The burly Chevrolet Silverado HD has received with more power, a high-tech interior, and a new ZR2 off-road variant.
Production will begin in the first half of 2023.
GMSV says it doesn’t expect the updated model to be available in Australian dealerships until early in the first quarter of 2024, and says it’s too early to confirm any other details including pricing and specifications.
The Silverado HD’s 6.6-litre Duramax turbo-diesel V8 engine, currently the only engine offered locally, now produces 350kW of power and 1322Nm of torque, up 18kW and 88Nm on the outgoing model.
2500HD High Country
Chevrolet says its engineers improved low-end torque by up to 25 per cent, improving performance on grades and helping improve its trailering ability.
The big turbo-diesel is mated with a 10-speed automatic transmission produced by Allison, which is now also employed with the 6.6-litre naturally-aspirated petrol V8. This engine produces 299kW and 629Nm.
The most immediately visible changes have been made to the cabin, with all bar the low-end Work Truck and Custom grades getting a new, more modern interior design.
Like the recently updated Silverado 1500, due here in the second quarter of 2023, there are new 13.4-inch touchscreen infotainment and 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster screens on all bar the low-end Work Truck and Custom models.
The touchscreen, which runs on Google built-in, is angled towards the driver, and the simple, angular interior design is said to pay homage to the C/K Series trucks of the 1970s and 1980s – Chevrolet calls the cockpit of the Silverado HD its “command centre”.
Models with the updated interior also get a centre console with a repositioned wireless phone charger, while other changes include new audio control knobs, climate vents and controls for the second row, additional hidden storage areas, and leather-wrapped and real wood accents on certain models.
2500HD High Country Midnight
The flagship High Country also gets a new, exclusive Nightshift Blue interior colourway with Jet Black and Umber elements, plus open-pore wood trim and leather seats with premium fabric piping.
A Midnight Edition includes black chrome exterior accents and black power running boards, as well as 20- or 22-inch high-gloss black wheels.
Externally, there’s tweaked front-end styling with a new grille, plus C-shaped LED lighting inspired by the updated Silverado 1500.
LTZ and up get new dual-projector headlights with an animated lighting sequence, while all models get standard tow hooks. Additionally, there are six new exterior colours, while the LTZ has new 20-inch chrome wheels.
Chevrolet has improved the Silverado HD’s trailer-towing ability with a range of new and updated features, including adaptive cruise control that can account for the additional drag and increased brake distances when towing a trailer, an Enhanced Transparent Trailer mode that can work with fifth-wheel and gooseneck trailers, and trailer blind-spot monitoring.
A GCW Alert also warns the driver if the vehicle and trailer weight exceed the vehicle’s Gross Combined Weight rating.
3500HD LTZ
Additional active safety and driver assist features include autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, a surround-view camera, and lane-departure warning.
While the HD is currently offered here only in LTZ Premium diesel dual-cab guise, there’s a much wider range on offer in the US.
The range comprises 2500HD and 3500HD models in regular, double and crew cab body styles, with a dual rear-wheel option for 3500HD models which can tow up to 16,329kg.
The model range comprises Work Truck, Custom, LT, LTZ and High Country grades, with a ZR2 off-road variant joining the range later in the model year.
There are also carryover Z71 Sport Edition, Z71 Chrome Sport Edition and Midnight Special Edition appearance packages.
The current Silverado HD only arrived in the fourth quarter of 2021, joining the also locally remanufactured Silverado 1500 and the factory right-hand drive C8 Corvette in GMSV showrooms.
