WhichCar.com Blog Provides the Scoop on C8 Corvette Cluster Headed up by GM Boss

Last week in this video posted by California-based realtor George Kenner, six C8 Corvettes are spotted driving along a road in Yuma, Arizona. Covered in camouflage as many spy shots and videos are, you can still make out enough visuals to stoke the imagination a bit and envision how exciting the fantastic and high-powered C8 will be when it arrives on the lot here at O'rielly Chevy of Tucson. Just after the 8:38 mark is where Mark Reuss can be spotted with a hefty smile on his face, enjoying the raw ability and power of the C8, and obviously enjoying killing it at his new responsibilities after being appointed president of GM earlier this year.

At the tail end of the fleet is the current C7 Corvette model, which the videographer thought for a split-second was an Audi R8, due to the clear mid-engined proportions that catch your eye first. Reports gleaned previously from Motor and Wheels Australia have gradually alluded to the final word regarding the next-generation Corvette, which has already been officially shown to Chevy dealers nationwide. Different leaked documents and computer-generated drawings lead many experts to believe that 4 different V8 engine configurations are likely for the C8.

The 6.2-liter LT1 V8 will most likely be one option, and a turbocharged 5.5-liter unit with a hybrid system will also likely be in the works. The folks on duty at the Road and Track blog had a great feature last month chock full of details regarding the arrival of the C8, and here you get to see a cool video of a fleet of five C8s testing in the snow-covered mountains of California. At this point, we are still under the impression that the car won't debut until early summer of this year, and some are keeping their eyes on the New York Auto show in April.

When we mull over the many various reasons we have to be thrilled about the coming of the C8, the time spent innovating and designing the engine is one of the elements at the top of the list. Many hours of studying and testing were put into the design of the cover that has been made with aiding cooling in mind, which may be why the rear of the car was always seen covered so frequently during testing. Another batch of photos featuring the C8 testing on the famed Nürburgring track revealed two very distinct cut lines on the roof, which makes us wonder if a removable roof panel will be part of this very exciting and track-ready contender.

Another patent that was dug up while gleaning the various newswires was one that GM filed for a clutch-by-wire system: it could potentially replace the traditional hydraulic master-and-slave cylinder mechanism by means of a high-tech electronic actuator situated in the transmission. A system like this would ultimately result in a much simpler actuation of the clutch, which would be of great benefit to a prototype featuring an engine located in the middle of the frame. We are definitely excited about the potential of seeing a run at the 24 Hours of Le Mans once this slice of heavily-horsepowered heaven hits the market, and we will all soon see the vision materialize that spanned half a century and many various drawing boards during the making!

2019 Blazer RS and 2019 Ford Edge Titanium Face Off For Title of Detroit's Best Two-Row Midsize SUV

When customers have their minds made up that they are making a new vehicle purchase, they sometimes have to go through the in-depth process of “duking it out,” and seeing how their choice ranks up against another. Our brand-new 2019 Chevy Blazer RS AWD is known for responsive and stable handling, its new found aggressive styling, and robust V-6 engine. Its sworn rival is absolutely the Ford Edge Titanium AWD: admittedly known for a very quiet cabin, comfortable pace, and practical interior layout.

The staff on hand at Car And Driver recognized right off the bat in an article pitting these two SUVs against each other that the Blazer is a two-row mid-size crossover, and not the extremely off-road ready, truck-based SUV that many longstanding torchbearers would like to see. Sharing a platform with the Cadillac XT5 and the GMC Acadia, the Blazer still brings the noise and muscle in incredibly high doses, and looks inspired by the Camaro doesn’t hurt. The Ford Edge is currently in its second generation, and the experts on deck at Car and Driver organized a 550-mile Blazer/Edge face-off in California, taking close account of each vehicle's unique strengths, interior, and driving dynamics.

