It has gone from a classic soft-top SUV to a 557-horsepower electric crossover

Not so long ago, the presentation of a completely new electric Chevrolet Blazer took place. It appeared in the form of a modern high-tech crossover, in which there is no hint of the historical continuity and genealogy of a full-size SUV. Many Blazer enthusiasts berate Chevrolet for not creating something retrospective like the Ford Bronco but turning an off-road icon into an urban crossover, but since its introduction in 1969, the Blazer has gone through quite a few drastic transformations. This brings us back to its history, which begins in the late 1960s with a fairly simple shortened version of a Chevrolet full-size pickup…

1969-1972. First generation

The International Harvester Scout debuted as an off-road vehicle in 1961, and in 1965 the first generation of the Ford Bronco appeared. Chevrolet did not panic, did not get nervous, and did not try to fussily respond to competitors. The company’s engineers studied the cars for a long time and realized that they were actually quite simple, and that their trucks on the K10 platform could be shortened to create an SUV platform. As a result, the Chevrolet K5 Blazer was longer (457cm vs. 383cm for the Ford Bronco) and wider (200cm vs. 174cm for the Bronco) than its competitors, which wasn’t exactly ideal, but made it more practical for anyone who wanted to buy an SUV. However, the term “SUV” did not exist then, so the first Blazer was advertised as “a combination of a passenger sedan and a pickup truck.”

Since the Blazer was based on a ladder-frame pickup truck, it had an open-top body, allowing for a variety of configurations. The first generation had four engine options: two inline six-cylinders and two V8s, the largest of which was 5.7 liters. The base transmission was a three-speed manual, although buyers could choose a four-speed fully synchronized manual or three-speed automatic. In its first year, Chevrolet sold almost five thousand Blazers and gradually began to overtake its competitors.

1973. Second generation

The first Blazer lasted only four years and was replaced by a second generation, based on the K5, which was produced for almost twenty years. The upgrade was extensive, although the first generation engines were successfully carried over to the second generation, with little power added. Options included a 6.6-liter V8 petrol and a 6.2-liter V8 diesel. A four-speed manual transmission became standard, while two three-speed and two four-speed automatic transmissions are optional. The drive could be rear or all-wheel drive (by the way, 4×4 models significantly outsold mono-drive models). Despite the fact that the second generation Blazer was not the most enchanting car, it sold well until the end of its existence, and even went outside of America (Japan and the UK) in the right-hand drive version.

1983-1994. Chevrolet S-10 Blazer

While the second generation K5 was on the assembly line, Chevrolet released its little brother, the Chevrolet S-10 Blazer, as a two-door model. The S-10 Blazer did not have a removable hardtop and was 37 cm shorter and 38 cm narrower than the K5. In 1991, four-door versions with a 16.5 cm longer wagon body were added, and to confuse historians, all-wheel drive SUVs produced during the period 1984-1988 were called the T-10 Blazer, and the GMC version was called the T-15 Jimmy. The power of the base model was provided by an 83-horsepower four-cylinder engine, and the most powerful were V6s. A little later, the S10 Blazer introduced additional Tahoe and Sport trim levels.

1991-1994. Third generation

With the advent of the third generation, GM has moved all of its large SUVs to the GMT400 platform. As a result, Blazer became more comfortable and the longest to date – 477 cm. The main engine was a 5.7-liter V8 petrol, with a four-speed automatic or five-speed manual transmission. A 6.2-litre V8 diesel was an option and could only be purchased with a four-speed automatic transmission. This generation didn’t last long because Chevrolet re-released the SUV in 1995 as the Tahoe, adding a longer wheelbase and a four-door wagon version. At the same time, the S-10 Blazer was renamed simply Blazer.

1995-2005. Fourth generation (and second generation S10)

So, the S10 Blazer became just Blazer, but continued to use the pickup truck platform it was once named after. The design has become more elegant and aerodynamic, but, fortunately, has not gone too far from its predecessor in terms of functionality. The wheelbase remained the same, as did the two- and four-door versions with different engine and transmission options. 1997 was an important period of model renewal: the hatchback body became available on four-door split-tailgate models, and the ZR2 trim level appeared on SUVs (albeit only on the two-door model with all-wheel drive). In 2001, Chevrolet introduced the sporty Blazer Xtreme, which featured a lowered suspension, unique wheels and body kit.

The Blazer was discontinued in 2005 and only two-door models remained available to the general public. Replacements were the front-wheel-drive Chevrolet Equinox for people who needed an everyday car, and the big TrailBlazer for those who wanted a traditional SUV. The Trailblazer was originally one of the Blazer trims, but since 2001 Chevrolet has turned it into a complete model.

2019 – present. Return as a crossover

It would be wrong to call the Blazer crossover the next generation, since this is a completely new car, far from its roots. In 2018, for the 2019 model year, Chevrolet brought back the historic name to fill the vacant midsize crossover niche. Adherents of the brand were outraged because this “Blazer” had nothing to do with the classic versions: front-wheel drive, with a monocoque body, and even among the options there is no V8, not to mention a manual transmission. Its nine-speed automatic transmission is taken from the Malibu sedan, and its most powerful engine is a 308-horsepower V6. However, the new Blazer and its modern design sold well, with nearly 95,000 units sold in 2020. But at the moment, Chevrolet has nothing like the Ford Bronco.

