Motor Trend   +  unique

General Motors has announced that the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, will be shown at the Michigan Motion Pictures Studio in Pontiac, Michigan during an unveiling ceremony two days from now, on December 13th, 2012.
Both trucks have undergone substantial revisions with updated versions of the company's 4.3-liter V6, 5.3-liter V8 and 6.2-liter V8 engines. In a shot across the bows of both Ford and Chrysler, GM says it won't use a V6 engine adapted from passenger car applications. Instead, it developed the 4.3-liter engine based on its proven truck-duty architecture.
Indoors, both trucks now boast completely new interiors with a focus on soft-touch materials. Drivers are now met with a gauge cluster that features a 4.2-inch color information display, and the new trucks can be had with up to five USB ports, four 12-volt outlets and one SD card slot. The option sheet also features the IntelliLink connectivity system, displayed through a high-definition eight-inch color touchscreen interface.
The new Silverado has a more masculine and muscular exterior, with a higher hood and new headlamps.
As for the GMC Sierra, it will come with a new generation of its own connectivity system known as IntelliLink. Being the first full-size pickup to feature standard projector-beam headlights, the Sierra will also boast a signature LED light pattern that helps accent the headlights, with discreet LED accent lighting helping set a mood with a red glow along the dash and doors.

Press Release
2014 Silverado: Stronger, Smarter and More Capable

• From hood to hitch, the most refined, best engineered Silverado ever
• Three new EcoTec3 engines designed for more power, improved efficiency
• Engineered for tough truck duties and legendary Chevy truck dependability

DETROIT – Chevrolet today unveiled the all-new 2014 Silverado 1500 full-size pickup. New from hood to hitch, Silverado is engineered to be the strongest, smartest, and most capable Silverado ever.
The new Silverado builds on Chevrolet’s 95 years of truck heritage, while raising the bar for full-size pickups. Among the many updates for 2014 are a new trio of powerful, efficient EcoTec3 engines; a stronger, quieter, more comfortable cab; revised steering, suspension and brakes; ingenious solutions for managing cargo in the bed and true truck capability for towing and hauling.
“Our customers rely on their trucks to meet the day-to-day challenges of earning a living, running a business and taking care of their families,” said Mark Reuss, president, GM North America. “Chevrolet is committed to giving truck customers the most-refined, best-engineered pickups in the market.”
The 2014 Silverado will become part of Chevrolet’s three-truck portfolio, designed to let customers select the right truck for their needs. It joins the Silverado 2500 and 3500 HD pickups, the ultimate tools for towing and hauling, which were new for the 2011 model year. Chevrolet is also developing an all-new Colorado midsize pickup, which will offer proven truck capability in a space- and fuel-efficient package.
Every detail of the 2014 Silverado 1500 was designed and engineered to meet the exacting requirements of full-size truck customers and to strengthen Chevrolet’s reputation for building the most dependable, longest-lasting full-size trucks – trucks with the lowest overall cost of ownership.
“Don’t let the work boots fool you. Truck customers are among the most discerning and demanding in the business,” said Jeff Luke, executive chief engineer for full-size and midsize trucks.
“The designers and engineers who created the new Silverado share this passion for trucks. They have built this truck – and tested it to the extremes – to give customers the right tools for the tough jobs, and they have created dozens of solutions to the challenges truck customers encounter every day.”
2014 Silverado 1500 at a glance
For 2014, Silverado 1500 is designed and engineered to deliver the capability – without compromise – that customers have come to expect from Chevrolet pickups.
Silverado’s exterior design blends strong Chevy truck heritage with a refined, modern aesthetic. The new design is more muscular, more functional and more aerodynamic. A twin-port grille, full-width bumper and dual power dome hood create a strong presence, which is carried through in sculpted body sides and fender flares.
The new Silverado design is about much more than just looks, however. The new front end is engineered to improve sealing for more efficient cooling, while the roof and tailgate spoiler were shaped in the wind tunnel to smooth airflow over the truck for reduced drag. New inlaid doors, which fit into recesses in the bodyside, reduce wind noise for a quieter cab.
Under the hood, the 2014 Silverado 1500 features a family of three all-new EcoTec3 engines, a V-6 and two V-8s, engineered specifically for use in full-size trucks. All three engines incorporate direct fuel injection, cylinder deactivation and continuously variable valve timing, a combination of advanced technologies not found in other competitors’ trucks. All three switch seamlessly to four-cylinder operation to improve efficiency during light load driving and all three are engineered provide more power, more torque and better efficiency than the previous versions.
The engine family includes a new 4.3L V-6 that will have ample torque to power a crew cab pickup and tow a substantial trailer, as well as a new 5.3L V-8 designed for more power, more torque and better efficiency than the current version, which is currently the V-8 fuel economy leader. A new 6.2L V-8 is engineered to be the most capable engine in any light-duty pickup.
