Chevy Gets Back Into Big Truck Game With Super-Ultra Extra Heavy-Duty Silverado

BY Carscoops Staff | Posted on

Did you think the Chevy Silverado HD was a pretty big truck? Well it is, in terms of consumer pickups. But this new version is even bigger.

Unveiled at the NTEA Work Truck Show in Indianapolis, the new Siverado 4500HD, 5500HD, and 6500HD is a medium-duty truck – not in pickup terms, but in commercial truck terms.

The new addition to the Silverado range takes General Motors back into the Class 4, 5, and 6 chassis-cab truck market for the first time since discontinuing the Chevy Kodiak (and GMC TopKick) in 2009. That puts the latest Chevy trucks back in direct competition with the Ford F-450/F-550 and F-650/F-750, and the Ram 4500/5500 Tradesman.

But while the 4500/5500/6500 Silverado HDs are decidedly targeted at commercial users, they’ve been designed to be as consumer-friendly as possible. They’ll also be “the most connected commercial truck available,” with features like 4G LTE internet, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and wireless cellphone charging.

“Chevy’s designers and engineers were obsessed with making this Silverado the most customer-focused medium duty truck of any major competitor,” said GM fleet chief Ed Peper. “By customer-focused, I mean work-ready trucks that are easy to upfit, easy to drive, easy to service and easy to own.”

Truck drivers, fleet managers, upfitters, and technicians may be more concerned about the oily bits that’ll get the job done. To that end, the big new Silverados will come powered by a 6.6-liter Duramax diesel, kicking out 350 horsepower and a monstrous 700 lb-ft of torque. The engine’s mated to an Allison transmission and can be had in two- or four-wheel drivetrains.

It’ll also be offered with seven cab-to-axle (CA) sizes ranging from 60 to 162 inches and with five axle-to-back-of-frame (AF) lengths offered in 8-inch increments. There’ll be a rear air suspension offered as well, filling out what’s sure to be a huge range of configurations to cater the new ultra-heavy-duty Silverado to the job for which it’s needed.

The new model joins the Colorado, Silverado, Silverado HD, Express, and (Isuzu-made) Low Cab Forward models in an expanding Chevy Trucks lineup. Expect a GMC version to follow as well.

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  • LWOAP

    I imagine this will be a good thing for GM.

  • FactChecker90803

    GM stated that there will be no GMC edition, GMC will be strictly an up level and luxury Truck and SUV company. As to the single engine offering, that will likely change since many Tradesmen and Craft companies prefer gas powered vehicles, that is why Ford still offers the 6.8L V10 in there F550 / F650 and RAM offers the 6.4L V8 in there RAM 4500 and 5500.

  • Soob

    I like it.

  • Bash

    Cool, I like the blacked logo as well.

  • Jweisberg

    Took you guys a long time to put this up.

    I think they did a great job with the design. I wonder how hard it will be to put a pickup truck bed on these.

  • eb110americana

    I’m sure they have their reasons, but I find it odd that a truck that is not even out yet is using headlights that are 2 generations old now (so do the HD versions of their trucks) and the 6.6L Duramax only makes 350 hp and 700 torque, when the 2500HD makes 445 hp @2800 rpm and 910 lb-ft. of torque @1600 rpm with a newer version of the same engine. You would think something like this would actually need the 910 lb-ft.