Silverado/Sierra newsworthy current events and information reported in newspapers, news magazines, and syndicated sources. Breaking News Feeds from Autoblog - Covering the Auto Industry and specifically tagged with popular truck ...

Jan 21 2013, 10:05pm

Filed under: Car Buying, Truck, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Chevrolet, GM, Off-Road

Judging by your continued enthusiastic response to configurator notices, dear reader, you enjoy speccing out new cars as much as we do. Better still, there tends to be even more ways to personalize, configure and bloat theoretical MSRPs on full-size trucks as there are with more ordinary passenger cars. In addition to trim level, engine and transmission choices, truck buyers usually have to specify items like cab configuration, bed length, number of driven axles, tow packages, gear ratios and all sorts of bits and bobs.

That's why we're pleased to see the DIY specification utility for the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado come alive so soon after this week's Detroit Auto Show debut. While the configurator lacks pricing (General Motors hasn't announced numbers yet) and full options, you can still spec out your half-ton rig, and even print it out or email it to your friends. Beyond the configurator, the new model-specific site is pretty cool, too, with various videos and closer looks at the truck's new features.

The new Chevrolet pickup range won't be on dealer lots until sometime this summer, so whether you're a building contractor, an avid sportsman or just a guy or gal that loves full-size trucks, you might want to check out the link below to keep your appetite whetted. If you're more of a Sierra fan, well, it looks like you're going to have to wait a while - GMC hasn't updated its site yet.

2014 Chevrolet Silverado tows in new configurator, microsite originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Jan 2013 16:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jan 16 2013, 12:30am

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Truck, Chevrolet, GM, GMC

There could hardly be more riding on the next-generation General Motors full-size pickup trucks, so the automaker has wisely made sure to have a selection of different models on hand at the Detroit Auto Show to show off. The 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and 2014 GMC Sierra were both officially introduced last month at a stand-alone reveal, and now they'll be on display for the public to see in various body configurations and trim levels.

The Silverado LTZ Crew Cab and Sierra SLE Extended Cab are aimed at providing more of a high-end pickup experience, while the Silverado LT Z71 Extended Cab and Sierra SLT Z71 Crew Cab should have off-road fans scouting out their favorite trails. The crew cab trucks won't go into production until sometime during the second quarter of this year - with other bodystyles coming later in the year - but we have plenty of live images from Detroit for you to enjoy.

2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra show all their sides in Detroit originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Jan 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jan 07 2013, 2:28pm

Filed under: Minivan/Van, SUV, Truck, Recalls, Safety, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GM, GMC

Twelve different General Motors vehicles from the 2013 model year, up to 54,686 units in total, are being recalled over two potential issues with their steering columns. The models in question, all full-size trucks, SUVs or vans, are the: Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Express, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe, and GMC Savana, Sierra, Yukon and Yukon XL.

The affected vehicles were built with a fractured parking lock cable or "a malformed steering column lock actuator gear in the lock module assembly." As a consequence, they could shift out of park without the brake pedal being applied or with the key removed or in the off position.

A bulletin from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicates that the recall should begin on January 17. GM will notify owners, at which time they can take their vehicles to their dealers for repair free of charge. Have a look at the bulletin below for more information.

Continue reading GM recalls full-size truck, SUVs and vans over faulty shifter mechanism

GM recalls full-size truck, SUVs and vans over faulty shifter mechanism originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Jan 2013 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dec 31 2012, 1:01am

Filed under: SUV, Truck, Etc., Chevrolet, Volkswagen, Humor, Diesel

A couple weeks ago, we watched a Chevrolet Silverado get dominated by a Dodge Ram Heavy Duty in a fullsize pickup tug-of-war, but in that truck's defense, Chevy's Vortec gas engine was no match for the torquey Cummins turbo diesel. For our next round of vehicular tug-of-war, a Duramax-powered Silverado HD takes on Volkswagen Touareg V10 TDI.

Now, on paper, putting the Duramax V8's 365 horsepower and 660 pound-feet of torque up against the V10's 310 hp and 553 lb-ft looks like an easy win for the Bowtie, but unfortunately, this battle has a similar result as the Dodge versus Chevy video, with the Silverado smoking its tires trying to move forward as it gets pulled backwards. Put another way: YouTube 2, Chevy Silverado 0.

