The Coming Rustle of Fall Leaves Calls the Off-Roader in You: Chevy Colorado's Prowess

Right here in Missouri, there are plenty of spots for off-road enthusiasts, and the days when fall looms in the future are some of the truly golden moments of the year. The days are still warm but not scorching, and each dirt trail you encounter is a chance for you to capture killer YouTube Footage with a GoPro, get fresh air with friends, and put your high-powered rig to the test. Not just for work and hauling, Chevy trucks are the perfect tool for the hours during which you can play, and the Colorado ZR2 has a hefty lineup in the very near future.

Selected to run in the 550-mile “Vegas to Reno” race, the production class pickup is running the stock 3.6-liter V6 engine, with shifting duties handled by an 8-speed automatic tranny. The suspension features a setup that has the unique spool guiding the Colorado through so many treacherous rides and makes sure the driver can engage the next winding turn with ease. Featuring a roll bar and 44-gallon tank for the distance, Chevy says they are using the opportunity this event presents to test out a few new accessories but has not yet announced what they will be.

In another continent far, far away, the truck we love to offer on the lot so much is being groomed for a very unique jaunt. The SuperUtes is launching in the outback regions of Australia next year, and Chevy has dibs on being one of the main suppliers of vehicles for the action. An 8-round schedule includes the Bathurst 1000, and the currently proposed calendar kicks off during the exciting and action-packed Supercars opening Adelaide 500. Some of the requirements for this race are that the used vehicles must be production based dual-twin cab setup, with rear wheel drive, and also have a manufacturer Turbo diesel engine.

An all-in price hovering around $100,000 per truck is the goal, and the Colorado ZR2 was deemed by Car and Driver as a model to “Take abuse with a shrug” and a “Potent crawler” when it comes to rocks and off-road challenges. For all of their use in the off-road division, the spool-valve dampers actually have the ability to perform at nearly their best capacity on pavement, which will help greatly if you want to remain stable and composed, while still being wholeheartedly at the wheel of a mean contender for rock-and-desert glory. As the cooler season approaches, let the sales and service staff at Jim Butler show you the many benefits of the Colorado ZR2: a high-performing vehicle that will curb your desire to drift over rock and river with the fervor of a well-versed journeyman! 

Dropping Weight + Injecting Positive Environmental Change: The 2018 Equinox

Here on the lot at Mid-Missouri Powerhouse, we have been keeping a close watch on the crossover SUV sector of the market. As the new models for next year begin popping up and making their way to lots nationwide, there are many advancements to take note of, and many reasons to consider trading up. The new Equinox began its quest to appeal to customers with a very wise choice: a dropping of ten percent of its mass. Dropping nearly 400 pounds, the all-new body was designed to achieve top safety ratings, and appeal to those on the very busy side.


The way in which it was constructed helps make the most of the vehicle's available turbo options, and the 1.5L turbo engine offers a balance of high performance, as well as efficiency. There is also a higher-power option available: the 2.0L turbo engine offers up 252 horsepower, and is the quickest of the Equinox's 3 available engine options. One of the first things folks putting the car to the drive test are noticing is that the driving experience is very agile, and you get a sense of precision and a very light drive. If you have been carting around something like a Ram or F-150 for most of your driving days, you are going to really love the sensation of high maneuverability this choice Chevy creation offers.

While accelerating or turning corners, everything about the new Equinox seems lighter, and the placement of ultra-high strength steel in the body structure allows for the sensation of a “cage” of protection around you. With the stiffer body structure, engineers were able to focus more on additives that make the ride more comfortable, and end up with a finished product that is responsive and nimble. Taking your brand-new Equinox on a leisure drive will give you the opportunity to notice the grade A components of noise and vibration reduction, another good result of the weight loss for this release.

Many consumers out there have the prime concern of how a vehicle really does in the fuel economy department. Performance at the pump is a very important objective, as many cars vie for coveted spots in this important rating. 32 MPG and 29 MPG on the highway is where the Equinox finishes, and the 1.6L diesel model offers a GM-estimated 40 mpg at highway speeds. The cargo area is very spacious, and features an oversized hidden underfloor storage space, as well as a flat cargo door that makes the loading and unloading process a snap.

At just around $25,000, you're getting an unbelievable ride loaded with technologies designed to keep your passengers safe, comfortable, and digitally connected. Teen Driver is the best way to help the younger generation that may have access to the vehicle, and gives parents the tools to discuss and correct some of the mistakes they may make during drives. Ask us about how it can even mute audio until the seat belts are buckled! We hope to see you here at Mid-Missouri before fall creeps closer, and we'll show you the many features the Equinox has, rendering it a great choice for a young professional or growing family!

2018 Camaro Appeal Boosted With A+ Additions to Trim: ZL1LE Extreme Track Package

The winding roads of Missouri are a great place to put a sports car like the Camaro to the true test. This powerful machine is a furious contender at any official or unofficial drag strip, and as soon as you get behind the wheel, you realize what a difference the racing-based suspension and aero technologies make in the final product. From the early days of video games up until the present day when virtual reality and Xbox rule big screen TV's nationwide, armchair drivers in homes everywhere often fantasized about owning a vehicle that is a dominator on the track, and we're here to tell you at Mid-Missouri Powerhouse that your dream car does exist.

