Colorado zr2

There are very few people out there that need a 2018 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2. There is, however, a long list of people who lust over the truck, wishing the world would give them a reason to have to own it. It’s an understandable conundrum and a well-deserved sentiment for a midsize truck that can conquer nearly all the terrain a full-size Ford F-150 Raptor can.

Looking for your own Colorado ZR2? Shop online or call our customer care team at 630-898-9630 today.

Despite its F-150 Raptor-like abilities, right now, the Colorado ZR2 competes mainly against the Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road. Soon, the Ford Ranger Raptor will come to market, setting the Colorado ZR2 firmly in its sights.

To bulk up the Colorado ZR2 for rough riding, Chevrolet, an arm of General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM), has added off-road specific appearance elements and equipment to their Colorado Z71. The tester I drove around for a week also came equipped with a Cajun Red paint job ($495), an upgraded engine ($3,500), off-road lights ($1,195), sport bar ($1,145), spare tire ($615), Bose audio system ($500), navigation ($495), chrome recovery hooks ($200), and trailer hitch ball ($35), which was added to the base price of $45,495 to give the truck an overall cost of $50,960 including $995 in destination and delivery charges.

The Chevrolet design aesthetic is prominent in and out of the truck, making the Colorado ZR2 instantly recognizable as being a member of the bowtie’s family. With its brutish face forward, the mandible-less truck stands out because of its prominent skid plate and height- it sits two inches higher on the road than your average Colorado. Its track is 3.5-inches wider than the traditional model. The handsome bulk of the Colorado remains the same in the ZR2, translating well into this more capable variant.

Under the hood of my tester was the optional 2.9-liter turbodiesel engine that is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. A 3.6-liter V6 mated to an eight-speed automatic comes standard. The truck is well served by the diesel powertrain, offering sufficient horsepower and torque for tasks both mundane and adventurous.

Capability, stability, and control are helped by the truck’s Multimatic Dynamic Suspensions Spool Valve damaping technology, which are also used in the Aston Martin One-77, 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28, Mercedes-AMG GT, 2017 Ford GT, and 2018 Camaro ZL1 1LE. The result is a smooth ride, on or off-road. The truck handles a succession of speedbump-high obstacles at mid-speed quite handedly and without causing too much jostling, the same as it handles most potholes on city streets. On steep slopes, both upward and downward, the truck behaves brilliant.

Like many trucks these days, the Colorado ZR2 is quite agile. Whether you’re off-roading or dodging slower cars on the highway, the truck has the ability to pull it off with ease.

The two-inch suspension lift does make a difference when cornering, not in that the truck feels unstable, but it serves as a gentle reminder that you do have to mind your manners.

The Colorado ZR2 is big enough with the crew cab and short box to be capable of hauling around a weekend warrior’s worth of yard supplies from the local hardware store (about 10 bags of mulch and a couple trays of flowers).

The Colorado ZR2 does not lack modern conveniences, coming with OnStar 4G LTE Wi-Fi hot spot, Teen Driver, leather appointed power adjustable heated front seats with lumbar support, an 8-inch touch screen display, wireless device charging, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel all standard.

Let’s be honest, not everyone needs a Colorado ZR2. However, it is an attractive proposition for buyers who don’t want the robustness of a full-size truck but do want much of the capability. You might not need it, but you probably want it and if you get it, be prepared to pay a premium.

Source: https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2018/05/15/automotive-minute-2018-chevrolet-zr2-is-the-slab.html

20% off MSRP extended on new 2018 Cruze models

Over 20% off MSRP on select new 2018 Cruze models …now extended until 5.31.18.

Shop Cruze and receive OVER 20% off MSRP on select models.

Call our customer care team at 630-898-9630 to arrange your V.I.P. demonstration drive.

MY CLASSIC CAR: Marty’s Waugh’s ’66 Chevrolet Impala SS

R&L: When and how did you acquire the car?

MARTY WAUGH: I bought the car from my mom and dad for $200 when I turned 16. I had it painted and put wheels on it and then I sold it back to my dad when I got married. He kept it in his garage for years. He got cancer and passed away, but before he passed away I bought it back from him. I had a ’66 Chevelle Super Sport and I sold it to buy this car.

