Thunder on Wheels: How Bob Seger’s Music & Chevy Trucks Captured the Nation’s Heart

As we have kept our eye on the Bowtie brand we have admired for so many years here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse, many different slogans have kept the vehicle line fresh in driver’s minds. “The Heartbeat of America” admittedly conjures up images of 1980s movie posters and very sweet-looking Monte Carlos, while the “Find New Roads” slogan of today looks ahead at the promising future of EVs and cleaner-sourced energy.

The “Like A Rock” phrase was used to advertise Chevy trucks for over ten years and originates from a Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band song with the same name. This era was not all about the new-wave suits of “Miami Vice”, as the Seger vibe leans more towards pool halls full of cold Coors, Wranglers and flannel shirts, and eagerly taking your rig offroad before the addition of durable skid plates to the lineup. Nearly every stunt depicted in the commercials followed a “Do not attempt” warning at the bottom of the screen, and GM had just devised the longstanding GMT-400 truck platform. 

Over three decades later, the platform is still remembered as being very reliable, with parts that were easy to locate and a track record for extreme dependability. Trucks that were not equipped with GPS, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and rain-sensing wipers still were chiseling their way into becoming both reliable and worthy, and they still looked excellent doing so! In 1990 many things were changing, and even though people still heard a dial tone before connecting to the internet, there was a sense of eclectic and promising innovation in the air. 

Donald Gould was an ad exec who was hard at work dreaming up new ways to spread the good word about GM trucks to the sometimes finicky yet dedicated American consumer. He came across “Like a Rock” and realized that it would be an excellent and very descriptive fit for his purposes. After his first time being contacted about the opportunity, Bob had initially not accepted and wasn’t fully convinced that his stance and style was the winning match needed for a homerun. His song was a full-on hit five years before this, inspired by a long-term relationship that had unfortunately gone sour. 

When Seger was spending time in a Royal Oak bar just outside of Detroit a few weeks later, a patron walked up and asked, “Why don’t you ever do any commercials for the auto companies and maybe give a gentle push to help us out a bit?” After having a change of heart, he realized that with a father that had worked at Ford for 19 years, he was ready to let his intellectual property not only sell trucks but actively save jobs. The song truly is the perfect bit of sentiment to illustrate just how reliable Chevy is, and how solid hard work is a vital component of the stable family unit. 

The 2023 Chevy Silverado is true to its roots and exists as a testament to everything good that this past ad campaign was built on. The Motor Trend review crew praised it for its excellent powertrain options, useful extra bed features, and the off-road and overland-primed ZR2. This year the Silverado boasts a revised diesel engine with more horsepower and torque, along with the very cool Jet Black/Umber interior scheme available on the High Country. With a towing rating of up to 13,300 pounds, the Silverado has evolved into a work-and-play ready machine that is perfect for supporting the backbone of America: Seger himself would approve of every mile inched forward “against the wind.”

Revolutionary Road: Dive into the High-Tech Upgrades of the 2024 Chevy Silverado

Power, style, and performance are very attractive and desired attributes that we have strived to evoke in every model here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse over the years! The Silverado truck lineup has spent hours of innovative research and development time with the final product that is appealing as well as capable, which are reasons why the 2023 Silverado is a superb choice for the sunny and productive days of summer. Whether it's tackling the job site, all-out adventure, or day-to-day errands, the Silverado is there for you on your terms, and always showing up with dependability and unique flair.

Next year’s model comes in strong with multiple upgrades across the board, as this version was conceived with a rock-hard work ethic and desire to bring the best-yet features and performance to the table. With various engine options fitting for different tasks, you can choose the Silverado 1500 that best meets your needs. The standard 2.7-liter TurboMax inline-4 engine cranks out 310 horsepower, providing a punchy gateway to both work and adventure. 

