Toronto Star Praises 2019 Blazer for “Comfort, Space, and Style the Market is Looking For”

Writer Jim Kenzie of the Toronto Star was definitely spot-on this week when he claimed that there must be “around 147” SUVS to choose from, and while the sizes vary greatly, the shapes don't so much. With so many options abundant for 2019, he wanted to make sure that he tried our mid-size SUV segment Blazer, situated in between the Equinox and Traverse in our lineup. It's a front-drive vehicle that has an available add-on four-wheel drive system, and comes in base, True North, RS, and Premier trims.

Right off the bat, he appreciated the belt line that rises up at the trailing edge of the rear door, contributing to an aggressive stance and modern appearance. Even the base unit is very well-equipped, sporting 18-inch wheels, heated seats, dual-zone HVAC, HED headlamps and numerous safety features. Consistent with past models, the RS is the sportiest, and gets blacked-out trim on the outside, and red-trim bits for the interior. Promoting grippy handling and a more precise drive, it also gets dampers that are 40% more firm. The range-topping Premier trim receives a softer suspension, higher quality trim, ambient lighting, and upholstery with suede inserts.

As soon as Jim got inside, he was a fan of the four large and round air vents in the dash, heavily influenced by Camaro elements during design. The way in which the tech options are more accessible then past models by Chevy was also appreciated heavily, and the main screen works just like a modern smartphone. You have the option of customizing it to put the icons you use most often right where you want them, while not having to be bound to the designer's chosen layout on a daily basis. On-board Wi-Fi allows two phones to be paired, so one can take calls, and you can use the other to stream music and continue to stream music or search Google for upcoming locations.

There's even a feature that can help with the trailer hitch: inside the backup camera, you get guidelines to help you align the hitch ball with the trailer tongue while slowly backing up to firmly hitch on. This is good news for any family that knows well what it feels like to wait in a longer-than-average line at the boat ramp during the dog days of summer, as well as the dumping stations. You'll also love the cargo management feature: there are two rails on either side of the cargo bay, which you can use to tie your goods down so they aren't bouncing all over. The testing team from the Toronto Star also gave the Blazer props for the noise canceling technology: for the twists and turns they were encountering along with inclement weather, the cabin remained astonishingly and appropriately quiet!

Camaro's 2020 Stunning Stance and Updates Featured on Newswheel.com

Every spring at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse, we get excited to hear the thundering of various cars of the fastest varieties on the many scenic back roads in the area. We proudly attest that the Chevy Camaro has long been the best of the pony car variety, and the vicious head-to-head contender up against the always-challenging Ford Mustang. The Newswheel blog ran a great feature this week about the show-stopping Camaro's legacy of bold style, raw power, and always-exhilarating performance, highlighting what's new with the design enhancements as well as transmission.

With its supercharged 6.2-liter V8, the 2019 ZL1 1LE was designed to ferociously tear up the track, and when aptly partnered up with the new transmission, displays the ultimate in precise calibration and throttle roll. Camaro Chief Engineer Mark Dickens claimed “With unique Track Mode calibrations and ten gears, you are always in the perfect gear when rolling on or off the throttle. You may not be a professional race car driver, but now you can shift like one”. One addition to the 2020 Camaro lineup is the Camaro LT1 performance model, now available in the choice of coupe or convertible. This LT1 is the ideal choice for anyone seeking a pure V8 performance experience, and is also one of the most affordable V8 performers there is on the market.

Set to hit the markets during the early fall, the 2020 Camaro lineup gives buyers several awesome choices for each trim including a Rally Green exterior color, alloy pedals, and red kneepads. The LT and LS trims also will now offer the choice of a rear spoiler, and dark-tinted taillamps. The LT sports the option of RECARO performance seats while the SS and LT trims will now offer sueded steering wheel and microfiber-trimmed shift knob. As described in this blog by Car and Driver, the 2020 Camaro's cheapest V-8 model which is the 1SS undercuts the cheapest V-8 powered Ford Mustang, solidifying its place in a market that always appreciates the lower-priced pony.

Visually, the majority of the 2020 Chevy Camaro lineup will remain the same following the refresh last year, but the SS trim will get a new nose. It was lifted straight from the Camaro Shock Concept, which debuted at the 2018 SEMA show, and will also add a body-color separator between the upper and lower grilles and sports a Chevy bow tie emblem in the center. We can totally take a good joke or ribbing every once in a while, as we understand that not every idea within the design and engineering spectrum turns out perfect. This blog from The Drive.com praises Chevy for “finally fixing that awful nose job”, and gives us props for cleaning up the stance and appearance of the final product!

