4 Fall Road Trips To Take In Your Chevy Impala

Fall is officially here and what better time to take a road trip than now? We picked a few places for you...they’re some of the best places to road trip from Knoxville, Tennessee. Whether you’re looking for a getaway with some friends or a weekend with the kids, each of these destinations have a little something for everybody. Pack up your Chevy Impala and hit the road!


Atlanta, Georgia (3 hours)

With tons of family-friendly activities, Atlanta is one of our favorite places to take the kiddos. Some of the things to put on the top of your “To-Do” list while you’re there include the Georgia Aquarium (one of the world’s largest), World Coca-Cola, the world headquarters of CNN, Piedmont Park, the Centennial Olympic Park, and The Jimmy Carter Library and Museum… we could go on for the entire three hour drive it takes to get there. Add all of this to an impressive culinary scene, vibrant (and welcomed) street art, and hip ambiance- you’re guaranteed to have a peachy time.

Chattanooga, Tennessee (1 hour 45 minutes)

A perfect combination of outdoor scenery and indoor activities, Chattanooga is another great place for a weekend with the kids. Just under a two hour drive, this city is set right along the Tennessee River and in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Points of interest include Lookout Mountain, Rock City, the Creative Discovery Museum, and the Ruby Falls. No matter where you end up, we promise you won’t be disappointed with the views.

Asheville, North Carolina (2 hours)

Asheville, otherwise known as the Land of the Sky, is located in North Carolina and is known for its vibrant atmosphere, happy-go-lucky residents and colorful history. Whether you’re looking for a getaway with some friends or a family-filled weekend, you’ll find exactly what you need here. We highly suggest visiting Biltmore Estate and Blue Ridge Parkway. Additionally, the brewery tours are a must; Asheville also calls itself “Beer City USA” and considering it has more breweries per capita than any other city in America, they can most certainly get away with it. Great beer, great views and great food... What more could you ask for?

Gatlinburg, Tennessee- The Great Smoky Mountains (1 hour)

Gatlinburg is the ultimate mountain town located in eastern Tennessee and there is no better time to visit than now. Rent a cabin and enjoy a weekend in the woods. The foliage is unlike any other- whether you’re gazing from your deck with a cup of coffee in hand or hiking through it. Want to go out and about? Go apple picking, play a round of golf, or visit the Ole Smoky Candy kitchen!

Up-And-Coming Military Spec Vehicle: The Colorado ZH2

Nearly one year ago, General Motors and the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) revealed that they would be working side-by-side to develop a military spec vehicle. And this vehicle is no ordinary military vehicle… It will be powered by hydrogen fuel cells.

What’s so significant about hydrogen fuel cells? Lots of things. These fuel cells (often compared to a battery) use both hydrogen and oxygen as fuel to produce electricity and water. From there, the electricity produced is used to power the vehicle and the water can be either emitted or captured for other uses, which is great for hostile desert conditions.

The vehicle itself is called the Colorado ZH2 and- you guessed it- is based on a stretched version of the Chevrolet Colorado (with many modifications to make it military-ready, of course). Featuring an Exportable Power Take-Off (EPTO) unit, the hydrogen fuel cells are used to power equipment in rough terrain and remote areas very quietly and with zero emissions. Additionally, the vehicle runs much cooler, so thermal cameras have a hard time detecting it.

As far as power goes, the ZH2’s drivetrain produces a horsepower of 174. This will feed one motor, which is linked to all four wheels but GM is, in fact, thinking about giving each axle its own motor.

Although you likely won’t be seeing the ZH2 on public roads, Charlie Freese, leader of GM’s fuel cell program, says that fuel cells will be making their way into customer hands at some point in time.

Since that point in time isn’t here quite yet, we hope you’ll stop by West Chevrolet in Knoxville, TN to check out the 2016 Colorado!

