BostonHerald.com Hails 2020 Chevy Silverado LT Trail Boss For its Skills Conquering Samuel's Camp

Just about everyone we talk to here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse is crazy about trucks, and fans of trucks love to listen to stories of them faring well on tough terrain. The folks on staff at BostonHerald.com were confident that this was not just the average Silverado, and one that could pretty much “do anything while going anywhere doing it.” The 2-inch lift kid paired with blacked-out 18-inch wheels and Goodyear Wrangler tires is a standout combination for off-road domination.

The place that they went to take the Trailboss to test it was Samuel's Camp, a historic 50-acre hunting camp full of rocky terrain and swampy ravines. Over 60 years ago, there was even an old bus towed up the mountain so there's a camping base to use while mudding and hunting. Located in the upper Catskills of New York south of the Peekamoose Mountain, this is a place that definitely requires a vehicle that has multiple abilities to get there. Many of the locals who attempted the journey simply didn't make it, and the Boston Herald gang called up to get approval and be on their way.

 

Locked in 4WD and in very low range, they began to slowly crawl up the side of the Peekamoose. They had brought a chainsaw along just in case, a necessity due to the huge branches that are hanging near almost every turn and straightaway. As they lumbered over rocks that were the size of small cows, they at one time only had two wheels on the ground, and admitted they were full of fear on the ascent! According to the campground staff, Jeeps designed specifically for boulder climbing were the only vehicles to make it most of the time.

After about 45 minutes, the group was still intact and made it to Bear Springs, the point at which things get much steeper, narrower, and challenging altogether. They were the first on-road vehicle to make it the whole way! Through challenging streams, over jutted logs and sloped grades, the Trail Boss conquered the journey and they gang pulled in to camp at an elevation of 2,370 feet. Their testing vehicle was equipped with the 5.3-L EcoTec3 V8 engine offering 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque. They claimed that this year's 10-speed automatic transmission is much smoother, and the Trail Boss brandishes a towing capacity of 7,000 lbs.

Auto start/stop, hill descent control and auto-locking rear differentials are standard, which were put to the test during most of the trip. These experienced drivers avidly claimed that if the trail is your terrain, you might as well “incorporate the true boss”, and many Missouri-area Ozark enthusiasts will be proud to call this their means of “conquering the off-road beast”!

Hotcars.com Tells the Chevy Silverado's Illustrious Life story

Although the first truck bearing the Chevy namesake did not see creation until 1999, Chevy had been making trucks in various forms since 1918. Since its official release, the Silverado has become one of the most well-known and best-selling pickups in existence and has already seen many changes during its days. In 1975, the actual Silverado package was offered as a luxury trim option on the C/K line of trucks. It was not until 1988 that this line was discontinued, and the GMT 400 series was where the Silverado trim resided at the top of the line.

In 1999 when the brand we love to represent so much every day here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse decided to come out with an entirely new series of pickups, it was not a surprise that they wanted to capitalize on the Silverado's existing reputation. The earliest version looked like a larger and more aerodynamic version of the last GMT and was characterized by plenty of rear legroom and leather bucket seats in the front. Inside, the truck was granted a lighter but stronger chassis, as well as the same V8 found in the Corvette.

There were 42 different available combinations of body style, engine and trim options, and so it was not at all difficult to find the exact one for anyone's specific needs. This first generation of Silverado trucks greatly impacted the truck market, and Motor Trend began the chain of great reviews by stating that it “set a whole new benchmark” for what a full-size truck could be. When the Silverado experienced a redesign for 2007, it was imperative to ensure that it would live up to the high standard set in 1999. Inside, the cabin now offered up more comfort, with high-end interior finish topping off even the most basic models.

The new 5.3-liter V8 now made the truck stronger and more fuel-efficient than any other in its class, and the onboard Dynamic Fuel Management System could make the switch between V4 and V8 mode. Once again, not too many were surprised when it earned Motor Trend's Truck of the Year award. As highlighted in this great blog last week from Hotcars.com, the third generation of Silverado Trucks released in 2014 really brought the Silverado into the 21^st century with an iPhone input, Bluetooth connectivity, and multiple USB ports. The truck was much lighter due to the use of aluminum in the engine block and hood and also continued to use steel in the bed and frame to provide strength.

On the outside, this new Silverado boasted a more angular front end and larger more well- defined fenders. The following year, more driver assistance features become available included lane departure warnings, adaptive cruise control and forward-collision warning. The most recent version of Silverado trucks face still competition from Ford and Ram and offer a winning combination of performance and comfort. One awesome and dynamic element that has seen redesign is the fuel management system, allowing you to use as much or as little of the engine as you need, which means huge savings at the gas pump!

