Photo credit: arstechnica.com
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina — Before allowing us to experience the freshly paved track at Ten Tenths Motor Club, Chevrolet emphasized that its new Blazer SS “is not a track car.” Despite this disclaimer, the vehicle features a “competitive mode” among its electronic driving settings and boasts the quickest 0–60 mph time ever recorded for a Chevy sporting the SS emblem. The improvements have been targeted at enhancing the Blazer EV’s capabilities in acceleration, stopping power, and cornering, which are noticeable even when driving in a less aggressive manner.
The Blazer EV faced early challenges. In late 2023, during its initial drive, some aspects felt incomplete. Shortly thereafter, technical issues with the software led to an incident that left a journalist stranded, prompting a nationwide halt on the sale of the new electric vehicle. By March, software updates resolved these problems, allowing the Blazer EV to return to the market at a reduced price.
What’s New?
Unlike other Blazer EV models that offer either front- or rear-wheel drive or a smaller battery option, the SS trim exclusively features all-wheel drive and a larger 102 kWh battery. Its standard power output is an impressive 515 horsepower (384 kW) and 450 lb-ft (610 Nm) of torque, which can surge to 615 hp (458 kW) and 650 lb-ft (880 Nm) when the “Wide Open Watts” mode is activated.
The design modifications for the SS variant are subtle yet distinct. A new front fascia and a small spoiler enhance its profile.
Additionally, a small winglet has been added just in front of the rear wheel to further enhance aerodynamics.
Under the skin, while the battery utilization remains similar to the lower-tier Blazers, the SS variant incorporates advanced silicon carbide inverters in its rear drive unit to minimize energy loss and innovative segmented magnets to control heat. Other enhancements include upgraded brakes, superior tires, and a refined suspension system featuring stiffer anti-roll bars, springs, a quicker steering ratio, and new monotube dampers. These improvements significantly contribute to a more controlled driving experience compared to the Blazer EV RS model.
Performance variants of electric vehicles typically face a trade-off between power and range, but the Blazer EV SS impressively offers an EPA-estimated range of 303 miles (488 km), which surpasses that of the less powerful all-wheel-drive variant utilizing the smaller 85 kWh battery. The vehicle’s DC fast-charging capability peaks at 190 kW, although Chevrolet reports charging performance as providing “78 miles in 10 minutes,” leaving specific figures for a 10–80 percent charge as unspecified.
Source
arstechnica.com