The Chevrolet Blazer SS is a 560PS electric muscle car
Chevrolet has reimagined the Blazer as an all-electric SUV, which will see the marque for the first time ever put the SS badge to an electric car. The top-level performance model is set to pack more power than the C8 Corvette. There’s even a pursuit-spec car designed especially for the police.
Packing up to 560PS (411kW) and 879Nm (648lb ft) of torque thanks to its dual-motor all-wheel-drive system, the Blazer SS is expected to make the 0-62mph sprint in around four seconds in what Chevrolet calls its Wide Open Watts (WOW) performance mode. In spite of its performance, the SS won’t be down on range that much compared to the most frugal models, with GM estimating it’ll be good for 290 miles, compared with the 320-mile RS.
The RS is one model down from the SS and can be had in front-, rear- or all-wheel-drive. All trim levels of the Blazer can be DC fast-charged at up to 190kW via the charge port behind the ‘vent’ ahead of the front left wheel, while all will also ‘self-charge’ using regenerative braking in certain circumstances, with one-pedal driving possible too.
It’s on the high-performance SS that the Police Pursuit Vehicle (PPV) will be based, with the biggest battery and optional rear- or all-wheel-drive. All PPVs will get the SS’s Brembo brakes. GM Fleet’s vice president Ed Peper highlights the reduced maintenance costs of an electric platform when in high-intensity use case such as with the police.
The design is a bit more daring than that of the more conventional crossover this Blazer replaces, taking influences from the Camaro SS. Phil Zak, Chevrolet Design’s executive director reckons the blazer has been designed to “evoke the same sort of emotional response as Chevy’s performance cars”. It looks more comfortable in its own skin to us than say, the Mustang Mach-E. We rather like its blend of sturdy and sporty, as opposed to the Mustang’s somewhat apologetic curviness.
The inside of the new Blazer is utterly dominated by the 17.7-inch diagonal infotainment screen, which is standard across the range. The driver meanwhile gets an 11-inch ‘Driver Information Center’ built into the same overall screen as the big one, sort of like the Mercedes-Benz hyperscreen. Also present and correct are sporty-looking circular air vents, while sporty red leather is also optional.
In terms of pricing, given its sportiness and equipment level, the Blazer is being very competitively positioned, starting at $44,995 for the 1LT, which admittedly arrives the latest at the beginning of 2024. The SS will cost $65,995 when it arrives in late 2023, meaning the first Blazers on sale in the summer of 2023 will be the 2LT and the RS, priced at $47,595 and $51,995 respectively.
What do you think of the new Blazer EV? We’re confusingly taken with it. We just hope all the American police forces order rear-wheel-drive, to preserve the time-worn delight of gratuitous movie car chase oversteer.
Chevrolet
Blazer
SS
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Electric Avenue
