Since GM discontinued the Chevrolet Avalanche, there have been pleas and petitions to bring the unique personal pickup truck back to market. And though we’re not aware of any plans by GM reintroduce the Avalanche due to lackluster sales of prior generations, we like to dream… which is exactly why we drew up these renderings of a theoretic future Chevy Avalanche.
In more ways than one, our new Chevy Avalanche is inspired by the all-new 2019 Silverado 1500, though we’re very much aware that the prior Avalanche models were actually based on the Suburban. Onward.
We coated our imaginary new Chevy Avalanche in a sexy, dark gray finish, gave it a revised version of the 2019 Silverado’s front fascia, and made tweaks to the LED headlights.
We also gave it a unique grille with a prominent CHEVROLET script (similar to the 2019 Silverado Custom and Colorado ZR2 Bison), along with the distinguished Z71 badges on the grille and upper front fenders.
Just like on Avalanches of yore, our theoretical new Chevy Avalanche features a large, Crew Cab-style cab with seating for either five or six passengers, depending on the configuration of the front seat. The cab and bed are made of a single, uninterrupted panel. A set of large, 20-inch gray wheels complement the body.
A fastback-style sport bar, which defined the Avalanche’s sleek exterior appearance, is present and accounted for, integrating nicely with the rear of the cab. In fact, a part of the sport bar continues running along atop the bed rails and into the tailgate to form the outer edges of the truck’s built-in tonneau cover.
Anyone who has had the pleasure of owning or driving the Avalanche will know that the truck’s defining characteristics are the built-in tonneau cover and foldable mid-gate, the latter being capable of collapsing to extend the length of the bed into the cab. Let’s just imagine that our rendering has both.
Other notable elements of include the CHMSL placed within the sport bar, rather than on the cab. The top-most portion of the tailgate is covered by the tough plastic molding that originates from the sport bar and forms the rear-most part of the tonneau cover.
Like the 2019 Silverado, our new Chevy Avalanche features a debossed tailgate with proudly CHEVROLET spelled across. Rounding out the rear are the CornerStep rear bumper and a set of dual exhaust outlets; both features were unavailable on the bygone Avalanches. A set of 4×4 emblems in black and red round out the package.
As much as we’d like to see a new Chevy Avalanche come to market, it doesn’t seem that GM has any plans for such a model. And that’s a shame, because an Avvy with the Independent Rear Suspension of the 2020 Suburban/2020 Tahoe would simply be the bee’s knees.
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Comments
I like it. But without a folding midgate/bulkhead thats just a Silverado High Desert. I know you said it, but that’s still just a High Desert package in the renders
I really think GM should do the Avalanche again, but not just a slap and paste Silverado body and interior. Maybe make it more Tahoe than Silverado, like what LTZ and Denali was 2 generations ago.
Give it the future T1 Tahoe interior, the future Tahoe exterior styling cues.
Independent rear suspension to give the bed more options.
Carbon bed with carbon midgate and aluminum components (keep it light, last Avalanche was massize compared to Silverado)
Would be cool to have the rear glass full powered for normal window up-down, and when you drop the midgate the glass slides inside the bulkhead instead of needing to be manually taken out and stored
I agree. That’s what the 2nd gen Avalanche was, a Suburban. With the new SUVs being IRS and having a more lux interior, that would make a lot of compelling reasons to buy the Avalanche. It would be spendy though…
Yup, and could make for another Escalade version. And with the base MSRP of the next gen Escalade jumping $10,000, it could be quite the money maker and justify the dev costs and tooling.
Did we read the same thing?
“Anyone who has had the pleasure of owning or driving the Avalanche will know that the truck’s defining characteristics are the built-in tonneau cover and foldable mid-gate“…
It says it right there.
Did you read my comment??
Silverado body with Suburban interior, comfort and practicality. Maybe a slight ZR2 version and a diesel option. I know at least 2 people who would buy one. Could be a Ridgline competitor, thats a real truck.