Looking for your own classic ride? Visit our website to find your ultimate dream car. Or, call our Customer Care Team at 630-898-9630 to arrange your V.I.P. appointment.

R&L: Tell us about your car (specs, restoration, etc.).

MW: Some friends of mine rebuilt the 396 engine and four-wheel disc brakes. They completely took it off the frame. Every bolt and nut is new on the car. The interior is brand new. The majority of it’s done, but I’ve still got little things I want to do. It’s never really done.

R&L: Do you have a fun or interesting story about the car?

MW: I remember me and my sister sitting in the back seat after eating at JC’s Toot and Tell ‘Em. I would take the straw and the straw paper, wad it up and shoot spitballs at my sister. We used to stand up in the back seat and rock back and forth.

R&L: Why do you love the car?

MW: I love the car because the memories. My dad and mom cherished the car when they bought it. It’s just been a family car. Me and my wife dated in the car so lots of memories with her too. I’ve had Camaros and Chevelles and I ended up with the car I started with.

Marty Waugh

Age: 57

Location: Statesville

Car year/Make/Model: 1966 Chevrolet Impala SS

Source: MY CLASSIC CAR: Marty’s Waugh’s ’66 Chevrolet Impala SS | Galleries | statesville.com

One year with the Chevrolet Bolt EV: Takeaways from my immersion into all-electric driving

Just over a year ago, I finally realized my long-time dream to purchase an affordable all-electric car with over 200 miles of range. Now that I’ve got a full year and around 8,500 miles of road behind…

Just over a year ago, I finally realized my long-time dream to purchase an affordable all-electric car with over 200 miles of range. Now that I’ve got a full year and around 8,500 miles of road behind me in the Bolt EV, let’s check in on the good, the bad, and the awesome.

Looking for your own EV? Call our Customer Care Team at 630-898-9630 or visit our showroom. Select your perfect electric vehicle on our website day or night.

One year into owning the Bolt EV as our family’s only vehicle, we are loving, it. It is peppy, smart, and comfortable. Plugging in at home has given us back so much time that used to be wasted waiting in line and filling up at gas stations. We have only had “range anxiety” once, when I was intentionally pushing the car to its limits (we’ll get into the details of that a little later). So far there have been zero mechanical issues or problems with the car. We exclusively use one-pedal driving, which took no time at all to get used to, and now just feels like the “natural” way to drive. Added bonus: since we almost never hit the brake pedal (except in reverse), the brake pads will likely last a very long time.

Much to my surprise and dismay, a year after our purchase the Chevy Bolt EV is stillthe only sub-$40,000 electric car with over 200 miles of range that you can buy and drive home today. I had expected the Tesla Model 3 to meet those criteria by now, but they’re still only shipping the tricked out models with prices in excess of $50,000. I also really thought that the new Nissan Leaf would be packing a 60kWh battery similar to the Bolt EV, giving it a similar range, but Nissan only increased the size of the Leaf’s battery to 40kWh, giving it a range boost from around 105 miles to 150 miles.

Going the distance

The subject of range is a good place to start. We took a number of long-ish trips over the last year that would not be possible in most other “mass market” electric cars, including trips from our home in Everett to Leavenworth (203 miles round trip), Vancouver, WA (195 miles one-way), Port Orchard (110 miles round trip), and La Conner, (95 miles round trip). The Bolt EV performed flawlessly every time, giving us reasonable range estimates and inspiring full confidence that we would have no problem making it to our destination.

Of course, I had to push the car to its limit at least once. On our way back from visiting my parents in Vancouver for Thanksgiving we decided it would be fun to strap a ridiculously large Christmas tree to the top of the Bolt EV. I knew that having what was essentially a huge fractal sail strapped to the roof would destroy our efficiency, but even still, I underestimated just how severe the hit would be.

