Chevrolet fans get a sneak peek at the all-new 2019 Silverado
FORT WORTH, TEXAS The infield at Texas Motor Speedway is a panoply of Chevy trucks, a colourful gathering of enthusiast and museum vehicles spanning 100 years of pickup truck output. The hundreds of Chevy truck owners who gathered trackside to hear recently-retired NASCAR superstar Dale Earnhardt Jr. speak, will have another surprise guest drop in — literally.
Like a giant, rotary-propelled stork, a Sikorsky helicopter hovers into view, and gently delivers the newest of Chevrolet’s most successful progeny to its waiting fans: the 2019 Silverado pickup. It’s a completely unexpected appearance, since the truck is scheduled to make its world debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit next month. But truck manufacturers are embroiled in an all-out numbers war, and with Chrysler soon to introduce an all-new Ram, and the newest iteration of the segmentleading Ford F-150 also getting ready to drop, it probably doesn’t hurt to make a halftime-show type of entrance in Texas, which is Silverado’s strongest market. It’s the most important vehicle in General Motor’s portfolio, so much so that the company is investing US$3 billion into both Silverado and Sierra manufacturing facilities.
“Our owners’ passion for Chevrolet trucks is truly humbling,” says GM North America chief executive Alan Batey, as he introduced the red LT Trailboss to cheers and whistles from the Chevy-truck faithful. In fact, the event takes on the feel of a rally or revival meeting, complete with video of hard-working Americans with their equally hard-working Chevy trucks.
“How many of you have a name for their truck?” cries Batey as several hundred hands reach for the sky. “Now, how many of you have named your iPhones?”
Over the past hundred years, Chevrolet has built more than 85 million pickup trucks, and the new Silverado has reportedly been shaped by feedback from more than 7,000 owners. It’s certainly a departure from the squared-off, blocky shape we’ve grown accustomed to. A sleek and swoopy form that’s obviously derived from the mid-size Colorado, the Silverado is all new from the ground up.
“It’s strong,” Batey says. “It’s modern. But it’s instantly recognizable as a Chevy truck.”
The familiar grille is retained, but it’s now flanked by narrower projector headlamps with LED strips. Dressing up the side profile is a sharp character line that flows downward from the curvier wheel arches to the front door. As before, the rear bumper features a handy inset step for easier access to the box.
While torque and tow numbers are the primary way to keep score during this back-and-forth battle, truck manufacturers are also under increasing pressure to increase efficiency and lower fuel consumption.
According to Batey, the new Silverado features a higher grade of steel alloy in the “roll-formed” bed floor, which gives it more strength with less weight. The manufacturer is rather stingy with details, claiming only that the new truck made use of “advanced manufacturing” and “mixed materials” for a significant reduction in total weight and improved performance and efficiency.
Nowhere is there any mention of aluminum, which is not surprising, given Chevrolet’s very public criticism of Ford’s new truck bodies and beds. But to compete in the never-ending quest for lightness, Chevrolet has almost certainly used at least some aluminum, if not in the bed, then probably in some of the body panels or suspension components.
One of eight trims available when the Silverado launches, the Trailboss builds on the off-road Z71 and adds a two-inch factory lift kit. As for powertrains, Chev claims there will be an “expanded range offered” which will probably include the current 6.2-litre V8 and new 10-speed automatic transmission now available in the Tahoe and Suburban.
We’ll find out more at the Detroit auto show in January.