2021 Silverado Realtree Edition: Sensational Splash of Camo + Off-Road Prowess

One attribute of truck buyers we have realized here at West Chevy of Memphis is that outdoorsmen are perhaps some of the most loyal pickup truck buyers of all. In celebration of men and women everywhere that can't control their urge to hunt, fish, and be as far away from the city as possible, the 2021 Silverado Realtree Edition is a special appearance package that is built upon the 4-wheeling Custom Trail Boss trim. Chevy's partnership with the camouflage brand first came about with the 2016 Silverado Realtree Edition, and it now sees an upgrade for the half-ton pickup's fourth generation in existence.

For starters, there is a splash of camo graphics on the Silverado's bed as well as its hood, and inside components like the door handle grabs have been covered with the distinct camo. The Realtree logo is also present on the durable bedliner, and the Custom Trail Boss extras such as two-inch factory suspension lift and upsized Goodyear Wrangler Territory tires are on deck for off-road mastery.

This Realtree Edition also comes fully equipped with Chevy's Z71 off-road package, which offers up Hill Descent Control, Rancho monotube shocks, skid plates, an automatic locking rear differential, and an AutoTrac two-speed transfer case. The standard engine is a 5.3-liter V8, and you can choose to upgrade to the 6.2-liter if you desire, upping the ante to 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. The heftier option is paired to the 10-speed automatic, while the first one runs in conjunction with the six-speed gearbox. Disappointingly for some, it doesn't currently look like the 3.0-liter Duramax diesel inline-six will be available, since it can only integrate with the Silverado LT and higher trims.

The staff on duty at Motor Trend remarked this year that the 2021 Silverado possesses “Phenomenal powertrains, responsive steering, and over-the-top pulling power”. Motor1.com called the Trail Boss trim “Tough as nails and a helluva ride” and doled out extra appreciation for the hidden storage compartments under the front seats and rear bench, and the number of USB ports found within the center console and back seat.

The new Silverado’s exterior sheet metal is nothing short of revolutionary, and we feel it’s a show-stealer as far as the continuing rivalry with the menacing cross-town Dodge Ram! When you come to see us here for a test drive, you’ll be impressed with the handling and stability of the Duratrac Mud-Terrain tires: they redefine the “go anywhere” mantra with their knobby makeup and expert design!

GM Authority Features 2020 Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison Live Photo Gallery

It was 3 years ago now that the Colorado ZR2 AEV Concept was shown for the first time to the public at SEMA, where the response was overwhelmingly positive. This makes perfect sense to all of us here at West Chevy of Knoxville since it is truly a rig that can be taken to the harshest of extremes and not even feel a ding. With built-in collaboration derived from expert aftermarket off-road manufacturer AEV, the 2020 Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison is loaded to the gills with protective equipment and other features that make it the optimum choice for tackling the roughest of outdoors.

The well-versed folks on staff at GM Authority cranked out a great feature last week that took a close-up look at ZR2 Bison through a live photo gallery shown here. Up front the fun begins with an exclusive “flow-through” grille bar stamped with Chevy lettering. Below the grille resides a custom AEV front bumper, while fog lamps exclusive to the model are situated at the bumper's outer edges. The 2020 ZR2 Bison is also available with an AEV air snorkel, keeping the sensitive bits of the engine free of massive dust particles during less than optimum conditions.

There's a two-inch lift, yielding upwards of 8.6 inches of suspension travel in the front, and 10 inches of suspension travel in the rear. When you are dealing with off-road situations, every single little impact and rut in the road affects your ride, and lurching around endlessly can make for a tough trip through the outback or woods. Multimatic integrated spool-valve dampers work overtime on the Bison to keep extra shaking and movement under control, and AEV 17-inch wheels are bestowed with the rolling duty of keeping this capable and crank-daddied rock climber afloat just wherever it wants to trawl.

The power is gleaned heftily from the naturally aspirated 3.6-Liter LGZ V6 engine, which churns out 308 horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque, while paired to the GM MST 8-speed automatic transmission. You can also opt for a ZR2 Bison with the 2.8-Liter LW 4-cylinder diesel, which doles out 181 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque while pairing to the GM MYB 6-speed automatic transmission. No matter which color you pick, you’re going to love it on your ZR2: the selections are Red Hot, Satin Steel Metallic, Silver Ice Metallic, Summit White, and what is probably our favorite: jet Black. You can choose from the Extended Cab/Long Box configuration, and the Crew Cab/Short Box configuration to get what suits you, and we guarantee you won’t be disappointed: If you are planning on going where streams flow bountiful and obstacles are plentiful, there is really no better and well-equipped detour around what STANDS in your way aside from the Bison!

Chevy Camaro Deemed by Car Connection “Best Performance Buy for 2020”

Aaron Cole is the experienced and well-versed editor for The Car Connection, and he began his latest feature about our prized Camaro by lamenting that “These are halcyon days for horsepower”. In regards to the best reasons to purchase one, he opens up with saying that nothing provides as “intoxicating a mix” in regards to the horsepower and throaty V-8 for the price. The SS model focuses heavily on the 6.2-liter V8, which cranks out 455 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque. It is paired with the 6-speed manual transmission that Aaron ranks as the most engaging out there, and rises up from zero to 60 mph at around 4.3 seconds.

When compared to the LT1 model, the SS features a larger 8.0-inch touchscreen, Brembo Brakes, performance tires, and a digital instrument information display as standard. The SS also provides the addition of available magnetic dampers that really mold the car into a shining star on the track. After the additional finesse of a 1LE suspension tune, the SS is ready to take on anything track-related, with a lot of heart and sheer muscle.

