Chevy Colorado ZR2 Concept

At the 2014 L.A. Auto Show, Chevy also debuted the Colorado ZR2 Concept, previewing a future more off-road oriented version of the Colorado. For those of you who didn't know, Southern California is the biggest market in the U.S. for small/midsize pickups. Also, this is not the first time Chevy decided to use the ZR2 nameplate. It dates back to sportier versions of the Tracker in the early 2000's and the Cavalier from the 1980's to the early 1990's (if I'm correct). The Colorado ZR2 Concept is powered by a 2.8-liter Duramax turbodiesel four-pot with around 181 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. This engine supposedly has a variable-geometry turbocharger for maximum power and efficiency across the rpm gauge and a balance shaft for smoother gearing. A two-inch lift and integral skid plates help with ground clearance and conquering rough terrain. The off-road fascias reduce front and rear overhang, and include built-in, flip-out aluminum tow hooks. Off-road traction is strengthened with electronic-locking front and rear differentials which allocate torque to its large off-road tires with custom 18-inch aluminum wheels. I haven't heard anything lately regarding its chances for production, but I'm hoping GM gives the Colorado ZR2 the go-ahead for production. I may have said that I'm not really a truck guy, but I have appreciated trucks more than I used to; the Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon are no exception. There's a reason why it, specifically the Colorado, was named Motor Trend's 2015 Truck of the year; it looks awesome inside and out, is most powerful in its segment, gets good gas mileage, and makes a fantastic daily driver. In my opinion, the Colorado/Canyon and Toyota Tacoma are the best midsize pickups on the market today. Pictured below are the production-spec 2015 Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon. A few notable differences between the Colorado and Canyon are that the Canyon has a higher starting price, a few of each truck's parts are different, and the Canyon has a larger grille (the badges obviously differ). Finally I should mention that for those of you who watched the big game yesterday (I was one of them, it was one of the craziest and most exciting Super Bowls yet, thank goodness the Seahawks didn't win), Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was named MVP and took home a new 2015 Chevy Colorado (same happened with San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner when he was named MVP of the World Series. Go Giants!). I'm not a fan of either Patriots or Seahawks, but I was rooting for the Pats because I dislike the Seahawks more. After all, the latter is my least favorite football team; my personal favorite is the 49ers, and hopefully they improve their overall performance next season. P.S. I generally don't ramble about sports on this site, but this is one of the only instances where that occurs.

Best of Car Shows 2014 Part 1

The "Best of Car Shows" segments are just like the "Best of Car Spotting" series that I recently posted regarding this past year, except the former showcases the best vehicles I saw on display at car shows. I attended quite a few car shows this year and I enjoyed every single one. Part 1 features some of the best cars at shows that took place during the first half of this year, from January to June. They include many classic Camaros, Corvettes, Mustangs, some Shelby Cobras (actual production models & replicas), some Chevelles, a few Vipers, a few 1957 Chevy Bel Airs, classic Impalas, Pontiac GTOs, a 1932 Ford modified for the Bonneville Salt Flats, a Porsche 550 Spyder, a land speed record vehicle, a Ford GT, a 1969 Dodge Super Bee, 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T, 1970 Dodge Charger R/T, 1970 Plymouth Road Runner, Jaguar E-Type roadster, Ford COE pickup, Lotus Speed 7, 1970 Ford Gran Torino, 1969-70 Mercury Cougars, early 1980s Cadillac Mirage pickup, and a drop-top Cadillac Hearse. More of the best vehicles at car shows from the first half and the rest of 2014 will be coming in Part 2, so watch this space. As always, please tell me which ones you like best in the comments below.