GM's New Fullsize Pickups Debut
The premium interior is standard on Silverado LTZ (shown), Sierra SLT, and Sierra Denali. It features amenities like heated power seats, leather seating surfaces, and a distinct instrument panel.
After first releasing a fleet of SUVs based on the new GMT900 fullsize truck platform (Tahoe, Yukon, Suburban, Avalanche), GM finally unveiled the pickups that share those new underpinnings. The light-duty versions of the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra are rolling out in the last quarter of 2006; heavy-duty models will follow in early 2007.
GM considers these trucks "comprehensively redesigned," with new styling inside and out; extensive chassis revisions that include fully boxed framerails, wider track widths, and coilover front suspensions; and eight different powertrain combinations, ranging from a 4.3L, 195hp V-6, through no fewer than four 5.3L V-8s (iron- and aluminum-block versions of standard gas and E85-capable engines), to the 400hp, 6.2L V-8 that's exclusive to the Sierra Denali. GM claims its new trucks offer "more power and better fuel economy than the vehicles they replace," thanks to technology that includes Active Fuel Management, variable valve timing, and flex-fuel capability.
The new GM pickups offer a choice of two interiors. This is the "pure pickup" interior found in the base and mid-level trucks, like this Silverado LT.
The trucks are available in three cab styles-regular, extended, and crew-and three box lengths-short (5 feet 8 inches), standard (6 feet 6 inches), and long (8 feet). There are five different suspension systems to choose from, including the familiar Z71 off-road system, now with package-exclusive monotube shocks front and rear. Plus, there are two different interior designs: the work-oriented "pure pickup" version in base and midlevel trucks, and the premium interiors standard on the Silverado LTZ, Sierra SLT, and Sierra Denali.
GM has packed more new stuff into these trucks than we have room to detail here. Log on to www.chevrolet.com and www.gmc.com for the full scoop.
The '07 Silverado will be offered with the Z71 suspension option for "enhanced off-road capability." It features monotube front and rear shocks that are distinct from other suspension packages. | 
The '07 GMC Sierra is essentially a twin of the new Silverado, except for the Denali model (shown). This upscale pickup, available in 2WD or AWD models, has its own 6.2L, 400hp V-8 mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. | 
GM obviously had one eye on Nissan's Titan when designing the new pickups, as it's now offering a new cargo management option. Rails that run the length of the box sides and along the forward box wall are fitted with four adjustable tie-down brackets. Each bracket is rated for a load point of 500 pounds. |
Ford Drops F-150 Prices
With the buzz coming from GM's new pickups, Ford is gonna have to work to hang on to the F-series' "best selling truck" status in '07. Towards that end, Ford is dropping the pickup's retail prices by as much as $1,400 below '06 levels and increasing the length of its powertrain limited warranty and complimentary roadside assistance package to 5 years or 60,000 miles. Two new models are joining the F-truck lineup-the FX2 Sport and Harley-Davidson edition F-150 SuperCrew. And Ford has bumped up the F-150's maximum towing capacity to 10,500 pounds, coincidentally the same figure GM is touting for its new pickups. That kind of tow capacity is available only on a properly equipped 4x2, of course. The highest tow rating for a 4x4 F-150 is 9,500 pounds for a regular-cab with the 5.4L Triton V-8.
Future Truck Plans Revealed
Industry insiders at Automotive News have ferreted out long-range product plans from two of Detroit's Big Three automakers. According to the AN crystal ball, here's what you can expect in the coming years from Chrysler and Ford (GM's prognostications are still to come):
2008: Dodge Durango (shown) receives hybrid gas/electric powertrain; Ford F-250/350 redesigned; Jeep Liberty redesigned
2009: Dodge Ram redesigned; Jeep Commander restyled; possible introduction of Wrangler-based Jeep Gladiator pickup; Ford Explorer and F-150 restyled
2010: Dodge Dakota redesigned; light-duty diesels available for Durango/Ram; Jeep Grand Cherokee restyled
Can You Say 'Tiguan'?
That's the name Volkswagen has given its upcoming small SUV, which should reach the States by 2009. Technically, VW didn't give the truck that name; readers of a German car magazine picked it out of five potential badges VW's marketing department entered in a contest-Tiguan, Nanuk, Namib, Rockton, and Samun. The winner is a contraction (or is that combination?) of tiger and iguana. After drawing fire for giving the Touareg a name that's hard to pronounce, it looks like the German automaker won't do much better when the Tiguan bows.
Colorado Dreamin'
If someone wanted to give you a four-wheel-drive truck, you wouldn't complain would you? Well, it just so happens that Goodmark and Stylin' Concepts want to give one lucky winner a tricked-out '06 Chevy Colorado as part of their Goodmark/Stylin' Concepts Offroad Truck Sweepstakes. Best part is, there's no purchase necessary to enter or win. For more details about the sweepstakes see page 133 of this issue.
Ford Produces Hydrogen V-10
Ford has begun production of a supercharged, hydrogen-fueled, 6.8L V-10 engine that will see its first use in E-450 shuttle buses. Note that this isn't a hydrogen fuel-cell powerplant, but an internal combustion V-10 using hydrogen as fuel. According to Ford, this technology "represents an important step toward enabling hydrogen to become a viable motor fuel."
Hydrogen's advantages in an internal combustion engine include "high efficiency, all-weather capability, and near zero emissions of regulated pollutants and greenhouse gases," says Ford. We'll go along with the second two, but the first is suspect. We had heard that one major stumbling block to hydrogen's internal combustion use was its energy content, which is lower than gasoline's. Ford's specs for the hydro V-10 seem to bear this out: Despite displacing 415 cubic inches and getting 18 to 20 psi of boost from a twin-screw supercharger, the engine puts out just 235 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. Compare that to the 231 horses and 293 lb-ft that come from Ford's naturally aspirated 4.6L (281ci) gas V-8 in the F-150.
Ford gets two thumbs-up for being the first to produce this leading-edge technology. Let's hope the development continues so we can see even greater efficiency-and power.
New Diesel Speed Record?
SPAL, a company best known for its cooling fans, is taking aim at the C/diesel pickup land speed record. The current mark-213.583 mph-was set by Gale Banks Engineering in 2002 with a highly modified, Cummins-powered Dakota. SPAL is using a similar big-engine/small-pickup formula for its attempt, having shoehorned a Power Stroke into an extended-cab Ranger. The engine is equipped with HyperMax intercooled twin turbochargers, dual SPAL 12-inch high-performance cooling fans, and a ZF six-speed transmission.
SPAL's "Rocket Ranger" has already gone over 200 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats, setting a 205-mph Modified Mid/Mini Pickup record in 2001 using a NASCAR-type gas V-8. In 2003, with a Power Stroke on board, the Ranger was clocked at 222 mph, but it failed to back up the number with a second run (needed to set an official speed record) due to electrical problems.