The Delight of Putting on Memphis Miles: 2018 Chevy Silverado 1500

Tennessee and Trucks have many various reasons to go hand in hand with each other: we are one of those locations that is blessed with an abundance of very hard-working men and women who give 110% on their respective job sites every day. Right here in Memphis, many customers looking for the truck that will complete their fleet will see us on the lot at Chuck Hutton, and pick our brains for tips on what make and model would work best for them. The Silverado 1500 is a very capable and powerful truck, and is truly the model that provides the F150 with the most competition in sales and overall longevity.



Its powertrain options are highlighted greatly with the use of a 6.2-liter V8 that provides 420-hp, and the ability to effortlessly tow 12,500 pounds. The changes that have been made for the 2018 model are a bit low-key, but still add greatly to the ease of operation and value of the the truck. Every model now has a backup camera, as new government mandates have wanted. The tire-pressure monitor has an audible alert to indicate when the air pressure is filled to a safe level, and the eAssist package is now optional on the LTZ trim level, while previously only available on the LT trim category. A commemorative Centennial Edition which celebrates 100 years of Chevy trucks is also available for next year's model line only.

For the 2017 year, there were improved towing figures, which boosted the Silverado to the top of its class in the pulling category. For many boaters, construction professionals, and those who are constantly needing to have goods on the move, this is the most important selling point of all: how much the tough guy can pull. Last year's model was actually the first time that Chevy's Teen Driver System was included. This is a great opportunity to fully monitor, take time to improve on, and make changed to your teen's driving skills. As insurance rates have risen drastically in many metro areas across the nation, it is a great idea to constantly be making sure that your teens are displaying the best driving habits, across the board.



When you come to visit us on the lot at Chuck Hutton, we can show you how the Silverado 1500 can be outfitted to fit just about any type of need you have for a new truck. The base WT model starts at just around $30,000, and the fully loaded High Country finishes for just around double that figure. If you settle for something smack dab in the middle, you can opt for the LT, and pair it with a crew cab as well as a short bed. You'll have hours of open-throttled enjoyment with a powerful 5.3-liter V-8, and all-wheel drive to help navigate you through any tough road scenario.

Opting for the Z71 package gives you the added boost of features such as body-color grille surround, headlamp bezel, and 18-inch wheels that are equipped to get you through nearly any kind of terrain. The trailering package will be a great help to anyone who hauls horses, produce, off-road vehicles, or any other type of cargo that you want out of harm's way. It's a thrilling experience to drive the Silverado 1500 with its premium suspension: this package also included the addition of Rancho shocks, to assure that every bump in the road goes through a form of post-modern quality assurance!

100 Years of Trucks: Silverado and Colorado Celebrate With Release of Centennial Editions

Over the next year, the Chevy's truck business turns 100 years old, and the Texas State Fair will be the site of one major celebration in the deep heart of truck country! Headlining the celebration is the rugged presence of the 2018 Silverado 1500, and Colorado Centennial Editions. Currently available as off-road Z71 models, this duo of commemorative trucks sport the heritage-inspired bow tie emblems on the tailgates, front doors, and grilles that have become so recognizable among truck lovers nationwide.

These durable and tough haulers will please any contractor, avid off-roader, or urban commuter looking for a change right here in Memphis: ringed in chrome with dark blue centers where the traditional Chevy gold is usually present, the unique bow-tie is a throwback to some of the earliest trucks ever made. One of these is the 1918 One-Ton, which seems primitive by today's standards, but at the time, was a massive presence at the tail end of the Industrial Revolution. Both trucks also feature 100-year badges on the chrome tow hooks, front doors, and floor mats.

If you are checking out the four-wheel-drive, crew-cab-only Silverado version, you'll quickly notice the 22-inch painted alloy wheels with chrome inserts, and yet another chrome bow tie on the steering wheel. There is a choice of crew-cab or extended cab, and rear or four-wheel drive on the mid-size Colorado Centennial, which is further spruced up with 18-inch wheels, a super cool body-color rear bumper and grille surround, as well as chrome mirror caps, door handles, and body moldings.

Official pricing has not yet been announced, but we expect to see the option add about $3000 to the initial price of either truck. We are situated at a junction in the auto industry where many things are changing quickly, and there will be shift towards electric power: all of us here at Chuck Hutton lament that you will have to pry powerful and able trucks like these from our cold, dead hands!

