Sabino Canyon and Beyond: Ultimate Destinations for Your 2018 Chevy Traverse

Tucson is one of those cities that is special for an abundance of reasons: the consistently warm climate, nearby areas with cactus and red rock to enjoy the landscape, with many parks and lake locations to put a true SUV to the test. Sabino Canyon is a desert oasis located in the Coronado National Forest, and is about the most awesome nearby place there is to spot wildlife. During the winter and rainy seasons of the summer, beautiful pools of water form in the unique outcroppings here, and you can spot Palo Verde trees, as well as Cholla and Prickly Pear cactus varieties.

Deep in the heart of northern Mexico during 1887, an earthquake took place that dislodged a large section of massive boulders, which came crashing down to finally rest in the valley below. In 1905, the Forest Service began overseeing Sabino Canyon, and during the depression, jobs were created by the building of bridges over Sabino creek, as well as the dam. Access to cars is restricted, and once you arrive, hiking by foot and taking their tram are the most practical means of seeing the Canyon and what it has to offer.

For expeditions such as this, a vehicle like the 2018 Chevy Traverse is more than ideal: it is recently been redesigned from the ground up, and offers seating for up to eight. If you are currently in the market for a dominating machine that can haul and transport a large family or work crew, the upped level of trim choices features the L, LS, LT, and Premier options, along with the all-new sporty RS, and top-of-the-line High Country level of trim. The Redline package is also another new option that offers a more blacked-out appearance, and very awesome new red accents.

While racking up top scores in government and insurance industry crash tests, the Traverse really holds its own as a vehicle that is less cumbersome in tight spots than the Suburban, from the brand we all stand behind with full confidence. The Premier model comes with 20-inch alloy wheels, very stylish power-folding mirrors, blind spot monitoring system, a rear-cross traffic alert system, and forward collision warning. Inside, you'll find premium leather upholstery, driver memory settings, an 8-way power front passenger seat, ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and full-fledged navigation system.

The Traverse lends much proof to the notion that “The biggest is best”, and features a 3.6-liter V6 engine that produces 281 horsepower, and 266 lb-ft of torque from the LT and LS trim models. You're going to be blown away with the Premier model's dual exhaust outlets, and the smooth shifting flow of the 6-speed automatic transmission. In all but the Base LS model, buyers have a choice of standard front-wheel or optional all-wheel drive, and you'll be exploring all of the best the Tucson area has to offer at an estimated 18 MPG. As the sun sets in the desert and the heat eases just a touch, the Traverse is gonna be the prime contender to help you kick up some desperado-influenced dust!

It's Raining Awards, and The Camaro Rivals Moxie: 2017 Achievements Scorecard

 Our obsession with muscle cars is so very understandable: what is not appealing about a two-door coupe or convertible that can scorch the surface of any road? Add to that the way this formidable yet menacing beast has evolved into its current 6th-generation status, and you'll see why many dragster fans and speed demons are in love with the legendary brand. Ralph Nader touted the car in a bit of a negative light in his book Unsafe at Any Speed, and we're going to hurriedly admit that it has never worried us for even a split second.


The 6th-generation Camaro weighs 200 lbs less than the previous model, and now over 70% of its components are unique to the car, and not shared at the same time by any other GM product. When you visit us on the lot here in Tucson, ask about the ZL1 1LE package: it's tested to be three seconds faster during tests at the Milford Road Course, and top speed is rumored to be around an astonishing 198 mph.

When many drivers take their first look at a Camaro, they are sold. The potential for high speeds, amazing look, and strong presence in events such as the NASCAR Nationwide Series have allowed many to see just how versatile and all-around awesome this car is to own. J.D. Power and Associates named the Camaro the "Most Dependable, Midsize Sporty Car, Five Years in a Row," an achievement many would be proud to claim. This company conducts surveys of consumer satisfaction, product quality and patterns in buyer behavior in the auto industry. Primarily consisting of consumer surveys, they are known for digging up opinions with a globally-solid foundation.

Car and Driver is a world-class publication in Ann Arbor, Michigan that is popular for their slightly irreverent tone, and their general disdain for the SUV model-worshipping crowd. They listed the Camaro in their "2017 Car and Driver 10Best," an honor that even an established racehorse would be proud of. Published in Germany, Switzerland, the U.K. and Spain on top of the United States, they continue to be an authority on really stepping up and "telling it like it is" in terms of auto quality.

Kelley Blue Book nominated the Camaro last year for "Best Resale Value," a distinguished claim that counts in a very important category: dollars and cents. In a post-recession landscape, the bottom line still holds grave importance, and if you ever chose to get rid of your prized Camaro, you won't be left short-changed. Scorching from 0-60 in just 3.5 seconds, we don't know why you'd ever want to do so, but if the time comes, you'll know that you still have the ability to acquire some extra greenbacks.

