Holiday Driving and Stress: Survey Results Show What Tops The List

The time of year is upon us where many pack up the family and fleet, head away from the Tucson metro area, and visit friends or loved ones for the holidays. It is a time when having a vehicle that provides comfort as well as safety features is important, and will allow you to reach your destination in good spirits. A new survey conducted by the Harris Poll about holiday travel revealed what drivers feel is most important, and which features offered in vehicles would make the trip as enjoyable as the top layer of a pristine holiday cake! The poll surveyed 1,063 U.S. Parents of children under 18, to explore the current state of the American family road trip.

The dominating findings of this survey were about technology, and how in-vehicle technologies can very drastically improve the road trip experience. We all know what it is like to hit sudden gridlock in traffic, and just how restless the younger ones (and older ones!) in the group can become during these times. 2 out of 3 parents said that traffic is the most stressful part of a family road trip, and Chevy autos were luckily the first auto producer to offer 4G LTE Wi-Fi on its cars, trucks, and crossovers. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay comparability have also existed in most of its lineup for the last two years. This helps those traveling stay connected, navigate, and even catch up on episodes of current hits like the scary and nostalgic “Stranger Things”.

Parents typically bring an average of 6.6 mobile devices in the vehicle on family road trips, and if you lose that necessary Wi-Fi function, your occupants are going to quickly let you know. We fully recognize that books and board games are great ways to pass the time as well, but we even have one argument in place for the teens: internet really IS necessary to do homework sometimes, so they may be doing something productive on their tablet! Vehicles such as the Equinox and Traverse are great choices for holiday trips: spacious and modern, there is room for everyone to get comfortable during the journey.

Once you arrive, you have the alluring promise of turkey, pie, and football, and if it is Christmas you are traveling for, the opening of gifts and warm fellowship by the fire. Getting there safely is also a prime concern on travelers' minds, so the Equinox and Traverse have plenty of modern features to help. Come ask us on the lot at Orielly Chevy how lane change alert, size blind zone alert, surround vision, and lane keep assist can aid you on the most winding and crowded of highways.

Forward collision alert, speed forward automatic braking, and rear seat reminder are other convenient ways that you can quickly alert yourself to making your journey the best it can be. As everyone in the Tucson metro area gets ready to ring in 2018, now is the best time to check out these two Chevy vehicles that rank at the top of the list for the annual Xmas or turkey trot!

Tucson's Spywatch Update: 2019 Chevy Corvette ZR1 Images Potentially Leaked

The landscape in and around Tucson can be a delightfully open expanse to blast through with any of the most high-powered cars on the globe. There's nothing quite like the freedom of opening up amidst red rock and sand, and feeling as if your cares are slipping further away behind you. We can attest that they will slip further behind you than ever dreamed with the ability to tap into 750 hp, which is the most that has ever been available to a ZR1. At first glance, the new 2019 Corvette model looks much more aggressive than the current Z06, due to a massive hood vent, new bumper, and giant rear wing. The last ZR1 was produced 4 years ago, and made 638 hp.

Sources tell us that the new ZR1 will most likely use the identical 6.2-liter V-8 found in the current Z06, but there will be greatly improved cooling. We admit that the overall vibe of this car is a bit futuristic for a Corvette, and some diehard drivers may feel like this is not at all the same car that they loved from, let's cay, circa 1984. But on the realistic side, that was 30 years ago, and all vehicles naturally evolve. All of us on the lot here at Orielly love it, and the black edition we've seen struck our fancy a bit more than the orange one pictured on the cover of this month's Car and Driver, where there was surprisingly a fully leaked photo of the 2019 ZR1.

This new 'Vette has a top speed of more than 210 miles per hour, derived from its 6.2-liter, 8-cylinder supercharged, dual-injected engine. This is the first time that the ZR1 will be offered with an automatic transmission, and you can still opt for the 7-speed manual. This new model comes with two wind tunnel-honed aerodynamics packages, and the available High Wing provides an estimated 950 pounds of powerful downforce. A special carbon-fiber “halo” hood opens up in the middle, with the important function of clearing the LT5 engine's supercharger/intercooler assembly.

GM product chief Mark Reuss said in a statement that “its unprecedented performance puts all other global supercars on notice that the ZR1 is back”, and we can guarantee that world-class drivers are going to have an amazingly fun time testing it. A lap around the famed German Nurburgring proving grounds has not yet been achieved, but will probably take place over the coming spring months of 2019. The two standard packages available will allow the driver to choose from a standard Low Wing, and an available two-way adjustable High Wing that offers maximum downforce on the track for primo speed.

All models also feature a front underwing that is built to primarily enhance downforce. This is a high-performing addition to the Chevy fleet that will deserve quite a bit of reverence and respect: the 750-hp beast will be sure to be seen cornering heavy and smoking its competitors out for many days to come! 

Tucson Trailwatch: Chevy Colorado ZR2's Rugged Revamp Courtesy of AEV

The Colorado ZR2 is a favorite truck among the off-road enthusiast crowd for many reasons: it has a smaller size, top-notch suspension, and is as able as any to jump off the road and rip up any canyon or valley with ease. For more than 15 years, American Expedition Vehicles have been pushing design boundaries and innovation techniques, and they first set up shop in one of the most rugged locations in the nation: Missoula, Montana. Full of raging rivers and nestled against the mountains, it was surely a proving ground that aided greatly with their A+ work on the Jeep Wrangler. They did a real bang-up piece of work in the “Call Of Duty” Jeep edition, and as soon as we laid eyes on it, we knew that their alterations on the ZR2 would be phenomenal.

Released at the SEMA show in Las Vegas, this awesome tan truck has had a complete revamp of its suspension system, and driveline components that provide for a 1.5-inch lift. One thing that should properly drop your off-road desiring jaw right away is the 35-inch tires: mounted to a world-class crafted seat of AEV beadlock rims, they look like they could conquer anything. Remember the baddest Tonka or other diecast truck that you had in your toy arsenal growing up? The one that you would die to own if it were legit? This AEV-modified ZR2 IS that truck, in all possible ways. Powered by a 2.8-liter diesel engine, there is also a high dose of added protection with the AEV-designed front and rear off-road bumpers, and defiantly element-proof skid plates on the underbody.

The grille gets roughly the same treatment as the Ford F-150 Raptor and Toyota TRD Pro: the entire “Chevrolet” namesake is written across the bowtie, giving it a different but definitely cool appearance. All of us on the lot here at Orielly immediately loved the roof-high expedition rack: it is mounted firmly on the bed, and includes goodies like a portable ARB refrigerator. It has been impressive to see the developments in RV technology over the past decade, and some of us here were tapping our feet waiting on trucks to get the same treatment. We were impressed with various power sources, ultra-cool interior kitchen features, and outdoor refrigerators and USB hubs.

That type of ingenuity was passed on perfectly to the AEV version of the Colorado ZR2: near the right rear fender, there is a simple, yet effective panel that provides auxiliary power, an air compressor, and fresh water system. Truck owners who are used to camping, fishing, and spending literally the entire week or weekend outside will love this feature: it is a touch that really begins to make you feel as if you have amenities from home with you on the open trail. The result of AEG's expertise is stunning: the add-ons that make this version of the ZR2 that much more ready for the off-road sector are perfect. We enjoy how this truck looks modern to the T, but it still looks like a truck, and not a praying mantis, or futuristic robot. Staying true to traditional elements was the real reason this is a win, and you'll be bowled over right away when you come take a look at this brazen and haughty hauling truck for 2018!