User:SteveCof00/Chevrolet Silverado (second generation)

The second generation of the Chevrolet Silverado is a range of trucks that was manufactured by General Motors from the 2007 to 2013 model years. Centering the redesign around improved aerodynamics and fuel efficiency, GM also increased the model differentiation between the Silverado and its GMC Sierra divisional counterpart.

The model line uses the GMT900 platform, shared with full-size General Motors SUVs (which were released prior to the pickup trucks). In General Motors tradition, the previous-generation GMT800 Silverado remained for sale, becoming the Chevrolet Silverado Classic for 2007.

2006-2009
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 SUV's. The 2007 Sierra Denali was initially the only half-ton pickup that had a 6.2 liter with 403 hp and 417 lbft of torque coupled to a six-speed transmission. This truck is also an optional all-wheel drive vehicle and goes 0-60 mph in 6.3 seconds.

The Generation III small block V8 engines offered in the GMT 800 trucks were replaced in the GMT 900 series by the Generation IV small block V8 engine family, featuring upgrades such as increased power and Active Fuel Management on the 5.3 L and 6.0 L V8s. A new high performance 6.2 liter V8 (with 403 hp and 417 lbft of torque) was introduced with the 2007 Cadillac Escalade and 2007 GMC 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. General Motors discontinued the Silverado Hybrid due to poor sales along with the GMC Sierra Hybrid, Chevy Avalanche, Chevy Tahoe Hybrid, GMC Yukon Hybrid, Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, and Cadillac Escalade EXT after the 2013 model year even though it was the one of the two first hybrid pickup trucks ever manufactured. Available in either two- or four-wheel-drive, the Sierra 1500 Hybrid is powered by a 6.0-liter V8. It's 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 transmission houses the electric motors along with three different planetary gear sets and four traditional clutches.

There were two dash options offered in this model Silverado and Sierra: a luxury-inspired dash that closely mimics the dash in their GMT900 SUVs, and a more traditional upright dash to make room for a passenger seat in place of a center console.

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 V6 engine and Silverado 3500.

All Silverado & Sierra 1/2-ton 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 LTZ and 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 rear vision 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 2 wheel drive models, it included the 5.3L Vortec V8, soft tonneau cover, aluminum wheels, and low rolling resistance tires.

2010-2011
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 Vortec 6200 V8 was given wider availability, now being optional on LT and SLE extended and crew cabs. The new Z71 Appearance Package was optional on LT and LTZ, it included: body-color grille and front fascia, body color door handles and mirror caps, unique Z71 box side decals, chrome sill plates, and a unique Z71 gauge cluster. Two new exterior colors were added: Taupe Gray Metallic and Sheer Silver Metallic.

2012-2013
For 2012, the Sierra and Silverado 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.

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, however 2007-09 models equipped with or without optional side curtain airbags received a "Poor" rating in the side impact test. For 2010 models the side structure was strengthened, side torso air bags were added, and side airbags became standard, with the upgrades the IIHS side impact overall rating improved to "Acceptable", while the overall side structure rating is improved from "Poor" to "Acceptable". The crew cab variant of the 2011-13 Silverado is also rated "Marginal" in the IIHS roof strength test.

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

Utility vehicles
The GMT900 Silverado/Sierra served as the basis of Chevrolet, GMC, and Cadillac full-size SUVs. In a major change, the full-size SUVs were no longer wagon variants of full-size pickup trucks, instead designed with their own front bodywork; the only shared body parts were now the doors (of the Suburban and its divisional counterparts).

For a second generation, the Chevrolet Avalanche/Cadillac Escalade EXT was a pickup truck variant of the Chevrolet Suburban; the former was now offered solely in a 1500-series payload range.

Electric version
In 2011 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 VIA VTrux.