There are some other pretty cool birthday tie-ins for this commemorative and important time for Chevy: Phoenix Bass Boats are going to have a Centennial-edition run, as well as the ultra-useful 24-foot enclosed inTech trailers. Both of these are specifically designed to match the trucks, and it was just announced that a custom 1967 Chevy C-10 show truck will be on display to wow viewers at the SEMA show. Visit us this fall to see how our legendary brand's Truck Legends Program is being rolled out nationwide: it rewards the most loyal of owners with cool swag, an online forum, and premium access to front-line Chevy experiences and events. There's nothing as reassuring as hearing the roar of a powerful truck early in the morning, and knowing that she's got your hard-working back for the duration of the day!

Motorist's Milestone: Self-driving Chevy Bolt Now Ready for Mass-production

Memphis is a metro area that is big on tradition. From “Memphis in May” to the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, there are many events here that have created solid roots within the community, and an enormous sense of pride among residents. From days a few decades ago when you could pull in and tell the attendant to “fill her up” with unleaded, one can really look at the current climate and marvel at just how things have changed. There are many companies out there that are offering self-driving cars, but within the past few weeks, Chevy made some noticeable advancements in this territory uncharted by some.

Many companies have been attempting to develop self-driving cars, but the majority of them tend to focus on the sensors and software needed to perform the job, and the car itself loses a bit of appeal in the end result of the formula. GM's Cruise Automation subsidiary has been working hard to perfect and implement the software needed for the job, and lately has finally had more time to shift their attention to the vehicles that will use it. The Chevy-backed entity just announced that a third-generation prototype is ready for mass production, in the form of the already well-known Chevy Bolt.

The biggest differences in the third-generation model were highlighted by Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt in a Medium post: there are now enough safety features and redundancies that the developers feel it could operate at full capacity without a driver. The first Bolt autonomous prototypes were being mulled over just before GM bought Cruise last year, and at that time they had begun being tested on public roads. Things then began moving at a breakneck pace, as they do in many instances regarding the current auto market! Earlier this year, the second-generation prototype was unveiled, and there was a much greater integration between the autonomous driving hardware and the stock components present in the Bolt.

The biggest difference between the second and third generations was the addition of redundancy and safety systems that really solidify the ability to complete fully driver-less operation. The electrical architecture is now much different than one would find on a stock Bolt, and closely resembles that of a commercial airplane, or even a modern spacecraft. The biggest buzz right here at Chuck Hutton has been regarding the potential for mass-production: now that the 3^rd prototype seems to be fully-fledged, Cruise and GM could theoretically manufacture as many as thousands of models if needed. GM is ahead of the game at this point: Ford is planning to launch their own self-driving cars, but have not completed designs that are production-ready.

Tech companies Uber and Lyft are in the process of system development, but still need to work through some red tape with automaker partners to place the technology in cars. Some of the groundwork for the future that is left is simply regarding what happens when a self-driving car is mass produced: who will confirm that it is safe to hit the road on a daily basis? This is an exciting time to be alive, and to be watching the auto industry, period. We are proud to provide and service the brand that is making the most giant leap forward to the future, and that appears to for now be the front-leading contender in the driver-less auto race!

Chevy Corvette C8 Mid-engine Should be Paired With the C7 ZR1 Within the Year

When it comes to the Memphis car-lover's scene, the Corvette has always been well-followed, widely appreciated, and a staple of any track-lover's lineup. Produced through seven generations, it is currently manufactured nearby in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and was widely recognized as one of the camouflaged models on the drive list in Gran Turismo 5, the incredibly popular and thrilling racing lover's video game. Later versions have remained rear-wheel drive, with trans axle presence located in the rear. The well-recognized flag logo has been revised for later models, and a small casting of a sinister stingray has been added to the car's ornamentation.

Within the past week, a report from Automobile tackled the task of clearing up mild confusion regarding the 2019 Corvette. After decades of speculative thought and what was widely considered to be rumors, this iconic American classic is all but jumped through the final rung of confirmation to finally make the switch to a mid-engine configuration. Many car experts have mixed feelings about this, but we are here to tell you that it's going to be sure to be an able and aggressive model.

The C7 ZR1 will sit at the top of the pack, and is said to have the ability to produce 700 horsepower. The Drive billed it as a car that “will likely go down in the history books as one of the most spectacular American speed machines ever made”, and it even set an astonishing record at a very well-known and challenging proving ground: Nurburgring. It did its absolute best to conquer the 12.9-mile course in less than 7:30, and will offer active aerodynamics to optimize its overall grip.

