Off-Road Enthusiast's Foresight: Chevy Silverado ZRX Spy Shots Via GM Authority

As the fall season has been upon us here for a month or so at O'Rielly Chevy of Tucson, it has been evident that the customers are interacting with are telling us just how much they love off-road trucks. The larger-sized Silverado refuses to be left out of the party, and a ZRX variant is now underway. The staff on duty at GM Authority came up with some of the very first spy shots here to prove it, with incredibly trail-ready tires and looking like it could climb boulders at the drop of a hat.

Back in August, GM Authority was also on the scene to report a fresh trademark filing for the ZRX name, both in the U.S. And Canada. Then the next month it was reported that the ZRX name would be given to this new Silverado slated to fit in the lineup above the Trail Boss. These spy shots seem to show an early development model, based on the LT Trail Boss model. This can be seen by checking out the designations on the bed and tailgate, as well as the overall stance and appearance.

The front bumper is much shorter than on any other Silverado to come before it, and it is minus the fog lights found on the LT Trail Boss. This is an element that will help with approach angle, and a metal bar you can spot protruding from said bumper may be linked to upgraded suspension components needed underneath. The rear end looks pretty similar to the current LT Trail Boss, and this may change as development progresses. As was outlined in their full report, the ZRX is supposed to offer a large suspension setup graced with DSSV dampers from MultiMatic, front and  rear electronic lockers, and new bumpers to improve pickup and departure angles.

Powertrains are not at this time expected to see an upgrade, as the source has been said to be the naturally-aspirated 6.2-LiterV8 L87 EcoTec3 engine. The brand-new GM 10-speed automatic transmission will be responsible for shifting duties, and it is a possibility that the new ZRX may offer the turbodiesel 3.0-Liter LM2 inline-six Duramax engine.

What really excites us is that this is ultimately the mean and off-road-ready truck slated to go up against the Ford F-150 Raptor, and when this vehicle was spotted, the driver peeled out faster than any the team had seen in quite some time. Quite clearly, this model was not meant to easily meet the public eye so soon. We will keep you posted here on the blog and let you know when we receive more information about this coming go-anywhere Goliath in the making!

2020 Chevy Corvette Motor Authority First Drive Review Highlights Vehicle that “Fantastically Pushes the Envelope”

The Motor Authority testing staff were situated on the outskirts of Ann Arbor, Michigan last week on a crisp fall day on an open road with no one else around. The fantastic and feature-rich vehicle they were getting ready to drive was one that we have been plenty excited about for months here at O'Rielly Chevy of Tucson: the brand new 2020 mid-engined Chevy Corvette. Mike Hurley is the vehicle dynamics engineer who is along for the ride and gleefully tells driver Kirk Bell to move the mode selector dial to “Track” and engage the Performance Traction Management System before the run.

 

With his left foot on the brake, he expertly pinned the throttle and the 495-horsepower LT2 6.2-liter V-8 revved on up to 3,500 rpm and stayed there for a brief and purgatorial moment. He then gripped the square steering wheel “for dear life” as the 305-mm wide Michelin Pilot Sport 45 rear tires slipped maybe a quarter turn, and the new 'Vette took off brandishing a power level and efficiency that no factory Corvette has ever possessed. As he lurched forward he documents zero pause in power between gears and agrees wholeheartedly that 0-60 mph probably flies by in 3.0 seconds or less.

The perpendicular force that is exerted between the car and the road is now distributed so that 60 percent of the weight is on the rear tires on the new model, the car can exert more normal force on the road with its drive axle capabilities and quicker acceleration. Recognizing the difficulty that exists in making a car that can handle the road as well as track, Mike claimed that both jobs are handled with ease. The V-8's noisy rumble is not quite as loud as the C7s if you are just cruising around the neighborhood, but if you throw the car in Track mode, you get the enjoyment of the orchestral bellow.

Here it is conveyed that the new Corvette steers with true purpose and always feels direct, and the interior takes a high-quality leap forward from the C7's. The gang here had the 3LT package that adds a 14-speaker Bose audio system, front and rear vision cameras, a head-up display, top-line heated and cooled GT2 bucket seats, a heated steering wheel, wireless phone charging, and the Chevy Performance Data Recorder that records video and reports all sorts of juicy vital stats.

Instead of sitting so low with a high hood and the scoop blocking the view like the ZR1, the driver now looks down the fender line out of a windshield that is much more open. As the crew winded down after their Michigan drive, what they yearned for most was some time of a California canyon road: It is so very exciting that an American legend changed so much for the better in the form of the brand-new C8, and there will be many more tales of taking it down the road for a wildly high-octane spin to come!

