Tag Archives: Chevrolet Silverado

Automobiles

Report: GM planning to put its fullsize pickups on a big diet, too

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By Jeffrey N. Ross

2014 GMC Sierra pickup - silver - front three-quarter view with mountains

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General Motors is just coming off a complete redesign of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra for 2014, but in the US fullsize truck market, there is no rest for the weary. According to Reuters, plans are already unfurling for both trucks to drop pounds from their curb weight over the next few years, but this will unlikely be able to keep pace with the 700-pound diet targeted for the next-generation Ford F-150, a truck expected to debut late next year.

The biggest weight reduction for these trucks might not be available until the next full redesign, which will likely happen around 2019, but the article says that smaller updates could shave pounds in the meantime. Two examples given include an “aluminum-intensive” version of the Silverado that could shed 250 pounds and debut around the same time as the lighter-weight, aluminum-bodied 2015 Ford, and there is also talk of reducing weight for driveline components such as axles and driveshafts. These changes are all part of an attempt to meet strict new fuel economy standards coming in 2017, targets which will get even tougher in 2025.

GM planning to put its fullsize pickups on a big diet, too originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Jul 2013 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Automobiles

2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

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Whether you know trucks or not, the Chevrolet Silverado is likely a familiar vehicle; in a huge swath of variations, it’s the tool of choice for those who need to get things done. From sport trucks to hybrids, and up off-road rigs and heavy-duty models, the Silverado 1500 still stacks up well against rivals—no matter what the… …read more

Source: FULL ARTICLE at The Car Connection

Automobiles

Report: Is this the 2014-15 Cadillac Escalade?

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By Jeffrey N. Ross

Filed under: Following the introduction of the redesigned Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, we’re expecting General Motors won’t wait too much longer to show off the next-generation fullsize SUVs that share this platform – including the Cadillac Escalade. It’s still not clear if the next Escalade will debut for the 2014 or 2015 model years, but Carscoops has what it claims to an exclusive first look of the new Cadillac, revealing a portion of the headlight, front fascia and wheel.

Judging from this small picture, it looks like the Escalade could incorporate styling cues that we’ve seen on new Cadillac models like the ELR and the 2014 CTS, but that article says that other design details could include tall, vertical taillights similar to the CTS Wagon, staggered-width wheels and a narrower daylight opening for the side windows. The last time we saw the fourth-generation ‘Slade back in October in spy shots, the heavy camouflage prevented us from getting an idea of the luxury SUV‘s appearance, but this image and description gives us something to look forward to. Head on over to Carscoops for more potential information as well as a full rendering from back in January.

Is this the 2014-15 Cadillac Escalade? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Apr 2013 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

Automakers Expected to Report Highest U.S. Sales Since 2007

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By The Associated Press

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Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images General Motors’ 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray convertible on display at the New York auto show, which runs through April 7. Consumer interest in new cars has grown as the economy has slowly improved, fueling expectations of higher sales in March.

By DEE-ANN DURBIN

DETROIT — U.S. car and truck sales are expected to hit their highest level in nearly six years in March, as buyers armed with tax refund checks were lured by flashy new vehicles and low interest rates.

Auto companies release U.S. sales figures Tuesday.

Analysts predict total sales of nearly 1.5 million cars and trucks, a number not seen since May 2007. That’s almost double the 855,000 vehicles sold in March 2009, the low point for sales during the economic downturn, according to Ward’s AutoInfoBank. Sales are expected to be up 3 to 5 percent over last March.

Alec Gutierrez, a senior market analyst with the car pricing company Kelley Blue Book, said the improving job market is boosting sales. The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell to a five-year low during March. Low interest rates are also making new-car purchases more appealing, Gutierrez said. The average rate for a 60-month new-car loan is now 4.12 percent, down from 4.52 percent at this time last year, according to Bankrate.com.

And Gutierrez says tax refunds can also spur purchases. The average federal tax refund this year is nearly $3,000, or enough to cover the down payment on a three-year lease of a Toyota Camry hybrid or a BMW 3-Series sedan.

Full-size pickup truck sales are expected to rise nearly 15 percent in March, following big gains in February, Kelley Blue Book said. Construction companies are rapidly replacing their truck fleets as the economy improves and they win more business.

Gutierrez said incentive deals — such as the $7,500 cash back now offered for the Chevrolet Silverado pickup — are helping truck sales, and should continue for a while. General Motors Co. (Ford Motor Co. (GM wants to clear out older models before introducing its new Chevrolet Silverado in a few months.

