Road Show Excitedly Claims new Chevy Traverse is “Roomy, Feature-Rich”

 Here at Jim Butler of St Louis the past few years, we have watched the popularity of crossover SUV's grow with every waking moment. It is one of those categories that is as family-friendly as can be, and will always require a very stand-out contender to even make a dent in the stratosphere sales-wise. The 2019 Chevy Traverse debuted in 2008, and for the 2018 model year, and all-new, second-generation version was put out. Boasting seating for up to 8, two separate available engines, and receiving backing from a nine-speed automatic transmission, the knowledgeable folks atRoad Show blog thought that it would be a good choice to showcase in their characteristically glossy digital print version for the week.

The first engine choice is a 3.6-liter V6, which is rated for 310 horsepower, and 266  lb- ft of torque. If you choose to equip with front-wheel drive, it yields 18 miles per gallon city, and 27 mpg highway, while all-wheel drive versions can turn in EPA scores ranging from 17 to 25 miles per gallon. You may want to opt for the turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four, with 257 horsepower, and 295 lb-ft, the featured power source for the RS trim level. Offered with front-wheel drive only, it is much more efficient in all ways than the V6, with EPA ratings of 20/26 mpg.

 The Roadshow write-up experts were quite excited about the luxury trims available for the Traverse: the Premier and High Country. The Premier trim builds on the LT leather with LED headlights, 20-inch wheels, the addition of more exterior chrome, a heated steering wheel, a power steering column, heated and cooled front seats, heated second-row seats, and the very useful feature of wireless phone charging. If you opt for the High Country, it tops things off appropriately with features like adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking, a sunroof, a power-folding third row, and the dependable and trusty towing package.

Writer Andrew Krok plainly states that “Chevy has a hit on its hands” here, due to the high level of in-car tech, driving dynamics that don't stale, and plenty of space available across all three rows. He was pretty excited about the second-row legroom, and claimed that a 6-ft tall person sitting behind another would be aptly comfy on an interstate journey. All three rows have USB ports, so you'll never have to worry about batteries dying while streaming via the onboard 4G LTE Wi-fi, which provides the medium to enjoy games, stream movies, and get necessary work done during the journey.

Andrew also claimed that during the shifting of gears, the Traverse's nine-speed automatic was “butter smooth”, whether shifting up or down. Come see us soon here at Jim Butler of St Louis, to check out how high-performing fuel economy, a solid ride, and space to do whatever you want will sway you wholeheartedly for next fall, straight into the throngs of Traverse country!

2019 Chevy Blazer Spied on the More Natural Side

Glances of the brand new for 2019 Chevy Blazer have been circulating for the most part with photos that were retouched, and under very prominent and skillfully-placed stage lights, and the natural version has not been brought to light until now. Spy photos that all of us at Jim Butler recently got their hands on caught a few examples of the new crossover on public roads, and they include the top-end Premier model, as well as the entry-level LT version.

The Premier was shown in white, and did not look as bulky as it could have with body color cladding. So many customers are excited about next year's Blazer: there's the possibility of a low-end trim like the LT being available, and the standard engine is a naturally aspirated 4-cylinder, creating 193 horsepower, and 188 lb-ft of torque. There is an optional V6 making 305 horsepower, and 269 lb-ft of torque. Front-wheel drive is also standard, with the option of all-wheel drive systems available as well. What the Blazer truly is is a cut-down full-size pickup, with a flimsy removable fiberglass shell covering the bed and cab.

 Car and Driver lamented that the Blazer “is all Alan Jackson songs, T-shirts without sleeves, cutoff Lee Jeans, a cooler held together with duct tape, and inner-tubing on the Chattahoochee”, and this is a very good-looking, mainstream crossover, with the nose capped by a grille that looks a bit as if it came over from the likes of the Camaro ZL1. The basic structural elements are shared with the GMC Acadia, and the Cadillac XT5, and we believe that the five-passenger hauler with both rows offering decent room and well-shaped seats is going to immediately win you over after a test drive. The lower-spec models begin on 18-inch wheels, and go on up to 21.

Finding the right balance between a dignified day-to-day driver and aggressively styled and flashy weekend warrior should be a cinch: just look at the options sheet here at Jim Butler of St Louis, and we will guide you at every step of the way. The new Blazer is equipped with six USB ports, a glovebox that snaps open electronically, and all sorts of high-tech lane-keeping equipment dutifully on board. Any gadget-obsessed driver will immediately develop a solid love for the wireless charging pad, hands-free liftgate, and trailer-hookup guidance system, just in time for the 50^th anniversary of this widely-loved vehicle. TopSpeed.com claimed earlier this year that “All of Chevy's Detroit rivals have something to worry about”, and its aggressive front fascia, honeycomb-style mesh, and numerous upholstery options will solidify its path to precision on-and-off-road handling for every excited new owner.

Images courtesy of autoblog.com

Kelley Blue Book Stacks it Up: 2018 Chevy Corvette Vs. 2018 Lamborghini Huracan

The 2018 Corvette and 2018 Lamborghini Huracan are both two high-performing and handling, superior designed, and over-the-top exciting sports cars. All of us here at Jim Butler are proud of the Corvette's legacy: it has always been ranked with the world's best, and has also been chosen multiple times to be the pace car leader for the Indy 500. We fully admit that the Lamborghini has been deemed a bit more on the exotic side by some, with roots dating back to 1948, alongside the establishment of a high-ranking tractor company. The folks at Kelley Blue Book were good enough to do a close comparison of the two over the past month in an article, and provided details about differences in what the two have to offer.

First noting that “Both the Lambo and Corvette offer plentiful power”, the knowledgeable folks at Kelley Blue book deemed that the 'Vette is a bargain, especially at about a quarter of the Lamborghini's price. Also, the latest ZR1 rates as a supercar in its own right, as many corner-smart track hounds are proclaiming it able and having enough might to muster anything the racing world demands. The Corvette has the power source of a 6.2-liter V8, while the Lamborghini Huracan sports the 5.2-liter V10.

 Horsepower rating for the Corvette is 455 hp @6,000 RPM, as opposed to 602 hp @ 8,000 rpm for the Huracan. It's evident that the Corvette is the king in the torque category: with 460 lb-ft, it beats out the Lamborghini's 413 lb-ft performance. Touting familiar fare, the Lamborghini has an automatic transmission, while the 'Vette sports a manual 7-speed. The 'Vette now nails down 19 mpg in fuel economy, as compared to 16 mpg tacked on the petrol board from the Lamborghini. Both of these cars are similar in length: they both measure right around 177 inches.

The folks at the Jalopnik blog posted a video back in May of the ZR1 dusting the Dodge Demon at the drag strip, surprising those that new of its grave horsepower advantage. There are many St. Louis car buyers who are asking us about the upcoming Corvette: the ZR1 boasts 41 percent more airflow than the Z06, and Motortrend.com produced a great piece about what they deemed as “talkative tires, linear throttle response, and very ultimate acceleration”.

With a tested 0-60 mph time of 3.0 seconds, come down and ask us about the ZTK Performance Package: it provides the addition of stiffer suspension tuning, and greater aerodynamic downforce via a flat undercarriage. We are consistently proud of the Corvette: The Lamborghini Huracan is absolutely no weak force within the auto realm to be reckoned with, but for the price tag, we assure you that the current model Corvette is sleek, stylish, and able to contend against the competition with a tremendous amount of track-poised power!