Motor1.com Captures 2020 Corvette Hitting 60 MPH in 2.7 Seconds

By all manufacturer estimates, the 2020 Chevy Corvette C8 can hit 60 miles per hour in just 3 seconds. That is an incredible feat for a vehicle with its base price, and Mike Davenport AKA The Chevy Dude makes his living selling cars in Louisville, Kentucky. He is the proud owner of a 2020 Corvette C8 and has consistent access to a private stretch of very straight, flat road that is a match made in heaven for the Corvette's brilliantly-designed launch control system. 

With the drive selection mode set to the very track-inspired and trusty “Race” setting, the Chevy Dude shown here  simply has to stand on the brake pedal, really lay in and mash the accelerator, wait for the engine speed to settle to 3,500 rpm, and then lift off the brake when ready to experience launch. With the tires chirping noticeably, the 'Vette makes its way to 60 mph in a pretty amazing 2.7 seconds, measured accurately by means of the Performance Data Recorder. Getting the Corvette to be able to perform like this does require a bit of optional equipment: the Z51 Package aids in acceleration thanks to an electronic limited-slip differential, grippy tires, and a shorter rear axle ratio.

On top of that, the Z51 Performance Suspension with Magnetic Selective Ride Control also includes the Performance Traction Management system. Even though it can be noted that a very grippy road surface, cool temperatures, very low humidity, and a nearly untraceable downhill slope could all contribute to acceleration that is a bit faster than usual. With the release of many performance-focused videos such as this, it understandably stokes excitement among many who just saw the delivery of their model, and are anxious to get out and about to check out just how it handles.

Last weekend, early-spring snow was present in London, Ontario, and one new C8 owner took the opportunity to test his mid-engined car in the slushy and somewhat messy environment. Here in the video you can see that temperatures were just above freezing, and the car even handled the hilly suburban roads in the neighborhood just fine, which the owner attributed to the rear-biased weight distribution: 40-60 from front to rear.

Other advanced construction put to use aluminum suspension components and carbon fiber body panels, materials that degrade at a much slower rate than steel when punished with slush and wintertime road salt. Owner Morgan Crosbie uses the supercar that we love so much here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse of Linn as a daily driver, and loves the comfort paired with raw power he derives from his purchase! 

2021 Chevy Traverse via GM Authority: Fresh Look, New Cabin, New Tech

The 2021 Chevy Traverse celebrated its debut just last month, storming onto the scene with a fresh mid-cycle enhancement for its second generation. It has a new look, new cabin options, and new technology offerings, and the staff on hand at GM Authority showcased it on their blog this week to point out its fine aspects and show everyone like us here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse all of the good things we can expect!

The new exterior styling provides a brand-new fascia up front, taking inspiration from the 2021 Chevy Suburban as well as Tahoe. The new look uses restyled lighting elements and a new grille, brand-new daytime running lamps, and integrated LED signals. These have broad horizontal styling lines that add a bit of an aggressive new demeanor, and the tail lamps utilize a “Dual Spear” inner graphic treatment. An available 8-inch display handles infotainment, features, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto keeps users properly connected while on the go.

Power is derived from a naturally-aspirated 3.6 Liter LFY V6 engine, which cranks out 310 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque and paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission. Tech features are plentiful with offerings like Front Pedestrian Braking, Automatic Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Alert, Lane Departure Warning, and Lane Keep Assist. Opting for the higher trims like 3LT, RS, or Premier will provide access to upgrades like a new Adaptive Cruise Control – Advance system. We will keep you posted on how the Traverse fares as readers put in their trusty votes: GM Authority is officially hosting a poll on whether everyone out there in auto lover's land thinks that the 2021 Traverse is hot, or not! They are a great place online to get news regarding the Traverse, Chevy news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.

This slideshow from TheWheel.com is another cool way available on the web to check out the inside as well as outside: you can really get a feel for the simplicity of the layout inside the cabin that is basic yet still feels very modern. The wheels, rims, and LED light styles also get a very close-up look, and you can get a good idea of how the turn signal indicators integrated into daytime running lamps look when slowly fading up to fully-lit status. The new design has a very commanding feel that we know customers will love, and helps complete the task of possessing one of the freshest SUV lineups there is in the market. You also can see in this slideshow just how much space is allocated by folding the back seat down, allowing ample space for whatever you need on board for your next getaway!