Motor Authority Takes an Ann Arbor Back Road Spin With the New C8

Last week during a sunny fall day near Ann Arbor, Michigan, the Motor Authority test crew were gathered happily to pen their thoughts regarding the new and very powerful beast they get to test. The new C8 mid-engined Corvette was the bounty they had their eager hands on, and it is surely a vehicle that we have all been excited about here at Chuck Hutton Chevy of Memphis. Mike Hurley is the vehicle dynamics engineer who was along to supervise as well as advise, and he was on deck to tell driver Kirk Bell to get the mode selector dial to “Track” and fire up the Performance Traction Management System directly before the run.

 

While he tethered his foot just perfectly over the brake, Kirk then pinned the throttle and the 6.2-liter V-8 revved up to 3,500 rpm while remaining there for a split second. Then he was able to hold on tight to the new C8's square steering wheel as the 305-mm wide Michelin Pilot Sport 45 rear tires budged a minute amount, and then took off sporting a heightened power level that previous factory 'Vettes have not come close to. As he took pleasure in rocketing forward, he claims that there was zero pause in power supply between gears and seconds the well-published notion that 0-60 mph takes place in 3.0 seconds or less.

When the new C8 first came out one of the most exciting qualities it brandished besides the mid-engine placement was the perpendicular force exertion factor. It now sees 60 percent of the weight on the rear tires, which means that the C8 can put down more bare-knuckle factor on the road with the drive axle capabilities at hand. Once you are competing with the likes of cars that cost double and triple your entry point, being able to handle daily drive duties as well as fast and furious antics on the track are essential.

All parties behind the wheel felt at all times that the steering had true purpose and was always direct and that the interior takes a very noticeable leap forward from the outgoing C7's. They were driving the 3LT package that adds to the mix a 14-speaker Bose audio system, front and rear vision cameras, a head-up display, top-line heated and cooled GT2 bucket seats,a heated steering wheel, wireless phone charging, and the Chevy Performance Data Recorder that lets you relive every step of the journey by means of high-tech data gleaning.

As this testing crew realized that the day was waning and their time was slowing to a halt, they wished first and foremost that they could take the new 'Vette down a California canyon road where it belongs to open it up properly and get at some cornering. The rumble of the pipes is not quite the same as it was on the C7, but engaging in Track mode helps with the return of the symphonic bliss. Every time a new set of experts gets their hands on the new Corvette we get more excited, and the Motor Authority team deemed the new release a worthy and exhilarating example of what can transpire after decades of patience!

2021 Chevy Colorado's Refresh Billed as “Tough-Looking and Eager to Explore” by Motor Trend

As all of us here at Chuck Hutton Chevy of Memphis prepare for the fall season and think about the different kinds of terrain that can be conquered with an off-road-ready truck, our thoughts drift towards some of the best terrain ever portrayed on the big screen. One instant classic that crossed our minds during the discussion was “No Country for Old Men”. This was a movie that did a superb job of showing us the Texas and Arizona wilderness, where the cactus and red rock are plentiful and the need for durable skid plates is mammoth.

The folks on staff at Motor Trend took an up-close look in their weekly feature at the 2021 Chevy Colorado, immediately deeming it as tough-looking and bound to be wildly popular. The changes for the 2021 year have a heavy focus on appearance, and a more aggressive look makes the Colorado seem a bit more at home when situated next to bigger Chevy trucks. LT, WT, and Z71 trims see updated front fascia with new logos, layout, and skid plate. The first two are recipients of the Chevy bowtie badge finished in gold, while the off-road-oriented Z71 will be brandishing a black bowtie.

All 2021 Colorados will get a new tailgate featuring embossed Chevrolet lettering, similar to what is seen on the Silverado 1500 and Silverado 2500 HD. The top the line and trail-ready Colorado ZR2 sees and a wider and more open grille as well as skid plates and red tow hooks. It will see the same DSSV dampers from Multimatic that have been billed by many as “phenomenal” as well as the Dune Metallic beige exterior paint option.