The testing crew chose to opt for the Blazer's optional 308-hp 3.6-liter V-6, and this particular face-off definitely highlighted the fact that the driver-activated Sport settings on both vehicles really added to the fun factor and edgy punch many buyers are looking for. The team had a bit more love for the Ford's wheel-mounted paddle shifters which provide a bit more effective manual control, but at the same time doled out a bit more appreciation in the long run for the Chevy's high load of active safety tech. Our beloved Blazer certainly beat out the Ford in the braking department: it proved to be much more firm, with a pedal that touted fade-resistance, and a controlled body and suspension that leaves the driver feeling protected as well as precise.

When it comes to performance on twisty roads, the Edge has a softer suspension that  happened to be a bit too composed. The Blazer RS felt responsive and buttoned down even when it was traveling at a rapid pace, making it much easier to control on twisty roads. As both cars were enduring pretty severe punishment on uphill and downhill terrain, they respectably still nailed down the same 16-mpg average. When the spotlight fixates on the zero to sixty dash, the Blazer was .5-second quicker than the Edge, and proved to be overall more powerful, quicker, and stickier when it came to the all-important trait of track manners. The seating position ranked overall more comfortable in the Blazer, and the verdict came in that the Edge's seating position feels awkward in comparison.

After the final rankings came in, the Blazer was said to exhibit better execution, stronger performance, and a much more secure feel on the road. The overall DNA and spring in the chassis gleaned directly from Camaro was another trait that ranked a bit higher than the Ford during the trial of the road test: everyone here at O'Rielly Chevy is excited to back the winner from this very involved and rigorous showdown. Hunting, fishing, and exploring destinations far off the beaten path were all high on the destination list when the first Blazer rolled off the line, and they still are: we encourage you to explore the best in rugged locales after outfitting yourself with this able and proven new crossover SUV!

2020 Silverado HD's Mammoth Towing Capacity Outlined in Autoblog.com

Just before its reveal at Chicago Auto Show, the 2020 Chevy Silverado HD was proudly presented at an event in Flint, Michigan. The folks on staff at Autoblog.com now claim that this truck comes aptly armed with the ability to tow an astounding 35,000 pounds. This is more than just a casually notable increase, as it resides at a total increase of 52 percent. Payload is way up as well, now sitting at a very able and agile 7,466 pounds. Everyone here on duty at O'Rielly Chevy is consistently in awe at the power source that makes this all possible: the monstrous Duramax 6.6-liter turbo-diesel V8.

Producing 445 horsepower and 910 lb-ft of torque, there is now a larger 28-inch mechanical fan on board to keep the hard-working diesel engine cool. GM is actively pairing this engine with the brand-new Allison 10-speed automatic transmission, and the engine boasts a very modern and high-tech trait: it has the “smarts” to protect itself after a huge haul. If it's too hot after the completion of a heavy job, a message located in the cluster will tell the driver to keep the engine on, and if that nudge is ignored, the remote-start system will automatically engage to cool the engine down accordingly.

Every single component located between the wheels and transmission have been upgraded heartily to take on the brunt of the increased towing load. The prop shaft is now 30 percent larger, and the box ladder frame as well as axles have an increased rigidity and toughness to fully weather the most demanding of drives. Tell us which proposed grille from these images here is your favorite, as everyone who loves driving the Silverado has for the most part loved the “big and bigger” mantra that has been the defining vibe of annual grille evolution! Much painstaking effort has been put into making this truck tow-friendly, and the Ram Heavy Duty as well as 2019 Ford Super Duty numbers were outdone in terms of the revamp.

When hard-working people from all walks of life tell us what they need in a truck, many of the solutions stem from the abundance of modern camera angles. Just a decade or so ago you could not have access to valuable sight lines that literally protect your investment, and keep you safe during harrowing backups and beyond. We are very proud of our new trailering system that provides up to 15 camera angles, with one of them being the “transparent trailer” view that aids you in viewing any obstacles in the rear. It's also imperative that you check out the brand-new Park Grade Hold Assist Feature: with it you can now use all four service brakes to ensure the truck's held stoppage on a hill while carrying a heavy load. If chrome happens to be your thing, make sure to feast your eyes on the LT and LTZ trims: they don't skimp on the royal silver treatment, and up the ante for appearance on the Silverado to the nines!

