Sneak Peek at Army-Grade Colorado ZR2 Midsize Military Supply Contender

The landscape near and dear to us right here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse can bring us to think of the duties a truck would have when faced with tasks such as Frank Castle From the Marvel Series “The Punisher” encounters daily. When it comes to the troops we firmly support, a truck needs to boast features that aid in the task of moving troops around on the ground safely, with a successful mission in mind. Chevy has now landed a $1 million contract to build two very cool midsize trucks for the U.S. Army, and you can see photos here that depict the ZR2-based Infantry Squad Vehicle that is being considered.

The trucks scrap the traditional pickup profile for an open-top nine-passenger troop-toting configuration, with three rows of seating in addition to two side-facing seats in the rear. Four-point harnesses are also added along to the military-grade mix, and there are no doors at all, just a roll cage with attachments for various gear. The truck will also strap itself usefully right under a UH-60 helicopter for a quick lift, which is commonly needed in areas that see frequent combat.

The vehicle shares 70 percent of its parts with the 4x4 Colorado ZR2, including the suspension that features track-grade Multimatic DSSV shocks. Special attention during the design phase allows for very high-speed running and jumping, both of which could mean the difference between life and death during combat. The customer-grade ZR2 is available with a gasoline V6, but these test trucks are putting to use the optional 2.8-liter 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine, rated at 186 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. GM Defense President Davit Albritton said over the past week that “this particular ISV entry is a fully-integrated platform that leverages decades of engineering, manufacturing, and quality expertise at scale to provide the most cost-efficient, reliable and effective answer possible to meet and exceed the Army's demanding requirements”.

Testing of the trucks will begin during November at the Army's Aberdeen Center in Maryland, where they will be competing against various submissions for a contract to be awarded during spring. The winner of this contract will be slated to build 651 vehicles through 2024, providing ample supply in high numbers for the men and women out there on the front lines making sacrifices for our nation. The off-road stance is absolutely what is needed to provide the best in-vehicle assistance for those who best know that freedom doesn't come without a price, and are out there offering up their talents every day to keep our country safe. We'll keep you posted right here on the blog as news develops, and keep our fingers crossed regarding this chance to supply our best and brightest during the call of duty.

2021 Chevy Colorado To see Updates With Aggressive Look, Dune-Ready Style

Right here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse during fall, many of our long-time customers are telling us that they are eager to not just navigate through their daily commute, but explore the abundant off-road options and precarious trails that our state has to offer. The Chevy Colorado is a solid option for anyone in the market looking at a midsize truck, and details regarding the 2021 version have been lighting up the newswires and web. The changes for 2021 are focused on appearance, and mechanical specs are expected to remain the same.

The new look is aimed at sealing the gap a bit between the Colorado and full-size trucks and help it stand out with a bit more stance and stature. Z71, WT, and LT trims will now see an updated front fascia with a new layout, logos, and skid plate. The first two will see the addition of a Chevy bowtie badge finished in gold, while the off-road Z71 will sport a black bowtie. All Colorados will see the addition of a new tailgate that has embossed Chevrolet lettering, as appearing currently on the Silverado 1500 and 2500 HD.

The Colorado ZR2 is top-of-the-level and always finely-tuned for trails, and it sees a few revisions to keep it tough and competitive. There is still a trim-specific fascia that keeps the front tires a bit more exposed for approach angles you'd most likely encounter in the wild. The grille is wider and more open as well, now featuring cut out Chevy lettering that easily allows for more airflow. Lifted suspension, much wider track, and huge knobby tires are the main components that allow for such stellar performance off-road, and skid plates, as well as red tow hooks, help round out the purpose perfectly.

