2023 Chevy Colorado’s Boulder-Bashing ZR2 Version set for Official Debut July 28

As the Fourth of July weekend has finally made its way to our busy and action-packed calendars here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse, many of our loyal customers will have trucks on the mind as they attend family picnics and enjoy fireworks displays with their favorite friends. The ability to tow, haul, and overcome the numerous obstacles that test of trucks limit when it lurches off-road are just a few of the awesome traits that draw buyers to this fantastic line of powerful and capable Chevy trucks.

A brand-new teaser video shown on Car and Driver recently depicted the updated 2023 version of Chevy midsize pickup truck the Colorado ruthlessly commanding desert terrain just ahead of its official debut later this month. We anticipate the new truck they have a brand-new body and fully upgraded interior, with the underpinnings remaining mostly the same as last year's model. It is possible in the video to see that the Colorado’s front end appears to have a few changes and does not have the same chunky all-terrain tires and light bar behind the cab as the ZR2.

The incoming model is likely to have massive suspension upgrades including different shocks and a greater ride height for the demands of necessary off-road clearance. The current Colorado offers the 3 fierce and always-ready engine choices of a 2.5-liter inline-four, a 3.6-liter V6, or a turbodiesel 2.8-liter inline-four. We are guessing that the inline-four may be discontinued, and that the Silverado’s turbocharged 2.7-liter inline-four may be added as an option. To remain as trusty and all-around versatile as possible, both four-wheel-drive and all-will drive will remain options. 

Due to its very handy size, the Colorado was the perfect fit for an off-road enthusiast featured in a podcast about Moab and other wilderness gems this past year: it had the capability to fit through very narrow terrain and crawl numerous challenging rocks in the Colorado River. It also fared incredibly well as it conquered the many challenges of Canyonlands National Park, and the many bumps and abrupt ruts of the cedar Mesa trail. The window shapes, side mirror placement cab shape, and wheel wells also don’t appear too much different, and this will perform just amazing with its 17-inch beadlock capable wheels. 

Out back, the next-generation Colorado ZR2 looks a bit like a scaled-down Silverado, especially the appearance of the taillights. There's an awesome Chevrolet stamp on the tailgate and is outlined in black, and unique fender flares that are snug and visually appealing. When the going gets appropriately rocky, you’re going to want the maneuverability and full-on aggro additive that the ZR2 version offers: Here in this territory, we have a great number of fire roads, ideal camping lakes, other fishing spots, and tough days on the job that will be that much easier with the cast-iron strength and robust reliability of this incoming Chevy outdoor lover’s dream come true! 

2022 Chevy Suburban Surpasses The 200,000 Mile Mark in Star-Studded Style: GM Authority Reports

One of the vehicles we have always had loads of appreciation here for at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse is the 2022 Chevy Suburban, which has enjoyed the success of being one of the longest-lasting nameplates in existence. Enjoying the royal clout of its own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and then some, our esteemed blogger experts on duty at GM Authority recently provided the scoop on how this full-size SUV has many times been able to pass the 200,000-mile mark while remaining resilient and ultimately trustworthy!

One of the other great sources that we used was the iSeeCars website, which recently published their decidedly-chosen list of Top 15 Longest-Lasting Cars. These are based strictly upon the percentage of registered vehicles of a particular nameplate that have driven over 200,000 miles, which determined that 6.6 percent of all Chevy Suburban models registered in the U.S. today deem it as the third-longest-lasting vehicle on the market. The Suburban is currently enjoying its second model year of the latest twelfth-generation nameplate, also offering up 8,300 lbs of towing capacity when equipped with the 6.2-Liter V8 L87 gas engine and 4-wheel drive. 