Introducing The All-New 2018 Chevrolet Equinox

On the same day as this year’s autumnal equinox, the new and improved 2018 Equinox was introduced to the world. This compact SUV has been revamped to meet the needs and desires of drivers and their passengers with a new design, added safety features and all-new propulsion systems.

“We’ve got the strongest truck business in the industry and we’ve reinvigorated our car lineup with the Volt, Cruze, and Malibu,” stated Alan Batey, Global Chevrolet president. “We’re applying the same customer focus to grow our crossover/SUV business - starting with the Chevrolet Equinox.”

The spacious interior of the 2018 Equinox now offers a down-and-away instrument panel and a lower windshield base, allowing for an outstanding outward view. Connectivity is the most advanced yet, with the Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system, which supports Apple Carplay and Android Auto. And as far as safety goes, this vehicle has got you covered; features such as Safety Alert Seat, Surround Vision, Rear Seat Reminder and Teen Driver technology ensure the safety of everyone in (and outside of) the car.

The vehicle’s exterior has been given a richer image with subtle details, like chrome trim and sleek, muscular lines. Projector-beam headlights have been added, in addition to horizontal taillamps which enhance the Equinox’s wide stance.

Wondering where the power will come from? The 2018 Equinox now offers a range of three turbocharged engines- a 1.5L turbo, a 2.0L turbo and a 1.6L turbo-diesel. These options give carbuyers more say when it comes to the performance, efficiency and capability of the vehicle.

“It’s an all-new SUV from the ground up and one that takes on the industry’s biggest competitors with a stronger architecture, greater efficiency and more technology and looks great doing it,” said Rick Spina, executive chief engineer.

The 2018 Equinox will be headed to West Chevrolet in Knoxville, TN in the first quarter of 2017… We’ll let you know when it arrives!

Chevy Making Moves To Make Towing Even Safer

According to a Chevy press release, roughly 1.2 million horse, RV and work trailers are sold every year in the United States. And though it comes with no surprise, these trailers are usually pulled by full-size trucks and SUVs. With this knowledge, Chevrolet, being an award-winning industry leader in trailering, has found the perfect opportunity to help trailer manufacturers and the industry leaders to understand the direction truck and trailering technology is headed.

The brand has recently announced they will be working with the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) and the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) in order to create an integrated and convenient trailering experience for today’s trailer owners.

“Our owners are often towing something, from an RV to construction equipment, that is more valuable than their truck,” stated General Motors future truck executive chief engineer, Tim Herrick. “Unequivocally, they tell us that they are looking for a better towing experience. Safer, easier, with more integration between their trailer and their truck.”

Chevrolet plans to assist trailer manufacturers in the development of technologies that will take combined trailer and truck safety and industry safety standards to the next level. Additionally, the partners will work together to increase the communication between the truck and the trailer so that the driver is always aware of what’s going on behind them while staying focused on the road.

“This partnership with Chevrolet is part of the trailer industry’s continued commitment to improving safety,” Pam Trusdale, executive director, NATM stated. “We are confident that we can collectively improve not only the towing experience for consumers but also public safety, which is why NATM is excited about working with Chevrolet.”

Be sure to look out for more built-in advanced technology towing options on future Chevrolet models at West Chevrolet! 

Midnight Editions Expanding To More Vehicles In Chevy's Lineup

 If you haven’t noticed, Chevrolet has been rolling out quite a few special edition models of some of the most popular vehicles in their lineup. Midnight Editions of the Silverado, Colorado, Equinox and Trax have become the fastest-selling special edition vehicles to date...but the brand isn’t stopping there. Chevy recently announced they will be expanding these Midnight Edition speciality models to the Tahoe and Suburban. In our opinion, this makes perfect sense, considering these two vehicles make up nearly 50 percent of all full-size vehicles in the US.

Marketing and advertising manager of Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe stated, “Our SUV customers have shown a considerable appetite for specialty vehicles. The Midnight Editions allow us to further deliver on the premium expectation that our customers already have for these class-leading full-size SUVs.”

