Chevrolet Silverado updates for 2012

[Drew Dowdell]

Chevrolet Silverado updates for 2012

August 29, 2011 - Drew Dowdell - CheersandGears.com

Chevrolet updates the entire Silverado lineup for 2012. The revised design includes a chrome mesh grill with chrome surround on the LS and LT models and a body color surround on the LTZ. Five new exterior colors appear, Silver Ice metalic, Mocha Steel Metallic, Carbon Flash Metallic, and Graystone. On the LT and LTZ models, White Diamond tricoat is now available as part of a package that includes chrome mirror caps, chrome door handles, and bodyside moldings with The LTZ also gaining the Z60 suspension package with 20 inch chrome wheels, exhaust tips, and tow hooks, touring tires. The interior gets two new color combos with Dark Titanium/Light Titanium and Dark Cashmere/Light Cashmere.

On the hardware side, all Silverado 1500s now include Trailer Sway Control and Hill Start Assist as part of the Stabilitrack system. Cruise Control and spare tire lock are now standard on all models. The available navigation system now uses a hard drive instead of DVDs to store map information and also includes an updated display.

The updated 6-speed transmission is now programmed to downshift during deceleration to use the engine to slow the truck there by reducing brake wear. This feature works either in or out of Tow/Haul mode on all models equipped with either the 5.3 or 6.0 liter engines.

As we mentioned earlier, the entire Silverado lineup has been updated and that includes the HD models as well. The Silverado HD has increased its towing capacity again to a best-in-class 18,000 lbs. fifth wheel capacity is now a best-in-class 23,000 lbs, and payload capacity is a best-in-class 7,215 lbs.

From the Chevrolet press release:

Silverado HD’s greater capability for 2012 comes from strategic enhancements incorporated into the chassis. Updates to the trailer hitch receiver (available in the fourth quarter), for example, enable the increase in conventional towing to 18,000 pounds from 17,000 pounds for 2011.For greater fifth-wheel towing capacity, engineers strengthened the pickup box sills and other box structures along with the rear springs, U-bolts, and box mounts. The also revised the shock tuning, all of which contributed to the Silverado 3500 HD best-in-class tow rating of 23,000 pounds, up from 21,700 pounds in 2011.

Coming off their 2011 Motor Trend Truck of the Year win, Chevrolet is not standing still with these upgrades.

[Justin Bimmer]

So White Diamond "edition" Silverado????

Not a bad tide over until the new trucks come out.

[Drew Dowdell]

For someone who needs the ultimate in towing/hauling, Chevy keeping at the top of the heap is a good thing.

[GMTruckGuy74]

So White Diamond "edition" Silverado????

Why wait for 2012?

[Justin Bimmer]

Obviously that GMC is the most ballin truck on the earth, but what about for the more common folk?

[GMTruckGuy74]

Obviously that GMC is the most ballin truck on the earth, but what about for the more common folk?

Okay, here you go:

That is a 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab 4WD SLT White Diamond Edition (sans your Chevy chrome mesh grille), that would be equivalant to the 2012 Silverado LTZ White Diamond Edition. Happy now?

Edited August 31, 2011 by GMTruckGuy74

[Justin Bimmer]