General Motors revealed at the 2013 New York Auto Show this week its plans to re-introduce versions of its so-called “mid-size” pickups – the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon, which the automaker discontinued in 2012 – within two years.
Jeff Luke, executive chief engineer for Silverado, noted at the show that GM plans to bring new heavy-duty pickups to market as well as and an all-new midsize truck based on the OEM’s aforementioned Colorado platform.
"Chevrolet will have the broadest portfolio in the business," he explained. "No one will be better positioned to offer each and every truck customer the right tools for the job."
According to a story in the Detroit Free Press, GM North America President Mark Reuss said the OEM would launch its revised midsize pickups towards the end of 2014 at the earliest.
He added that the new Chevy midsize pickup will be aimed at the "lifestyle" pickup buyer, while the GMC version will be aimed at fleet buyers and small-business owners. Both will be timed to reach showrooms about the same time as Ford's next-generation F-150 in late 2014 or early 2015, according to Reuss.
GM also revealed the initial sticker prices and fuel economy numbers for its 2014 Silverado 1500 pickup, saying the suggested retail price or MSRP for its new 2014 Silverado regular cab – the first model of the redesigned Silverado line to start production – will start at $24,585, including a $995 destination freight charge; a price the OEM said equals that of the 2013 Silverado model.
The company noted that base price includes several new features as well, such as: the new 5.3-liter EcoTec3 V8 engine, a six-speed automatic transmission; an all-new cab interior; four-wheel disc brakes with Duralife rotors; and a new bed with standard box rail protectors and CornerStep bumper
The base MSRP for the 2014 Silverado 1500 double cab, which replaces the 2013 extended cab model, will start at $28,610, while the 2014 crew cab model will start at $32,710 – again, both mirroring the 2013 base MSRP, GM noted.
For the corresponding versions of the 2014 GMC Sierra, GM said the base prices will be $25,085 for the regular cab, $29,110 for the double cab and $33,210 for the crew cab models.
The OEM also released fuel economy numbers for the 2014 Silverado, based on the use of 87 octane gasoline: 16 mpg city, 23 mpg highway, and 19 mpg combined for its two-wheel drive versions and 16 mpg city, 22 mpg highway, and 18 mpg combined for four-wheel drive models.