There is a competition-ready version of the new Colorado built and on its way to take on the 2019 Laughlin Desert Classic, a world-renowned race that takes place in the sands of southern Nevada. This race consists of desert terrain combined with a short course atmosphere and provides the ultimate rhythm sections that are the biggest tests to the suspension one could fathom. It is a race that has truly reflected what a perpetual state of growth and killer marketing looks like and always provided plenty of dust kicked up, raw adventure, and extreme desert challenge.

Rally Editions and trim levels that provide an urban flair are well-accepted within the current truck climate but we have to admit that we have always had a weakness for off-road models, and the coming 2021 Colorado will be sure to be the favorite of hardcore sand-drift enthusiasts nationwide. We encourage you to check out locations to display your off-road truck's ability such as Persimmon Loup: with a few creek crossings and gnarly elevation factor, it consistently ranks as one of the best in the area!

First 2020 Corvette Out of the Gate up for Grabs for a Charitable Cause

All over the news wires and websites that have anything remotely to do with car updates, the arrival of the 2020 Chevy Corvette Stingray has marked a very memorable junction in history. It's the first to sport the mid-engine configuration and is blisteringly fast while still being a complete bargain compared to others near its class mark. Soon, there will be an opportunity to own the very first one rolling off the line, with a VIN ending in 001, but you'll be wanting to come equipped with a heavy cash arsenal.

The complete rights to this car will be sold during a Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale Arizona during the second week of January next year. The proceeds are going to help the Detroit Children's Fund, which aids much-needed educational resources around the Detroit metro area. It won't be too surprising if the price climbs above the $1 million mark, as similar auctions were able to gift $2.55 million and $1.2 million respectively. The well-equipped new Stingray will come with all the coveted options, including the Z51 Performance Pack. The lucky winning bidder will still be able to choose additions above and beyond this, including cabin trim and personal choice of exterior color.

President of Barrett-Jackson Steve Davis claimed last week that “Barrett-Jackson has set the stage for the sale of some of the most iconic VIN 001, prototype and first production vehicles of our time”. Detroit has lately roared back with vigor in many ways, but the educational landscape has seen severe challenges for years while many gifted people have worked hard to yield results. Since quality schools are essential for the success of children, the Detroit Children's Fund invests in supporting, creating, and growing schools that will perform highly every single year.

All of us here at Chuck Hutton Chevy of Memphis are so very proud that now after more than 65 years there is a machine in existence that can do what very pricey European exotic models can for literally a fraction of the cost. The base model of the Stingray comes with double-wishbone suspension at the rear and front axles, constructed from forged aluminum. The car can also be equipped with a front-axle lifting system that provides the all-important 2 extra inches of ground clearance when traveling under 25 mph. There will be a lucky bidder somewhere during January at the auction, and we agree that the cause and call to action behind the event are super-stellar reasons to participate!

2019 Chevy Malibu Rally Sport Trim Line Examined Up-close by Autoweek

The exciting and sporty RS trim is situated in the middle of the lineup for the Chevy Malibu, just beneath the LT and Premier models. The folks on staff at Autoweek offered up a feature this past week on the blog examining the trim level closely, and they admired how this particular choice of trim can delightfully show off your dark side! The grille, Bowtie logos and rear spoiler all come in black, and you also get the added treats of 18-inch alloy wheels and dual exhaust.

Inside, the seats are wrapped in black cloth and the shifter and steering wheels in leather. Auto features writer Robin Warner claimed that the chassis was perfectly stable through the everyday driving she tossed its way, and that it never felt too harsh or floaty. She was driving predominantly around Detroit metro roads and found it easy to get a comfortable seating position right off the bat. The RS was equipped with all the things she needed to make the daily commute comfortable: power seats, tilt and telescoping steering, as well as Bluetooth connectivity.