As the wild continues to call and you are looking for the toughest in trailering and hauling capability, the NHT Max Trailering Package now throws in the Advanced Trailering Package content, Enhanced cooling radiator, and 4-wheel drive LS, LT, and RST models will also receive the two-speed transfer case. Proudly assembled at the GM Arlington plant in Texas, the Suburban also enjoyed the second model year’s expanded availability of the optional Brembo brake package, coming at you hot with 6-piston Brembo Brake Upgrade and Color Matched Rear Calipers, available on all trim levels as well as the fleet version of the 2022 Chevy Tahoe and 2022 Chevy Suburban. 

The brand-new RST Model hits the streets this year on Vossen HF6-4 Wheels, with a tinted Gloss Black finish and split-spoke design that adds the perfectly aggressive vibe to the Satin Steel Metallic paint perfectly. The RST Trim also provides an awesome Jet Black interior and Victory Red stitching, monochromatic Black grille with Black Ice inserts, and black front fascia along with Black Ice Chrome rear applique. 

Any driver out there on the road looking for an everyday option that is great at instilling a large-sized mover with the likes of an incredibly special powertrain such as the naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8 L87 is going to love the 2022 Chevy Suburban handles. Truly defining space with a purpose for the future, you’ll enjoy features such as a first-in-class power sliding center console and being on board the most versatile and advanced generation of Suburban ever. There are six unique trims on tap to fit your specific lifestyle, and it rolls on 18-inch wheels as well as offering up premium features that work overtime to save you energy such as the class-leading and revolutionary Dynamic Fuel Management.

Lowell Sun Crew and the Chevy Silverado LT Trail Boss Conquer Legendary Bear Springs Trail

Marc D. Grasso of the Lowell Sun newspaper got to spend some extreme quality time with the 2020 Chevy Silverado LT Trail Boss over the past week, and claimed right off the bat that with it one can pretty much “do anything while going anywhere doing it.” Customers right here at the Mid-MissouriPowerhouse have always had many reasons to love its 2-inch lift kit paired with blacked-out 18-inch wheel and Goodyear Wrangler tires and standard 4-wheel drive.

He wanted to pick an ideal location to test out the Trail Boss and see if it lived up to its expectations, and picked the upper Catskills of New York (Where Patrick Swayze flaunted his moves years ago in the “Dirty Dancing” movie), at Samuel's Camp. One very daunting and tough-to-access 50-acre hunting camp, it is full of rocky terrain that dwarfs many cars, and swampy ravines that threaten to see you stuck for hours. Situated just south of the Peekamoose Mountain, it boasts incline grades that just keep getting steeper, and it is imperative to have a vehicle with multiple abilities to reach the top.

Only the tried-and-true locals really know the area, and many have never made it up the hill due to its incredibly extreme level of challenge and need for a skilled driver to boot. The group was fully locked-and-loaded in 4WD, and in low range, and then begin to crawl up the side of the mountain. They even had to bring a chainsaw just in case, a necessity to avoid the worst-case scenario of getting completely blocked in on the way up. They were now bouncing over “rocks the size of small cows”, and a few times only had two wheels on the ground.

As far as making it to the top safe, Jeeps with the necessary modifications where the only vehicles often known to make it, so the power and agility on hand was a top priority. About 45 minutes into the journey they made it to Bear Springs, a natural spring with the best in naturally pure fresh water. The terrain then became very steep and narrow, and over logs, through streams, and sloped grades, the team deemed that this truck was absolutely the boss of the trail.

They pulled in successful at an elevation of 2,370 feet with bear tracks deer fur and just about every type of wildlife seen in the Northeast. They loved the smooth feel and shifts offered up from the 10-speed automatic transmission and ranked it better than what was found in the outgoing model. This is by no means terrain that you rove quickly over, and brandishes obstacles that can scratch essentials from your underside with one miscalculated move. The 7,000-pound towing capacity, as well as hill descent control and auto locking rear

differentials, were other qualities that made our proud Trail Boss conquer this trail, and let us be frank: this is the kind of terrain that comes with a stamped-on warning to “only be attempted by the experts”!

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!