If Chevrolet does this, I’ll look forward to a new Escalade EXT. MUCH better example.
just make a damn good silverado. that’s all Chevy needs to do. just make a damn good truck. I like the thought of the new inline-4 turbo but Chevy needs to bring out an inline-6 above that. Along with those engines Chevy needs to bring out five new v8 engines a 5.4L 327ci V8, a 5.7L 350ci V8, a 6.5L 396ci, a 7.0L 427ci v8 and a 7.4L 454 v8 engine. I know everyone is on the whole small turbo fuel efficient engine thing but lets think about this realistically. a Corvette with all that power gets 29mpg on the highway with 7-gears and a 6.2L v8 engine, A 5.3L silverado gets 22mpg highway with an 8-speed transmission. If you were to take all of the v8 engines here and put a 10-speed auto behind them along with cylinder deactivation, dual injection systems and a few other things, you’d have some remarkably efficient drive trains that would allow you to achieve performance and economy all in one shot. Now granted all five of those engines weren’t necessarily for the silverado. The 5.4, 5.7L, 6.5L and 7.4L were the v8 engines i was considering for the Silverado, but the 7.0L was more for the Camaro. The Corvette has moved on to become a world class mid engine sports car and honestly should be moved to the Cadillac umbrella, leaving the Camaro as Chevrolet’s sports coupe with hopefully a Charger-fighting 4-door Chevelle to join the fray. The Camaro should go back to it’s roots a little bit with a 5.7L V8 and a 6.5L V8 and a 7.0L V8 ZL1. All of this 1LE stuff can go out the window. The ZL1 would have two 7.0L options, one would be a supercharged 7.0L V8 COPO ZL1 pushing out 750hp and be a bare bones track rat like the ZL1-1LE, the other will be a naturally aspirated 580hp ZL1 Camaro RS that has all of the luxuries of the regular ZL1 along with blistering performance and a simple, naturally aspirated high tech pushrod v8. Under that should be the SS-396 pushing roughly 495hp and 480tq with A 10-speed automatic. under that should be the SS-350 and the Z/28, which should be what the SS-1LE is but the Z/28 should have a supercharger on it pushing about 530hp. The Regular SS 350 should push 415hp and about 430tq and should be priced out to compete with the Challenger R/T. Under the SS-350 should be the Camaro RS which should have a 4.9L inline 6-cylinder that should push out 350hp and roughly 380lb-ft of torque naturally aspirated. At the bottom of this should be the 310hp-380tq 2.7L turbo engine in the Camaro LT. Another thing would be to take the Camaro from it’s 67-69 styling and move more towards the 70-73 body language where the Camaro was a much better car (of course i’m talking when the change the car for 2021) The car should have a lift back like the 3rd gen but styling more like the second gen with comfortable interiors (on the level of BMW M4 or AMG C63)
As for the Chevy 1500 Silverado, You would have both the 310hp 2.7L Turbo and the 4.9L Inline-6 N/A as the lower end engines and then the 5.4, 5.7L, 6.5L and 7.5L v8 engines as well as an inline turbo diesel-6 in the mix as the higher up engines. At the top of this pile the 7.5L v8 would serve as the Silverado 454-SS engine, a revised street performance truck that pays homage to the 454-SS street trucks as well as the SS-454 El Camino sport truck. A hot Silverado SS-396 truck and a Silverado ZR2-396 off road pickup truck would sit next under those two trucks and then a 5.7L Trail boss, a 5.7L High Country (with an optional 6.5L V8) would sit under that and below that would be the 5.4L pickups which would be in the Silverado Cheyenne Super-10 Classic (which should have the heritage color scheme and heritage wheels with a houndstooth interior) and it should also be an option in the WT trim level above the 2.7 and 4.9L.
Of course there are a few other vehicles i would love to see in the Chevrolet lineup. But then again I’m a fan of the old school Chevrolet cars, Chevelle, Nova, Monte Carlo, Impala SS, Caprice, Biscayne, El Camino and a full size blazer. Obviously we have better engines and drive trains and things like that but we need those kinds of car back on the market. Honestly GM needs to just have 3-cars under its umbrella, Chevrolet, GMC & Cadillac. shut down Buick completely and revise Pontiac under the GMC umbrella as the GMC car lineup. GM would save itself a ton of money by doing that and we could go back to have good, honest american vehicles again. just my thoughts
That’s a pretty huge portfolio to develop and produce jr, you forgot one thing. The time machine, sounds like you need one. You say the gen 2 Camaro was a much better car, mechanically yes (by virtue), appearance wise, that’s subjective. One thing though, I think your inline 6-cyl. would be pointless unless it were to be a smooth running, low rpm torque/mpg engine. Then it could be used in the budget Cadillac’s and trucks. I have also thought a rwd Chevelle (performance) or Impala (lux 6-cyl.) based on the Camaro would be good to see and would spread the cost of development but with passenger car sales down might be hard to justify.
AND NO, THE CORVETTE IS TO STAY A CHEVROLET!