Also brand new to the ZR2 and Z71 is the “Sand Dune Metallic” beige exterior paint, which will look better under each new layer of dust it collects while traversing dunes! The ZR2 is not scheduled to debut until the SEMA show in November, but there is already a competition-ready version built to fend its way during the 2019 Laughlin Desert Classic, a challenging off-road race held on the challenging sands of southern Nevada. We had a full-on midsize pickup truck renaissance on our hands when we launched the current-generation Colorado for the 2015 model year, and one of the main reasons why it will see an upgrade for the 2021 model year is to provide a bit more differentiation between trim levels.

We are fully aware that the full-size truck still slays and is always going to be an offering that many tried and true customers will gravitate towards.  We encourage you to check out an option a little more midsize and off-road-ready this fall, and see just how exciting it is to plow through dirt, climb boulders, and race through rapids in a desolate location that has long been calling your name!

Auditory Exploration With the 2020 Chevy Corvette: Bellowing Pipes at Thunderhill West

Road and Track has been involved deep into the duty of gathering data for its annual Performance Car of the Year feature, and included a pre-production 2020 Chevy Corvette during testing at Thunderhill West. Esteemed guest Matt Farah from The Smoking Tire ran the brand new C8 around the two-mile track and also took video of the laps. There was a serious embargo on driving impressions in effect for just 4 more days and so he was not at liberty to discuss the Z51-equipped coupe's performance in detail, but the video does a pretty good job of depicting the C8's roar.

The sound in the cabin comes from the 6.2-liter LT2 V8 with 495 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. At first listen, the bellow was described as “mild”, and why are we not offended? Because the C8 was not meant to be quite the roaring stallion that you see from the likes of Maserati or Ferrari in regards to pure piping sound enjoyment. But hold on! One only needs to remember that all of this comes at just a fraction of the price that you would fork out for the others

There is a very distinct difference between fake engine noise and exhaust note frequency augmentation, and this is where some have had debate this fall. The active noise cancellation sound system on board does employ a tiny bit of frequency augmentation of the exhaust's note, because the pipes are now experiencing a muffling of sorts by the engine itself. The pipes are also now placed way behind the driver's ears, and its a proven fact that sound pressure drops with the square of distance. But Chevy did not create this just for the coming of our mid-engine marvel: the C7 actually incorporated the same system.

The new car actually relies on the engine itself for all of the of the audio, but with pass-by requirements and the multiple cavities that exist between the driver and exhaust tips some frequencies are lost and have the need to be supplemented. With all of these elements at play, it can understandably be a tough battle for an auto manufacturer to win! New global regulations, the bottom line and concerns revolving around production can have an effect on the final exhaust note as it triumphantly roars after ignition. It's not just the roar of the exhaust that you'll love from the new Corvette: the fun is just beginning from the mid-engine standpoint and this car will be the star of headlines for many months to come here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse and nationwide!

2020 Chevy Silverado 1500 Midnight, Rally Trims Unveiled During Lone Star State's Fair

Since everything about the all-American truck from the frame on down to the safety features began to change drastically, opportunities to concoct special editions have been plentiful. Many customers right here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse have told us just how much the option of custom trim makes the truck become their own, an important sentiment when you put it in gear in the morning and lurch forward to take on the day's challenges! The popular Midnight and Rally editions are now being brought back to the 2020 Silverado 1500 and saw their debut during the State Fair of Texas.

The 2020 Silverado Midnight Edition is offered on the Custom Trail Boss and LT Trail Boss trims, and sports a perfectly menacing all-black theme. It also provides black 18-inch wheels, badges, grille, bumpers, exhaust tips, steps, and very recognizable bowtie. The recovery hooks have not seen a change, and are easily spotted by their bright red color. The LT Trail Boss Midnight Edition derives power from the 6.2-liter V8 that cranks out 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque and is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. It also is characterized by very high-intensity LED headlamps with dark bezels and daytime running lights.

