2021 Chevy Silverado’s Capable V8, High Country Additives, Tow and Cargo Properties Impress Yet Again

For the second year in a row, our favorite truck at West Chevy saw a round of exciting updates. A brand-new configurable tailgate and upgraded trailer-towing technology are a few reasons the 2021 Silverado is raising the bar substantially for its entire class. 

Its hefty 6.2-liter EcoTec3 V8 with Dynamic Fuel Management Technology, electronically controlled 10-speed automatic transmission, and automatic engine braking all make it a reliable hauler. This is the same engine that can be found in the always-popular Corvette Stingray C8, and it boasts the ability to turn off cylinders when they are not needed. The High Country trim takes power to the next level: its towing capability is up to 9,200 lbs when paired with the 6.2-liter V8. 

The Deluxe Package includes the added safety protection with forward collision alert, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist with lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, front pedestrian braking, safety alert seat, a power sunroof, all-weather floor liners, and 22-inch all-season tires. The Multi-Flex Tailgate is a blessing for anyone who needs to load cargo efficiently, as you can easily control it with a button inside the cab or on the key fob. The inner gate with work surface provides a handy standing desk space that is perfect for using a laptop on a job site.

The primary gate load stop helps prevent extra-long items from suddenly sliding out of the bed, and the full-width step can support 375 pounds. The Cnet.com staff billed the 2021 Silverado as “capable and comfortable,” and they were impressed by its genuine appeal and distinctive design. Every engine option can be paired with a 70-inch short bed, 79-inch standard bed, or 98-inch-long bed, and three axle ratios are offered with the choice of two and four-wheel drive.

2019 Corvette ZR1's Top Ten Need-to-Know Stats Featured in Motor Authority

As the promise of spring is one of the main things on our minds here during February at West Chevy, we begin to think about just how much fun can be had on an open track or winding road when you are driving a car offering the ultimate in performance. The Corvette is, by all means, the all-American supercar, cranking out 755 horsepower and 715 lb-ft of torque from its supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 engine. Named Motor Authority's “Best car to buy for 2019,” and for the first time in history, there is a convertible model for the ZR1. 

Brandishing performance specs like a 0-to-60 mph sprint of just 2.85 seconds, a quarter-mile run at 10.6 seconds, and a top speed of 212 mph, this is a car that is undeniably fast as hell, and it destroyed the Ford GT's lap record at Virginia International Raceway's Grand Course West during 2018 with a time of 2:37.25. Motor Authority ran a cool blog story this past week featuring 10 things you need to know about this awesome new car, and they really hit the nail on the head with some of the qualities and characteristics of this work of mastery.

Look at that Supercharger: Definitely no joke; once you find yourself inside the ZR1, you'll find yourself in awe of the supercharger. It has 52 percent more displacement than the LT4 supercharger found in the Z06, and it's tall enough to always be situated in your sight line. It's definitely one of those traits that reminds you exactly what you are driving, and how much power you have the ability to tap into.

There's a hole in the hood: There really is an actual hole in the hood, which is necessary because the massive supercharger is so tall that it does not have the ability to clear the hood line. Instead of raising the entire hood line the design team on duty just created a new hole. You can pop the hood and show off for your buddies, and it's just a cool additive overall to the mix.

Good Lord it's loud: There is most definitely loud, and then ZR1 loud: during its development on the Nurburgring track this spy video showed that it needed to be equipped with extra piping to quiet it down as it broke the 100 db noise threshold. In second gear at a racetrack, it was brain-jarring, even with a helmet.

It Tramlines: The very wide, sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires that are included in the ZTK Track Performance Package are known for following every crack, ding, and seam in existence on the road. The setup with 285 mm tires up front on the narrower side make handling of the ZR1 much better than what you experience in the current Ford Mustang.

Those Carbon seats and steering wheel: once you get inside, the steering wheel and seats are absolutely fantastic. The flat-bottom wheel features real carbon fiber, and suede at 9 and 3 where the driver's hands are placed. Some enthusiasts think that carbon fiber can be not quite the right fit, but for the ZR1 it works perfectly.

