2021 Chevrolet Tahoe RSTDerek McNaughton DETROIT, MichiganThe Chevrolet Suburban the SUV that stamped the segment into existence some 85 years ago is finally moulting its 2014 body and frame, replacing it with a roomier, more technologically advanced and seriously more comfortable three-row utility that takes inspiration from the new Chevy Silverado.The favourite SUV of law enforcement, governments and big families everywhere, the 2021 Suburban and Chevrolet Tahoe debuted in Detroit Tuesday with all-new exteriors, a new platform and substantially revised interiors, offering much more cargo space along with better access to the third row.Perhaps the biggest change, however, is underneath. Riding on GMs T1 platform, the two Chevrolets say goodbye to a solid rear axle that has been a hallmark of these vehicles for decades. While the solid axle gave these body-on-frame SUVs great towing ability, it also meant a noticeable truck-like ride and loss of cargo space, not to mention high load floor. A new, independent rear suspension with optional Air Ride Adaptive Suspension on all four corners, lowers the cargo deck more than five inches, frees up cargo space and provides a massive improvement in the driving characteristics of this full-size rig. On a quick and short ride-along at GMs Milford Proving Grounds, the 2021 Tahoe with air suspension and Magnetic Ride Control felt seriously well-composed over rough roads for a vehicle that has grown in wheelbase and overall length.For those Tahoes and Suburbans without air ride, a standard shock-and-coil-spring set-up underpins the ride, while Magnetic Ride Control is available on other up-level trims. The air suspension is an open system with a compressor in the rear and air drier along with 7-litre storage tank. It can raise the SUV two inches for off-road travel, or lower it another two for ease of entry. The Tahoe sees, perhaps, the biggest improvement, growing almost seven inches in overall length, gaining three inches of legroom in the second row, and more than 10 inches in the third. Maximum cargo jumps from 94.7 cubic feet to just shy of 123, almost enough to fit two fridges inside. The Suburbans maximum cargo grows to a cavernous 144.7 enough to embarrass a minivan.For the first time, Tahoe and Suburbans second-row seats slide fore and aft, moving 10 inches forward or rearward. Second- and third-row seats also fold more easily. Engine choices also expand. The previous Suburban and Tahoe offered a 5.3-litre EcoTec V8 with 355 horsepower or a 6.2L EcoTec V8 with 420 hp; the new units get those same engines plus the addition of the diesel that just debuted in the Silverado and Sierra pickups. Both gas engines feature Dynamic Fuel Management, with more than 12 modes of cylinder deactivation. The 6.2 comes standard on the new High Country trim. All three engines are mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission.The diesel, however a 3.0L in-line six that produces 277 horsepower but a whopping 460 lb.-ft. of torque is as smooth as it is quiet, with remarkable efficiency to boot, likely giving Tahoe and Suburban the best fuel economy in the segment that includes the Ford Expedition, Nissan Armada and a few others. Later, the Silverado and Sierras 2.7-litre turbocharged four-cylinder with 310 horsepower is also expected to be available for fleet buyers.Inside, the interior takes evolutionary steps with a standard 10-inch colour infotainment screen. With electronic buttons for gears replacing the old column stalk shifter, the interior is far more modern without looking instantly dated like the interiors of the pickups. <img src="/uploads/img/auto-news/44-first-look-2021-chevrolet-suburban-and-tahoe.jpg" alt="First
Origin: First Look: 2021 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe
Chevrolet
Chevrolet Suburban first vehicle with star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame
CHEVROLET SUBURBAN RECOGNIZED BY FILM INDUSTRY, GETS HOLLYWOOD STAR.Chevrolet The Chevrolet Suburban SUV has just earned itself a major award for its work not on the pavement, but on the silver screen.Usually its humans who get their names shown off on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but its impossible not to recognize the contribution Chevys carry-all hauler has made to the film industry.When a convoy of black Suburbans appears on screen, you know thats not the time to leave your seat to buy popcorn, points out Dennis McCarthy, Hollywood picture car coordinator.His dossier includes big-budget films like The Avengers, Black Panther, and a few Fast and Furious installments.The Suburban first debuted on screen in 1952, and since then its appeared in over 1,750 TV shows and films. Since 1956, a Suburban has been in at least one TV show per year, and at least one film per year since 1960.The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce awarded the honor to the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban nameplates, though the star only names the Suburban. More than its role in films, the Suburban also gets recognition for having the longest-running vehicle nameplate in history, dating all the way back to 1935.The nameplate will continue for the foreseeable future, with an all-new version (along with a new Tahoe) to be unveiled soon, perhaps with independent rear