All available engines for the Malibu are inline-fours: all of the non-hybrid models use a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine cranking out a peak 160 horsepower at 5,700 rpm and 184 lb-ft of torque. Highway mileage is situated at 36 mpg, and 29 city is the EPA rating. All of us on staff here to happily serve you at Chuck Hutton Chevy of Memphis know full well that our competitors have heavily shifted their focus to SUVS, crossovers, and trucks, but we have still remained steadfast by refreshing the Malibu, Camaro, Spark, and Cruze models for the 2019 year. The RS trim level also has a new CVT that replaces the outgoing 6-speed automatic on the standard 1.5-liter turbo-four model, as the more powerful 2.0-liter model keeps its 9-speed automatic.

The RS trim is our favorite, but when you come to visit us for a test drive, don't forget to check out the LT model: it includes heated front seats, dual-zone automatic temperature control, remote engine start, rear-seat air-conditioning vents, and LED daytime running lights. The range-topping Premier comes standard with the more powerful 2.0-liter engine, ventilated front seats, perforated leather seating, heated steering wheel, Bose audio system, wireless phone charging, an 8.0-inch instrument cluster display, and LED headlights.

The Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, and Nissan Altima take their respective solid positions against our Malibu in the form of competition, and we believe that our well-rounded model along with the sporty RS trim will attract buyers on a budget that still have a penchant for a sleek and sporty new sedan! We hope to see you soon here at Chuck Hutton, where we can educate you on warranty coverage, service agreements, and the perfect Malibu trim for you.

2021 Chevy Colorado With Facelift Caught Off-Guard by GM Authority Photo Crew

During the dog days of Summer, GM Authority was the first to serve up the red-hot story that the Chevy Colorado was not due for a mid-cycle refresh. Instead, the 2021 model year will see an update to its front fascia, and you can see in the photos here as a prototype is caught testing in plain sight. Just as was expected, the front end is covered with a zebra-stripe and checkered camo, but it's easy to make out the changes to the nose.

The truck pictured in these shots appears to be of the Work Truck trim, sporting the optional 16-inch RS1 Ultra Silver Metallic Cast aluminum wheels. When stacked up against the current model, the biggest change appears to be the actual pattern of the black upper grille insert as well as a redesigned lower fascia, that now has a new cutout situated at the lower end of the bumper cover. After this facelift, an all-new Colorado and Canyon is set to arrive for the 2023 model year, riding on an updated version of the GM 31XX platform that resides underneath the current model.

This updated fascia is expected to land during the second half of the 2020 calendar year for the 2021 model year. Die-hard truck fans here at Chuck Hutton Chevy of Memphis have so many reasons to love the Colorado, the truck that undercuts the full-size a bit to be versatile and even off-road ready. As we were looking over other GM Authority news regarding our favorite line, we also came across this awesome video of the Colorado ZR2 Diesel taking on Utah's Little Moab. It is evident here just how the large amount of suspension travel that the ZR2 package helps out the Red-Hot truck in a pinch. It can carry on without any problems where others would be stuck dead in their tracks.

As we look at the current model and wait in anticipation for future Colorado variants to arrive to the lot, one of the other cool happenings over this last year was the new supercharger kit Lingenfelter announced for the ZR2. It offers a major power increase for the 3.6-Liter V6 LGZ engine, taking it from the stock 308 horsepower to 416 horsepower, courtesy of an Edelbrock supercharger hard at work. Hauling, towing, and taking care of all other duties on your to-do list is what trucks are best known for, and the Colorado has all the defined chops to quickly become your favorite!

2020 Chevy Corvette's Hidden Features: The Mid-Engined Game Changer's “More Things to Love”

Christopher Smith of Motor1.com News began his blog feature about the C8 last week by admitting right off the bat that “Chevy absolutely knocked it out of the park with the C8 Corvette”. Some have been critical on its styling, and others believe that a genuinely “real” Corvette must have the engine situated properly upfront. This is a mid-engined supercar that can hit 60 mph in just three seconds, as you can see in our feature last month about the “science of zero to sixty”.

