Move over Ram and F150; this is the new artillery that GM is bringing to the pickup market. The all-new 2014 Chevrolet Silverado is soon to make its official appearance and CarScoop is giving you an early sneak-peak illustration, based on the many prototype models caught on camera.
The current Silverado has been battling it out strongly since 2007, only finishing as bridesmaid to Ford’s F-150 on the sales charts, which is one thing for certain that GM would love to change.
The outgoing model has arguably been wearing the bridesmaid’s tag when it comes to styling too; sure, it’s reasonably appealing with its modern and rugged clothes, but doesn’t push any design envelopes. Being a fresh slate for the 2014 model year, Chevrolet is changing this and gunning Ford, Dodge and Toyota head on in the pickup design stakes.
The new all-duty hauler expands on recent GM design themes with it’s blunt square-ish and rounded sheet metal pressings. The front is more brash thanks to it’s detailed chrome grill (with honeycomb inserts) and headlight surrounds, which incorporate more sophisticated projector headlights and turn signals.
The lower bumper is an all-chrome affair with a shield outline dominating the lower intake’s bottom edge, and the fog lights have been better positioned to compliment the lower opening.
As one glances upwards to the hood, they will notice the new twin power dome stampings that convey a sense of aggressiveness to the design. Under the hood, it is expected that a new fuel efficient small block V8 and 3.6-liter V6 power-plants will debut, coupled with more advanced 6-speed transmissions (8-speed automatic is due later down the track).
Behind the business end, the cabin appears fairly conventional; being upright with a moderately raked windshield. Those thick clamshell door frames of the current truck have been slimmed down and as your eye glances to the rear door, a slight up-kick finishes off the side windows.
Below the glasshouse, the body carries on the smooth and chunky appearance of the current look; wheel-arch flares are heavily squared off and there is a lower character line running the length of the truck.
Inside, the more spacious cabin has the same theme continuing from the outside – the dash, door panels and touch-screen center stack look chunky and unique. There is an expected vast array of advanced technologies like radar based cruise control, lane-keep assist, and potentially automated city braking.
Overall, I would say the new design is a progressive and bolder step forward for Chevrolet – it isn’t as radical as some would have hoped for, but then GM can’t afford to alienate its customer base.
We will have to wait until the next GMC Sierra is revealed to see if the envelope is pushed further. Until then what do you, as the reader, think? Does the latest Silverado have what it takes to de-throne the mighty F-150 off those sales charts?
By Josh Byrnes
All Photos Copyright: CarScoop / Josh Byrnes
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