It just goes to show, though, that big tires, bolt-on fender flares and goofy smoke stacks don't improve your towing abilities. Besides, what did the Silverado driver expect when the Touareg V10 TDI has towed a Boeing 747 in the past?

Scroll down to watch the cargo-hauler tie up with the family-hauler.

Continue reading Silverado HD, Touareg V10 TDI face off in diesel tug-of-war

Silverado HD, Touareg V10 TDI face off in diesel tug-of-war originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 30 Dec 2012 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dec 17 2012, 10:15pm

Filed under: Performance, Truck, Etc., BMW, Chevrolet, Ford, GM, GMC, Jaguar

We record Autoblog Podcast #313 tonight, and you can drop us your questions and comments regarding the rest of the week's news via our Q&A module below. Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes if you haven't already done so, and if you want to take it all in live, tune in to our UStream (audio only) channel at 10:00 PM Eastern tonight.

Discussion Topics for Autoblog Podcast Episode #313

• 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra introduced
• Ford shows new Transit and Transit Connect vans
• Did a US automaker blow the whistle on Hyundai/Kia fuel economy issue?
• Ward's 10 Best Engines list

[RSS] Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator

Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #313 LIVE! originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Dec 2012 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dec 17 2012, 8:58pm

Filed under: Truck, Etc., Videos, Chevrolet, Dodge, Diesel, Ram

They say "idle hands are the devil's playground," but said playgrounds grow to Disney-sized proportions when a pair of jacked-up trucks, two egos, a chain and an empty mall parking lot are involved. Proof of this is the video below, which shows a Cummins-powered Dodge Ram circa 2006 to 2008 chained tail-to-tail with what looks to be a gasoline-powered Chevrolet Silverado from the late 1990s or early 2000s.

We don't necessarily have to tell you who wins this battle, but we'll let you see for yourself the lengths the "winning" driver goes to prove his point. There's plenty of foul language in the video below, so beware that this might be Not Safe For Work, and not that we should have to tell you, but please, do not try this at home.

Continue reading Dodge vs. Chevy tug-of-war taken to the extreme

Dodge vs. Chevy tug-of-war taken to the extreme originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Dec 2012 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dec 14 2012, 2:01am

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Truck, Chevrolet, GM, GMC, Off-Road

Today was a pretty big day for General Motors, debuting the all-new Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra light-duty pickup trucks ahead of their official showcase at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show. And now that the dust has settled at GM's big reveal event, we've had a chance to snap dozens of photos of the new pickup pair from every angle.

We already told you the important bits earlier today (click here in case you missed it), but let's recap. Under the hood are three new engines - a 4.3-liter V6, 5.3-liter V8 and 6.2-liter V8 (you know, a version of the small-block that'll also be found under the hood of the C7 Corvette), all mated to six-speed automatic transmissions. The 2014 model year marks the return of the Z71 off-road package with Rancho shocks, front tow hooks and beefier underbody protection. Inside, there's a host of new technology and a greater focus on better quality and refinement.

Some of the nitty-gritty specifics (like engine output numbers and fuel economy) have yet to be revealed, and since we haven't driven the finished products yet, it's hard to say how these trucks will fare against rivals like the Ram 1500 and Ford F-150. For now, we can only judge these two books by their covers, and while we do like the designs of the new trucks, we Autoblog staffers are torn on exactly which one looks best.

That's where you come into play. Click through the attached high-res image galleries of live photos and let us know in the poll below which truck you think looks the best. Feel free to explain your reasoning in the Comments, as well.

View Poll

Pics Aplenty: Meet the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Dec 2012 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dec 13 2012, 4:49pm

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Truck, Chevrolet, GM, GMC, Off-Road

General Motors has finally dropped the curtain on the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and 2014 GMC Sierra. Both trucks have undergone substantial revisions with updated versions of the company's 4.3-liter V6, 5.3-liter V8 and 6.2-liter V8 engines. In a shot across the bows of both Ford and Chrysler, GM says it won't use a V6 engine adapted from passenger car applications. Instead, it developed the 4.3-liter engine based on its proven truck-duty architecture.

All three mills will boast direct injection fuel systems as well as a new cylinder head design. Combined with a revised piston, the new engines feature a smaller combustion chamber with a compression ratio of 11:1 or higher depending on the application. Cylinder deactivation and continuously variable valve timing are all part of the recipe, and each engine is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission with auto grade breaking. So far, no fuel economy or horsepower figures have been released, though GM says the new engines will best their predecessors in both areas.


