New Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ hits Australia

HSV has launched its latest generation locally-converted 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ but says pricing of the fully-loaded full-size pick-up is still up in the air pending finalisation of a deal between it and General Motors.

Insiders say the deal, which should determine the future of GM Speciality Vehicles, is close to being inked.

Based on the premise the new entity will be a joint-venture (between the Walkinshaw Group and General Motors), the price of the donor left-hand drive vehicle could be substantially reduced from current levels. On that basis, the highly-equipped new-generation converted 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ should be priced at around $110,000.

Warranty programs and other aftersales benefits may also be boosted by the agreement.

Importantly, a viable GM Speciality Vehicles operation would also clear the way for cheaper, lower-spec Silverado variants and allied models.

As it stands, the locally-converted Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ comes with full homologation compliance. This means HSV has the right to sell as many as it can build. That could number in the thousands once it gets a few variations in the market.

The 1500 joins the previous generation Silverado 2500HD (HD: heavy duty) in the HSV line-up, while the 3500HD has been available on special order.

At the projected $110K pricetag, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ justifies its price by being the most modern full-size truck to come Down Under. It is loaded with a long list of amenities but is also the first full-size truck to arrive with autonomous emergency braking.

The low speed (8km/h-80km/h) system is complemented by camera-based adaptive cruise control.

The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ comes to Australia as a crewcab ‘shortbox’ powered by a 6.2-litre petrol V8 engine producing 313kW and 624Nm. The claimed fuel consumption average with the aid of cylinder deactivation is 12.3L/100km.

The drivetrain is completed by a 10-speed automatic transmission and high and low range 4x4 courtesy of the Z71 off-road pack.

Towing is a cornerstone of full-size truck appeal and the Silverado LTZ offers 4500kg with a 70mm tow ball, 3500kg with a 50mm ball or 750kg with an unbraked trailer.

HSV says the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ’s payload is 712kg and Gross Combined Mass (vehicle and trailer) is up to 7160kg.

The Silverado’s price is well above the RAM 1500 range, which starts at $79,950 for the Express 5.7-litre petrol V8 quad cab and climbs as high as $109,950 for the Laramie diesel.

The RAM 1500, which has been superseded in the USA, is also converted at HSV’s Walkinshaw Park facility on a contract basis for America Special Vehicles (ASV).

“We anticipate there will be additional [Silverado 1500] variants,” confirmed Walkinshaw Group boss Tim Jackson.

“Our highest priority is that truck [LTZ] because we know that is the sweet spot… A high-contented vehicle… We need to get that right in the market.

“After that we’ll say ‘that’s a pretty loaded vehicle, a lot of content on it. Is there an opportunity for something at a pricepoint later in the equation’?” Jackson told carsales.

Jackson made it clear a lower-priced Silverado 1500 petrol V8 model would be preferred to opting for a turbo-diesel engine. Feasibly that could mean opting for the 265kW/519Nm 5.3-litre petrol V8 that is also available with lower-spec Silverados in the USA.

“Purely from a HSV perspective we see the HD [variants] as where diesel is most attractive and is the priority from a buyer perspective. In the 1500s the priority is on the petrol at the moment,” he said.

Jackson confirmed the new generation 2500 and 3500, which are on-sale in North America, are in HSV’s plan for Australia. However, quite how all that pans out depends on how the negotiations over the new GM Speciality Vehicles business work out.

“We’re working through all that with GM. It’s all in discussion,” said Jackson.

HSV’s preference for petrol at 1500 level is curious on the surface, given the turbo-diesel bent of buyers of traditional one-tonne utes such as the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger. But there’s no doubting the growing appeal of full-size trucks to Australian buyers, given more entrants including the all-new 2021 Ford F-150 could be on the way soon.

“I think the appeal is just the sheer capability of the platform, I think it starts from a towing base,” said Jackson.

“But people are now getting familiar with them and it’s being legitimised as a segment. They know they can get a good quality product that is engineered correctly and built correctly.

“We still think there is a lot of growth in the market,” Jackson stated

Jackson believes that growth is primarily coming at the expense of large SUVs.

“You look at what job it [full-size trucks] does, that large SUV is in its competitive set,” he stated.