As you blaze off towards the desert in a gorgeous Tucson summer night with a new Camaro, you're going to immediately see the effect of the massive upper and lower grille openings: it allows for the maximum cooling effect. The 3-stanchion spoiler increases downforce, and you're gonna love how the rocker moldings complete the out-of-this-world aero package. When the first Camaro rolled off the line in 1966, it was bound for stardom, and the awards received over the past year solidify its long-standing nature.

2017 Chevy Malibu Super Spotlight: Multiple Awards + Focus on Features

As families across the Tucson metro area look for the ultimate sedan to meet their needs, there are many different objectives they want to cover, and reasons they pick the car they do. Consumer reports weigh in heavily on decisions: some who are buying a new car appreciate reviews about the features from those with the same concerns as them. One great thing about the Chevy Malibu is the awards it has snagged up this year: With Available Front Automatic Braking, this car can automatically apply the brakes to help avoid a collision when traveling at speeds under 50 mph.

The Malibu was named as Top Safety Pick for the IIHS this year, an honor that is given after the vehicle measures up well in crashworthiness tests. These are regarding how well a vehicle has the ability to protect its occupants during a crash. The tests span five categories: small overlap front, moderate overlap front, roof strength and head restraints, as well as pulling down an advanced or superior rating for front crash prevention.

Knowing that the Malibu fares this well will give any new owner peace of mind, and the confidence that their changes of safety are upped drastically during a collision. The fact that the Malibu is a bit larger in the long run helps with its safety ranking: when it boils down to it, a tiny car simply does not offer the protection of a sturdy sedan.

U.S. News and World Report awarded the Malibu Best Midsize Car for Families for 2017, as well as the Best Hybrid for Families. Owning the Malibu is not just to be liked, it's to be loved, and the car was constructed with the highest efficiency and engineering prowess there is. The aerodynamic sculpting and available LED daytime running lamps provide a sense of character for the Malibu that is unparalleled, and evoke a one-of-a-kind charm that you'll be proud to pull up in. To say that the Malibu is head turning is an understatement, and it is one of the most revolutionary and feature-filled vehicles out there today.

It is powered by a 1.8L hybrid engine, which offers 49 MPG around the city, and one very exciting feature is the Driver Efficiency Gauge -- it provides feedback on how your driving habits effect the fuel economy, and help you get the most out of every single gallon you put in. As of late, manufacturers and engineers in the auto industry have been making some truly earth-shaking advances, and the turn towards cleaner energy will change the face of new cars permanently.

Preventing collisions before they happen is one of the most important ways the Malibu can help your family: Front and rear parking assist as well as front pedestrian braking can be a lifesaver in more ways than one, and come to your aid in the heat of the moment. Lane change alert along with side blind zone alert will help anyone from a big city commuter to a country dwelling young coupe, as sometimes conditions and the drivers next to you change in a heartbeat.

Adaptive cruise control and front automatic braking are a few other ways that the Malibu promotes safety, and ease a healthy longevity into you and your passengers' journey, The 2017 Malibu is absolutely a car to get excited seeing us at O'Rielly for, and we wanted our followers to be fully aware of its award-winning past and future!

RST Special Edition Prepares the Tahoe and Suburban to Tremble the Tucson Streets

The Suburban and Tahoe are able and trustworthy vehicles: they are known for their excellent ability to haul, climb and transport anyone from the little league to the debate club in style. The RST is designed specifically for drivers who want the coveted and current street performance look, without having to skimp on the capability or other trusty qualities of this vehicle. You can now come on down to O'Rielly and check out how awesome a few new modifications are: when you opt for the Performance Package, it includes a 420-hp, 6.2L V-8 engine, Magnetic Ride Control with performance calibration and an all-new Hydra-Matic 10L80 10-speed automatic transmission.

The RST will be available on Tahoe and Suburban models during the fall this year, and is heavily inspired by trends prominent in the aftermarket arena. All of the previous chrome trim has been eliminated, part of what gives the vehicle a simplified and able appearance. The bod-color grille surround and door handles have also been changed as well as gloss-black grille and mirror caps, black roof rails, window trim, badging, as well as the trademark Chevy bowties. The RST also includes the very able and sturdy 22-inch wheels for traction, nicely gift-wrapped in Bridgestone P28/45R 22 tires.

Even though these vehicles are perfectly equipped to hit the road on an arid and sun-kissed Tucson weekend, there are also a few other upgrades that will make the RST even more appealing to you. There is an available Borla performance exhaust system that offers a 20 percent boost in exhaust flow, resulting in a 7-10 horsepower gain from the rear wheels. Some drivers are finicky about their braking capabilities and the RST also can be beefed up with a front red Brembo six-piston, fixed aluminum brake caliper package that provides an 84 percent increase in brake pad area. Duralife rotors feature a hardened surface that will allow you to come to a stop more quietly, and with less vibration.

