BrandSpark International Recognizes Chevy as Segment-Leading + “Most Trusted Large SUV Brand” of 2023

During the cold, snowy months here at Jim Butler Chevy of St. Louis, we are especially excited to hear about new awards and accolades for the Chevy brand. It’s not just the pride of durability and success that thrills us, it’s the many ways we can back-up the vehicles that we offer and service every day. The latest study from BrandSpark International recognized Chevy as the most trusted large SUV brand in America for 2023, solidifying our clout and everyday appeal.

Now flourishing in its tenth year, the current edition of the in-depth study was based on a survey of nearly 20,000 consumers in the United States. There were 215 product and service categories represented and 116,000 detailed brand responses. Results were obtained based on the greatest number of mentions as the most trusted brand of relatable categories. It wasn’t just the automobile industry that was covered, as this study also looked at other consumer offerings such as banking, nasal sprays, and cat food.

The term “Large SUV” referred to full-size, E-segment vehicles, with some of our favorites such as the Chevy Tahoe, Suburban, and Traverse up for consideration. Even though nearly 84 percent of Americans are buckled up and taking to the road every day, many of them have limited knowledge about specifics regarding the automotive industry, and this is what gives some brands lower trust scores in the long run. The study was a prime opportunity to dig deep into the automotive segment and assist customers in identifying the winning brands that have built the most trust.

 The 2023 Suburban is one of the most capable family haulers out there and has received praise from Car and Driver along with KBB.com for its well-laid out seating space and abundance of cargo room. There is room for up to 8, with a 9-seat configuration available and an incredibly upscale cabin. Daily life takes enough out of any driver, and the Suburban now features the intuitive hands-free Super Cruise system to help take a sizable load off while you enjoy the ride. 

The 2023 Tahoe has achieved a devoted and always thrilled-to-drive following courtesy of its adult-sized third row, quiet interior, and agile drive for the size. There’s also now a six-cylinder diesel available, along with the hefty 355 and 420-horsepower V8s. 3-row seating is standard, and the base LS trim comes properly-loaded with the latest infotainment and driver-assistance features. Those who have off-road adventures in mind will find the Z71 perfectly suited for them as it offers up trail-conquering extras such as an adjustable air suspension, a two-speed transfer case, and XXL all-terrain tires. 

The 2023 Traverse has a good-natured and very useful charm with roominess on its side, and a complete revamp still fresh off the lot from last year. Its 310-horsepower V6 is one of our favorite engines of all time here at Jim Butler, as it holds its value and attraction with industry-leading performance during each drive. Large families preparing for the fun of getting on the road will be pleased with the Traverse’s excellent legroom and headroom space, while also thoroughly enjoying the extra precious time it takes for the fuel gauge to move on down to empty!

2023 Chevy Corvette E-Ray Quietly Boasts Expanded Bandwidth and Unrivaled Quickness

The Car and Driver team tested the hybrid-powered, all-wheel drive 655-horsepower Chevy Corvette E-Ray last week, saying that from a standstill, it could easily be mistaken for the 670-horsepower Z06.

Inside, there is the distinct hum of the 160-horsepower electric motor that powers the front axle. The E-Ray’s Stealth mode is a pure-electric setting that lasts up to 5 miles before the 495-horsepower 6.2-liter V8 roars to life. This particular crew picked an overcast and rainy January day to allow Energy Integration engineer Stefan Frick a test drive, and he got behind the wheel and initiated the launch control sequence. 

This tool employs the electric motor while the rear tires command a masterful amount of traction. There’s the invigorating blend of a pushrod V8 roar, and a futuristic flying car resonating in the cabin. The E-Ray will reach 60 mph in 2.5 seconds, and ferociously (yet quietly) blast through the quarter-mile in 10.5 seconds. All of these fantastic and future-leaning ingredients make it potentially the fastest Corvette to ever come off the Bowling Green, Kentucky production line. 

