The 2019 Chevrolet Silverado exterior ushers in the truck’s fourth-generation design. The pickup moves away from the brash exterior look present over the past decade, but it also does away with a love it or hate it design trait: the square wheel wells.
GM Authority spoke with Rich Scheer, lead exterior designer for the 2019 Silverado, and we asked specifically about why the square wheel wells didn’t make it to the fourth-generation Silverado. The overarching answer? Aerodynamics.
Scheer didn’t name aerodynamics as the design trait’s definitive killer, but he alluded to the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado exterior as much more aerodynamically efficient over the previous pickup. He also called the square wheel wells a “polarizing” design cue from the previous truck.
The design team decided to make a clear departure from the outgoing Silverado, and in combination with a pursuit for greater aerodynamics and decreased weight, the square wheel wells didn’t make the cut. Scheer did note the wheel wells aren’t completely rounded off, however, and still retain a slight edge. The 2019 Chevrolet Silverado exterior does, in fact, boast some pretty impressive surfacing that looks quite attractive in person.
[nggallery id=937]
Comments
What really did the G.M. pick-up trucks in was the square wheel wells, the on the custom wheel, off roader guys, you couldn’t put larger size tires and wheels, without modding the front bumper and most cases the inner (NorCal is what they called it) wheel well.Then you would’ve had to add a front lift kit also,. I was in the market for a used 2007-2014 crew cab, GM. twins, but I got a great deal on a 2011 Tahoe, still the same issue, a pick up truck looks better lifted, than a SUV.So I got 20″ wheels and ATV tires, I really wanted 24″x12″ wheels and the low profile off road tires, but combine it with the lift kit and install, I would have been looking at at least 6k in extras.
I liked the squared of wheel wells , but with the new design it probably didn’t work cosmetically as well as aerodynamically . That is one reason I like the old Terrain vs. the new ones . It makes it look more like a truck and not a grocery getter .
Lift kits aren’t a big thing in Michigan anymore and we have laws about how high the lift can be and how far the wheels can stick out from the body . the regulations put a damper on that part of customizing .
Well Aero was part of it. Note the GMC mles were sporting Squared off.
I bet the styling between brands had as much to do with it. I expect the GamC to have not as square like the new Acadia but they will retain the square look.
https://www.autoblog.com/2017/11/06/2019-gmc-sierra-spy-shots/#slide-7146090
Hmmm square here.
Still looks like a Toyota and a Ford went on a prom date. The square wheel wells were Chevy’s identity for decades. it’s a good thing Chevy came up with that ugly ass tailgate, else you couldn’t tell them apart.
I am a big fan of the squared off wheel wells. The 2019’s wheel wells aren’t are square as I’d like but they certainly aren’t Ford or RAM style round.
What do you mean by 4th generation? I thought we were a lot more generations down the road than only four. Am I missing something?
They started using Silverado in the 80s. Before that they were C/K models.
Love the front end, am interested in tow specs, the 3.5 eco-boost is hard to beat, but the 5.3 will get better mileage
For all you square whee well guys who think your big tires and big wheels look awesome in that square black hole with a foot of space between the top of the tire and the bottom of the well, all in the name of fitting bigger-is-better, guess what?? they look like crap. They. Look. Horrible. and GM knew they looked bad from the start, but in a penny, in for a pound.- the mistake was made and they had to live with it. Good move changing the wheel wells back to round, you know, the basic shape of an actual TIRE! Now all you 22″ crew will actually have a decent looking setup instead of suffering from tire/wheel dysmorphic disease; thinking your rig looks good, knowing it really doesn’t, and hoping no one else can tell.
Now excuse me, I have an appointment with the Chevy dealer that I made in 2006, but had to cancel when those ugly square wheel wells came out. Time to trade in ole’ Gray. Thank you GM; better late than never.
Dan,
My 2017 2500HD Alaskan has 18″ wheels. Small by today’s standards. Never gave a thought to larger wheels. My rig DOES look good and I do know it! In the 8 months I have had it I have been stopped no less than 6 times with guys telling me how good my truck looks. 3 of those guys were driving F150s. One guy was talking to me at a stop light. He said, and I quote, “that truck is bad ass”. He was in a 2017 Escalade ESV.
I’m glad the 19’s don’t have truely round wheel openings like Ford and RAM. They are more round than the previous gen’s but they are NOT round.
Enjoy your rainbow wheel wells.
Thank GM for getting rid of those ridiculous square wheel wells. It looked absolutely awful.
The excessive wheel well clearence is due to 5’5″ design engineers who think it is more manly and macho to have a pickup look lifted and so similarly sized buyers can buy oversized tires and wheels to likewise be even more manly and macho. Somehow the image of a unique classy styled pickup has been lost. Look at the body styles nowadays and they have pretty much the same outline. No longer can you find identity. It’s easier and requires less effort and initiative to all look the same. Wheel well gap is plain silly for 95% of usage.
I’ve been saying it for years! Lol OMG, now they finally change.. Chevy has the ugliest trucks next to Toyota with those ridiculous square fenders. Umm, last time I checked; wheels are ROUND!
Hmm, Ford F-series are the No.1 pickup trucks sold by a HUGE margin in the world over all others combined, but not just because of the round fenders… hmmm;-) I do have the prettiest Raptor…