THE BLAZER EV.R NASCAR PROTOTYPE IS A BEAST, BUT WILL IT WORK WITH NO SHAKING STANDS?
Chevrolet dropped a bombshell ahead of this year’s Daytona 500 with the introduction of the Blazer EV.R NASCAR prototype. It’s a bold move - bringing electrification into a motorsport built on roaring V8s and ground-shaking exhaust notes. The question is: how will the die-hard NASCAR faithful take to a race car that doesn’t wake up the neighbours? The Blazer EV.R is Chevrolet’s latest foray into pushing the boundaries of technology on the racetrack, with a clear mission to apply lessons learned from motorsports into road-going EVs. “While we will continue to race our proven and winning V8 technology in NASCAR for years to come, we continually look for ways to improve the combination of power, durability, and efficiency to transfer learnings from the racetrack to the showroom, especially as we bolster Chevy’s consumer EV lineup,” said Eric Warren, executive director of global motorsports competition for General Motors. Chevrolet’s EV NASCAR prototype packs a staggering 1,300 hp from three six-phase electric motors that scream up to 15,000 rpm. It draws energy from a 78-kWh liquid-cooled battery, delivering instant torque and power delivery unlike anything seen before in stock car racing. Built on NASCAR’s Next Gen chassis, the Blazer EV.R puts that power to the pavement via an all-wheel-drive system and Goodyear Racing Eagle tires, ensuring maximum grip on the oval. GM’s engineers were able to take the prototype from concept to track-ready in record time, putting it through its paces at Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, South Carolina. “Motorsports is a test bed for innovation, and a training ground for our engineers — one that allows Chevrolet to try out new technologies in a fast-paced environment against the best competition,” added Warren. GM Design worked closely with its motorsports engineers to create a prototype that blends elements of the Blazer EV SS road car with the aggressive stance of a race machine. “This program was a great opportunity with NASCAR to design a new crossover utility vehicle body and bring forward design elements from our Blazer EV SS,” said Phil Zak, executive director of Chevrolet Global Design. “The EV.R prototype offers lower and wider proportions and was designed with aerodynamics and performance in mind.”
NASCAR’s vice president of vehicle design, Brandon Thomas, echoed the excitement: “NASCAR and its manufacturer partners are passionate about emerging technologies, and working to remain on the forefront of innovation. With the Blazer EV.R NASCAR prototype, Chevrolet and its engineers meshed new technologies with the NASCAR Next Gen platform – and the result is a powerful, exciting vehicle that we believe fans will love when they see it at Daytona International Speedway.” Veteran Team Chevy driver Justin Allgaier had the honour of testing the Blazer EV.R, and he admitted that the lack of traditional engine noise changes everything about how you approach racing. “There are so many things you don’t think about until you’re in the car actually testing it,” said Allgaier. “I’m used to knowing my speed through gearing and listening to engine revs, so I had to totally change how I judge corner entry speed. With this platform, we’re learning how to strategically adjust regenerative braking, which has a big impact on braking sections and cornering balance.” The big question remains - how will the NASCAR fanbase react to a near-silent electric racer? Part of the magic of stock car racing has always been the physical experience: the deafening V8s, the smell of burning rubber, and the earth-shaking draft of cars flying past. Can an electric future capture that same raw excitement? One thing’s for sure - Chevrolet is leading the charge (literally), and whether fans love it or loathe it, the future of NASCAR is evolving faster than ever. Oh, and just in case anyone needed a little extra star power, Chevrolet also paced the 67th Daytona 500 with the Blazer EV SS. That’s the 615 hp road-going version that rips 0-60 mph in 3.4 seconds, making it the fastest SS model Chevy has ever built. The honorary pace car driver? None other than Alan Ritchson, better known these days as Jack Reacher - but let’s be honest, we’ll always remember him as Thad Castle from Blue Mountain State.
Take a look at the YouTube video that shows the first time the covers were taken off this EV concept car - the immediate response looks ok, but will it make millions of fans happy on a Sunday? Probably not: Chevrolet's Blazer EV.R Unleashes 1,300 HP in NASCAR Prototype | OTOFOOTAGE
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