The ongoing truck battle between Ford and Chevy is heating up again as Chevrolet confirmed today it’s getting back into the Class 4 and 5 segments with new models for the 2019 model year after a decade-long absence.
The maker released a teaser shot that implies an aggressive looking front end, but not much else. The company plans to unveil the new models at the The Work Truck Show 2018 in Indianapolis in early March. The show is the largest fleet operator-focused truck show in the country.
“The Silverado 4500HD/5500HD trucks are the flagship of our full-line commercial truck portfolio and we’ve designed them to be among the best in the industry in maneuverability, serviceability, visibility, quietness and comfort, diesel fuel economy and more,” said Ed Peper, U.S. vice president, General Motors Fleet.
Additional technical specifications for the new Silverado 4500HD/5500HD will be released at the reveal in March. The trucks are expected to go into production in late 2018. The company does make a cab-over style in the Class 4-6 segments, but the pickup-style models are new.
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Chevy officials said the trucks, which are all-new from the ground up, are back based on the demand from customers. The vehicles are “black hole” models and a Chevy customer who wanted one was forced to buy another company’s truck for this segment.
While customers may be demanding them, they’re also big profit generators for automakers. The new Ford F-450 starts at $52,100. The base model is capable of towing about 34,000 pounds and is powered by a 6.7-liter Power Stroke turbodiesel V-8 and has a six-speed automatic transmission.
Once a few options are added, such as leather seats, satellite radio and navigation, it doesn’t take long for these trucks to exceed $100,000.
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The all-new Silverado medium-duty trucks will be available in regular and crew cab models, with 2WD and 4WD capability and a wide range of GVWRs and wheelbases. The trucks will also be powered by Duramax diesel engines and Allison transmissions.
However, Chevrolet is mindful of what is helping to sell light-duty trucks in near-record numbers these days. It will also offer these trucks with an expanding suite of industry-leading driver connectivity and fleet management solutions, including OnStar, 4G LTE Wi-Fi, and a number of telematics offerings.
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“At GM Fleet, we are determined to deliver on our three pillars: Great Products, Innovative Business Solutions and an Exceptional Customer Experience, and I’m confident that with these new trucks, we’ll exceed the expectations of not only our fleet customers, but the drivers and upfitters as well,” Peper added.
