SILVERADO A GOLD MINE FOR CHEVY

Traditional pickup buyers will appreciate the 2014 Silverado
1500 Crew Cab's room, cargo capacity and an interior
that's near the luxury-car level

By John Leblanc, Postmedia News - What would I change?  The forthcoming, mid-sized Chevrolet Colorado may be a better option for urban truck buyers.

Big trucks are a big deal in Canada.

Generous factory incentives, lots of new product and a slowly rebounding economy saw sales of light-duty trucks rise by 14 percent in 2013 compared to the year before, taking a 56 percent share of the overall new vehicle market.

That's why the most important new model this year for General Motors' Chevrolet brand isn't its sophisticated Corvette sports car but its plebeian Silverado full-sized pickup truck.

Just like its domestic rivals at Ford, Ram, and sister brand GMC, Chevrolet's largest vehicle -- this all new 2014 Chevrolet Silverado -- is its biggest seller.

Despite Canadian consumers' affections for small cars, Chevy's full-sized pickup truck outsells its next bestseller -- the compact Cruze sedan.

And while many of the two-door, regular cab $27,930 (all prices include freight and pre-delivery inspection fees) 2014 Silverados Chevy will sell this year will be to carpenters and plumbers who need a basic work truck, plenty will also be sold as family vehicles, such as mu $51,455 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab LT 4x4 tester.

If you're shocked that my Silverado rang in at twice the price of the base model, you haven't been shopping for a big truck in a while.

Opting for the four-door Crew Cab version added $5,965.

The LT trim package (highlighted by remote keyless entry, heated outside mirrors, Chevrolet MyLink colour display and a leather-wrapped steering wheel/cruise controls) added another $4,780.

And what's the point of having a big truck without a big V8 engine ($1,225)?  Or all-wheel-drive ($4,200)?

Throw in some other car-like features and it doesn't take too long before your big Chevy truck has ballooned in price.

Let's get one thing straight: I am not a "truck guy".  I live in the city where my streets are level and paved, and (eventually) plowed.  I have no toys to tow.  And trips to the hardware store are for light bulbs, not two-by-fours.  So the need for a full-sized, four-wheel-drive pickup truck is virtually zero.

Still, the new Silverado impressed me with its comfortable ride and roomy and functional interior.

With an optional front centre console that's chock full of storage compartments and places to plug in lots of electronic gadgets, my 2014 Silverado Crew Cab became an extremely roomy five-seater instead of its normal six-passenger capacity.

Silverado's interior design isn't as stylish as you'll find in the Ram 1500, but all the pickup's knobs and buttons have a quality feel.

From the driver's seat, though, you'll need to be careful parking in tight, urban parking lots.  The new Silverado's high cowl and wide roof pillars hinder outward visibility.

And if you want to treat your truck like a big sedan, make sure you get a rear-bed tonneau cover -- unless you like shoveling snow from your truck's bed or don't mind leaving valuables (like sports gear) exposed.

For 2014, the all-new Silverado comes with three all-new six- and eight-cylinder engines.  My Silverado Crew Cab was powered by a 5.3-litre V8 -- likely the most popular choice -- sitting between a 4.3L V6 and 6.2L V8.  Mated to a six-speed automatic, the run from rest to 100 kilometres per hour takes around seven seconds.

While rivals are opting for air-induced downsized engines, active aerodynamics or eight-speed autoboxes, Chevrolet is relying on cylinder-deactivation -- turning its 355 horsepower V8 with 383 pound-feet of torque into a V4 during light loads -- to address customers' and governments' fuel efficiency demands.

Even so, there are few gains in fuel economy over the Silverado's 285 hp V6.  Both are rated at 9.0 litres per 100 kilometres on the highway; the six scores 12.6 in the city, the eight is rated at 13.3.  (A comparable Ram 1500 scores a better 14.6 / 9.8).

Needless to say, I recorded nowhere near these estimates, with an average of 18.1 L/100 km during my week with the big Chevy truck where plenty of snowfall left me leaving the Silverado's 4WD in Auto most of the time.

