2019 Corvette Grand Sport Driver's Series Featured on Motor Authority

This weekend at the preview event for the 2019 Rolex 24 at Daytona, Chevy is slated to announce a special-edition Corvette, where our brand's experienced racing team is on deck to compete. The Motor Authority blog covered the announcement, relaying to the public that there will be four cars to choose from within the brand new Corvette Grand Sport Drivers Series. The image at the top shown here is a screenshot of the four cars taken from the app, which was first posted two days ago by Corvette Blogger, who also had a few photos of the cars parked right outside the Chevy Experience Center at the Daytona track.

Pro drivers Oliver Gavin, Jan Magnussen, Antonio Garcia, and Tommy Milner chose the color combinations for the series, and each individual model comes with a commemorative plaque and equipment. Due to being based on the Corvette Grand Sport, the cars are expected to have a 6.2-liter V8 good for 460 horsepower, and 465 lb-ft of torque under the hood. All of us on staff here at O'Rielly Chevy would also probably expect the cars to come with the Performance Data Recorder featuring the Cosworth Toolbox Function: it adds yaw rate, intake and ambient air temperatures, individual suspension displacements, and individual wheel speeds to be monitored and adjusted, as well as the Z07 package with carbon-ceramic brake rotors and Michelin Pilot Sports Cup 2 tires.

We all hope that this is not the last special edition that is based on the current C7 Corvette, as it could be one of the final products of its kind, due to the fact that the C8 Corvette with a mid-engined layout is coming later this year. With heart-racing features such as technical presentations by Mobil 1 and Michelin themselves, the Corvette Corral agenda is going to be particularly awesome this year during the Daytona event. There will be a presentation by the National Corvette Museum, driver autograph sessions, and the Michelin raffle to boot.

A millisecond of time can absolutely make or break a race, and these 'Vettes make the 0 to 60 mark in a blistering 3.60 seconds. These packages are limited to the coupe, and can be added to the 1LT or 2LT models or to the top-rung 3LT, where carbon-fiber interior is added as well. The staff at Motor Trend claimed excitedly that this option is “a great way to get a tasteful Corvette model in your possession.” Tommy Milner's edition is our absolute favorite, and has Elkhart Lake Blue as the hue with red fender hash marks. Sporting ultra-cool jet black interior, it also offers red seat belts, body-color mirror caps, and silver body stripes. The upholstery is leather on the 1LTS, and is suede on the upper trims. Check out this writeup as well for more of the details, and tell us which is your favorite!

Inside EVs Test Drive Video Featuring 2019 Chevy Bolt EV Describes it as “Peppy and Outstanding”

The savvy and deep-digging staff of Inside EVs took the liberty of showing a video on their page with a drive test of the 2019 Chevy Bolt Premier this past week: the model had some cool upgrades like the mosaic black and contrast rims, and the driver reflected that at first appearance, it definitely looks like a “fun little hatch.” Not as bulky as the Equinox or sworn competition Toyota RAV4, all of us here at O'Rielly Chevy recognize that the Bolt still has a bit of an appearance that immediately categorizes it as from the electric camp.

As the years progress, we believe that development and design teams will definitely produce models that will have a bit more natural or rugged feel about them, as the electric car category is just now embracing its own identity. Coming from way up North in Canada, the test drive of the new Bolt was in the snow, where it would definitely have to prove its ability to maneuver in the most demanding of conditions. The intro on the infotainment screen once you get in is quite cool: much akin to the beginning of a movie in a theater, blue hues, and lush digital wizardry let you know right away that you are in a high-performing car that is on the modern side of the spectrum!

The touchscreen in the test model was about two or three inches larger than the traditional 8-inch or so version, and it appeared to really help evoke a futuristic touch. As the driver pulls off the lot, he laments that this is the first non-Tesla electric vehicle he has driven, and his first impression was that he was very surprised with the amount of peppiness and power the Bolt provides off the line. It was also noted that the seats are pretty small, perhaps even smaller than what you'd find inside the Camaro, but they are incredibly well-fitted, and a very good example of how a car with electric power in no way has to feel like it is trapping you in a box!

The large screen did not provide a sense of technical overkill that can sometimes plague any newer car, and does a great job of making you feel like you are driving a car that is in all ways technically equipped to do more than just get you from A to B. Many other reviews of the Bolt have claimed that when the true quickness of the car is noticed is when you are at speed, at say maybe around 50 mph on the interstate. When he hit a clear patch of traffic, the driver checked out this claim, and you can really see the result of his getting quickly down on the accelerator.

