Driving Mag Puts Full Range of Camaro V8's to Thorough Driving Test

Before the experienced staff of Driving Mag happily took to the task of test driving the Camaro line's arsenal of V8 powered cars, they started their weekly article with an interesting thought: “In the old days you used to be able to build some weird cars”. Even though there are many car aficionados out there that greatly appreciated the ability to customize every single inch of a car, it is true that cars today come in pretty well-defined packages.

Features writer Clayton Seams was very excited to officially spread the word that there ARE still exceptions out there, and Chevy still allows you to “have it your way” in terms of pairing the 1LE track package with all four available Camaro engines. You also can order a track package on a Camaro with any engine you want, and any level of trim. This gives the driver the ultimate chance to focus on whether they want to travel at breakneck speeds or zoom in on feeling more comfortable while they do so. The reporting team on duty here would recommend that you see us at Jim Butler Chevy of St Louis soon to heap your plate high with a supercharged 6.2-liter ZL1, and the full luxury treatment in regards to interior!

The first car the team jumped into was the SS 1LE with a manual transmission and the naturally-aspirated 455-horsepower 6.2-liter V8. This is as close as can be found to a classic muscle car formula in the Chevy lineup, and the drivers had a massive amount of fun with it right off the bat. They claimed happily that the 6.2-liter was apt at stretching its legs, and the wide torque band meant that much fewer shifts were called for. Upgraded four-piston bakes provided a great feel when really laying into corners hard, doing well at fulfilling their duty.

Next up for speculation was the top-of-the-line ZL1, stacked complete with supercharger and generating a full 650 hp. Deemed automatically as a “completely different animal” from the SS, the harder this car was pushed, the better it stuck to the track. Its flanks are lined stealthily with aero bits, helping the car stay glued to the pavement at every second. The team felt like true Formula One drivers while hammering down through gear after gear in the braking zones, and reflected that they could drive through a turn with the best in satisfaction no matter what gear you are in.

Some of the best moments of the day were while they all unleashed the full 650 hp, as Clayton claimed that they could accelerate faster than the needle could even move. What's most exciting is the fact that the 1LE package opens up the potential of the track's raw excitement and offers up a track car for the masses. This crew ranked the SS as the all-around most fun, but closing with the very serious sentiment that there's “no substitute on Earth” for the mighty ZL1!

Chevy Cavalier's Rebirth Status Via The Drive.com: Looks Like a Crossover is Imminent

The Cavalier has not been in commission for 14 years now and had once enjoyed its existence as a solid and economical choice for many young professionals, students, and others as a practical daily driver that added many great features as the years went on. It currently has a presence in China and Mexico in the form of a subcompact sedan that exists right under the Cruze in the lineup.

As all of us on staff here at Jim Butler Chevy of St Louis were checking out the web for updates on the blogs and newswires about the coming year's models and saw an important feature from the good people at The Drive. It depicted a product leak, suggesting the Cavalier will see a rebirth during 2020 as a new crossover SUV. For a very brief time last Monday, Chevy's U.S. Media site had an image in the galleries section of a small crossover that was previously unseen labeled “2020 Chevy Cavalier.” At first glance, the design type and styling elements appeared very similar to what is found on the Trax and Equinox, and the link directed the user to a blank page with an “MX” URL.

This means that the new crossover may see its official introduction in Mexico, but just a day or so later, the photo was then removed. The size appears similar to the compact Chevy Trax: the Chinese version of sedan derives power from a 1.5-liter I-4 engine and comes with the choice of a 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic. If the transformation from sedan to crossover platform takes place, it would make sense to see some powertrain updates in the loop as well.

“Raiders of the Lost Ark” was dominating the box office when the Cavalier first went on sale in May 1981, as a front-wheel-drive model with 2 and 4 door sedan, station wagon, and hatchback body styles. Two years later, the adjusted model offered a V6 engine for more muscle, and throttle body fuel injection. 1989 models saw the steering column completely redesigned, which allowed for a reduction in injuries during a crash with the ability to bend to conform to the driver's chest shape.

When remembering Cavaliers on the road spotted most often, it was the 1991 model that saw the extensive restyling that provided new headlights, taillights, bumpers, hood, wheel covers, and completely redesigned interior. The Z24 model then gained the options for a CD player and height-adjustable driver's seat, and mid-year the convertible was brought back with the V6 engine as standard. From 1995-1999, the Cavalier took a few design cues from the 4th-generation Chevy Camaro, and made its way through the ranks to see the #1 sales spot within the entire Chevy lineup! We will keep you posted right here on the Jim Butler blog as to any updates and news regarding the Cavalier's comeback.