The electric motor ceases to pitch in at about 150 mph, and the vehicle’s top speed is above 180 mph. Even though the E-Ray approaches 4,000 pounds, the soggy autocross course proved that it absolutely possesses the moves to dominate and handle pristinely on a dime. 

This is the first car ever to come standard with both carbon-ceramic rotors, along with the track-conquering benefit of all-season tires. When you need even more grip, the TPC-spec Michelin Pilot Sport Pilot 4S summer tires come through. With the driven front axle and brake-based vectoring to shuffle torque to the wheel that needs it most, the E-Ray cuts astutely through corners with a precise power.

The Traction Management system is available, and even without Drift mode, it handles well on pavement. Plug-in hybridization was the plan from the beginning, with Ultium pouch battery-module-shaped space reserved in the C8’s aluminum center tunnel.

2023 Chevy Silverado ZR2 Conquers Snow, Sand, and Mud to Secure Finalist Spot for “2023 North American Truck of the Year”

The off-road capability of the trucks here at Jim Butler Chevrolet has always caught our attention when the tougher of seasons rear their heads. Spring and even the sultry heat of summer are pretty easy to contend with, until the terrain becomes rough once you head off the path and encounter obstacles. Winter takes the cake when it comes to needing something capable, and our customers know just where to turn: this year’s Chevy Silverado ZR2 is a finalist for the 2023 North America Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Award!

Qualifying vehicles are determined after 3 rounds of voting by 50 jurors with experience in broadcast media, radio, print, and web sources. 47 eligible vehicles are narrowed down to 26 semi-finalists, then 9 finalists. This year’s ZR2 is a terrain-conquering, beaten-path battering ram with the equipment to fulfill its role to the highest potential. Power is derived from the naturally aspirated 6.2-Liter V8 L87 engine, which cranks out 420 horsepower and 460 lb-foot of torque.

Inside the new ZR2 there are two tone-gray and black leather seats, with power for the driver and heat for both occupants. Both seats are incredibly comfortable, and you’ll be checking all the vitals courtesy of a 12.3” colorful configurable gauge cluster. Its naturally imposing lines and tall hood have now been rendered even taller with beefy off-road tires and a sweet suspension lift. The 2023 model has a very “Baja-style” front bumper complete with red tow hooks, giving it a meaner look and a diverse sense of functionality. 

The ZR2 is much more than just a Chevy with a lift kit. The rich torque from the V8 arrives early, and the transmission is always smoothly and effortlessly shifting. Over his week spent with the ZR2, Jalopnik features writer Kevin Williams never felt that it came up short on power, and that it had an excellent focus on very technical, low-speed off-road ability.

2023 Chevy Traverse RS Provides the New Year’s Inspiration to “Wholeheartedly Bypass Bland”

We had sat up straight and paid close attention here at Jim Butler Chevy of St Louis to The Drive features writer Nico Dematta when he had published an article last week about the realities of eventually becoming responsible. His younger days had unfortunately instilled a bit of loathing for the SUV segment, but he put his past opinions aside and enjoyed an extended test drive of the Chevy Traverse RS to temporarily replace his BMW 3 series. 

He admittedly felt responsible and empowered and was amazed at just how practical and accomplished it was! Chevy’s full-size 3-row SUV performed on the road. The RS Model adds very cool black exterior accents to the front badge and window trim, 20-inch black wheels, and a black interior with red accents. Nico immediately noticed that the ergonomics at hand were excellent, and the gauges were simple to read. This test car was equipped with all-wheel drive, and offered up a very solid and sure-footed demeanor along with a gear lever that was reminiscent of a pickup truck’s.

The steering offers up a characteristic weight that builds gradually off-center and does not slow down through the corners. Considering its size, the body control is quite impressive, and the very comfortable seats will assure that passengers are taken care of in every way during a long journey. The Traverse also has very thick A-Pillars, with the convenience of standard surround-view parking cameras to assist with getting into tight parking spots. The brakes are the driving force behind the confidence to stop the SUV immediately when needed, with the pedal having a soft character that you can get used to right away during the stop-and-go of a daily drive.

