Chevrolet took the wraps off the Blazer EV yesterday. Here’s what we know so far. It will be available in front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations, and will have three battery sizes available. There will be 4 trim levels to choose from — 1LT, 2 LT, RS and SS — plus a specially configured police pursuit vehicle available to law enforcement. Customers can choose from 3 wheel sizes – 19″, 21″ and 22″. Super Cruise will be available as an option on RS models and standard on SS vehicles. Watch the full digital reveal video below.
Blazer EV 2LT. Image courtesy of Chevrolet
Want to learn more about the Blazer EV? Starting price for the 1LT is $44,995, while the SS starts at $65,995 (estimated). All-wheel drive for the SS will deliver 557 horsepower and 648 pound-feet of torque available to the driver’s right foot, enough to propel the car to 62 mph in less than 4 seconds. All models will charge at 11.5kW from AC and accept up to 190kW from a DC fast charger, enough to add up to 78 miles of range in 10 minutes. Wireless updates are included, as are one-pedal controls, a 17.7″ center touchscreen, route planning and charger location software, and a full suite of electronic driver assistance features.
Styling
The Chevy Blazer EV doesn’t share any body panels with its gasoline cousin, but it has full support for the slash-and-burn school of styling that’s so popular today. All those folds, creases and notches in the sheet metal probably convey a sense of strength and purpose that appeals to the shopper. Style is highly subjective, of course, but the faux air vents behind the front wheel make me feel like the car was already backing into a parking lot before you could even drive it. In a world where we all feel less and less in control of events, driving something that looks like it belongs in a Mad Max movie calms our frayed nerves, or so the car stylists think.
Tons of cuts and options to choose from
Blazer EV RS. Image courtesy of Chevrolet.
Elon Musk may have the control of a chimpanzee on meth, but he understands marketing. If you want a Tesla Model Y, you can choose from 5 colors, two interior colors, and several wheel and tire packages. He understands that when faced with too many options, some customers find that they just can’t decide, so they choose not to buy at all.
Image courtesy of Chevrolet
Lots of options also require dealers to keep more cars in stock, so when a customer comes in who wants a rear engine only Super Cruise RS with the biggest battery in Zowie Zircomium with a houndstooth interior, it’s in stock and ready to go. The Tesla model is ideal for getting as many cars into the hands of customers as possible, while the typical blizzard of models favored by mainstream American automakers slows and slows everything down.
LT1 — The entry-level Blazer EV comes with a single electric motor driving the front wheels, 19″ wheels, and the smallest battery available. Chevy did not provide details on battery sizes, other than to say there will be a choice of small, medium or large. It also doesn’t have any official performance or range figures yet, so any numbers you see are the company’s estimates.
Blazer SS interior. Image courtesy of Chevrolet
LT2 — Next up is the LT2 with the same front motor and battery. It starts at $47,595, but customers can add an all-wheel-drive version with a medium-sized battery. The AWD setup is less powerful than the one available in the SS. Range with this battery is estimated at 293 miles.
RS — Now things are getting complicated, so we’ll leave it at that Autoblog assume.
“The base RS still comes with front-wheel drive from the low-powered engine, but it has a medium-sized battery and costs $51,995. However, you can choose a large (larger than medium) battery that comes standard with rear-wheel drive. The rear-mounted RS has a different, more powerful engine than the front-drive Blazer EV. In addition, you can spec the RS trim with a dual-motor all-wheel drive setup, which is optional on the 2LT. Maximum range for the RS is 320 miles, making it the trim with the theoretical longest range.
“Unfortunately, we don’t yet have performance figures for these various trims, but we expect the Blazer EV to follow a similar pattern to other EVs. The twin-motor versions with all-wheel drive will have the most power and the best acceleration, while the single-motor versions offer maximum range with their respective batteries. If you spec the “Comfort and Convenience” packages on the RS or 2LT, you’ll unlock the 1,500-pound towing capacity that the Blazer EV offers, but it’s only available on those models.
“You also get a number of features/tech extras with the RS model. Above the 2LT, you get 21-inch wheels (19s are standard), a hands-free tailgate, a center light bar with an illuminated bow tie, contrast interior stitching, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel.”
Image courtesy of Chevrolet
SS — In addition to the most powerful powertrain, the SS version of the Chevy Blazer EV features Brembo high-performance front disc brakes, a “track-tuning” suspension and standard summer performance tires on 22-inch wheels. All-season tires are optional. The range for the SS is estimated to be around 290 miles.
Blazer EV police chase car
Blazer EV PPV. Image courtesy of Chevrolet
Making cars for law enforcement is big business for automakers, so Chevrolet has already designed a version of the Blazer EV that’s tailored to the needs of police departments, including space in the front for computer screens and equipment that LEOs must carry. them. It will be available with either a single rear engine or twin engines, with the former available in early 2024.
“The 2024 Blazer EV sets a new tone for electric SUVs with options and intuitive technologies that help position Chevy as a leader in one of the fastest-growing electric vehicle segments,” said Scott Bell, vice president of Chevrolet. “Along with the all-new Silverado EV and Equinox EV coming next year, we’re making great strides in offering more choices for zero-emissions vehicles—choices that make the EV transition easier than ever. The Blazer EV SS has the soul of a true sports car, and while it represents the pinnacle of performance for Chevy’s EV lineup, all models offer exhilarating capabilities that will surprise and delight true performance enthusiasts.”
GM CEO Mary Barra also said as much yesterday Associated Press that by the middle of this decade, her company will sell more electric vehicles in the US than Tesla. She said she’s confident GM can dethrone Tesla with higher-priced specialty vehicles and beat Elon in the race to produce longer-range electric cars at prices people can afford. “To really sell 30, 40, 50% of EVs, you have to reach people in the $30,000 to $35,000 price range,” Barra said.
The Chevy Bolt and Bolt EUV now start under $30,000, and the Equinox EV is due to be introduced later this year or early next year. It will reportedly start at $30,000.
Takeaway
The Chevy Blazer EV is an American interpretation of the Volkswagen ID.4 and ID.5. The only difference is that Volkswagen can still take advantage of the federal EV tax credit, while Chevrolet cannot. Will it be a home run for Chevrolet? The answer to this question is vital to Mary Barra and her team.
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