Chevrolet Silverado (second generation)

The second generation of the Chevrolet Silverado is a series of trucks manufactured by General Motors from 2006 until 2013 under the Chevrolet brand, and also under the GMC brand as the GMC Sierra.

Overview
The GMT900 generation of the Silverado/Sierra arrived in the last quarter of 2006 as a 2007 model. It features a redesigned exterior, interior, frame, and suspension as well as power increases on certain engines. Like the previous generation GMT800's and earlier C/K lines, it takes many styling cues from the GMT900 SUVs of the same year. Like the GMT900 SUVs, these pickups have improved aerodynamics over their predecessors thanks to steeply raked windshields and tighter panel gaps which help improve fuel economy. The previous GMT800 models were continued through 2007 badged as "Classic," just as the GMT400 models continued for two years after the GMT800's introduction.

The second-generation Silverado earned the North American Truck of the Year award for 2007 and was Motor Trend magazine's Truck of the Year for 2007.

Light duty
Like its predecessors, the new Silverado offers buyers a choice of two-door regular cabs, four-door extended cabs (with front-opening rear doors that now open 170 degrees similar to the Nissan Titan) and four-door crew cabs. GM also offers the trucks in the traditional two- and four-wheel-drive configurations. The Silverado and Sierra 1500 Work Truck trim level now adds a crew cab configuration.

For the 2007 model year, the Sierra Denali shares the same billet grille from the other Denali models, and also has the same dash as the 2007 SUVs. The 2007 Sierra Denali was initially the only half-ton pickup that had a 6.2L V8 engine with 403 hp and 417 lbft of torque coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission. The Denali is also an optional all-wheel-drive vehicle and can reach 0-60 mph in 6.3 seconds.

Powertrain
The Generation III small-block V8 engines offered in the GMT800 trucks were replaced in the GMT900 series by the Generation IV small-block V8 engine family, featuring upgrades such as increased power and Active Fuel Management on the 5.3L and 6.0L engines. A new high-performance 6.2L V8 (with 403 hp and 417 lbft of torque) was introduced with the 2007 Cadillac Escalade and GMC Sierra/Yukon Denali line, and was made available in the Silverado 1500 for MY 2009.

After skipping the 2008 model year, with 2007 being the last for the GMT800 hybrid line, a two-mode hybrid model was introduced in late 2008 as a 2009 model. However, poor sales led General Motors to discontinue the Silverado/Sierra Hybrid along with the Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon/Cadillac Escalade Hybrid and Avalanche/Escalade EXT after the 2013 model year, though it was one of the first two hybrid pickup trucks to be manufactured. Available in either two- or four-wheel drive, and exclusively in a Crew Cab configuration, the Silverado/Sierra 1500 Hybrid is powered by a 6.0-liter V8. It is joined by two 60-kilowatt electric motors supplied by a nickel–metal hydride battery pack under the rear seat. On its own, the V8 is rated at 332 horsepower and 367 pound-feet of torque. GM engineers say that combined output with the electric motors is 379 hp. The unique 2ML70 transmission / hybrid drive unit houses the electric motors along with three planetary gear sets and four traditional clutches.

As of 2008, GM full-size trucks were no longer sold in United States and Canada with manual transmissions; they were only offered in Mexico in the Silverado 1500 with 4.3L V6 and Silverado 3500.

Interior
There were two dash options offered in this generation Silverado and Sierra: a luxury-inspired dash that closely mimics the dash in their GMT900 SUVs (LTZ/SLT trims), and a more traditional upright dash to make room for a passenger seat in place of a center console (lower trims).

Exterior
All Silverado and Sierra 1500 models received a revised bumper and shortened front fascia for the 2009 model year, and extended and crew cab models equipped with the Vortec 5300 V8 received a new six-speed 6L80 automatic transmission. The Vortec 6200 V8 was made available for Silverado LT/LTZ and Sierra SLE/SLT models. Bluetooth was added to the equipment list, becoming standard on Denali, SLT, and LTZ, and optional on SLE and LT, as was an optional backup camera. An integrated trailer brake controller, first available on the Silverado and Sierra HD for 2007, is now an option on 1500 series trucks. The XFE package was new for 2009, available only on Silverado 1500 Crew Cab LT 2WD models. It included the 5.3L Vortec V8 with Active Fuel Management, a soft tonneau cover, XFE badging, aluminum wheels, and low rolling resistance tires.

