2019 Chevrolet Silverado Adds 3.0L Duramax Diesel, Ditches 450 Lbs

Available engines for the all-new Silverado include heavily updated versions of the 5.3-liter and 6.2-liter Small Block, along with an all-new 3.0-liter inline-six Duramax diesel engine. General Motors didn’t share details on the diesel’s power output, but head of GM product development, Mark Reuss, assured us it would be more powerful than Ford’s new diesel in the F-150. The diesel and the 6.2 will be available with GM’s new Hydramatic 10-speed automatic transmission, while the 5.3 will come with the eight-speed.

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The significant 450 lbs in weight savings come thanks to the use of aluminum in the hood, doors and rear liftgate. The vehicle’s ‘safety cage’ also uses seven different grades of steel to offer a good mix of lightness and strength. Furthermore, the front upper control arms are made of aluminum, while the rear springs are made of a new carbon-composite material, which shaves more pounds from the pickup.

The bed is another area that was significantly improved by the Silverado engineering team. By reducing the amount of wasted space between the inside and outside walls of the bed, Chevy was able to add 20 percent of cargo space to the bed for a total of 63 cubic feet of volume. There’s also 12 tie-down points with a max force rating of 500 lbs, along with bed task lighting, a rear 120-volt outlet, and larger cutouts for the CornerStep bumpers. As a result, Chevy calls the Silverado’s bed the “most functional bed of any full-size truck.”

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With designers moving the front wheels forward, Chevy was able to free-up room in the cabin. The rear seats now boast an additional 3-inches of legroom, and there’s even available 10-liter storage bins integrated into the rear seats. A 24-liter storage tray beneath the second-row seats offers further storage solutions. Like other GM products, there’s also 4G LTE Wi-Fi connectivity, Apple Car Play, Android Auto, wireless phone charging and OnStar.

Chevy has announced trim levels for the 2019 Silverado as well. The ‘Work Truck’ will serve as the base model, with the ‘Custom’ offering additional equipment ahead of the ‘Custom Trailboss’. The LT is the mid-range model, while the RST and LT Trailboss sit just above it. The range-topping trucks include the LTZ and High Country. The Trailboss models, for the record, include the Z71 package, along with a locking rear diff, front and rear skid plates, 18-inch wheels shod in Goodyear Duratec tires and a 2-inch lift.

Look for the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado to appear at GM dealers later this year. Pricing has yet to be announced.

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