Detroit Auto Show: 2019 Chevrolet Silverado Press Reveal

LEARN MORE: Official 2019 Chevrolet Silverado Fact Sheet

The Auto Channel
2019 NAIAS Chevrolet Silverado Press Pass Coverage
Detroit Report #1
Thom Cannell and
Steve Purdy

Eager anticipation filled Shed #3 in Detroit’s Eastern Market Saturday evening; Chevrolet was on point to deliver the full breadth of the all-new Silverado. Some thought there might be a hint of the “rumored” C8 mid-engined Corvette; they would be disappointed.

Ahead of the crowd was a heritage display of notable older 1500 pickups. After a video stressing the brand’s durability, power and dependability, Alan Batey, Chevrolet president spoke about Chevrolet’s 100-year heritage, its 85 million sales, then the curtains parted and the latest Chevrolet Trailboss pulled onto the stage.

We’ll leave it to enthusiast sites to drill down through endless details, but in broad strokes Silverado is:

*Up to 450 pounds lighter through mixed-material use.
*Extensive use of High Strength Steel delivers lighter weight, greater rigidity. For instance the safety cage uses seven grades of steel.
*Swing” panels, like doors and hood, are aluminum.
*Suspension, still short-and-long arm (SLA) uses forged aluminum uppers.
*The bed is now 6.75” wider, plus 63 cubic feet, and has 12 fixed and 9 moveable tie-downs, and uses stronger steel flooring.
*Chevrolet surprised us, announcing one of its six powertrains is a 3.0-liter in-line six-cylinder diesel. It will be the mileage champion, not a tow monster. The 5.3L and 6.2L V8s have been reworked and feature cylinder deactivation for 1-7 cylinders under any condition.
*There are greater uses of telematics including 4GLTE wireless, Qi charging, Android Auto and Apple Car Play.

Despite being four-inches longer inside, it’s less than two-inches longer overall. That’s just part of the new design which is SO much better looking. Gone are the boxy front corners, the plain sheet metal flanks. They’re replaced by a flow-through front winglet, slender mostly-LED headlights. More muscular sculpted arches above strong wheel well flares flow across doors to accent rear fenders. You don’t see the sensors hidden in enlarged rear corner step-ups that allow huge rear tail lamps, or the roof spoiler that lowers cabin noise.

In all Chevrolet promises eight trim levels from Work Truck to High Country, with prices and capability to fit the needs of every truck owner. You know we’re looking forward to testing this truck.