2021 Chevy Tahoe High Country's Felt Presence Is “Big, Broad, and Powerful”

Even as a movement for incredibly efficient and tiny-sized cars has gained steam within some circles, everyone here at Chuck Hutton Chevy of Memphis still appreciates the big-and-bad stature of a large vehicle that can appropriately command the road! The Tahoe is now new for 2021, and it boasts more third-row room, greater cargo volume, and generally enough space to handle any family or growing business's growth. Senior Editor and correspondent Robert Duffer took a lengthy test drive of the new Tahoe around some of southern Michigan's Metroparks on Lake Erie and along the Huron River, and immediately loved the way the large vehicle felt from behind the wheel.

 

A brand-new independent rear suspension works overtime to cushion uneven grades, and magnetic dampers with available air suspension let the new Tahoe glide in a way that ranked way better than seen in the competition such as the Nissan Armada  and Toyota Sequoia. The 2021 Tahoe grows 6.7 inches longer to now become nearly as huge as the last-generation Suburban, and now sees cargo room increase by a whopping 30%. The wheelbase is extended by 4.9 inches to improve legroom in the third row, and also increase cargo volume to 25.5 cubic feet. 

 

This makes the new Tahoe an ideal choice for anyone going on super large grocery runs or shuttling loved ones from the airport, and second-row seats that slide forward and back five inches also help the comfort of rearseat passengers. If you start to have the need for hauling more massive cargo, another manual handle collapses the seat and lowers nearly two inches to yield a flat floor for 122.9 cubic feet of maximum storage. There are also power-folding third-row seats that can be raised or lowered from the cockpit or the rear liftgate.

 

Up front, the steering-column mounted shifter has now changed to an electronic shifter positioned on the dash between the 10.2-inch touchscreen and the dash. The available power center console slides 10 inches back, covering up a hidden tray and lower storage level. This feature allows second-row riders to access another set of USB ports and cupholders, and opting for the tech package provides second-row passengers with dual 12.6-inch LCD HD entertainment screens as well as adaptive cruise control.

 

2020 Chevy Corvette Stingray Set To Lead the Pack as Official Pace Car for 104th Indy 500 Showcase

The very top level of American Championship Car Racing is an open-wheel, open-cockpit formula fondly known as “Indy-Car Racing”, awaited anxiously on every year by many of us and our customers here at Chuck Hutton Chevy of Memphis. The 2020 Corvette Stingray will handle the duty of taking the field to green for the 104th running this year, brandishing a specially-celebrated model for the occasion. It is a Torch Red coupe equipped with the optional Z51 performance package, accessory spoiler and ground effects package, Carbon Flash accents, GT2 bucket seats, and an Indy 500-themed livery.

GM President Mark Reuss himself will be behind the wheel, personally celebrating all that the Chevy namesake has contributed to the success of Indy 500 and other events. This Torch Red 2020 Corvette Stingray is definitely a world-class machine with the performance and speed that perfectly suits it to pace the “500” landscape. The Corvette has seen the honor of leading the Indy 500 field to green more than any other vehicle in history, seeing its first time at the Greatest Spectacle in racing was in 1978, since seizing the opportunity 17 times. 

The very first time a Chevy vehicle led the pack at the Indy track was in 1948 when a Chevy Fleetmaster Six convertible was given the honors. Situated just behind the Corvette is another Chevy masterpiece: the Camaro has also had its roots in motor racing and a close long-standing relationship with the Indy 500. Company co-founder Louis Chevrolet first met William C. Durant after being hired on by Buick as a racing driver and the two would later co-found the company together in 1911. Chevrolet himself went on to start in four Indy 500s, retiring in all but three of them, while his brothers Gaston and Arthur also made two Indy 500 starts each. 

Last year's Indy 500 was won by Chevy Team Penske driver Simon Pagenaud, and 11 times over the years has seen 9 drivers with Chevy engines combined to claim the title. The 104th Indy 500 will go green on Sunday, August 23, with coverage on NBSCSN at 1 P.M. ET. Last year the qualifying procedure was restructured a bit, as “Bump Day” and “Pole Day” were moved into the second day of qualifying and those who qualified in positions 10 30 on day one will be locked into the field. The weekend before the race, all cars are now entered into a blind draw to determine qualifying order. 

The fastest nine drivers from Saturday then take their own parts in the “Fast Nine Shootout”, and the qualifying order is based on the first run's slowest to fastest ranking. From here the quickest driver wins the sought-after “pole position”, and the remaining 8 lock in positions reflecting their times. We are thrilled to see the Corvette once again at the head of the line during such a spectacular event, and thankful to everyone out there helping make sporting events safe yet still sensational!

