GM Trucks Rolling Along!

FOR RELEASE: February 6, 2002

Redesigned 2003 Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra Advance GM's Truck Leadership

General Motors trucks are on a roll.

Buoyed by exceptional retail sales performance and an improved product mix, GM sold 2,631,535 trucks in 2001, the best-ever industry truck sales. In 2002, the momentum continues with the newly redesigned 2003 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, significant upgrades to all full-size utilities, the expanded availability of GM’s exclusive Quadrasteer four-wheel steering system and StabiliTrak, and the debut of seven-passenger midsize utilities, along with all-new Hummer H2, medium duty trucks and full-size vans.

“GM is serious about sustaining truck leadership with trucks that customers feel they simply must have,” said Gary Cowger, president of GM North America. “Building on our awesome current lineup of trucks, we plan to continue moving fast to market with innovative and distinctive products across all segments that exceed customer expectations.”

Full-size trucks
Just four years ago, GM introduced an all-new platform designed to vastly improve the performance and capabilities of the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra. GM followed that two years later with the successful launch of the Silverado and Sierra heavy-duty models. Enthusiastic customer response to these models has helped propel GM’s effort to capture full-size truck leadership. With over 40 major new features or improvements, the 2003 Silverado/Sierra continue to demonstrate why they are the industry’s premier full-size pickups.

2003 highlights
Highlights of these improvements include: a passenger-sensing air bag system, advanced electrical architecture, modified instrument panel with a new driver information center, new steering wheel controls, new center console, the first industry application of a Bose audio system in a full-size pickup truck, a new rear-seat entertainment system, manual and fully automatic dual-zone climate control systems, and the expanded availability of the Quadrasteer four-wheel steering system.

For 2003, Silverado shares a common design between the light-duty and heavy-duty models, while creating a family resemblance with Avalanche and TrailBlazer. Sierra also has a common design between light and heavy duty while creating a family resemblance to Envoy in a front-end treatment inspired by the Terradyne, Terracross and Terra4 concept trucks.

“These major enhancements will help GM sustain pickup truck leadership and set the benchmark even higher, and come just four years after the introduction of GM’s all-new pickups in 1999,” said Cowger.

Quadrasteer
Quadrasteer four-wheel steering – which improves low-speed maneuverability and high-speed stability – will be extended to several more GM full-size trucks during 2002. The system, first introduced exclusively on the GMC Sierra Denali, will be offered this calendar year as a regular production option on properly equipped 2002 GMC Sierra Wideside and Chevrolet Silverado Fleetside 2WD and 4WD extended cab short-box pickups. Quadrasteer also will be extended to 2003 Silverado and Sierra 1500 HD 2WD and 4WD short-box pickups, and ¾-ton full-size Chevy Suburban and Yukon XL, making them the industry’s first full-size crew cabs and full-size utilities to offer this revolutionary control and handling technology.

Across the lineup
As GM moves aggressively to build on its leadership in full-size trucks, almost all of the many other upgrades to GM’s full-size pickups will be extended across the entire line of full-size trucks in 2003 – including the Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban, GMC Yukon/Yukon XL sport-utility vehicles, and the Chevy Avalanche and Cadillac Escalade EXT ultimate utility vehicles. For 2003, these vehicles will receive interior refinements similar to the Silverado and Sierra. Additionally, a four-channel StabiliTrak system, electrical adjustable pedals and second-row bucket seats will be available.

Commercial trucks
GM's new medium duty trucks for 2003, the Chevrolet Kodiak and GMC TopKick, will feature so many commercial market innovations, it’s safe to say the medium duty truck segment will never be the same again. These trucks reflect years of effort from a highly dedicated commercial truck team, and offer GM's medium duty customers best-in-class maneuverability and visibility, an expanded powertrain lineup, advanced chassis and braking systems, improved ride and handling and increased comfort and safety.

This summer, GM will continue its aggressive launch of new truck products by bringing to market the Hummer H2 and a new line of full-size vans built with never-seen-before innovations designed to help users get the job done right.

Extended midsize utilities
GM’s cadence of truck introductions is not limited to the full-size segment. For families who need more room, GM will offer new seven-passenger versions of its midsize SUVs this spring. In the new Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT and GMC Envoy XL, a third-row seat easily accommodates two adults comfortably, while still allowing more than 22 cubic feet of cargo space behind it.

GM's trio of all-new midsize SUVs – Chevrolet TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy and Oldsmobile Bravada – debuted as 2002 models. Powered by the all-new Vortec 4200 inline-six engine, the midsize utilities offer the power of a V8 with the fuel efficiency of a six-cylinder.