2020 Silverado To See ZR2-Type Upgrades For Offroad Action

For the serious off-road enthusiasts that we interact with so frequently here at West Chevy of Knoxville the truck of choice for wandering off-road has always been the Colorado ZR2. It's a no-brainer since it brings Multimatic spool valve shock-equipped suspension, racing program and factory-backed aftermarket upgrades to the table, allowing you to not just embrace but attack the great outdoors. As great as it is, we are beginning to realize that there are many out there who wish that the full-size Silverado was blessed with a bit of off-road magic.

That time has now arrived, and the Silverado has been slated for some upgrades that should lurch over river ford and rock quarry to reach production. The new race truck will now compete in the 1200 Stock class of the Best in the Desert series and was developed in cooperation with Hall Racing, the experts who had a hand in the ZR2's existence. The Silverado is based on the LT Trail Boss with the optional 420-horsepower 6.2-liter V8 and 10-speed automatic transmission and sports significant tweaks to the suspension and chassis. It features a long-travel suspension with larger versions of the ZR2's spool valve shocks on top of jounce shocks to help protect the truck from the damage large bumps dole out.

The skid plates covering the vital mechanics are the off-road truck's #1 defense against destruction, and 35-inch tires replace the 32-inch stock tires that come on the Trail Boss. There as of now has not been an official announcement regarding the release date for these parts but there is a good chance that they may be available directly to consumers. After brandishing the upgraded ZR2 race truck, Chevy offered some of the parts as accessories to ZR2 owners, so the same may happen in regards to the Silverado.

Chevy's chief engineer for performance variants lamented last week that “Offroad racing is just brutal on vehicles, and a single race puts more wear and tear on trucks than most vehicles will experience in years. That makes offroad racing a valuable test bed to evaluate new components. What we learn while racing informs everything from future performance parts and accessories to GM Defense products and production vehicle changes”. Nothing is ever a full guarantee in the current auto and truck landscape, but we are pretty sure that in the very near future, Silverado owners will be making sure the last gulp of coffee has been downed from the sample in the cupholder, looking at boulders and red rock with glee, and lurching off the road most traveled!

The Scoop on 2020 Chevy Silverado Diesel's Efficiency: #1 in America

It is official this week that the Chevy Silverado diesel can lay claim to the full-size pickup fuel economy top spot. The two-wheel-drive trucks powered by the new 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder turbo are set to get an EPA rating of 33 mpg when they hit the dealer's lots this fall. This beats the Ford F-150 Diesel's 30 mpg rating by a distinct 10 percent. The 4-wheel drive variants are listed at 29 mpg, which resides at 1 mpg more than the Ford, and both drivetrains sport the 23 mpg stat for city driving.

All of us here at West Chevy of Knoxville have paid close attention over the last few months to the benefits the incoming Silverado model will receive from the engine's advanced thermal management system, aerodynamic improvements, and the use of a 10-speed automatic transmission. The all-new motor is heftily responsible for 277 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque and boasts a towing rating of 9,300 pounds. The LT, RST, LTZ, and High Country trims will all have diesel availability, and Chevy marketing director Sandor Piszar claims more could be built if demand is high enough. The upcoming 2020 Ram 1500 diesel hasn't released fuel economy numbers yet, but it's a 3.0-liter V6 rated at 260 hp, and putting out 480 lb-ft of torque.

Adaptive Cruise Control will finally be available on the Silverado, and also on board is the completely game-changing New Advanced Trailering System option that supports up to 15 camera views. Even though the straight-six layout takes up a bit more space in the engine compartment, the ultimate payoff is greater torque output and the ability to run much smoother. If towing is on your daily agenda, the category of power that you get with diesel is one of those traits that makes a huge difference when you have a strong need for range while towing.

Ranchers and contractors come immediately to mind in regards to diesel, who need a truck for their everyday duties that is as reliable as they come. Even when idling, engine vibration has been ranked as very minimal within the 1500 and during a cruise, it's easy to forget you're at the wheel of a diesel. Many professionals within the auto review industry have fallen in love fast with the Transparent Trailer view: it electronically stitches together multiple images that create a glass-like view enabling you to see through the trailer. The very brisk acceleration on the road as well as steady passing power are other great traits that are noticed as soon as you pull away from town and prepare to nail down some serious highway miles. Diesel is in all ways gaining traction, and we are happy to see that our own variant is at the top of the list in regards to the all-important efficiency statistic!