At this point in time, it seems that the C7 ZR1 could be the last model manufactured with the classically configured front engine, rear-drive 'Vette that has been on the scene for more than 6 decades. The C8 Zora is the result of the choice that Chevy has made to make the very drastic switch to mid-engine operation, and it should have the gusto to be pitted against heavy-hitters in the sports industry such as the Audi R8, and the Mclaren 570S, and quite possibly the ability to out-handle the Porsche 911.

Some of the more avid car experts around the lot have asked us about the potential plans for Corvette to perhaps become its own brand of high-performance car. There are many rumors that Corvette may spin away from the GM entity into its own brand entirely, and we ourselves have heard them being thrown around the offices indefinitely. While we can't be sure of this, there could always be the slight chance that it will become its own namesake: whichever way the tide may turn during the next fiscal year, we will remain as excited as the rest of the nation here at Chuck Hutton to steer customers towards one of the most thrilling and track-dominating cars in existence!

Chuck Hutton's Future Release Watch: Blazer to Return During 2019

Some of our most observant customers have been consistently dropping us a line and asking about one of the renowned classics that is going to be making a roaring comeback. We love our strong connection to the outdoors in Memphis: from barbecues and ballgames to off-roading and other adventures, the residents of our metro love to load up the vehicle and enjoy the bounty of the wonderful near-south. Automotive News reported lately that Chevy will revive the name next year on a crossover SUV, that will directly compete with the Nissan Murano, and Ford Edge.

The last time the Blazer name appeared on a line was during 2005, and that was the midsize model that eventually gave way to the Trailblazer. The Trailblazer chugged on until 2009, and for many who grew fond of the original Blazer lines, they feel as if they have not had something to really remind them of the magic that debuted way back in 1982. The two-row Blazer will seat a maximum of five occupants, and will be that much easier to get in the garage. Coming in at 194 inches long overall, the Blazer is slated to nearly a foot shorter than the Traverse.

Mechanically, the 2019 Chevy Blazer will be very similar to the GMC Acadia, and look for it to be offered in front-wheel drive as well as all-wheel configurations. 4-cylinder and V6 options will have the ability to dole out about 190 or 300 horsepower respectively, and a 6-speed automatic should be the available tranny type right at launch time. After drivers respond to how things go during the first year or so, a 9-speed automatic may be on the design itinerary for the future. 

Overall weight should be around 4000 pounds, which is around a hefty 600 pounds less than the pre-existing Traverse. 4-cylinder Blazers are expected to glean an EPA rating of around 23 mpg, while all-wheel drive V6 versions will nail down around 17 MPG.

It's going to be very exciting to see this classic vehicle return with a thoroughly upgraded style, and we have been told that it may be made available with a very exclusive and specific group of off-road equipment. This would include very advanced All Wheel Drive capability, and would most likely be available on V6 models.

Come and check out just how awesome the new Blazer concept will be at Chuck Hutton: it won't arrive for a little while, but production is slated to begin during the middle of next year right here in Tennessee at the GM Spring Hill assembly facility. The Blazer is a model that has no doubt shaped what many lines after it became, and seeing it come back to life will speak to many of the true off-road enthusiasts that we love to provide service to every day! 

The Chevy Colorado ZR2's Memphis Milestone Showdown: Ford Raptor Cringing At Bat

The knowledgeable writers at Trucks.com for sure got it right when they stated last week that “There can only be one king” when it comes to trucks that are heady enough to handle the most challenging of off-road endeavors. As the Fall approaches in Memphis and many mudslingers and off-road aficionados get ready to take it “off the streets”, we wanted to take a second to boast about just how it measures up to the full-sized and turbocharged Ford F-150 Raptor. With a heck of a lot of clearance and the biggest tires in its class, we recognize that some have flocked to it in droves as their #1 choice to conquer the desert and beyond.

The 2017 Chevy Colorado ZR2 has been closely looked at by engineers, poked and prodded until it really felt ready to go, and conceptualized as if it needed to perform as well as a hot wheels racer in a very high-octane track set reminiscent of yesteryear. There are wider shocks, a longer suspension travel, and a shock setup that is truly ready to crawl where no man has crawled before. There are a few standout reasons that the ZR2 conquers the Raptor in performance and longevity, and we'll take a quick look at some of them on the blog here today. It's widely understood that these are two brands who have been at odds for decades, and here are some reasons we believe the ZR2 stands out.

