Cheaper four-cylinder Chevrolet Silverado announced
And new local trademark suggests GMSV could release the cut-price Silverado variant in AustraliaGeneral Motors may have axed Holden in 2020 but now it’s back in expansion mode, with the GMC Yukon likely to be confirmed for Australia soon and its Cadillac luxury marque expected to soon be announced as a global EV brand for markets including ours.
Now it seems GMSV’s local Chevrolet Silverado pick-up range could also be about to grow – and get cheaper – following a GM trademark application for its ‘TurboMax’ nameplate with IP Australia yesterday (March 30).
On the same day, the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado was announced in the North America, including the optional availability of a diesel engine for the ZR2 flagship just launched in Australia and, more relevantly, the rebranding of its base high-output 2.7-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol powerplant.
Yes, the Silverado’s entry-level powertrain is now known as the TurboMax engine and while no physical changes have been made for the new model year, the local trademark suggests GMSV could be eying an eventual local introduction for the force-fed four-banger pick-up.
Such a move would slash thousands off the entry price of the Silverado 1500 line-up in Australia, which currently starts at $128,000 plus on-road costs for the LTZ Premium powered exclusively by a 6.2-litre petrol V8.
Both the LTZ and the more rugged ZR2 off-road hero share the same big-bore bent-eight, which burbles out a segment-leading 313kW/624Nm and drives all four wheels via a 10-speed automatic transmission.
The TurboMax donk doesn’t make anywhere that sort of power but it’s still good for a handy 231kW/583Nm and consumes less fuel in the process, however, it does so with two less ratios in its transmission.
Towing capacity does suffer in comparison with the gutsier V8 (4500kg), but the turbo-four will still lug up to 4218kg in 4x4 guise and carry up to 970kg in its tub.
Given the current Silverado range is massively undercut on price by the more extensive RAM 1500 line-up, the TurboMax engine could be offered here in a new entry-level variant positioned below the fully-loaded LTZ Premium, both in terms of the powertrain and equipment levels.
GMSV has plenty of grades and other trim levels in the US and Canada to choose from when selecting the hypothetical new configuration, including the WT, Custom, LT and RST – the middle two of which seem the most plausible when looking at the equipment levels.
Both the Custom and the LT are also available Stateside in Trail Boss guises, the latter of which has previously been offered Down Under, where right-hand drive Silverado ‘remanufacturing’ now takes place at a dedicated Walkinshaw facility in Dandenong.
GMSV is yet to confirm the four-cylinder powertrain for our market, let alone any additional Silverado variants, but local executives recently told carsales it is planning several major new product announcements this year – likely to include the big GMC Yukon off-road SUV, the Cadillac Lyriq mid-size electric SUV and, perhaps, a TurboMax-powered Silverado.
Related: GMC Yukon: GMSV says ‘stay tuned’
Related: GMC Yukon trademarked for Australia
Related: Cadillac and Chevrolet Silverado EV edge closer to Australia
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