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Showing results for tags 'first drive'.
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I'll write up something more substantive on Thursday when I get back to the office but today we had a chance to take a Duramax Canyon for a spin. A few things that stood out At idle, it's actually a little noisy from the outside Awesome torque across the entire RPM range Not too quick to accelerate - The 3.6L is faster Turns these midsize trucks into full size capable for 90% of people We were able to get around 30mpg on our 30 minute loop This is a killer chassis / engine combo! More on Thursday!
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Zane Merva Executive Editor, GM-Trucks.com November, 2015 The Chevy Colorado Diesel is just starting to arrive at dealerships. I recently had a chance to take a fully loaded Colorado Z71 Trail Boss with the all new 2.8L Duramax Diesel off-roading in the dusty Nevada desert. How does the special edition Colorado perform off-road? Does the Duramax help or hurt the midsizer? Should you upgrade your Colorado with GM's available performance parts? Let’s go and find out! Thankfully, being the first few days of November, I didn’t have to worry about the scorching heat of the Nevada desert. I was, however, warned not to wander off the road too far off the road and be on the lookout for rattlesnake. While I never did see any menacing wildlife, the prospect we might made our time with the Trail Boss all the more exciting. I’ve long been a fan of diesel engines for small pickups and SUVs. The low end torque focused nature of the diesel matches nicely with the low-speed driving most owners of these types of vehicles do most. Or at least, at least the type of driving they want to do most. So, to see the Colorado’s off-road model paired with the brand’s new small Duramax Diesel engine is satisfying. When we gave you our first on-road impressions of the 2.8L Duramax Diesel for the mid-size trucks it was on paved roads and smoother all-season tires. The Trail Boss takes the Colorado to an off-road slant, with large knobby tires, slick LED lights, a blacked out bowtie, and a tubular steel sail at the front of the bed. That’s just naming a few of the features. Traveling down what some might call a "road" in the middle of the Nevada desert, the Trail Boss Diesel I’m piloting reminds me a whole lot of the S-10 ZR2 I used to own nearly a decade ago. A fat low end torque curve and capable off-road parts leave me feeling confident as we traversed through narrow canyons and washed out dry river beds. Without a doubt, the 2.8L Duramax shines in this type of work. The key to off-road driving is slow deliberate movements. With 369 lb-ft of torque on tap at low RPM, piloting off-road at a measured crawl is a pleasure. The Trail Boss’s Wrangler Duratrac tires grip loose dirt and rock substantially better than the standard all-season radial tires that come on a Z71 model. The tubular side steps provide substantial rocker panel protection. Better yet, even if you already own a Colorado, you don’t have to buy a brand new Trail Boss to experience these upgrades. Just pick up a 2016 GM Performance Parts Catalog and turn to page 66. With a little time and money, you can turn your own truck into a Trail Boss, right in your own garage. The company offers off-road Wrangler Duratrac tires, black aluminum wheels, floor liners, color matched grilles, and even a transfer case shield. For performance oriented owners, a performance exhaust and air intake are also available. Best of all, every single one of these parts is covered within your vehicle's factory warranty. To add some depth and compare, I also drove a Performance Parts loaded Silverado High Country. While the Silverado exhibited a more plush ride, it’s wider girth made it substantially more difficult to maneuver on the tighter sections of the trail. Capable in its own right, the Silverado didn’t give me the same confidence that the narrower Colorado did. This is one circumstance where the just-a-little-bit-smaller outside proportions of the mid-size make all the difference. If you're looking for a utilitarian vehicle that can take you far off the beaten path, the Colorado Trail Boss should be right up your alley. Chevrolet has a unique offering with it's 2.8L Duramax that you can't find anywhere else. That sets the Colorado to become a popular off-road platform, ripe for modification. You can head down to your Chevrolet dealer and purchase your own Trail Boss straight from the factory, or if you already own a Colorado outfit it with the same parts from GM’s Performance Catalog. You can read the all new edition right here.
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Get ready for first impressions and a killer live drive. I've just confirmed I'll be in California next month to drive the all new Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon. Now taking your questions and requests.
