Giant pickup for superstars
The GMC Sierra is a full-size pickup that has been successfully produced since 1999 by the GMC Truck brand, a division of General Motors. Trucks, SUVs, pickups and vans are sold under this brand name. The 4th generation Sierra pickups are currently available on the market. It is analogous to the Chevrolet Silverado. It is not officially supplied to Israel yet, but it is still successfully imported and has many fans.
The GMC Sierra or Chevrolet Silverado traces its history back to a series of Chevrolet C/K pickups that were once popular in the United States. The Sierra is similar to the Silverado. Thus, both vehicles are simultaneously developed and offered, differing only by the front end, the nameplate and various options that make the Sierra more expensive than the Silverado.
The first generation
It was produced from 1999 to 2007. The first generation GMC Sierra or Chevrolet Silverado was developed since 1993 and started being produced in 1998 in two versions, namely the Light Duty and Heavy Duty. These basic versions continue to exist to this day. The main model was the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, available in 2-, 3- and 4-door versions with 1,758 mm, 1,999 mm and 2,479 mm loading platforms. The 1500 was equipped with the Vortec 4300 V6 (193 hp), Vortec 4800 V8 (255 hp) and Vortec 5300 V8 (280 hp) engines.
The pickup underwent an insignificant restyling back in 2000, when a longer cab appeared. In 2002, design changes were made, and some control functions were improved. GMC introduced a slightly modernized version of the Sierra in both 2003 and 2004. Frequent updates, improvements, installation of new engines, transmissions and other components and elements are a characteristic feature of the Sierra/Silverado development. At the same time, improvements were primarily focused on increasing the power and strength of the vehicles.
Modifications
- 2001 GMC Sierra C3 / Denali
The Sierra C3 or Sierra Denali version (Silverado 1500) is one of the most expensive generation modifications. This is an all-wheel drive model with a 6.0-liter Vortec 6000 LQ4 V8 engine producing 325 hp. The Denali could tow 4,100 kg and transport 723 kg in the cargo compartment. The vehicle was equipped with an advanced four-wheel steering system, which shortened the turning radius and accelerated lane changes when towing. Despite a number of progressive technical solutions, the Denali was discontinued in 2005 due to weak sales.
- Silverado SS
In 2003, Chevrolet released the Silverado SS, an improved version of the 1500. The vehicle was equipped with a 6-liter V8 Vortec High-Output engine with 345 hp, four-stage automatic transmission. In 2005, in order to boost sales, the manufacturer introduced a 2-wheel drive version with a sunroof. In 2006, only the rear-wheel drive version remained. These rapid changes were associated with weak vehicle sales.
- Hybrid
In 2004, GM released a hybrid version of the Sierra/Silverado, the first in the history of the American auto giant. It was not fully hybrid, though, as the electric motor was only used to start the petrol engine, charge the battery, and power additional devices on board. The 5.3-liter Vortec 5300 V8 engine was installed as the main engine. This vehicle also did not last long in the automotive market.
- Heavy duty (HD)
Three heavy versions were available for both Sierra and Silverado: 1500HD, 2500HD and 3500HD.
- The 1500HD was powered by a Vortec 6000 V8 engine with 300 hp and a four-speed automatic transmission, which made it possible to transport 1,419 kg of cargo;
- The 2500HD was powered by a V8 engine with 300 hp and a five-speed (from 2006-2007, six-speed) transmission and could transport 1,798 kg;
- The 3500HD was equipped with a 6.6-liter Duramax V8 engine with 397 hp and could carry 2,610 kg of cargo.
The first generation Sierra/Silverado pickup was perceived positively by the target audience, although it was far from perfect. Thus, the Institute for Highway Safety in the USA (IIHS) gave the car a low rating after a crash test, and the sales dynamics were also unstable. Similar modifications were made in subsequent generations, but some of the vehicles were removed from production very quickly.
The second generation
It was produced from 2007 to 2014. The second generation Sierra GMT900 was introduced in 2007. The new generation featured the improved design and interior, reinforced frame and suspension, and more powerful engines. The developers managed to improve the aerodynamics of the GMT900 and reduce fuel consumption. The new Sierra/Silverado models were offered in standard two-door and four-door variants, with a longer cab, AWD and RWD versions.
