Tired Of Mainstream? Chevy’s Special Edition SUVs Won’t Disappoint

After the takeoff of the 2016 Trax Midnight Edition, Chevrolet has decided to expand these special-edition features to two other well-known SUVs in their lineup. On sale now, the 2017 Equinox is available in two editions- Midnight and Summit White Sport. The 2017 Traverse is available in Graphite Edition. 

Senior director of automotive industry insights at Kelly Blue Book stated “Special Editions give consumers an opportunity to buy something outside of the mainstream trim designation. This lets them spend a little more for a unique model, one that often provides a higher resale value when it’s time to sell or trade the vehicle for their next purchase.” 

The Midnight and Summit White Editions of the Equinox will be available on the LT model. They will each feature an all-black grille with black Chevrolet bowties, black mirror caps, 18-inch black aluminum wheels, and jet-black perforated leather-appointed seats with memory seating. Rack crossbars have been added to the roof. 

The Traverse is offered on the 2LT model and has features such as Mosaic Black Metallic, Siren Red Tintcoat and Iridescent Pearl Tricoat exterior colors. It will sit on 20-inch Dark Charcoal wheels and also feature the all-black Chevrolet bowties. The Traverse will have a dual exhaust and integrated assist step, making it easier to get in and out of the vehicle. 

To check out one of these awesome special-edition vehicles for yourself, come visit us at West Chevrolet in Knoxville, TN today! 

The 2017 Corvette Grand Sport is the Corvette We’ve Always Wanted

Chevrolet will release the newest edition of its beloved Corvette Grand Sport at the end of the summer. Currently, the Corvette comes in three editions: the Stingray, known for its quality and affordable price; the Z06, equipped with the enormous Z06 engine, automatic transmission, and convertible top; and finally the Grand Sport, which falls somewhere in between the two.

The Grand Sport has a rich history, beginning in 1961 when Corvette Godfather, Zora Arkus-Duntov and legendary racer, Briggs Cunningham entered a few “mostly-stock” Corvettes into Le Mans. Despite winning its category and bringing home 8th overall, GM decided not to produce the vehicle, and only a few leaked out to customers. In 1984, Chevrolet came close to the Grand Sport with its Z51 package; however it wasn’t until 1996 that the Grand Sport was officially produced.

Over 50 years later, the 2017 Corvette Grand Sport will feature bigger wheels, Michelin pilot Super Sport tires, Brembo brakes reminiscent of those on the Z06, wider rear fenders, special grille inserts, stiffer spring rates, and an electronic limited-slip differential. It has a LT1 V8 engine rated at 460 lb-ft of torque and comes in either a 7-speed manual or 8-speed automatic editions. Standard on this vehicle is GM’s sophisticated Magnetic Ride Control.

The Grand Sport is the perfect vehicle for those Knoxville drivers who are intimidated by the Z06, but want more than what the Stingray offers. Chevy has stated that the Grand Sport is capable of reaching 60 mph in 3.6 seconds. Like Porsche’s 918 Spyder, the Grand Sport (equipped with the Z06 package) is predicted to go from 60-0 mph in less than 100 feet. Unlike the 918 Spyder, it’s price will be significantly less than a million dollars.

We can’t wait for the 2017 Corvette Grand Sport to hit dealerships, like West Chevrolet, at the end of this summer! In the meantime, come to West Chevrolet and check out our entire inventory today! 

The 2017 Volt Is Here!

The 2017 Chevrolet Volt has recently made its appearance and brought a few changes along with it. First introduced in 2010, the Chevrolet became a part of the plug-in hybrid family and has continued to evolve into one of the most popular extended-range electric vehicles on the market. 

This four-door hatchback is powered by a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two AC generators that contribute to its propulsion. As a purely electric car, it is able to run about 400 plus miles and and has an EV range of about 53 miles in Normal mode- well above some of its competitors. Using a 240-volt source, the Volt takes just 4.5 hours to gain a full charge.

Other modes available (with the push of a console button) include Sport, Mountain and Hold. Sport is very similar to normal, the main difference being a sharpened throttle response. Mountain mode helps to the battery to stay in reserve, assisting the engine when ascending steep grades- great for those gorgeous drives through the Smoky Mountains. And finally, Hold mode will save any leftover battery charge for later use whenever complete electric driving is necessary for the driver. Both trims offered by Chevy- LT and Premier- have access to all four modes.

Overall, the Chevrolet Volt is a great option for those in search of a green-car. It’s design and engineering ensures that you will get where you need to go- all while being kind to the environment.

Come give one a test drive today at West Chevrolet in Knoxville, TN!

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