When you come visit us to check out the Performance Package, we'll show you how you can heftily beef up your street presence with a stealth performance calibration Magnetic Ride Control, 6.2L V-8, and the brand new 10L80 10-speed automatic transmission. This is the first time ever that the Tahoe features the 6.2L V-8, and you'll notice right away the difference with delivery of 420-horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque.

Don't worry if you're helping out your contractor buddy, or planning a spur-of-the-moment trip to the lake: the Tahoe RST Performance Package will have the ability to tow 8,400 pounds, and get up to 60 MPH in less than 6 seconds. There's even more reason to set your sights on these two popular vehicles this year, and see how excited you'll be to have fun in a brand new one right around the time school is back in session. The Fall brings the promise of abundant change, and the RST will no doubt supercharge your daily schedule.

Scorching Summer Energy-Saver’s Update: Chevy Bolt EV Arrives on Lots A Month Early

The long-awaited Bolt EV was supposed to go on sale in all 50 states during September of this year, but GM has altered their plans. Head Representative Fred Ligouri confirmed recent reports that the brand new Bolt EV will be released nationally during the scorching late summer month of August.

Drivers in Tucson that have been closely following the world of electric power will have a great reason to be excited: this is one vehicle that even gives Tesla a strong sense of competition. It’s known for being quick on its feet and ultra fun to drive, and it is a 10Best winner to boot.

When you come pay us a visit at Orielly and see just how awesome the Bolt EV is, you’ll be checking out a vehicle that is powered smartly by a floor-mounted battery. It provides lively juice for a 200-horsepower electric motor, which provides a 96 MPGe and a 75-mph highway range measuring in at 190 miles. The cabin is equipped with a 10.2-inch touchscreen, and loaded with infotainment goodies such as Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and 4G LTE WI-fi for your passengers’ surfing contentment.

One glance at the Bolt EV makes it very obvious that this is a move towards a very mass appeal for the electric option, and it is capable of a 200-mile driving range. When you come visit us right here at Orielly, we can check to see if you qualify for a lucrative tax credit, softening the initial pressure of the purchase a bit for you. Car and Driver itself claims that the Bolt EV is “worthy of all the breathless hype that’s been showered on the Tesla Model 3”. During a road test that imitated a long highway road trip, the cruise control was set at 75, and the climate set to maintain a temperature of around 72 degrees.

That wore the battery down in about 190 miles, which is definitely not too bad, considering the state of electric cars just a decade ago. You’ll notice a very distinct level of chassis-tuning: that of the Bolt EV ranks right up there with the Malibu and Cadillac CT6. The steering is clean, the turning is avid, and the ride is just as smooth as you’d wish from an electric counterpart.

The default driving mode is the well-engineered preset that is designed for those who are used to gasoline engines, and there is a small paddle behind the left steering wheel spoke that increases the regenerative braking amount. When it’s held firmly, it can bring the car to a complete stop, and it should be noted that the car has to warm up a bit before it successfully can do this. At around 3500 pounds, the Bolt is heavy for a vehicle this size, but one must understand that it is pretty light for a car housing a battery pack of this type inside. If you need an awesome place to eat after driving, check out Cafe Poca Cosa: a grade A upscale cafe known for very creative flair, and a memorable Arizona stale of prime Mexican cuisine.

Safety features like a backup camera can never come in too handy: they prevent many accidents that can happen if backing up too quickly when you are in a hurry. Once you safely are on your way and engaging the pleasantly hot Tucson pavement, Sport Mode is the setting where you can feel that punchy acceleration off the line, but still leaves the driver with a sense of gutsy grip and control. The observed MPGe number definitely outperforms the Kia Soul EV, and has been deemed in an entirely different league than many other plug-in hybrids. Come see us at Orielly over the late summer months to experience how awesome the Bolt is: the future is already here as far as electric cars go, and is ready to be accessible + widely embraced.

Testing Tucson's Off Road Offerings to the Max: 2017 ZR2 Sweet Spots + Overview

Since we live in a region that definitely falls under the category of rugged, trucks that love to

wander off the pre-fabricated path are in high demand. There is nothing quite like seeing a sunset at a place such as Charouleau Gap: we have so many great locations like this right at our fingertips. Desert cactus are a sure sign that you're getting close to a cool location to put your truck to the test, and see what it can really do. The Colorado ZR2 is an extreme off-roader, and GM hasn't tackled an able project like this since the hummer stopped production around 7 years ago. This is a truck that was not designed to be hulking and overbearing, but a machine that you can avidly dash over boulders and through sand with.