Back to the Avalanche, I have mentioned before that I think GM should bring the Hummer HX back as a Chevy. GM needs a pure off roader to compete with the Wrangler, it’s a global market with plenty of sales opportunity.
Without an HX, the Avalanche should be based off of the mid-sized Colorado as an extension of the ZR2 to fill that void.
Looks good though Alex!
Yes, a time machine would be great! I do agree on the appearance statement of the 2nd gen camaro. My personal favorite is the ’68, followed closely by ’69 but the 2nd gen camaro had a bit more to offer in the way of ride & comfort (or so I’ve read as I’ve never been in a 2nd gen camaro, I have been in a ’67 Camaro and i owned a 3rd gen but it was pretty beat by the time i got it so i wouldn’t say it counted) I like the interior of the second gen camaro a lot better than the first gen however the gauges in the 67-68 camaro are very nice. Also, the 70-73 styling would allow for GM to make the Camaro a lift back like the current gen corvette but be a four-seater. With the new platforms GM has coming out, none of this would be hard for GM to do. It’s even easier because GM already has a lot of the engine and drivetrain stuff in production. At this current moment, all of the V8 engines i listed you can find in a GM Performance parts catalog so it wouldn’t be anything for GM to put production version of these engines in any car. wouldn’t really cost them anything extra, actually I’m wrong, to do the new fuel injection system to have a dual fuel injection system would cost a little more but it would be worth it. Seriously, Take these engines, throw the GM performance parts catalog at them get them to the power they need to be, call up Borla and Brembo who already make factory optioned parts for the cars call up Recaro and the other performance companies that they already work with and call it a day. Honestly it would be better for them to do so because a lot of the performance catalog parts would be getting used on production vehicles so they’d be bringing in revenue.
I do agree with you on the off roading SUV thing, however I think a full size blazer should really foot the bill on that category. a short bed Silverado single cab SUV with either the 4.9L straight six, a straight six diesel or the 5.4L V8 engine options should be the only ones available and it should be what the K5 blazer was back in the day. a Direct competitor to the Ford Bronco and the Ramcharger even though today’s Bronco will be some 4-cylinder thing that’s going to flop and drag the Bronco name through the mud in true, way to go ford, fashion. This SUV needs to be a 2-door, 5-seater with a removable roof, a roll bar, off road setup and of course a tough, rugged, practical, comfortable interior and should have good road manners as well.
The reason i said Corvette should go to Caddy is because it’s grown to a new class of car. Cadillac is a better brand name for the Corvette moving forward because it’s now a world class mid-engine sports car and it plays in the realm with Lamborghini, AMG, BMW-M, McLaren, Ferrari and the likes thereof. Moving the Corvette to Cadillac will force a better interior and a better ambiance and attract a different, more upscale crowd. It should still bear the Corvette logos but the Cadillac crest should light up the dash and the infotainment start up screen. The Corvette is ready to grow up. The Camaro fills the bill for a pony car/muscle car/sports car for the working class (and with the engine options i listed above it can better fill those shoes.
Chevrolet does need a high performance RWD based V8 sedan (Chevelle) to fill the void of the SS and also compete with the still popular Charger. Like the Camaro, it should have the 5.7L, 6.5L and 7.0L but also the N/A 7.5L V8 options along with the 4.9L Straight-6 as the base engine for the car. the 4.9L should be AWD RS level car but the 5.7L would get the SS name, the 6.5L would get the SS-396 name, the 7.0L would be the Chevelle Z24 (yes, i know the Z24 was actually the RPO Code for the Impala SS-427 in 1967 but worse things have been done) and finally the 7.0L would revive the SS-454 name or SS-R. You could also have a high-luxury Chevelle “Monte Carlo” (like what i did there) powered by the 4.9L inline-6 or an optional 5.7L V8 engine detuned ever so slightly and setup for for a more luxurious and smooth setup that would be on the level of the Chevy “High Country” pickup trucks but in a car. This really isn’t as arduous as it may seem because honestly all of this stuff is already available from Chevrolet right now.
Sorry that reality plays a bigger part of product planning.
Dreams are great but they do not pay the bills.
Those shiny plastic flying buttresses still look as though they are supplied by Fisher-Price. GMT900 made it work, not this one.
Instead of building a vehicle that no one is asking for and who’s sales were crappy the first time, how about spend the money on a new interior for a new truck that looks like its a collaboration between Fisher Price and Rubbermaid.
I always considered the avalanche style truck would be best suited for the mid sized trucks were the beds are smaller and the versicab would be of even greater benefit.
To take a smaller truck and make it the most usable in class would put the segment on notice.
