2003 Chevrolet Suburban

2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN: BUILDING ON A LEGEND

The Chevy Suburban provides legendary capability that is unequaled. How do you improve upon a legend? For 2003, the Chevy Suburban - the industry's oldest active vehicle nameplate - adds a wide range of performance, safety, comfort and convenience features.

'The 2003 Suburban is more capable, confident, and more comfortable. And that's why it will continue to be America's premier full-size SÚV,' said Marketing Director Rick Scheidt. 'As we continue to add safety features such as StabiliTrak and creature comforts such as tri-zone heating, ventilation and air conditioning, it's no surprise Suburban's customer loyalty rate has exceeded 50 percent.'

Stabilizing influences
StabiliTrak is a vehicle-stability-enhancement system that improves vehicle stability on various road surfaces at various speeds, particularly on slick surfaces or during emergency maneuvers. For the first time in 2003, it is available on half-ton, two- or four-wheel-drive Suburbans with the Vortec 5300 5.3L V8 engine.

StabiliTrak maximizes handling and braking dynamics by using a combination of systems and sensors including antilock brakes, traction control and electronic suspension. An array of sensors continually monitor the driver's intended vehicle path, measuring steering angle, wheel speed, brake pressure, lateral acceleration, longitudinal acceleration and yaw rate. This information is provided to an electronic control module that continually monitors vehicle dynamics and is programmed for intervention thresholds.

The system intervenes when it senses one or more of the wheels slipping, loss of lateral traction (side slip), or detects understeer ('snowplowing') or oversteer (fishtailing). Automatically, the system adjusts engine torque or brake pressure at individual wheels to help steer the vehicle in its intended path.

The 2003 Suburban features improved brake performance, 'pedal feel' and quieter operation. Brake and accelerator pedals can be adjusted in unison by nearly 3 inches for better positioning and comfort, and are also available with or without a memory feature.

The 2003 Suburban provides more safety for its younger passengers as it meets compliance to 2005 federal seat standards for child restraint anchorages. The LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) child-seat system is provided in the front-passenger side seat and second and third row center and passenger-side seats.

Additional new safety enhancements for 2003 include a passenger-sensing system and dual-level air bags. The passenger-sensing air bag system automatically deactivates the passenger-side air bag under certain conditions to protect children. The system assesses whether the occupant in the seat is an adult or child, based on the measured weight in the seat cushion and tension in the belt system, if any. If these measurements are typical for a child, the air bag is disabled. If they are typical for an adult, the air bag is enabled.

A dual-level air-bag system is a supplemental restraint system designed to detect vehicle deceleration and, based on the deceleration data, provide an appropriate amount of air bag inflation. Sensors located in the front of the vehicle work with the sensing diagnostic module (SDM) to measure the severity of the impact. The SDM uses the data to determine the type of air-bag deployment (first stage or second stage) or non-deploy. Dual-stage air bags are designed to help reduce the occurrence of inflation-induced injuries by deploying the air bag less forcefully in lower speed crashes.

That's entertainment!
Impressive new infotainment systems - from available Bose sound systems to rear-seat entertainment systems that include a DVD player with a flip-down screen - add to Suburban's creature comforts. These systems (except the base fleet radio) feature the next-generation Radio Data System and can interface with services such as XM Satellite Radio. Available rear-seat audio controls allow second-row passengers to enjoy a separate audio source from front-seat occupants. For the first time in a full-size sport utility, Chevy will offer a custom-designed Bose audio system that uses a new high-powered six-channel amplifier and eight speakers.

XM Radio features 100 coast-to-coast digital channels, including 71 music channels (more than 30 of them commercial free) from hip hop to opera, classical to country, bluegrass to blues and 29 channels of sports, talk, children's and entertainment programming. XM also brings to the vehicle, for the first time on radio, a diverse selection of 24-hour news sources previously available only in the home. XM's next-generation sound quality technology provides superior sound remarkably close to compact disc.