"Consumers looking for a new pickup truck should not hesitate to pull the trigger," he said.

Crossovers are also gaining, thanks to redesigned models like the Ford Escape and Toyota RAV4. Small cars are down slightly, in part because gas prices are relatively low. Gas averaged $3.64 per gallon at the end of March, down from $3.78 at the end of February and $3.91 in March of 2012, according to AAA.

Honda Motor Co.'s (HMC) sales gain should be among the best for March. Sales rose nearly 9 percent, according ...read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Automobiles

GM Details 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra’s 5.3-Liter V-8 Engine

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By Alexander Stoklosa

When GM debuted the all-new full-size Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups late last year, it outlined a bevy of changes and updates—everything, that is, except power figures for the trucks’ equally new small-block V-8s and small-block-derived V-6 engines. When it goes on sale later this year, the Silverado and the Sierra will offer a 4.3-liter V-6, a 5.3-liter V-8, and a 6.2-liter V-8. Chevy finally has released output figures and EPA fuel-economy ratings for the mid-level, 5.3-liter V-8. Info on the other two engines will be released later. 

A member of GM’s latest small-block engine family, the 2014 Silverado and Sierra’s 5.3-liter EcoTec3 V-8 will produce an impressive 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque. The outgoing trucks’ 5.3-liter V-8, by comparison, produces a measly 315 ponies and 335 lb-ft of twist. Thanks to the 2014 trucks’ aero tweaks and the new mill’s direct injection, cylinder deactivation, and continuously variable valve timing, two-wheel-drive rigs so equipped are EPA-rated for 16 mpg in the city and 23 on the highway. With four-wheel drive, the 5.3-liter-powered Silverado and Sierra’s fuel economy drop just 1 mpg on the highway—the city figures are identical.

The GM trucks’ efficiency numbers are the highest of any V-8–powered, full-size pickup, and even edge out Ford’s V-6–powered F-150s, including the twin-turbo, 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 model. Both V-6 F-150s top out at 16/22 with two-wheel drive and 15/21 with four driven wheels. In fact, the only full-size pickup more efficient than the 5.3-liter-equipped GM trucks is Ram’s updated 2013 1500, which, in V-6 guise, comes with an eight-speed automatic transmission and is EPA-rated for 17/25 with rear-drive and 16/23 with four-wheel drive. The four-wheel-drive 1500 with the top-dog 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 and the optional eight-speed auto is roughly more equivalent to the new Chevy in performance and cylinder count, and comes closest to the bow tie’s figures, netting a 15/21 EPA certification.

As it stands, the Silverado and the Sierra have the jump on the rest of the full-size pickup market for fuel economy, although in terms of pure horsepower, the trucks are down on power compared to Ford’s EcoBoost V-6 and its 5.0-liter V-8, as well as Ram’s 5.7-liter Hemi V-8. But that power imbalance might change when the GM twins’ more powerful, 6.2-liter V-8 arrives later this year.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Car & Driver

Automobiles

Report: Who sold the most heavy-duty pickups in 2012? <i>PickupTrucks.com</i> investigates

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By Zach Bowman

Ford Super Duty Nose

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Domestic manufacturers enjoyed a good year for heavy-duty pickup sales in 2012. PickupTrucks.com has taken a close look at exactly how those sales broke down between each manufacturer and between three-quarter and one-ton pickups. Ford sold some 67,786 F-250 Super Duty models last year with the Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD falling just behind at 56,359 units. The Ram 2500 HD came in third at 41,918, while the GMC Sierra 2500 HD earned itself fourth place with 27,616 deliveries. While Ford held onto the top spot in the one-ton market, Ram easily nailed down second place by selling more 3500 HD models last year than General Motors sold Silverado 3500 HD and Sierra 3500 HD trucks combined.

So, did GM manage to sell more trucks than Ford with its two brands? Very nearly. Ford sold a total of 119,338 heavy-duty pickups to GM‘s 111,555. Ram, meanwhile, moved a distant 77,583. But perhaps more interesting is the diesel take rate in this segment. PickupTrucks.com says 80 percent of all domestic one-ton trucks roll from the dealer lot with a turbo-diesel under the hood. Head over to the site for a closer look at the breakdown.

Who sold the most heavy-duty pickups in 2012? PickupTrucks.com investigates originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Feb 2013 08:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Automobiles

Report: Robust pickup, sedan sales expected to power 2013 sales gains

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By Jeffrey N. Ross

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2013 Ford F-150 Limited - front three-quarter view

We’re only a month into the 2013 calendar year, but with January’s strong sales continuing the momentum from 2012, some are already predicting that this year will be the best sales year since start of the recession. According to Automotive News, the two main vehicle segments expected to drive sales in 2013 are full-size pickup trucks and family sedans.

