The Silverado Trail Boss Steps Up to Diesel

Silverado Trail Boss now available in diesel.

Some people might be surprised at how long the Chevy Silverado half-ton went without a diesel engine. When you go to performance diesel competitions, the Big 3 are always well represented. But for a while the diesel option was absent in recent years. So it was that in 2020 that the Silverado stepped up its game with a turbo diesel inline six.

At the time, automotive columnist Len Ingrassia wrote last year, "The new turbo diesel inline six cylinder promotes high fuel economy, performance and a plethora of configurations to match your pocketbook and penchant for creature comforts." 

We find it interesting that GM is now adding a diesel option to the Chevy Silverado Trail Boss. As reported earlier this year, GM has its sights set on going all electric by the middle of this century. Needless to say, they obviously do not want to abandoned the diesel enthusiasts among us. Hence, GM Authority last week announced this new move for the 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 Limited LT Trail Boss.

According to a story by Caleb Jacobs in The Drive, the Trail Boss is currently considered the most off-road capable truck in Chevy's half-ton lineup. 

Jacobs notes that "the 3.0-liter Duramax diesel inline-six that hasn't been available on the Trail Boss to this point, and it'd be great to pair that 4x4 prowess with nearly 30 mpg on the road. Now, it seems like General Motors will make it happen."

The 3.0-liter Duramax produces 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. That's equal to GM's potent 6.2-liter gas V8. The V8 can't compete on fuel economy though. Off road in 4x4 mode, Duramax numbers are 25 mpg. Running down the highway you get 29 mpg.

We applaud the move, especially since Ford is discontinuing its half-ton diesel after this month. Ram will no doubt pick up the slack with its EcoDiesel V6-powered half-ton trucks, including the Rebel 1500.

Special thanks to the industry journalists who work at keeping us informed of all the latest developments in our industry as they happen.

2021 Chev Silverado Diesel Makes a Splash in Argentina

On January 1, GM Authority kicked off the year with a story about a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado that was unveiled in Argentina a few days before in Cariló Park. The Silverado 1500 is a diesel-powered gem, and as you can from the photo here it is dressed in silver so luscious it appears to be liquid.

Deivis Centeno, the author of the story, shared how this was a pretty big surprise when the Silverado was unveiled at the end of year event a couple days earlier. The silver LTZ is equipped with a Duramax turbo-diesel 3.0L LM2 inline-six engine that generates 281 hp and 457 pound-feet of torque.

Argentina has more than 14 million cars and trucks on the road, more than any other Latin or South American country other than Brazil and Mexico. It's understandable that GM is seeking to find the right vehicles to match customer needs in that country. The Silverado is part of this effort. 

The top five brands in Argentina are Volkswagen, Toyota, Renault, Chevrolet and Ford. The two American automakers are neck and neck. GM has made a commitment to zero in on what Argentinians are looking for. 8% of the people there live in rural communities where agriculture remains strong. Ford is the leader in pickup truck sales, which is why GM is eager to win hearts with the Silverado.

Centeno states, "The automaker announced that it will continue analyzing its target audience’s preferences and fine-tune the most appropriate offer for the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado in the Argentine market. As a result, it’s possible that some versions of the pickup featuring the 5.3L L84 V8 engine, with 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, will also be available in Argentina."

The Silverado is expected to go on sale during the first half of this year. It's summer in this Southern hemisphere country at the Southernmost tip of South America. GM has chosen an exotic location to display its offerings, at a place called the Chevrolet Forest Walk, a 28,000 sq. foot area in the middle of a forest. Pretty cool digs.

GM, we wish you well in your efforts there.

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