Colorado Z71 Diesel Close-up Performance Report: Snapshot at a Year of Ownership

Here on the lot at Mid-Missouri Powerhouse, we sure do have a lot of love for trucks, and the many benefits of owning one in our beautiful region. Motor Trendrecently had a great blog about an owner's thoughts, and insight into why he deemed it a “rolling Swiss army knife”. Anything from running errands, filling the bed with building supplies, road tripping, or delightful and mud-filled off-roading jaunts, the Colorado was always ready and able. The writer was adamant about his love for his 2016 Colorado Z71 4x4 Duramax. He had put about 28,155 miles on it, nearly a dozen national and state parks, and numerous hauling incidents, and it was trusty as anything he'd ever owned.

Locations such as Death Valley National Park were able to gauge just how much the Z71 would hold up when the off-road penchant was present, and driving in the city ranked very high on the list for visibility, as well as the parallel parking factor. One other exceptional thing about the Colorado is its engine: the 2.8-literturbo diesel L-4 makes just 181 hp, but the 369 lb-ft of torque is enough to get the truck moving with a sure sense of power. With the addition of the Duramax, the towing capacity is increased by 600 pounds, and the fuel economy is boosted from an EPA-rated 17/24/20 mpg city/highway/combined to 20/28/23 for the four-wheel drive models like the Z71.

This particularly seasoned driver from Motor Trend drove the last 8,127 miles of his journey without the aero-enhancing front air dam attached. During that time period, he was still able to pull down 23.1 mpg. When it comes right down to the nuts and bolts, there are a few more added costs right out of the gate with the diesel option, but improved drivability, fuel economy numbers, and a great maintenance record. All issues that Christian the author had with maintenance were taken care of under warranty, and a simple loosening of the rear bench seat was one of the only problems encountered during the many miles put on this back-to-back Truck of the Year winner.

Come down and see us right here at the powerhouse to check out this and all of the other trucks we have on hand: we take pride in taking up residence in Missouri, where trucks are one of the best options for your fleet. Hauling, delivering, getting job sites ready, and all of the fun stuff like taking the jet skis to the final destination are fair game with an enthusiastic extended cab like this. We are always excited to steer customers in the right direction when it comes to pairing you up with a truck: there's nothing quite as great as seeing the sun rise in the still mist while baiting a lure, surveying a site, or getting in some rugged and much-needed outdoor solitude!

Mid-Missouri Model Watch: Mass Excitement For Bringing the Blazer Back

Back in 1982, “E.T.” was king of the box office, and games like Pac-Man and Donkey Kong were gleaning tons of quarters nationwide. Right here in Missouri, many customers were falling in love with the Blazer: Chevy introduced the S-10 along with the GMC S-15 Jimmy, appearing as front-running models for the following year. Base power was provided by GM's 2.0-L OHV 4-cylinder engine, and a 2.8-L, 110 horse V6 was offered as a step-up with more muscle. It was a vehicle that became a hit with everyone from avid fishermen to drummers looking for hauling options, and also a vehicle that underwent many various changes over the years.

Automotive News reports that Chevy will definitely revive the brand name next year on a new midsize crossover, and it will provide major competition for the Nissan Murano and Ford Edge. We admit that at first glance, you may think that it looks like something from the set of the “Tron” or “Blade Runner” movie reboots: it does not have quite the same rugged appearance as the original models, but one has to keep in mind just how wildly popular crossover mechanics and features have become. The new Blazer is slated to share a platform with the latest GMC Acadia, and fall into place in the Chevy Lineup, promptly situated between the Equinox and Traverse.

Right behind the Sierra pickup, the Acadia is GMC's best-selling model, and typically-camouflaged prototypes of the Blazer have been spotted making their way down public roads nationwide. The last time the Blazer had its widely-recognized and well-loved name was on a 2005 midsize model, which eventually became the Trailblazer. The Trailblazer trucked on for roughly four years, suffering from just a slight bout with an identity crisis. There was no doubt that drivers loved it, but the automotive industry as a whole was simply going through one of its first major disruptions. Chevy still sells a Colorado-based Trailblazer in a few overseas markets, and we are not quite sure yet just what kind of plans are in place to bring anything like this to the states.

Nominated for Playboy's best in show and Truck of the year in 1995 as well as the same honor for Motor Trend that year, it was right after this that the Blazer was eventually bumped up to the mid-size SUV category. The rounded styling of these models appealed to scores of new customers, as the Blazer lost a shard of its rugged feel, yet was still an incredibly able outdoorsy and path-conquering vehicle. 

We guarantee that you'll love the square features in the rear on the new model, that give the Blazer a stance that is a bit akin to what you would see on the Bolt. Wheels sighted on the cruising prototypes almost provide an Escalade-esque feel, but the new Blazer will still be ready for a trail jaunt at the drop of a hat. We can't wait to talk with you here in West Lynn about the new Blazer, and show you the features of all the other models in our vast off-road army!

Mid-Engine Corvette Z8 Zora Poised To be Offered Alongside C7 ZR1 Next year

An important news flash gleaned from The Drive last week attempted to clear the air on a bit of confusion in regards to the release of the 2019 Chevy Corvette. There has been speculation and multiple rumors about this release for decades, and at this point, the legendary sports car is all but last-rung confirmed to make the switch to a mid-engine configuration. The C7 ZR1 is slated to be the king of the pack, and being capable of producing over 700 horsepower. Back in April, we took a close-up look at how it had the masterful ability to set a Nurburgring record, conquering the 12.9-mile course in less than 7:30.

Both of these high-octane and very high-profile cars are expected to be paired together and sold as 2019 models, and continue to do so before the C7 is eventually phased out entirely. The C7 ZR1 will most likely be the last chance for drivers to experience the front-engine that is classically configured, in a patented rear-drive corvette that has led the pack for the last 60 years. The C8 Zora is the result of a long-standing strategy to go head-to-head with cars such as the Audi R8, and the Mclaren 570S, while potentially out-performing one of the most prominent names in sports cars: the Porsche 911.

There is a rumor among many that with the production of two different Corvettes during the same year, GM may begin to produce Corvettes away from the umbrella of the Chevy namesake. This would ultimately become its own brand of high-performance auto, and it is absolutely not something that we can confirm in any way, but raises many questions. Would our beloved customers at Jim Butler Chevy enjoy this iconic car line as much if it broke away and became its own entity? Whatever does happen, the new Corvettes are slated to go on sale during mid-to-late 2018.

Later down the road during the life of the Zora Z8, the engine bay may even flirt with housing a twin-turbo V6, and many are disagreeing a bit about the general appearance regarding the rear of the vehicle. It does seem like there has been a pretty serious attempt to imitate a Ferrari when looking at proposed finished products, and everyone here on the lot seems to love it.

There is a bit of disdain as you scour the many auto blogs and articles available on this issue, and some feel that the techniques used to make the newer Corvettes modern were so drastic, that they lost a bit of the original aesthetic and soul along the way. All of us here in St Louis have been highly infatuated and engrossed with this brand for quite some time now, and couldn't be more excited to see just how the offering of this pair pans out. astronomical changes in the auto industry don't come without perseverance and much research: Our level of anticipation is at fever pitch to see these new Corvette's unveiled and dominating the track!