2015 Chevrolet Silverado HD

Silverado HDs are Engineered to Make Tough Jobs Easier

DETROIT – The new 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD and 3500HD are engineered to be stronger and smarter, delivering the capability heavy-duty truck customers demand, along with greater refinement and control for more comfort and confidence on the job and on the road.

'Heavy-duty pickups are tools that people use to tow heavy trailers and haul big loads,' said Jeff Luke, executive chief engineer. 'Great tools like the new Silverado HD pickups don't just get the job done; they make the work easier, and help you feel more confident tackling the really tough jobs.'

The 2015 Silverado HDs are the heavy lifters in Chevrolet's three-truck strategy, which includes the all-new 2014 Silverado 1500 and, later this year, the 2015 Colorado midsize truck.

'No other manufacturer gives customers so many choices,' said Luke. 'For example, the new Silverado HDs offer more than 150 combinations of cabs, bed lengths, powertrains, drivetrains and axle ratios, enabling customers to buy exactly the right truck for their towing and hauling needs.

'Customers don't drive spec sheets – they put real trucks to work every day, year in and year out, to run their businesses, earn their livings, and take care of their families,' said Luke. 'So as we roll out our new lineup of trucks and SÚVs, we are focusing on the real-world needs of these truck customers.'

Silverado 2500HD and 3500HD models available in Work Truck (WT), LT and LTZ trims, and offered in regular cab, double cab and crew cab configurations (regular cab available only in WT and LT trims). The new double cab model replaces the previous extended cab and features forward-hinged rear doors, which allow easier access in tight parking spaces.

The trucks are available with all-new, stronger 6'6'and 8' cargo boxes with standard CornerStep bumpers, EZ Lift-and-Lower tailgates, and other features that make cargo handling easier.

Additional updates for 2015 include:
◾All-new exterior styling with enhanced cooling air flow, which enables Silverado's 6.6-liter Duramax turbo diesel and 6.0-liter Vortec V-8 to better maintain full power, even under heavy loads and high ambient temperatures
◾All new cabs and interiors that provide increased space and comfort, with extensive storage space tailored to the way customers use full-size trucks.
◾Chevrolet MyLink, which provides powerful connectivity for work or family with simple, intuitive controls
◾Integrated cruise control, auto grade braking and diesel exhaust braking (on diesel models) that help make tough towing easier
◾An expanded lineup of bi-fuel trucks that run on either gasoline or compressed natural gas (CNG)
◾Standard StabiliTrak with Trailer Sway Control on all models including 3500HD duallys.

'The team that created the 2015 Silverado HD went to extremes to deliver a truck that would live up to Chevrolet's reputation for building the most dependable, longest lasting pickups,' said Luke. 'And with the wide range of configurations, there is a Silverado HD to suit just about every task.'

The 2015 Silverado HD will be available with segment-exclusive safety features such as Forward Collision Alert, Lane Departure Warning with an Active Safety Seat, and Front and Rear Park Assist. Head-curtain and seat-mounted side airbags are standard on 2500 and available on 3500 models.

An available Z71 package on 2500HD and 3500HD includes Rancho monotube shocks (2500HD only), Hill Descent Control, underbody shields, brushed-metal Z71-logo door sill plates, Z71-logo gauge cluster, uniquely finished interior trim, unique lower front bumper appearance, unique grille with Z71 badge and Z71-logo cargo box graphics.

For 2015, CNG capability will be available on both 2500 and 3500 models in all three cab styles – regular, double and crew. As with previous bi-fuel Silverado models, the CNG fuel delivery and storage system is covered under GM's limited warranty and is serviceable by Chevrolet dealers. Plus, all components have GM service part numbers for broad availability, providing customers with peace of mind that parts will be available to keep their vehicles on the road.

Designed to work – comfortably and efficiently

The design of the 2015 Silverado HD, based on the Silverado 1500, is as much about brains as brawn – and functional form. For example, the new front end is designed to deliver more efficient airflow to the cooling system and engine air intake, helping maintain power when towing under adverse conditions.

Because heavy-duty pickups often spend long days on the road, the new Silverado HDs are designed to deliver greater refinement, too. The cabs feature inlaid doors, which fit snugly into recesses in the body sides for reduced turbulence and wind rush. Combined with new triple door seals, the doors help create a quieter interior. The smallest details of the body, such as the roof and tailgate spoiler, were tuned in a wind tunnel to smooth airflow over the truck for reduced noise and improved aerodynamic efficiency.

The new truck cab is stronger, as well, with nearly two-thirds of the cab structure made from high-strength steel for a confident feel and improved safety. The rear doors on crew-cab models are larger, and combined with revised seats, create approximately two inches more rear legroom, and enable easier entry and exit for back seat passengers.

