2025 Chevy Silverado HD Trail Boss Establishes Residency as Tree Root and Boulder-Conquering Renegade

The light-duty Silverado 1500 was praised by the Edmunds.com review crew for staying true to its old-school roots and candor, which anyone here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse can appreciate! The future-forward environment bears a massive amount of promise and luster, but some of the remaining rigs of the current time bring about a sense of comfort and value. Presiding as one apt and incredibly able pickup truck, the Silverado 1500 is available in a variety of trim levels, beginning with the base Work Truck.

This year marks the first time that Chevy has applied the element-conquering off-road treatment to the Silverado HD, with the first arrival at the tree-root-conquering races being the suspension components from the Z71 version. The sleek new black exterior front and rear bumpers bring about a certain flair that also extends to the set of unique 20-inch wheels, and a few other details that can be made out from the single officially released image of the Silverado HD Trail Boss. 

The heavy-duty Trail Boss is based on LT and LTZ models, and Chevy has made a few other small changes to the Silverado 2500HD and 3500HD lineups. What’s under the hood remains a perpetually hot topic, as it is the solid foundation for the final product and the element that sets the tone for the entire package. The HD comes standard with a 401-horsepower gas-powered 6.6-liter V8, along with the Duramax diesel 6.6-liter V8 making 470 horses and 975 lb-ft as another option. Another cool and personal-touch additive is the Trail Boss bed decals, along with red recovery hooks. 

The High Country trim will receive Adaptive Cruise Control as standard equipment in 2025, and a stealth Black-Out Package will be available on the HD custom trim. The Silverado HD rides on a beefed-up version of the GM T1 platform, with production taking place by the resilient and hard-working men and women at the GM Flint Plant in Michigan. Staying true to its roots and seeing some notable updates to the technology and interior does a lot to help this truck be more competitive when pitted up against its hulking rivals.

The Edmunds review crew nailed the 60-mph mark in about 7 seconds from a standstill, then took the HD on a drive through an urban landscape where handling held secure. The Google-powered voice recognition system allows the driver to adjust climate control or even check out the newest podcast you’ve been dying to hear! The several available exterior cameras help when parking and the rear-cross traffic warning system offers a helpful buzz when navigating retail parking lots or busy streets. The Silverado 1500 has won many of the pickiest large-size truck fans over with its loads of towing power, and a commanding view of the road.

The U.S. News & World Report auto review crew ranked the 2025 Silverado as a “well-rounded half-ton truck that’s equally at home on the job site or pulling family road-trip duty.” Easygoing handling, intuitive infotainment operation, and a lineup of potent engines make the Silverado the first choice of ranchers, contractors, and small business owners nationwide. The cabin is handsome, incredibly well-built, and filled with great tech features. Affectionately hailed for “putting its head down and going about its business”, the 2025 Silverado Trail Boss is relatable, gritty, and always down for clutching its hard-earned keep!

Trail-Tested, City-Approved: Discover the All-New 2024 Chevy Colorado Trail Boss!

We would have to wholeheartedly agree with a few sentiments on trucks from the writers of the Motor1.com blog this week here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse! They claimed that modern trucks have now become “statement pieces”, as vehicles are lifted more at home in the confines of a parking lot than living and breathing dirt roads. It is very refreshing that the new Chevy Colorado offers a no-nonsense and very well-equipped off-road oriented pickup such as the Colorado Trail Boss.

For what the Trail Boss offers in the way of off-road capability, it’s an amazing bargain when stacked up with the various forms of firm-and-fitted competition. The package starts with a torquey turbocharged 2.7-liter 4-cylinder cranking out 310 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque, which reaches a delightful and spry peak at around 1,250 rpm. Even without the presence of a V6, this torque stat eagerly pairs with enough disposable power to quickly inch the truck up to highway-appropriate momentum. 

