Surprisingly good value for a full-size pickup.
It’s not often that you find yourself in a position where your garden-variety one-tonne ute, like a Toyota Hilux or Mitsubishi Triton, just isn’t enough. Miners, farmers, and people with really big boats know what we’re talking about. It takes a lot to leave a mid-sized ute flummoxed, but when that’s exactly what happens, HSV has just the thing.
Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) has dropped details on the new Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and Silverado 3500 range, bringing V8 turbodiesel grunt to the table for those who simply demand the greatest breadth of capability out there. Prices will start at a reasonable $114,990 for a Silverado 2500HD WT (that stands for ‘Work Truck’), while it crests at $147,990 for a top-of-the-line all-the-bells-and-whistles Silverado 3500HD LTZ, so reports Motoring.
All HSV Silverados will be converted to right-hand drive, as part of a joint-venture with GM Holden, and will retain factory warranty coverage. All HSV Silverados will be powered by an enormous 6.6L V8 turbodiesel with 332kW and 1234Nm (that’s not a typo), with power going to all four wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission, complemented by four disc brakes and a heavy-duty locking rear diff.
Payload is rated at 975kg, which might not be that impressive, but it makes up for it by offering a 5890kg towing capacity (though certification has not yet been given).
“The availability of the Chevrolet Silverado range opens up some wonderful new opportunities for our business in a segment that is relatively untapped and has high growth potential. Whether it be the farming or mining sectors, those who need to pull a large caravan, boat, or horsefloat, or simply those who want awesome towing and carrying capability, the Silverado is the pinnacle.” — Tim Jackson, Managing Director, Holden Special Vehicles (HSV)
Spec will be generous too, even with the Silverado 2500HD Work Truck. The entry-level model ($114,990) will come as standard with 18-inch steel wheels with Goodyear Wrangler rubber, halogen projector headlights, chrome side-steps, integrated rear-bumper corner steps, air-conditioning, tinted windows, keyless entry and go, remote-locking tailgate, power-adjustable side mirrors with hearing, as well as a ‘Driver Information Centre.’
Inside, the 2500HD WT gets things like a reversing camera, 6-airbags, and StabiliTrak which throws in stability control, roll avoidance, traction control, hill-start assistance, and electronic trailer sway control. You also get niceties like ‘Dark Ash w/ Jet Black’ cabin trim, a three-way split rear bench (the Silverado sits 6, with three sitting side-by-side), a 7.0-inch colour infotainment screen, and a six-speaker audio system.
If you want a touch more in creature comforts, the Silverado 2500HD LTZ ($134,990) brings a whole lot more to the table. You’ll find 18-inch chrome alloys, mouldings round the exterior, and bits from the Z71 pack that throws in gas-charged shocks, a 33.6mm front stabiliser bar, a transfer case shield, and hill-descent control.
Drivers will also appreciate the inclusion of forward collision warning, lane-departure alert, all-round parking sensors, and fog lights up front.
All passengers will like things like the larger 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment unit, 7-speaker BOSE soundsystem, smartphone mirroring, perforated leather bucket seats up front (with heating, ventilation, and 10-way power adjustment and memory recall), dual-zone climate control, adjustable pedals (critical in something this enormous), leather-wrapped steering wheel, and remote-start capability (a great way to warm up your diesel truck in the morning).
Above this, you’ll find the Silverado 2500HD LTZ Midnight Edition ($139,990), which adds a whole lot of black paint, black alloys (18-inches in size), a black grille, bumper, mouldings, side-steps, mirror-caps, door-handles, and headlight bezels, as well as a black Chevrolet badge and a spray-on truck bed liner.
*This is just a usual day at work for a Silverado owner, we reckon.
As if to balance it out, there’s a Silverado 2500HD LTZ Custom Sport Edition for the same price as the Midnight Edition. Your $139,990 here will get things like a unique ‘Summit White’ paintjob, 20-inch polished alloys, white bumpers, and a matching grille with chrome bars. The bed liner remains black, and is still standard though.
The ultimate Silverado, the 3500HD LTZ, will arrive in June (the 2500s arrive this month), and will relieve you of $147,990 for the pleasure. However, you do get a longer tub out back, smoked amber roof markers across the, uh, roof, and 17-inch alloys to mark out your car from the ‘lesser’ 2500 models.
For more information on HSV, check out our Showroom.