Origin: Chevrolet Suburban first vehicle with star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame
Chevrolet will lose money on base-price C8 Corvettes: report
PHOTO: GMGM The new C8 Corvette starts at a surprisingly low price for something with Italian supercars in its sights, but it seems GM is swallowing the difference to make it that low.Motor Trend reports the $59,995 starting price charged to U.S. buyers $69,998 in Canada will only stick around for one year. And if it doesnt go up by $20,000, the company will continue losing money on the lower trim levels, according to what a senior GM official told the publication.Its not surprising, really, given that the C8 marked such a radical departure from the front-engine C7. Even minor changes to a vehicle can run into the millions, taking into account the cost of redesign, retooling, any adjustments or training at the assembly level, any new crash test requirements, and even the far more mundane, such as stocking new replacement parts or rewriting the repair manuals. With a major change such as C7 to C8, costs can get closer to or even over the billion-dollar mark. Its hard enough to make that back on a volume-seller, and even tougher on a halo car that will end up in far fewer driveways.Motor Trend said the base price of the last-gen C7 rose nearly $2,000 the year after it debuted, and then went up another $2,000 the following year. The GM source said that, with the C8, the price would have to go through the roof in order to cover GMs cost.Keeping the initial price down might well prove worth it, in terms of the buzz it created and how many buyers are eager to plunk down their deposits and its likely many people will come in for the starting price, but go home with something higher up on the trim scale.For American buyers, $59,995 gets you a 1LT trim, while the 2LT starts at $67,295, and the 3LT begins at $71,945. Thats even before you start piling on options that range from premium paint colours ($500 to $995) and specialty wheels ($2,695), to a carbon-fibre roof at $2,495, or the Z51 Performance Package for $5,000.Motor Trend reports that GM loses money on every C8 priced under $80,000, but that customers also drop off the radar when a vehicle climbs over $100,000. It looks like adjusting the C8s price tag is going to be a very careful balancing game for the
Origin: Chevrolet will lose money on base-price C8 Corvettes: report
First Look: 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer
2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer What is it?Slotting below the Blazer and Equinox but above the Trax, the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer is a new compact utility that comes with a slew of safety equipment and will cost less than $20,000 in the United States when it comes to market. It will come in two trims, a sporty RS and new ACTIV. AWD is optional. Pricing for Canada has not been released.Check out all of our latest auto show coverage hereWhy does it matter?The small utility market is on fire and the Trailblazers aggressive pricing and attractive styling makes it standout in a crowded field. It should be inexpensive to operate, too, since engine choices are either a 1.2L turbo or 1.3L turbo in-line three cylinder.These are the same engines offered in the Buick Encore GX. The 1.2L gets 137 horsepower and 166 lb.-ft. of torque while the 1.3 gets 155 and 174 respectively. Both engines are mated to a continuously variable transmission with selectable stop/start capability. A nine-speed automatic transmission is also available on Trailblazers equipped with the 1.3L engine and all-wheel drive. Chevys selectable AWD is an option. Its the same system in the Blazer and Traverse. Cargo space is ample, too 1540 litres (54.4 cubic feet) with the 40/60 split-folding second-row seats folded, able to carry objects up to 260 centimetres long (8.5 feet). When is it coming?Coming to the USA and Canada in the spring of 2020.Should you buy it?On paper, the Trailblazer seems to have everything going for it thrifty, stylish, roomy and loaded with safety. Whats not to like? But well need to drive it before making any
Origin: First Look: 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer
The last front-engined Chevrolet Corvette just rolled off the line
