AT INTRODUCTION facelifted Range MY23 Chevrolet Silverado 1500General Motors Specialty Vehicle (GMSV) announced that it will make other new product announcements for Australia and New Zealand in 2023 – without confirming or denying any plans to introduce a side-drive SUV. right, V8-powered to appeal to buyers who want Silverado’s towing and off-road capabilities in a vehicle other than a pickup.
While operating under the Holden brand, General Motors Australia previously redesigned (and successfully renamed) the long-wheelbase Chevrolet Suburban SUV for right-hand drive, with limited sales, from 1998 to year 2001.
GMSV also said there will be more announcements about Cadillac’s global expansion as an electric-only brand – expected later this year – following the reveal of GM’s electric vehicle ambitions. and the versatility of the ‘Ultium’ EV platform in mid-2022, plus hints for future confirmation of the Ultium platform being relevant to the right-hand drive market.
In the case of the C8 Chevrolet Corvette, right-drive models are produced alongside left-drive versions at GM’s Bowling Green Assembly Plant in Kentucky to meet strong demand in Japan and the UK, as well as Australia and New Zealand.
However, while the Chevrolet Silverado pickup easily outsold the C8 Corvette in Australia – the full-size ute posted 2389 sales in year 22 compared to the C8 Corvette’s 225 sales – GMSV says production of the Silverados is right. in the US remains unfeasible due to the relatively small proportion of right-hand drive relative to total US production volume (523,249 units last year).
Silverado’s local redesign will also apply to any future GM V8 SUVs sold in Australia and New Zealand – filling a clear gap in GMSV’s local product portfolio. .
While the market for full-size, larger-engine vehicles that can carry a giant caravan across the country, or a giant boat to a marina, is steadily growing, the only option for people purchased is currently a two-cabin pickup truck of American origin. trucks – redesigned for right-hand drive by Australian companies – are not their mechanically similar SUV cousins.
When asked by GoAuto News on whether the Chevrolet Tahoe SUV or the more premium GMC Yukon SUV – both closely related to the Silverado 1500 pickup – could be in our market, said GM Australia executive. and New Zealand Marc Ebolo played his cards close to his chest, without dismissing the idea.
“We have product announcements this year, but we are not ready to make them yet,” said Ebolo.
“We’ve got a very staged communication plan that we really want to follow… (so) I don’t think we’ll be commenting on future products right now.
“We have a lot going on (coming soon) this year, and as I say a lot, it’s across all of our business units. For example, we have an announcement for AC Delco, we have an announcement to make for Chevrolet Racing. (But) yes, we have a product announcement this year.”
While the Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon SUV is based on the same T1XX platform as the Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra pickup truck, the regular body versions ride on a significantly shorter wheelbase (3071mm versus 3745mm for the ute). ) is much shorter overall (5352mm vs 5931), but only slightly narrower (2057mm vs 2074) and actually has a wider rear track (1735mm vs 1728).
That last measurement concerns the completely different rear suspension used in SUV versions – a complex multi-link independent setup instead of the leaf spring direct axle used in the car versions. pickup – can be combined with the optional ‘Magnetic Ride Control’ adaptive damping or an electronically adjustable adaptive air suspension.
In the US, the Tahoe/Yukon is available with either a 5.3 or 6.2-liter V8 petrol engine, as well as a 3.0-liter turbo-diesel inline six, although according to GMSV’s chief marketing and communications officer, Jodie Lennon, “we’re going to stick to the V8 swim lane and we’re always exploring the needs of the market, (however) we don’t have much else to say about that this time around.”
What can be assumed is that the 313kW/624Nm direct-injected 6.2-litre V8 petrol engine with the 10-speed automatic transmission specified as standard on the right-drive Silverados will almost certainly convert into an SUV app, as it already meets Australian standards. request and is such a capable puller.
Combined with the optional ‘Maximum Stretch Package’ (which adds a cooling system and a two-speed transfer case in 4WD models), the Tahoe 4WD has a US brake drag of 3682kg while the top Yukon gains up 3818kg. For comparison, the braking capacity of the MY23 Silverado in Australia is 4500kg for the LTZ Premium with the standard Z71 package and 4200kg for the new off-road-focused ZR2.
Based on more luxurious interior specs (more similar to the looks of the new interior of the screen-heavy MY23 Silverado), plus a more upscale, long-wheelbase Yukon XL (from the same origin) from the name, unlike Chevy’s LWB Suburban version) and the terrain-focused Yukon AT4, GoAuto News hopefully GMSV will favor introducing the premium GMC over the less well-equipped Chevrolet, if indeed the company decides to introduce a scooter replacement for the highly successful Silverado pickup.
As for any imminent Cadillac announcement of right-drive electric vehicles that will be made available in Australia (as well as Japan and the UK), GM’s international communications director Lauren Indiveri-Clarke confirmed. that General Motors is “certainly scaling up its business in Europe and is looking at launching there in a number of countries with an electric vehicle category and it will start with Cadillac.
“There are no specific product announcements at this time… but we are always researching other markets that are suitable for our business there. “We look at all of our markets across GMI (General Motors International) and the opportunities we have,” said Ms. Indiveri-Clarke.
“We have nothing to announce today… (and) we have not made a global announcement about right-hand drive at this time. However, I encourage you to stay tuned,” she said, alluding to the possibility of right-drive Cadillac EVs being confirmed later this year or early 2024.