The second generation vehicle came with a 6.2-liter 403 hp engine, which accelerated this all-wheel drive giant to 97 km/h in 6.3 seconds. In 2009, all Silverado and Sierra models received a new bumper, and the longer cab models with Vortec 5300 V8 engines received a new six-speed automatic transmission.
In 2010, the pickups underwent another restyling, acquiring the modernized doors, a six-speed automatic transmission on shorter models, and slightly upgraded design. In 2011, a steel frame, enlarged rear springs, enlarged engine mounts, and hydraulic body mounts were installed on heavy modifications. In 2012, the vehicle underwent another insignificant restyling, acquiring the trailer sway control, hill start assist and cooled seats.
The third generation
It was produced from 2014 to 2018, while its restyling took place in 2016. The third generation Sierra premiered at the end of 2012, but the vehicle went on sale in 2014. New features included a basic touchscreen multimedia interface and a host of high-tech media options, including inputs for an Apple iPod or iPhone, a premium Bose sound system, and more.
The vehicle was based on a fully enclosed, high-strength steel frame, but many of the elements (hood, engine block, levers) became aluminum, which allowed reducing the weight of the vehicle. The third generation Sierra/Silverado 2500HD/3500HD were the first heavy pickups to feature Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Forward Collision Warning System (FCWS) and Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS).
As a result of the 2016/2017 restyling, the Sierra 1500 and Silverado 1500 acquired a slightly changed exterior and interior design, featuring LED taillights, a front hood with ventilation holes and the ability to refuel petrol models without a cover, and so on.
Moreover, in 2016, the third generation acquired a special modification, the Sierra All Terrain X, equipped with a 5.3-liter V8 engine with 365 hp and an optional 6.6-liter turbocharged V-8 Duramax Diesel engine with 445 hp. Plus, it was accompanied by a package of options for off-road driving, including reinforced suspension, twin-tube shock absorbers, hill descent control, automatic rear differential lock, and more.
The fourth generation
It was produced from 2019 to the present (as of 2021). In 2017, the new 2019 fourth-generation Silverado 1500 was brought by helicopter to the Texas Motor Speedway site in Fort Worth for an initial presentation to auto makers. And the official presentation of the car took place at the 2018 North American International Auto Show in Detroit on January 13, 2018. The date was not chosen by chance, it was the day of the century since the moment when Chevrolet began supplying trucks to the market.
This generation was represented by a record number of modifications in various configurations. The entry-level version is still the Silverado 1500, the presentation version is the Silverado LT Trail Boss 4X4, and there are also WT trim levels, Custom versions, LT, LTZ, High Country versions, and RST versions.
The entry-level version offers six engine options, with the basic 4.3L EcoTec3 FlexFuel-Capable V6 petrol engine producing 285hp. There is also a 2.7-liter turbocharged inline-four engine with 310 hp, a 5.3-liter petrol engine EcoTec3 V8 with 355 hp, and a 6.2-liter petrol engine EcoTec3 V8 with 420 hp. All engines are paired with a 6-, 8- or 10-speed automatic transmission.
The fourth generation Sierra/Silverado comes standard with an infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite radio, Wi-Fi, seven-speaker sound system, GPS navigation and more. In 2020, the vehicles were slightly modified, acquiring power-adjustable vertical trailed mirrors and adaptive cruise control for the LTZ and High Country models. A rather serious restyling is scheduled for 2021.
Famous vehicle
The Sierra and its counterpart Silverado are one of the most recognizable American cars, and they must have been seen and remembered by people who are not interested in cars at all. This is due to the fact that a huge pickup appears very often in Hollywood films.
This vehicle is used by ordinary American guys, police officers, farmers and other classic heroes of American cinema. But sometimes girls also choose it, like the famous Pussy Wagon, the Chevrolet Silverado, in Kill Bill by Quentin Tarantino. This vehicle was also driven by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the action film Sabotage. The pickup was the main vehicle in the Fear the Living Dead, Where the Heart is, and hundreds of other movies and TV-series.
Such attention of filmmakers is connected not only with the cinematic appearance of the Silverado, but also with the fact that it is a really popular vehicle in the United States, with a total sales volume of 12 million units during its release, which makes the scenes that feature this vehicle especially realistic and relevant.
