The industry is abuzz with rumors and predictions surrounding the next-generation 2019 Chevrolet Silverado. Rightfully so because General Motors has everything to lose with the pickup. It helps pay the bills.
Automotive News compiled a list of predictions surrounding what the 2019 Silverado, and subsequently the 2019 GMC Sierra, will feature. It all starts with the potential for carbon-fiber truck beds. If GM does make it official and announce the 2019 Chevy Silverado will feature some carbon-fiber construction, GM could have a few major talking points.
Per the report, GM could tout the truck as an outright fuel economy leader. Carbon fiber saves weight, and fuel economy is, no doubt, important to buyers. It could also give the 2019 Silverado fuel economy bragging rights with regards to towing and hauling. Furthermore, the predictions go on to include lowest curb weight, a repair program announcement to curb fears of body shop complications in the event of a wreck and an optional diesel-powered V6 engine.
There’s one final ace GM could have up its sleeve on the topic of fuel economy: Dynamic Skip Fire. We’ve covered the topic before, but it’s Delphi’s next-generation cylinder deactivation technology. It works by controlling engine oil flow via special valve lifters on each cylinder and works in concert with the throttle system. It’s essentially software-enabled variable displacement.
Whatever GM does show off, even if the design doesn’t push the envelope, expect the biggest talking points to be skin deep.
Comments
Forgot to mention 10 speed, port injection on the v8’s at least, and my hope is this “next Gen v8” that they have shut down the new York motor plant to retool for includes compression ignition!
and overhaul of some features especially of towing and rear seat comforts!
GM by far has the least comfortable cab! Can’t even get heated rear seats in the Denali…come on man. Don’t even get the wife started on why she ditched the Acadia SLT because you can’t get a heated steering wheel???
List of wants and what it should have:
Rear heated seats
Power Tilt and Telescopic steering wheel
Blind spot w/ lane change alert
Heads up display w/ tow info
better DIC options
rear HVAC
More Rear Leg room
10-speed in all trims and configs!
Diesel
Hybrid
Stop Start in all engines
360 camera option
more interior storage options
Also push button start and passive entry as an option
Negative on the stop/start. Most annoying thing ever!
Panoramic Sunroof PLEASE……
Keep the bumper step…..
Rear window with larger opening…..or a drop window like the old bronco/new toyota
I would hope that the 10-speed does not make it in to all trims and packages. I get that it increases fuel econmy, but if i want a work truck, I want cheap and reliable. Maybe in the GMC, but I pray to god Chevy keeps the 6-speed in at least the WT. Also, hell no! to the start-stop system, I can live with it in the XT5, but I draw the line on a pickup.
Thumbs up on the Diesel and rear HVAC/ Heated seats.
A larger sunroof would also be nice, but it should, at the very least, be offered in the Escalade.
I think we’ll see the lightest truck in all class for all cab configurations. Resulting in better Accel, braking, towing and hauling.
Power bumps on engines, though I doubt the 5.3 will match Ford 5.0 at 395hp. I see the 5.3
Getting 375-380 and the 6.2 around 450hp. With a turbo slotting between the 4.3 and 5.3. A diesel hopefully with around 275-300hp and 450+ lb-ft
I have a feeling interior will be “meh” again, but with more options and tech (dual zone rear climate, rear heated and cooled seats, etc).
Some more bed innovation and features.
Exterior hopefully we get lots of paint options and two tone.
And what they really need is a very good and smooth online configurator that updates with each option and feature added.
If the carbon fiber is true, I believe they won’t be on the luxury high trims, rather the only the most heavy duty models as it will increase the towing capacity…
Expect a mostly steel body with lots of aluminum in the frame…Anyone happen to know between the big 3 pickups, is the Silverado ever the MPG leader in recent years?