Indoors, both trucks now boast completely new interiors with a focus on soft-touch materials. Drivers are now met with a gauge cluster that features a 4.2-inch color information display, and the new trucks can be had with up to five USB ports, four 12-volt outlets and one SD card slot. The option sheet also features the IntelliLink connectivity system, displayed through a high-definition eight-inch color touchscreen interface.

In addition, the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra will be available with safety add-ons like Forward Collision Alert, Lane Departure Warning and the Driver Alert Seat, which we first saw on the Cadillac XTS. Check out the full press releases below for more information.

Continue reading 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra debut all-new designs, three new engines

2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra debut all-new designs, three new engines originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Dec 2012 10:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dec 13 2012, 3:25pm

Filed under: Truck, Videos, Work, Chevrolet, GM, GMC

UPDATE: The trucks have been revealed. Click here for all of the official details.

As promised, Chevrolet and GMC are offering a live webcast of the world premiere for the all-new 2014 Silverado 1500 and Sierra 1500. After being teased with spy shots and blurry images like the one above for ages, now is the time to see the trucks in the metal, for real (well, as 'real' as it gets on a webcast, at any rate).

Shift your eyes down just below to see the reveal as it happens, starting at 9:30 AM EST. We anticipate having loads of images full technical information to share after the webcast, too, so truck aficionados should stay tuned. We'll also be bringing you live images of both trucks too, when we see them on the show floor at next month's Detroit Auto Show.

Watch the live reveal of the 2014 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra [UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Dec 2012 09:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dec 11 2012, 11:31pm

Filed under: Podcasts, Government/Legal, Chevrolet, GM, GMC, Honda, Hyundai, Jeep, Nissan, Diesel

More Honda Fit models, mandatory black boxes, too many GM pickups, Jeep Grand Cherokee diesel

Episode #312 of the Autoblog Podcast is here, and this week, Dan Roth, Zach Bowman and George Kennedy talk about reports of a soon-to-be-expanding Honda Fit line, the possibility of a mandated and standardized black box for every car, GM's glut of pickups, and the Jeep Grand Cherokee diesel that's coming soon. For those of you who hung with us live on our UStream channel, thanks for taking the time. Keep reading for our Q&A module for you to scroll through and follow along, too. Thanks for listening!

Autoblog Podcast #312:



Topics:

• Honda Fit line expanding
• White House clears way for black boxes
• GM has too many pickups
• Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel headed to Detroit

In the Autoblog Garage:
2013 Honda Accord Touring
2013 Nissan Sentra SR
2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo

Hosts: Dan Roth, Zach Bowman, George Kennedy

---

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Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #312

Autoblog Podcast #312 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Dec 2012 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dec 11 2012, 2:29pm

Filed under: Truck, Chevrolet, GMC

There's not much to see here, but if you're one of those waiting for the reveal of the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, above is the teaser image that Chevrolet posted on its Facebook page. We've seen the truck in form-fitting camo before, and even less can be made out here beyond those seriously punchy Silverado-esque fenders and the knowledge that the projector-beam headlamps teased previously do indeed work. We'll have to wait until Thursday for a full perusal of the "bold exterior design" and "careful attention given to every detail" we've been promised.

Gathering intel and rumors, magnesium and aluminum contribute to the Silverado's weight loss plan, the purported "High Country" top-tier trim will contribute to luxury pickup truck competition and profit margins and the next-generation small-block V8 will contribute to improved fuel economy. On the engine note, there have been rumors of available V6 engines, and when Facebook user John Jones asked "Where's your answer to that EcoBoost Chevy?", the Bowtie replied "stay tuned on the 13th. We think you'll be pleased...".

Along with the "Raise the Bar" tag, Chevrolet says of the Silverado, "You asked, we delivered." You can watch the reveal live on Chevrolet's Facebook page at 9:30 am EST, this Thursday, December 13. The GMC Sierra 1500 will also be there, and we'll see both in person at the Detroit Auto Show in January.

