2022 Chevy Equinox Is More Affordable Than Outgoing Model

As we look towards all of the awesome and feature-rich models coming our way for 2022 here at West Chevy of Knoxville, there is plenty of good news! The GM Authority blog has announced that the 2022 Chevy Equinox will have a more affordable price tag than last year. On average, pricing for the Chevy Equinox in the base LS trim level and with front-wheel drive starts at around $600 less expensive than the 2021 model-year Equinox.

The range-topping 2022 Chevy Equinox Premier also represents the first model year of the second-generation Equinox’s mid-cycle enhancement and incorporates revised exterior styling and a reworked cabin. The 2022 Equinox uses a turbocharged 1.5-liter I-4 LYX gasoline engine rated at 170 horsepower and 203 lb-ft of torque. Soon, the 2024 Chevy Equinox EV will join as a new battery-electric compact crossover that utilizes both the Ultium platform and Ultium drive electric motors, entering production in the spring of 2023.

Outside of the 2022 model, there are more additions coming to the Equinox line, including four new exterior colors, LED Daytime Running Lamps, and LED headlamps now coming as standard. The Body-color mirror caps are now standard on RS and Premier models, and remain on LT models. You’ll also enjoy the addition of new interior trims for every model along with Wireless Apple CarPlay/Wireless Android Auto. Parking is a breeze with Front and Rear Park Assist, and all the exciting programming options of SiriusXM Radio are now standard on all equipment groups. The Safety Alert Seat is now standard on Premier, joining the heated steering wheel included with the Infotainment Package. 

Customers are telling us that standard safety features now play a huge part in what models they purchase and which brand-new releases will reside at the top of their lists. The 2022 Chevy Equinox offers Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, Rear Vision Camera, Following Distance Indicator, Automatic Emergency Braking, IntelliBeam headlamps, and Forward Collision Alert. You’ll also be saving valuable energy with the brand-new engine auto stop-start defeat switch and be riding on the GM D2 Platform shared by the Chevy Cruze and the Volt.

For “Quality and Reliability” as well as “Dealership Experience” from the J.D. Power Consumer rating’s experience, the 2022 Equinox yielded a score of “great”, as satisfaction levels were quite high during the purchase and long-lasting vehicle potential. Make sure you choose West Chevy of Knoxville to locate the most favorable APR for 36 months or more, dealer incentives, and other amazing reasons to drive a new Equinox home to enjoy its high performance and superb value today!

2021 Chevy Corvette’s LT2 V8 Engine Exists as The Model’s Resounding + Capable Heart and Soul

GM gifted the world the mid-engine Corvette that we all have been eagerly waiting for. Everyone here at West Chevy of Knoxville have long enjoyed that the Corvette has been labeled as the American muscle car that most individuals can afford. With its shift to a mid-engine layout, the ‘Vette has since reached supercar status that it has claimed for many generations before.

Making its star-studded debut alongside the C8 itself is GM’s LT2 V8 engine. This is a massively powerful 6.2-Liter, naturally-aspirated small block motor, that is based upon the outgoing LT1. It now features an increase in valuable track-tuned power and torque. Its new major upgrades include a more economical intake and exhaust system, brand-new lubrication system, and new camshaft. The LT2 also sees some of its biggest changes to the fuel delivery and management systems and some other very minor engine calibration adjustments. 

Some of the most hardcore Corvette fanatics have not been as much of a praising sense when it comes to the lack of major performance upgrades for this system, but stricter federal standards have long made their mark on exactly what happens during major overhauls. Even though this massive and very capable LT2 doesn’t come with any power upgrades or notable economy improvement, it should result in lower exhaust emissions to embrace the future of motoring and options that lean towards future mandates and provisions. Chevy’s decision to provide drivers with the accessible mid-engine supercar that has long been awaited will prove to be its beating heart, as well as projecting and very aggressive soul.

With a heftier amount of weight sitting on top of the rear suspension, the car can provide great traction for the rear tires which allows for more responsive acceleration and a dire need to rely on the rear brakes. No one doubts for a second that you’ll pay much mind when the base-model C8 catapults itself from 0-60 in just three seconds flat and brandishes a quarter-mile time of just 11.2 seconds. With a top speed of 123 MPH, you’re not going to be dawdling around on any track that exists in America. Tweaks to the lubrication system have all seen the addition of a dry-sump oil system thanks to the Corvette’s now enhanced capabilities on the demanding track.

There have been a few shortcomings related to hydrocarbon pads, the manual transmission, and a few issues with valve springs. This is an engine that will long be revered for its immense power and acceleration off the line where it matters most. The Corvette has found its way into supercar status by a painstaking engineering and development process, and twin-turbo systems that can slay any highway or two-lane road to palpable bits! 

