Introduction
The light-duty, half-ton Chevrolet Silverados are available in a multitude of combinations of cabs (regular, extended, and crew, seating from two to six passengers) and pickup boxes (step-side six-foot and "fleetside" six- or eight-foot) that can be positioned atop a rear- or four-wheel-drive layout. Spice up your favorite arrangement with one of four engine choices and five available transmissions, and you'll likely find a model that fits both your style and your needs. And this doesn't include the heavy-duty Silverados (designated by the "HD" suffix), true bulls that you can order in an additional 49 different blends of body style and powertrain.
A near-twin of the GMC Sierra, the aging current-generation Silverado has been on sale since 1999. The all-new Silverado will arrive during calendar year 2006--well ahead of previously announced schedules--in an attempt to help right GM's listing corporate ship. By contrast, the new, more-refined Ford F-150 has been at dealers since late 2003, and other competitors have also received more recent renewals.
The most notable news on the 2005 Silverado is the Hybrid package, which may sound pretty good efficiency-wise, but erase those images of a Toyota Prius-fighter; this "mild hybrid" system is basically a higher-powered electrical system that allows the engine to shut down stop at traffic stops while keeping the accessories going, for a minor 10-percent savings in fuel economy.... Read full article