The fact also these mid size truck attract CUV buyers this would also be of interest to them.
Egads, I’ve been rendered amazed.
Put the new Avalanche on the suburban frame to match the ride and performance of the early model Avalanche. I purchased a new Avalanche in 2003 and again in 2005. To this day I still get temarks how people like my Avy. As another person noted, a power window on the midsgate would be awesome.
Definitely should bring back avalanche…i think instead of zr2 for offroad versions of vehicles they should use the old apache name for offroad versoins..would be much better than just all the letters and numbers they use now…take the raptor name for instance..all generations of people know that if a ford vehicle has raptor name its a offroad version..how many people would really now what a blazer zr2 would be…silverado apache colorado apache blazer apache avalanche apache…much more recognizable
“all generations of people know that if a ford vehicle has raptor name its a offroad version” It’s only on it’s eighth year, and you think it has more creed then, say, GT or Z28?
Just asked my 85 year old father and 10 year old son, they both responded with dinosaur.
GM left behind naming their trim levels when they started naming their trucks in ’99. I guess you want GM to bring back the C/K designation and names like Apache, Task Force or Blue Chip Series, Viking, and Spartan for the truck classes? Those big boys were some pretty cool trucks! I’m sure most GM drivers prefer to say they drive a Silverado or Sierra rather then saying they drive a Chevy C10, or GMC 1/2 ton.
The Chevrolet Apache? That would work for a pure offroader such as the Hummer HX concept, with ZR2 option being the bad boy!
Apache HX
Apache ZR2
I think your on to something, Can’t wait!
So I have a 2013 Black Diamond Avy. Have previously owned a 92 Silverado, 07 crew cab Sierra, and long long ago two Dodge pickups. My Avy is hands down the best truck I’ve ever had. Comfortable, versatile, and IMHO beautiful and stylish. Has its compromises sure, if you need a work truck it’s not for you, but it’s not trying to be that. I would love to see a new Avy built on the suburban platform. Wish list stuff for me would be 6.2 L V8/10 spd, power midgate window, nice dual exhaust integration under the rear bumper (like the new GMC Denali), maybe the Denali tailgate configuration too. And an updated interior. I’d be at the dealer pretty quick.
I work mine all year, every season. Gravel for driveway and paths, mulch, tons of coal all winter, in addition to bringing home multiple tractors, multiple coal and wood stoves, and moving multiple times. Now, that has turned my “oh my God, thats an 05!!!!???? No way!!??” into a few dents. but those 22″ chrome Chevy rims i threw on the girl from an idiot with a 2014 Burb that just HAD to have non factory 22s right after purchasing, it keep most people distracted from the imperfections. Plasti-dipping the trim helps a little too. But, i don’t worship metal and plastic like most, even though i do clean and maintain for longevity. PEOPLE,, STOP THE AUTO ZONE CHROME!!!!!!!!
I have the 2002 avy still, 274000 and still going. I will keep this on the road as long as possible hoping I will be able to buy a new one soon. Love the utility of this vehicle.
A new Avalanche with the midgate, rear power window. Z71 AWD. Tow package. 6.2L. Supercharger with 600 + bhp with a ram air hood scoop.
I would just be happy if GM would bring back the Avalanche so I could afford one of the last generation ones! 2013 Black Diamonds are bringing more than 2015 Silverados all of a sudden. No one wanted Avalanches when you could but them new but now, since you can’t, everyone wants them. I just want to replace my rusty old 05 with one from this decade!
All I want is a short-bed truck, like the Avalanche, that drives and feels like the Avalanche. GMC, CHEVY, at this point, FORD. I don’t care, JUST DO IT!!!!
as long as it has a folding midgate i’d love it, even better if it got the 3.0 Duramax and 10speed transmission
The molds, dies, and tooling is readily available so just start making the Avalanche again! Easy peasy. I was a GM employee and I agree getting rid of the Avalanche was a hair brained idea, but what do us buyers know, right? I’ve owned a 2005 and 2007 and now am still driving the 2008 Avalanche..bring them back!
I special ordered the 05 2500 Avalanche with the 8.1 liter motor. I can’t replace it with anything at this point and it has a new Factory motor in it now only 30,000 on it, why won’t Chevy just come out with a new one please for the love of God. 3/4 ton is great but I would still buy a half ton if they manage to put an eight cylinder in it with plenty of power please help us! We need this truck I can put 10-foot lengths of conduit or whatever right in it and still lock everything all in no other vehicle will let me do that except maybe a Suburban oh God no! I tow a twin motor sport fishing boat to San Diego repeatedly with this truck at ninety-plus + if I want, come on GM get on the ball or I’m going to have to buy a Ford or a Dodge oh God help me. I own a forty-one-year-old service company, WT….