The ZR2 is smaller, and it is very true that size is not always your friend when you are blazing your way through a trail. The bulky Raptor is 2.4 inches wider, and 6.3 inches taller than the ZR2, and nearly 3 feet longer. Weighing in at around 5,700 lbs, it outranks the ZR2 by about 700 closely-watched pounds in the long run. If you are granted the task of conquering off-road obstacles, this means that the Colorado can run free where the bigger Raptor may not be able to. If it's a simple city commute that you are attempting to master with ease during the day-to-day, the ZR2 will be easier to park, and squeeze into a bit more compact of confines.

Is a diesel purchase on your to do list? The ZR2 is absolutely still available with a 2.8-liter Duramax diesel engine, with a turbocharged cylinder rated at 186 horsepower, and 369-lb- ft of torque. When it comes to the nitty gritty on our hardcore comparison between the two, the fuel economy benefit really owns up to its prowess, and the very low-end grunt of the diesel delegates the ZR2 straight on into farm-tractor pull-king status.

When it comes to fuel economy, the smaller and lighter ZR2 can effectively stretch a gallon of gas much further than the Raptor. The EPA currently rates the ZR2 at 16 mpg for city driving, and a highway toll of18 mpg. The Raptor comes in at a fairly impressive rating and 15 MPG city, but many who frequent car forums have complained about the Raptor's supposed high level of thirst. When it comes to pain at the pump, you are always going to have those that wish for the lesser of “any” evils, and are fond of the number that won't break the bank.

Even while sporting a standard V6 and 8-speed automatic transmission, the smaller and lighter ZR2 can put a single gallon of gas further to work than the competing Raptor. The EPA rating for the ZR2 is at 16 mpg for the city, and right around 18 mpg on the highway. During recent testing that involved tangible real-world elements, some averaged 22 mpg, during spurts of 300 miles of mixed driving, which included several hours of extreme off-road punishment. 

Also coming in much cheaper when it comes to the all-important pricing point, we attest that getting in on some valuable ZR2 action will be sure to set your Memphis Fall ablaze with new excitement! Come see us at Chuck Hutton to make a claim on the ZR2 champion as your own.

Camaro ZL1 Slated to be Chevy's Weapon for Supercharged 2018 NASCAR Victory

While we are manning the current fleet at Chuck Hutton on any given day, there are always many customers who are memorized by the stock of Camaros. Lured by the very track-driven and over-the-top looks of a premium sports car, we happily quench many car owners' thirst for a very high-performing vehicle that will give them their best at literally every turn. Beginning next season in February, race teams repping Chevy will be behind the wheel of the Camaro ZL1 during the very exciting Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

Last week, the snarling and surly blue coupe made a loud debut as driver Jimmie Johnson roared down Jefferson Avenue, smack-dab in front of GM's heralded headquarters. The new and revamped ZL1 replaces the Chevrolet SS, which Chevy has used as its NASCAR secret weapon for the last 4 years. Representatives from several of the teams in the show attended, as well as Mark Ruess, GM's head of global product Development, and Jim Campbell, VP of performance vehicles and motorsports. Johson described the Camaro as a true “monster” and lamented about how much the torque and power will bolster the Camaro's victorious return to the track circuit.

It was confirmed during early January of this year that the very able and menacing V-8 rear wheel drive would be on sale in the States by the beginning of next year, and Chevy is excited about the various tools and wind-tunnel testing that was used to help boost aerodynamic performance on the ZL1. Introduced to stock car racing in the late 1960's, multiple championships were won both in NASCAR and other prime international racing events with the Camaro's power and prowess. This was the Indy 500 Pace car of choice during 1967, 1969, 1982, 1993, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2014.

When you take the step of checking out the new Chevy Camaro line, you're looking into the ownership of something much more than just muscle. Camaro offers several driver-centric technologies that make your drive more pleasurable. Available heated steering wheel, power seats with available Memory Package, and features such as Apple CarPlay compatibility are just some of the other features that will assist you with finalizing your choice for one of America's coolest cars ever made.

With an average 0 to 60 clocked time of 5.4 seconds, you'll also be gleaning around 31 mpg on the highway. A vehicle that has been engineered for performance carefully from the ground up, every single element of the ZL1 was thought over extensively, to help improve the car's performance and power. Another feature of the ZL1 is its amazing aluminum suspension components that reduce unsprung mass: this has the beneficial result of massively improved handling. Blasting happily down Beech Ave or Bell Alley in Memphis will soon be a daily way of life for you: come pay us a visit and see how awesome the ZL1 is today!