We made it to our planned charging stop at the Chevy dealer in Olympia—barely. Starting with a full charge at my parents’ house, we burned through 58 kWh of the battery’s 60 kWh capacity in just 109 miles. Unfortunately, the supposed DC Fast Charger (DCFC) at the dealership was not up to full DCFC specs, and barely pumped out more amps than my Level 2 home charger. We got nowhere near the theoretical “90 miles of range in about 30 minutes of charge” that the Bolt EV is capable of on a true DCFC station. After two hours at the charger we finally had enough in the battery to make the remaining 90 mile drive home.

Fortunately, that was both the first and the last time so far that I have used any public charger for my Bolt EV, because its range has proven to be more than enough for 99 percent of the trips we take, even in the winter when the cold weather pushed the maximum range a little below 200 miles.

One frequent objection that people seem to have about electric cars is that they aren’t sufficient for road trips. I concede that point. There were two times this year that we went on road trips beyond the capability of the Bolt EV—a 570-mile one-day round trip drive to Walla Walla, and 2,000-mile 4-day round trip to Visalia, California. In total we spent about $156 to rent cars for those two trips.

Fuel cost comparison

How did our fuel costs compare to our old gas-powered car? Our previous car was a relatively fuel-efficient 2001 Saturn SL2 that averaged around thirty miles per gallon (despite having over 200,000 miles on it). Using monthly average Seattle-area gas price data from EIA.gov, my calculations show that if we had continued driving the Saturn, we would have spent $863 to travel the same 8,700 miles that we put on our Bolt EV in its first year. Meanwhile, our actual cost of the electricity that we put into the Bolt EV was almost exactly $300. So we saved $563 in fuel alone ($407 if you subtract the rental car expenses for the road trips), plus the cost of around three oil changes and whatever other maintenance our old gas-burner would have needed.

A less fuel-efficient gas-powered car that averages around twenty miles per gallon would have cost around $1,300 in gasoline, for a savings of $1,000.

The tax savings

Speaking of savings, as of right now there is still a pretty big federal income tax incentive available if you purchase most EVs. I’m the type of person who prefers to file my taxes as early as possible, so you can imagine my frustration when the IRS delayed publishing the 2017 tax year version of the EV tax credit form (Form 8936) multiple times. They eventually released it in late February and I was finally able to file my taxes. We received that sweet $7,500 EV credit in late March.

It’s also worth mentioning here that if you live in Washington State, the incentive that exempts the first $30,000 of the purchase price of an EV from sales tax is set to expire at the end of this month, so if you’re thinking about buying an EV soon you may want to do it now while you can still save up to $3,000 in Washington State sales tax.

The little things

Here are some of the cool little features that we’ve noticed in our first year of Bolt EV ownership:

The parking brake sets itself when you shift into park if you’re stopped on a steep enough a hill.
The volume displays on the screen closest to where you’re setting the volume—if you use the buttons on the back of the steering wheel, it displays on the driver’s screen, but if you use the center console knob, it displays on the center screen.
When you turn on the rear window washer a small jet also washes the rear cameras.
The on-screen guide on the reverse camera turns as you turn the wheel, which makes perfect parking ridiculously easy.
The HVAC fans turn down automatically when you make a call or talk to Google via Android Auto (or Siri via Apple CarPlay).
The stereo has a setting to increase volume automatically when you go faster, accommodating for road noise at high speeds.
You can still provide a jump start to ICE cars in need (I actually did this once).
The rear view mirror camera is super rad (and has a brightness adjustment button on the back).
Cruise control stays “on” even when you turn off the car (why do so many cars reset cruise to “off” every time you get back in the car?!?).
Safety feature – In “L” mode the car creeps forward if your seat belt is not buckled, making it immediately obvious that you’re still in gear if you’re about to try to get out. Also, as soon as you open the door the car will auto-shift into park.
While plugged in to charge, you can use the app or the key fob to precondition the heat in the winter without depleting any battery.
Parking brake auto-releases when you hit the accelerator, and auto-sets if you’re creeping forward down a hill in “L” mode with your foot completely off the pedal.
Android Auto is super useful and after a software update is now (mostly) full-screen (previously it did not fill the width of the screen). You can jump to Android Auto by holding the “Home” button for a few seconds.

