O'Rielly's Sizzling-For-2018 Showcase: The New Traverse's Performance Report

It's exciting to see that the Traverse has been completely overhauled this spring, and has an abundance of new tech and features to keep everyone comfy and entertained during the ride. Legroom plays a big part as to what passengers request when they are ready to spend on a new vehicle, and the all-new Traverse boasts rankings as good as it gets there. A maximum amount of cargo room, space for passengers, and numerous great safety features are all found in this midsize SUV that we predict to be screaming right off the lot in very high volumes! When it goes on sale in the fall, the Traverse will be the fourth crossover SUV with an update from Chevy within the last year, joining the ranks of the Trax, Bolt EV, and Equinox.

One of the things that we think you are going to love about the look is the influence it gains from full-size SUV's, but blended uniquely and expertly down to the appropriately smaller package. LED signature lighting and D-Optic LED headlamps are also going to do their own duty to win you over, and part of the real excitement here is due to the shape and appearance of the rear. It is surprisingly extended and noticeable, and is almost unapologetic when it comes to tying up the shape of the new vehicle. Many have tried to be as sleek, curvaceous, and outright hidden when it comes to rear extension, and the driver who has a long trip planned will enjoy the extra packing room.

There are two new trim levels added for the 2018 Traverse: Luxurious High Country and Sporty RS are offered to give the driver a choice for more personalized appearance and feel. The High Country Trim gives you leather brown appointments accented with suede, and included D-optic headlamps, standard twin-clutch, and third row seats that power fold. When you opt for the new RS package, you receive exterior cues that are blacked out, a black chrome grille, and 20-inch wheels to properly sense the element of the upgrade. Inside is available seating for up to eight passengers, and the wheelbase is longer than the current model. Boasting 98.5 cubic feet, the Traverse is said to be THE #1 vehicle when it comes to carrying capacity, and a sense of durable space.

When you are ready to load up and go explore a place close to you, the bowtie Chevy logo lamp illuminates the ground, showing where you can quickly place your foot to activate the hands-free powered lift-gate. In the second row, there is a split-folding seat, with a better version of the original Smart Slide feature. Everyone on board will have access to USB charging ports in all three seating rows, and phone and audio controls mounted on the steering wheel are placed perfectly.

Lane keep assist, front pedestrian braking, and forward collision alert are other features that will help greatly with your commute. A new 3.6L V-6 and 9-speed automatic transmission are the goods that help get you around, and you can count on nearly 10 percent more horsepower than the current model to back you appropriately. An estimated 25 MPG is standard for this type of SUV, and anyone bound for wet or snowy conditions will appreciate its engineering for all scenarios. We can't wait until this release hits the lot, and we'll be standing by to assist anyone with questions about how they can call this their next personal vehicle!

A Nod to the Sightings At Nurburgring: The New-For-2018 ZR1

Testing cars and seeing if they really have what it takes to measure up requires many hours, and a collective effort of very hard work. Diagnostics, safety issues, and the way the machinery used can withstand intended acceleration are all components of the formula that need to be considered. When it comes to how it behaves on the road, there is one place on the planet that is legendary, and tends to be spoken about both in very excited and hushed tones. Nurburgring is located in a lush area of Germany, situated close to legendary castles, and was the original home of the German Grand Prix after World War One.

Completed in the spring of 1927, the original track consisted of 174 bends, and was a true proving grounds where numerous racers displayed their talent. It was right here in 1961 that Phil Hall became the first ever to complete a lap of the Nordschleife track in under 9 minutes, and if every inch of track here could talk, it would clue you in to some of the most exciting moments in racing history. Over the past few weeks there has been a very exciting vehicle that has been spotted zipping around this legendary spectacle, and it's gonna seriously excite every customer and employee right here at O'Rielly. The 2018 ZR1 Corvette has been spotted here doing its magical thing, in light camouflage and with abundant promise of just how awesome it will be.

The rear wing is the first element that many will notice: it is definitely on the larger side, and is a bit like what is seen on the Dodge Viper ACR. We suspect that it is here to provide a heightened amount of downforce, an element that you'll notice right away when really putting this new Corvette to the test. The front air dam has lots of wide-open intakes, which will be needed for sure to cool down the powerful V8 that resides under the hood. It is suspected that the Corvette's incredibly souped 6.2-liter will be the engine of choice, and that this final entry in a line of stellar cars will be a milestone of sheer performance ability and enthralling fun to drive.

The 'Vette that was sighted at Nurburgring was sporting the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, which are known for being incredibly lightweight, and having the use of some very big brakes to boot. The last model that came out in this category was capable of producing 638 horsepower from a very supercharged 6.2-liter LS9. Most of our contacts in the motor industry are telling us that the 2018 ZR1 will be shown to the public for the first time at an IMSA race, or the Corvette Museum itself, in Bowling Green Kentucky. This storybook location is a prime example of a place that anyone would love to test drive the new Corvette: collectors and racing enthusiasts alike will no doubt be ecstatic to see just how great this new vehicle is going to be. We have all loved spending decades following the legacy of a legend, and expect this 2018 release to be nothing short of spellbinding.

O'Rielly Chevrolet Future Snapshot: FNR-X Concept Report

Two years ago at the famed Auto Shanghai gathering, the blueprint for the Find New Roads, or FNR concept car, was released. Even though the reality of full production is still a little ways off, the "all purpose sports concept vehicle" is bound to appeal to anyone that is looking for an auto that plugs in, has a functioning powertrain, and adaptive suspension. Active aero features on the wheels are a definite drag reducer, and the overall exterior design is a combination of Chevrolet and other crossover prototypes. Fans of sporty cars will love the resemblance to the Camaro ZL 1, which is most evident while looking at the front end.

The way that the doors are rear-hinged provide more room for passengers to get in, which will be greatly noticed during quick airport pick-ups, or impromptu load-ins for soccer and school. We are ver amazed at the way that some of the proposed sketches have a bit of similarity to the types of modern flair you see in the drone market: some that have come out within the last year such as the Mavic have very smooth sight lines, and are a fraction of the size of previous models. One is also reminded of some of the craft from the new "Star Wars" series, and we definitely think that defined edges on the interior and an over-abundance of tech features are what many buyers will favor most about the FNR-X.

OLED displays and sensors that automatically detect which driver is behind the wheel are other definite wow factors that are included with this futuristic concept, a well as augmented reality readouts on a 270-degree projection. If one thinks back to films such as "Al" and "Blade Runner", we remember a bit about what we were shown a few decades ago regarding what the cars of the future will look like. Even though models such as DeLorean's DMC-12 loved to capitalize on the doors that swayed out, many were incorrect in assuming that the innovation of the far future was not going to follow suit. There are some elements that ARE derived a bit from cars of the past such as the DMC-12, but what is potentially most impressive abut the FNR-X concept is its channeling of natural elements along with the man-made.

The entire flow and function of the design has toned down substantially, and evolved into a concept that incorporates elements similar to feng shui: the early design was a bit insect-like, and all of the lines in the current version are a bit cleaner. What seems the most practical about it now is that it appears to be much less of a capsule design than what was seen at the Auto Shanghai Gathering two years ago, and the windows seem a bit more snug and less like an underwater submarine.

Earlier proposals had a 180-degree-swiveling seat where the driver could face the back passengers, and we are not sure if this will still be present in the new concept. We will keep you posted on the direction and future happenings as far as the FNR-X is concerned: when this idea is finalized and ironed out a bit, we predict that may will be more than excited about owning an auto that will do almost everything besides reach out and touch the stars itself!