2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 v8 engine

2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 v8 engine  google doc

The 2016 Chevrolet Silverado Truk is heading into its third year since a major redesign; yet Chevy is already tweaking the Silverado's look and adding some key features—most notably, a more finely detailed front-end design, more widely available eight-speed automatic transmissions, bolstered active-safety hardware, and new-generation MyLink infotainment systems.

The set of changes should keep sales going strong, as they have been since GM redid these trucks for 2014, when they gained a design that falls closely in step with heavy-duty models from the automaker. A more upright, chiseled—some would say boxy—look was given to the Silverado then, with a more upright yet better-trimmed interior appearance to match. At that time, GM gave these trucks a strong yet more fuel-efficient engine lineup; better cabin refinement; and, at last, some safety and connectivity cred.

This year's refined look adds up to some sharpening and finer detail in the front end, with different grilles for each model, LED signature lighting across the board, and more use of LEDs on top models. Chevy has dropped the dual headlight look in favor of single headlights.

It all simultaneously nods to the looks of buff Chevy HD trucks while adding a luxury-car feature set to the top of the lineup. And while the Silverado may look every bit a direct rival to the Ford F-150, which it is, the differences in engineering approach between these two trucks couldn't be more different. GM essentially sticks to a steel-bodied layout and traditional, big-displacement engines, while Ford has moved to downsized, turbocharged engines and aluminum-intensive construction. 

2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 v8 engine  google doc

Although the engine sizes in the 2016 Chevy Silverado lineup are probably going to be familiar to repeat GM truck owners, pretty much everything else is different, and it's all been thoroughly modernized in recent years. All of them feature aluminum blocks and heads and are now equipped with direct injection, cylinder deactivation, and continuously variable valve timing. The base EcoTec3 4.3-liter V-6 makes 285 horsepower and 305 pound-feet of torque. That's a sufficient amount of torque to even be paired with the heavier crew-cab models, and we tend to think it's gutsy enough for all but the most serious towing and hauling needs. With the 5.3-liter V-8, you get 355 hp and 383 lb-ft, while the top 6.2-liter V-8, at 420 hp and 460 lb-ft, provides the most capability; it can tow up to 12,000 pounds. 

Models with the 6.2-liter last year got a new eight-speed automatic transmission, and for 2016 the eight-speed is available with the 5.3-liter V-8 in the LTZ and High Country models. A six-speed automatic transmission rounds up the rest of the model line, and we've found it to shift decisively, albeit somewhat harshly with heavier loads. The new eight-speed's closer span of ratios taps into either engine's power better and should bring some towing and hauling ease, but it actually hurts EPA fuel economy ratings. That's an odd one, but real-life mileage may actually be better.

With the Silverado's redesign two years ago it made major gains in ride and refinement. In fact, with its well-tuned ride and responsive handling, it's perhaps the most pleasant of all the full-size trucks from the driver's seat. That's thanks in part to a bit better handling control; front springs were made stiffer, and two-stage leaf springs and twin-tube valving add finesse. Electric power steering is standard across the Silverado 1500 model line, as are four-wheel disc brakes that include a longer-life Duralife rotor design. 

Inside the 2016 Silverado controls are logically laid-out, mostly on either side of the steering wheel or in the large center stack. Materials themselves were given a major upgrade a couple of years ago, with most of the touchpoints now covered in a soft-rubber material. Knobs and controls are large, and easy to use with a gloved hand, and cabin noise levels are now on par with, if not better than, many SUVs, thanks to more in-floor insulation. A top-of-the-line High Country model allies with the GMC Denali models to provide serious top-lux cabin appointments, including durable leather, unique wood trim, and other upgrades that GM's highest-end trucks have missed in previous generations. 

Crew Cab models’ rear doors are large, for easy entry and exit, and the B-pillar is pushed forward, which helps get feet in more easily. Meanwhile, the rear doors on extended-cab versions now hinge from the front—they're called Double Cab in this generation—offering entry and exit ease that’s close to that offered in former Crew Cab models. The front seatbacks are thinner in this generation as well, and that increases rear leg room by about two inches and also eases entry and exit.

Three different cargo-bed lengths are offered: 5-feet-8-inches, 6-feet-6-inches, and 8-feet long, and in general cargo convenience is far better than it has been in previous versions of these trucks—everything from new CornerStep bumpers to a soft-opening, rotary-damped tailgate to LED lamps tucked under the bed rails.

The Chevrolet Silverado has earned some excellent safety ratings. The federal government gives Crew Cab models its highest five-star rating overall, while the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has given the Silverado a top "Good" rating in the moderate overlap front test. We expect that the changes General Motors has made to the front end are minor enough not to affect those results. StabiliTrak with Trailer Sway Control is a standard feature, as are Hill Start Assist and head-curtain side airbags with rollover protection.

For 2016, GM makes IntelliBeam (intelligent high-beam headlights) and Lane Keep Assist available in an Enhanced Driver Alert Package that is offered for LTZ and High Country. Also offered are a Lane Departure Warning system, a camera-based Forward Collision Alert system, as well as the Safety Alert Seat—a vibrating chair that alerts the driver to the direction of possible dangers. Front and rear park assist and a rear tailgate camera are also available.

An upgraded version of Chevrolet's MyLink infotainment system is also new for 2016. It gets a faster processor and full Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, allowing you to use smartphone apps via the vehicle's touch-screen system. MyLink is already one of the better systems on the market—refreshingly simple compared to some other lead rivals—with connectivity for multiple devices, natural-language voice recognition, a "favorites" system (contacts, destinations, radio stations or media), and an eight-inch touch screen. For 2016, GM also adds a version with a seven-inch touch screen for lower line trucks. Last year GM added text-message alerts, Siri Eyes Free, and available OnStar 4G LTE hotspot capability (with a subscription data service).

Interior

2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 v8 engine  google doc

 just its third year after a complete redesign, the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado gets a revised look up front. Every model features a new bolder front end with LED signature lighting. The grille changes for each model. The WT, LS, and LT models have HID projector headlights, while the LTZ and High Country have LED headlights. Dual stacked headlights give way to single headlights on all models. The LTZ and High Country also feature LED taillights.

In front, is tall and blunt, and it takes cues from Chevy's heavy-duty (HD) trucks, which take their cues from big rigs. The overall effect is imposing, thanks in part to a hood placed at the same height as the HD trucks', plenty of brightwork on higher trim levels, and a mesh-honeycomb appearance for the grille. Meanwhile, the dual-dome hood and chiseled details of the sheet metal help give it a high-shouldered, squared-off appearance, with squared off wheel wells that accent the profile.

Despite the blocky appearance, these trucks are more aerodynamic than their predecessors—thanks to a grille design that is mostly blocked off and a hood shape that helps channel air over the windshield wipers. Wheel sizes range from 17 to 22 inches.

2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 v8 engine  google doc

Inside, the layout is simple and the ambiance is refreshingly refined. GM has resisted the urge to make the interior of its trucks either more complex or even lower and more carlike. The instrument panel is upright and simplified, with controls clustered either just to the left of the steering wheel or in a large, upright center-console area, and GM has aimed to make all the knobs, buttons, and interfaces easy to read and operate even with work gloves on. This also helps the ungloved who just want to change a setting with only a glance at the controls. Most materials are of high quality, with most touchpoints made of soft rubber.

New exterior colors for 2016 include Siren Red Tintcoat, Red Hot, and Iridescent Pearl Tricoat.