There are also a few complaints, but they are all very minor:

The headlights are a little too bright for other drivers.
One time we experienced a software glitch that disabled all the steering wheel buttons (cruise control, on-screen menu selection, volume). It fixed itself on the next drive.
The stereo flips back to FM radio every time you turn on the car.
The window control rockers have an “automatic down” mode for all four windows but, but only the driver’s window has automatic up.
The way the My Chevrolet smartphone app calculates efficiency is stupid (they divide your miles driven by the entire amount of electricity you’ve put into the car, not just what you’ve actually used).

While the Bolt EV is great the way it comes, there were a couple of aftermarket add-ons we opted for:

$180 – Full-coverage all-weather floor mats from WeatherTech
$378 – Yakima roof rack system, which consists of the LP19 landing pads, Skyline Towers, 50″ CoreBars, and SKS Lock Cores

The verdict

As mentioned earlier, if you want to drive home today in a relatively affordable all-electric car with over 200 miles of range per charge, the Bolt EV is still your only choice. But just because Chevrolet is taking home a default victory in this category doesn’t mean that the Bolt EV is not a worthy competitor. I’ve been seeing more and more of them on the road lately, so the word must be getting around. In retrospect, I’m glad we bought the Bolt EV, and I’m looking forward to driving it for many more years to come.

Source: One year with the Chevrolet Bolt EV: Takeaways from my immersion into all-electric driving

2019 Chevrolet Suburban Adds 6.2-Liter V-8 Option – Motor Trend

The 2019 Chevrolet Suburban RST with the Performance Package boasts a 6.2-liter V-8 with 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. Read more here.

After bringing the RST Performance Package to the Tahoe last spring, Chevrolet is now giving Suburban buyers the same option. Instead of the standard 5.3-liter V-8 that makes 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque, the 2019 Chevrolet Suburban RST with the Performance Package boasts a 6.2-liter V-8 with 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. The direct-injection engine features active fuel management and continuously variable valve timing.

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These Suburbans also feature a 10-speed automatic transmission rather than the standard six-speed. Magnetic ride control, optional on the regular Suburban, features a performance calibration for improved body control on all Performance package models.

A performance dual side-exit exhaust system is available, designed by aftermarket exhaust company Borla. This feature improves exhaust flow by 28 percent, Chevrolet says. Buyers can also choose Brembo brakes with red six-piston, fixed aluminum calipers and larger 410 x 32mm Duralife rotors. The automaker says the performance brakes offer an 84-percent increase in brake pad area and a 42-percent increase in rotor area for improved system thermal capacity.

The Performance Package is based on the regular Suburban RST that came out last year. These models receive 22-inch wheels wrapped in Bridgestone P285/45R22 tires. Visual upgrades include black accents on the grille, mirror caps, roof rails, window trim, and Chevy bowties.

Chevrolet hasn’t announced how much the 6.2-liter Suburban will cost when it arrives this summer. But the same package on the Tahoe goes for $2,720. When we tested that model, it was able to hit 60 mph in just 5.8 seconds, ahead of a 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe LT 4WD Z71 we ran at 7.9 seconds.

Source: 2019 Chevrolet Suburban Adds 6.2-Liter V-8 Option – Motor Trend

Hear the rumble of 700 horsepower!

This one-owner 2014 Chevrolet Z28 includes a Vengeance Racing Stage 5 performance package and then some! This one-of-a kind, rare American muscle car is being offered for sale at a bargain price of only $52,895.

The original MSRP on this car was $76,150 -PLUS- many, many thousands of dollars of Vengeance Racing performance parts have been added! And, it only has 771 miles.

Vengeance Racing was established to offer performance enthusiasts an honest, reputable and knowledgeable shop that understands your needs and can deliver reliable, top quality performance packages. They install everything that they sell in house. All of us at Vengeance are racers and enthusiasts alike so they know what you expect and how to provide it. Vengeance Racing is your source for all GM Gen III/Gen IV Performance parts and packages. Vengeance Racing’s vast knowledge of GM Platforms is second to none! They offer complete ECU calibration packages using EFI Live/ HP Tuner/ Pro EFI and more. They offer everything from small bolt on installations, heads & cam upgrades, complete engine builds, power adder combinations, full race car preparation, custom turbo applications, complete turn key packages and much, much more!!!

