Redesigned Chevy Trucks Debut at Chicago Auto Show

Redesigned for 2003, the Chevrolet Silverado sports a design that is even bolder and more expressive, and shares a strong family resemblance with other Chevrolet trucks like TrailBlazer and Avalanche that strongly differentiates them from anything else on the road.

“The Silverado is the industry’s most dependable, longest-lasting full-size pickup, as well as General Motors’ best-selling vehicle,” said Rick Scheidt, Silverado brand manager. “The significant enhancements for 2003 – coming just four years after the introduction of the all-new half-ton model and only two years after the highly successful launch of the heavy duty models – demonstrate our commitment to solidify our full-size truck leadership in the 21st century,” Scheidt said.

Exterior
“The 2003 Silverado’s integrated front end flows seamlessly into the sheet metal of the vehicle with its powerful, sharply chiseled features and angular wheel openings,” said John Cafaro, vehicle chief designer.

The styling changes for 2003 are readily apparent in Silverado’s aerodynamically-styled hood, which displays a sense of power and strength. The front-end lighting system features redesigned headlamps, park-turn signals and daytime running lamps.

The machined look of the large mid-grille band creates an aggressive look and is smoothly integrated into the front end. Ruggedness is portrayed through the front tow hooks and fog lamps recessed into the front bumper. Uplevel bumpers retain the traditional chrome appearance.

“The entire front fascia of the vehicle is flush-mounted to the body, creating a smooth look and reducing body gaps,” added Cafaro. “Premium, internal-aim headlamps add to the seamless fashion of the Silverado. Their lenses and housing are fixed to the body so that only the inside lamp parabolas are adjustable.”

Completing the exterior update, Silverado offers new 16-inch, six-spoke, bright-machined aluminum wheels, available on uplevel Silverado 1500 Series models.

Two new exterior colors are available on 2003 Silverado: Dark Charcoal Metallic and Medium Blue Metallic. Carryover colors on uplevel models include Fire Red, Polo Green, Black Onyx, Pewter, Summit White and Dark Toreador Red. All except the Toreador Red are available on base models. Body-colored wheel flares are available in Pewter, Summit White, Black (grained), Polo Green and Carbon Metallic.

Interior refinements
“For some time now, trucks have moved well beyond simply being workhorses,” Cafaro said. “Trucks have become preferred vehicles for a growing number of people. As such, we felt it imperative to redesign Silverado’s interior to enhance comfort, convenience and driving pleasure.”

Across the board, Silverado’s new seats provide more comfort and new sew styles for cloth, vinyl and premium leather seating surfaces. Easier access to the seat button controls has been achieved because the side panels on the outboard sides of the front seats have been re-contoured. This redesign results in an additional inch of space between the seat and door trim.

“We’ve even redesigned the front-seat headrests, allowing occupants to rest their heads in a more comfortable, upright position,” added Cafaro. Models equipped with Full Feature seats provide front occupants with independently heated seat backs and cushions. Cushions offer three temperature settings: low, medium and high. Occupants can elect to heat either the seat back or the seat back and cushions.

New console
Models with bucket seats receive a standard center console that flows up into the instrument panel and has a seamlessly integrated, single-piece design. The console includes a storage compartment and power outlet at the rear. On crew cabs and extended cabs, the rear of the console also provides second-row passengers with separate airflow direction controls for personalized comfort.

Instrument panel cluster
Also redesigned for 2003 is Silverado’s instrument panel cluster. The new faceplate and graphics provide more crucial operating data than any competitor, and place the data directly in front of the driver for safe, easy viewing.

The center bottom of the instrument panel cluster provides a standard new driver information center that is shared by all the pickups/chassis cabs. The driver information center displays the odometer and provides an easy-to-read, one-line, 22-character vacuum fluorescent display of driver alerts.

Silverado’s new exterior and interior design will be featured on all 2003 models: 1500, 1500HD, 2500 and 2500HD/3500 Series.

“These new features and enhancements to the 2003 Silverado combined with its impressive power, towing capacity and high level of refinement will set the benchmark even higher,” said Scheidt. “They all come together with style in the new 2003 Silverado.”