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Hi Guys, I'm not able to do a full out live first drive but wanted to at least get a thread started to share what I can while I drive the new 2015 Suburban, Tahoe, and Yukon Denal today. This morning, I will be driving the Suburban/Tahoe through Donner Pass! Later, I'll drive the Yukon Denali through Nappa Valley. My ability to upload photos will be limited but I plan on doing as much as I can. This may not be very exciting but if you're interested in any of these vehicles, please feel free to request anything. I take a photo for you or let you know what I think about anything.
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The day has arrived. We are excited to be among the first non-GM persons to drive the next generation Chevrolet Corvette Stingray...aka the C7. I'm live in Monterey, CA and will be posting photos and impressions most of today in this thread. Things will get started around 8:30am pacific/ 11:30 am eastern. Stay tuned and refresh often!
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We are excited to announce that our next Live Post will take place on August 12th and 13th when we drive the all-new, seventh-generation, Corvette Stingray. Mark your calendars and follow this thread for updates. I'm hoping this will be our most extensive "Live Post" to date. As we get closer to the middle of August I'll have more information to share about the conditions I will drive the car in.
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Two days ago I had a chance to drive the new Nissan NV200...which will eventually be re-badged and sold as the Chevrolet City Express. Honestly, I wasn't too excited before-hand. It's just a work van, right? Well, surprisingly, behind the wheel I enjoyed it quite a bit. This is a very nice work tool. Yes, a tool. You're not going to want to buy a City Express to haul your family around but it's going to be hard to beat for many small business who deliver or are constantly on the move. So, why did Chevy partner with Nissan instead of building their own? Nissan manufactures the NV200 in the USA. That's a big deal when it comes to Cargo Vans. Read on for more information here and how Ford skirts a 25% import tax for importing foreign made cargo vehicles: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125357990638429655.html Chevrolet most likely had no option other than importing their own van from overseas or buying one made in the USA. Nissan turns out to be a great choice. There will be little cosmetic changes when the NV200 is rebadged. So, expect it to look a lot like this. For as compact as it is on the outside, the NV200/City Express is huge inside. Not luxurious, the NV200 offers a navigation system, backup camera, and places to organize paperwork. It gets the job done. The rear has built in attachment points for up-fitters or customers to utilize. No need to bolt, drill, weld, or otherwise modify the vehicle to attach racks or shelves. The rear doors are a 40/60 split, biased towards the passenger side. Less door overhang out into the road! The doors also open at 90 and 180 degrees. Standard run of the mill gauges. Nothing fancy. Only 131-horsepower but with 1,500lbs of cargo capacity and a light body, the NV200 / City Express moves pretty well. The CVT transmission is perfect for this type of vehicle Squared off and compact wheel wells are great for stacking boxes, racks, or other items that wouldn't fit well with rounded corners. The NV200 has a tight ~30ft turning radius. Great for tight alleys and sharp corners you'll find in the city. It's not a looker but will get the job done all day long.
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Good day everyone! Hello from Texas, where I am preparing for my first chance to drive the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado, tomorrow, May 9th. Tonight, I am scheduled to get a walk around of the new Silverado and will chat with engineers and designers about the new truck. Tomorrow, I will have most of the day to drive and experience the new Silverado. My plans are to update this thread over tonight and tomorrow with photos and interesting information that I find out during my trip. I hope to update things quite a bit but internet connection access and the temperament of my phone will play a part in how many updates I will be able to provide. Tonight's walk around begins around 8pm eastern and tomorrow's drive starts around 10am eastern. I hope you can all enjoy and I can provide some additional insight to the 2014 Silverado to the group.
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I just arrived at home a few hours ago. I couldn't wait to share my first batch of photos with you guys from the first drive yesterday. Many more to come!
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I have just confirmed that I will have the opportunity to drive the new 2014 Silverado in early May. My best guess on the exact date is May 9th. This is a great opportunity for GM-Trucks.com and we plan on taking full advantage of it. Let's use this thread as a place for your requests about what I should do, what I should cover, and how you want me to show you the all new Silverado.
