March 2012

Vehicle Profile: The 2012 Chevrolet Silverado HD

The heavy-duty pickup truck segment is one of the automotive industry’s most fiercely competitive, not only because of the advanced engineering that goes into each truck, but also because buyers are knowledgeable, demanding and know what trucks will hold up to the extreme abuse the pickups must endure.
 
The 2012 Chevrolet Silverado HD (MSRP $28,800) has been a perennial favorite, both on and off the worksite. For 2012, the Silverado HD hauls more mass than any other truck in this highly competitive segment, achieving best-in-class status for one-ton fifth-wheel towing capacity (23,000 pounds), conventional towing capacity (18,000 pounds) and total payload (7,215 pounds).
 
Not only does the Silverado HD hold best-in-class towing and payload capacities, it also won the prestigious Motor Trend 2011 Truck of the Year award thanks to its outstanding balance of tough, rugged work-truck capability and comfortable and luxurious daily driver.
 
The 2012 Silverado HD is available in a number of configurations to fit a vast array of requirements including three-quarter-ton 2500HD and one-ton 3500HD models in Work Truck, LT and LTZ trims, Regular Cab, Extended Cab and Crew Cabs, two-wheel (rear) and four-wheel drive and, on 3500HD models, available “dooley” rear axle. New for 2012, a Z71 Appearance Package comes with special 18-inch forged alloy wheels, body-colored mirrors, handles and bumpers and a chrome grille.
 
New features for 2012 include technology upgrades like heated and ventilated seats on LTZ models and an available navigation radio with enhanced display and a hard drive that eliminates DVD-based map data discs.
 
The increased capacity of the 2012 Silverado HD comes through numerous chassis enhancements. Re-engineered box structures, rear springs, shock tuning, U-bolts and trailer hitch receiver all come together and boost the Silverado 3500HD total capacity from 21,700 pounds in 2011 to its best-in-class 23,000 pounds in 2012.
 
To make every day towing even more effortless, the Silverado HD offers a long list of standard and available control features like smart exhaust braking for greater downhill control and reduced brake wear, integrated trailer brake control and Trailer Sway Control, which intelligently integrates truck and trailer brakes with the StabiliTrak® electronic stability control system and Hill-Start Assist to help maintain superior control of both the vehicle and its trailer on steep inclines.
 
An available 6.6-liter Duramax® turbo-diesel with B20 biodiesel capability is at the heart of the Silverado 3500HD capacity (the turbo-diesel is also available in 2500HD models), delivering a gargantuan 397 hp and 765 lb/ft of torque through a heavy-duty six-speed Allison® automatic transmission with manual shift control. To reduce the number of refueling stops, a 36-gallon fuel tank gives the 6.6-liter diesel engine up to 680 miles of range.
 
Silverado 2500HD models come with a 6.0-liter Vortec™ gasoline V8 rated at 360 hp and 380 lb/ft of torque paired with a six-speed automatic with tow/haul mode. The 2500HD is no slouch in the towing department either, offering up to 4,192 pounds of payload capacity and as much as 17,800 pounds of towing capacity with a fifth-wheel connection.
 
Another advantage the Silverado HD has over competitors like Ford and Ram is its 4WD system, which uses independent front suspension instead of a solid front axle. This equates to better handling, more compliant suspension and superior road manners.
 
For those who need a truck that doubles as a mobile office, the Silverado HD can also be equipped with Chevrolet WiFi powered by Autonet for full Internet access both inside the vehicle and up to 150 feet away from the vehicle. Of course, the Silverado HD also does an outstanding job as a mobile workshop, offering a bed extender, cargo management sliding rails, sliding tool boxes, a lockable, EZ-lift tailgate and even an overhead utility rack.
 
Depending on what trim package you select, the Silverado HD can be outfitted as a spartan work truck or a fully-fledged luxury suite. Work Truck models offer rubber flooring and vinyl upholstery for quick, effortless cleaning. LT models up cabin comfort with cloth upholstery and carpeting while LTZ models resemble an executive suite with power-adjustable, leather-upholstered bucket seats, standard Bose sound and dual-zone climate control. Available features like navigation, remote start and power-adjustable pedals give you the flexibility to have your Silverado HD your way.
 
In addition to the StabiliTrak system with integrated Trailer Sway Control and Hill-Start Assist, the Silverado HD is equipped with standard safety features like four-wheel disc Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), advanced airbag protection, Traction Control and tire pressure monitoring.
 
Every 2012 Silverado HD also comes standard with OnStar and six free months of Directions and Connections for turn-by-turn navigation, Automatic Crash Response to notify emergency responders in the event of an accident and Stolen Vehicle Location and Slowdown to remotely cut engine power, helping authorities safely recover any OnStar-equipped stolen vehicle. In addition, all Silverado HD models come with a five-year/100,000-mile Powertrain/Drivetrain Limited Warranty, six-year/100,000-mile Corrosion Warranty and five years/100,000 miles of roadside assistance, on top of a three-year/36,000-mile Bumper-to-Bumper Limited Warranty.
 
With a variety of configurations and engine choices, no matter what the job, the 2012 Chevrolet Silverado HD tackles the challenge with more power and refinement than any other truck on the road. So stop in today for a test drive and size one up for yourself.


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