Silverado HD models also use the new, stronger and more versatile cargo box design introduced on the Silverado 1500, including two-tier loading capability, integrated tie-downs and accessibility via the CornerStep rear bumper and available EZ Lift-and-Lower tailgate.

Inside, the 2015 Silverado HDs receive the same updates as the 2014 Silverado 1500, including an upright instrument panel that puts important controls within easy reach, a six-gauge instrument cluster with driver information center, and multiple storage options tailored specifically to the needs of truck customers.

Controls are functional, logically placed and easy to operate with work gloves on. For example, the available Integrated Trailer Brake Controller, mounted high on the left side of the instrument panel, can be easily adjusted, and it displays Gain on the Driver Information Center in the instrument cluster.

The new Chevrolet MyLink, standard on LT and LTZ models, provides easy-to-use connectivity for the job site or the family vacation, with Natural Language Voice Recognition and enough ports and power outlets to support multiple devices. And through OnStar's new 4G LTE network (available September 2014), the Silverado HD trucks will be available with Wi-Fi hot spot connectivity, which makes it easier to get work done at remote job sites.

Built strong, with greater capabilities and control

The Silverado HDs employ an independent front suspension specifically engineered for HD pickup use. Torsion bars tailored to the weight ratings of the trucks, allow easier trim height adjustment to account for the weight of snowplows or other accessories. In the rear, asymmetrical leaf springs balance ride and load carrying, and improve control of axle hop.

The sturdy chassis and heavy-duty suspensions contribute to greater payload and towing capabilities, compared to previous models:
◾Maximum available payload is a segment-best 7,374 pounds, up from 7,222 pounds.
◾Maximum available conventional towing is also segment leading, at 19,600 pounds with the available factory hitch – up from 18,000 pounds.
◾Maximum available fifth-wheel towing is 23,200 pounds, up from 22,500 pounds.

The new Silverado HDs are engineered to bring new levels of confidence to tough towing through further refinement of Silverado's available cruise control, auto grade braking, and diesel exhaust brake. The integration of these features helps the 2015 Silverado HD maintain a set speed up and down grades, even when towing a heavy trailer in mountainous terrain.

On Duramax diesel models, the driver can also engage the diesel exhaust brake, which uses the variable vanes in the turbocharger to smoothly and quietly create additional backpressure in the engine to help slow the vehicle. The combination of the exhaust brake and the automatic transmission downshifts helps the driver maintain the desired speed, even on long, steep highway downgrades.

StabiliTrak with Trailer Sway Control is now standard on all Silverado HDs, including 3500 dually models, providing additional security to the drive.

Rugged powertrains with gas, diesel, E85 and CNG options


The 2015 Silverado HD offers three powertrains specifically tailored for tough tasks and dependable service. The standard engine is a 6.0L FlexFuel V-8 with continuously variable valve timing, which is rated at 360 horsepower and 380 lb.-ft. of torque – and tuned to deliver excellent low-rpm torque. It's matched with a six-speed automatic transmission. (posted on conceptcarz.com)

A bi-fuel version of the 6.0L V-8 is now offered on 2500 and 3500 models in all three cab styles. The system enables customers to switch easily between gasoline and compressed natural gas.

The proven Duramax 6.6L turbodiesel and Allison 1000 six-speed automatic transmission combination will continue to be available on 2500HD and 3500HD models. Rated at 397 horsepower and 765 lb.-ft. of torque, it features piezo-actuated fuel injectors for improved performance and efficiency, and a variable vane turbocharger that also acts as an exhaust brake to help control vehicle speed when needed on long downgrades.

The Allison 1000 transmission features a driver shift control with tap up/tap down shifting and a Tow/Haul mode that reduces shift cycling for better control and improved cooling when towing or hauling heavy loads.

As with previous versions of the Duramax-Allison powertrain, 2015 models are engineered to provide usable power under the toughest conditions, capability that has been highlighted in recent third-party testing.

Testing, manufacturing and factory support


The 2015 Silverado HD trucks are part of General Motors' new full-size truck family, which will undergo more than 6 million miles of durability testing in the torture chambers at the Milford Proving Ground, over the deserts and mountains of Nevada and across the frozen flats of Kapuskasing, Ontario. That's equivalent to 240 trips around the earth. In addition, the trucks will accumulate more than 7 million real-world miles during final testing, bringing total test miles to more than 13 million.

The 2015 Silverado HD pickups are assembled in Ft. Wayne, Ind. and Flint, Mich. – and like all Silverado models, they are backed by the best pickup coverage in America:
◾Three-year/36,000 mile limited new vehicle warranty
◾Five-year/100,000 mile limited powertrain warranty
◾Two-year/24,000 mile schedule maintenance coverage, including diesel exhaust fluid.

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world's largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4.9 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design, and high quality. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

Source - Chevrolet