A moment of silence, please: Chevrolet has built its very last front-engined C7 Corvette. The historic vehicle rolled off the assembly line in Bowling Green, Kentucky yesterday.GM was surprisingly low-key about it, sending out only a lone tweet instead of a press release. The last one was a black 2019 Z06, powered by a 650-horsepower 6.2-litre V8 engine, sold long before it was built.It was offered last June at the Barrett-Jackson Northeast Auction and brought US$2.7 million dollars, with the winning bid benefiting the Stephen Siller Foundation charity. It was the highest price paid at a Barrett-Jackson auction for a vehicle donated by an automaker. The money went to the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which builds accessible, mortgage-free homes for injured military veterans, and helps pay off mortgages of families of first responders killed in the line of duty.Some endings are bittersweet. The last #Corvette C7 – the end of an era – rolled off the line today. It was previously auctioned for $2.7 million with proceeds going to building smart homes for veterans. pic.twitter.com/3NU7gWWbc6 Chevrolet (@chevrolet) November 15, 2019With the end of C7 production, the plant can now begin to build the mid-engine C8 Corvette, with a starting price in Canada between $69,998 and $85,398 across its three trim lines.The C8 marks the first time a Corvettes engine has been anywhere but under the hood since the sports car was introduced for 1953. The Bowling Green plant, which has made more than one million Corvettes since production started there in 1981, is the only factory that makes the
Origin: The last front-engined Chevrolet Corvette just rolled off the line
Chevrolet stops selling 2020 Camaro V6 cars over ’emissions issue’
Chevrolet issued a voluntary stop-sale at the beginning of November on 2020 Camaro muscle cars equipped with the 3.6-litre V6 while it investigates what it calls a potential emissions system issue.While the automaker has not disclosed specifically what the issue is, blog GM Authority surmised it may be linked to an evaporative emissions canister that exceeds emissions standards in the U.S.Other details were still slim after the weekend, but for now any new Camaros with those engines will be sitting on dealership lots and not going
Origin: Chevrolet stops selling 2020 Camaro V6 cars over ’emissions issue’
First Drive: 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Z51
Ann Arbor, Michigan I have been behind the wheel of the new mid-engine Corvette. Youll note I didnt say I have driven the new Vette. For even though I actually steered the wheel, pressed the gas pedal and stomped on the brake, I didnt actually drive the supercar, at least not like it wants hell, needs to be driven. Indeed, my 45-minute meander through suburban Detroit was little more than a whistle wetter.Nonetheless, I got a hint of what the C8 will be like, enough, in fact, that I can at least tell you what a mid-engine Corvette will feel like on your everyday commute. So, without further adoIt’s the real dealNo. I didnt clip even a single apex in anger. Or even mow through the gears with bad intentions. But I can still say this is a Corvette apart. It as you might expect feels different, just like a mid-engine supercar does when youre driving responsibly. The steering is lighter than in front-engine Vettes, the connection between driver and front wheels a little more direct. Theres very much a sense you are sitting right over the very centre of the car; thats because your butt is very close to its centre of mass. Thats fairly easy to imagine, with the massive LT2 small-block thrumming right behind your ear youve very aware just how close you are to the heaviest single component in the entire car. But theres more to it than that. Theres the fact that mid-engine cars have a much smaller polar moment of inertia. Not as immediately obvious a concept as mass centralization, polar moment of inertia is a measure of how far the weight of the engine and other components are from the cars centre. The engine in a C7, for instance, is all the way up front, and the axle/transmission all the way in the back. In other words, the weight of the driveline is concentrated at the extreme ends of the chassis. Imagine a broom with a weight dangling at each end. Now try to spin it. Not easy, right? Now move both weights to the centre of the broom and try to spin it again? Much easier, no?Thats what putting an engine amidships does for a supercars polar moment of inertia. And you can feel it even driving at moderate speeds, the new C8 lighter and more responsive than its 1,530 kilograms suggests. How this translates onto the racetrack we will report on in the future, but it certainly feels like theres plenty of potential.This new Corvette feels super sophisticatedAlmost too sophisticated. Indeed, the ride in Tour mode is the most compliant I have ever tested in a mid-engine car even compared to the McLaren GT, which the