Like most Toyota vehicles, even in pure base form it includes active safety features including ACC…I can maybe see GM offering a blind spot monitoring package as an option to all trims yet ACC and auto braking may be reserved for the top trims…Also should note the new Equinox does offer cooled/vented seats so expect that to be optional on higher trims…
Remember “e-assist” which is essentially a secret hybrid for $500? Wonder if that will be available or even standard in certain configs…
http://gmauthority.com/blog/2016/02/2016-chevrolet-silverado-gains-e-assist-option/
Silverado has had the best mpg in V8 for past 8-10 years or so, beating out hemi and ford for fuel economy. they have not done anything “special” for fuel economy i.e. ecoboost or turbo diesel until their recent exsperiment with the e-boost. They have focused on practicality. and who will buy 80% of their trucks. I would expect a version for the other 20% this time around, but the 5.3 has cornered the market between the 5.0, hemi, tundra and titan. Sure the competition can say that they are better at one thing (ram diesel, and 2.7 for mileage or 3.5 ecoboost for towing, though it real life mileage is about the same) no one crowns the 5.3 on all factors including price, quality, mileage, and capacity.
I hope their is no aluminum in the frame, as aluminum fails to readily, but aluminum fenders would be great as this is where rust is most evident to the viewer and where most dings that would cause a rust hole to start.
Thanks…Sounds like the diesel will be the Silverado’s MPG champ…To be clear with the aluminum, not saying the frame rails, rather the part you bolt the fenders onto along with the “cab cage”…CT6 may be a good roadmap and I did want to point out I do not believe it will be exclusively aluminum but aluminum use could be extensively bundled with traditional and high strength steel…
And hopefully there is an option to not have all the stuff listed above so that those of us that want trucks instead of “big cars” can have a good reliable simple TRUCK.
There’s so many trims and configs, pretty certain the lower trims and fleet trims will give you what you’re looking for…
I hope the new platform will solve the “shake” and the 10 speed will shift smoothly. I do not believe GM will have carbon fiber beds unless as an option for the Denali, the costs would be too much to be competitive with Ford and Ram.
The majority of the features everyone is hoping for will make it. The last platform didn’t support the architecture for those hence why this next gen will be on par if not slightly ahead of the competitors. Unfortunately start/stop is included, I agree with most it is more annoying and wish they provided a permanent disable function. Here’s to hoping for the best…
This is GM so I’m not expecting much variation of today’s powertrain choices save a switch to the 10 speed on certain V8 configurations and the addition of stop/start. And in typical fashion the diesel will come at a later date. They have done this so many times I’ve come to expect it. I do expect a reduction in weight as they have successfully done this on several new introductions like the LaCrosse, Malibu and the Nox/Terrain as examples.
Weight has very little to do with fuel consumption. If that were the case, then the 911 would always beat the corvette in mpg, but its the corvette that always beat the 911 in mpg. The new traverse is another example. the dropped weight by 300lbs, and only gained 2mpg on average, and that can probably be attributed to increased aerodynamics and the new 9speed. if GM wants the new truck to really improve in mpg, they will focus on drag coefficient, not weight.
Here’s to hoping they give us a V8 supercharged option! The way I see it the 5.3 will have 395 HP, the 6.2 will have 465 HP just like the C7 Vette, a twin turbo 3.6 will put out the same power as the 3.5 ecoboost. They already have this motor in the Caddy CTS V and it will be a low volume experimental option to test us Chevy small block fans. Then I’m hoping for an inline 6 turbo diesel making about 270 HP and 500 Lb. Ft.. Base motor should remain the same, but there is a rumor the newer torque tuned 3.6L will be used instead of a 4.3. Remember these new 3.6 Caddy engines put out 335 HP. I believe there will be an optional 5.3 or 6.2 supercharged power plant available on special truck models. Maybe the new Trail Boss or future ZR2 Raptor fighter. It should be a standard option as it would destroy Ford’s Ecoboost, and probably wouldn’t give up mileage with this new Dynamic Skip Fire and 10 speed tranny.