All paperwork, dyno printout and more is available at the dealership. For details please call our Customer Care Team at 630-898-9630.

2018 Silverado Centennial Edition around town

I had a great time driving this eye-catching brand new 2018 Chevy Silverado Centennial Edition around the Montgomery, IL area. Can’t wait to do it again! Whoever gets this beautiful blue beauty is gonna be one lucky person! Call our Customer Care Team at 630-898-9630 for more info or visit this truck on our website.

CENTENNIAL EDITION:

22 inch premium painted wheels with chrome inserts

all terrain tires

heritage bow ties

chrome recovery hooks

floor liners

floor liner heritage bowtie

centennial blue metallic paint

Taxpayers Bought EPA Chief Scott Pruitt a Fancy Chevrolet Suburban With Bullet-Resistant Seats

Wasn’t that nice of us.

Environmental Protection Agency head Scott Pruitt isn’t exactly the most popular man in Washington these days. And it would appear he knows the value of protecting his behind; according to documents surfaced by the Washington Post, Pruitt upgraded his official government vehicle to a Chevrolet Suburban with bullet-resistant seat covers last year amidst a security spending binge.

Looking for your own full-size SUV ?(minus the bullet-resistant seat covers of course) Call our Customer Care Team at 630-898-9630 or visit us online.

Former EPA administrators made due with a lowly Tahoe, but Pruitt opted to move up to the larger Suburban after a few months on the job reportedly because “it was similar to ones in which some other Cabinet officials rode,” an unnamed official told the newspaper. The Suburban LT—itself an upgrade over the usual LS models procured by the government—has a leather interior, navigation, and yes, “Kevlar-like seat covers” that most definitely aren’t a normal dealer option.

The one-year lease was signed last spring at a cost of $839 per month, which the government covered with a one-time payment of $10,200. All the while, the EPA has also maintained the lease on the former administrator’s Tahoe that Pruitt used at first, which costs $9,000 per year and now sits in a garage at the Washington, D.C. headquarters. And the Washington Post found out that Pruitt’s office just signed a third lease on a second Suburban, which cost taxpayers another 10 grand.

So, that’s nearly $30,000 a year for a fleet of Chevrolet SUVs—at least one of which has bullet-resistant seat covers, don’t forget. EPA spokesman Jahan Wilcox told the Post that officials would look into the the lease overlap, but defended the security decisions as necessary.

“Security decisions are made by EPA’s Protective Service Detail and are similar to security protocol across the federal government,” he wrote in a statement to the paper.

The “Kevlar-like” covers reportedly cost hundreds of dollars to buy and install, an expense that was approved by Protective Service Detail head Pasquale “Nino” Perrotta. Other projects pushed by Perrotta, who has also been criticized for overspending, include the notorious $43,000 soundproof phone booth in Pruitt’s office and the first-class-only travel policy.

Source: Taxpayers Bought EPA Chief Scott Pruitt a Fancy Chevrolet Suburban With Bullet-Resistant Seats – The Drive

Chevy Bolt vs. Volt: Chevrolet’s electrified models explained

Despite having similar names and a similar reliance on electricity, the Chevy Bolt and Volt are not at all the same car. To highlight the differences between these two vehicles, we compared them across several categories, allowing us to get a feel for the technology and features driving each model.

Bolt, Volt. Chevrolet’s two electrified models sound a lot alike but they’re completely different cars. The Bolt is an all-electric car, meaning it does not run on gasoline and relies exclusively on electricity to move forward.

Now in its second generation, the Volt is a plug-in hybrid car equipped with a four-cylinder engine that takes over when the battery runs out of electricity. If you’re not sure which one to choose, read on for our Chevy Bolt vs. Volt comparison highlighting design, technology, performance, and safety.