2019 Camaro ZL1 1LE's New Transmission Option Featured on Nseavoice.com

The 1LE package for the Camaro was definitely a game changer for fans and track addicts nationwide, and at the time of release, was only able to be fitted onto models with a manual transmission. As the staff of Nseavoice.com pointed out in a feature this week, Chevy is now offering the package for the automatic transmission. Offered on the ZL1 1LE model, it adds a large wing, and super cool spool-valve shocks. Also said to improve speed, the automatic will now be able to go even faster on the track than the manual model.

The ZL1 1LE will be receiving the automatic transmission in February, giving it a noticeable edge over rough-and-tumble sworn rivals like the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500. This is the powerful model that sees the addition of a supercharger on the V-8, boosting the output to 650 horsepower, and installing a host of awesome suspension and styling upgrades. Those on duty and reporting the automotive goods day in and out at Car and Driver claimed that this is “one of the most solid values there is” within the fast-car category, and loved the power that the V8 swapped from the Corvette Z06 eagerly provides.

The upgrade offers a manually adjustable front suspension that really is the icing on the cake as far as what is available when you reach true supercar territory, as this is a creation of the utmost “royal in racing” caliber that stops from 70 MPH in just 143 feet. Standard equipment now includes power front seats with heating and ventilation, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control. The touchscreen infotainment system is known to be among the industry's most user-friendly platforms, featuring clear menus, large on-screen buttons, and the best in features such as 4G LTE an Apple CarPlay as well as Android Auto capability.

This model is the third member of the sixth-generation Camaro 1LE family, following in the footsteps of the V6 1LE, and the V-8 powered SS 1LE. As the skilled team at Motor Trend claimed, redoing the grille helped with the task of increasing the amount of airflow into a few of the 11 radiators on board the ZL1, not just succeeding in cooling the engine off, but helping with aerodynamics to boot. After extreme testing sessions, they also claimed that the biggest difference between the ZL1 and the 1LE are the shocks. The spool-valve advantage is boiled down to low-speed rebound and compression: they both are drastically different when traveling at a faster rate.

The dampers are hard-mounted to the body, and the tires incorporate the only rubber that exists in the suspension: there are no rubber bushings to be found on this model. The Camaro team knows that track rats love to make tweaks to their prized belongings, and front-end ride height, the anti-roll bar in the rear, ability to mod the trick shocks cater to the extremest in all car fans out there. Goodyear was tasked with developing a tire that won't “quit after one lap,” and the ZL1 1LE rolls on 305/30ZR19 fronts, and 325/30ZR19 rears. All of us on sales and service staff here at O'Rielly Chevy would love to help you experience the excitement of the ZL1 1LE: one of the most memorable quotes we have seen regarding its racing quality this year is: “I'm clapping my hands on the straights; this thing is an uncaged race car!”

2020 Silverado HD's Otherworldly Towing Ability Outlined By Jalopnik.com

As the month of February is open up here in Tucson, those who were the most eager to get their hands on a new car or truck have most definitely had time to look at the specs, figure out trim preferences, and get ready to test drive! The 2019 models are where most have their sights, and the group of trucks that are eagerly making their way off the lot into happy new owners' hands. However, the full lineup of 2020 Chevy Silverado HD trucks was featured on the Jalopnik blog this week, making some think about the bounty that will roll of the trucks ready for use after another season's wait.

This trusty bunch will now be available with the 6.6-liter Duramax turbo-diesel with 910 lb-ft of torque, and capable of a staggering max tow payload of 35,000 pounds! This is a whopping 52 percent improvement over the outgoing model, and it all was able to take place because of a large number of changes made to the engine, as well as the rest of the truck. The frame of the ladder is now stiffer, the axles, as well as prop shaft, are larger, and there's a label that specifies curb weight, gross vehicle weight rating, gross axle weight rating, and max payload specific to each model. Every truck is now longer, wider, and taller, while also boasting a greater amount of space inside.