The ZR2 is the most powerful Colorado courtesy of its 430 lb-ft of torque, but the Trail Boss beats it out in the horsepower category with 73 more horsepower at its disposal. This 4-cylinder is an oddity of sorts in all the best ways, as it is even more powerful than the previous Colorado’s V6 and has more torque than the current Nissan Frontier’s V6. We have long recognized that the Jeep Gladiator is a huge contender in the business for those who want go-anywhere capability with a truck bed, and this Colorado offers more power all around than the Gladiator lineup.

After extreme off-road testing, the Motor1.com crew claimed that the included off-road kit is “plentiful and capable”. You’ll be blowing through the fire road or boulder-strewn location of your choice with 4-wheel drive, 32-inch all-terrain tires as standard, along with the necessary 2.0-inch suspension lift, and 3.0-inch wider track. Seasoned trail hounds have long known that you can't take on a course littered with obstacles at incredibly high speed, and here is where the automatic locking rear differential and hill descent control prove their massive worth! 

Crawling over harsh terrain simply cannot be accomplished with factory-grade equipment, which is why the additional skid plate is necessary. The overall lift, tires, and bodywork result in a 30.5-degree approach angle, a 22.4-degree departure, and 21 degrees of breakover. This Colorado also now has one interesting feature that is carried over from the EV skill set: Terrain Mode is now a 1-pedal drive system. Instead of the two-foot shuffle regarding braking and throttle, this is a much simpler means of getting the job done. 

This engaging test drive rendered an ideally stiff suspension, with the damping quite obviously prepped for washboard basins and rough roads. The thicker off-road tires help soften the impact of cracked pavement, and here it was deemed that there is no other truck this capable for the price. The Convenience Package adds cruise control. Another very cool addition to splurge on is the amazing and radiant red paint. Wilderness-ready, capable, and all-around fun, this is the truck that Car and Driver claimed was a “Mid-size king, vastly superior to its predecessor inside and out.” 

Driven to Delight: Chevy Corvette Tops Consumer Reports Satisfaction Index Once Again

After its memorable introduction to the public in a California hangar, the C8 Corvette has been in the award-winning spotlight for the past few years here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse. The Consumer Reports team has once again deemed the Corvette as the most satisfying vehicle to own by publication members, reaffirming just how amazing it feels to reign as a champion! Engine performance, technology features, and comfort have all seen expectations rise drastically over the past few years, and presiding as the best comes from incredibly hard work and expertise. 

Their official report saw the C8 nailing down a score of 93/100, which pulls out into the fast lane ahead of the Mazda MX-5 Miata, Lexus NX Plug-in-Hybrid, and Rivian R1T. To compile the data for this award, CR analyzed the results of the 2023 Annual Auto Survey, which included findings from more than 330,000 participating vehicles. These ranged from 2021 to 2023, along with a few brand-new 2024 models. The cumulative score is based on the percentage of participants that enjoyed the car enough to buy it again.

The C8 is now offered as the Stingray, C8 Z06, and C8 E-Ray. The Stingray’s sensational power source is the naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8 LT2 gas engine, confidently cranking out 490 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. The Z06 steps things exhilaratingly up with the naturally aspirated 5.5-liter V8 LT6 gas engine, which cranks out 670 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. The E-Ray sets a compelling precedent for the future by combining the LT2 powertrain with an electric motor on the front axle to ultimately boost horsepower output up to 655. 

The C8 Corvette models ride on the GM Y2 platform and are assembled at the GM Bowling Green plant in Kentucky. The newly released J.D. Power 2024 U.S. ALG Residual Value Awards selected the 2024 Chevy Corvette as one of the vehicles offering the highest three-year residual value beyond the purchase point. This gives the vet another valuable accolade as presiding ruler of the Mid-Size Premium Sporty Car category. The winners were chosen from a variety of 293 models produced by 15 prominent manufacturers. 