Edmunds Test Drive Renders 2020 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD as “Well-Executed and Work Minded”

As the fireworks are prepared to blast and the summer holiday foods we love so much are spread over checked tablecloths all over America this week, the Edmunds blog thought it was an opportune time to write about the 2020 Chevy Silverado HD series. One of the most highly awaited arrivals of the entire year, the fun begins with significant updates to both the HD's gasoline and diesel powertrains. There is now a 6.6 – liter gasoline V8 that cranks out 401 horsepower and a category-leading 464 lb-ft of torque.

It is still paired with a six-speed automatic, and 84 extra lb-ft is very useful for providing a bridge for gaps between shifts. The optional 6.6 – liter Duramax diesel sees the new replacement of the six-speed automatic with a new Allison 10-speed automatic, and carries over boasting 445 horsepower and 910 lb-ft of torque. This allows the already very muscular engine to be much more effective by incorporating smaller rpm steps between shifts. All of this extra might and muster absolutely results in better towing and hauling capability, but there's a lot more to the new truck then just new powertrains. As you situate yourself in the back seat of the crew cab, you'll see that rear legroom has grown by a significant 2.5 inches.

The bed is now much wider than what the competition offers in the inside, and very useful after the arrival of 12 standard tie-downs. Since all of us on staff here at West Chevy of Knoxville know just how important and demanding towing duty can be, we love the fact that there are now extendable towing mirrors standard on all 2500 models. They are power-extendable or manual, depending on trim level selection, and they all share the same convex mirrors as well as glass area.

This particular article recognized that since 2500 series trucks are often used as weekday work vehicles that are also used as the ultimate recreation machine on the weekend, having the extra space in the crew cab will make great sense when your cargo is your best buddies and loved ones! When the Edmunds crew put the truck to the tough test, what they were most pleased with right off the bat was how well the front end stays composed over washboard roads and nasty bumps.

The low unsprung mass of the independent suspension layout and torsion springs that are low-mounted are a few of the components that help with this means of smoothing the ride out consistently. You'll want to inquire about the LTZ and High Country trims in regards to steering: they use Active Hydraulic Assist, which gives the steering much more buildup and on-center sensation that is similar to rack-and-pinion. The group here also fully confirmed that this is the truck for next year that has a “clear roominess” advantage over the Ram 2500, allowing you to fully enjoy the ride in high-class level comfort and confidence!

Construction Blog Talks New Powertrain Options for 2020 Silverado 1500

The nationwide truck frenzy has really been at it's peak for about the last 3 years, as more of them are popping up on the road then seemingly any vehicle out there. The RAM, F 150, and our beloved Silverado are consistently the “big three” that are battling for market share, and every little feature and bulky new towing rating counts. The folks on staff at the Construction blog ran a great feature this past week highlighting the powertrain options for next year's Silverado, laying out for all who are interested in the specifics.

One option that will be quite popular is the 10-speed automatic transmission paired with the 5.3-liter V-8 engine standard on the LT Trail Boss, and available on the High Country. There will also be a 6.2-liter V-8 offered on the Custom Trail Boss, LT Trail Boss and RST trims. When equipped with the 6.2-liter V8, the Silverado RST has the ability to tow up to 13,400 pounds. On next year's models, more than half of the Silverado trim levels will be available with the 6.2-liter V-8, cranking out an SAE-certified 420 hp, and 460 lb-ft of torque, paired to the 10-speed automatic transmission.

On the LT Trail Boss and Custom Trail Boss, this already massive power is paired with a 2-inch factory suspension lift, and the Z71 off-road package that features a locking rear differential, skid plates, Rancho mono-tube off-road shocks, 18-inch wheels, and Goodyear Duratrac tires. If you are still left hungry for even more performance, the 6.2-liter engine is also available with a Performance Upgrade Package that adds a performance air intake and cat-back performance exhaust, raising output to 435 hp and 469 lb-ft of torque. There will also be the availability of the Duramax turbo-diesel engine, which is available on the LT, RST, LTZ, and High Country models, and the 3.0-liter Duramax diesel pumps out 277 hp and 460 lb-ft. Of torque.

The tried-and-true Dynamic Fuel Management system is also available with the 10-speed automatic transmission on certain trim levels: it comes standard on the LT and Trail Boss, and is also available on the High Country trim. One of the best assets ever to navigate parking lots and make tight turns is also on board: the transparent trailer feature puts to use the tailgate-mounted camera and an available accessory camera mounted to the rear of the trailer. This point of view also helps greatly with the sometimes-precarious duty of merging into traffic. Here at West Chevy, we have long met our personal goal of giving every single customer the absolute best in sales and service expertise, and we are beyond excited to offer test drives of next year's Silverado when it arrives!