New Chevrolet Silverado to be revealed on Facebook on Thursday originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Dec 2012 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dec 10 2012, 10:15pm

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Plants/Manufacturing, GM, Honda, Jeep

We record Autoblog Podcast #312 tonight, and you can drop us your questions and comments regarding the rest of the week's news via our Q&A module below. Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes if you haven't already done so, and if you want to take it all in live, tune in to our UStream (audio only) channel at 10:00 PM Eastern tonight.

Discussion Topics for Autoblog Podcast Episode #312

• Honda Fit line expanding
• White House clears way for black boxes
• GM has too many pickups
• Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel headed to Detroit

[RSS] Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator

Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #312 LIVE! originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Dec 2012 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dec 06 2012, 12:44am

Filed under: Car Buying, Truck, Plants/Manufacturing, Chevrolet, GM, GMC, Earnings/Financials

Automotive News reports that General Motors may slash production or ramp up discounts in order to deal with an oversupply of pickup trucks. GM currently has more than double the standard supply of pickups, and the vehicles are threatening to dampen the automaker's profits for 2013. Typically, automakers try to sustain a 60- to 75-day supply of vehicles, but GM is currently loaded with a 139-day supply, as of last month. At the end of November, the automaker was sitting on 245,853 units.

The manufacturer says that it will adjust production accordingly before laying any incentives on the profitable pickups. Even so, there's some concern that the inventory swell could hurt the roll-out of the next-generation Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra. GM actually began slowly stepping back production in August, but it's clear the company will take further action as it heads toward the end of the year and into the next. Analysts predict the automaker could reduce pickup manufacturing by nearly half in the first quarter of 2013.

That still may not be enough to keep GM from laying extra cash on the Silverado and GMC Sierra. While the company's incentive spending was down in November compared to the same month in 2011, both the Ram 1500 and Ford F-150 saw double-digit percentage increases in sales last month while the Silverado and Sierra numbers slid compared to a year prior. Incentive spending could help move more trucks and add some balance to the GM inventory surge.

GM profits threatened by glut of pickups originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Dec 2012 18:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nov 01 2012, 12:01am

Filed under: Podcasts, SEMA Show, SUV, Truck, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GM, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan

2014 Chevrolet Corvette LT1, Motor Trend SUV of the Year, 2014 GM trucks, SEMA



Episode #306 of the Autoblog Podcast is here, and this week, Dan Roth, Zach Bowman and Jeff Ross talk about the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette LT1 engine, including an interview with Jordan Lee, General Motors small block program manager. Other topics include the soon-to-debut 2014 General Motors pickups, the Mercedes GL being named Motor Trend SUV of the Year and SEMA highlights. For those of you who hung with us live on our UStream channel, thanks for taking the time. Keep reading for our Q&A module for you to scroll through and follow along, too. Thanks for listening!

Autoblog Podcast #306:



Topics:

• 2014 Corvette's new LT1 Small Block
• 2014 Chevrolet Silverado
• Mercedes-Benz GL is Motor Trend SUV of the Year
• SEMA

In the Autoblog Garage:
2013 Nissan Altima
2013 Cadillac XTS Platinum

Hosts: Dan Roth, Zach Bowman, Jeff Ross
Guests: Jordan Lee

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[UStream] Listen live on Mondays at 10PM Eastern at UStream
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
[RSS] Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly

Feedback
Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com

Review the show in iTunes

Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #306

Autoblog Podcast #306 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Oct 2012 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oct 30 2012, 11:20pm

Filed under: SEMA Show, Classics, Truck, Etc., Technology, Chevrolet, Mercedes-Benz

Provided Hurricane Sandy is cooperative, Hurricane Sandy unfortunately thwarted our plans to record Episode #306 of the Autoblog Podcast on Monday night, so we're going to have a run at it again tonight. If you missed out on asking your question yesterday, you've got a second bite at the apple today.

The podcast will feature a pre-recorded interview with the Jordan Lee, chief engineer of General Motors' important new LT1 small-block V8. You can drop us your questions and comments regarding the rest of the week's news via our Q&A module below. Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes if you haven't already done so, and if you want to take it all in live, tune in to our UStream (audio only) channel at 10:00 PM Eastern tonight.

