Day: November 30, 2021

So it doesn’t have enough dinosaur DNA to dominate the Ram TRX or Ford Raptor. Nonetheless, Chevy’s first ever Silverado ZR2 is taking flight with more power and suspension at the wheels.

In a video on Chevy’s website, the 2022 Silverado ZR2 is shown going airborne on an off-road course. While it’s hard to say exactly how much air the front tires get — it may around a foot or so — it’s still air, and as far as we know, it marks the first time Chevy has shown one of its half-tons taking on a jump. (To watch the video, scroll to the end of this story.)

While videos in the past have highlighted towing and payload capacities and bed strength, a new focus on truck jumping has emerged as yet another and more dramatic way to show off a truck’s power and muscle. And let’s face it…it just looks like fun.

And all that fun requires some power. The Silverado ZR’s 420-horsepower 6.2-liter V8 delivers 460 pound-feet of torque through a 10-speed transmission. While that’s Chevy’s most powerful Silverado yet, it’s still below the 2021 Raptor, which delivers 450-horsepower and 510 pound-feet torque through a 3.5.-liter V6 mated to a 10-speed transmission. And it’s far below the 2021 Ram TRX, with its soul-stirring 702 horsepower supercharged V8 that churns out 650 pound-feet of torque through an eight-speed ZF automatic.

But I’m not so sure Chevy’s all that bothered about being in third place. While we’ll have to wait until the price is revealed, I’m betting that Chevy will be offering a more affordable, high-performance half-ton that could draw some folks away from the Raptor and TRX. And once it’s in the aftermarket, someone’s going to bolt on a supercharger to help even the score. Look for the 2022 Silverado ZR2 at dealers this spring. 

The 6.2-liter V8 delivers 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque.Chevy

2022 Chevy Silverado ZR2 highlights 

·     Standard 6.2L V-8 engine, delivering 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque mated with a 10-speed automatic transmission.

·      Silverado-first application of Multimatic 40mm DSSV spool-valve dampers, which feature three separate spool valves to control damping and three connected chambers for fluid flow.

·      Uniquely tuned springs that, with the Multimatic dampers, increase maximum front and rear suspension travel, compared to the Silverado Trail Boss.

·      Front and rear e-lockers.

·      Specific off-road chassis and suspension calibrations, including Terrain Mode, which allows one-pedal rock crawling.

·      18-inch wheels with LT275/70R18 Goodyear Wrangler Territory M/T tires.

·      Unique skid plate package.

·      New high-approach steel front bumper designed for off-road strength, durability and clearance that enables an improved 31.8-degree approach angle compared to other Silverado off-road models.

·      Max payload of 1,440 pounds.

·      Max towing 8,900 pounds.

ir-catching video and more photos

Check out this video below of the 2022 Chevy Silverado ZR2 catching air:

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After a dip during early fall, equipment finance companies appear to be gaining confidence as 2021 winds down.

The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation’s November 2021 Confidence Index is now at 64.6 percent, a 3.5 percent bump over October’s 61.1 index. That’s still well below its peak of 76.1 percent in April though.

The overall MCI-EFI is 64.6, an increase from the October index of 61.1.Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation

Inflation rates, labor shortages and ongoing supply chain issues are leaving some unsettled. “While I believe the equipment leasing and finance Industry will always perform well through various cycles, the last few months have shown a number of interesting data points,” says Dave Fate, chief executive officer, Stonebriar Commercial Finance. “Strong corporate earnings continue to drive the equity markets. The current rise in Inflation rates is alarming and seems like it will be with us for a while. Continued issues with the lack of skilled and non-skilled labor are the number one concern of most of our customers. Supply chain issues are causing real disruption and seem to have no viable plan to alleviate them. The rest of Q4 and into Q1 will be very interesting as we navigate through year-end closing in our industry and the Christmas holiday season.”

Respondents expect the following to occur over the next four months:

34.6% think business conditions will improve over the next four months, up from 25.9% in October.42.3% believe demand for capex leases and loans will increase.26.9% expect more access to capital to fund equipment acquisitions over the next four months, up from 14.8% in October. 73.1% expect the same access to capital.53.9% say they will hire more people, up from 40.7% in October.15.4% evaluate the current U.S. economy as excellent, an increase from 7.4% the previous month. 80.8% say the economy is fair.

Finally, 23.1% of the survey respondents believe that U.S. economic conditions will get better over the next six months, an increase from 22.2% in October. “Business owners are feeling much more confident and are moving forward with capital acquisitions, some that had been delayed because of the pandemic,” says Bruce J. Winter, president, FSG Capital. “Pending no flare up of COVID-19 infections in the coming months, we expect smooth sailing for the next several quarters.”

Divided by market segments, respondents were as follows: bank, 57.7%; captive finance, 7.7%; and independent finance companies, 34.6%.

The Monthly Confidence Index for the Equipment Finance Industry is a qualitative assessment of key equipment finance sector executives on both prevailing business conditions and future expectations, according to the foundation

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Hitachi is marking an important milestone since its split from Deere: the shipment of its first ZX210LC-6excavator built for the North American market.

Developed and built at Tsuchiura Works in Japan, the medium-sized utility excavator is the first of many Hitachi-built and branded machines soon to be available throughout North America and Latin America.

To give the machine a proper sendoff, the team in Japan draped the excavator with a banner reading “Empowering the Americas — The Lineup Grows More Powerful.” Hitachi says it is committed to independently developing and deploying the latest products, technologies and services throughout the region.

Local sales for the latest Hitachi-built line of equipment will start in North America in March 2022.

Hitachi utility excavators, including the ZX210LC-6 model, are equipped with the following features:

Solution Linkage Assist, a proprietary machine control feature that enables efficient work to be performed without over-excavating the target work surface. A state-of-the-art hydraulic system that features high-efficiency Aerial Angle technology to help improve worksite safety and the brand’s ConSite OIL service solution.

The machines are designed to help contractors maintain the quality of work amid labor shortages and the decline in experienced operators, as well as contribute to improved productivity and safe operation. Hydraulic excavators have been a flagship product for Hitachi since the introduction of the UH03 in 1965.

The company recently announced the renaming of its U.S.-based subsidiary from Hitachi Construction Machinery Loaders America to Hitachi Construction Machinery Americas Inc. in correlation with its plans for growth in the Americas.

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