Liftoff In Lansing: 2021 Chevy Camaro Production Now Underway

 

Before any official announcement took place, reports began circulating some 55 years ago within the automotive journalist circle that Chevy was in the works planning a competitor to the Ford Mustang. Then going under the guise of the code name “Panther”, a few hundred telegrams that went out to esteemed auto writers then puzzled them, instructing them to keep June 28^th of that year free. On that very day, there was a live press conference in Detroit's Statler-Hilton Hotel, which was also the first time in history that 14 cities were connected simultaneously via phone line.

 

Chevy GM Pete Estes than announced the new car line that we have grown to love so much here at Chuck Hutton Chevy of Memphis: the Camaro. The 6th-generation model was introduced 4 years ago and saw a thorough refresh last year. GM Authority excitedly served up the scoop this week that production of the 2021 Chevy Camaro is now underway. It will continue to take place at the GM Lansing Grand River Plant in Michigan, the only plant in the world that exists to assemble our favorite muscle car and track-ready contender.

 

Production began on August sixth, And the 2021 Camaro will see a few different changes, like the new addition of the 10-speed automatic transmission to the SS 1LE Track Performance Package, which previously was only available with the six-speed manual. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will now see wireless capability, as well as being standard equipment on all Camaro models. We know just how strongly that auto purists feel about the coming of electrification to the fleet, and we understand! At this point, it is not quite clear what will happen to the Camaro after its sixth generation, but we can guarantee that even if more amps and volts are involved as a power source, it will still be startlingly fast.

 

As horsepower stats have risen and tech features have progressed monumentally, we all still love to rehash memories about some of the Camaros from the past that were our favorites, even as beautiful new models are where are main attention is focused. Introduced in 1970,  the second-generation Camaro was built through the 1981 model year and was based on the F-body platform. Road and Track selected the 1971 SS350 as one of the ten best cars in the world that year, and at the time this model won over thousands for its sheer brute attitude and looks that you just wanted to polish over time and time again.

 

Three years ago the 1LE performance package returned to the Camaro, increasing the quality of handling and performance on the track. This allowed for a top speed of 205 mph, and lap time on the famed Nurburgring Nordschleife lap time of  7:16.4. It was also one of the first cars with a 10-speed automatic transmission, deeming it the most unique model in form. Since this year offered up its fair share of delays and surprises, we will keep you posted right here on the blog about when you can expect to see this new Camaro on the lot and get the pleasure of properly opening it up on the road during a test drive!

Future Features and Design Fast Facts: The Coming of the 2022 Traverse

Many of our most loyal customers here at Chuck Hutton Chevy of Memphis have long been asking about the new version of the Traverse: having had its best sales year ever in 2019, many are being won over by its practicality and comfortable ride. Now slated to be available during the third quarter of 2021, six safety features are now standard on all trim levels, as many other competitors will require upgrading to see them in their models.

 

The 2022 model boasts best-in-class cargo space, and completely designed front and rear fascias. Since its original debut in 2009, the Traverse has seen nearly 1.3 million units sold in the U.S., and it is the third most popular car on the Chevy brand list. There are now newly redesigned front and rear fascias, and new standard LED headlamps and tail lamps. The front grille has been updated, and there are 4 new wheel designs to choose from as well. You'll also see the availability of the Dual SkyScape 2-panel power sunroof with new rear power sunshade, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto now boast wireless options.

 

There is a new available 8-inch diagonal driver information center, wireless charging pad to easily stay poised and ready while on the go, and USB ports are now in all rows. The standard safety equipment for all trims now includes automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, forward collision alert, intellibeam, auto high beams, and following distance indicator. The 3LT, RS, and Premier now come standard with Adaptive Cruise Control, and a new Safety Alert Seat is standard on the Premier and High Country. The front end now bears just a bit more resemblance to the Blazer, by incorporating the turn signal into the daytime running light.

 All Traverse models have three rows, and there is seating for 8 when configured with a 2nd -row bench seat, or 7-passenger seating when the second row is configured with captain's chairs. The 2022 Traverse is proudly made at GM's factory in Lansing, Michigan, where hard-working men and women oversee the process daily to assure that every vehicle rolling off the line is in the best shape possible. The new model has taken care of one issue that was heavily noted by customers in the past: below the gear selector is now a button to disable the idle start/stop system that shuts off the engine during stoplights.

The staff at Kelley Blue Book rated the layout and technology as “completely logical and simple to use”, and there is an optional 8-inch digital display in the instrument cluster that complements the standard central touchscreen display. The High Country trim could definitely be our favorite alongside the Premier: the chrome and 20-inch wheels do a fantastic job of rounding out a flashy appearance and vibe!