2020 Chevy Silverado Diesel Beats Ford F-150 With MPG Rating's Top Current Spot

Car and Driver were the bearers of the good news this week within the diesel truck realm that is so important to many loyal customers right here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse: the 2020 Chevy Silverado with its optional 3.0-liter turbodiesel Duramax inline-six engine is rated at up to 33 mpg highway by the EPA. This successfully leads the race over the Ford F-150's diesel by 3 mpg during the rear-wheel-drive comparison of both these burly trucks. It has for now claimed the very top spot as far as efficiency, and the diesel is optional on both the double-cab and crew-cab models.

The Ford F-150 Power Stroke's diesel highest ratings are 22 mpg city, and 30 mpg highway for rear-wheel-drive models and 21 mpg city/ 28 mpg highway for four-wheel-drive models. Three miles a gallon is quite a monumental advantage in a race where engineers put in many hours of hard work and exercise painstaking precision to gain just fractions of a gallon. Overall fuel efficiency and the ability to be a true powerhouse when towing are two of the reasons why the diesel choice is viable, and anyone who is no stranger to the staggering weight of elements such as tree trunks and horses can testify to this.

Chevy engineers were hard at work the entire duration of development using an array of tools to maximize the all-important fuel economy stat. Due to the extreme smoothness of the straight-six engine, the new Duramax did not see the need for a balance shaft, which reduces vibration but can make for an unnecessary drain on the engine. Speaking of which, there are three different fans that are used to properly cool the engine down to optimum temperature, and avoid constant pull on the truck's vital power source.

Many new buyers are flocking to diesel-powered light-duty pickups, and you can haul an important load with confidence knowing diesel is providing the muscle to pave the way. Thanks to the very modern technology of the turbocharger, 95 percent of the offered up torque is in production at just 1,250 rpm, so the only time you will run into lag is when you get heavy with the ignition foot immediately off the line. Hitting the 60 mph mark can be unofficially accomplished in about 8.7 seconds, and this is a truck that has a reputation for always feeling quick and agile.

The diesel power has in no way affected the excellent ride or handling quality, and constructing the new model out of aluminum means that Chevy has avoided massive additional weight gain to the nose. Summer months are times when projects see extended hours, rigging duty become that much more vital, and unexpected phone calls come in requesting double-duty effort. As climate change stays at the forefront of headlines and all of us involved in the auto industry take notice, we still pay heavy homage to diesel: There's something to be said for the source that undeniably “brings the noise” in terms of earning your keep for the constantly demanding road.

2020 C8 Corvette Stingray Official Unveiling and First Look Via Motor1.com

It was about three years ago now that everyone here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse laid eyes on the very first hard to make out glimpse of an early C8 Corvette prototype. At that point, it was covered in camouflage and many elements were still very much a mystery. This past week on the Motor1.com blog, they ran a feature on the iconic sports car that was first conceived by Zora Arkus-Duntov over a half-century ago and was finally brought all of the ways to life. With 60 years of anticipation, all of the car publications online are now asking if the C8 was worth the wait, and most indications are pointing to a strong “YES”!

The engine that is now situated in the location that was contemplated for so many years is a 6.2-liter V8, derived from the LT1 that provided power for the C7 Stingray, but is an all-new component in many ways. It's now called the LTZ, due to the design changes that it had to undergo to carry out mid-engine duty, and for the hefty boost in power it acquired. As far as the all-important power category, the new Stingray generates 490 horsepower, which is a notable step up over the 460-hp LT1.

When properly equipped, the claim is that the new Stingray can bust out zero to 60 in less than three seconds, and over-the-top and official quarter-mile times will be recorded soon. As soon as you climb in, you'll notice the completely different appearance, with a fresh pair of digital displays for both the infotainment system and instrument cluster. There is a large center console separating the driver from the passenger, and a new abundance of manual controls nestled in the C8's center spine.