Wing for Days: Every single 2019 Corvette ZR1 has a rear wing, and a shorter wing is instrumental in producing less drag for higher top-speeds. When you opt for the ZTK Track Performance Package, you get cup 2 tires and performance suspension, and a stanchion-mounted adjustable carbon fiber wing. Adding quite a bit of aggressive character, it really tops off the appearance of a car that already simply has so much going for it in the all-important visual appeal department.

A bit of Ferrari: When they saw some of the earlier spy shots of the ZR1, many realized that the wheels are a bit like what you see on a Ferrari: you catch a bit of F40 or F50 vibe, as a glance provides some of the same feel that you'd see on the renowned Italian masterpieces. The Ferrari is truly a car that is coveted among many, and one that has one of the most distinct presences out there.

Stable, inspires confidence: you may be in high gear on the freeway or blasting happily through a straight section of track, but either way, you'll still appreciate the stability of the ZR1. The grip and steering really build driver confidence, and pushing the car to its limits offers a thrill like none other.

SO, So fast: the writers on staff at Motor Authority righteously claim that “it's hard to convey in words just how fast the C7 ZR1 is.” The feeling you get at about 105 mph when the supercharged V8 is hurtling forward is pretty special, and the power “seems to come from a never-ending well.” Raw power such as this was the reason why cars like 'Vettes were born in the first place, and always offers up heart-pumping excitement during every single drive.

It's a bargain: The truth of the matter is that the ZR1 completely tears apart cars that cost more than $400,000, and it can keep up with anything that costs above the million dollar mark. You really do get all that your heart desires with the Corvette, which has long been a symbol of the ultimate sense of freedom, fulfillment, and staunch track-laden frenzy!

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 Chevy Silverado Praised by Car and Driver as “Great on Fuel Efficiency, Very Refined”

Hearing about what some of the biggest and best publications in the nation have to say about their favorite vehicles is a key factor when it finally comes time to buy. So many of those on the hunt for a new addition car or truck-wise this year at West Chevy ask us what the most seasoned drive testers and writers are saying about a vehicle, and brand new trucks happen to come up in discussion quite often. The brand new Silverado is now sporting a bold new grille design, and the body panels have lost some of the aggressive qualities that past models were known for. In the current market, truck wars are waging strong as ever, and the brand we have always loved to stand behind has invested a lot in order to keep up with the foreboding competition.

Just this past week Car and Driver spotlighted the new truck, and first took the time to speak highly of the Dynamic Fuel Management System, which is available on both of the V-8's. This builds on the idea of Active Fuel Management, which allows V-8 engines to operate with just 4 cylinders whenever loads are light in the name of preserving fuel. It functions by allowing any one of the new truck's 8-pots to operate using as few as two cylinders, depending on the driver's specific demand in place for torque. GM claims that this will absolutely improve fuel economy by about 5 percent, and during a test drive, the writing staff claimed that there was no drastic change at all in driving character, or with vibrations situated inside.

Nearly 450 pounds have been shaved from the Silverado, and depending on the model, 88 pounds were removed from the frame, with 88 more successfully shed from the body. Using the best in high-strength steel and aluminum helped with this feat, and the bouncing around that happens frequently in larger pickups is alleviated. Even on the most winding of mountain roads, the drive testers claimed it was very easy to forget how large the truck is, whether inside or outside. 2.5 inches more rear-seat legroom is now available in the outgoing model, and the hard-working individuals in the factory have made concessions to have a 2-inch suspension lift available.

Here in Knoxville, when the heat is not quite as sweltering and the highly-awaited football broadcasts sweep back on air, Chevy is poised to step up in a major way. Providing peace of mind and security for haulers by offering a tow package that uses cameras to produce extreme close-ups of the trailer and hitch. The infotainment screen can display these feeds, for up to 8 seconds during vehicle motion, and the system is able to store information on drive for several trailers. Car and Driver were impressed enough with the new Silverado's release that they thought it will all-around “have enough firepower to unseat the F-150,” as well as retain its longstanding edge over the new Dodge Ram 1500. When you visit us for a test drive here at West Chevy this fall, don't forget to check out the Silverado's Sport Mode: the most responsive and smoothest steering while at the wheel is experienced while utilizing this awesome performance setting!