2011 Chevrolet Silverado Harrisburg

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The Chevy Silverado, one of America's top selling pickup trucks is available in a vast array of powertrains, cabin sizes, bed lengths, and body types. The 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is carried over from 2010. The minor changes for the Chevy half-ton pickup include the addition of the latest OnStar 9.0 system, revised exterior color offerings and insulating enhancements that help reduce wind noise. The Silverado doesn't offer fancy luxury packages, but rather provides an outstanding foundation to tackle tough chores. Overall, the 2011 Chevy Silverado is among the smoothest riding and quietest of all full-size pickups, and can be counted on to get the job done. The 2011 Silverado shares much of its underpinnings with the Tahoe SUV, though the pickup gets a unique rear suspension and a frame section 245-percent stiffer than that of the SUV. The current Silverado chassis is far more rigid than that of the previous generation, which allowed the engineers to reduce the gaps between the truck bed and passenger compartment and between fenders and bumpers. This stiffer frame also allows suspension components to be designed for improved ride and handling characteristics as well as allowing enhanced aerodynamics and fuel efficiency.

Powering the new Chevy Silverado

For power there are four engine sizes to choose from: 4.3-liter V6, 4.8-liter V8, 5.3-liter V8, and 6.2-liter V8; and two transmissions: a four-speed automatic and a six-speed automatic. Most V-8 models are rated to tow around 9,000 pounds, but some models manage more than 10,500 pounds with an enhanced trailering package.  Five suspensions are available. The basic Z83 suspension is best chosen for budget constraints. The Z85 is similar except that it uses better shock absorbers and is calibrated for how today's light-duty pickups are often used as daily transportation. The Z71 package is designed for off-highway use and makes maximum use of suspension travel to keep the wheels on the ground when on the trail or dirt roads; this off-road package frequently provides the best ride quality on anything worse than glass-smooth interstates. The Z60 street package replete with 20-inch wheels and low-profile tires is best used for the highway and smooth two-lanes but can be used on a dirt road. The NHT package is designed for maximum loads; ride compliance is good based on how much weight it can carry and tow but driving it around empty may be firmer (harsher) than you want for everyday use.

Design of the 2011 Silverado

The 2011 Silverado comes in regular, extended and crew-cab versions. Standard (6-foot, 6-inch) and long (8-foot) cargo beds are available on regular and extended cabs, while the crew cab gets a short (5-foot, 9-inch) bed. All configurations are available in two- or four-wheel drive. The 2011 Chevy Silverado is a bit less aggressive than some other pickups, but its upright design is appealing in the eyes of many.  A raked windshield and careful aerodynamic and body-building engineering make the truck quiet on the inside and contribute to fuel efficiency. The hood has a wide power dome. Bulging front fenders wrap over the front wheels and incorporate the headlights within their forward sweep. Likewise, the rear quarter panels are punctuated by large faired wheel wells.

'11 Chevy Silverado Interior

The cabin of the 2011 Silverado is extremely versatile. Consumers start out by choosing one of  two distinct interiors. The WT, LS and LT get interiors that are more work-oriented, while the LTZ draws inspiration from the SUV lineup. Besides interior fabrics and colors, the dash layouts are different, and the work trucks have larger controls. The easiest way to tell the difference is that work trucks have two glove boxes and LTZs have one. The Silverado cab is spacious and well-organized. The pure pickup interior is more driver and work oriented, includes two glove boxes in the dashboard, one of them just about the right size to hold a pair of work gloves and a few small items, and a 40/20/40-split front bench seat with the center section of the seat back folding down to form a wide arm rest with lots of storage capacity. This interior features large switchgear controls and interior door handles designed to be easily manipulated even while wearing bulky gloves. The more luxury-oriented interior includes bucket seats with a permanent center console with 20 liters of storage capacity. The center stack puts ventilation and audio controls within easy site and reach of the front seat passenger. This version has a single glove box in the dash.

New Chevrolet Silverado Lineup

Silverado WT is a basic work truck that comes with a driver information center, AM/FM/XM stereo, 40/20/40 split-bench, vinyl-covered front seat, dual glove boxes, two auxiliary power outlets, tire pressure monitoring system, OnStar and a four-speed automatic transmission. The LS Crew Cab offers lots more in the way of features.

Silverado LT adds a cloth-covered front seat with lockable storage under the seat, a CD player and MP3 compatibility, power windows/locks/mirrors, remote keyless entry, auto-dimming rearview mirror with compass and outside temperature displays, chrome front bumper and 17-inch styled steel wheels, and power folding and heated exterior mirrors. LT models can be upgraded with premium cloth front bucket seats with six-way power adjustment, dual-zone automatic temperature controls, audio controls mounted on the steering wheel, fog lamps, aluminum wheels, chromed bumper, and a spare tire lock.

Silverado LTZ adds heavy-duty trailering equipment, an automatic locking rear differential, body-colored bumpers, reclining and heated leather front seats with 12-way power, an in-dash six-CD changer with Bose speakers, 18-inch wheels, turn signal indicators in the exterior rearview mirrors, and heated windshield washers.

Conclusions

GM's electronic stability system includes rollover mitigation technology. It's standard on all V-8 models. Roof-mounted side curtain and seat-mounted side-impact airbags are now standard on all half-ton models. GM says its seat belt pretensioners activate during rear-end impacts. As a bonus an integrated trailer brake controller is available on all models. It is integrated with the ABS system, and provides immediate and measured brake force signaling to electric-controlled trailer brake systems. There is no requirement for external and/or aftermarket brake control systems. The brake controller switch is conveniently mounted on the lower-left section of the instrument panel. For more information on this work horse of a pickup, visit the official Chevy Silverado site!