What Makes The 2019 Chevy Silverado Interesting

There’s a lot more going on with the redesigned pickup than its alien grille and enormous “Z71” emblem. We took a close look at the truck with one of the engineers who put it together at the Detroit Auto Show, and you’re coming along to check it out.

The announcement of a new 3.0-liter six-cylinder Duramax turbo diesel engine option—in an inline configuration no less!—was the really big news when the covers came off this truck last week. The torque, efficiency and reliability of diesel engines make them well suited for duty in pickup trucks, and an inline six is one of the most balanced engine configurations by nature anyway. So this new power plant has a lot of promise.

Heavy duty trucks from Chevy, Ford and Ram have been available with big honking diesel engines since forever. But the new trend to offer a smaller, more efficiency-focused diesel for half-ton trucks is cool and new since Ram introduced its for 2014.

Ford has promised a , so it looks like we’re about to be in the throes of a whole new pickup truck pissing contest. At least this one is focused on saving fuel instead of ratcheting up ridiculous towing capability claims.

But even though Chevy’s new half-ton-sized Duramax has been confirmed, it will be a few more months until we get to hear it run or see how it feels. In the meantime, we can just scope out the new Silverado’s interesting physical features.

Our tour video’s pretty straightforward, taking you from the (apparently functional) aerodynamic ducting in the front bumper to the new leaf spring setup, mixed-metal construction (every hinged panel is aluminum, everything else is steel) to the roof’s aerodynamic shape and clever blind spot warning sensors tucked safely into the bumper instead of embedded in an expensive taillight like Ford’s setup.

Inside, Mr. Tracy will take you through the truck’s deep array of creative cargo storage solutions.

I’m still not sold on the design of the facia, but I like the way this truck looks everywhere else and I’m stoked at the prospect of a new diesel option in half-ton pickup trucks. Hopefully we’ll get some more time with the truck actually moving in the near future.