2022 Chevy Trailblazer Offers Edmunds Testing Crew Comfy Ride, Confident Cornering, Attractive Interior

With roomy seating, ample cargo space, and an Activ model that brings the addition of some light off-road capabilities, the 2022 Trailblazer had left people waiting patiently to finally test and evaluate it. With the effects of the pandemic and production activities returning to normal, the new Trailblazer will slot in between the Chevy Trax and larger Equinox. The staff on duty at Edmunds.com were very excited about the results and their own test drive of the finished product.

Standing out from the crowd with Camaro-style accents, the Activ is a great pick amongst the other top extra-small SUVs such as the Hyundai Kona, Mazda CX-30, and the Buick Encore GX. The Activ trim level was Edmund’s testing model with the 1.3-liter engine and a 9-speed automatic transmission that holds this engine directly in the sweet spot during acceleration. On the highway, the Trailblazer exhibited first-class ride comfort, and the climate control was a breeze to use while keeping everything feeling perfect for the drive.

Wireless connectivity is standard for both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and they both work very well with the Trailblazer’s attractive, practical touchscreen. Not to mention the Technology Package, which includes a larger 8-inch touchscreen, a Bose 7-speaker audio system, USB-A, and USB-C ports standard for front passengers. The larger dimensions of the Trailblazer provide a very definite payoff in the cargo department with it being one of the most spacious in its segment. 

For highway miles, the Trailblazer averages around 26.9 miles per gallon. One benefit to the 1.3-liter turbocharged engine in Trailblazer is that you will not need premium fuel as you do for some other turbocharged engines in this class. The jack-of-all-trades personality is what makes the Trailblazer not just competent, but simple to use in nearly every day-to-day situation you’d find. The LT Trim showcases a good balance of features for the price, and it offers more available options than the base LS. You’ll be enjoying the additions of roof rails, LED foglights, heated mirrors, tinted rear windows, cruise control, power-adjustable driver’s seat, and heated front seats.

The Activ level Trim is where things step up to be more rugged and prone for the trail and ramp up the power factor. Also, the visual presence has a more powerful 1.3-liter engine, tires, suspension tunings that favor off-road locations, a tow hitch receiver, underbody skid plates, unique exterior styling elements, a heated steering wheel, etc. Fans of all the add-ons in the form of bells and whistles will also want to investigate the Technology package. This package includes LED headlights, a wireless smartphone charging pad, 8-inch touchscreen, high-resolution rearview camera, and much more! 

How to Get Your Hands on the First Production 2023 Chevy Corvette Z06

One event that we have been paying very close attention to here at West Chevrolet of Knoxville is the world-famous Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction. The auction runs from January 22nd through the 30th. There’s a very special highlight this year, as the official auction of the world’s first 2023 Chevy Corvette Z06 will take place here. This car with the VIN number 001 is being sold to raise money for Operation Homefront- a non-profit dedicated to helping hard-working military families.

The 2023 Z06 has a striking appearance, sound, and a track-ready handling experience. Its 5.5-liter LT6 is the highest-horsepower naturally aspirated V8 to hit the market, with its flat-plane crank design that generates an exhilarating 670 hp. Almost every single exterior detail that the Z06 exhibits as serves a purpose for hardcore aerodynamics and handling or cooling, with styling elements that do a fantastic job of complementing the car’s intense, rapid motion.

This “floating design” was key to the very precise tuning that helped with the delivery of said exhaust note. The Z06 has a driver-focused cockpit, with carbon-fiber trim that complements the car’s very track-focused and lightweight persona. You can pick from 12 available exterior colors, seven interior colors, and seven available wheel packages, making this the most overall adjustable Corvette yet! January 29 is the expected date for this new Z06. The proceeds will be going to Operation Homefront, an organization that helps military families overcome short-term problems that stand in the way of being sustainable in the long run.

Barrett-Jackson has helped raise more than $135 million to date! The auction company is honored to set the stage for another memorable period in automotive history with proceeds from this original charity Z06 going to Operation Homefront. Known for years for continuing to build military families up with stability, Operation Homefront has done very well at securing military families, in hopes to lift them up to their highest potential in communities they have long protected. 

The first 2020 Corvette Stingray that was featured at a Barrett-Jackson auction raised an astonishing $3 million, sold to prominent figure Rick Hendrick. The moment he made the bid he was planted right next to former NASCAR champion and Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon, with the beneficiary being the Detroit Children’s Fund. You can also do yourself the favor of hearing the 2023 Z06 roar, with the key to its sound and performance capability being its very lightweight, low inertia rotating assembly. The LT6 is hand-assembled by master engine builders at the proudly all-American Bowling Green Assembly plant within the legendary Performance Build Center. 