The C8 Stingray and C8 Corvette E-Ray were also recognized by Car and Driver with a coveted spot on their 10Best for 2024 roundup. After extensive testing, these editors determined that you can “Flog it at the track on Saturday, then cruise to search it on Sunday. Mount some winter tires and enjoy it year-round!”. The E-Ray was specifically highlighted for its impressive performance, with its onboard hybrid system contributing to the sports car’s lightning-fast prowess. 

Blasting up to 60 mph takes place in just 2.5 seconds, rendering the E-Ray the fastest Corvette that the publication has ever gotten their hands on. During their time on the track, the publication also billed the C8’s interior as “the best Corvette cabin Chevy has ever made.” The Z06 also proved here just how special the C8 can be, with its exotic mid-engine design, and persistent 8,600 rpm-screaming engine. With the chassis undergoing extensive design to compensate for more power, the engine steps in to iron out any small issues. The ‘Vette’s low-slung stance, immediate steering response, and brash cornering attitude have drivers completely amazed after each exciting stint. 

Behind the Lens: Exclusive Live Gallery Glimpses of the 2024 Chevy Traverse LS Sport Edition

As the hot summer’s activities filled our calendars last July here at the Mid Missouri Powerhouse, we were busy pouring over news tidbits regarding future releases. Barbecues, ball games, and lake trips are excellent fare for the sunny and hot days, which we admit we are missing a bit right now! The 2024 Chevy Traverse was released in mid-July of 2023 and represents the third generation of our competent and large-sized 3-row crossover. The GM Authority blog recently ran a story that showcased a set of photos depicting the Traverse LS Sport Edition in Summit White and outfitted with the very awesome Sport Edition Package. 

This adds black exterior accents and differs from the Midnight Edition by offering other available colors than just black. The front end still features Chevy’s dual-tier headlights, which designers and enthusiasts have now billed as the “Highbrow theme.” This design provides a formidable split from the horizontally oriented daytime running lamps. There was one slightly off-beat detail in the presentation: the model pictures were present minus the black grille that is typically standard of the Sport Edition, with the actual grille expected to be included in this batch of photos. 

The first glance of the profile view reveals a set of 20-inch-high gloss black-painted aluminum wheels that come included with the Sport Edition package. The tires wrapping the stealth black wheels are 255/55R20 all-season black walls, with a few of the other Sport Edition details including the high gloss black door upper and low gloss black belt moldings plus black badges and nameplates. Without the telltale roof rails on top, this narrows down the vehicle shown to the public as the Traverse LS trim. 

We also noticed the “shark fin” C-Pillar treatment on all the 2024 Traverse models, with the model pictured showing taillights specifically integrated with a black horizontal aesthetic across the tailgate, and quad exhaust tips inset directly into the rear bumper. There is a truck-like aesthetic happening here that is sure to offer the Traverse a healthy dose of extra muscle, which holds onto the solid bones while reinventing nearly everything else. The third-generation Traverse rides on the brand-new Global B electronic architecture and sports the turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-4 LKO gas engine.

This powertrain cranks out 328 horsepower and 326 lb-ft of torque and is paired with a GM-8-speed automatic transmission. Production of this third-generation model is now set to begin in February at the GM Lansing Delta Township plant in Michigan, which is GM’s newest plant in North America. Here there are 3.6 million square feet dedicated to constructing Chevy greats, along with nearly 3000 dedicated and hard-working employees. As the Cars.com staff settled in to review the Traverse, they first reflected that it was “meant to look and act more like an SUV, beginning with the new exterior.”

The Z71’s front styling includes a beefy aluminum skid plate and red tow hooks, along with an expertly designed unique all-wheel drive system. The added touch of a quad exhaust tip provides an aggressive aesthetic, and tech-obsessed drivers will love the standard 17.7-inch touchscreen display. The screen extends to the border, then offers the driver an 11-inch configurable digital instrument panel. Another excellent cargo-friendly feature of the new Traverse is its auto sense power lift gate, which automatically senses your presence and prevents extra time wasted fumbling for your key.