The Midnight Edition Suburban and Tahoe will be available in two different variants, the Z71 Midnight package and the LT Midnight package. The Z71 will have all of the features that are included in the Z71 Package, like the off-road tuned suspension and off-road tires, tow hooks, fog lamps and sill plates. To take it up a notch, the Midnight Edition will offer 18” all-black wheels, roof rack cross rails, a black grille insert and the black Chevy “bow tie” logos.

Similarly, the LT Midnight will include the same features of the Suburban and Tahoe trim levels, but will add 20” black wheels, all-season tires, roof rack rails, black assist steps, and of course, black Chevy “bow tie” logos.

According to Chevy, these vehicles will be released a little later this year! Be sure to keep an eye out for their arrival to West Chevrolet in Knoxville, Tennessee!

How One-Pedal Driving Gives The 2017 Bolt EV Even More Range

A recent announcement by General Motors states that the 2017 Bolt EV will offer “one-pedal driving”, which uses regenerative braking to maximize the vehicle’s total range. Unsure what any of this means? Boiled down, regenerative braking gives this electric vehicle the ability to recapture large amounts of energy and use it to recharge the battery. If the regenerative braking system is powerful enough, it can almost completely cut out the need of using the brake pedal, hence, we have one-pedal driving.

“Bolt EV customers who want an engaging experience will love the thrill of one-pedal driving. They will be able to tailor the vehicle to their preferred driving style and maximize their range.” said Bolt EV Chief Engineer, Josh Tavel.

A test run by Chevrolet engineers found that nearly 5 percent of of range can be added to the Bolt EV when using one-pedal driving. Drivers are able to customize the experience to fit their needs with four different modes, which include:

• Operating in Drive and easing off the accelerator
• Operating in Drive and using the Regen on Demand paddle on the back of the steering wheel
• Operating in Low and easing off the accelerator
• Operating in Low and using the Regen on Demand paddle in tandem

According to a recent Chevrolet press release, number 1 provides the lowest level of regen braking and still requires the use of the brake pedal to bring the vehicle to a stop. Numbers 2-4 are progressively stronger and, when using them in certain situations, the driver will be able to stop the Bolt without the brake pedal.

Electric vehicle enthusiasts are excited about this technology making its way to the Chevrolet Bolt. By using regenerative braking, this vehicle has the ability to surpass its already 200+ miles of range… and that’s what it’s all about!

We’ll keep you posted on its arrival to Knoxville!

Lots Of Changes Coming Along With The 2017 Colorado

The Chevrolet Colorado was brought into the market for the 2015 model year and has experienced unparalleled success ever since. Now, the 2017 model is headed our way and is even better than before. The 2017 Chevrolet Colorado will offer an all-new V-6 engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This update creates a midsize pickup unlike any other in its segment.

Anita Burke, Colorado chief engineer, stated “Customers made the Colorado an overnight success and it remains one of the industry’s hottest-selling products. That fast success has justified our continued investment in midsize pickups, introducing new features for our customers such as the class-exclusive diesel engine, advanced technologies like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and now a class-leading V-6 and eight-speed automatic powertrain combination.”

Currently the most fuel-efficient pickup in the nation, the Colorado has an EPA-estimated 31 mpg on the highway when equipped with the diesel engine. The new V-6 engine includes updated technologies and is accompanied by the eight-speed automatic transmission. This combination will lead to an overall improved driving experience- pulling harder during acceleration and offering a sophisticated, clean ride on the highway.

As mentioned, the Colorado has had tons of success and we have the numbers to back it up. Chevrolet is currently on track to sell more than 160,000 Colorado’s since it was brought into the market 24 months ago. The Colorado also makes up an overall 23 percent of the midsize segment.

The 2017 Colorado will be headed to West Chevrolet in Knoxville, TN towards the end of this year and you’re not going to want to miss it! In the meantime, come check out our current pickups, like the 2016 Colorado and 2016 Silverado 1500!