The 3.6-liter V6 packs ample power to get the 7-seat family hauler moving right away, with a 9-speed automatic that blends ideally into the mix no matter what driving style you execute. Here is where Nico began to enjoy a fair amount of luxury, realizing all at once that this is a prime example of an SUV that goes to great lengths to make life so much easier. One of the qualities that customers now request most is the presence of enough USB and charging ports to constantly keep things juiced up, and assure that all of the passengers are entertained with videos or engaging tablet distractions during the drive. 

The second-row captain’s chairs were this experienced tester’s favorite feature, as they make the rear car seats simple to use and the third row easy to access. Three kids can squeeze into the back without any problems, and the RS model is fairly loaded with features directly off the lot that will make even the choosiest customers happy. At the very economical price, this is a hefty amount of car for the money, boasting the latest in cabin technology, top-tier comfort seating, and the best quality surround-view cameras available on the market today. 

500+ Horsepower Update to Define Stealth Demeanor of 2023 C8 Chevy Corvette Stingray

Since its introduction 3 years ago, the C8 Corvette Stingray has enjoyed its rating of 490 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque directly off the factory line. Excited enthusiasts ready to dominate the track of their choice could now employ the assistance of the dual-mode performance exhaust system to increase this stat excitedly to 495 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque. To the enjoyment of our team at Jim Butler Chevrolet of St. Louis, some of the best-informed journalists regarding the automotive realm at GM Authority provided the scoop last week about another exclusive and thrilling bump up in horsepower.

The C8 Corvette Stingray currently derives its power from the naturally aspirated 6.2-Liter V8 LT2 gas engine, which received a valuable reworking of the engine’s fuel delivery and Active Fuel Management System this past year. There was a significant drop in highway fuel economy ratings over the year, which can most likely be attributed to the popularity of the Z51 Performance Package. Horsepower has long remained as the bragging rights for anyone that has enjoyed the many benefits of the new mid-engined placement the ‘Vette boasts. 

Exclusive photos from GM Authority show the C8 Stingray equipped with a strange pair of exhaust pipes that are quite a bit thinner than the quad pipes on a standard model. This exhaust treatment that initially looks a bit out of the ordinary, and EPA certification pipes may signal the coming of powertrain revisions for this iconic sports car. The 500-horsepower mark will certainly be broken, and the strong allure will remain for this vehicle that can do fierce battle with the best of supercars, while still evoking the spirit of Corvette that drivers have loved for decades.

The Corvette Z06 GT3.R racing machine was just spotted undergoing testing at the Sebring International Raceway in Florida ahead of its competition debut in 2024, which is built to global GT3 regulations and will be fit for several different race series. You’ll be able to spot it in the IMSA WeatherTech Championship, the Fanatec GT World Challenge, and the Intercontinental GT Challenge. The Z06 GT3.R incorporates the naturally aspirated 5.5L V8 LT6, which is the same mid-mounted powerhouse that is found on the traditional street car. 

The Motor Trend evaluation team was heavy on the well-deserved praise for the 2023 C8’s fantastic supercar performance and very memorable Z06 exhaust note. We fully believe that the 2023 Chevy Corvette will easily hold its own against more expensive models such as the Mercedes-AMG GT, and Porsche 911. The Z06 is most definitely the supercar that true fans always wanted the model to be, boasting a full-on and proudly high-revving engine, and the ability to allow for massive confidence on the track. 

Don’t forget to check out how exhilarating the Z07 Package makes the new ‘Vette stand apart with downforce-enhancing elements including dive planes, front splitter, underbody diffuser, and rear wing, each expertly crafted from carbon fiber. Handling responses are sharpened to a level not yet seen with the unique magnetorheological suspension system, and behind all these massive goods are enormous Brembo carbon-ceramic brake rotors primed for consecutive and powerful decelerations.