Mid Missouri Powerhouse Links

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Winter Vehicle Tips: Tire Age and Wear

Be sure your tires are in tip-top shape with new tires from the Mid MO Powerhouse serving Central Missouri

Your tires — your vehicles needs four of them (six if you’ve got that dually Silverado 3500), and they are as important of a part of your vehicle any other. Just like regularly scheduled oil changes or checking the fluids, your tires need to be rotated and sometimes replaced, especially when the tread wears out and the winter weather approaches.

The old penny trick doesn’t always give you an indication of when to replace the tires. Traditionally, placing a penny with Lincoln’s head down would tell you when the tires are ready to be replaced. If Lincoln’s head is obscured by the tread, you’re driving with a legal amount of tread. But photos of tread depth of 1/16 of an inch still show some of Lincoln’s head being covered up.

Sage advice says that tires should be replaced during times of the year when slick and wet roads are a concern if the tires are at 1/8 of an inch of remaining tread depth. No tread means your vehicle is more likely to hydroplane and can push snow out of the way as easily.

The age of the tire plays a factor in deciding when to replace tires as well. Dry rot of the rubber can occur when the environment and UV exposure can be harsh. Once a tire hits 10 years old, the Department of Transportation recommends changing them out.

When a tire is made is just an important — maybe more important — then when they’re bought. To figure out when your tire was born, look for the letters DOT on the tire, and you should see a string of numbers following it. There will be a set of either three or four numbers (four for tires made after 2000). The first two numbers are the week of the year it was made; the last two are the year.

Are you in need of new tires in Central Missouri? Check out the Mid MO Powerhouse’s tire finder on our site to get the tires that are right for you! Our certified service technicians will help handle all your needs when you schedule service at the Mid MO Powerhouse. Stay safe out there this winter!

Schedule car service in Central Missouri at the Mid Missouri Powerhouse 

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Special Edition Chevy Silverado Specials Ops Slated for Limited Production

Sales of SEMA concept productions will support National Navy SEAL Museum in Florida

The Special Ops edition Silverado that made the rounds at the SEMA Show back in November has apparently struck a chord with truck fans around the country as well supporters of the U.S. Navy. Chevrolet has announced that SEMA concept will go into limited production, and proceeds will benefit the National Navy SEAL Museum in Fort Pierce, Fla.

While the pricing and the exact amount to be produce have not been disclosed, the run will be “limited” and go on sale this spring. Most noticeable on this Silverado 1500 Z71 concept is the three-tone paintjob similar to those used on 20th-century warships.

The exterior color, dubbed “Razzle Dazzle” was originally meant to disguise the speed, size and direction of United States and British vessels. This color scheme will definitely make your Chevrolet stand out, and the truck will look like it belongs at a military base.

Special features for the Chevrolet Special Ops Silverado include:

—Black bowtie emblems
—Underbody shield
—Sport bar
—LED off-road lights
—Wheel flares
—20-inch five spoke aluminum wheels with off-road tires (production option)
—Rocker guards
—Cargo tie-down rings
—Front Floor liners
—Spray-in bedliner (production option)
—Embroidered headrests with the Special Ops logo

This special edition Silverado 1500 Z71 will make the perfect truck for an active duty or retired serviceperson for the U.S. Navy or even someone who strongly supports it. To learn more about the 2016 Chevy Silverado or to reserve a limited edition Silverado Special Ops, contact the Mid MO Powerhouse online today or give us a call at 573-799-4618.

Shop our 2016 Chevy Silverados!

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

2016 Equinox Family Vehicle at Mid MO Powerhouse Earns IIHS Top Safety Pick

Chevrolet Equinox CUV earns good ratings across the board for seventh consecutive model year

When it comes to your family, all the bells and whistles on a new CUV are great, but getting safely from point A to point B and staying safe in the unfortunate event of an accident should also be a factor when making a decision on a new vehicle. For the central Missouri family seeking a new family vehicle that has all the features and is also safe, consider the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox at The Mid MO Powerhouse in Linn, MO.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rated the 2016 Chevy Equinox as a Top Safety Pick for 2016. In order to be considered for one of the IIHS’s top honors, the vehicle in question must earn “good” ratings in each of the crashworthiness categories: small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraints and seats. On top of this, the vehicle must also have at least a basic rating from the IIHS on front crash prevention.

The IIHS made the grading rubric a bit tougher this year, so the Equinox’s honor means that much more.

Adrian Lund, IIHS president. "For the first time, a good rating in the challenging small overlap front crash test is a requirement to win, in addition to an available front crash prevention system,” IIHS President Adrian Lund said. “How that system rates determines whether a vehicle will earn ... Top Safety Pick."

