TopSpeed Dishes up the Scoop on C8 Chevy Corvette's Latest Renderings

Here at O'rielly Chevy as Thanksgiving season makes its gradual transformation into the Christmas holidays, we are always making great strides to keep our customers informed on the happenings of new models coming down the pipeline, and in this feature, we'll showcase one that is anything but ordinary. The highly-anticipated mid-engined Corvette has been kept under a bit of lighter camo recently, allowing for a slightly more clear view of the finished product. The Topspeed.com blog offered up some renderings this past week of what the new C8-generation Corvette will look like, and our first impression is that it is going to be one incredibly souped-up, red-hot ball of feisty fire!

The images you can check out Here lack some of the details you see when it comes to a straight-up photo of the car, but they are nonetheless pretty helpful at paving the way for a clearer idea of what the car's character will seem like off the bat. The C8 surely appears to be a tough competitor for the likes of the Ferrari 488 GTB, Lamborghini Huracan, and McLaren 720S. The new model has a midship engine layout, which results in a shortened nose, longer mid-section, and far more space between the seats and rear wheels. The rear fenders see bigger vents now, which are longer and wider to pave way for the new engine's robust residence.

The front end still has the same V-shaped hood and nose, and the swept-back headlamps bear likeness to those on the C7. In the rear is where you see a quite heavy reconfiguration: each taillight has pretty big vents, and the center-mounted exhaust has been foregone for a more usual quad-pipe layout with exhausts situated on each side of the diffuser. The C8 is rumored to sport a base model powered by a 6.2-liter V-8, from the C7 Corvette, and a mid-range model with a twin-turbo, 4.2-liter V-8 borrowed from Cadillac. There is a 5.5-Liter V-8 in the works that will astutely top the range, by generating around 850 horsepower. Just as many other car lines have conceptualized, there are plans to pair the 5.5-liter V-8 to an electric motor, for an output totaling around 1,000 horsepower.

The amazing and awe-inspiring C8 is scheduled to debut in 2019, most likely in the Motor City during the annual January auto show. Car and Driver deemed the C8 “heart-stopping,” and also fully recognized that alternative power sources will be in the planning stages for the time when regulations will clamp down a bit more aggressively in the realm of fuel use. Having the engine moved behind the cockpit clears space for a potentially all-electric motor to drive the front wheels, and by 2020, a 4-wheel drive Corvette hybrid may not be a far off dream.

Many aficionados have given much thought to where the fuel tank will reside. GM is likely to stow away the C8's gas tank in a center tunnel, where it could share said space with plumbing elements for cooling. The new C8 is likely to incorporate an aluminum space frame, with carbon-fiber and magnesium elements also added throughout to help with weight reduction. Right here in Tucson and via many dealers nationwide, the buzz is unmistakable. Any time there is talk of a new 'Vette, the most knowledgeable track hounds in existence know the weight of words, wisdom, and the ultimate stock of race-ready downforce!

Consumer Reports Provides 2019 Chevy Silverado Trim Selection Guide

Over the past month, the very knowledgeable and seasoned staff at Consumer Reports bought the new Chevy Silverado 1500 LT, with the intention of listing the trim levels, and a guide on how to select the right one for you. Some of their general advice right off the top was to get a Silverado with power-adjustable pedals, allowing drivers with various heights to adjust all pedals as they need. Running boards are also an item high on the priority list, because climbing in and out of your brand-new Silverado is a snap once they are added in the mix.

The Silverado RST is the trim level that this article deems as absolutely the most sporty, and the leather seats are where you really notice the upgrade in terms of interior comfort. The highly truck-savvy and well-appointed Consumer Reports writers thought that the power-release tailgate was an awesome feature, with its ability to be lowered from in the cab, or by use of the key fob. This trim level is a great choice if you want the looks and vibe of a sporty truck, but still need it to be able to do a bit of “Just-above-light-duty” work for you.

The Silverado LT Trail Boss offers up the feature of a very cool 2-inch lift kit straight from the factory. This offers much better ground clearance, and makes it looks like a much tougher and able off-road contender. Specialized terrain modes designed just to get you through demanding off-road situations with a snap. The absolute head-to-head contender with the likes of the Ford Raptor and Ram Rebel, its sense of elevation and extra clearance really prepares you for the areas near O'Rielly Chevy of Tuscon that are close to cactus and sand, as opposed to uneventful and routine highway drives.

The Silverado LTZ comes powerfully equipped with GM's exhilarating and brawny 420-horsepower, 6.2-liter V8 engine, mated to the 10-speed automatic transmission. This is the combo that Consumer Reports called this “as satisfying a powertrain as GM has ever made for a pickup,” and a 5.3-liter, 336-hp V8 is offered as standard. It comes equipped with an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, and is the perfect daily driver with tons of great features for any truck enthusiast. This is where things begin to really feel upscale, and its a spectacular truck buy that one could never regret.