automaker claims to have tailored for more moderate driving. It could be too compliant, the ride from Chevrolets revised magneto-rheological suspension so positively cushy that Corvettes traditional clientele might not find it pardon the sexist reference manly enough. Dont worry, guys; flip the really nifty mode selector to Sport or Race and the new Vette will rattle your fillings just like God and Zora Arkus-Duntov meant. And just in case youre actually weak of arm yet still long for that manly ride, there are not just one but two custom modes that allow you to customize suspension compliance, steering weight and throttle response individually. Eventually, what will decide the new C8s worth is how adroitly it can navigate through hairpins and sweepers, but right now the biggest surprise is how gently the car coddles posteriors.Critics be damned, the interior is Tony the Tiger Greeeeat!There been some criticism of the C8s cabin layout. Well, having lived with it albeit for 45 short minutes I can tell you few of them are valid. Oh, the actual gauge set is a little underwhelming and GM would do well to spruce it up, but that square steering wheel works wonders for being able to see the entire gauge set without craning your neck sideways. It also does nothing to reduce steering feel, so good one, GM.As for that long line of buttons that has so many on the blogosphere upset, its totally ergonomic. First, it really does make the view from the drivers seat feel like a cockpit more so, even, than supercars from more prestigious brands. Said buttons are also easy to decipher and manipulate. What more could you ask for?Ditto the infotainment touchscreen. Ideally placed for actuation, it also feels almost built into the dash although it is a separate piece compared with the perched-on-top items that look so cheap on higher-end Mercedes and BMWs. Throw in a very stylish mode control mouse and you have a pretty nifty centre console.As for the general decor, its still not quite up to the standards of a Ferrari, or even an Audi. But the leather quality, the panel gaps and the general ambiance is so far advanced from Corvettes previous that one wonders, considering that there has not been a giant price increase, why the hell these improvements werent instituted before. All in all, a massive step forward.A little more drama perhapsWith 495 horses and 470 pound feet of torque, theres a certainly bit
Origin: First Drive: 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Z51
First Drive: 2020 Chevrolet Bolt
The new Bolt is an exceptional city car, but its increased range makes it a competent road-trip warrior.Andrew McCredie TACOMA, Wash. Bold best described Chevrolet when it unveiled the all-electric Bolt three years ago. With exceptional full-charge range and decent affordability, the four-door hatch was hailed as an EV game-changer, and deservedly hauled in an impressive number of global car awards for 2017.Move ahead three years and the Bolt gets its first major upgrade, one that I can happily report improves the already good range by some 10 per cent and adds a handful of camera hardware upgrades, but regretfully does not address to me what was one of the original Bolts biggest shortcomings. And that is uncomfortable, manually operated front seats.What is it with GM and seats in its electrified vehicles? The otherwise revolutionary Volt PHEV suffered critics slings and arrows surrounding its four-seat configuration in the first-gen version just as the Bolt was rightfully pilloried for its front seats, which offer little bolstering and little give on the bottom seat cushion. And its not just picky auto scribes; after extolling the fun-to-drive nature and impressive powertrain in my First Drive of the 2017 Bolt, I received a handful of emails from prospective Bolt buyers who didnt complete the transaction due to those bulky front seats. All that said, seems comfort is in the butt of the beholder as the Bolt is the third best-selling EV in the U.S. so far this year, behind only the mighty Tesla Model X and top-selling Model 3.Okay, so no seat updates, in my opinion at least, is the one bit of disappointing news about the 2020 Bolt.The good news is that aforementioned increased full-charge range, rated at 417 kilometres, some 34 kilometres better than the original Bolt. More impressive, Chevrolet engineers did so without increasing the weight or size of the 66 kWh battery pack. Instead, with partners LG they reworked the batterys chemistry within the 96 cell groups to improve the range. Increasing range is first-and-foremost in any EV upgrade, so kudos to the Bolt team for making that the focus of their job.In addition, the new Bolts 417-km range bests the reigning affordable EV in range, the 2019 Hyundai Kona by two kilometres, and is 31 kilometres better than the third-place Tesla Model 3 (Standard Range Plus). In terms of full charge times, according to Chevrolet, using a 240V system it is 10 hours (30 minutes longer than the previous model), while DC Fast Charge can add up to 160 kilometres in just 30 minutesPower output and torque remain the same from the 2019 Bolt 200 horsepower and 266 lbs.