Chevy Corvette “A Masterpiece at First Attempt”, Snags Motor Trend Car of Year Honors

Every once in a while, a car comes around that truly disrupts the landscape, changing things for good and leaving it permanently altered. The first trait that Motor Trend wanted to get across regarding the new Corvette was that never before “has so much good exoticism been attainable for so little money”, and claims that this 8th-generation car will bring people into dealerships who would previously never come in. All of us here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse love how they compared the excitement of this new model to standing on the moon, another landmark American achievement.

Work began on this project back in 1959, when Zora Arkus-Duntov began conceptualizing on the then-named 1960 CERV-1. It was then a single-seater and had a V-8 small-block, and even way back then, excited Motor Trend editors and other enthusiasts that at least it the idea could be humanly possible. The staff of the magazine now been able to have their hands on the new Corvette for a few weeks of testing, and excitedly claim that Zora was definitely onto something those 60 years ago.

Writer Jonny Lieberman points out truthfully that after so much hope and anticipation, sometimes waiting for something this long proves to be a disappointment. But here he's happy to report in the extreme that the 2020 Corvette delivers the gods in “ways you wouldn't think possible”. International Bureau Chief Angus MacKenzie claimed that this creation now brings the Corvette much closer to the Porsche 911 in terms of being an attainable supercar than any time since the '60s. The first thing many notice after a drive is the distinct lack of road noise for a supercar: it's not completely silent but has received a hefty amount of praise for its quiet cabin.

When technical editor Frank Markus had the new 'Vette out on the freeway, he said Touring mode provided a ride that was as comfortable as anything the team had ever driven, and that the chassis of the C8 is incredibly smooth and polished. Road Test Editor Chris Walton claimed that the interior is clever, attractive, and the ergonomics are fantastic. Much of the credit for the lightening-fast 0 to 60 time is due to the very quick-shifting 8-speed dual-clutch transmission, beating out direct competitors such as the Porsche 911 Carrera S.

The fact that this is a real mid-engined supercar for the price of a Corvette is simply astonishing to many experts out there, and proof that we are living in exciting times. Overall value and ride handling are the absolute finest points this new Corvette brandishes, and the days after its reveal have been a straight-up party of sorts: the good reports, rewards, and exhilarating track tests just keep stacking up robustly in its well-earned favor!

New Camaro Model Offered Up For Breakneck-Speed 2020 Nascar Cup Series

Last week the official announcement hit the newswires and us right here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse that next year's Chevy teams in the 2020 Nascar Cup Series will be getting their hands on the Camaro ZL1 1LE. It will now be heralded as the most track-capable and fastest Camaro of all time, and will be on tap to replace the SS for the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series season, and has achieved 7 wins so far this year. 4 of them belong to track champ Chase Elliott, and Kyle Larson, Alex Bowman, Kurt Busch, and Justin Haley all have nabbed down one each.

For this exciting new ZL1  model, engineers spent countless hours at work putting to use computational fluid dynamics to optimize aerodynamic performance, simulations, and full-scale wind testing to zoom in properly  and bring to life a legend. The brand-new ZL1 1LE is the  highest performer within the Camaro lineup, and the excitement of the legacy has won the Chevy namesake a record of 39 NASCAR manufacturer championships, claiming 13 consecutive titles alone from 2003-2015. Chevy drivers have proudly taken home a record 31 championships, and among them was Jimmie Johnson's record-tying seventh during 2016. The   2020 NASCAR Cup Series will be the 72^nd season for the nail-biting excitement of stock car racing, as well as the 49^th season for the modern-era Cup Series.

The Advanced Auto Parts Clash will kick off the season at Daytona International Speedway next year, and the 62^nd annual run of the sun-drenched Daytona 500. Just two weeks ago we received word that Go Fas Racing has now created a partnership with Stewart-Haas Racing to obtain chassis, data, and technical support from them beginning during 2020. Other noteworthy events this fall include JTG Daugherty Racing announcing during mid-October of this year that they had successfully signed Ricky Stenhouse JR to a multi-year contract.  Just three  weeks later, Landon Cassil claimed that he plans to keep his current position in the StarCom Racing No. 00 Chevy for 2020.

On October 1 of 2019, NASCAR officially released the slightly modified rules listings for 2020. One of the changes is regarding road crew members: there will now only be 10 instead of 12 in any pit, and teams brandishing 3 or more cars are now limited to just three roster spots. After experiencing 21 awesome years of being NASCAR'S Premiere Fourth of July weekend even, the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway will now see its move to August, becoming the final race of the standard season. All of us on staff here at the Powerhouse are revved up to witness just how the most powerful Camaro to ever be unleashed on the track fares during America's top-ranked track pastime, and we'll keep you posted right here as to how the brand-new ZL1 fares during the fierce competition!