The available 430 lb-ft of torque makes for an excellent towing machine, with the composure of the 4-cylinder providing the means and muster. The 1500 can also be equipped with the 5.3-liter EcoTec 3 V8 that cranks out up to 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque. This boosts the towing ability up to 11,300 lbs, stamping the Silverado 1500 with the class-leading towing capacity and one of the most capable light-duty pickups on the market. We have thoroughly “found the high-performance savior” in the form of the 6.2-liter V8, doling out 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of smooth and reliable torque. 

The sweet spot in the lineup is indisputable: the 3.0-liter Duramax Turbodiesel I-6 is the most efficient of the bunch and can claim the most measured and well-rounded towing control. You’ll be confidently towing 13,300 lbs, with quite an impressive payload limit of 1,970 lbs. As drivers have eagerly clung to the large-screen mantra that inflates every year, the Silverado 1500 has ‘em fully covered. The 13.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and is the gateway to many interesting podcasts, audiobooks, and tunes for the drive. 

With the brand-new OnStar compatibility, drivers will know that they are 100% covered in terms of support and roadside assistance, even if a sudden impact renders you unable to initiate the call yourself. With the standard Chevy Safety Assist suite, you’ll benefit from 6 industry-leading driver assistance features to watch over you. Front Pedestrian Braking will alert you if an object enters your path from the side, while Forward Collision Alert does the same to sense if the vehicle ahead of you is behaving as if it will come to an abrupt stop. 

The Following Distance Indicator will constantly keep you aware of the crucially important distance between you and the vehicle ahead of you. You’re going to be thoroughly impressed during inclement conditions with the IntelliBeam auto high beams, which will automatically dim to avoid instantly blinding impending drivers. One of the most visually rich and distinct statements you can make is with the cosmetic Blackout Package, which adds the hue of night to the chrome accents and decals. There are so many reasons to be thrilled with what the future of pickup trucks has to offer: Next year’s Silverado 1500 offers capability, time-proven grit, and the technology features to make the drive a simple and sensational pleasure!

Revamped and Ready for Duty: 2023 Chevy Silverado 1500 Enjoys Updated Interior + Diesel Power Boost

The three top-selling vehicles in America right now are full-size trucks, and everyone here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse shares the love for massive-sized might and muster! It helps matters even more to know that you can get your hands on a very awesome Chevy Silverado 1500 during the days of summer when the hard work is abundant, and the blue lakes are calling you and your powered toys’ names. The 2023 Chevy Silverado has undergone a brand-new refresh, addressing a few fine details that make it much more capable and appealing.

The interior now has a more updated look, with materials that evoke a heightened sense of comfort and luxury. Consumers have always been quite upfront with just how modern a new instrument cluster should function and appear, and we rose to the occasion with a 13.4-inch central screen to be the head-honcho. There are now higher-quality knobs and buttons, with the harder and lower-quality plastics situated a bit lower than at an immediate gaze.

The exterior styling has been improved with a brand-new front end that has a sleeker aesthetic along with a completely redesigned grill. It blends better with new LED lighting clusters, in the modern touch of signature daytime lights. The Trail Boss version is the trim that evokes the most work-ready charm, sporting a two-tone hood with ample power bulges that result in a pleasantly intimidating stance. It's also more capable off-road, boasting a 2-inch lift and protective skid plates for the valuables underneath.

There are high-gloss and burly 18-inch wheels wrapped with Goodyear Wrangler tires that are ideal for the junction where the asphalt ends, and the rougher terrain begins. The bed has 12 tie downs for securing any type of precious cargo, and the multi-flex tailgate has six unique settings to assist with any stage of the loading and unloading game. Duramax diesel engine now has more readily available power and torque than before, with the torque’s excellent power kicking in just when you need it most during the lower rev range. 

This makes for a swift-moving and stable ride characteristic that is perfect for a highway drive where you have just settled in for your destination. Even if you have the bed fully loaded and the seats full, you always feel as if you have enough available power, which is so very important when facing off with other competing trucks in the segment. The WTOP news team car review crew was able to easily see over 24 mpg as an average and felt confident handling it in all types of weather and road conditions.