I want an Avalanche. Thought too long on it. Didn’t know I missed it. Still want one.
BRING BACK THE CHEVY AVALANCHE TRUCK.
Dear Chevy Truck Decision Makers,
In 2010, I purchased a 2009 Chevy Avalanche. I bought it on the lot and it came fully loaded with low profile tires.
I’m a carpenter so after the first kinked rim I received while driving with an unloaded truck I changed to 18″ rims with as much rubber as would fit in the wheel wells.
I appreciated the auto adjustable suspension while it lasted but the fact of the mater is, I’m a carpenter, my truck is a work truck that cleans up when I need it on Sundays. I ended up beefing up the suspension with very little effort to sit flat and ride high while fully loaded. For me, it is not an SUV that can carry things when I do home projects or go camping on the weekends. I say that to say this, I love the design and engineering of the Avalanche. It was and still is the only truck that is flexible enough to work during the week and clean up for Sundays.
The mid gate allows me to load 4×8 sheetrock , plywood or any other sheet goods and close the tail gate. I can load 8 foot studs in the bed, 10 foot between the front seats, and light weight 12 foot material all the way on the dashboard and still close my tailgate. NO OTHER TRUCK IN THE LUMBER YARD, HOME DEPOT OR LOWES CAN DO THAT! And believe me I get a lot of envious looks for guys sticking lumber over the top of their tailgates. Everyone with a pickup in the city or suburbs has to do that if they have a pickup truck purchased after 2013.
Hardly anyone ops for an 8 ft. bed and 2 doors because you forfeit passenger seating and unless your work is outside of the city and suburbs an 8 ft. bed with 4 doors is impossible to find parking for. Every time I pick up material I see the other guys with the 4 door short beds hang materials out their beds like a home owner riding with their trunk tied down.
I keep my tools, including my table saw, miter saw, saw horses, bakers scaffold, drywall tools, trim tools, taping tools, rough carpentry tools, screws and fasteners, etc. in my truck with the tail gate up and the doors lock. Other than a van, how would that be possible with any other pickup truck? If I keep my tools spread low, I can make a run to pick up a few sheet of material and let them float on top for the ride to the job site. That means I don’t need to be unloading tools to load materials . As you know, time wasted is time not making money during the work day.
I read about the decline in sale that lead to the decision to discontinue the Avalanche. I wouldn’t argue at all against profit driven decisions and the importance of changing with the market. However, I question Chevy’s marketing strategy and wonder if that was part of the reason for the decline in sales? It seemed like what marketing that did exist, was focused on the flexibility of this SUV to carry things that a car couldn’t carry. If the focus was to compete against pickup trucks, and on what pickup trucks can’t offer that the Avalanche does, I think that would make more sense. I have 160,000 miles on my Avalanche and will have to find a used one if that day ever comes. But I can’t bring myself to buy a pickup with a short bed and sacrifice my ability to function as a carpenter as I presently do.
My hope would be that you could figure out how to beef up the trucks suspension (it doesn’t need to be adjustable), and engineer features that lend themselves to Chevy’s working class such as more storage compartments. It’s such a unique design. If it had less fancy things to help cut costs and more storage compartments for tradesmen I think it would dominate the market. Can’t Chevy/ GMC redesign a new version of the mid gate with and compete with pickup trucks that can’t carry a 4×8 sheet of plywood or a stud without sticking it over the tailgate?
Please, please….consider the market for tradesmen who need a pickup truck like the mid gate Avalanche.
I wish you all the best. My hope is Chevy/GMC will show the world what made in America has come to mean again!
Gary
I don’t about the 2002 inaugural year but my ‘03 with body cladding was the first truck in history that I am aware of the having steps cut into both corners of the bumper. I don’t believe they continued it with the non-cladded models but in the past few years most trucks sport these steps in their bumpers, obviously having listened to the praises of the owners of cladded Gen. 1 Avalanches. To those who want more power in the 1/2 ton, that hasn’t been my problem with a few mods getting 325hp, but needs a stronger tranny for sure. Dismal towing at 8000 max and the mostly non-existant payload of 1200 lbs or so becomes nothing with four large adults taking up most of that.
I have 220k as the original owner and have decided to finally start modifying the frame to handle Dana 60’s front and rear because I was to impatient to wait to find a 2500 back in ‘03.