RST, Z71 Trail Runner Models On Deck to Add Off-Road Lineup Flex

As those looking to purchase new trucks come down to meet us here at O'rielly Chevy and ask about various features, many of them want to know just how we are faring with our steadfast rival in the form of the Toyota Tacoma! In order to assure that the Colorado truck line retains competitive and spry, there are two new special editions on deck for 2019. The RST and Trail Runner models both feature flow-through Chevy lettering on the grille, very similar in design to the Colorado ZR2 Bison. The Trail Runner is based on the Colorado with the Z71 off-road package, and incorporates the same underbody protection from the ZR2.

You get to be the off-road ready recipient of Goodyear Duratrac all-terrain tires wrapped around 17-inch wheels, an automatic locking differential for the rear axle and functional rocker protection are included as standard equipment now. The RST does not feature a small-block V8 as is the case with the Tahoe RST and comes with a choice of three apt-and-able power sources: the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder with 200 horsepower and 191 lb-ft of torque, 3.6-liter High Feature V6, and a 2.8-liter Duramax 4-cylinder turbo diesel.

Branching off heftily and adding to the LT trim level the Colorado RST adds monochromatic detailing that adds a stately compliment to the black beltlines, as well as body-side moldings. There is a black bowtie on the back, and 20-inch wheels are the largest ever offered, as the low gloss black makes them unique from other options on the market. The Colorado is the revolutionary and amazingly powerful truck that helped re-ignite the mid-size truck segment as a whole, which saw a 27 percent increase during the two years leading up to 2017, when customers began to culminate a new vision for what they expected out of their truck, and also inspired competitors to massively step up their research and design game.

The writers at the esteemed Jalopnik blog loved the new grille on the RST, and all of us here at O'rielly loved the overhaul that AEV has done with on the ZR2: they made it so incredibly off-road ready, that it would make any rugged-and-ready contender's head spin. The trademark trick Multimatic DSSV dampers that offered a large dose of off-road prowess were one of the elements that won so many over on the Colorado family in the first place. When it comes to the world of off-roading and 4 x 4's, there sometimes is never such a thing as “enough” and these two new additions to the lineup assure that the next time you veer off the beaten path, you're going to be lean, mean, and ready to tackle the tremendous hurdles of the Tucson-area wild!

O’Rielly High-Performance Feature: The Drive Offers First Impressions of 2019 Camaro SS

The buzz on the street almost always circles back to a few similar topics when it comes to the models that aren't really for daily errands: the ones that are there to open up and test twisty roads with! A lot of questions have been thrown around regarding the 2019 model, and its sixth-generation upgrade. Some bits of technology saw themselves carried through from the ZL1 variant, and there also a few other key changes that will leave anyone who loves to spend their downtime burning through corners on the track excited.

Some of the first new changes are on the front end of the SS and with the 10-speed automatic transmission, which The Drive blog contributor Kyle Chermoca got to test on the mountain roads of Malibu. A perfectly scenic and challenging location for the task, this is one of the most fun places in the nation to drive a high-performing car, while taking close note of performance and functionality of new features. Combined goals of shedding weight, making the suspension tougher, and adding new tech features all were completed with flying colors. A rear mirror camera is one of the useful safety features this year, and another quality that our loyal Camaro fans will notice right away is the lower pricing on the base LS model.

The SS benefits predominantly from a significantly lower curb weight, better overall balance, and more standard added features. The SS is where most conversations drift towards, however, and it is not surprising in the least. Paired with the reliable and burly LT1 V-8 and the 10-speed automatic transmission, it is one of the few passenger cars in current existence that sports a double-digit gear count. Even though the transmission was co-developed with what some see as our sworn enemy Ford Motors, there are some features that are unique to the new SS. The controls, software, and other ingenious add-ons help the Camaro version stand out, giving it unique flair and character.

One of the things we really want Camaro lovers to check out up close and personal is a new function called “Liftfoot Gear Hold”: specifically for use in Sport and Track modes, it prevents excessive shifting by holding the gear you are in when you lift off the throttle. Kyle from The Drive also had the privilege of taking the Camaro SS up the Pacific Coast Highway, and noticed two stand-out qualities that he really was excited about. This is a car that is pure genius to have include a convertible options, and during heavy testing, the automatic transmission never felt like it was constantly hunting for the correct gear.

Back in 1966, “Panther” was the code name devised for the Camaro, a very sleek and sneaky creature that is always ready to pounce. The 2019 Camaro SS is one high-performance car that will always inspire, captivate, and conquer over its rivals time and time again: we are excited to show you all of the many reasons why getting your hands on a brand new model will stoke strenuous excitement into every single second of driving this powerful new pony!