If we had to pick one of these great new attributes that we are most excited about here at the powerhouse, it would be the improvements to the turbo diesel engine: this is an area where trucks always have room to achieve more gritty greatness! We were already very confident that we had the industry’s leading truck with a winning formula in all ways, and a few tremendous tweaks have made for a better rig. The Autoblog review team also claimed enthusiastically that the High Country trim “is very stunning courtesy of its open-pore wood trim, and distinctive navy blue leather option.” 

Limited Edition C8 Chevy Corvettes Offer “Summer’s Best” of Corner-Clinging Contentment

The Chevy Corvette has long been a prominent symbol for GM worldwide, as it has spanned 8 generations and wowed experts by being the first rear mid-engine production car in existence aside from the 1984 Fiero! Today it presides here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse and capable garages everywhere by the “C8” namesake, and the heat on tracks everywhere was cranked up a notch with the introduction of the C8. The Z06 is a salacious beast that commemorates over 70 years of the Corvette name and is also now officially the production vehicle with the most powerful naturally aspirated V8 engine on the planet.

There are a few very limited-edition models coming up that are all going to add just an extra boost of oomph on top of the already-glistening and high-octane status of the ‘Vette, and the Topspeed.com blogging team took a closeup look this past week at the twin 35-unit run. The Limited Racing Style Edition is available in two color options, with the first being the very unique Arctic White scheme available in the 2LT trim of the coupe and convertible, which only sees 5 units produced.

The Hypersonic gray color option is offered in the 3Lt trim of either the coupe or convertible, with each special edition model boasting two full-length racing stripes finished in either red or black. On each side you can make out the 20-spoke Gloss Black forged aluminum wheels, and very cool carbon accents on the rear spoiler and mirror. The Arctic white version gets red surrounds for the wheels, and both models flaunt body-colored roof panels to boot. The Hypersonic Gray option greets you with a dual-tone dark and light blue color scheme inside, with the Arctic White option ready to scorch asphalt with a dual-tone black and red theme. 

The Hypersonic Gray model upgrades the bucket seats with a Nappa leather finish, leather-wrapped steering, and blue seat belts for the coupe and convertible. The Arctic White’s interior is equipped with GT2 bucket seats, and a suede finish for the steering wheel along with unique red seatbelts. The couple version is limited to 20 units finished in black, and 10 units in yellow, while both models have the same 20-inch forged aluminum wheels. On top of the carbon accents for the mirrors and spoiler, the convertible has the same features on the roof. 

The ’Accelerated Yellow’ version comes to the starting line with the same jet-black color theme, GT2 bucked seats covered in Nappa leather and suede microfiber, and a suede steering wheel. The seatbelts are yellow instead of red, and there are a few other great features that define this more elegant style of Corvette: you’ll be enjoying each tight turn with a new 12.0-inch gauge cluster, 8.0-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, wireless charging, a 14-speaker Bose audio system, and a head-up display. 

While there are quite a few differences between the coupe and convertible versions, the powertrain itself remains resiliency the same. It’s still available with the Z51 Performance package as standard, which heats things up with a dual-mode exhaust, and the 6.2-Liter naturally aspirated LT2 small-block V8, which cranks out 495 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque, paired with the smooth and always-on-point 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The Z51 package also includes the revised suspension consistently showing up with 110% stealth adaptive dampers, increased cooling, larger brakes, and electronically limited-slip differential. 

With all these performance-focused upgrades, the Corvette Stingray can now accelerate from 0-60 mph in just under 3.0 seconds, rendering it one of the fastest sportscars defying checkered flags out there. Doing a fantastic job of rivaling competition such as the Porsche Cayman GT4 RS, Jaguar F-Type, and new Ford Mustang Dark Horse, these limited editions add a bit of unnecessary yet very becoming charm to a car that will endlessly “move mountains” and nip at foreign supercar brands’ heels for years to come.