SAE certified horsepower and torque ratings and EPA fuel economy estimates for the new Silverado will be final and available beginning early next year.
The all-new interiors of the 2014 Silverado 1500 reflect the same focus on form and function. The upright instrument panel, six-gauge instrument cluster and multiple storage options are tailored specifically to the needs of truck customers. Controls are functional, logically placed and easy to operate with work gloves on. Rear doors on crew cabs are larger, for easier entry and exit, and rear doors on extended cab models are now hinged at the front for easier access, especially in tight spots.
The new Chevrolet MyLink provides easy-to-use connectivity for the job site or the family vacation, with natural voice recognition and enough ports and power outlets to support multiple devices.
The new truck cab is stronger, with nearly two-thirds of the structure made from high-strength steel for a confident feel and improved safety. Similarly, the main rails and key cross members of the updated frame are high-strength steel with major elements hydroformed for reduced mass and improved strength.
New shear-style body mounts tune out both up-and-down and side-to-side movement for a quieter, more comfortable ride. Extended- and crew-cab models have a third set of hydraulic body mounts to further isolate the cabs. Combined with numerous other acoustic and NVH (noise vibration and harshness) enhancements, the intended result is a solid, refined feel with no loss in traditional truck capability.
The pickup box also benefits from this focus on providing Silverado customers with the right tools for the job. The box is made from roll-formed steel for increased strength and reduced mass, compared with the stamped beds used by major competitors, and it features a range of smart solutions for everyday life.
ilverado’s CornerStep bumper, combined with handholds built into the new box rail protectors, makes it easier to access the box. The bed is also available with new upper tie-down hooks, under-rail light-emitting diode lighting, and an EZ Lift and Lower tailgate.
For the first time, Silverado 1500 crew cabs will be available with a longer 6’6” foot box, in addition to the previous 5’8” box, enabling customers to carry more cargo while still being able to park in many garages.
The chassis of the 2014 Silverado includes a number of customer-focused updates. A revised front and rear suspension and wider wheels provide a more comfortable ride and more confident handling. Electric power steering improves steering feel and reduces fuel consumption. New four-wheel-disc brakes with Duralife ™ rotors improve brake feel and extend rotor life.
Silverado will be available with segment-exclusive safety features such as Forward Collision Alert, Lane Departure Warning with an Active Safety Seat, and Front and Rear Park Assist. StabiliTrak with Trailer Sway Control and Hill Start Assist are standard on all Silverados.
“We have made significant upgrades in the key areas of the new Silverado, and improved almost every detail of the truck,” said Luke. “We think both Chevrolet loyalists and competitive shoppers are going to find a lot to love about the new Silverado, beginning with the very first time they sit behind the wheel.”
Engineered and validated for demanding customers
Truck customers are among the most discerning and demanding in the business. They know trucks inside out – many have owned trucks for decades. They work their trucks hard, under conditions that would shock many car owners. They have tough tasks to do, and they expect their trucks to do them, without complaint. And they expect their trucks to endure – the average age of a full-size pickup is now more than 10.4 years.
The team that designed the new Silverado went to extremes to design a new truck that would exceed the demands of these customers.
For example, GM’s new full-size trucks will undergo more than 6 million miles of durability testing in the torture chambers at the Milford Proving Ground, over the deserts and mountains of Nevada and across the frozen flats of Kapuskasing, Ontario. That’s equivalent to 240 trips around the earth. In addition, the trucks will accumulate more than 7 million real-world miles during final testing, bringing total test miles to more than 13 million.
The increased power, torque and efficiency of the new EcoTec3 engine family resulted from an unprecedented level of computer analysis, including extensive computational flow dynamics, to optimize the burning of air and fuel in the cylinders. More than 10 million of hours of computational analysis went into the engine program. More than 6 million hours – about 685 years’ worth – of analysis went into the advanced combustion system alone.
Even the basics, like the new inlaid doors, were tested to the extreme, with the doors undergoing nearly 150 truck lives’ worth of testing.
The 2014 Silverado 1500 crew cab will start production in the second quarter of 2013, with other cab styles following later in the year.
Pricing will be announced closer to start of sale.
2014 Sierra Brings Bold Refinement to Full-size Trucks
Next-generation pickups feature advanced powertrains, design and technology
DETROIT – The all-new 2014 GMC Sierra 1500 full-size pickup is the most powerful, most advanced and most refined truck in the brand’s 110-year history. Sierra’s bold new exterior houses one of three all-new EcoTec3 engines, a fully updated cabin with available next-generation IntelliLink connectivity and other features designed for the most discerning truck owners.