Revolutionary Quadrasteer control
Suburban 2500 series 2WD/4WD models are the first full-size SÚVs to offer the revolutionary control and handling benefits of Quadrasteer - a four-wheel steering system that provides maneuverability and on-highway control never thought possible on a full-size SÚV. The rear wheels turn in the opposite direction of the front wheels, which helps the vehicle make tighter turns, such as when cornering or getting into a tight parking space. The turning diameter of 2WD models is reduced 21 percent from 44.5 feet to 35.2 feet. For 4WD models, it goes from 44.3 feet to 35 feet.

More cabin comforts
A new dual-zone manual-control heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system is standard on Suburban. It allows the driver and front passenger to adjust the temperature to their own comfort levels - up to a 30-degree Fahrenheit difference between the two front zones.

New tri-zone HVAC systems provide outstanding comfort. Customers can now opt for a sunroof and rear entertainment system with rear electronic climate control - a new system that automatically controls air delivery, fan speed, temperature and recirculating/outside air to provide faster warmups and cooldowns.

Manual rear air conditioning is standard. Rear electronic climate control is standard with the optional front system, providing second-row passengers an automatically controlled temperature setting independent from that of the front - in effect, creating tri-zone comfort.

Smarter electrical systems
An advanced new multiplexed electrical architecture makes Suburban even 'smarter' so it can provide more functions for 2003. A communication network transfers data throughout the vehicle. It enables the driver information center, which can be programmed for English, Spanish or French, to monitor and report as many as 34 system functions, including new service indicators for StabiliTrak, 'Ice Possible' and 'Door Ajar.' Suburban's instrument panel and cluster have been redesigned to accommodate these new features.

At your fingertips
An available eight-button steering wheel control allows owners to personalize several functions and safely access new infotainment systems. They include duplicate controls for calculating trip and fuel data and provide easy access to the OnStar system.

OnStar services include automatic notification of air-bag deployment, stolen vehicle location, remote door unlock, emergency services dispatch, roadside assistance, remote diagnostics, route support, convenience services and OnStar Concierge. OnStar Personal Calling allows drivers to make and receive hands-free, voice-activated phone calls through a nationwide network in cooperation with Verizon Wireless. Virtual Advisor gives subscribers access to personalized information in a hands-free, voice-activated manner with no screens or displays.

The battery rundown protection automatically turns off the headlamps, park lamps and interior lights after 10 minutes if left on inadvertently. A more powerful 145-amp generator - which provides a quicker battery charge and slows battery discharge during vehicle operation - is standard. A memory subsystem can remember preferences for seat, mirror, new adjustable brake and accelerator pedals, and climate control settings.

Electronic throttle control (ETC) - for more precise, consistent throttle operation - is now on all Suburban engines (the Vortec 8100 8.1L V8 had ETC for 2002). New oxygen sensors provide enhanced durability and reduced emissions during engine warmup. Half-ton utilities with the Vortec 5300 5.3L V8 sold in California feature a more robust catalytic converter system that meets Últra Low Emissions Vehicle (ÚLEV) standards. ( posted on conceptcarz.com)

Suburban's impressive powertrain lineup includes the ethanol-compliant Vortec 5300 (standard on half-ton models) and Vortec 6000 6.0L V8 (standard on the three-quarter-ton models). The powerful Vortec 8100 8.1L V8 is optional on the 2500 series three-quarter-ton models.

Exterior mirrors feature power-tilt glass and power folding to protect them in narrow spaces; heating elements that clear frost, snow or ice; left-side electrochromatic glass that dims glaring headlights; puddle lights; new turn signal indicators in the glass and a memory feature. An available new power-adjustable camper mirror can be extended to a vehicle width of as much as 106 inches.

Suburban's legendary workhorse reputation means there's enough space to fit a 4 x 8-foot sheet of plywood on the load floor with the doors closed and rear seats removed. Suburban can trailer as much as 12,000 pounds when properly equipped.

Source - GM Corporation