GM Will Put Pickups On A Diet, One Generation After Ford
The newest generation of GM trucks have barely hit the showrooms, but talk of the next generation trucks getting a major weight reduction is already surfacing.
According to Automtive News, GM is planning on lightening the next gen pickups when they debut in 2019. Like Ford, aluminum is expected to play a key role, but Ford’s aluminum bodies F-150 will debut a full 5 years before GM’s trucks go to fat camp.
AN cites a supplier source claiming that a lightweight version of the Silverado will debut in late 2014, but it will apparently still tip the scales at over 4,000 lbs.
The massive drive to reduce weight and improve fuel economy is a result of looming deadlines for CAFE compliance, which will require dramatic increases in fuel economy for pickups.
More by Derek Kreindler
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It seems like it would make more sense to create a regulation vehicle instead of screwing up the silverado. As a GM leaning guy on TTAC, I hate the new trucks with a passion. No ground clearence, no reason for 4wd with the amount of ground clearence these have. Thin sheet metal, dents much to easy Cyclinder deactivation, is very bugged and has to be programmed out for aftermarket exhaust. Square wheel wells, still having trouble finding those square tires. Lack of traditional non touch screen radio Ugly bumpers that are about as thick as the body sheet metal, as well as being much too low. Shoddy seats, look at GMT800 on how to make leather seats. Electric power steering, need I go further? Much too light for their footprint Again 1/2 are going to become soccer mom vehicles, people that need a Reliable truck all are going to be going to 3/4, lets pray they don't screw up the 6.0 vortec
What if you don't like reduced-weight buttalks?
This is the data I have for current (2013) domestic full size pickups in their lightest configurations (standard cab, short bed): Ford F-150 4685#'s Silverado 1500 4387#'s Ram 1500 4500#'s So, if the 2014 F-150 sheds @700#'s, the GM twins need to loose @400#'s to match the Ford. I have not heard how much lighter the new GM's are than the previous models, if they are any lighter at all. I wouldn't buy an aluminum bodied pickup truck for a few years at least. Need to see how that idea pans out.
@Scoutdude - the current Fords aren't much larger than the Ford's of old. Most of the extra weight comes with all of the safety equipment. The trucks have different crumple zones and the door walls are thicker etc. Remove the airbags and all of the nannies etc. and you'll have a truck close in weight to a 1990 truck. Look at the fuse box on a 1990 pickup. It is the size of a deck of cards. The one on my current truck is massive. I had a 1990 F250 5.0 5 speed Reg cab 8 ft box and my current 2010 F150 5.4 Supercrew 6.5 box out performs it in every conceivable metric. My highway mph on that old F250 is basically my city mpg of my current truck. GMC doesn't have the same need to pare down weight since they are light already. Their engines have traditionally generated better mpg numbers than everyone else too. The Colorado, depending on configuration will fall into the EPA size category of the Sierra/Silverado. It is going to be GMC's EPA ringer. That will buy them breathing room with the larger 1/2 tons.