WARREN, MI – With the summer 2023 debut of the ’24 Blazer EV, Chevrolet takes advantage of all the flexibility possible with General Motors’ Ultium battery-electric-vehicle chassis, including the first electric SS performance model punching out 557 hp and 648 lb.-ft. (879 Nm) of torque.
In addition to the SS, the electric CUV will come in the three other established Chevy trim designations: 1LT, 2LT and RS, all with different propulsion system configurations and ranges depending on trim level, battery size and customer preference.
During a media briefing here prior to the formal unveiling of the new vehicle July 18, GM engineers discuss the propulsion options: the front-drive 1LT offering an estimated 247 miles (398 km) of range; 2LT offering front- or all-wheel-drive and 293 miles (472 km) of range; RS in front-, rear- or all-wheel-drive and up to 320 miles (515 km) of range and the range-topping SS featuring a rear-drive-biased all-wheel-drive system capable of 290 miles (467 km) of range.
Key to the offerings is a flexible architecture that can be equipped with a standard front-drive motor, front-drive with the addition of a small rear-drive motor to create an all-wheel-drive system, or a rear-biased system with twin rear motors and the addition of a front motor to create AWD, says Doug Houlihan, executive chief engineer.
Besides motor configurations, the Blazer EV gets three battery options, taking advantage of what Houlihan says is the longest wheelbase in the segment – a 9-in.- (231-mm) stretch over the internal-combustion-engine Blazer’s spec. The BEV is a complete, clean-sheet vehicle, sharing no significant parts with its ICE sibling, he says.
“With Ultium, to do it right…you have to do it from scratch.”
Specifics on battery sizes and individual motor outputs aren’t released – engineers are still tweaking the setups – but some information is shared on charging capabilities. The vehicles will accept 11.5-kW Level 2 (220V) charging as well as 190-kW DC fast charging, the latter adding an estimated 78 miles (126 km) of range in 10 minutes.
When the vehicle is plugged in, front lighting telegraphs the state of charge, increasing in speed and intensity with battery charge level.
Chevy adds route planning to charging stations via the navigation system and says owners will have access to more than 100,000 charging ports in the U.S. and Canada via Ultium Charge 360.
While the exterior continues to evoke the sportiness of the ICE Blazer, derived from the brand’s sports car bona fides, the interior also makes a design statement in keeping with Chevy’s performance heritage.
In the SS model we see on display (below), the driver is greeted by a flat-bottom steering wheel, large round turbine-inspired vents and a massive 17.7-in. (45-cm) horizontal center screen that melds neatly into an 11-in. (28-cm) digital instrument cluster. The large flat screens are standard on all models.
Cool features include a power-opening charge-port door, hands-free starting that brings the vehicle into operation simply by closing the car door and depressing the brake pedal, and an available hands-free liftgate that opens when it senses the presence of the key fob.
Safety and high-level driver assistance technology abound, including Super Cruise hands-free adaptive cruise control. Ultifi, GM’s vehicle software platform, underpins and links all of the technology features and allows for customer upgrades and personalization.
Next summer, Chevy will begin the rollout of the Blazer EV with 2LT and RS models first, followed by SS in late 2023 and 1LT and a Police Pursuit Vehicle in first-quarter 2024.
The Blazer EV starts at $44,995 for the 1LT, followed by 2LT at $47,595, RS at $51,995 and SS at the top of the pricing ladder at $65,995. All prices include delivery charges.
The Blazer EV rounds out the family of BEV trucks and CUVs from Chevy, starting with the Middle CUV Equinox EV on sale this fall and the Silverado EV pickup next spring. GM has confirmed an EV version of the iconic Corvette sports car is coming. The so-called E-Ray reportedly packs 1,000 hp and all-wheel drive. It’s due in 2024.