A refresh followed with all 2010 models, including new interior door panels (which moved the handle forward and added an additional cup holder), and a six-speed automatic transmission on Regular Cab models with the 5.3L V8 was also made standard. The 6.2L V8 was given wider availability, now being optional on LT and SLE Extended and Crew Cabs, completely supplanting the light-duty Vortec 6000 V8 in the process. The new Z71 Appearance Package was optional on LT and LTZ, which included body-color grille and front fascia, body-color door handles and mirror caps, unique Z71 bed decals, chrome sill plates, and a unique Z71 gauge cluster. Two new exterior colors were added: Taupe Gray Metallic and Sheer Silver Metallic.

For 2012, the Silverado and Sierra 1500 received another refresh. This time, the Silverado was given new grille and front fascia treatments for both LT and LTZ models. A newly redesigned touch-screen navigation radio was optional on LTZ, SLT, and Denali. Trailer sway control and hill start assist are now standard on all models. Cooled seats were made optional on LTZ and SLT, and the woodgrain trim was replaced with brushed aluminum.

HD
For the first time, the 8.1L big block V8 is no longer offered on the Heavy-Duty models, and no replacement was announced. The 6L90 6-speed automatic transmission is standard on all HD models. The Allison 1000 transmission is paired with the optional Duramax turbo-diesel instead.

For 2011, the HD models were upgraded with a new fully boxed high strength steel frame from front to rear improving stiffness by 92 percent with bigger rear springs, larger engine and transmission mounts and new hydraulic body mounts to improve the ride. The front suspension incorporates new upper and lower control arms and new torsion bars tailored to one of five different gross axle weight ratings. Upper control arms are constructed from forged steel that is both stronger and lighter than the previous arms, while the new lower arms are cast iron to maximize load capacity. Using a unique torsion bar for each gross weight rating allows for better control over vehicle height, resulting in improved handling and better alignment for reduced tire wear. These improvements allow for up to a 6,000-pound front axle weight rating, allowing all 4WD trucks to accommodate a snowplow.

Additional front suspension enhancements come from new urethane bump stops, two per side. The upper shock mount has been changed from a single stem mount to a two-bolt design to eliminate the possibility of squeaks and thumps.

The rear suspension design uses asymmetrical leaf springs that are wider and capable of greater load handling. The design features three-inch-wide leaves, with front and rear spring sections of different lengths to reduce the twisting that can result in axle hop and loss of traction. The 2500HD uses a two-stage design with a rating of 6200 lb, and 3500HD models have a three-stage design with 7050 lb and 9375 lb ratings on single-wheel and dual-wheel models, respectively.

Production location switch
For the 2011 model year of the Silverado/Sierra, the production of 1500 crew cab models partially moved from Silao, Mexico, to Flint, Michigan.

Safety
The Silverado comes standard with four-wheel ABS. StabiliTrak and side curtain airbags are optional on certain trim levels.

2007 NHTSA crash test:


 * Frontal Driver:
 * Frontal Passenger:
 * Side Driver:
 * Side Rear Passenger:
 * Rollover:

The IIHS gave the Silverado a "Good" score in their frontal crash test. The 2007-09 models equipped with or without optional side curtain airbags received a "Poor" rating in the side impact test. For 2010, the side structure was strengthened, side torso airbags were added, and side airbags became standard leading to the IIHS side impact overall rating improving to "Acceptable" and the overall side structure rating improved from "Poor" to "Acceptable." The crew cab variant of the 2011–13 Silverado is also rated "Marginal" in the IIHS roof strength test.

Electric version
In 2011, the developer of the Chevrolet Volt and former vice chairman Bob Lutz joined VIA Motors in developing electric versions of the Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra called the VIA VTrux.