Chevy Silverado 1500 Departs to Laughlin Classic Desert Racing Series

With a variety of off-road races taking place on some of the toughest terrain in the nation, the U.S. Best in the Desert series offers up a long line of endlessly exciting events. The action takes place from October 10-13, when ATVs, trucks, and cars all forge their way on a 17-mile loop. Best in the Desert is now proud to have over 35 years of storied history within the racing community to its name. Legendary racing icon Casey Folks founded the series in 1984 and it soon grew to include 4-wheel vehicles and was recognized by the early 2000s as the world's premier off-road racing series.

Our beloved Chevy Silverado truck followed the Colorado ZR2 into the Best in the Desert Racing Series that kicked off at the Laughlin Desert Classic on the 10^th. The Silverado race truck that will brave the distance is based off an LT Trail Boss truck and is set to compete in Desert's 1200 Stock class. It will be backed for power by the 6.2-liter V-8 that's good for 420 horsepower and paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. To be properly prepared for the Baja-style challenge, the race truck sports a long-travel suspension, front and rear shocks, and set of prototype high-capacity Multimatic Dynamic Suspensions Spool Valve off-road dampers.

Both The Colorado ZR2 and the Silverado scheduled to be driven by Frank D'Angelo can be spotted at the Tropicana Laughlin Hotel and Casino in Nevada. There are currently plans underway to race both trucks during 2020, and it's pretty safe to assume that we'll see these two up close and personal at SEMA in November. When it first began the Best in the Desert consisted of two events: the World Championship Hare and Hound and the Las Vegas 300.

In 1987, it was established as an organization with a full series featuring three races: the World Championship Hare and Hound, Las Vegas 300, and US Hare Scrambles Championship. During 1989 the series grew even further as it then saw the addition of the Mesquite Gran Prix. As ATV popularity grew nationwide, the Best in the Desert introduced 4-wheel vehicles with the Inaugural Vegas to Reno event. Between 1997 and 1999 the series began to get rid of motorcycle-only events, and introduced the 7-day “Race into the Millennium” during 2000.

5 years ago the various partnerships and success grew once again when Mad Media came on board to the series and it now includes the UTV World Championship. All of us here at O'Rielly Chevy of Tucson are going to be glued to our web browsers to see how these two durable and off-road-ready trucks fare during this test, and hope that everyone has fun watching this true test of outdoor driving prowess!

2020 Corvette C8 Convertible Will Receive First-Ever Power Hard-Top

Ever since the C8 Corvette was formally introduced to the world in a large California airline hangar, journalists and enthusiasts all over have been able to enjoy a multitude of firsts. The first mid-engined Corvette has wowed people worldwide with its power potential, styling accents, and very sensible pricing. For the first time since 1953, the convertible model's  folding lid does not consist of cloth or vinyl. Every model until now has offered a convertible variant with roof material on the softer side.

The 2020 C8 Corvette's drop-top utilizes the first power-folding hardtop, which consists of two panels that can retract into a handy cubby behind the seats right on top of the engine. The top weighs in at just 80 pounds heavier than the standard coupe, and the panel under the folding roof has two exotic-looking peaks that flow behind each passenger's headrest into the tail. You can specify the roof with matching body color paint, or dark gray Carbon Flash. Chevy's thorough and precise engineers traded the old front-engine Corvette's hydraulic roof actuators for six electrical actuators, which are known for their reliability.

The new top's design allows for independent operation of the glass rear window, so it can be lowered while the roof stays up. The rear window can be raised to deflect wind when the top is down, which will also reduce wind presence in the cabin. Moving it down takes 16 seconds, and you can even do it with the car traveling up to 30 mph. There is also heat shielding around that cubby so the top doesn't roast while being stored, and special attention was given to not have the top contribute heavily to negative drag. The C8 convertible posts the same coefficient of drag as the coupe with the top raised, and the high-performance Z51 trim sports the same rear spoiler as the coupe.

We hope you come to visit us right here at O'Rielly Chevy of Tucson to inquire about the new C8: the mid-engine generation starts with the 2020 stingray. The coupe is powered by a Mid-Engine 6.2-liter Small Block LT2 V8 and goes from 0 to 60 in UNDER 3 seconds. This is the vehicle that completely fulfills the dream of Zora Arkus-Duntov, and one of the first traits drivers notice off the bat is the difference in handling: having the engine and transaxle be so low in the car is a great help. The steering wheel is on the small side, and if you're over six feet tall, you won't have much problem moving around while learning the ins and outs of this mid-engined and highly-awaited creation!