Mid-Engined C8 Corvette Convertible's Fall Reveal Covered by Motor Authority

Over the summer, Corvette fans worldwide got an enormous feast for the eyes on the form of a reveal: the C8 made its worldwide debut in a hanger on July 18 in Tustin, CA during a spectacular event. A convertible version was not present at that date, and it wasn't known exactly how long fans would have to wait to see the new convertible appear. Now there is thankfully a more solid date range to circle on the calendar, as Corvette Assembly Plant Manager Kai Spande let it be known during an interview with Motor 1 that the convertible version should be expected to arrive “in the October time frame”.

Everyone here at Jim Butler Chevy of St Louis agrees that it can benefit any automaker to hold back on the reins a bit as far as revealing exactly when a new variant will arrive, to keep a level of interest as well as mystique high. Sometimes buyers will wait a year or more between the launch of the base-level car and additional variants like a convertible. If all goes as planned with this release, the open-air model could be in showrooms by early 2020, which could be just in time for warmer weather to arrive during the spring!

What could be expected in terms of power is the 490-horsepower 6.2-liter V8 in base form, or a 495-hp version sporting the optional Z51 performance package. An 8-speed dual-clutch automatic will be standard across the board. As with other generations, the C8 convertible will most likely inspire high-performance models like the Z06 and ZR1. The retractable hardtop folds into a compartment directly behind the passenger cabin, and because the roof will essentially sit on top of the Corvette's mid-mounted engine, the convertible will not feature the clear engine cover this is on the coupe.

Just when all of the excitement surrounding this long-awaited mid-engine model had seemed to die down, the fever was stoked again for many fans with the simple tweet that announced it's due date through a cool GIF that showed a cartoon C8 coupe morphing into a convertible. This is a true leap of faith in terms of marketing and engineering, and so far the response has been phenomenal. Any new Corvette carries with its release significant and exciting clout, and since this one is the first mid-engined model in history, it is that much more monumental. Cars equipped with the Z51 performance package can go from zero to 60 mph in less than 3.0 seconds. We have spent the entire dog days of summer tipping our hats enthusiastically to this release, and the fact that the convertible is coming soon will provide the fresh-air option to us right here in the showroom!

Motor Trend Reflects on Their Reasons Why Chevy Colorado ZR2 Dominates Off-Road Category

Even though it's the smallest truck in the Chevy lineup, the Colorado is the one to keep in mind if off-road driving is your forte. The Colorado ZR2 now has a long list of suspension upgrades and cladding to assure that it is the best off-road small truck money can buy. The well-respected and experienced staff on duty at Motor Trend cranked out a feature this past week that points out the elements of their choice that are the defining qualities making it the best off-road small truck money can buy.

The much Stronger Chassis makes for a stronger overall body on the ZR2, providing better payload ability. Additional skid plates add the detailed protection underneath so that you don't scrape away at the most important parts of the truck when conquering many different obstacles. The skid plates are so important: many who choose to try and conquer the wild without them immediately hear dreadful noises when they don't have proper clearance on roots or dirt.

Unlike some of the competition, the V6-powered Colorado ZR2 provides for you an 8-speed automatic transmission that is specially tuned to handle the challenges that off-road driving provides. When you combine this with very hefty power amounts, you finish with the magic formula that rounds out one of the best off-road small trucks in existence.

For its class, the Colorado ZR2 has the most power and torque, depending on which engine is your final choice. The 3.6-liter V-6 packs 308 hp, and 275 lb-ft of torque while the 2.8-liter turbodiesel has 181 hp and 369 lb-ft, giving you two flexed and grunty options to power this current king of off-road trucks.

To add even more improvement to the ZR2's off-road abilities, it comes standard with locking front and rear differentials. You also have full control over both, allowing you to choose when you should opt for increased traction, which helps as the trails become more densely-populated with boulders and debris. If you are crawling up a particularly rocky trail and one of your wheels ends up sticking up straight in the air, power can be sent to the wheel experiencing the lowest amount of resistance.

The state-of-the-art suspension that the ZR2 is adorned with allows for plenty of ground clearance for rock crawling, which is one of the first categories in which an off-road truck fails if not properly equipped. The DSSV spool-valve shocks help provide enough compliance to deal with jumps and other obstacles that would cause a normal pickup to bottom out from the sheer impact. We hope to see you here this fall at Jim Butler Chevy of St Louis, where you can check out the amazing abilities and off-road prowess of this truck that now resides at the top of the dirt-trail ranks!