Carhartt and Chevy Soon to Team up For Development of Special-Edition Pickup

It would not be a typical day here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse if customers weren't displaying a heavy amount of interest in trucks: with so many off-road and urban-flavored models coming out and onto the lot so fast, there is now so much available for every unique taste. Last week we were excited for the announcement of a Carhartt Special Edition of the Silverado HD pickup for 2020, after so much positive response to show trucks the duo have completed in the past. Founded in 1889, Carhartt saw its beginnings as a unique work-wear manufacturer for railroad workers and has grown by leaps and bounds since.

 

The new model will be based on the 2500 LTZ crew cab and comes equipped with the Z51 off-road package. The color offering will be black, and the model will feature Carhartt gold stripes logos. Inside you'll find black leather upholstery accented with inserts that were inspired by some of the coolest Carhartt Brown signature jackets, and the rollup bed cover sports the Carhartt logo as well. When we reflected for a moment on why this partnership is so special, we looked at the offerings on the company website for gear and took some time to appreciate  how tough and resilient this product line is. These are accessories so durable you can take them to any rugged corner of the globe!

With the holidays right around the corner, you may be wanting to give gifts that are a bit more unique, and ones that possess a sense of everyday usefulness. Check out the Carhartt website here for some of the most rugged and unique belts, wallets, and other accessories out there. While the chestnuts begin to roast and the desserts and sweets come out in droves for the season, you can also come right down to see us here at the Powerhouse to test-drive America's favorite truck, the Silverado. One of our bestselling models, it is the basis for special editions such as this one begin with and touts high dependability and excellent handling daily.

The gift of brand-new reliable transportation for the holidays is one that not only provides peace of mind but the ability for a growing family or student to be timely and productive. Just as much pleasure as we get out of watching the many YouTube videos showing veterans coming back to surprise their families during the holidays, we love to envision the smile on a recipient's face when they are shocked to see brand-new wheels at their disposal for 2020! we will provide you consistent updates right here on the blog about future partnership truck models such as this one, and we have been excited in every way to watch the progression of the full-sized truck as it successfully climbed the ladder to the top of the towing and hauling clique.

New Atlas Ranks 2019 Blazer as “Upscale, Confident, and Exciting”

As the reports and various auto news outlets online confirmed that the Blazer surely was coming back last year, all of us here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse instantly became excited. When more spy shots became available it was evident that heavy styling cues were taken from the Camaro, and as soon as the Blazer hit showrooms, it gained massive attention. It is not quite the same Blazer's personality and flair from the 1990s, and resides in the sweet spot between the smaller Equinox and larger Traverse.

Auto writer Aaron Turpen of New Atlas took a lengthy spin and claimed that the very comfortable ride, excellent infotainment system, and stately drive quality were all traits that swayed him off the bat to give the Blazer very high marks. The trim selection begins with the base level “L”, then on up to Blazer, with the highest being RS and Premier. Engine choices are the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder that cranks out 193 horsepower and 188 lb-ft of torque, while higher trim levels derive power from a 3.6-liter 6-cylinder engine that doles out 305 horsepower and 269 lb-ft of torque. The nine-speed automatic transmission handles shifting duty, and all-wheel-drive is an option with the two top trim levels.

The New Atlas group had the pleasure of driving the 2019 Blazer equipped with the top-of-the-line Premier package, which includes forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and pedestrian detection. They reflected that the 3.6-liter engine offered up aggressive performance straight from the line and that the drive quality and handling were excellent by current standards. Tech lovers are going to feel right at home with the Blazer's four USB ports as well as top-notch infotainment system. Aaron claimed that this infotainment system was also his “favorite in the business”, due to very responsive touch, and extras such as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

With the towing equipment installed and V6 engine, the Blazer can lug a very impressive 4,500 lbs, and the gang's overall report was that after a few lengthy test drives that this is a vehicle with a satisfying and comfortable drive, A+ interior, and practical daily drive dynamic. Coming with the 2020 model will be a turbocharged 4-cylinder option, and we hope that we can see you here this fall to test drive and rank the Blazer for your own opinion's sake!

As we take a moment to remember our favorite Blazers through the years, one of the models we loved most was the S-10 Blazer from 1982: offered in a two-door body style, this was warmly referred to many times over as the “Drummer's choice”. Many percussionists found great usefulness in the hybrid of large car and truck, as well as ample storage space for their equipment. We will share with you more in-depth reviews and test drive experiences with the new Blazer as they continue to find their way into our newswires, and can't wait for you to come to check out closely just how feature-rich and performance-driven the new Blazer is!