An Electric Duo Sporting Dynamic Differences: Chevy Silverado EV vs. GMC Hummer EV

The 2024 Chevy Silverado EV will most likely not ever be mistaken for a GMC Hummer EV truck. The GM Ultium platform that underpins the new electric Silverado is visually quite different than the Hummer EV pickup. Here are some of the major differences between the electric Silverado and Hummer EV reported by the Motortrend team. 

Stealing a Glance at the Stretched Wheelbase: 

The 24-module 200-kWh battery pack is expected to be the largest used in any Ultium passenger vehicle application, and it provides a snug fit between the axles of the GMC Hummer EV. The Silverado will fulfill the expectation of working a bit harder for its substance than the lifestyle-oriented Hummer, with a stretched wheelbase of 10.1 inches to make way for a nearly 6-foot pickup box on the electric Silverado work truck. The GMT800 architecture needed seven different midsection frame modules to provide the perfectly spec’d wheelbases. The Ultium platform’s midsection features extruded aluminum rails cut down to different lengths. 

Track Width Inspection:

The side rails are spaced the same distance apart in the Silverado EV and Hummer EV. The track widths are dramatically different and made possible by the presence of wider suspension cross members and longer control arms on the Hummer. Larger tires are noticeably narrower on the Silverado.

The Silverado Brandishes the Midgate: 

During the GMT800 era, the Silverado flourished as a fully conventional pickup, whereas the Hummer H2 received a midgate. This fulfilled the desired task of making a very short 4-foot bed grow by 2 feet with the current model enjoying a fixed 5-foot bed. The Silverado EV work truck gets a 6-foot bed, and up-level models like the RST First Edition will receive a midgate that extends the floor length to 9 feet by folding forward into the cab.

The Daunting Powertrain Debate:

Chevy will launch the 2024 Silverado EV with a motor that sends power to each axle for standard all-wheel drive. The Work Truck trim’s horsepower rating is 510, and torque is at 615 lb-ft. After its initial release, lower-powered models that feature two-wheel drive are expected to follow shortly afterward. The entry-level Hummer EV2 and EV2X will receive two motors as standard, rated at 625 horsepower and 617 Lb-ft of torque, with the top-of-the-line EV3X and Edition 1 featuring a single-motor front axle along with two motors at the rear. The base EV3X will likely produce 1,000 hp and 863 lb-ft of torque.

The Premium Selection of Power Modes:

The Top models of each brand’s Ultium pickup will boast a special high-power mode. Flipping the switch on this feature will allow you to play with up to 664 hp and 780 lb-ft of torque, and the Edition 1 Hummer EV boasts its very-own Watts to Freedom (WTF) mode good for 1,000 hp and 1,045 lb-ft of torque. This mode puts out a few rumbling sound effects that Chevy made the decided to pass on.

Civilian Driving Vs. the Trail Trip:

The 2024 Chevy Silverado EV RST First Edition will have the on-road focus with 3.9 inches of height adjustability, while the Hummer’s Extract mode increases ground clearance by 5.8 inches. Both trucks have the benefit of 4-wheel steering, with the Hummer riding on knobby 18-inch 305/70-series Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires. The Silverado rolls on 24-inch wheels with a heightened sense of style wrapped in 275/50-series Michelin Primacy LTX tires, sporting a considerably less aggressive tread pattern. The Work Truck trim models will see it suitable to roll on smaller 18-inch wheels with much taller sidewall tires to see you through your daily duties.

Separate Ways to Snatch up Fresh Air:

The 2021 Chevy Silverado EV RST First Edition models will all come equipped with a deep-tinted fixed glass roof that offers up better visibility for all passengers than a sliding panoramic roof. Hummer EV edition 1 pickups come equipped with three removable glass roof panels; one is a cross-car targa-style roof over the front seats and the other two are removable T-top-style panels that cover the rear. Our electric Silverado intends to separate passengers from the boiling pavement and noise of the highway or city, while the Hummer aims to let riders enjoy an all-encompassing off-road adventure.

Who Reigns Supreme in the Towing Department?

The electric Chevy Silverado roars out of the gate with 8,000 – 10,000 pounds of towing capacity as stacked up against the GMC Hummer’s 7,500. A special fleet variant that will be capable of towing 20,000 pounds is on schedule for 2025, further solidifying the Silverado EV’s mission that is geared towards the hardest and heaviest of work. Both pickups have a payload rating of around 1,300 lbs, and future work truck variants with smaller batteries and rear-wheel drive should weigh even less and be able to handle more payload. 

