Stay Safe This Season With These 6 Tips For Driving In Winter Weather

Winter is making its swift approach and we all know that with the colder temperatures often comes the dreaded snow. Sure, snow is great if you don’t have anywhere to go but unfortunately, we all end up having to drive in it at some point. Driving in snow is dangerous and our team at West Chevrolet is Knoxville, TN wants you to get to your destination safely. Check out our tips for driving in the winter weather:

Clear snow and ice off of your car before driving

Snow left on your car causes problems for you and the drivers around you, so it is essential to de-ice your vehicle before you hit the road. If snow is left on your windshield, it blocks your view while creating tons of blind spots. If snow is on the roof of your car, it may slide down while driving, completely blocking your view or fly back and create trouble for the cars behind you.

Reduce speed

Tires have severely reduced grip of the road in icy and snowy conditions. Reducing your speed gives you more control and time to react if slippage occurs. Should things go wrong, slower speeds also lead to a lessened impact.

Accelerating, braking and turning should all be separate actions

Attempting to brake while turning or accelerate while turning is the recipe for disaster in snowy conditions. Always be sure to slowly apply the brakes while the vehicle is still going straight and gently (very gently!) accelerate when making the turn.

Longer braking distance

Keeping a good distance from the vehicle ahead of you, and be sure to apply the brakes earlier than you would in dry conditions. Also, use much less pressure on the brakes than you normally would. Locking your wheels will cause the vehicle to slide or skid.

Steer into a skid

Should the rear of your vehicle begin to slide while you’re making a turn, do not panic! Stay calm, let your foot off of the accelerator and steer your vehicle in the direction of the slide. This will keep you in control.

Just because the road looks clear, doesn’t mean it is safe

Just because a road looks clear of snow does not mean that is clear of danger. Black ice, a layer of ice on the road typically mistaken for wet pavement, is often found on bridges, overpasses and shaded parts of the road. According to one study, trying to stop on black ice takes nine times longer than normal, leaving no room for error if you happen to come across it. Keep in mind that if the road is wet and temperatures are below 32 degrees, freezing will occur.

Chevy's First-Ever Nine-Speed Automatic Transmission Debuts In 2017 Malibu

Chevy’s first-ever nine-speed automatic transmission, also known as the Hydra-Matic 9T50, has made its official debut in the 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder 2017 Malibu and brought with it some impressive changes, like an EPA estimated 33 mpg highway and improved performance.

“In addition to improved fuel efficiency, the 9T50 offers a strong overall balance of performance and refinement that customers will feel at all driving speeds,” stated Dan Nicholson, vice president of Global Propulsion Systems. “By the end of 2017, Chevrolet will offer four models with the new nine-speed.”

The nine-speed transmission will also be available in the 2017 Cruze Diesel and 2018 Equinox by the end of 2017. In an effort to be even more fuel efficient, the transmission will support stop/start technology on all models.

“Everything about the new nine-speed is designed to maximize benefits for the customer,” said Steve Majoros, director of Chevrolet Marketing. “It helps offer greater fuel efficiency in the city and on the highway, all with the world-class refinement that makes the drive quiet and smooth.”

After selling roughly 205,117 Malibus in the United States so far this year, the brand is well on its way to a record sales year with this vehicle. To test drive yours, stop by and see us at West Chevrolet in Knoxville, TN!

New Spy Shots Of The 2018 Corvette ZR1 Give Us The Best Look Yet

The arrival of the 2018 Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 is near and new spy photos prove to us that the barely-covered road car is going to be one of the baddest the brand has yet to build.

So far, every test ZR-1 we’ve gotten a look at has been heavily camouflaged, making it difficult to grasp the contour of the of the vehicle… but not this time. In the new photos, we are able to see the bulging hood and revamped front end, which features three large intakes and a massive splitter. The rear is equipped with a huge wing and spoiler.

Taking the larger hood into consideration, a supercharger larger than the current Z06’s 1.7-liter version is likely. There’s also a good chance that this bad boy will bust out more than 700 horsepower. We’re hoping to find out the exact numbers when the Detroit Auto Show rolls around in January.

Stay tuned for more information on the 2018 ‘Vette! We’re just as excited as you are. In the meantime, don’t hesitate to treat yourself for the holidays... Stop by West Chevy in Knoxville, TN to check out the current Chevrolet lineup!

Chevy Took Home A Record 18 Awards In Just One Week

It has been a pretty good week for Chevy! According to recent news, the brand has taken home a record 18 awards in the automotive and consumer media rankings this past week. The all-new Bolt EV contributed to this feat, winning five awards of its own.

Offering 238 miles of range on a full charge, the Bolt EV earned a spot on the 2017 Car and driver 10Best Cars list and was also named “Best New Car to Buy” by Green Car Reports, “Green Car of the Year” by Green Car Journal and “Best EV” by Car Connection.

“The Bolt EV is the newest example of how Chevrolet is driving the industry with leading technology matched with great design and the connectivity that makes customers’ lives easier,” stated Alan Batey, president of GM North America and brand chief, Global Chevrolet. “We’re innovating like never before with more choices for every need and these awards affirm the depth, breadth and value offered by Chevrolet’s lineup.”