January saw monthly sales top one million units for the first time since 2008, and these figures have led analysts to peg their annual sales projections between 15 million and 15.5 million total units in the US, fed by increased sedan and truck sales to the tune of 19 percent and 25 percent, respectively.

These projections are undoubtedly bolstered by a batch of important new midsize cars hitting the market like the redesigned Fusion, Altima and Accord and new trucks like the refreshed Ram 1500 and Ford F-150, but there will also be plenty of new offerings in both segments this year, including the all-new Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, the updated 2014 Toyota Tundra and smaller-volume cars like the 2014 Mazda6.

Robust pickup, sedan sales expected to power 2013 sales gains originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Feb 2013 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Automobiles

Detroit: Ford Atlas Concept carries the weight of the F-150 on its shoulders

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By Zach Bowman

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Ford has taken a shot at the freshly unveiled Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra with the Atlas Concept. Unveiled at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show, the brutish pickup gives us a glimpse at what the next-generation F-150 may bring to the table. With active wheel shutters and a “smart” chin spoiler capable of altering the vehicle’s aerodynamics on the fly, Ford says the concept offers substantially better fuel efficiency than the company’s current pickup offerings. There are no drivetrain specifics available at the moment, but Ford says the Atlas relies on a “next-generation” Ecoboost mill for power, complete with a start-stop system.

Other handy tricks include a tail gate step that doubles as a cargo cradle, which can support longer materials strapped across the vehicle’s roof. Dynamic Hitch Assist automatically lines up the pickup’s tow hitch with a trailer, while a 360-degree camera provides a perfect view of the truck’s surroundings. You can check out the full press release below for more information, as well as official shots from Ford and our live shots in the attached galleries.

Continue reading Ford Atlas Concept carries the weight of the F-150 on its shoulders

Ford Atlas Concept carries the weight of the F-150 on its shoulders originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Jan 2013 09:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Automobiles

Official: 2013 Ram Heavy Duty seeks to obliterate rivals with claimed 30,000-pound max tow rating

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By Zach Bowman

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2013 Ram 3500 Heavy Duty towing trailer with tractors

No one can accuse Ram of backing away from the full-size truck arms race. Chrysler has officially dropped the payload details on its 2013 Ram Heavy Duty, and the 3500 now packs a maximum trailer weight of 30,000 pounds. Chew on that number for a moment. That’s 15 tons, or the equivalent of a dozen Mazda MX-5 Miata convertibles stacked on a trailer, and it’s also a whopping 6,900 pounds more than the closest competitor to the Ram 3500, the Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD. Ram engineers have cranked the truck’s 6.7-liter Cummins turbo-diesel engine to a ludicrous 850 pound-feet of torque, up 50 lb-ft over the 2012 model. “Shock the world” figures, all.

Throw in a stiffer frame, stouter transfer case, beefed-up transmission and brawnier U-joints in the driveline, and you have what Ram is calling “the most capable trucks we’ve ever built.” That includes the Ram 2500, which has seen its towing capacity swell to 18,350 lbs and its Gross Combined Weight Rating jump to 25,000 lbs. Look for the 2013 Ram 3500 HD to bow at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show, and be sure to check out the full press release below for more information.

Continue reading 2013 Ram Heavy Duty seeks to obliterate rivals with claimed 30,000-pound max tow rating

2013 Ram Heavy Duty seeks to obliterate rivals with claimed 30,000-pound max tow rating originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Jan 2013 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Automobiles

These are your top 10 best-selling vehicles of 2012

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By John Neff

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The best-selling vehicle in all the land last year was, of course, the Ford F-Series pickup. If our math is correct, that makes its string of sales crowns 31-years long. While last year’s performance of 645,316 units sold is far from the 900,000+ sold in 2001, 2004 and 2005, it was still enough to best the F-150’s main competitor and second-best-selling vehicle of 2012, the Chevrolet Silverado, plus that truck’s twin, the GMC Sierra, combined.

This year’s list of the top 10 best-selling vehicles in the US doesn’t hold a lot of surprises, but there are a few items to note. Look closely and you’ll see that the Toyota Camry, long America’s best-selling car, nearly overtook the Silverado for the list’s second spot. Last year was probably the Camry’s best shot, as an all-new Silverado and Sierra will go on sale soon and likely put first runner-up honors out of reach.