It comes with front, rear, and center locking differentials, 31-inch tires, and a 2.0-inch lift, as well as a track that is 3.5-inches wider than the Colorado Z71. As you are in an off-road domain really putting this vehicle to the test, we are going to tell you right off the bat what you can expect to be over-the-top kick-ass about this truck, and it is absolutely the shocks. They are Dynamic Suspensions Spool Valve dampers, and their original purpose was to be for use in Indy and F1 cars. The Camaro Z/28 used a pair as well, and so giving them rigorous use on a truck gets tons of points for thinking righteously and thoroughly outside the box.

These shocks actually use a spring-activated spool valve, which provides more precise of a job done, and helps drastically to prevent overheating. The difficult mission of making the ZR2 into the image of what was envisioned called for an all-new version, with the two remote chambers that are located off the main cylinder to deliver the type and resilience of wheel travel that is required for off-roading. Multiple damping and rebound curves are offered as well, that allow Chevy to tune them in a way which allows them to function at top precision on a wide variety of terrain.

When you “make the leap” and catch air in this truck, you are really going to notice a standout element: it lands like gum. Not necessarily super glue, but the gummy feeling of calculated jumps during off-road happiness landing with hours of engineering expertise behind your last stunt. This truck immediately has the power to settle down and compose its prowess, ready to be put to the test again.

With 369 lb – ft of torque, this diesel is naturally at home in wild environments. You can pretty much tally up all of the other great essentials such as heated seats, great navigational features, and built-in Wi-Fi on this stunty and special ride. Supposedly, this awesome vehicle made it up the Rubicon without getting stuck or needing any assistance, a claim that the Hummer H3 Alpha could not sustain, after reportedly having difficulty getting frequently left behind during the same venture. This is a very unique toy for those who love to wander, and the greater Tucson area is among the best to put it to the test. Come see us at the dealership to find out how you can conquer the roads with the baddest new game in town... and experience the agility and prowess of the Colorado ZR2. 

Orielly Autos Up-close Analysis 2017 Chevy Cruze Diesel Delivers

It is fantastic to be sitting smack-dab in the middle of the season where many outsiders come to visit and see how much the greater Tucson area has to offer. You really get the chance to open up your vehicle of choice on our winding roads, and check out awesome landmarks in the surrounding area: the Santa Catalina Mountains and off-roading allure of Yuma lure many. The Cruze is not necessarily an off-road capable token of entry, but all the better to get there with: this is a very cool small sedan that has been doing an excellent job of commanding its share of the market.

After the recession when gas prices spiked, GM took on the task of attempting to win at the game of slightly small car manufacturing back, and all of our sales and service staff are ecstatic that they did. The timing for the Cruze's release could not be better, and new owners appreciated the extra dose of upper-end style it possessed. Three million units have since been sold globally, and what we are laying our eyes on today is a new for 2017, turbocharged 1.6-liter diesel four cylinder version. Equipped with either a nine-speed automatic transmission or six-speed manual, the Cruze cooks up 137 horsepower, while also laying down 240 lb-ft of torque. This is what diesels are known for, and we wanted to show you some of the finer points of this release, after it was forced to navigate some murky waters during winter.

The first thing we noticed before we drove it is that no matter what your preferences are, you're probably going to enjoy it heaps more than the Cobalt, its predecessor. Erase from your mind any ideas of a featureless econobox that is simply not fun, because the extra flash packed into the Cruze is going to get you excited to drive it in a hurry. Even though the 8-second clocking of the 0-60 time isn't lightening fast, the Cruze's finest point is that it serves up pure excellence on the highway mileage factor. Right at about 52 miles per gallon, it also moves along like a larger car. This proved to cause us a lot of satisfaction, because we don't always like the unprotected feel of a tiny entity drifting along the very populated path of an interstate.

An important thing to keep in mind this year is that this is your only other choice besides VW in the diesel game, and the one that really offers a big-ride feel in a smaller-car package. You're also going to love the Infotainment options: for the price that the Cruze is, you don't always get this clean (and loud!) of a setup. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, USB and AUX ports, connectivity for Bluetooth, Sirius XM radio, and OnStar Navigation with 4G lite are all here for the taking.

We actually will take the liberty of claiming that these offerings boost the Cruze's comfort (and functional) status up to a luxury category, which is nearly impossible at any other rung of this pricing point. A good amount of rear-seat space for whoever wants to join the caravan, as well as trunk space for a long trip or mega grocery haul are other good attributes for family consumers. If you want the regular gas version of the Cruze, you are welcome to go for it: but trust us, you're going to be won over with the features and dominant traits of the diesel. Come see us at Orielly Chevrolet this summer, and check out the practical yet fun ways that this car is going to completely win you over!