The throaty thrum from the Silverado's V8 could also be to blame for my lead-foot numbers.

That, and an overall ride and handling experience that ventured to the luxury side of the segment.

Despite a traditional leaf-sprung rear suspension (instead of the Ram's carlike coil-over independent setup), the Chevy's long wheelbase smothers potholes and stays composed over larger dips on the road.

The cabin is also near-luxury-car-quiet at highway speeds, and is even calmer when the cylinder deactivation tech shuts down half the engine.

Even the Silverado's steering has some off-center weight and is relatively accurate for such a large vehicle.

Admittedly, when compared to the Ram 1500 4x4 Quad Cab Outdoorsman I drove a few months back, the new 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab LT 4x4 is less refined overall.

If I suddenly bought a Jet Ski or took up carpentry, this urban truck buyer would still pop for the Ram.

No doubt, though, traditional truck buyers will appreciate Chevrolet's conservative approach, leaving the Silverado at the top of Chevrolet's sales charts for the foreseeable future.

BARRETT-JACKSON 2014: FIRST 2014 CHEVROLET CAMARO COPO BRINGS US$700K FOR CHARITY

By Jeremy Korzeniewski, Autoblog.com - This isn't the first COPO Camaro that Chevrolet has auctioned off at Barrett-Jackson.  In fact, just last year, the one and only COPO Camaro Convertible was sold right here in Scottsdale for an even $400,000, all of it going to charity.

For 2014, the automaker has trotted out the very first 2014 COPO, serial 1 of 69, again to raise money for charity -- in this case, Achilles Freedom Team of Wounded Veterans.  It may not be street legal, but it is at least legal to race in the NHRA's Stock Eliminator and Super Stock classes.

While five engines are available to COPO customers, this particular 2014 COPO Camaro will come equipped with a LS-based 350-cubic-inch V8 engine topped with a 2.9-litre Whipple supercharger.  That engine is backed by a Turbo 400 automatic transmission, which is appropriate for drag-race duties.

When the gavel finally fell, it carried with it a final bid of $700,000 all of which went to charity.  Nicely done! 

DETAILS

Serial number 1 of limited production run of 69 units.  One of one Silver Ice metallic satin paint finish.  Race vehicle for off-road, track use only -- vehicle does not have a VIN and cannot be titled or registered for street use.  Fitted with an NHRA-approved roll cage and other safety equipment.  Racing chassis and suspension components including a unique solid rear axle system in place of a regular-production Camaro's independent rear axle, LS-based 350cid racing engine featuring a 2.9 Liter Whipple screw-type supercharger and Turbo 400 heavy-duty automatic racing transmission.  100% of the winning bid will benefit Achilles Freedom Team of Wounded Veterans, which enables people with all disabilities to participate in mainstream athletics in order to promote personal achievement, enhance self-esteem and lower barriers to living a fulfilling life.

2015 CORVETTE Z06 CUTAWAY ALLOWS US TO PEER BENEATH THE SKIN

By Michael Harley, Autoblog.com - Earlier this week at the Detroit Auto Show, Chevrolet introduced its all-new 2015 Corvette Z06 in showroom-glorious Velocity Yellow.  But that wasn't the only example on the automaker's stand.  Opposite the new C7.R racecar sat a completely exposed Z06 - methodically opened to bare all of its detailed mechanicals.  Vehicle cutaway displays offer fascinating insight to the hidden engineering typically buried beneath layers of body panels and glass.

GMC TO GET OWN MODEL NOT SHARED WITH CHEVY?

By Brandon Turkus, Autoblog.com - For years, GMC has existed as a brand without a single product, reconstituting Chevrolet trucks, SUVs and crossovers with more frosting in exchange for a few extra dollars.  The Sierra is a Silverado, the Acadia a Traverse, and the Terrain an Equinox, although admittedly the latter pair are visually differentiated to a significant degree.