If you don't choose to go with the option of the 445 horsepower, 910 lb-ft of torque turbo-diesel paired to the ten-speed automatic, there is also the choice of a 6.6-liter V8 gasoline engine, which can easily cook up 401 hp and 464 lb-ft of torque, and flaunts an 18-percent towing capacity gain over the current model. The new lineup will be offered in five different trims. The Work Truck variant sports the black grille bar behind the familiar Chevy namesake, and the Custom Trim which is only available on the 2500 model receives the body-colored grille bar, LT and LTZ Trims get super-cool chrome accents, and the High Country offers up the pleasantly menacing big bow tie grille.

The diesel models will see larger hood scoops, as well as Duramax decals, and there will also be a new, larger bed-side step that's now rated for 500 pound-capability. Materializing some of the most practical yet ingenious new tech out there, a new 15-angle trailer camera setup is also on board, with a feature that allows you to see right through the trailer being towed. There are snow plow attachment points in the front for those who have to deal with the dreaded white stuff from time to time, and a new Park Grade Hold Assist that activates all four brakes at once.

There truly is a war at hand in the truck world, and the most payload, torque, and towing ability are alluring qualities. Next year's batch of burly Silverados does not want to represent anything close to what the smart car/small sedan category evokes: the “bigger is best” mantra is going to long hold heavy sentiment and ruggedly tough presence here at O'Rielly!

Electric Chevy eCopo Camaro Makes Waves at Wild Horse Pass Strip

Customers that come to talk to us about a new vehicle purchase here at O'Rielly Chevy have been asking more and more about electrification lately: even though daily drivers like the Volt have gained popularity, are the prized members of the muscle club going to ever fully convert? As little as two years ago, just about every racing enthusiast out there would have said that the raw power and excitement felt by use of gas-powered engines could never cross over to electric-power, and now it is becoming evident that things are changing faster than ever before.

Even though it is probably a bit frustrating to those who never wanted to see the progression of electric power find its way to the sports car category, Motor Trend themselves provided the scoop regarding the new Chevy eCopo Camaro's antics on drag strips just like the ones quarter-mile maniacs frequent. In an exciting moment at Arizona's Wild Horse Pass drag strip, an electrified Camaro “from the not-so-distant future” was seen strutting its stuff. The first pass was taken at just half of the Camaro's variable ramp rate, and even in this setting, it was able to nail down a 10.14-second quarter-mile. Once the motors had been dialed up the entire way to 100, it succeeded at nabbing a 10.03 second time, with much of the credit given to the eCopo's two amazing dual-stacked electric motors, that are capable of generating a whopping 800 horsepower, and 634 lb-ft of torque.

Instead of the Tesla's design that incorporates two motors hooked up to each axle, the Camaro has them arranged in the same spot as the engine, and connected directly to the automatic transmission. The 32 kWh battery pack is charged up before every run, ensuring the existence of a very “wicked brew” of high-tech engineered power before every run. This eCopo Camaro is a part of GM's shift towards a more environmentally-friendly future, touting no crashes on the road, congestion, and the ultimate goal of zero emissions.

During the 2019 SEMA show, Chevy first teased audiences with a view of the current 2019 concept, then published a video here showing the electric drag racer doing a burnout minus any noise at all from the engine. The staff on duty at The Drive.com claims that the eCopo “does all the things that you expect a drag monster to do,” including pulling wheelies off the line, and crushing the opposition stealthily. The car can usually complete three quarter-miles passes before the battery drains, then needing about 30 minutes of charge time to power up once again. Watching this much power hit the track with the full-on spirit of dire racing competition is truly exciting, and it is amazing to witness the silence ensuing around such high levels of performance.

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!