TECH FEATURES

An electric car is, by definition, a high-tech vehicle. To that end, even the base version of the Bolt comes with a 10.2-inch touchscreen integrated in the dashboard, Bluetooth connectivity, and Android Auto/Apple CarPlay compatibility. Music plays through a six-speaker sound system.

Chevrolet also bundles in a 4G LTE connection, though it’s only active if users pay extra for a data plan, and Chevrolet Connected Access, which gives the driver access to an array of useful information including vehicle diagnostics and dealer maintenance notifications.

The Volt offers the same level of standard equipment, though its touchscreen is a smaller eight-inch unit. In terms of tech features, both models stand proud near the top of their respective segments.

PERFORMANCE AND FUEL ECONOMY

All electric, the Bolt uses a 60-kWh lithium-ion battery pack and a 150-kW motor. In more familiar terms, the hatchback produces 200 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. Its 3,580-pound weight makes it rather portly for a compact car, though it’s on the lighter side of the spectrum for an electric car. Chevrolet quotes a range of up to 238 miles but your mileage will vary depending on how you drive, where you live, and what you routinely carry.

Chevrolet quotes a range of up to 238 miles in the all-electric Bolt but your mileage will vary depending on how you drive, where you live, and what you routinely carry. The hybrid Volt provides a useful 420-mile range before needing to fill up or stop for a charge.

Charging times are ballpark estimates, too. Chevrolet says a full charge takes approximately nine hours when using a 240-volt home charger but about 24 hours when the Bolt draws electricity at the rate of four drivable miles per hour through a standard 120-volt outlet. Fast-charging stations can zap the battery pack with about 90 miles of range in 30 minutes.

The main part of the Volt’s plug-in hybrid drivetrain consists of a pair of electric motors that jointly deliver 149 hp and 294 lb-ft. of torque to the front wheels. They draw electricity from a 18.4-kWh lithium-ion battery pack that stores enough juice to power the car for up to 53 miles. If your commute is shorter than that, you could theoretically never have to put gasoline in it.

Thanks for reading about Chevy Bolt vs. Volt. For additional information please contact our Customer Care Team at 630-898-9630 or visit our website.

For more view Source: Chevy Bolt vs. Volt: Chevrolet’s electrified models explained

Chevrolet now lets you pay for Shell gas right from the driver’s seat

Hate having to fumble for your wallet or plastic payment card just to get some gas in your tank? Chevrolet and Shell know your pain and have developed a solution. You can now pay for gas without even touching your wallet, but you still have to step outside to fill up your car’s gas tank.

That means you won’t have to dig out cash or your credit card and insert it into the smelly gas pump when you fill up. All you have to do is press the Shell logo within the Marketplace suite on the car’s infotainment touchscreen, then select the nearest station for fill-up. The app generates an activation code that the user punches in at the pump. Then, all one has to do is begin pumping gas, and the payment is automatically charged using the method on file. And it even keeps track of your Shell Fuel Rewards savings!

Sounds pretty convenient. And although it’s one less step for the user to do outside of the vehicle, one still has to brave the outdoors to actually pump gas into the vehicle. That is, unless you live in a full-service gas station state like New Jersey or Oregon.

“We introduced Marketplace to deliver value, productivity and convenience to our customers,” said Rick Ruskin, Chevrolet’s senior manager for Online Commerce, in an official statement. “Bringing the Shell Pay & Save functionality right on the touchscreen of our vehicles is the latest advancement of this platform, allowing drivers to simply access Fuel Rewards and pay for gas while inside their car.”

The Shell Pay & Save feature joins Chevrolet MyLink Marketplace and other convenient features such as integrated services for ordering at food establishments, dinner reservation assistance, hotel and parking accommodation services, and more.

The in-dash payment system is currently only available through Shell-branded gas stations in select markets. A nationwide rollout is expected over the next several months and will be available on all Chevrolet models from model year 2017 and newer. This feature is only available in the United States.

Want to know more? Call our customer care team at 630-898-9630. Or, visit us online at http://www.WestphalChevy.com.

Source: Chevrolet now lets you pay for Shell gas right from the driver’s seat