The highest level of surprise came from the amount of fun he had driving the Bolt: as soon as he switched to Sport mode when he had ample space, all he could exclaim after lurching forward was “Wow!” Check out the benefits to you and your family of electric car ownership this year, and prepare to have your opinions drastically swayed towards the side of the fence with power derived from spark rather then fuel!

Camaro and Corvette ZR1 Top “21 Quickest Production Cars Motortrend Tested in 2018” List

Every year when car performance lists of various sorts come out, here at O'Rielly Chevy of Tucson we are sure that our vehicles will make the list. It is always certain that year after year, our sedans and sports cars will make waves and dominate against the various forms of competition out there. Every year the folks on staff at Motor Trend take on the duty of testing more than 200 car, truck, and SUV varieties to properly evaluate every new vehicle there is on the market. From budget-priced compacts to the most luxurious high-end vehicles, they were on the hunt last year to find the quickest out there, based completely on the 0-60 MPH drive time.

One of the initial surprises came from the Dodge club: we fully recognize that the 2018 Challenger SRT Hellcat Wide Body is one fine vehicle, in literally all ways. But it placed 20^th on the list, as a 3.9-second 0-60 time ultimately keeps it held back a bit on the list. What's mind-blowing is the difference one second can make: engineers and designers have been trying for decades to create the ultimate pony and track-commanding car that can blast through this particular endurance test, while still providing other features within the realms of tech and safety.

The most powerful Porsche 911 ever sold to the public snagged the number one spot: the amazing and incredibly powerful 2018 Porsche 911 GT2 RS nailed down a track time for the 0-60 mph trot that was simply astounding: a lightening-fast 2.6 seconds. Our prized Corvette ZR1 snagged the 4^th place spot on this list of fearlessly fast contenders, coming in at a 3.0-second 0 to 60 mph gallop. The well-seasoned staff at Car and Driver proclaimed recently that “We went 183.3 MPH in the new Corvette ZR1 at the Texas Mile, and not once did we feel guilty.” With greatly noticeable power and chassis improvements over the Z06, you'll notice very minimal drawback downforce during speed runs, as well as enjoy the capability for the incoming Corvette to be perfect for daily drives.

Up a bit higher in the list is the 2018 Chevy Camaro ZL1: it pulls off the 0-60 sprint in just 3.5 seconds, situated in a comfy slot just above the 2018 Mercedes-AMG GT R. The quarter-mile time for the ZL1 sits at 11.5 seconds, and the automatic transmission it sports is the one to nab if you are looking to achieve rocket-fast speed while in a straight line. This is the always exciting, well-priced car that is a true legend in its own rite, which Car and Driver stated has “a glorious engine sound.” The supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 is good for 650 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque, and half of the chassis performance is derived from aluminum-bodied spool-valve dampers.

The rear subframe and multilink suspension are now insulated with aluminum pucks, and the rear anti-roll bar can be adjusted to three different positions. Make sure to check out the available navigation system and carbon-fiber interior trim, two of the extras that up the level of excitement in a vehicle that already has a massive presence in the no-holds-barred racing category!

2019 Chevy Colorado ZR2 Deemed “Jack of All Trades” By Canadian Voice

Here during the New Year at O'Rielly Chevy, we get to enjoy the task of going over the many different opinions that people have gathered about our awesome cars and trucks. From the smallest Eco-Conscious EV's to the biggest and burliest of able trucks, the many blogs, review sites, and forums on the web crackle with extra life during this time of new releases to rave about. “Autoreviewman” of the Indo-Canadian Voice wrote this past week about a test drive with the ZR2, the specialized off-road model that offers the best in boulder-climbing and Baja-running capability.

Powered by the 3.6-liter V6, the ZR2 has best-in-class horsepower with a rating of 308, and torque at 275 lb-ft. Multimatic Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve dampers with a 2-inch suspension lift and 3.5-inch wider track give not only a boost in off-road ability, but a drastic improvement in ride quality to boot. The review staff at work here quickly lamented that the interior was “large, neat, and well-apportioned,” citing the high-quality build and comfort factor as first-rate. The ZR2's suspension plays on DSSV dampers that have the much-needed ability to offer a good ride on paved streets without being jumpy, and body roll that is usually only attained by means of a well-placed lift kit.