We have to admit that everyone here at the Powerhouse prefers the Midnight over the Rally Edition, as it is off-road ready, rugged, and true to form. But The Silverado 1500 Rally Edition was made for those who appreciate an urban look and is offered on the Custom as well as RST trims. It's available in Black, Red Hot, Silver Ice Metallic, or Summit White exterior paint. This edition keeps the body-colored grille, but seed the addition of black stripes on the hood and tailgate, black badging, black bowties, black exhaust tips, assist steps, and black Chevy lettering on the tailgate.

If you love some of the other aggressive and street-ready Chevy offerings like the Camaro, the Rally edition may be the perfect way for you to add a dose of urban flavor to your favorite truck. Both of the Rally editions can be had with the 2.7-liter turbo-four engine that is paired with an 8-speed automatic, and the RST Rally Edition can also be powered utilizing the 5.3-liter V8, or 6.2-liter V8.

Both the Midnight and Rally editions will be available for order during October, and see arrival at dealerships later this year. It is amazing to see just how the raw essence of a simple pickup can be altered drastically, and both of these new choices are on tap to add the ultimate in flavor and style to what we believe is the finest and most capable truck on the globe!

Chevy Traverse Pitted Against Chevy Tahoe by Autoguide.com

The Autoguide staff chose a stellar story topic this past week when they had their eyes set on the two largest and most powerful SUVs from our brand. Both the Tahoe and Traverse can haul three rows of passengers when properly equipped, and most models see the massive power available able to be sent to all four wheels. The Tahoe is known as unforgivably large and commandeering, and for heartily offering up the sensation that you're “going to get there in safety and style no matter what”.

The first order of business for comparison between the two was the engines under the hood: the Traverse offers a 3.6-liter V6 and a turbocharged inline-four. The 3.6-liter cranks out 300 horsepower while also serving up 266 lb-ft of torque. Both engines are paired to a nine-speed automatic, and the inline-four generates 257 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Buyers that choose the 2020 Tahoe have a range of V8s at their disposal: the base 5.3-liter V8 makes 355 hp, and 383 lb-ft of torque, while employing an active fuel management system that will halt the action of cylinders to conserve fuel.

This is the exact same powertrain found in the GMC Sierra, and the writers of this feature happened to prefer the optional 6.2-liter V8 which is paired to a 10-speed automatic and puts out 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. Since the testing team here were understandably big fans of the old-school V8 bellow, they were prone to enjoying the audio-sensory benefits that can only derive from a larger block. 

As you may expect, all-wheel drive can offer up a bit of a fuel economy penalty regarding any large three-row vehicle. You can count on about 18 mpg during most city driving, and the turbocharged model manages to break the 20 mpg mark in town while holding down 26 mpg during highway jaunts. You may eventually gravitate towards the Tahoe if you prefer a traditional SUV, and the 6.2-liter doesn't need to work as hard while hauling a huge load. The Traverse heads up the team's challenge here in terms of finished bodywork and an efficient engine.

Minus the sunroof, the Traverse sports 41.3 inches of headroom in the front row, and the legroom checks in at 41 inches up front, 38.4 inches in the middle, and 33.5 inches all of the way in the back. When dealing with the proportions of a vessel such as the Tahoe, it's important to realize that “big on the outside means big on the inside”, and the first-row headroom beats out the Traverse by 1.5 inches. The bottom line that the Autoguide.com staff had regarding daily tasks is that the Traverse is the way to go for hauling around any more than 5, due to its extra-spacious third row.

The Traverse boasts second and third rows that open up an impressive 98 cubic feet of storage space, and towing capability maxed out at 5000 with the V6 and additional trailering packages. Sporting a very noticeable jaw and defined lines, the Tahoe looks like an SUV through and through. A restyle a few model years ago set it apart a bit from the Silverado, and it can fend for itself aesthetically on a whim. If you are coming to see us here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse looking to trade up from a smaller car, you will probably feel most comfortable in the Traverse, while those replacing a pickup truck would practically opt for the Tahoe. We hope you come down to see us soon and decide which of these rigs will be best for your family's fleet, and pick the best of the large-sized bunch!