Chevrolet reveals all-electric Blazer, including 415kW SS version

Wednesday, 20 July 2022

Chevrolet has shown off the electric Blazer, including the first-ever SS-badged EV.

Chevrolet has taken the wraps off the all-electric Blazer EV, with promises of front-, rear- and all-wheel drive variants, lots of range and heaps of power thanks to its Ultium bones. Oh, and a very cool police version.

We haven’t got all the details yet, but the top-spec SS AWD model (the first electric Chevrolet to wear the badge) will offer 415kW and 879Nm, clipping 60mph (96kph) in under four seconds using the special ‘Wide Open Watts’ (WOW) mode.

However, with all that power comes a price, namely in range. Chevy says the SS will drive for 466km between stops, the third lowest of the range. Exact battery sizes haven’t been revealed at this early stage.

Feast your eyes on the Chevrolet Blazer EV, a 415kW beast of a crossover.

The SS also gets LED lights that flash when the driver approaches or leaves the vehicle, as well as an illuminated bow-tie emblem. It also gets a unique front grille, 22-inch wheels, a black roof and black A-pillars, a flat-bottomed steering wheel and heated/ventilated front seats with heated rear seats.

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The Police version is by far the coolest.

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Moving down a level to the RS gets most of the same stuff, just with smaller wheels and optionally heated rear seats, presumably less power (Chevy hasn’t confirmed that yet), and no WOW mode. It does go the furthest, with up to 515km of claimed range on tap, and can be had in either of the three driven axle configurations.

Below the RS are the 1LT and 2LT trims, which are only available in FWD or AWD. The 1LT comes with just under 400km of range, while the 2LT gets up to 471km. Again, power figures are an unknown.

Going up the model range increases the amount of red in the cabin. The 2LT has none, while the RS adds red leather on the centre console, seat edges, parts of the dash and the doors. Meanwhile, the SS makes the entire seat red, and, to switch things up, gives the turbine vents a completely silver trim.

All models get GM’s Super Cruise driver assist suite, which allows for autonomous driving on highways. You still need to be present and aware though, no sleeping at the wheel.

But the coolest one shown is the special Police cruiser, which gets big bullbars on the nose, special wheels, and the powertrain from the full-fat SS model.

The Blazer EV will launch in mid-2023 in 2LT and RS trims first, followed by the SS, then the 1LT in 2024.

We haven’t heard of a New Zealand launch yet, but with GMSV ramping up local operations and re-engineering for right-hand drive being much easier with EVs, it’s not totally out of the question.