Steering was ranked during this drive as “light and dead on center,” and the very cool 17-inch wheels on board are fitted with ultra-high performance 31-inch Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac tires. The V-6 powered ZR2 delivered ample torque and acceleration, and proved themselves immensely on the Abbotsford driving area, on a section of rough trail in Canada where the off-road hardware and suspension made navigating the trails a cinch. Very quick response within the 4-wheel drive department and the very aggressive tread on the Goodyear Duratrac tires were two of the qualities that helped with churning properly through the demanding terrain.

The astute and able testing team from Road and Track were able to put the much-loved and off-road ready ZR2 to the task on the snow-covered stage roads at Team O-Neill Rally school, and immediately deemed it “the perfect rally truck.” This location features 600 acres of snow-covered New Hampshire backroads, and the shaved bumper, as well as perfectly-sloping skidplate, gave tons of clearance, with the fully exposed front tires making it much easier to climb directly up a rock face without damaging any body panel elements.

This experienced team really loved how no significant wind noise, no shudder when you hit big bumps, and car-like steering also factored into a driving experience that did not always feel like a truck, but provided all the capabilities and rugged duty ability of one. Ask us here at O'Rielly Chevy about the “Midnight Special Edition” package, which includes black emblems, 17-inch black wheels, and bed-mounted style bar and full-size spare tire, installed with care. It's amazing just how the spool-valve shocks can effortlessly brush off massive potholes, and also how the ZR2 feels as snug as a crossover SUV: this is one vehicle that anyone would want in their corner while wandering off the “grid-lain and organized” path.

GM Authority Features New Shadow Gray Metallic Color For 2019 Chevy Malibu

Recognized by the greats in car journalism as “coming with underhood hardware that has great fanfare,” the 2019 Chevy Malibu offers three of the most sought-after features that a car can possess. A restyled grille, new RS model, and all-new continuously variable automatic transmission are all on board for the Malibu now. A simulated shift program with seven ratios changes without any issues when the engine speed hits 5500 rpm and the revs can be dropped manually with the button on top of the gearshift lever. Car and Driver claimed that “There are some conventional automatics that could take behavior lessons from GM's CVT,” and now this exciting new offering from all of us at O'Rielly Chevy is providing three new exterior colors to choose from.

The GM Authority blog was excitedly doling out the news about the Shadow Gray Hue last week: Assigned the color code GJI and touch-up paint code WA-626D, it is the gray choice that sits opposed the Silver Ice Metallic variety. It is included in the base price of the 2019 Malibu, and available in conjunction with all interior color combinations and trim levels except for L models. This is currently our second-largest sedan, poised above the subcompact Chevy Sonic, and under the full-size Impala. Distinguished and Decadent just as a fine-tailored suit, the 2019 Malibu is bound to appear as sleek and stylish ever under the cloak of this well-stated yet lucid color.

Official fuel economy for this past year's Malibu was ranked at 27 mpg city, 36 mpg highway, and 30 mpg combined. Make sure you inquire about the Premier trim: it gives you the more powerful 2.0-liter engine generating 250 horsepower, 260 lb-ft of torque, as well as a nine-speed automatic transmission. The testing staff on duty at Cnet.com Roadshow claimed that the Malibu has a “perfectly compliant ride,” and enough damping to easily smooth out any small ruts and bumps you encounter during highway driving. Outside picturesque Seattle on tree-lined roads, writer Steven Ewing called the Malibu “effortless, and pleasant to drive” while seeing how it behaved in the most open of spaces.

The brand new Infotainment 3 setup finds its way into the Malibu for the 2019 model, sporting an 8-inch touchscreen standard across all trim levels. It's a very high-res display with neatly organized and easy-to-find icons, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto coming standard. 15.8 cubic feet of cargo space is present in the trunk to accommodate any amount of luggage, and the RS features super-cool 18-inch wheels, a rear spoiler, dual exhaust ports, and blacked-out badges. Everyone here at O'Rielly is aware of the massive shift that has taken place steering folks towards crossover SUVs and trucks: there are many positive attributes of an able and sturdy hauling machine.

If a sedan is the perfect vehicle for your lifestyle, we guarantee that the car Autotrader called “Sophisticated, refined, and efficient” will be sure to ring in your New Year's with the confidence of a choice perfect for you. Don't forget to look into the hybrid version: it pairs a 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine with two electric motors for a combined power rating of 182 horsepower. One of our favorite features is the very defined and muscular front end of the Malibu: as soon as it pulled onto the lot, we immediately deemed it beyond cool and confident! The base L model comes equipped with cruise control, automatic headlamps, and backup camera, and we are confident that you will agree competitors Honda Accord and Toyota Camry don't quite cross the finish line in terms of quality and resilience.