-ft respectively as do the suspension and brakes, meaning the driving dynamics of the 2020 Bolt are identical to the 2017-19 Bolt. Which certainly isnt a bad thing as apart from the VW e-Golf, the Bolt is the most fun-to-drive vehicle in the affordable EV segment. Despite its seemingly tall stature, the hatchbacks short wheelbase and low centre of gravity provide a fantastic platform for handling. At the conclusion of our drive down the Pacific coast from Tacoma to Portland, we had the opportunity to put the Bolt through a tight, coned course at Portland International Raceway. Apart from being a grin-inducing blast, this exercise underscored the solid driving dynamics of the Bolt. Its one thing to feel them through twisty double-lane blacktop through rural Washington State; its quite another to grip the beefy sport steering wheel and throw the Bolt into a coned hairpin with confidence. Granted, prospective buyers of the 2020 Bolt arent looking to tick the rally course-ready box on their shopping list, but it certainly doesnt damage the EVs appeal knowing it boasts such driving bonafides.Another hallmark and defining feature of the original Bolt was its one-pedal driving innovation. Put the gear selector into Low and maximum regenerative braking takes hold allowing you to not only harvest the maximum amount of energy from the brakes but also to come to a complete stop without depressing the brake pedal. Just take your foot off the accelerator and the Bolt will come to a stop on its own.The exact same system is onboard the 2020 Bolt, and it really showed its benefits during stop-and-go traffic on during morning rush hour heading south out of Tacoma on I-5. Instead of endlessly alternating between pedalsaccelerating, braking, accelerating, braking, accelerating, brakingyou just press the accelerator gently then take your foot off to stop. A much more relaxing way to negotiate otherwise frustrating gridlock.In total there are four regen modes utilizing the Bolts regen-on-demand flipper on the lefthand side of the steering column. Each EV automaker has come up with its own unique control system for regen settingsfrom paddle shifters to dashboard buttons to centre console shifterbut for my liking the Bolts is the best and most intuitive. Apart from the increased range, there are just a
Origin: First Drive: 2020 Chevrolet Bolt
Car Review: 2019 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
OVERVIEW End of the road for front-engined Corvettes and a fine send off PROSBrutal speed, classic looks, surprisingly ample storage space CONSAutomatic transmission is not a great one, competition seats really mean it VALUE FOR MONEYExcellent WHAT TO CHANGE?Any flaw the test car had, could be fixed with the option sheet HOW TO SPEC IT?Give me the Grand Sport with the standard seats and a stick The Chevrolet Corvette is not a slave to tradition. Its a slave to function it hasnt remained front-engined all this time simply because enthusiasts want the engine in a certain place to preserve the classic Corvette formula. GM has done so because this aids its function.Sometimes, that function is less sexy than lap times: In the days when the Corvette shared suspension components with the Chevelle, it kept the overall cost down and allowed more generous cargo room, making it a proper long-distance car.But the design has always been purpose-driven. The purpose of the C7 Corvette was to take the front-engined formula as far as it would go. Even Ferrari knows front-engined sports cars are a rose-tinted throwback to the past, and that the future is mid-engined. The upcoming mid-engine C8 changes the Corvette formula weve known for 66 years, but before we drive the C8, lets see what the final hurrah! of the front-engined Corvette brings us.Sheathed in fiberglass as theyve been from the beginning, the C7 slices a menacing profile. The hood is long and low, bounded by muscular bulges. Every corner of the C7 is sharp, violent and trimmed with black aerodynamic bits. The wings, scoops and vents are all very real, and you can feel the heat roiling out of them after a spirited drive. This is the supercharged Z06 variant; slide into the cockpit and a data plaque proudly tells you this rocket makes 650 horsepower and 650 lb.