Chevrolet Silverado 1500 priced

HSV has finally announced a recommended retail price for the new Chevrolet Silverado 1500, which was launched to the Aussie motoring media in early March without an official price.

Available in HSV dealerships from April 20, the full-size crew-cab pick-up is now being converted locally to right-hand drive with full certification in Melbourne alongside the 2500.

For now, the MY20 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ Premium Edition auto is offered in a single specification priced at $113,990 plus on road costs (all other colours other than Summit White add an additional $1250).

Official pricing was mixed up in much bigger negotiations between General Motors and HSV’s parent company, the Walkinshaw Group, to establish a new special vehicles business in Australia.

GMSV – as it is currently being referred to -- is being set up to represent GM in Australia in the wake of its decision to shut down the Holden brand.

The announcement of pricing for Silverado is a signal that negotiations over the structure of GMSV are nearing completion.

The Silverado 1500 is the first new generation full-size American pick-up truck to go on-sale in Australia and the single variant available so far is powered by a 6.2-litre 313kW/624Nm petrol V8.

Launched in the USA in 2018, the new Silverado 1500 gets important safety gear other full-size trucks miss out on here, such as its low speed (8-80km/h) autonomous emergency braking and camera-based adaptive cruise control.

But it’s also substantially more expensive than its key rival, the DS-series RAM 1500, which is also converted by the Walkinshaw Group under contract for American Special Vehicles (ASV). Its pricing starts $79,950 for the Express Quad Cab. However, the RAM 1500 that matches up to the LTZ closest in terms of spec is the $99,950 Laramie V8 Crew Cab.

There is a new generation DT-series RAM now on sale in the USA and that is expected to be brought to Australia by ASV and converted by Walkinshaw in the not too distant future.

A big price isn’t the Silverado LTZ’s only big deal. Based on a new high-strength steel ladder frame, its wheelbase is 3745mm, it measures 5885mm long, 2063mm wide, 1915mm tall and weighs in at 2588kg.

It can tow up to 4500kg with a 70mm tow ball, 3500kg with a 50mm ball or 750kg with an unbraked trailer. Payload is 712kg and Gross Combined Mass is pegged at 7160kg.

The Silverado comes to Australia with the ‘shortbox’ tray, which measures up at 1776mm long and 1286mm wide between the wheel-arches. So, it easily fits an Aussie pallet.

The engine is mated to a 10-speed auto and an on-demand four-wheel drive system that includes low-range. The claimed fuel economy average is 12.3L/100km.

The Silverado’s two-speed transfer case comes courtesy of a standard Z71 pack that also includes passive Rancho off-road twin-tube shocks, underbody protection, hill descent control and a locking rear diff.

Apart from AEB and adaptive cruise, other key Silverado 1500 standard safety features include lane change alert with side blind zone and rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, forward collision alert, front pedestrian detection, stability control and traction control, proactive roll avoidance, hill start assist and hill descent control. Six airbags, front and rear, park assist and intelligent high-beam LED headlights are also included.

Standard comfort equipment includes dual-zone climate control with adjustable rear vents, leather trim, 10-way adjustable heated and perforated front seats (including driver memory), heated outboard rear seats, wireless phone charging, MyLink infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a power sunroof, side steps, remote start, a power-operated lift-gate and a spray-in bedliner.

Items deleted off the equipment list in the transition from North America to Australia include active lane keep assist and embedded satellite-navigation.

Standards wheels are 20-inch polished alloys fitted with 275/60R20 all-terrain rubber, but options exist up to 22-inch. Other options include a custom cat-back exhaust system and suspension lift kit from Walkinshaw Performance.