“Our engineers and designers left nothing on the table when developing this latest Sierra pickup,” said Tony DiSalle, vice president of GMC Marketing. “These trucks have all the power and capability that’s expected in today’s market, excellent fuel efficiency, plus a lot of unexpected, purposeful features developed with truck owners in mind.”
In addition to all-new design and technology, the 2014 Sierra boasts the longest list of standard features ever for a full-size GMC pickup. From connectivity solutions, to a standard tie-down system in the rear, to the segment’s only standard projector beam headlamps, many premium features are found on each and every all-new Sierra.
New EcoTec3 engines
Sierra’s engine portfolio is updated for 2014 with the goal of increased in power, torque and fuel efficiency across the board. There will be a 4.3L V-6, a 5.3L V-8 and a 6.2L V-8 offered, all from a shared EcoTec3 engine family. Each engine features standard direct injection, continuously variable valve timing and Active Fuel Management, which means they seamlessly switch to run on four cylinders during light-load driving to save fuel.
The increased power and efficiency of the new engines are the result of more than 10 million hours of sophisticated computer modeling, more than half of which were used to make the best of the combustion process.
The new 4.3L V-6 EcoTec3 engine will offer improved torque and towing capacity for the six in 10 truck owners who tow.
“Rather than adapting a V-6 intended for use in passenger cars, we built a new engine from the ground up based on the unique demands of a truck,” said Jordan Lee, powertrain chief engineer. “Sierra’s 4.3L shares its basic design architecture with the latest iterations of the V-8 engines that GMC owners have trusted for generations.”
Today’s Sierra offers the best V-8 fuel economy in the industry and the new 5.3L EcoTec3 engine features significant updates intended to make it even more efficient. The available 6.2L V-8 EcoTec3 is engineered to provide outstanding capability.
SAE-certified horsepower and torque ratings and EPA fuel economy estimates for the new Sierra are not yet available, but are expected to be finalized early next year.
With the new engine designs and additional developments, customers should expect Sierra’s second-generation Active Fuel Management to be more seamless and capable of operating longer in four-cylinder mode.
All three engines use lightweight aluminum blocks and heads and are mated with durable six-speed automatic transmissions. A “cruise grade braking” feature down-shifts the transmission on downgrades, which is intended to reduce brake wear. V-8 models use new, larger 9.5- and 9.76-inch rear axles with the strength to accommodate the engines’ higher output. Final power and torque ratings will be announced later.
Duralife brake rotors and electric power steering
Strong brakes are important for stopping trucks, whether they’re full of people, payload or both. The 2014 Sierra features four-wheel disc brakes with Duralife brake rotors, which feature a hardened and strengthened surface to reduce corrosion. Duralife rotors – a GM-exclusive technology – are expected to last twice as long as conventional rotors and provide quieter braking with less vibration.
The 2014 Sierra also uses electric power steering. An electric motor in place of an engine-driven hydraulic pump saves fuel and allows for tuning that’s expected to result in a more consistent, crisp steering feel and plenty of assist for parking maneuvers.
The new standard in truck interiors
Premium materials, attention to detail and purposeful technology define Sierra’s all-new cabin. New soft-touch materials and available aluminum trim line an interior that’s focused on usable and productive space.
“Truck owners want a well-crafted cabin, but also one that still feels like a truck,” said Helen Emsley, Sierra interior design director. “They want a purposeful interior, not one that’s flowing like you’d find in a car or crossover.”
Sierra has an upright instrument panel designed for visibility and accessibility. Knobs and buttons are large, legible and within reach. All knobs are coated using a rubber-over-mold technology, so they’re easy to grip even through gloves.
A new instrument cluster on all models features six gauges with an available centrally located, 4.2-inch color Driver Information Center with vehicle status information, a trip computer, and other information, like radio and navigation.
A second, high-mounted glove box with a flat floor joins the traditional box below. Each of Sierra’s doors has storage crafted to hold most beverage containers and other personal items. Along the center stack and center console are additional cupholders, discreet compartments large enough for most laptop computers, and connectivity options. Sierra is available with a 110-volt outlet, up to five USB ports, four 12-volt outlets and an SD card slot.
“Sierra sets a new standard for what’s expected of a pickup truck interior,” said DiSalle. “Our customers told us how they use their trucks and we listened. The combination of comfort, safety, space and technology is unprecedented in the segment.”
Available IntelliLink connectivity uses an available high-definition, fully reconfigurable eight-inch color touchscreen with an intuitive layout and easy-to-read icons that control audio features, a Pandora app, Bluetooth phone features, and available navigation with all-new map displays. Many of the system’s features can be controlled by voice command, allowing the driver to keep eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.
Sierra’s seats use dual-density foam designed to stay comfortable over long hours and continue to look great after years of use. Leather and cloth will be offered, and Sierra’s new high-wear cloth is designed to last longer and resist staining. A spilled drink will bead on the fabric, not soak in. Heated seats are available with cloth seats and standard with leather.