The Z51 Performance Package is really where everything gets so much more interesting and impressive: it adds beefier brakes as well as better cooling ability, and an exhaust system with a bass additive on top of five extra horsepower for the engine. While paying close attention to the handling, coilover are located at the corners with an electronic steering system to help guide the car with an agile and honed-in ability around corners. Many cars out there have been offering up different drive modes for some time now, with the “Sport” being the one that you can always really open up and get rowdy with.

The new “Z Mode” on the C8 offers full customization of every setting, and the new digital vehicle platform provides over-the-air updates for the onboard computer systems. There are now also plans to manufacture C8s with the steering wheel on the right, a nod to 'Vette fans from all over the globe. After this close-up examination and look at the new features the C8 sports, the Motor1.com team made the claim that does not at all surprise us, stating that “this could well remain the bang-for-buck performance champion of the world”!

Soon-To-Be-Released C8 Chevy Corvette Bumper Leak Featured by Roadshow Blog

The summer of 2019 has proven to be scorchingly exciting within the auto realm, as the 8^th-generation Chevy mid-engine Corvette is one of the biggest and highly-anticipated automotive debuts during recent years!  We have to hand it to the brand we love to represent every day so much here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse: they have kept an incredibly air-tight lock on information regarding the release, and now at just days away there are a few more tiny leaks in the news. Last Monday an Instagram post surfaced that appears to show the C8 Corvette's high-placed rear end.

It's actually almost as high as the car's roof, and the taillights look to blend the styling of the Camaro and Corvette. We like the look of the two major air vents just below the taillights, and very squared-off tailpipes at the bottom. Much of the solid material that we have seen regarding the C8 was contained in a few teasers Chevy released to hungry car lovers in April, showing a model decked out in full camouflage rolling through the busy streets of New York. Some have claimed to have audio of an illustrious lap of the driveway right at the Corvette National Museum, making many believe that at least one trim level will boast a delightfully grunty V8.

The big excitement all goes down July 18 at 7:30 P.M. PT, when the live stream is provided on the GM website. The location for showing the new supercar in all its glory will be Tustin, California, in two of the biggest wooden hangars in the world. Once it is past debut status, Chevy is planning two national dealership tours by means of a traveling exhibit that will also include some of the accessories available for buyers to up the ante and personalize their brand new C8. This full list of tour locations will be available on July 19.

There are rumors of new tuning capabilities that may boost the output higher than the current 460 horsepower, and we wouldn't be surprised to see a hybrid that can make over 1,000 hp. It's no secret that industry professionals still showed the C7 much love: Lawrence Ulrich of Car and Driver gleefully proclaimed that the ZR1 “shreds anything in sight”, and fell in love right away with the act of squeezing and stomping the throttle in various gears just to see how fast the Corvette can go while still boasting squealing tires. What is most exciting about the coming C8 is what marketing manager Harlan Charles proclaimed a few weeks ago: “We are now trying to take the exotic car experience, and combine it with the Corvette experience, and the idea is to give people everything they dream about in supercars, but in an attainable Chevrolet”.

2019 Chevy Colorado Retains High Marks as Consistent Editors' Pick: “Perfectly Rugged and Capable”

When the truck customer of today is on the lot right here at the Mid Missouri Powerhouse, they are anxious to find the absolute perfect fit for their family or business. Browsing specs and stats online help with the final choice, and experienced auto journalists for online blogs such as Motor Trend can provide beneficial and well-researched information. Knowing what features and functions will best suit an everyday driver combined with many years of solid experience make industry leaders such as Mark Rechtin a pretty solid judge of a new vehicle's “Swagger and Soul”.

This savvy writer for Motor Trend is a middle-aged guy from the suburbs with a spouse and typically-sized yard to mow: usually the type to select from the latest smorgasbord of sometimes admittedly bland crossover SUV's on the market. While maintaining quite well as the butt of his own joke, he comments in this feature that loading up a Chrysler Pacifica minivan with 2 x 4's “ain't exactly masculine”. Now that trucks of the midsize classification are about the same in size as to what a full-size truck was a decade ago, models such as the Chevy Colorado LT in 2WD Crew Cab are amazingly efficient when put to the test as a workhorse as well as a daily driver.