When stacking up the Camaro to it's prominent crosstown rival in the form of the Mustang, the Car Connection team points out that they love the 5.0-liter V8 that makes 460 hp, but the Camaro beats out the Mustang when it comes to handling. In regards to the Mustang GT, it is improved with a Performance Package 2 upgrade, but after extensive driving, was still not deemed as nimble when it came to navigating every single little bump and turn on the track. It was not long ago that cars that boasted more than 400 horsepower were usually going to hover around the six-figure range, and all of us here at West Chevy of Knoxville agree that these are exciting times for anyone who wants to experience this type excitement on a bit of a  budget.

This is the longstanding “pony pride” of the Chevy line that Car and Driver bills as “endlessly enjoyable to drive”, and offers up something for everyone as far as driving experience overall. For 2020, the lineup also saw the addition of a new Rally Green paint color  and a few other options to hone in and personalize your Camaro. The LT1 Model is the entry point designed to make V-8 power more accessible to the masses, but the SS is where you see truly linear power delivery, and heart-pumping acceleration enhanced by the dual-mode exhaust.

The professionals who have years of experience with high-performance cars that have driven the Camaro as of late say that the brake performance is fantastic: aggressive and assuring responses are the norm, and every time you engage it's obvious that years of research and development more than paid off. Key safety features include available blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, forward-collision warning, and available rear parking sensors.

2020 Chevy Suburban's Z71 Trim Level Closeup Via Motor1.com

Much to the excitement of many customers and us on staff right here at West Chevy of Knoxville, the covers were pulled away from the 2021 Chevy Suburban and Tahoe a few weeks ago. This time, the pair of large SUVs really are “all-new”, and not just because of new metal enveloping the shell. There is an independent rear suspension underneath the three-row SUVs for the first time, and a report courtesy of GM Authority says the Z71 model is also going to be included in the lineup.

At the official debut for the two new SUVs, Chevy did reveal the Z71 edition of the Tahoe, but not formally as an available package. As the staff of Motor1.com reported on the blog last week, the Z71 is now a model trim, and will also exist for the larger Suburban. Since the Z71 package has been so wildly popular in past years, it makes sense for it to be available despite some reluctance to admit the release during the fall. Z71 is the means and package for a unit to become off-road ready. Expected would be the addition of height-adjustable Air-Ride suspension, skid plates underneath, and front fascia that makes for better clearance for approach angles.

It's also expected to see the presence of a monochromatic exterior treatment and grippy all-terrain tires, other additives that help with conquering off-road trails. When we have seen people from a distance off-roading on our various travels, sometimes you ask yourself, “Why are they going so slow? Can't they move just a bit faster over the tree roots and rocks in their way?” and the truth is until you have done serious off-roading yourself, it is hard to realize just how much damage you can do to your underbelly, and just how vital components such as the skid plates are during the drive.

Both vehicles will now boast an even more open and spacious cabin, a more comfortable ride, and six trims with their unique flair. There are the usual enhancements that Chevy has become such a class-leader with, such as nine best-in-class separate camera views, and the Rear Seat Media System with twin 12.6-inch displays. Tim Herrick, VP of global product programs said last year that “This program is unprecedented in size and scope, and amount of capital injected into it”.

At any one time during the new Suburban and Tahoe's development, 10,000 people were working on architecture to assure that these models were unique, durable, and dependable. The most fuel-efficient option is now going to be the new Duramax 3.0-liter I-6 turbodiesel that is available on all but the Z71. Chevy is alone in producing a full-size diesel SUV, and many will be sure to get excited enough to hastily call one their own for the New Year!  

2020 Corvette Nurburgring Lap Times Reported by Motor1.com

The famed German track that so many can earn their stripes and prove their worth on was once again the scene of a very important automotive news story this past week! All of us here at West Chevy of Knoxville looked on in admiration as the 2020 Chevy Corvette C8 with the Z51 Performance Package nailed down a Nurburgring lap time of 7:28.30. Manoli Katiakis of Muscle Cars and Trucks was the source for the scoop and was proud to be “carrying the torch” when it came to the latest in C8 updates.

The fact that Chevy engineers are wanting to take the C8 for a timed lap around the Nurburgring does not surprise too many, as it was already admitted that Chevy planned to put the 'Vette to the best both here and the famed Virginia International Raceway. Other Spy shots caught some cool moments during development at Green Hell to boot. The fastest Corvette time that's officially from Chevy is 7:19.63 that was claimed by the 2012 ZR1. Corvette engineer Jim Mero claimed that the 2019 ZR1 completed the feat in 7:04, but the company never released an official announcement about the figure.

The 2018 Chevy Camaro ZL1 1LE had also supposedly nailed down a time of 7:16.04, a tried-and-true track-ready contender within its own Reich. We also know that the more powerful variants of the C8 Corvette are on the way, and so the starting point of 7:28.30 seems like a good starting point for the development of any new models. The incoming ZR1 could use a twin-turbo V8 with dual-overhead cams, as well as a flat-plane crank. There would also be assistance in a hybrid type, and this setup could have the potential to crank out at least 900 hp.

Developments such as these will easily shave time off a lap, and continue to generate the world-wide excitement that began and was christened that day the C8 was revealed in a California hanger during late summer. Billed by the Autoblog staff as “already a legend in the making”, the C8 sees a great amount of optimization from some of the world's best chassis tuners, making it incredibly quick, capable, and balanced. During back road Michigan drives, this is the expertly-engineered craft that “hurtles itself out of corners with stupefying speed”, and sports sheer amazement in the suspension department.

The introduction of the C8 saw it immediately being hailed as the “most refined Corvette ever”, and we have been excited from its launch to watch the amazingly warm reception of its debut. You won't regret opting for trident-spoke 19-front and 20-inch rear wheels, carbon-fiber engine-bay trim, the carbon-fiber targa roof, and trademark Competition seats that provide the ultimate in contour and comfort!