2022 Chevrolet Blazer EV introduced

Chevrolet showed off the upcoming Blazer EV in 2022 in Los Angeles and it looks amazing. This is another crossover aimed at conquering the growing market of connected devices. It looks very elegant and Chevy says that thanks to the use of the Ultium platform, its range on a full charge will exceed 500 kilometers. Will lead the Blazer SS lineup with a capacity of 557 hp. With. Unusually, it will be available with front, rear, or all-wheel drive. Chevrolet also announced that a police car (PPV) will be based on the Blazer SS, which could prevent the Mustang Mach-E from earning its money, despite the fact that it has already been accepted into service in most states.

Land Rover Defender 130 is a model created to break the rules and meet all family needs. Even if the requirements include riding with eight people. Defender 130 offers three rows of full-size seats, which makes it an ideal choice for exploring the world together and everyday use in a large group. Its equipment and driving characteristics mean that the model offers maximum comfort in all conditions.

Land Rover Defender 130 is the best in every way

130 is the largest model of the Defender brand. It was introduced to the brand’s offer in mid-2022. Another impressive car in the range, it surpasses the 7-seater 110 in terms of space and luxury also available for passengers in the last row of seats.

The Defender 130 offers enough space in the third row of seats for three adults. The seat is slightly raised above the rest of the cabin. This allows you to keep an eye on what is happening in front of the car while sitting in the back. The high roof line means that there is plenty of headroom. The armrests, padded with fine leather, make driving comfortable and relaxing – nothing like traveling on the extra seats folded in the trunk known from other SUVs. Thanks to the numerous storage compartments and USB-C ports for charging electrical devices, rear passengers can organize their time freely during the journey. The seat in the third row of seats is also heated, which makes driving even in winter as comfortable as possible from the first moment you take your seats.

The body of the Defender 130 has been deliberately extended by 340 mm over the 110 model. This gives this indomitable off-roader more space, while maintaining the legendary off-road qualities of the Defender brand and Land Rover technology. The extra centimeters at the rear of the body affected the value of the maximum angle and descent from steep hills, but thanks to the air suspension that increases the ground clearance – the Defender 130’s descent angle still puts SUVs and many off-road vehicles to shame, amounting to as much as 28.5 degrees.

Huge, luxurious, off-road – three words that best describe the Defender 130

The design of the latest Defender 130 has managed to combine seemingly contradictory characteristics, which translated into an unparalleled family car’s capabilities. The huge, more than 5-meter body, capable of providing space for eight people, is only one of the advantages of this car.

The interior materials of the Defender 130 give it the cozy feel of a luxury family car. Perforated Windsor leather trim complemented by Natural Light Oak wood veneer brings the cockpit much closer to a limousine than a rugged off-roader. Accessory packages allow you to customize its components to the specific needs of different users – so that Defender is the best partner in pursuing individual passions and achieving extraordinary goals for the driver and each of the 7 passengers.

This off-road 4×4 SUV combines off-road styling and functional elements (including powder-coated interior elements and a spare wheel located on the side opening rear door) with the comfort and quality of materials surpassing premium SUVs.

The opportunity to explore the world together is thanks to the steadfast iAWD drivetrain, which excels at optimizing riding efficiency on muddy and rocky trails. It enables instant changes in the torque distribution ratio according to the conditions analyzed with extreme frequency, and this is not the only feature that it outperforms traditional 4×4 permanent drives. The air suspension of the Defender 130 allows for smooth overcoming of uneven surfaces, while offering impeccable comfort when driving on asphalt roads.

This is complemented by elements of equipment that make driving simple and pleasant, regardless of whether the car is currently moving on a mountain path or on the highway. Standard on the 130, the larger 11.4-inch touchscreen provides easy operation of safety and off-road features. The cabin air purification system, on the other hand, takes care of the quality of the atmosphere inside the car so that both exhaust fumes in cities and dust in the wilderness do not interfere with the family pleasure of driving the Defender 130.

Properly strong and majestic

The dot over the “i” is the design of the Defender 130 and the parameters of the 6-cylinder engines available in this model. Thanks to this, the car not only looks impressive, but is also able to provide dynamic driving despite such a massive body.

The vehicle’s appearance is enhanced by extras such as the optional Extended Bright Pack, which includes lower panels finished in Ceres Silver Satin. Details in this color are also placed on the radiator grille and fenders. The whole is complemented by powerful 20-inch alloy wheels in Bright Silver finish.

The choice of power units available in the Defender 130 includes two petrol engines with 300 and 400 hp and two diesel engines developing 250 and 300 hp. Both are state-of-the-art and use hybrid MHEV technology that benefits both performance and ecology. All this makes the Defender 130 ideally suited to both discovering the world and overcoming the everyday challenges of family life.