2021 Chevy Tahoe and Suburban Both Slated for December Debut

If there's one thing that many of us here at Jim Butler Chevy of St Louis can agree on regarding the holidays, it is that waiting sure is a key ingredient. As children, the anticipation of the season included the waiting to see what gifts you would receive, as well as patiently waiting for extra time out of school for sledding, comradery with friends, and a bit less homework. This time of year is also when many anxious consumers are patiently waiting to see when new releases are coming, and Jacob Oliva of Motor1.com News reported this past week that the was soon to be over for the next-generation Tahoe and Suburban.

December 10^th is the official date gleaned from GM Authority, and you can see in these spy shots both the Suburban and Tahoe riding on independent rear suspension setups. The Ford Expedition will be one of the heftiest sources of direct competition, and many with growing families and businesses will be thrilled about the greater amount of rear space and better ride quality the new models will offer. Not continuing with traditional axle setup will also result in much better  handling, and both SUVs will have a new fascia and lighting configurations regarding the exterior.

There will also be new air curtains in the front that will promote better fuel efficiency, and the pair is expected to ride on the GM T1 ladder-frame platform that is used on both the GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado. It has also been reported that the two are expected to come equipped with aluminum hood, doors, and trunk, which will aid in shedding some vital pounds from the current models. Expected to be flexing under the hood is the turbocharged 2.7-Liter L3B inline 4-cylinder, and or the naturally aspirated 5.3-Liter L84 V8, both paired to the GM 10-speed automatic transmission.

The Suburban celebrates its 85 th birthday in 2020, while the Tahoe turns 25 for the New Year. Designed originally for the 1995 model year, the Tahoe saw its birth to combine the

maneuverability of a short-wheelbase truck with the functionality of a 4-door SUV. Its

existence as a truly multipurpose vehicle is what drew many towards it, and that it was great

at both towing a trailer and going off-road. The Tahoe quickly became the best-selling full-size SUV in the United States, a title it has vigorously held onto for 19 years in the running. Both of these vehicles are true staples of government and law enforcement fleets, and feature a high-output alternator and battery to help with running onboard electronics, along with class-leading brakes and suspension!

2020 Corvette Performance Numbers Demolish Past Speed Records

As Chris Bruce of Motor1.com reported on the blog last week, even Chevy's engineers said they were startled by the final results of the C8 Corvette's performance. It has been official since this fall that the 2020 Chevy Stingray coupe with the Z51 Package hits 60 mph in just 2.9 seconds and smokes through the quarter-mile in 11.2 seconds at 121 mph. Even without the Z51 pack, the new 'Vette accomplishes the 0 to 60 in 3.0 seconds, thanks to its expert engineering and more slippery body.

All of us right here at Jim Butler Chevy of St Louis have been fascinated to watch the journey  and ultimate development of the new mid-engined model, which is now the quickest base model ever in Corvette's history. Chevy vehicle performance manager Alex MacDonald claimed that “The performance of the 2020 Stingray has by far exceeded expectations”. One of the major changes that made this possible was the installation of revised camshafts in the engine that increase valve lift duration. The mill now breathes smoothly through an overhauled intake manifold that has a higher amount of plenum. The new exhaust uses 4-into-1 twisted headers that are now fabricated to save on weight.

There are three scavenge pumps in the engine's dry-sump oil system, there to withstand the demands of heavy track acceleration. The low-profile oil pan also allows for the car to possess a lower center of gravity. Tremec sources the 8-speed dual-clutch transmission that the engine runs through, and uses integrated construction that packs the differential, front drive, controls system, lubrications, and cooling hardware all into one unit. Many drivers have been raving about the awesome sound the new 'Vette has at its disposal, and just revving it listening to the pipes rivals what a good time is had when getting an earful of fine Italian autos that are 2-3 times the price.

Touring mode is where you can enjoy an all-around quiet and average daily drive, Sport turns the aggression up a notch, and Track has a high emphasis on keeping the engine's revs up high where their peak performance range thrives. The C8 is quite a radical design compared to what the Corvette has been since its creation, and it is vital to the car line's future. Customers are more eager than ever to drive the fast and fairly affordable American performance car, and scores of enthusiasts are simply eager to see it in its natural state on the road. The excitement and raw power the Z51 package adds is undeniable, and the top-of-the-line FE4 trim level includes the 4^th generation development of the magnetic ride adaptive suspension system!

