|
Chevrolet Silverado shows up as a new full-size pickup truck
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
|
CACTUS FOREST, Ariz. -- Out back in the low Arizona desert near Tucson, rock and prickly cacti give way to an undercurrent of sand. It shifts with the wind and blows across roads, depositing a thin and slippery layer of ball-bearing granules which sets up some dicy driving situations.
On a recent spin into this cactus-crowded wilderness, a driver experimented with an automatic all-wheel-drive system available on Silverado, a new 1999 truck in the first bumper-to-bumper remake for Chevrolet's full-size pickup in 11 years.
Silverado's deluxe LT edition stocks the automatic active transfer case -- called Autotrac -- as standard equipment, and it's available optionally on the LS model. These applications mark the first use of automatic 4x4 equipment on a big truck.
When on-board sensors detect wheel spin, the smart Autotrac system automatically switches from standard rear-wheel-drive traction to a mode which channels power equally to the front as well as rear wheels.
So now I'm rolling through the desert on a quick clip with the truck's chief engineer, Ken Sohocki, aboard, and the Autotrac system deployed as Silverado scoots through a watershed wash on blacktop following wiggly contours down to the dry creek bed.
The first road curve we meet with too much speed on sandy pavement, and as I steer through it the rear of this big truck tries to slip out of line. In an instant, though, the wizardry of Autotrac goes to work, and power seamlessly transfers to front tires that begin to claw for traction.
In another instant those maverick rear wheels pull back into alignment and we proceed through the curve safely.
"We wanted a seamless transfer of traction, which Autotrac accomplishes, so Silverado's driver can focus on steering without having to think about when to shift into 4-wheel drive mode," Sohocki noted.
If the system detects too much slippage, it locks into full-time 4x4 mode, again without needing driver's prompt.
Another 4x4 system, Insta-Trac, shows up on the base edition of Silverado and the LS model. It permits shift-on-the-fly switching from rear-wheel to 4-wheel mode, and has a 4x4 low gear for serious off-road work.
Traction choices rank as only the first in a long line of options for Silverado. Versions include 1500 (half-ton) in regular-size cab, medium-duty 2500 (three-quarter-ton) with extended cab, and eventual heavy-duty 3500 (one-ton) models with regular or extended cab, plus short and long box in back and rakish Sportside body styling for the 1500.
In addition, Silverado stocks new engines with more power -- there's an economical 6-cylinder plant for the base Silverado, plus three powerful new V8s and a turbo-diesel workhorse.
The 4.3-liter V6, Vortec plant by General Motors carried over from the previous Chevy truck, nets 200 horsepower and goes with either 4x2 or 4x4 system using a manual 5-speed or automatic 4-speed transmission. It's the standard for Silverado Base 1500 Regular Cab.
Three new Vortec V8s, smaller in size but more powerful than the previous V8s by GM, begin with a 4.8-liter plant pumping 255 hp.
A 5.3-liter V8 rated at 265 hp links solely to an automatic transmission.
Both engines work as options for Base and LS Silverado 1500 models, but the 5.3-liter V8 is standard to LT 1500 and all 2500 Silverados below 7200-lb gross vehicle weight.
The big V8 -- at 6.0 liters and 300 hp -- stands as the standard for Silverado heavy-duty 8600-lb GVW 2500.
Then there's the new turbo-diesel 6.5-liter V8, which reaches 215 hp with massive torque for serious tow duty on 2500 Silverados.
New automatic transmissions apply to these engines, and with the optional trailer-pulling package a push-button on the shift lever expands time between gear shifts and quickens the sequence to assist in pulling a loaded trailer.
Mechanical features and engine selections for Silverado also come to the new GMC Sierra pickup, yet for the first time the two trucks differ in appearance.
Silverado shows new sheetmetal shapes outside, although a side-by-side comparison against Chevy's previous pickup reveals similarities of form. They both look like serious work trucks and possess a muscular front end, but new Silverado has more streamlined curves to its shape and features a bold horizontal grille flanked by wraparound composite headlamps.
The back bed of Silverado provides more space than before, for either Fleetside or Sportside body style. Boxes accommodate multiple arrangements of cargo loads, too, with built-in slots and ledges on side panels to insert dividers and section the space or stack loads in tiers.
Silverado's cabin, configured in regular or the extended version with rear space for riders and gear, brings class-leading improvements in space and comfort features.
Seating for Regular Cab amounts to a bench for three split in 40/20/40 sections for flexibility. Bucket seats become an option.
On the extended cab, bench or buckets stand in front of a back bench with wide bottom cushion and padded back tilted for comfort. A third door on the left makes entry easy.
New instruments include analog gauges with speedometer and tachometer visible through the steering wheel, and a LCD display reveals messages for engine management.
All aspects of Silverado's new design trace to the revamped structural system, which includes an innovative 3-piece modular frame with hydroformed front frame section that reduces vibrations and squeaks due to the good fit of suspension elements.
Front and rear track widths on Silverado have been expanded to forge a stable platform. Cabin floor height drops by an inch for easy step-in by riders, yet the chassis maintains a tall clearance of 10 inches.
Suspension system is conventional, independent in front with coil springs on rear-drive editions and with a torsion bar for the 4-wheel-drive versions, plus 2-stage multi-leaf spring in back. As an option, a switchable suspension -- ZX3 -- lets driver select either a soft ride or firm feel that's useful when towing.
Silverado in new form comes with pricing cranked from an entry point of $16,000.
1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO TRUCK
|
| Vehicle Specifications: |
| 1999 CADILLAC SILVERADO Specs |
| Description: |
Full-size pickup truck |
| Model Options: |
Full-size pickup truck |
| Wheelbase: |
119.0 inches
133.0 inches
143.5 inches
157.5 inches |
| Overall Length: |
203.3 inches
222.0 inches
227.5 inches
246.7 inches
|
| Engine Size: |
OHV 4.3-L V6
OHV 4.8-L V8
OHV 5.3-L V8
OHV 6.0-L V8
OHV 6.5-L V8 TD
|
| Transmission: |
Manual/5, Auto/4 |
| Drive: |
Rear, 4x4 |
| Braking: |
Power 4-disc/ABS |
| Airbags: |
2 |
| Gas Mileage: |
4.3 V6: 17/22 mpg
4.8 V8: 16/20 mpg
5.3 V8: 15/20 mpg |
| Price: |
$ 16,000 to $ 30,000 |
|
|