-ft. of torque. There are a lot of Corvette sub-models and the Z06 is second from the top; above it sits the all-conquering 755-horsepower ZR1 track animal. Below is the base, naturally aspirated Vette with 465 horsepower, as well as the Grand Sport which, interestingly enough, is essentially a Z06 but with the base engine. In addition to said supercharged engine, the Z06 gets wider fenders, a host of aerodynamic enhancements and wider tires. They measure 285 millimetres up front, and a full 335 in the rear.The C7 is also the last Corvette to offer a manual transmission; you can spec the seven-speed manual in any Corvette model, but in an odd move, this particular Z06 had the eight-speed automatic. Talk about a missed opportunity.Climbing into the C7, youll see something no future Corvette will ever give you: A long hood with a V8 underneath. The raised fenders hearken back to the C3, and the view is reminiscent of the older car from behind the wheel. In Z06 form, the pronounced center bulge never lets you forget a fat supercharger sits atop the LT5 engine.The rest of the interior is beyond reproach; compared to the Little Tykes/Tupperware adventures of the C5 and Cobalt-like C6, the C7 is a revelation. I like the dramatically sweeping cockpit that surrounds the driver, and the digital cluster and central tachometer tell you this is a car to drive. Alcantara covers the dash binnacle, shifter and steering wheel. And dont forget the oh-so-trick quilted suede headliner. Corvette interiors have come a long way.And so have the seats! Theyve almost gone too far, actually. The test car was equipped with the optional Competition seats, and, boy, does GM mean it. They have adjustable side bolsters, but they really only adjust from too tight to even more tight. I cant imagine that wider people would be very comfortable in them, but if you want to do real track work in your Z06, these seats certainly hold you in place. Did I also mention that the passenger gets two Oh, crap! handles? There are plenty of cubbies for your things and the rear cargo area is more than generous for a couples luggage for a weekend getaway. The Corvette likes being driven slowly or straight-up fast. None of the quickly malarkey for the Z06. Around town, the automatic is buttery smooth, the shifts almost imperceptible. The ride is sports-car-firm for sure, and without the optional Magnetic Ride Control, it just kind of is what you get all the time, no bumpy-road modes to be found.In the city, the major downside is the constant battle of the various fans against underhood heat, doing their best to keep the engine cool; they must use a lot of energy because urban fuel mileage is downright atrocious. On the highway, though, the Corvettes double-overdrive automatic and extremely long 2.41:1 rear axle gears drop engine revs down to under 2,000 at brisk highway speeds, easily loafing the Corvette along and getting a respectable 10.2 L/100 kilometres.And when you want to go fast, the Z06 is willing and ready. It will absolutely catapult you into the horizon at any speed. The rear tires are massive, but theyll still
Origin: Car Review: 2019 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
The 2021 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 is getting new looks
2021 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2Chevrolet The 2021 Chevrolet Colorado will debut its facelifted facade at SEMA in Las Vegas this November, but not before making a special appearance at the 2019 Method Race Wheels Laughlin Desert Classic on October 10.Weve sold 520,000 Colorado pickups in five years through a relentless, foot-on-the-gas approach to product and feature updates, said Bob Krapes, director of marketing, Chevrolet Trucks.With its new-look front end and tailgate, Colorado will now have a more aggressive appearance to match its award-winning capability.Chevrolet just can’t seem to figure out a good-looking grille for its new trucks, but at least the lack of a lower section on this one means it has a much better approach angle for taking it on the trails. Adding to the off-road capability, the ZR2 also comes with segment-exclusive Multimatic DSSVTM position-sensitive dampers, standard front and rear electronic locking differentials, two-inch suspension lift, a 3.5-inch wider track, off-road rocker protection, cast-iron control arms, Autotrac transfer case and multiple skid plates. The SEMA truck has a more complete look, with a front grille bar and KC lights to hide the missing bumper. Literally on top of that is a classic looking light bar, and around back is a bed-mounted spare tire.A new colour is available on the Z71 and ZR2 trims called Sand Dune Metallic, but if you ask us, it looks like they just used the leftover paint from the Pontiac Aztek production line. Also from the Aztek production line is the rear bedside wind deflector, which looks like a traced cut-out of the much-maligned SUVs rear windows.The 2021 Chevrolet Colorado goes on sale next year, and pricing will be announced closer to
Origin: The 2021 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 is getting new looks
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