Also contributing to these awards is the Camaro 1LE and the Corvette, which were each positioned on the Car and Driver 10Best Cars list. This is the second consecutive year the Camaro has earned a spot on the list and the third time in four years that the Corvette has made the list.

Lastly, six Chevy vehicles earned Consumer Guide Automotive “Best Buy” honors, while the Impala and Tahoe each received back-to-back Kelley Blue Book “Best Buy” award recognition in their respective categories.

Ready to check out an award-winning vehicle for yourself? Come visit us at West Chevrolet in Knoxville, TN!

The All-New Colorado ZR2 Is Ready To Hit The Trails

Good news for Knoxville off-roading fanatics… the Colorado ZR2 will be here soon and we are more than ready to get behind the wheel! Featuring more technology than any other midsize pickup in its segment, this desert-ready performance truck will undoubtedly reset the bar for off-road trucks.

The ZR2 sports a much wider track and lifted suspension than the standard Colorado for better performance over rocks and other obstacles off-roaders are familiar with. The front and rear bumpers have been altered for better off-road clearance. Other exclusive features include an available diesel engine, front and rear locking differentials, and the Multimatic Dynamic Suspensions Spool Valve (DSSV) damper technology.

Mark Reuss, executive vice president, Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply Chain states, “Our engineers have been incredibly successful developing Corvette and Camaro performance variants with broad performance envelopes. The ZR2 applies that same philosophy to off-road performance. You can go rock crawling Saturday, desert running on Sunday, and comfortably drive to work on Monday. This truck can do it all, and do it all well.”

Ready to put it to the test on the trails? Us too. It’ll be rolling into West Chevy soon, so be on the lookout!

Winterize Your Chevy With These 5 Easy Tips

It’s already November (this year flew by!) and winter is right around the corner. With the new season and change of weather coming for us, it is important to get our cars ready for the cold weather too. Keep things running smoothly by winterizing your car… it could even save your life! Check out our tips below:

1. Check The Tire Pressure

As weather gets cooler, the air pressure in your tires usually drops. Tires must be inflated properly in order to ensure the best traction while driving- especially in snowy, wet conditions. Check your owner’s manual for your vehicle’s target pressure levels and be sure to get your tires checked before the crazy weather kicks in.

2. Check The Battery

If your battery is more than three years old, be sure to stop by the West Chevrolet service department so that we can test its ability to hold a charge. If it is not more than three years old, it is still important to check that the battery’s posts and connections have no corrosion and that it has all the water that it needs.

3. Keep Your Windshield Clear

If you haven’t replaced your windshield wiper blades in one year or more- you’re due and encouraged to do so! Additionally, be sure to check that the windshield wiper reservoir is filled with washer fluid. Although water may do the trick throughout the summer, it will freeze this time of the year so actual washer fluid is essential.

4. Change Your Oil (And Use The Proper Oil)

The climate is changing, so your oil should be changing too! When weather gets colder, oil tends to thicken faster. Be sure the oil you’re using has the right thickness and viscosity so that it doesn’t get too thick, leading it to fail to keep your engine lubricated.

5. Put Together An Emergency Kit

An emergency kit is something great to have on hand. Road-tripping or not, you never know what could happen and nobody wants to get stuck in the cold. Some things to include: a flashlight, snacks and water, a bag of salt (or kitty litter) in case a tire is stuck on the snow, an extra set of warm clothes, a blanket, boots and gloves, windshield washer fluid, jumper cables, and flares!

Another tip: Always keep your gas tank full to prevent it from freezing!

To make sure your car is fully prepared for winter, stop by West Chevy in Knoxville, TN so that our service team can take a look! Check out the service specials on our website and schedule your appointment today!

2016 SEMA Show: What You Missed

Last week was the 2016 SEMA Show in Las Vegas and Chevy took it as an opportunity to not only show off their awesome concepts, but also to celebrate the Camaro’s 50th anniversary. If you’re like us and didn’t make it out there to check out the show for yourself, you’re probably wondering what you missed out on. We put a list together of some of our favorites for you.

Chevelle Slammer

This concept, the Chevelle Slammer, was designed to mock the original, for good reason. “The ‘69 Chevelle is one of the best-looking cars of the muscle-car era, and we didn’t want to mess with its classic cues,” said designer Humberto Ortiz.

 

2017 Camaro SS Slammer

This Camaro was designed to take the Gen 6 Camaro’s proportions to the extreme. This lowered, road-hugging one-off was introduced at the show by Dale Earnhardt Jr. himself… Chevy showed it on the stand all week long.



Silverado HD Alaskan Edition concept

A huge hit at the Chevy preview, this concept builds on the existing Alaskan Edition offered on the 2017 Silverado HD Work Truck and LT but with a few additions, like the silver-accented blue exterior, grizzly bear graphics and chrome bumper grilles. The Alaskan Edition 2500HD features a giant stainless-steel custom snow plow, which shows off the company’s snow-plow prep package.

Trax Activ concept

A lifted, widened and accessorized version of the production Trax, the Trax Activ concept features 18-inch wheels, front and rear clips and is all about one thing- adventure.






Though we can’t get behind the wheel of these bad boys like we want to, we can check out some of the parts in the Chevy Performance catalog! And while you’re at it, stop by West Chevrolet in Knoxville, TN to give a new car a test drive!