There were two vehicles bumped from the list year: the Ford Fusion and Chevrolet Cruze. The Cruze made its first and only appearance on the list in 2011, but strong competition from redesigned competitors like the Honda Civic, which reappears on the list for 2012, kept its sales flat. The Fusion’s absence is also likely due to its fiercely competitive segment. Redesigned for 2012 and with more production capacity than ever before, however, could see it on next year’s list.

Scroll down to see the rest of this past year’s best-selling vehicles.

Continue reading These are your top 10 best-selling vehicles of 2012

These are your top 10 best-selling vehicles of 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Jan 2013 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Automobiles

Video: Silverado HD, Touareg V10 TDI face off in diesel tug-of-war

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By Jeffrey N. Ross

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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 to 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 backward. Put another way: YouTube 2, Chevy Silverado 0.

It just goes to show, though, that big tires, tacky fender flares and goofy smoke stacks don’t improve your towing abilities. Besides, what did the Silverado driver expect since 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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Automobiles

Video: Dodge vs. Chevy tug-of-war taken to the extreme

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By Jeffrey N. Ross

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They say “idle hands are the devil’s playground,” but said playgrounds grow to Disney-sized proportions when 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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Automobiles

Report: Ford to counter GM's new trucks by offering peek at 2015 F-150 in Detroit?

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By Jeffrey N. Ross

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2013 Ford F-150 pickup - front three-quarter view

With the Ram 1500, Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra all getting major upgrades recently, there has also been plenty of speculation how Ford will respond as it looks to maintain its title as America’s best-selling truck. Last week, Automotive News reported that Ford is looking to make a significant fuel economy gain with its 2015 F-150, and now Reuters is saying that the automaker will be offering some sort of peek at the new truck at next month’s Detroit Auto Show.

The report seems to indicate that Ford might have a concept vehicle on display at the show, but when Autoblog reached out to the Blue Oval for comment, Mike Levine, Ford’s truck communications manager, told us “we’re highlighting our all-new global lineup of commercial vehicles at NAIAS, including the Transit and Transit Connect vans. We have no other news to announce at this time.”

Thus, Ford could be showing absolutely nothing related to its F-Series future, or it might clandestinely slip something onto its display – a rendering, perhaps, a cutaway vehicle, a technology display, a concept, or perhaps a full-blown production vehicle, although the latter strikes us as highly unlikely given how far away the new production model actually figures to be.

All reports do seem to point to the fact that the next F-150, which could debut in late 2014 for the 2015 model year, will feature extensive use of aluminum body panels to help shave more than 700 pounds from its curb weight in order to help improve fuel economy by as much as 20 percent.

Ford to counter GM’s new trucks by offering peek at 2015 F-150 in Detroit? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Dec 2012 13:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Automobiles

Pics Aplenty: Meet the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra [w/poll]

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2014 Chevrolet Silverado

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.

2014 GMC SierraWe 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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Automobiles

Chevrolet Silverado 1500

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The Chevrolet Silverado is GM‘s workhorse full-size pickup line, but it’s also long been one of the best-selling vehicles in the U.S. market. Offered in a wide range of body styles, bed lengths, powertrains and with upscale luxury trim in some versions, the Silverado competes with the Toyota Tundra and Nissan Titan, but even more closely with the…

Automobiles

2014 Chevrolet Silverado, 2014 GMC Sierra Pickups: Full Details

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Full-size pickups aren’t going away anytime soon; in fact, they’re how we Americans get things done. Yet much has changed in the U.S. vehicle market since the 2007 model year, when General Motors [NYSE: GM] last redesigned two of the market’s top-selling pickups, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500. With the bursting…
Source: The Car Connection

Automobiles

2014 GMC Sierra 1500 Revealed With Classy New Styling, Fresh Engines

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2014 GMC Sierra 1500 SLT
This past year has seen Ford and Ram redesign or extensively update their full-size F-150 and 1500 pickup trucks, and now comes along an all-new iteration of the GMC Sierra for 2014 to take on the new domestic competition. The Sierra is one of two pickups in GM’s arsenal—the other is the Chevrolet Silverado, a truck with which GMC’s latest Sierra 1500 again shares nearly all of its DNA. Fittingly, the two GM rigs made their debuts alongside one another, but the Sierra now boasts the longest list of standard features ever for a full-size GMC truck, as well as the Chevy’s updated chassis, all-new engines, and freshened styling.  READ MORE ››
2013 Detroit Auto Show full coverage

Source: Car & Driver