Autoevolution Shows Shine of Bad Boy 2020 Silverado HD in New Gallery

Just a few months after the new generation Silverado HD was officially unveiled, Chevy has already begun proudly rolling the new model off of the assembly lines in Michigan at the Flint assembly plant. In preparation for the exciting market launch later this year, the bad boy of the truck world sure looks mean and brawny in this gallery from the folks at the Autoevolution blog. The coming Silverado is larger, powered by new engines, and features a heavily overhauled chassis and suspension. For just one year's revamping, it also comes with a staggering 52 increase in maximum towing power, bringing the level to a whopping 35,500 pounds.

Under the hood are two different powertrains, both powerful enough to keep the Silverado situated at the very top of the food chain in its wildly competitive segment. The first is the 6.6-liter gasoline V8 that is the standard offering, and pumps out 401 hp as well as 464 lb-ft of torque, when paired with the six-speed automatic transmission. Compared to what resided here before it, the engine has 11 percent more horsepower and 22 percent more torque. There is also the option of the 6.6- liter Duramax diesel V8, cranking out 445 hp and 910 lb-ft of torque, while coupled to the all-new Allison 10-speed automatic transmission. This is the version that offers the staggering 35,500 lb towing capability on the Regular cab, two-wheel drive, DRW diesel models.

Chief engineer for the 2020 Silverado Jaclyn McQuad said in an official statement that “we set out to make the best HD trucks on the market, bar none”, as towing capabilities were increased across the line, and many other features such as 15 available camera views are present to make the trailering duty more convenient. As seen on the GM Authority blog, there are 6 expected lineups to choose from: Light Duty 1500, Heavy Duty 2500 HD, Heavy Duty 3500 HD, Medium Duty 4500 HD, Medium Duty 5500 HD, and Medium Duty 6500 HD.

It is not certain yet, but the potential addition of carbon fiber CarbonPro box and MultiPro tailgate from GMC Sierra may be present on the 2020 Silverado 1500. There were weight-saving measures in the frame as well as aluminum swing panels in the hood, doors, and tailgate that contributed to the 2020's lighter final numbers. There is a new box access step ahead of the wheel wells, improved CornerStep rear bumper, and roll-formed steel bed that's stronger than its predecessor. You can find tons of other great news and updates regarding the upcoming 2020 Silverado here, and continue to watch the sands of time flow slowly before the heavily-hailed and awaited release date here at the Powerhouse!!

Automotive Minute Proclaims 2019 Blazer “The Best in Current Chevy Interior Design”

Editor Eileen Falkenberg-Hull of The Atlanta Business Chronicle claimed this past week in her article that the Chevy Blazer puts forth the strongest argument to consider a Chevy SUV in years. She recognizes off the bat just like all of us here at the Powerhouse do that the Blazer's narrow, squinty headlamps and grille are reminiscent of the Camaro, and they draw the viewer's eyes excitedly to the edges of the SUV. We enjoyed how the Red Hot paint job on the borrowed RS tester was even a bit of an invitation to catch stray glances from the local authorities, a sign that the “streaking and sporty” vibe can carry over to the crossover SUV variant with ease.

The RS trim model is powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine that is paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission. It achieves 308 horsepower and 270 pound-ft of torque that gives it a bit more pep off the line than the average SUV on the market. We were proud to hear that our Blazer's acceleration was much more satisfying to this testing team than their drive experience in the competing Murano and Passport, and it also stuck to the road in the long run with much less body sway than the Murano possesses.

Front-wheel drive models brandishing this powertrain nail down 20 mpg in the city, and 26 mpg on the highway, while Blazers that are equipped with all-wheel drive achieve 18/25 mpg city/highway. Here Eileen attests that the Blazer's cabin is filled with modern design elements that are absolutely unlike everything else in the Chevy lineup: especially the circular air vents that sport climate controls on their exterior rings. Across the center stack and below the 8-inch touch screen display are situated small buttons for controls such as airflow and heated seats: after adjusting them to your liking, you'll love how you immediately notice just how spacious the cabin is.

The team's verdict about the infotainment touch screen is that it is anchored more solidly to the dashboard than it is in many other current SUV offerings, and there is a storage compartment conveniently stowed away behind it. Many who will choose the new Blazer were drawn to it because of their full schedule and busy lifestyle, and will definitely reap the benefits of the well-designed cargo management system. The rail holds all of the things such as grocery bags in place for the journey home, and provides the element of arrangement where it is needed most. As depicted in this review from the seasoned folks at Motortrend.com, maximum towing capacity for the new Blazer with the V-6 is 4,500 pounds, and they also would recommend the sporty and unique stance the RS trim provides!