Enthusiasts worldwide have been very excited since its release, and this particular feature provides a close-up look at six key things about the car that aren't exactly common knowledge. The top fitting is not huge news and something that Chevy made clear to everyone during the initial reveal, but the super cool hidden button that opens the frunk or “front trunk” is a pretty unique feature: it's located above the left vent on the lower fascia so you can open the lid without having the key fob or getting in the car, provided it is already unlocked.

The center speaker located between the two seats sports the Corvette logo, but you do have to hunt a bit to find it. The holes of the speakers are drilled in a way that you can see the flags from certain angles, and its easier to see them from the outside. Another very useful feature to have on hot days is the unlock button on the remote key: just like on other Chevy models, if you hold it down, the windows automatically lower.

Continuing with the longstanding tradition, the Corvette C8 has a pattern of black flags on the rear window facing straight downward. This began with the Corvette C7 and continues in the mid-engine car. The flags are a bit more narrow on the C8, and are more V-shaped along with the C8's updated logo.

Another feature of note here on the new C8 is that the trunk is thankfully soft-close: you can just gently close the hatch, and the soft-close system will assure that it closes just right without that extra hard push. Many other current vehicles will flaunt this trait as well, but we admit its extra-nice to have on a car that is bound to see many Saturday afternoons of back-road use and traveling not need a persistent slam to get the job done.

Removing the top is very easy as well, and once you have it off, the carbon-fiber, body-colored, or glass version can be secured easily in the trunk. There are latches on either side to keep the top in place, and you can also store much smaller items if the need arises. While you are cruising around the settings menu of the Infotainment screen, you can change the exhaust mode manually, and the Z button on the left spoke of the steering wheel puts you into a mode that allows you to configure your preferred engine, suspension, transmission, and instrument cluster settings.

Continuing on The Path to AC-Powered Greatness: 2021 Chevy Bolt Improvement Docket

From the sales lot to the service bay here at Chuck Hutton Chevy of Memphis, the ripples of change have been making their profound mark concerning the popularity of all-electric cars. Just last month, we were excited to announce that the 2020 Bolt EV will be seeing a significant range increase! Up from 238 miles for the 2019 model, the incoming Bolt now sees a range of 259 miles.

To make this happen, the energy of the cell electrodes was improved by making small changes to the cell chemistry without needing to change the actual battery pack, and the way it is integrated into the overall vehicle structure. This is great news as it means that in the range category the new Bolt now beats out the Hyundai Kona Electric, Kia Niro EV, and Nissan Leaf Plus. According to the folks on staff at GM Authority, the range is not the only aspect that will see improvement in Bolt models down the line. When it comes to feedback from consumers that have test driven and also owned specific vehicles for some amount of time, the brand we love to represent so much has promised to make some other drastic changes to the interior to boost satisfaction.

More comfortable seats and higher-quality materials for the interior have both been heavy on the request list, and they are supposed to be included in the 2021 model year. This is also when the Bolt is expected to receive its mid-cycle update, and when the Chevy Bolt EUV is slated to launch in North America. Similar to last year's model, the 2020 Bolt EV's electric powertrain generates 200 horsepower, and 266 lb-ft of torque. The Bolt EV was the car to originally set the benchmark for an affordable electric vehicle with a long range, and seeing nearly 10 percent more EPA-estimated range for this model year is very exciting.

Using the myChevrolet mobile app, purchasers of Bolt Evs have access to the exclusive Energy Assist feature. It allows customers to search for charging stations, plan a trip with multiple charging stops, closely monitor their route, and receive alerts if anything happens to render their destination unsafe. Just last year, this mobile app was also updated to enable smartphone projection of the Energy Assist feature straight to the vehicle's infotainment system through Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, for any Bolt EV newer than 2017.

We are also thrilled to announce that Chevy has recently announced a partnership with Qmerit that now enables EV owners an easy way to locate quotes from expert electricians to install the necessary at-home charging equipment. As the world changes so very rapidly every day, the demand for sustainability is now at an all-time high. Ranges go up every year along with tech features and other great qualities, and we are proud to stand behind this model that will no doubt change history and encourage smart day-to-day use.