Discussion Topics for Autoblog Podcast Episode #306

• 2014 Corvette's new LT1 Small Block
• 2014 Chevrolet Silverado
• Mercedes-Benz GL is Motor Trend SUV of the Year
• SEMA

[RSS] Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator

Take Two: Submit questions for Autoblog Podcast #306 LIVE, plus an interview w/GM's LT1 chief engineer! originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Oct 2012 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oct 24 2012, 8:33pm

Filed under: Technology, Videos, Chevrolet, GM

If it's never been said before that the cornerstone to General Motors performance is the small block V8, well, it ought to be on a factory plaque somewhere. And maybe some t-shirts. We can start printing up the latter right now: The General's evergreen performance linchpin is getting a 21st-century makeover in the form of this all-new 6.2-liter LT1.

Revealed this morning at GM's Powertrain Development Center in Pontiac, Michigan, the new small block will be at the heart of the 2014 C7 Chevrolet Corvette, and variants are also expected to find their way into other GM vehicles in short order, including the automakers' full-size Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups (which are also on schedule for new 2014 models).

We revealed the key specs as the press conference unfurled this morning: a minimum of 450 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque, 0-60 in under four seconds for the base Corvette and at least 27 miles per gallon. Critically, despite being a large displacement engine, the fifth-generation small block stays true to its roots with a compact footprint - GM claims the engine is four inches lower and more compact overall than BMW's 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8, yet it weighs 40 pounds less.

Important new technologies include direct injection and continuously variable valve timing, along with Active Fuel Management (read: cylinder deactivation), a functionality that GM tried to input on the last Corvette (officials admitted they had to scuttle the tech due to refinement issues, but those problems have been solved now). All that new hardware means that the LT1 is actually slightly heavier than the outgoing LS3 V8, but it's still very lightweight. Traditionalists will appreciate that the cam-in-block pushrod engine keeps the bore spacing and block length of its predecessors, but make no mistake, this is an all-new engine - the sum total of the carryover parts fit comfortably inside a small Ziplock baggie.

While GM officials wouldn't disclose further details about the upcoming C7's powertrain (transmission, etc.), they did opaquely confirm that an active exhaust system will return. Engine and exhaust sound is a key part of delivering the V8 experience, and engineers say they've worked hard to ensure that the Corvette's auditory thunder continues. When Autoblog noted that the inclusion of direct-injection can bring along with it some unpleasant engine sound ramifications, the engineering team noted that burying some of the hardware in the engine valley (under the intake manifold and blanketed by acoustic foam) has removed much of the unpleasant DI pump clatter at idle as well as under load. (Officials gleefully noted that the DI tech is so buried in the vee that cutaway artist extraordinaire David Kimble had a hard time locating the hardware to render it in his artwork!)

While previous speculation had the new small block pegged at 5.5-liters, GM says they went with a larger 6.2-liter displacement because of the advantages of cylinder deactivation, which effectively has the LT1 operating as a 3.1-liter V4 under lighter loads. If GM had made the engine's displacement smaller, the V4 mode wouldn't have provided as much power, and thus drivers wouldn't have the engine operating in cylinder deactivation mode as often in daily driving. By operating in full-on V8 mode more often, GM would have negated the efficiency benefits of going with a smaller displacement.

It was just about a year ago, at the end of November, 2011 when GM announced it had built its 100-millionth small block. And while GM wisely doesn't anticipate building another 100 million, this new LT1 shows that there's a lot of life left in V8 engines - certainly enough for millions more.

Scroll down to see and hear the LT1 in action in various videos, and while you're there, check out GM's official press release.

Continue reading A deeper look at the small-block heart of the next Corvette [w/videos]

A deeper look at the small-block heart of the next Corvette [w/videos] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Oct 2012 14:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oct 22 2012, 8:33pm

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Truck, Chevrolet, GM

Good news, everyone - the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado will, in fact, have headlights. And projector beam ones, at that. Chevrolet has chosen to release this specific teaser image of its next-gen pickup truck to "showcase the careful attention given to every detail."

We already knew that General Motors was planning to debut its new Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups at the Detroit Auto Show in January, but the automaker has now confirmed that the trucks will meet the world at a special event on December 13.

Aside from these new headlamps, the only other for-sure detail that we know about the new Silverado is that it will be powered by GM's new small-block V8 - an engine that we'll be seeing for the first time in just a few days. Rumors have suggested that smaller V6 engines will be on tap, as well, including a possible turbocharged unit to compete with the hot-selling 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine in the Ford F-150.