Silverado EV RST First Edition “Hotter Than Hot” Off the Line: Sells out in 12 Minutes!

Bloomberg is one of the reliable news sources that dishes out the scoop every day regarding automobiles, technology, living, and modern culture. We had watched eagerly as they delivered the scoop on the Silverado EV RST First Edition, and there was one sensational fact surrounding its arrival. It sold out in 12 minutes flat! GM CEO Mary Barra claimed in an interview that “reservations are still coming in, so we’re very excited about the response that we’re getting because this is a ground-up EV truck.”

Chevy plans to begin deliveries of the limited-run truck during fall 2023! Excited consumers will fully understand why the brand we love to represent here at West Chevy of Knoxville will come out on top in the electric game. The electric truck competition got even hotter as automakers will continue to make the eco-conscious transition to powertrains that forego the pump during the next few years. 

It has already been promised that the Silverado EV pickup will triumph over the Ford F-150 Lightning on a slew of performance metrics, including towing capacity, driving range, and passenger space. Both retail and fleet versions will be made available with additives such as a fixed-glass roof, marking this the first time that GM has made this a standard feature. It offers much greater visibility, increased headroom, and a more space during the long haul. The presence of the Ultium battery gives the vehicle an estimated range of more than 400 miles when fully charged, along with the brand-new feature of Four-Wheel-Steer.

Dual motors will turn all four wheels showcasing as much as 664 horsepower and over 780 lb-ft of torque. Official testing has rendered the 0-60 mph time in just under 4.5 seconds. When the premise of electrification was first a farfetched idea, fast charging was an option that was going to make the choosiest purchasers finally convert. Modern technology has reached a point of busy schedule saving marvel: DC fast charging at 350 kW will provide 100 miles of range in just 10 minutes. 

Towing capacity is one of the main draws of a truck; the Silverado EV can effectively do rounds on the daily with a 10,000-lb trailer or 1,300 lbs of cargo in the bed. The RST provides exciting features such as automatic adaptive air suspension, rear-wheel steering, Super Cruise, and a configurable pickup bed with the Multi-Flex Midgate. Everyone has been loving the effect that larger screens have on the interior, and we do not blame them! The RST brandishes a 17.0-inch center screen that stretches to an 11-inch digital instrument display. 

2023 Chevy Corvette Z06 will Flourish the V8 LT6 as “Civilian Version of Amazing Firecracker”

It was the summer of 2019 when Chevy first revealed the C8 Corvette. The staff hard at work on the MotorAuthority.com blog reported last week on the track-ready and ferocious Corvette Z06 variant. There is now a V8 code named the LT6, and it will fulfill the exciting role of a civilian firecracker that powers the C8.R endurance racer. There is so much to love about the new ‘Vette, and with all of the details on deck, the engine specs are still what many fans have come to know and love.

This engine displaces 5.5 liters and generates its power from full-on revs instead of forced induction with the tachometer able to fly to exhilarating heights above 8,600 rpm. The 670-hp peak power kicks in precisely at 8,400 rpm, while the peak torque of 460-lb ft arrives at 6,300 rpm. Everyone here at West Chevy of Knoxville was not surprised to see on the blog that many were pushing back against the future of electrification.

This attention-grabbing powertrain features double overhead cams, dry-sump lubrication, and a flat-plane crankshaft which delivers a note that compares ever so haughtily with that of a Ferrari V-8. The engineers on this project spent two years making painstaking tweaks to the vital exhaust and induction systems to finish things off and assure such an extreme soundtrack from the pipes. They also had an extreme focus on traction and steering responsiveness, which are both life-and-death elements that bode well on the track. 

Titanium intake and sodium-filled exhaust valves, forged aluminum pistons, titanium connecting rods, and an active split intake manifold with twin 87-millimeter throttle bodies. The engine’s light weight of the internals and short stroke are what makes the rev high-end quality for the Z06. The engine is paired with the same 8-speed dual-clutch transaxle transmission that is found in the Corvette Stingray. The 0-60 time is currently situated at 2.6 seconds, which is an astounding accomplishment for a rear-wheel-drive car.

This hefty quality of acceleration is available with a Z07 performance package that adds specific chassis tuning, precision-honed unique calibration for the Magnetic Ride Control dampers, and a carbon-fiber high rear wing. Combined with the added help of ground effects, these elements see the Z06 generate 734 pounds of downforce at 186 mph; you can even choose a carbon-fiber set that will step into the task and save 41 more pounds. This interior design is like what you find in the Stingray, and buyers can choose from a good number of carbon-fiber goodies to switch things up. The Z06 does boast the unique feature of a carbon-fiber wrapped steering wheel and the sleek and personable addition of carbon-fiber shifter paddles.