Chevy Colorado Featured in Two Out-of-site Outdoor Performance Tests

In and around Memphis, there are a few standout spots where you can put your favorite off road vehicle to the ultimate test. We are still poised in some of the best weather there is to do so: September and October provide an abundance of opportunities to open up your truck in some mud and get down to business. Covington Pike Trails is located parallel to I-240 just west of Hwy 51 and is one location that is known for mud. You can savor every second of freedom outside of whatever ties you up from the 9-5 on trails like this, and enjoy putting the high-quality shocks of trucks like the Colorado ZR2 under extreme pressure.

The Hatchie Trails are located on the north side of the city limits and are a top-notch place to get in some rough and rugged playtime. If you have a bit more time set aside for a weekend adventure, check out Wooly's off-road park: Right off of I-65 in between Nashville and Alabama, it is close to Lewisburg and Culleoka on Mooresville Road. Open on Saturdays and Sunday's, camping is included if you pay for two days, and at $15 per person and $30 per vehicle per day, we deem it a bargain. Mud holes, gullies, steep hills, and rocky ditches are just some of the varied terrain you'll find waiting to challenge you here.

The Colorado ZR2 is such a suitable contender in the off-road world, that it took the honor of being featured on the track in two very high-profile races coming soon. First featured in last weekend's 550-mile "Vegas to Reno" race, it was the official entry from the Hall Racing team. This production class pickup is going to be running the stock 3.6-liter V6 engine, with an 8-speed automatic transmission. With a 3.5-inch wider rear track, a 3-inch lift, skid plates, and the high-tech and revolutionary DSSV Multimatic suspension, there were some minor modifications done to the truck to get it up to par for this dusty and demanding event.

Installation of lightbars, safety harnesses, roll cages, and a 44- gallon fuel tank was some of the additives to the Colorado ZR2 that prepped it up to the point of being ready for rock crawling and loose dirt. When the results of the race came in, the ZR2 was the only stock truck to both compete in and finish the race. Driven by Chad Hall and Frank DeAngelo of Hall racing, it completed the rigors and punishment of the 539-mile course in 18 hours and 50 minutes, and an average speed of 28.6 MPH.

All of the way on the other side of the world, the Colorado is preparing for a very unorthodox and exciting form of race: the "SuperUtes" is launching down under in Australia next year, in a multi-city presentation of raw excitement. A diesel version with a 340 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque rating is going to go the distance for the events, using a spec kit that comes with springs, brakes, and appropriate exhaust.

The first Super Utes event has completed the planning stages, and will take place in the city of Townsville next July. After that, Ipswich, Bathurst, Gold Coast, and Newcastle are all the next stops slated for action, with the Colorado and Ford Ranger to be highlights of this new adrenaline-surging series. Turbo-diesel, dual cab vehicles will be the replacement of V-8 Falcon and Commodore trucks that have been featured since 2001, and the Colorado ZR2 is expected to show everyone in the outback just who is the boisterous and consistently ruling boss.

A Memphis Milestone in Efficiency: Chevy Bolt Enjoys Top Honors from Consumer Reports

From sights like the Fire Museum to the interesting nooks of the Cotton Exchange, every single Memphis resident has abundant opportunities to enjoy living in a city that has a distinct flair, and is a noticeable notch above the rest in hospitality. Other city dwellers in locations such as the Pacific Northwest may be under the impression that car buyers in Memphis are not as concerned as others with electric cars, and the improvement of the environment. But many conversations with those on the lot have told us otherwise, and we hear from many avid consumers who are excitedly watching the disappearance of the need for fuel on the very near horizon.

It was just recently announced that the Chevy Bolt electric vehicle has claimed first place for all-electric vehicles in Consumer Reports' testing, by achieving the feat of 250 miles on a single charge. In another industry test, the Bolt went head to head against the 2016 Tesla Model S 75D, which ran out of juice at the 235-mile mark. The Bolt Triumphantly pushed on for another 15 miles, and we are proud to offer a vehicle that is the main contender as far as the electric performance spectrum is concerned. The Consumer Reports Auto Test Center pushes cars to their performance limits across 327 acres in spacious Connecticut, where there is plenty of time and space to make a positive or negative ruling on performance.

The cars team tests around 60 vehicles per year, driving them for a grand total of around 900,000 miles. Data regarding the reliability and satisfaction of the cars is collected from our subscribers to add weight to the decisions, and a full-time staff of 30 individuals is needed to complete the demanding and thorough job. Consumer Reports purchases every vehicle they test from a dealer, and this gives them the opportunity to be very thorough with the ways in which result in the best possible information given to the customer. Each vehicle is driven for 2,000 break-in miles over the course of several weeks, before the very structured testing even begins.

Cars are not chosen for just their ability in the range category: the Bolt did exceptionally well for its very agile handling, and the cabin that is pretty noise-free. You could just about purchase two Chevy Bolts for the price of what the Tesla Model S 75D is, and Car and Driver states that it is “also good enough to be worthy of all the breathless hype showered on the Tesla Model 3”. Taking a bit of the range anxiety out of the equation and offering killer features such as a 360-degree view camera system, The Chevy Bolt is an excellent choice for anyone looking to take the gas-powered element out of their daily commute.

Food Truck Fridays: Pile up in the 2018 Chevy Traverse and Play Hooky

Visitors that come talk to us have sometimes just relocated to Memphis: they may be here for a brand new career or to further their education, and they are looking for things to do on their free time. Vehicles like the 2018 Chevy Traverse offer quite a bit as far as space: with seating for up to 8, you have no shortage of ability to get really creative when it comes to down-time activities. During Food Truck Fridays at the Dixon Gallery and Gardens, there are 3 to 4 food vendors on hand each week, offering everything from barbecue and sushi, to tasty frozen desserts. Every Friday through September, there's no admission charge from 11:30 – 1:30 PM.