New door and bed configurations
For the first time on Extended Cab models, the 2014 Sierra has new front-hinged rear doors with outside pull handles at the rear, providing improved access in tight parking spaces. Unlike trucks with rear-hinged doors, Sierra’s layout allows rear passengers to enter and exit the vehicle with the front doors remaining closed.
Crew Cab customers, who represent more than 60 percent of retail Sierra customers, can choose between two bed lengths; in addition to the current 5-foot, 8-inch box, a new 6-foot, 6-inch box is available. Regular cabs continue to be available with the 6-foot, 6-inch or 8-foot box lengths, while the extended cab will come exclusively with a 6-foot, 6-inch box.
Cargo box innovations
Sierra’s rear bumper features standard corner steps that make climbing into the bed easy, regardless of whether the tailgate is up or down. The steps are paired with grips formed into the top of each bed side. Four movable upper tie downs are also standard. They can be placed in nine different locations and can bear a 500-pound (227 kg) load. Available LED cargo lights integrated beneath the bed rails will illuminate the bed when a tonneau cover is in place. The available EZ Lift and Lower tailgate uses an integrated torsion bar and damper to ease lifting and lowering.
Driver Alert Technology
A suite of active safety features will be optional for the 2014 Sierra, including Forward Collision Alert, which uses a forward-facing camera to notify the driver of an imminent collision, and Lane Departure Warning, which uses the same camera to track the truck’s position in relation to a road’s lane markers.
The camera technology was recently named a “Top Ten Tech Breakthrough of 2012” by Popular Mechanics.
Paired with Forward Collision Alert and Land Departure Warning is GMC’s first-ever Driver Alert Seat, which generates vibrating pulse patterns on the left and/or right side of the lower seat cushion bolster to alert the driver of potential dangers, such as an un-signaled lane change or approaching another vehicle too quickly. According to GM research, the seat’s vibrations may direct driver attention to the location of a potential collision more quickly and accurately than audible alerts. Drivers have the option of selecting either audible or vibrating alerts.
Quieter, stronger, more aerodynamic
Quietness doesn’t only come from factors within the cabin. The 2014 Sierra features new aerodynamic measures that benefit fuel efficiency and reduce wind noise. Updated mirrors that reduce wind turbulence, triple-sealed inlaid doors, as well as roof and tailgate design features all help air flow smoothly quietly over the Sierra. Additional sealing around the grille, headlights and space between the cab and box are also designed to lower drag for the new trucks, along with new aerodynamic spats located in front of the rear wheels.
Updates to Sierra’s body and chassis are designed to improve ride and handling, comfort and capability. The fully boxed frame uses high-strength steel and hydroforming to provide more strength and rigidity with less weight. New cab structures incorporate high-strength steel in the A-pillars, B-pillars, roof rails and rocker panels, while ultra-high-strength steel segments of the rocker panels provide added protection for shallow offset crashes.
Sierra’s hood is aluminum, saving approximately 17 pounds versus a comparable steel hood. At the rear, a roll-formed box is stronger, lighter and more durable than a traditional stamped steel box.
Sierra uses aluminum for some suspension components for additional rigidity and weight saving, and new lightweight wheels are paired with low-rolling-resistance tires in most applications. The tires, along with new shear-style and redesigned hydraulic cab mounts, are designed to help reduce noise and vibration in the cabin.
“Pickups aren’t just a tool for GMC owners – they’re part of their everyday lives, and Sierra needs to be as useful on the way to the movies as it is on the way to a job site,” said DiSalle. “The most important thing about the engineering behind this new truck is that it benefits owners in so many different ways.”
Attention to detail
GMC designers approached the exterior of the 2014 Sierra with respect for its predecessors, evolving its familiar shape while adding distinctive details like standard projector headlamps, available LED signature accent lighting and detailed new grilles. All Sierra models have chrome grille surrounds and premium black wheel arch moldings. Different trim levels feature chrome belt moldings, mirror caps and door handles, as well as unique wheel designs and grille details.
Other new features include available front Park Assist, in addition to the rear Park Assist already available, and a sliding rear window with a defroster.
Distinctive All-Terrain model
Sierra All-Terrain has all-new styling for 2014. It includes a unique exterior appearance with a painted grille and less chrome, and is available as an extended cab or crew cab in a limited number of colors.
Standard equipment for Sierra All-Terrain includes the Z71 off-road suspension with monotube Rancho shocks, hill descent control, front recovery hooks, a transfer case shield and unique wheels and tires, along with an automatic locking rear differential that reacts in milliseconds in low-traction situations to improve safety and confidence on wet, snowy or muddy surfaces.
Sierra All Terrain is available exclusively with an ebony interior and with front bucket seats on SLE models. A carbon fiber-look seat accent is standard on SLT models.