The General Motors plant in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico recently completed production of the first sellable Chevrolet Blazer EV.
The vehicle has now left the plant and is expected to arrive in the United States soon. This update follows an announcement made by the facility’s social media page two weeks ago, confirming the completion of the first sellable Blazer EV.
According to Tereso Medina Ramirez, general secretary of Mexico’s Confederation of Workers (CTM), GM’s Ramos Arizpe plant is now producing 65 Blazer EV models each hour.
As he addressed the achievement, Medina Ramirez said:
“Since last week we were very pleased to see that the first Blazer under construction left for the United States, the first order, we are already working on it, for the foreign market.”
In addition to the Chevrolet Blazer EV, the smaller Chevrolet Equinox EV is also produced at GM’s Mexican facility in Ramos Arizpe. However, the departure date for the first Equinox EV is currently unknown, as stated by Medina Ramirez. The Ramos Arizpe complex has a capacity for 4,000 workers, with 2,000 specifically dedicated to electric vehicles. Apart from EVs, the plant also manufactures traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) versions of the Chevrolet Blazer and Equinox SUVs.
Table of Contents
Chevy Blazer EV: Trims, Powertrain, Range Unveiled
Available Trims of Chevy Blazer EV
The Chevy Blazer EV will be available in five trim levels: 1LT, 2LT, RS, a police pursuit vehicle (PPV), and Chevy’s first SS electric performance variant. In other words, we can say that four trim options for civilian customers, and one PPV (Police Pursuit Vehicle) will be offered for law enforcement agencies. When it debuted the Blazer EV a year ago, GM stated that the PPV will be available in the first quarter of 2024.
The debut of the entry-level Blazer EV 1LT model has also been put back from the first quarter of 2024 to the winter of 2024.
Powertrain & Battery Pack
The powertrain options include Single-motor front-wheel drive (standard on 1LT, 2LT, and RS), single-motor rear-wheel drive (free on RS), and dual-motor all-wheel drive (optional on 2LT and RS, standard on SS). The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV is expected to have a range of 247 to 320 miles, depending on the trim. The battery capacity of the electric SUV has yet to be announced by GM, although it is expected to have the same 100.4-kilowatt-hour pack as the Cadillac Lyriq.
Price Range
The expected starting price of Chevrolet Blazer EV 1LT, 2LT, and SS trim levels is $47,595. The RS might have a starting price of $51,995. The Blazer EV SS performance model, which starts at $65,995, will be available in spring 2024, despite Chevrolet earlier stating that it would be available by the end of 2023.
Comparison With Tesla Model Y
Since its debut in 2019, the Tesla Model Y has been a model without rivals. However, times have changed, and we are seeing more and more compact luxury electric crossovers every day. With the 2024 Blazer EV on the way, we may argue that it is superior to the Model Y in many ways if not all!
Range
The 2024 Blazer EV has a range of 247 miles in the 1LT version, 293 miles in the 2LT, and 329 miles in the RS. The SS trim is slightly less efficient at only 290 miles, which is unsurprising, given its emphasis on performance. However, all three trims of the Tesla Model Y outperforms the Blazer EV Model S. The base configuration of Tesla has a range of 279 miles, the Long Range has a range of 330 miles, and the Performance has a range of 303 miles.
Fast Charging
All four trims of Blazer EV include an 11.5 kW onboard AC charging module for home and public charging as standard, with the RS and SS trims additionally getting an optional high-speed DC public fast-charging capability of up to 190 kW. The Blazer EV can add up to 78 miles of range in just 10 minutes when using the 190-kW charger and has access to the Ultium Charge 360 – GM’s EV charging network with over 100,000 stations available across the United States and Canada.
But, as impressive as these figures are, the Model Y outperforms them. It, like all other Tesla models, has access to the Tesla Supercharger network, which can add up to 200 miles of range in as little as 15 minutes.
Performance
The Blazer EV SS Outperforms the Model Y in Performance. The Blazer EV SS comes standard with an innovative performance all-wheel-drive system capable of producing up to 557 horsepower and 648 pound-feet of torque. These data, however, will be available if the driver activates the optional Wide Open Watts (WOW) mode. For instance, the most powerful Model Y, the Performance trim, has a dual-motor configuration that produces 455 horsepower and 487 pound-feet of torque.
However, while the Blazer EV SS is the most powerful variant, the variant Y Performance wins in terms of 0-60 mph sprint time. It completes the sprint in 3.5 seconds, whereas the SS requires less than four seconds.
AWD
The Model Y is only available in AWD, but the Blazer EV is available in FWD, RWD, or AWD. All three Model Y grades are available with all-wheel drive, but the Blazer EV is available with all three available driving systems: front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, and rear-wheel drive.
Interiors
The interior of the Model Y is also quite dull, with a plain dashboard dominated by a big, 15.0-inch infotainment touchscreen that handles practically every EV feature. All variants are also available with an all-glass roof, which gives the sense of a larger, more open space. The Blazer EV, on the other hand, has a more opulent, sportier, and elegant interior with components inspired by Chevrolet’s sports cars and performance pedigree.
It comes standard with a 17.7-inch infotainment system that serves as the EV’s command centre, as well as a massive 11-inch instrument cluster that displays data on the Blazer’s speed, power, and remaining range.
Conclusion
Chevrolet Blazer EV appears to be a promising electric SUV option. It offers a range of trim levels, powertrain options, and competitive features. The fact that it is produced at GM’s Ramos Arizpe plant, which has dedicated resources for electric vehicles, reflects the company’s commitment to the EV market. Additionally, the Blazer EV’s range, charging capabilities, and interior design set it apart from its competitors. Overall, it seems like a strong contender in the growing electric SUV segment.