The optional Safety Package on new 2016 Equinoxes near Jefferson City, MO, comes with the Forward Collision Alert, the feature that helped the 2016 Equinox earn a Top Safety Pick. Other safety features on the 2016 Chevy Equinox include:

—Side airbags: front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags
—Rollover sensor: designed to deploy the side curtain airbags in the event of an impending rollover
—Electronic stability control, includes roll stability control
—Antilock brakes
—Daytime running lights

On top of the Equinox’s features, the safety is also a key point. If you’re looking for a choice that stands out in the crowded and competitive CUV segment, the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox has the safety accolades that set it apart. To learn more about the 2016 Equinox or to schedule a test drive, contact the Mid Missouri Powerhouse online or call us at 573-799-4618.

Shop our 2016 Chevrolet Equinoxes!

Friday, December 11, 2015

New Camaro V6 Engine Named to Wards 10 Best Engines for 2016

They are built 9.5 hours away in Romulus, Mich., but they are the award-winning engines found in the new 2016 Camaros on their way to the Mid Missouri Powerhouse. WardsAuto World has named the all-new 3.6-liter V6 engine that powers the 2016 Camaro to its 10 Best Engines list for 2016.

While the actual car itself has won the Motor Trend 2016 Car of the Year Award, an accolade such as this backs up the impressiveness of the Camaro as a whole. Wards examined and tested 31 engines made from 11 brands, and the publication rated these engines based on fuel efficiency, refinement, technology, power and more. The engines were also matched up with ones of similar size.

“The 3.6 delivers the kind of power and lusty exhaust note you associate with a V-8 for the price of a V-6,” Drew Winter, content director for Wards, said. “Plus, it’s loaded with advanced technology, including fuel-saving cylinder deactivation.”

V8 engine in a muscle car have been the norm for decades, but this recognized engine will make central Missouri muscle car fans think twice about what engine is under the hood of their Camaros. The new 3.6-L V6 engine is available on the Camaro LT trims. This engine on the Gen Six Camaro gets up to 335 horsepower and 284 lb.-ft. of torque for, according to Chevrolet, “the highest specific output of any naturally aspirated V6 in the segment.”

Tested engine technologies helped this V6 stand out among 21 other engines in U.S. vehicles. Tried-and-true facets such as active continuously variable valve timing (CVVT) and direct injection contribute to the V6 Camaro’s power and efficiency. New for the 2016 Camaro’s V6 is the Active Fuel Management aka cylinder deactivation. This technology disables two cylinders during light throttle to up the fuel efficiency.

The EPA estimates the V6 engine mated with an eight-speed automatic transmission to have up to 28 mpg on the highway, helping your Missouri Camaro go further on the highway. City mpg is rated at 23, so those drives in town will still be efficient.

Not having a V8 in a muscle car might seem like a different world, but don’t knock it till you try it. The new 2016 Camaros are on their way to the new Mid Missouri Powerhouse in Linn, MO. We are your Chevy dealer serving central Missouri, Jefferson City, Hermann and Linn, MO. For more information on our new Chevrolet models or to schedule a test drive, contact us online or give us a call at 573-799-4618.

Shop our 2016 Chevrolets!

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Uncovered 2017 Chevy Bolt Spied Before January 2016 Public Reveal

Electric car fans will get one last glimpse at the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt, Chevy’s upcoming all-electric offering, with the latest spy shots. Earlier this year, the Bolt had been spied under camouflage, but the most recent pics from Brian Williams of SpiedBilde capture the Bolt completely uncovered.

The original Bolt concept may have taken some by surprise at the Detroit Auto Show back in February, and perhaps Chevrolet raised a few eyebrows when it said the Bolt would be fast-tracked to production. Less than 12 months later, the Bolt is already showing off production-ready models. The 2017 Bolt is slated for a public reveal at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in early January 2016.

A spoiler-like canopy on the rear is one of the most noticeable differences on the exterior. Other subtle changes include a larger front-quarter window and similar gloss trim to the 2015 Volt. While the Bolt expects to share a similar chassis as the current Chevy Sonic, the Bolt is expected to be labeled as a CUV, giving the booming segment a definite jolt.

When comparted to the Bolt concept from earlier this year, a silver exterior paintjob has been switched out with the orange. No spyshots of the uncovered interior have been divulged yet, so Bolt fans will probably have to wait until its public debut at the CES for the full scoop.

The 2017 Bolt is slowly taking shape, and Chevy’s all-electric vehicle is expected to go on sale in all 50 states. If you’re in central Missouri and have been looking for an electric American car, the Bolt will fill that need.

Looks are great, but what matters with electric vehicles is the EV range. Chevrolet claims the Bolt will have 200 miles of electric driving range, and the competitive price will make it a viable option for eco-concerned drivers.

Stay tuned to the Mid Missouri Powerhouse’s blog, social media and inventory for information and updates on the Chevrolet Bolt! To learn more about new Chevrolets near Jefferson City, Linn, Hermann or Columbia, MO, contact the Mid MO Powerhouse today online or give us a call at 573-799-4616.

Shop new central Missouri Chevy inventory!