2020 Chevy Silverado 1500 Duramax's Return After Two Decades Covered by Motor Trend

The concept of a diesel-powered half-ton truck is not a new idea, but when those at the top of your rival list make moves to enter the niche, you have to up your game stance. Back in the late '90s, you could snag a 1500 with a V-8 Diesel. But as Miguel Cortina of Motor Trend covered in his story this week, the 1500 was stuck for a while with all-gas engines after Chevy stopped offering a diesel half-ton truck. The 2020 Chevy Silverado 1500 finally will step up valiantly to the challenge set in stone by the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel and Ford F-150 Diesel with a 277-hp 3.0-Liter turbodiesel I-6 that's good for 460 lb-ft of torque.

As all of us here at Jim Butler Chevy of St Louis were in fascination, their features editor Scott Evans had his hands on the 2020 Silverado 1500 Duramax at its press launch, road test editor Chris Walton was behind the wheel and took just 7 seconds flat to go from 0 to 60 mph. This is absolutely outstanding performance, and a tenth of a second faster than what the F-150 nailed down. There was not the opportunity to tow during the press event, but the incoming 1500 Duramax is rated to tow up to 7,600 pounds and while hauling a full load sprinted from 0 to 60 mph in just 16.4 seconds.

When driven for an extended time, the team claimed the engine is “buttery smooth”, yet it has lots of torque. They said pulling a trailer was easy to the point where it felt as if it wasn't there, and the 10-speed automatic transmission offers amazingly precise shifts even when weighed down immensely. One of the most important things the gang noted here for anyone considering a new purchase is that it struggles much less than the F-150 when being tested with massive weight.

One of the testing grounds for these claims was the steep incline at Davis Dam, near the Arizona-Nevado border, where the Silverado 1500 blew past the 70 mph mark and still had reserve power to go faster. Even with all the purposeful kinks and frustration thrown at it, the Silverado diesel did a phenomenal job of controlling the trailer. Don't forget to ask us to demo the invisible trailer technology for you: it is available on the 1500 Duramax and uses a camera installed on the back of the trailer to create a see-through image minus the trailer. Another amazing quality of this new 1500 is the improvements that were made to the trucks NVH courtesy of engineering: there is next to none of the noise clamoring around you that diesel always carried as part of its characteristic! 

Chevy Silverado ZRX Off-Roader Spy Shots Courtesy of GM Authority

As the staff on duty at GM Authority reported during September, Chevy is now preparing and testing a new ZRX variant of the Silverado. This is a category that has as of late become much more popular, and now the larger-size Silverado will be joining in the action. These are quite likely the very first spy shots of the future Chevy for customers and fans alike to feast their eyes on, and we must say that it looks poised, powerful, and wicked.

Back in August when the dog days of summer were looming over us here at Jim Butler Chevy of St Louis, GM Authority reported that there were trademark filings for the ZRX name in states as well as Canada. Then in September, it was reported that the ZRX name would be given to a new off-road variant of the Silverado that will reside just above the Trail Boss. The particular model seen here appears to be an early development type and is based roughly on the LT Trail Boss Model, which can be seen from specific features on the bed and tailgate.

The front bumper is much shorter than any other that the Silverado has seen to date, and is minus the fog lights found on the Silverado LT Trail Boss. This will help with the needed advantage in the approach angle category, and you can also spot a metal bar protruding from the bumper, which could be in conjunction with highly-upgraded suspension components on the underside. The upcoming ZRX will adopt the formula introduced by the ZR2, with application on a larger frame. There will be a very trusty suspension setup boasting DSSV dampers from Multimatic, electronic lockers in the front and rear, and new bumpers to improve the approach and departure angles.

This model may not need any upgrade in the power department, as it is expected to be sourced from the 6.2-Liter V8 L87 EcoTec3 engine. This is the top of the line in the Silverado scope and is expected to crank out 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. The new GM 10-speed automatic transmission will be providing shifting duties, and it is possible that the ZRX could offer the turbo-diesel 3.0-Liter LM2 inline-six Duramax engine.

We are very excited about the rivalry against the F-150 Raptor this will offer up, and the opportunity this truck will provide for many to hop off-road and hit the trail. Suspension and quality build are both the name of the game when it comes to a successful off-road build, and this truck's large size will attract many who weren't quite sure the Colorado would satisfy their desire for boulder climbing and canyon cruising!