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The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday February 8, 2006 - 37 Chevy's top-selling SUV is a full-sized improvement. By Jim Robinson Being at the top of the full-size SUV food chain is one thing, staying there is another. The Chevrolet Tahoe has been num ber one in the full-size segment since 2001 and has also ranked first in the J. D. Power Initial Quality Survey for the last five years beating out all comers domestic or foreign. These days in the auto industry, when you start to lag, it's a long road back, which is why so much has been changed on the 2007 Tahoe. It starts with a whole new fully boxed frame with a wider track front and rear that actually gives Tahoe a lower centre of gravity. Although the 2007 Tahoe is just three inches longer than the 2006, the new frame is designed to give the equivalent of 450 mm (17.7 in) of additional 'crush space' in the event of a frontal crash. When talking about the new Tahoe, Chevrolet general manager Ed Peper described it as having, "dramatically improved attention to detail in smoothness, quietness and refine ment." This could be the quietest, smoothest running SUV I've yet tested. Because the frame is so stiff, it can be tuned to iron out vibration. Sound deadening materials are relentlessly used throughout the body, in the head liner, in the crevices behind the dash, an acoustically tuned plastic cover over the engine, foam in the A-pillars, even new door seals that reduce what Chevy calls seal "pull away" at highway"*' speeds. But wait, there's more. Chevy engi neers designed in near seamless^gaps between grille openings, around the headlights, and much improved shut line sealing that all but eliminate air leaks. Even the shape of the tires was designed to reduce noise. The Tahoe has a surprisingly aerodynamic (0.363 cd) shape for a SUV that further reduces wind noise and drag. Available in rear-wheel-drive (2WD) and four-wheel-drive (4WD), power comes from the 5.3-litre version of the CheVy "small block" overhead valve V8 that has 50 years of constant develop ment behind it. The 5.3 features GM Displacement On Demand technology that allows the engine to cut back to four cylinders once a steady highway speed is achieved. Early fuel consump tion testing showed the 5.3 gives a combined consumption rating of (US) 20.5 mpg in the 2WD version and (US) 20.1 mpg in the 4WD. The 5.3 pro duces 320 hp and 335 lb/ft of torque. Later in the production cycle a 4.8-litre V8 will be made the standard engine on the 2WD. In terms of towing, Tahoe will offer up to 7,700 lb (3,492 kg) in the 4WD version. For years, Chevy relied on torsion bars for front end springing. While the simplest and least expensive way to suspend a truck, it is also by far the heaviest. Ergo, the Tahoe will be the first full-size SUV to sport a coil spring over strut with double A-arms at the front. Coupled with power rack-andpinion steering, anyone familiar with previous big Chevys will feel the differ ence immediately. Tahoe will be sold in three trim lev els: the base LS, the LT (spilt further into LT-1, LT-2 and LT3 variants based on equipment), and the fully equipped LTZ. Standard tire is a 17-inch tire with a 20-inch optional tire. C ontinu ed on p a g e 39 ' BAD CREDIT IS NO PROBLEM!! FA STEST G R O W IN G " T H E P IX IE A U T O G R O Locations in: Mississauga, Oakville, Burlington, Grimsby,, Hamilton, Georgetown, Stoney Creek & Brantford APPLY ONLINE, www.nakvillekia.com FOR QUICK APPROVAL I CALL H rV r>G *jU /uli f* ^ 1 -8 6 6 -7 1 4 -1 2 2 7 § t A S K FOR T H E F I N A N C E D E P A R T M E N T ! > Selection of all makes & models. I B A m tOto V B YOm oxc Rates from 0% 29,9% · G O O D C RED IT? · B A D C RED IT? · N O C R E D IT? A P P R O V E D ^Tqew T s jS Lakeshore Rd. 297 Speers Road Oakville N.E. 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