available truck models: 2020 would be a great year for your family or business to experience the excitement of brand-new truck ownership!

2020 Chevy Equinox Scores Top Safety Pick From IIHS

The 2020 Chevy Equinox has been hailed by many test drivers and auto publications this holiday season for its practicality, efficiency, and luxury accents on a budget. Now named as a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, there is just one more reason to pick the Equinox as your next New Year's vehicle. To earn a Top Safety Pick, a vehicle needs to earn “Good” ratings in several key crash measurements, including the driver-side small overlap front test, and roof strength.

A rating of “Good” or “Acceptable” is also needed for the passenger-side small overlap front test, as well as a “Superior” or “Advanced” rating for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention. Headlights need to finish at a “Good” or “Acceptable” rating, as the Equinox's available HID projector headlights measure up to. Having high-beam assist fitted as standard also aids the Equinox with its high safety ratings, which automatically switch between low and high beams based on the detection of other vehicles nearby. To continue in the utmost assurance of driver safety worldwide, the IIHS recently updated its side-impact crash test to better account for real-world scenarios.

During the very important scenario, the fast-moving rig's weight was increased to 4,200 pounds up from 3,300, and the vehicle will now be struck at 37 mph, up from 31 mph. The primary objective of this test is to simulate the damage that a pickup truck or large SUV would cause on another vehicle. Easy-to-use tech features, excellent fuel economy, and very capable handling are other reasons to choose the New Year's Equinox as your next vehicle here at West Chevy of Knoxville. Other new features onboard designed to keep you safe are lane departure warning, lane keep assist, forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian detection.

When you are looking into taking a longer than average trip out of town, the Equinox provides 29.9 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats, and if they are folded down, you can get 63.9 cubic feet of space. Standard features include the Infotainment 3 system with a 7-inch touch screen, six-speaker audio system, two USB ports, Bluetooth, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and a Wi-Fi hot spot.

The base powertrain has an EPA rating of 26 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway, which are some of the best numbers in the compact SUV class, period. When properly equipped, the Equinox can tow up to 3,500 pounds. When you visit us to check out how fantastic and superior the new Equinox is, ask us about the warranty: the three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty!