2017 Chevrolet Tahoe | In-Depth Model Review

Read our most comprehensive review of the 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe’s standard features, trim levels, and available options.

The 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe arrived long before the current crossover craze, and its continued popularity proves that big is still in. But this beefy SUV is more than a blockish brute.

Looking for a 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe?  Look no further than Ron Westphal Chevrolet in Aurora, IL.  Call us now at 630-898-9630 or visit our website today.

The Tahoe can tow up to 8600 pounds, and its cabin provides quiet, comfortable refuge. A 355-hp V-8 and six-speed automatic transmission is the sole power train, available with rear- or all-wheel drive. Poor fuel economy and a tight third row are drawbacks, but the Tahoe’s standard infotainment system is superb. While the hefty Chevy costs a pretty penny, its pickup-truck capabilities and undeniable presence solidify its favorable spot on the family-hauler food chain.

Trims and Options We’d Choose

The entry-level Tahoe LS starts at $48,510 and has plenty of pleasing standard features such as remote start, rear parking sensors, tri-zone climate control, and an 8.0-inch MyLink infotainment system with a 4G LTE mobile hotspot, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Adding all-wheel drive to any model costs $3000 and boosts the LS’s price to $51,510. We prefer the mid-level LT, which adds premium features including:

• Active safety features (lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and forward-collision alert)
• Heated front bucket seats with memory settings
• Leather-appointed first- and second-row seats
• Power liftgate with programmable opening height
• Bose premium sound system

On top of that, we’d add the Z71 Off-Road package ($1850). This setup lets us tame the trails with rugged all-terrain tires, underbody protection (skid plates), and hill-descent control. It looks cooler, too, with black tubular assist steps and painted 18-inch wheels. The final price of our all-wheel-drive Tahoe LT Z71 is $58,600.

You may also enjoy this article about the 2018 Traverse

Source: 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe | In-Depth Model Review | Car and Driver

Chevrolet sweeps NASCAR Xfinity Series championship roster | Autoweek

nascar xfinity series championship roster

CHEVROLET SWEEPS NASCAR XFINITY SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP ROSTER

William Byron, Elliott Sadler, Justin Allgaier and Daniel Hemric will race for title in Miami

NOVEMBER 11, 2017

It came down to the final lap but Daniel Hemric passed Cole Custer and raced his way into the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship 4 on Saturday at Phoenix Raceway.

Looking for your own street legal race car?  Look no further than Ron Westphal Chevrolet in Aurora, IL or visit our website today.
Hemric entered the weekend 18 points out of a championship race playoff berth but was aided by a first stage crash involving Brennan Poole, who was five points up on Matt Tifft before the race. Hemric leapfrogged both Tifft and Custer with finishes of fourth and third in the first stages.He sealed the deal with an overall fifth-place finish.”We never really talked about it much until 20 laps to go,” Hemric said. “About five laps before that last caution, I was told that we needed to stay ahead of (Custer) so I needed to take care of it.

“We lost the balance a little bit of that last longer run, and we had been so strong on long runs all day. So I didn’t know what to do.”

He pitted for tires, while Custer took four. Custer was able to pass Hemric off the restart, but Hemric was able to clear Custer at the line for the final spot — just two points to the good.

“Hats off to him for racing me clean there. We did everything we could when our seasons were on the line, it all led to one lap and one moment. It’s about rising to the occasion and that’s what we did today.”

Meanwhile, William Byron advanced after the first stage on points and cemented it with his fourth victory of the season. Two other JR Motorsports drivers will join him in racing for a championship in the form of Elliott Sadler and Justin Allgaier.

Each of the final four are Chevrolets — the just crowned manufacturers champion in the Xfinity Series.

“Chevrolet is honored to win the 2017 Bill France Performance Cup in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for the 18th time,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S. Vice President of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “This manufacturer championship is a result of dedication by all of the Chevy team owners, drivers, crew chiefs, engineers and team members.”

Thanks for reading about the nascar xfinity series championship roster.

Source: Chevrolet sweeps NASCAR Xfinity Series championship roster | Autoweek

Luke Bryan Suburban concept at Sema

Luke Bryan Suburban concept at Sema
Luke Bryan Suburban concept at Sema

Luke Bryan Suburban concept at Sema with 22 inch wheels

Country music star Luke Bryan knows a thing or two about the great outdoors. That’s why he teamed up with Chevy to create the ultimate Suburban concept — one that fits right in with his “Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day” state of mind. It’ll be standing tall on the SEMA show floor with large, 22-inch Chevrolet Accessories concept wheels.

  • 6-inch lift suspension
  • Exhaust with dual tips
  • Lower skid plate extension
  • Hunter Bronze exterior with Dark Carbon accents
  • Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day exterior badges
  • Camouflage graphics
  • Looking for your own Huntin’, Fishin’, Lovin’ Every Day vehicle?   Visit Ron Westphal Chevrolet in Aurora, IL or call our Customer Care Team now at 630-898-9630.

Source: SEMA: Lineup at the 2017 SEMA Show | Chevrolet

Camaro Hot Wheels Edition | Chevrolet

Celebrate 50 years of Hot Wheels with the Camaro Hot Wheels Edition featuring unique badging and coloring.

Looking for your own fast ride?  Visit Ron Westphal Chevrolet in Aurora, IL or call our Customer Care Team now at 630-898-9630.camaro hot wheels editioncamaro hot wheels edition convertiblecamaro hot wheels edition passenger side camaro hot wheels edition side viewcamaro hot wheels edition wheelcamaro hot wheels edition orange leather interiorcamaro hot wheels edition dashboardcamaro hot wheels edition sill plate badgingcamaro hot wheels edition front and backcamaro hot wheels edition interior closeup

Source: Camaro Hot Wheels Edition | Chevrolet

Chevrolet celebrates Dale Jr. with a powerful TV spot that debuts during NASCAR Texas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIxLeQIIhb4

Over the weekend at Texas Motor Speedway, Chevrolet will pay homage to Dale Earnhardt Jr. with a new TV spot that chronicles the career of NASCAR’s 14-time most popular driver.

The 30-second spot is called ‘What a Ride’ and will air Sunday afternoon during the AAA 500 on NBCSN. It features a collage of memories from Earnhardt’s career, including never-before-seen photos and footage from defining moments such as his two Daytona 500 victories and his 26 Cup Series race wins.

Looking for your own muscle car?  Visit Ron Westphal Chevrolet in Aurora, IL or call our Customer Care Team now at 630-898-9630.

“We have been so fortunate to have Dale Earnhardt Jr. as part of the Chevrolet family,” said Paul Edwards, U.S. vice president of Chevrolet Marketing. “His ‘never give up’ attitude and true passion for performance are the same qualities that drove Louis Chevrolet to race more than a hundred years ago, and still drive us today to innovate and win.”

Earlier this year, during his retirement speech, Earnhardt Jr. affirmed his loyalty to Chevrolet.

“It’s an honor to carry the Chevrolet bow tie on my cars,” Earnhardt said. “And I don’t just mean that on the race track — I’m Chevrolet for life.”

And now this is Chevy’s way of saying “thank you.”

 dale earnhardt jr

Source: Chevrolet celebrates Dale Jr. with a powerful TV spot that debuts during NASCAR Texas | Autoweek

2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV: minimal changes, same range and price

2018 Chevrolet Bolt ev

With sales of the Chevrolet Bolt EV electric car rising every month, shoppers are inevitably curious about any changes to the Bolt for the 2018 model year, its second.

Now the information is out, and buyers will find the 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV is virtually the same car as the 2017 model—with two exceptions.

Looking for a Bolt?  Visit Ron Westphal Chevrolet in Aurora, IL or call our Customer Care Team now at 630-898-9630.

Chevy has changed the heated steering wheel and made a very, very minor change to the specifications of one trim level.

DON’T MISS: Chevrolet Bolt EV\Bolt 2017 Review

The 2018 Bolt EV remains a five-door hatchback that’s rated at 238 miles of range by the EPA, with a base price of $37,495 including the mandatory destination fee.

Its 60-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack, housed under the cabin floor, powers a 150-kilowatt (200-horsepower) electric motor that drives the front wheels.

So, about those changes.

The first is that Chevy has replaced last year’s manually controlled heated steering wheel with one that is automatically switched on by the car, based on ambient cabin temperature and other factors.

The second is that the company has deleted the map pocket on the back of the front passenger seat from the intermediate 2LT trim level.

And that’s it. Every other spec and price remains the same.

Source: Green Car Reports 

Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 AEV Concept Unveiled at SEMA

Chevrolet ZR2 Concept Off-Road vehicleChevrolet unveiled its Colorado ZR2 AEV concept truck with unique bumpers, skid protection and off-road tires at the SEMA show on Tuesday.

Chevrolet unveiled a Colorado concept truck called the ZR2 AEV, designed to travel off-grid in the wilderness for days at a time.

The automaker revealed the truck – developed jointly with off-road manufacturer American Expedition Vehicles – at the 2017 Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association, or SEMA, show in Las Vegas on Tuesday.

Looking for your own unique Chevy pickup truck?  Visit Ron Westphal Chevrolet or call our customer care team now at 630-898-9630.

“Our collaboration taught us that Colorado makes a great platform for building an off-road truck that can take you as far out as you want to go, safely,” said Dave Harriton, AEV’s founder.

The ZR2 AEV concept has unique features such as AEV front and rear off-road bumpers, complete underbody skid protection, an expedition bed rack, high clearance fender flares, a snorkel and 35-inch BF Goodrich KM2 Mud-Terrain tires to allow it to go off-grid reliably.

zr2 aev concept back side

Chevrolet is using the concept to draw attention to the Colorado.

Since its 2014 introduction, the mid-size pickup truck has sold 250,000 units in the U.S. and has become a key player in the truck strategy of General Motors, which owns the Chevrolet brand.

It has sold about 83,000 units through the first nine months of this year for a 25 percent share of the mid-size pickup truck market, according to industry research firm Autodata Corp. Toyota’s Tacoma leads the segment with a 44 percent share.

GM is pitching its so-called three-class truck line, with offerings in the mid-size, full-size and heavy-duty pickup segments.

zr2 aev concept front grille unveiled at Sema

The Colorado has become a popular truck model in urban areas. Los Angeles is its biggest market, said Sandor Pizar, who heads Chevy truck marketing. California logs more Colorado sales than any state, including truck hungry Texas, he said.

About 10 percent of Colorado sales are of its higher priced ZR2 performance off-road variant, and about a quarter of those buyers opt for the diesel engine, a move that can send the price of the truck well into the upper $40,000 range.

But buyers don’t appear to be balking. Pizar said there’s only a 26-day turn between when the ZR2 leaves the factory and the sale.

Other manufacturers are looking to enter the mid-size truck market. Ford Motor Co. is expected to reintroduce its Ranger to the U.S. at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January. Jeeps also plans a mid-size pickup.

But the market has stalled. Total U.S. mid-size truck sales rose only 1 percent to 335,507 units through the first nine months of this year. Both GMC’s Canyon, a sister truck to the Colorado, and Nissan’s Frontier have experienced double-digit percentage sales declines.

 

Thanks for reading about Chevrolet Colorado zr2 aev concept.  You may also enjoy this article about Chevy Colorado.

Source: Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 AEV Off-Road Concept Unveiled at SEMA

Modern Teen Driver has many benefits

Old school teen driver
Old school Dad teen driver
New school teen driver
New school Chevrolet teen driver

 

Teen Driver.  Nothing is more important than the safety of your family. That’s why Chevrolet offers Teen Driver, an available built-in system that helps you coach your new driver — even when you’re not there. It lets you set speed alerts, a volume limit and more; and with the industry’s first and only in-vehicle report card, it’s easy to track your teen’s driving performance.

 

Studies show that teenage drivers are more likely to make poor decisions like speeding or not fastening their safety belts than adults. Teen Driver gives parents the tools to discuss and correct some of the possible mistakes they or their new drivers make on the road.

  • Only 55% of high school students wear seatbelts when riding with someone else
  • Teens are more likely than older drivers to speed

  • About 93% of teen drivers play loud, distracting music behind the wheelTeen Driver has a number of safety features, from muting audio until front seat occupants are buckled, to automatically turning on available active safety technologies like Side Blind Zone Alert, Forward Collision Alert and Front Automatic Braking. The in-vehicle report card shows how your teen performs behind the wheel so you can identify potential problem areas and coach your new driver on improvements.
  • To encourage safer driving habits, Chevy is the only car company to offer Teen Driver technology with an in-vehicle report on most of its models.
  • For a complete list of models that feature Chevrolet Teen Driver please call our customer care team at 630-898-9630.

3 Weird facts about Halloween

Halloween is a time for candy, costumes and the Charlie Brown cartoon special, but how did it become this way? Why are children and teens encouraged to run around the neighborhood threatening tricks? Jack-o’-lanterns are a pretty strange concept, but historically, strangers giving you candy was supposed to be a bad thing.  Keep reading to discover 3 weird facts about Halloween that you probably didn’t know.

3 weird halloween facts pumpkin man dancing gif

You may already think that Halloween is a pretty bizarre holiday: What other celebration could inspire both a Sexy Olaf costume and spooky drones? That said, sexy snowmen can’t hold a candle to Halloween’s truly bizarre origins (even if that’s just because a snowman would melt if it held a candle). Chances are you really have no idea just how weird Halloween truly is, so here are eight facts to fix that…

1. Originally, you had to dance for your “treat.”

Most experts trace trick-or-treating to the European practice of mumming,” or “guysing,”in which costume-wearing participants would go door-to-door performing choreographed dances, songs and plays in exchange for treats. According to Elizabeth Pleck’s “Celebrating The Family,” the tradition cropped up in America, where it would often take place on Thanksgiving.

In some early versions of trick-or-treating, men paraded door-to-door, and boys often followed, begging for coins. Most of these early trick-or-treaters were poor and actually needed the money, but wealthy children also joined in the fun. Door-to-door “begging” was mostly stopped in the 1930s, but re-emerged later in the century to distract kids from pulling Halloween pranks.

2. Halloween is more Irish than St. Patrick’s Day.

3 weird halloween facts Irish drinking gif

Halloween’s origins come from a Celtic festival for the dead called “Samhain.” Celts believed the ghosts of the dead roamed Earth on this holiday, so people would dress in costumes and leave “treats” out on their front doors to appease the roaming spirits. Granted, the Celts were not solely based in Ireland when these customs started taking shape around the first century B.C., but as will be talked about more in a later section, the Irish Celts were the ones who invented the jack-o’-lantern. This Halloween prototype was eventually disrupted and adapted by Christian missionaries into celebrations closer to what we celebrate today, including partly by the not-Irish St. Patrick, whose work was later mostly recognized by Americans.

“St. Patrick’s Day was basically invented in America by Irish-Americans,” said Philip Freeman, a classics professor at Luther College in Iowa. According to National Geographic, the holiday was only a “minor religious holiday” until the 1970s in Ireland. So it’s not all that Irish. And for what it’s worth, St. Patrick probably wasn’t Irish himself, his color was a type of blue, not green, and that story about banishing snakes is actually just a metaphor for his triumph over Irish paganism. The type of paganism that invented Halloween.

3. Some animal shelters won’t allow the adoption of black cats around Halloween for fear they’ll be sacrificed.

It’s unclear whether black cats are actually sacrificed around Halloween, but various animal shelters refuse to let people adopt these cats in the lead-up to the holiday. Lynda Garibaldi, director of The Cats’ Cradle in Morganton, North Carolina, told The Huffington Post that the shelter “does not adopt out black cats during the month of October … because of superstition and the concern that the wrong people (who might harm them) might adopt them.”

This type of ban is starting to wane, however. When reached for comment, Emily Weiss, vice president of Shelter Research and Development at the ASPCA, said, “Years ago, this used to be pretty common — that shelters would not adopt out cats during Halloween for fear of something horrible happening to the cats, but we don’t hear too much anymore. And many, many shelters are actually [holding] a special black cat promotion around the holiday.”

ASPCA provided this list of a few of the black cat adoption promotions that have been tied to the holiday. As Weiss put it, “Most people who go to shelters to adopt a pet are not going to adopt a pet to sacrifice into ritual.”

Halloween is also a time when auto prices drop faster than a heads in a apple bobbing contest. So, if you are looking for the best values of the season, visit Ron Westphal Chevrolet in Aurora, IL.  Or, call our customer care team now at 630-898-9630.  Our website is always open as well. 

Thanks for reading about 3 weird Halloween facts.