Rest assured, we'll be on hand at GM's event in December to bring you the full skinny on the new Silverado and its GMC Sierra twin.

Continue reading Chevy teases 2014 Silverado, will debut December 13

Chevy teases 2014 Silverado, will debut December 13 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Oct 2012 14:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oct 02 2012, 1:29am

Filed under: Spy Photos, Truck, Work, Chevrolet, GM

Chevrolet is playing around with the buzz machine for its upcoming 2014 Silverado; showing off just one "spy shot" along with a short press release about the pickup, both on its own media website and on its Facebook page. That's cute and all, but while General Motors is trying to up its social media cred, hard-working spy photographers are bringing in a truckload of more detailed Silverado images.

Here we see the pickup with almost all of its heavy black camouflage removed, relative to the last time we spotted it, and in what seems to be close-to-production form. The 2014 model is, in all fairness, shaped an awful lot like the current truck. But, in a segment where form is very much based on function and where smaller details set models apart, that is to be expected.

Under the hood there could be a lot of change for the new Silverado, however. A fifth-generation small block V8 engine is said to be the primary powerplant, with an aluminum head, direct injection and cylinder deactivation all probable. Meanwhile, a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 could also be brewing as a direct answer for Ford and its EcoBoost F-150.

Have a closer look at the new Silverado in our gallery of images or scroll down to read Chevy's brief press release.

Continue reading 2014 Chevrolet Silverado spied, our best look yet

2014 Chevrolet Silverado spied, our best look yet originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 01 Oct 2012 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 24 2012, 8:15pm

Filed under: Car Buying, Truck, Chevrolet, GM, Luxury

Say the idea of an upscale pickup like the Ford F-150 King Ranch or Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn appeals, but you're decidedly a Chevrolet buyer and would only consider a Silverado. According to an Automotive News report, General Motors is working on a new top-end trim for the Silverado, called "High Country," and it will have a "Western flair and unique leather," according to one dealer at the national Chevrolet dealer meeting in Las Vegas this month. GM did not comment on the details of the new vehicle or discuss pricing, though the competing models from Ford and Ram have pricing that can easily top $50K.

The new Chevrolet luxury pickup may need more than that to out-lux the F-150, however, as Ford has already rolled out a new Limited trim with a bevy of additional features and a sticker price of $52,455 (before $995 in delivery fees). Currently, the top Silverado 1500 is a crew cab LTZ with full options cost in the mid-$40K range, still well below competitors' selections.

GM already has a luxury pickup in the form of the Sierra Denali, and word is that the Cadillac Escalade EXT will not return when the Escalade is redesigned. The Silverado High Country would theoretically allow the Sierra Denali to move further upmarket to account for the discontinuation of the EXT.

According to AN, the "High Country" name comes from a trim of the Chevrolet Blazer offered in the 1980s, which had gold wheels and a paint scheme that faded from black to gold on the lower body. The Silverado High Country probably won't receive that treatment, but there will likely be a lot of alterations for the new premium model. As the same dealer quoted above also noted, "If it's on the King Ranch, we're going to have it."

Chevy planning luxury 'High Country' Silverado trim to take on King Ranch, Longhorn rivals originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Sep 2012 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 01 2012, 12:01am

Filed under: Hybrid, SUV, Truck, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GM, GMC

According to a report from GMInsideNews.com, General Motors has shut down its hybrid program for company's next-generation of full-size pickup trucks and sport-utility vehicles. Currently, the Chevrolet Silverado, Tahoe, GMC Sierra, Yukon and Cadillac Escalade all use the two-mode hybrid technology.

Historically, the two-mode hybrid models have not sold well, and only yield minor improvements in overall fuel economy. In most applications, the two-mode hybrid system is rated at 20 miles per gallon in the city and 23 mpg highway.

GMI reports that it's unusual for programs like this to be shut down so close to the launch of a new vehicle - the next-generation trucks/SUVs are scheduled to debut for the 2014 model year - but that many sources within GM are not surprised about the move. These new full-size hybrids were reportedly supposed to use an updated two-mode system, featuring a smaller displacement V8 engine, upgraded battery storage (using a more modern lithium-ion pack) and revamped electric motors, according to GMI.

When contacted by Autoblog, a GM spokesperson only stated that the automaker could "not comment on future products or related technologies."

GM cancels next-gen hybrid truck/SUV program originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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