Chevrolet compares its decision to drop traditional steel in favor of lightweight, high-strength steels in the 2014 Chevy Silverado to “athletes who burn fat and build muscle to become more competitive.” It isn’t a perfect analogy, however, because muscle weighs more than fat, but the presence of new, lightweight steel in the 2014 Chevy Silverado definitely makes the pickup more fuel efficient, safe, and capable.
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“Our customers tell us they want better fuel economy, but only if it doesn’t come at the expense of capability,” said Jeff Luke, executive chief engineer of the Silverado, in a press release. “By using lightweight materials like ultra-high-strength steel and aluminum for key structural parts and components in our new trucks we were able to improve both capability and efficiency.”
Ultra-high-strength steels and lightweight aluminum alloys have contributed to class-leading numbers throughout the Chevy Silverado lineup, including the best fuel economy of any V8 pickup at 23 mpg highway and a class-leading towing capability of up to 12,000 pounds. Other technologies, such as direct fuel injection, Active Fuel Management, and continuously variable valve timing, contribute significantly to the Silverado’s lean-and-mean performance.
Safety is certainly not sacrificed with the presence of lighter steel in the 2014 Chevy Silverado. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the pickup its highest possible 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score to confirm its position as one of the safest vehicles available on the road.
The new, lightweight steel in the 2014 Chevy Silverado improves just about every area of the truck, but which do you place an emphasis on; fuel economy, safety or capability?
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