[PHOTOS] 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Will Be Up to 450 Pounds Lighter, Offered with 3.0-Liter Duramax Turbo-Diesel
Chevrolet on Saturday revealed more information on the 2018 Chevy Silverado at the 2018 North American International Auto Show, including its focus on mixed material manufacturing, the introduction of a turbo-diesel engine option, and what sets its eight trim levels apart.
The 2019 Chevy Silverado will be up to 450 pounds lighter than the current-generation model, yet it will offer a wheelbase that is up to 3.9 inches longer, more passenger volume, and best-in-class cargo volume. This is thanks to Chevrolet’s focus on mixed material manufacturing, with components including a new 80% high-strength steel frame that is about 88 pounds lighter than the previous generation, aluminum swing panels, and a reengineered bed that utilizes higher-strength steel. This focus will also make the new Silverado 7% more aerodynamically efficient than the previous generation.
Offering what Chevy calls the most functional bed of any full-size truck, the 2018 Silverado delivers up to 63 cubic feet of cargo volume with a short box, 12 fixed tie-downs that are also twice as strong as the previous-generation’s, nine movable tie points, and a class-exclusive power up/down tailgate. There was no indication made about utilizing carbon-fiber in higher trim level trucks.
“Truck customers value capability and functionality above all else,” said Tim Herrick, executive chief engineer of Full-Size Trucks. “Every truck — including the luxurious High Country — is a work truck with a job to do. As such, we set out to create the best tool for the job at hand, one that makes work more productive and more enjoyable, no matter what they call ‘work.’’’
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There will be six different engine and transmission combinations, including an all-new 3.0-liter Duramax turbodiesel that President of General Motors North America Mark Reuss not-so-subtly hinted will outperform the recently-announced specs from Ford’s 3.0-liter Power Stroke turbo-diesel and a reworked 6.2-liter V8—both of which will be paired with the Hyrdra-Matic 10-speed automatic transmission.
The 6.2-liter V8 and revised 5.3-liter V8 will also be offered with industry-first Dynamic Fuel Management technology, which deactivates cylinders in order to increase fuel economy and deliver power on demand.
It was also confirmed that the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 will be offered at eight trim levels, including three all-new offerings. These trims are being grouped within three truck-buyer profiles: “High Value,” “High Volume,” and “High Feature.”
For the “High Value” customer, there are the Work Truck, Custom, and all-new Custom Trailboss trims. The Custom Trailboss adds off-road friendly features such as a two-inch suspension lift and Z71 Road Package, putting it right at the cusp of the “High Volume” segment.
Chevrolet’s “High Volume” truck buyer benefits from two new trims in addition to the Silverado 1500 LT: RST and LT Trailboss. The LT Trailboss adds the same features to the LT trim as the Custom Trailboss adds to the Custom; the RST boasts full LED lighting, up to 22-inch wheels with all-season tires, and body-color trim.
Finally, in an effort to capitalize on the burgeoning luxury pickup segment, Chevy’s two “High Feature” variants are the Silverado 1500 LTZ and Silverado 1500 High Country, which up the ante in terms of chrome accents.
“Chrome has become more polarizing, and more personal, than any other aspect of truck design,” said Rich Scheer, director, Exterior Design, Chevrolet Trucks. “Some customers want no chrome at all and only body-color or blacked-out trim. Others feel a truck isn’t a truck without a chrome bumper, but feel extra chrome can be too ‘flashy.’ Others want as much chrome as they can get.”
The 2019 Chevrolet Silverado will be built at GM’s Fort Wayne Assembly, with deliveries set to get underway in the fall.
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