GMC could be set to expand beyond its Chevy-based roots, though.  During last week's Detroit Auto Show press days, GM's product box Mark Reuss was asked whether there'd ever be a GMC that wasn't taken from Chevy.  "Oh, yes, you will," Reuss told the media.  "The health of GMC is astonishingly good from a consideration standpoint."  Reuss wouldn't elaborate on what the model could be, although we're quite happy to make some guesses.  GMC has its bases fairly well covered, with a mid-size and full-size crossover, as well as a mid-size, full-size and HD pickup.  We doubt GMC will be building a family sedan, sports car, or hatchback, so really, the only place we can see the brand going is into a smaller crossover.

Automotive News points out that the most recent small GMC showcar, the 2010 Granite concept (shown above), won't see production according to General Motors.  That vehicle likely would have rode on GM's compact vehicle architecture, known internally as Gamma II, which underpins the Chevy Spark and Sonic, as well as the Buick Encore (and its overseas Opel/Vauxhall/Chevy counterparts).

That seems like logical territory for GMC, especially considering the early success of the Encore in the NA market.  So while it's unlikely that the Granite will see production, we wouldn't bet against a GMC-version of the Buick Encore on NA roads at some point in the near future.

What do you think GMC will do?  Would you buy an Encore-sized GMC? 

CHEVY CORVETTE STINGRAY, SILVERADO NAMED 2014 NORTH AMERICAN CAR AND TRUCK/UTILITY OF THE YEAR

By Steven J. Ewing, Autoblog.com - As is tradition, the first press day of the 2014 Detroit Auto Show has been kicked off with the announcement of the 2014 North American Car and Truck/Utility of the Year winners.  And for the new year, top honors go to the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray and Silverado -- a sweep for the Bowtie brand.

In earning its Car of the Year award, the Corvette beat the slick new Cadillac CTS and lovely new Mazda3 compact -- both great cars, for sure.  But considering just how many awards the new Corvette has won since its debut earlier this year, we aren't exactly shocked that the NACTOY jury found it fitting of this prestigious award.

Competition was also stiff on the Truck/Utility side, where the Chevy Silverado bested the new Jeep Cherokee and Acura MDX.

Congratulations to both of the winners, as well as the finalists. 

 

General Motors Sweeps 2014 North American Car/Truck of the Year

The Chevrolet Corvette Stingray and Silverado were named the 2014 North American Car and Truck of the Year Monday morning at a news conference at the North American International Auto Show.

The winners were chosen by a jury of 49 automotive journalists from the United States and Canada.

The awards -- now in their 21st year -- are unique in the United States because instead of being given by a single media outlet they are awarded by a group of automotive journalists from the United States and Canada who represent magazines, television, radio, newspapers and web sites.

The awards are designed to recognize the most outstanding new vehicles of the year.  These vehicles are benchmarks in their segments based on factors including innovation, comfort, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar.

The jurors gave the Stingray 211 points; the Mazda3 got 185 and the Cadillac CTS 94.

It was the sixth car win for General Motors.  The Corvette also won in 1998.

The jurors gave the Silverado 219 points; the Jeep Cherokee 174 and the Acura MDX 97.

It was the fourth truck win for General Motors.  The Silverado also won in 2007.

Domestic automakers have won North American Car of the Year 12 times.  Japanese automakers have won three times.  European automakers have won four times.  A Korean automaker (Hyundai) has won twice.

Domestic automakers have won North American Truck of the Year 14 times.  Japanese automakers have won four times.  European automakers have won three times.

To be eligible a vehicle must be all new or substantially changed.  The jurors considered dozens of new vehicles before sending their ballots to Michelle Collins, a partner at Deloitte & Touche early in December.

On December 10th the three car and truck finalists were announced.  But only Ms. Collins knew the winners until she handed over the envelopes today to Tony Swan, a freelance journalist and member of the organizing committee, who made the announcements.

The votes by each juror will be posted January 20th on the awards web site, www.northamericancaroftheyear.org.  They are administered by an organizing committee and are funded with dues paid by the jurors.  There are no paid positions.  Automakers to not pay to have their vehicles considered or to mention the awards in ads.