Local entrepreneurs have been showing their flair all over the nation as of late, and more and more city dwellers are falling in love with the food trucks that can be found on many street corners around town. Foregoing the security of a steady gig, these culinary-inclined folks are dishing up some of the best eats imaginable, and really putting their heart and soul into every plateful. Here at Chuck Hutton Chevy, we have our hats respectfully off to these craftsmen and women, and encourage all of our customers to check out horizon-broadening events like this.

As far as the medium to get there? The all-new Traverse is redesigned from the ground up, offering the best-in-class maximum cargo space, and more space overall than the Explorer, Pilot, or Highlander. There are more trim choices available this year: L, LS, LT, and Premier are the primary options, followed up with the sporty RS and top-of-the-line High Country trim levels. A Redline package is also available on Premier, which features a blacked-out appearance and red accents.

During trips of any distance, you'll love the Enhanced Smart Slide seat: it provides immediate access to the third row, even with an empty forward-facing child seat in place. All three rows have USB charging, so keeping the web-surfing devices fully loaded will be a cinch. Teen Driver Technology is on board to assure that the younger drivers in your bunch are playing by the rules, driving with caution, and getting a safe mode of use from the Traverse. Rear Vision Cameras are probably one of the most exciting devices on cars today: so many accidents can be prevented at a glance when backing up, and the Traverse has the best in show.

When you are loading up and getting ready to go, keep in mind that you have access to 98.2 cubic feet for cargo, and underfloor cargo storage totaling 3.2 cubic feet. The center console is what you'd usually encounter in a full-size truck, and there are 23 separate storage spots throughout the vehicle for passengers in all three rows.

Surround Vision is going to make you feel at your best when it comes to being safe and secure: you can obtain a bird's eye view of the vehicle to help make hauling a trailer, moving in reverse, or parallel parking that much easier. Ask us how the Premier and High Country trim levels give you heated and ventilated leather-trimmed front seats, as well as heated second-row outboard seats for all-weather comfort.

One of the best reasons for owning a Traverse is ever-changing road conditions: after a look and a test drive, you'll see just how this dominating beast can handle just fine, even when the driving conditions are the exact opposite. Edmunds, Inc. claims that this is a vehicle with a “suspension that delivers an exceptionally comfortable ride quality, and the body structure and sound-deadening materials keep wind and road noise at bay”.

What Memphis Summer Dreams are made of: Corvette Cruises + Achievement Status

Cool and inspiring enough for even the likes of James Bond himself, the Corvette has had appearances in various major films, and has been on many status quo wish lists for decades.  Displaying the need for freedom and high level of prowess on the road, the Corvette has long been a symbol of sophistication, raw power, and the sleekest engineering on the planet. It was originally designed as a show car for the 1953 Motorama display at the New York Auto Show, and enough interest was stoked for GM to consider making a publicly sold version.

The earliest generation was often labeled the "solid-axle" models, as the ones with independent rear suspension did not come about until the second generation. Great care was taken to hand-build 300 Corvettes by the 1953 model year, and a legendary automobile line was born. During the following year, 3,640 models were built, and some execs lost a bit of sleep at night, as they sold a bit slowly. Due to the slower movement, production was limited to 700 models for the following year. Proudly sporting a V-8 Engine as an option, the 0-60 drive time was drastically improved by 1.5 seconds.

In 1956, a brand new body was introduced, and the drastic visual element of the missing taillamp fins altered the finished product quite a bit. An optional fuel injection system was made available the following year, and a major milestone was then achieved: it was one of the first mass-produced engines in history to reach 1bhp per cubic inch, which Chevy's advertising agency used to incorporate the slogan "one hp per cubic inch," luring buyers to familiarize themselves with the brand that was now taking off.

Just two years ago, the C7.R was developed, and made its debut on the track during the 2015 Rolex Motorsports Reunion. From Paul Barrett Parkway to Sam Cooper Boulevard right here in Memphis, there are many fantastic locations to take a 'Vette for a spin, and the conditions during the summer are the absolute best to get out and happily burn some rubber. Those making their way into the dealership are mesmerized by the 460-hp thrown down by the V8 engine, and the 0-60 in 3.7 seconds liftoff time. The edge-lit LED turn signals are framed in black chrome housing, and the ultra-cool high-mounted stop lamp is mounted smack-dab in the middle of the rear spoiler.

Car and Driver is a monthly publication out of the "everything-auto" state: Michigan. Read by more than 1.23 million, they are known for a bit of a sordid slant, which has been proven to be greatly appreciated by car enthusiasts worldwide. Also known for covering ground that is sometimes thought to be controversial, they even inject ample doses of politics and other daily grind material in their reviews. The Corvette was selected by Car and Driver as part of their 10Best for the year, another honor that steers many towards the purchasing point.

With a goal of laying out just what a pleasurable driving experience can be, vehicles that offer outstanding value, excel at their given mission, and deliver an over-the-top driving experience are the ones that usually make the cut. Feel free to pay us a visit and see how the flowing design of a Stingray suits you: there are many perfectly-engineered instruments to help you keep your focus on the road, and a wildly impressive power-to-weight ratio.

Available Magnetic Selective Ride Control is a real-time damping system that actually takes a read of the road every millisecond, and has the ability to adjust for new pockets of terrain in under 15 milliseconds flat. The Corvette is one of those vehicles that is immediately recognizable and distinguished: the Chevy family is proud to be mentioned in first-rate publications, while Summer's Kiss lingers for a bit longer.