Mark checked out in detail the Short Box trim with the very latest 308-horsepower 3.6-liter V-6, and stated immediately that there are so many great reasons why it won “Truck of the Year” honors for both 2015 and 2016, on top of a more recent contest for which truck comes out on top after getting outright filthy and dirty. Even before the addition of the ZR2 or Bison trim, this is an amazingly capable and long-lasting truck, and Mark also gave it the highest of praise for consistently having a very smooth and predictable ride.

Loading and unloading are made much easier by means of integrated bumper steps, and the Colorado is capable of a 7,000-pound haul when equipped with the tow package and V-6. The Toyota Tacoma is one of the fierce rivals at the top of our list, and we have to agree with Mark that the more sensible layout of controls as well as sporting a much roomier cabin will sway nearly anyone to the Colorado camp.

As the heat of summer is evident every time you step onto any Missouri parking lot, you'll also be pleased to know that the A/C on board the Colorado is known for bringing the appropriate chill instantly inside, and once cooled down everyone will love the plentiful USB drives on deck to provide the best in digital entertainment. The 2019 models now also see the addition of second in-cabin microphone for passenger, and HD Rear Vision Camera as standard on the LT, Z71, and ZR2 trims. We agree that any vehicle that falls under the good graces of an “Editor's choice” is one that you should keep a close watch on, and we hope to see you here during the hot July heat to test drive the finest and most durable mid-sized truck in the nation!

First Responders Obtain July Generosity in Form Of Front-Engined Corvette to be Auctioned

All of us on staff here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse in Linn have been fielding a high number of questions about the new mid-engined Chevy Corvette, and how could we not understand how very anticipant everyone would now be wondering about its arrival? Since dates have been officially announced and more and spy shots have been leaked, the new Corvette is now slated to debut in just under three weeks! Driven recently in New York in public by chief engineer Tadge Juechter, it has now been more widely-known among the masses that the arrival is real, and the face of this track-ready and all-American car will be a bit different from now on.

The idea has been toyed with since the 1960's but has stuck to the front-engine layout since the very first model went on sale in 1953, even though some have criticized the limitations of the design. Now placing the motor in the middle paves the way for a level of performance that we are confident will more ruthlessly compete with the likes of sworn enemies such as the Lamborghini Huracan, and Ford GT. The very last front-engine model is going to roll off the assembly lines soon, and the rights to purchase will be auctioned off in Connecticut on Friday, June 28 at the Barrett-Jackson event. This noteworthy and epic historic event will involve the Z06 coupe with 7-speed manual transmission, red interior and equipped with the top of the line 3LZ trim mirrored by an identical stand-in 'Vette during the day of the auction.

As the most patriotic of holidays is in our sights this July and we get to enjoy fireworks as well as precious family comradery, we think about the many who have been injured during the burden of service and first responding. All of the proceeds from the sale are going to be going to the Steven Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation to help those in need. Four years ago, the first-generation Z06 was auctioned for charity and received a stellar bid of $1 million from NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick who has taken great pleasure in collecting Chevy models that are historically significant. All of these relics serve as memorable milestones and front-running examples of the automotive craft.

Every designer, sales team member, financing specialist, and service pro here at the Powerhouse have the utmost in respect for first responders: they are out there every day putting themselves in dangerous situations to help people in harm's way. We know that there is nothing quite as horrifying as being at rest with your loved ones and witnessing a tragic event such as a house going up in flames during the middle of the night, and the individuals who are on the active call of duty are putting everything on the line to help a stranger.

It is more evident now than ever that even those who have had the best of fortunes and success in business are willing to lend a hand to those that are out there fighting the good fight on a daily basis. As we reflect to consider all that we've lost during the journey to become and continue being a proud nation, it's fitting that the last type of this Corvette will go for a special cause: many who once gave attention to individuals with the threat of dire danger now need attention and financial backing themselves. We hope that the end result during this auction is one that bats for the highest of fences, and commands respect to those who live their lives cloaked in sacrifice and service.