The ZL1 1LE represents the most extreme and track-focused Camaro manufactured to date, and there has never been another model that comes close to matching the capabilities that abound with this car. With the addition of the new 650-horsepower ZL1 1LE, the choice of models from Camaro is more exciting than ever, and enough to make anyone stuck in the office daydream rampantly about getting some laps in on the open road. One of the unique features on this newest trim model is the downforce-producing aero: with the presence of the carbon fiber rear wing, specific air deflectors and dive planes on the front fascia all play an instrumental part in helping the car stick harder, and ultimately drive faster while turning.

The front-end ride height is adjustable on this Camaro upgrade, as well as the geometry of the camber. Three-way adjustability on the rear stabilizer bar is also key in high-velocity situations, and the new wheels and tires are made from lightweight forged aluminum. An inch wider than past models but a game-changing inch smaller in diameter, the wheel-and-tire package weighs about 3.3 pounds less per corner on average, drastically upping the race game. The 650-horsepower, supercharged LT4 engine with six-speed manual transmission is really choice: we know that some of the most high-performance vehicles out there today have been situated with an automatic tranny, and this is the way to really climb your way to success at the end of the track with your old-school wits.
Fast-acting and reliable Bembo brakes as well as dual-zone automatic climate control are other features you'll love about this new over-achieving track superstar, as well as the Bose premium audio system that will have you and all of your passengers enjoying kicking out the jams while in transit. The Redline Edition package also returns for 2018, which lets you trade up to a personalized appearance with front and rear bowtie emblems, a great-looking grille with red accents, dark-finish taillamps, black outside mirrors, and 20-inch black aluminum wheels.

Road and Track claims that the 150+ addition to the horsepower club is a “bargain for the price”, and we feel that you are going to agree wholeheartedly with that lofty statement. We cordially invite you to make a trip to see us and be blown away by the new options available for the Camaro: it is a made-to-order supercharged machine that satisfies the wanderlust of the choosiest gearhead. The vehicle that has rivaled the Mustang for years really ups the ante in the current muscle car offering lineup, and we guarantee it's going to immediately have you headed to burnout heaven!

Refined Rock-Crawling, Off-Road Domination, and Beyond: All-new Colorado ZR2

Completely pushing the reset button on the construction of off-road trucks is a task that no manufacturer should take lightly. Just in the zone of shock absorption alone, technology has really been stepped up in the past few years. Over a decade ago, raw power and a spruced-up paint job could yield you quite the animal to conquer the woods or Ozarks with. Prime contenders in the market then like Jeep had a lot of great ideas: some of them stuck around as anchors in the off-road offerings of new, and some of them did not. Here in the Show-me state, we have plenty of unconquered and pristine off road territory, and many customers come in and ask us about our best recommendations to explore the endless amount of terrain.

The new Colorado ZR2 is the off-road vehicle with more technology to conquer this type of domain than any other mid-size pickup on the market. Some of the newer features are a much wider track, and heavily lifted suspension. Additional rockers have been added for better performance among off-road elements, as well as the front and rear bumpers seeing some modification, for more suitable off-road clearance. With the fishing poles packed in back or a busy itinerary lined up for contract work, the option for diesel will no-doubt entice you, as well as the powerful and trusty front and rear electronic locking differentials.

After seeing success while developing Corvette and Camaro performance envelopes, the engineers at Chevy took the time to apply the same successful principles to the ZR2. Based in Markham, Ontario, Multimatic, Inc. is the manufacturer best-known for their production of high-performance Dynamic Suspensions Spool Valve Dampers. Recent Formula One winners have used them, but this goes down in automotive history as the first time they have been incorporated on an off-road vehicle. Compared to deflected-disk valving that takes place on most common dampers, the ZR2 uses spool valves, which offers an increase in precision, and a very noticeably enhanced ride.

The desire to improve ease of driving over mud, sand, and rock was taken a close look at during the production process for the ZR2. Come down to the lot and check out how the wider stance, changes to front and rear bumpers, and mounting of the spare-tire carrier on the bed all will improve your performance when navigating rough terrain. Featuring 17 x 18 -inch aluminum wheels wrapped in 31-inch Goodyear Duratrac off-road tires, the ZR2 is great for gripping traction that you'll realize right when you get behind the wheel.

The all-new 3.6-L V-6 is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, and cranks out 308 horsepower. 275 lb-ft of torque is also cooked up effortlessly, and this truck can tow up to 5,000 lbs. Snow mobiles, jet skis, and other fun machines are an easy haul, even with all of the off-road upgrades to the able and nearly menacing ZR2. About 500 pounds lighter than some front-running trucks with offroad capabilities, the new ZR2 could be your fast track to plenty of Ozark and rugged Missouri landscape enjoyment during fall. Come pay us a visit soon, and check out this well-equipped and modified monster rock crawling machine!