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Ford may have the best-selling pickup in
America, but a whole lot of Americans still prefer a
Chevrolet. While Dearborn's most recent light-duty pickup
has taken on a windswept, aerodynamic look, and Dodge has
carved a niche with its vaguely retro, little big-rig
theme, Chevrolet has stuck with a more conservative shape,
bluff in the nose and square in the shoulders. Chevrolet
feels its customers are more comfortable with traditional
truck styling. So when the Chevy pickup was totally
re-designed, re-engineered and even re-named for 1999, its
styling was updated but not radically changed.
At the same time,
however, Chevrolet caught up with (or even surpassed) the
technology and refinement of the more radical looking Ford
and Dodge. The Silverado, as Chevy calls its pickups now,
is a great achievement, better than the previous
"C/K" truck in every respect. It rides better,
handles better and stops quicker; it's faster and it's
more comfortable. In fact, the Silverado ranks as one of
the most luxurious pickups we've ever driven.
For 2001, Silverado adds even more
power, convenience and durability. All extended-cab models
now have two auxiliary rear doors, rather than just one on
the curbside. Extended-cab 1500s with four-wheel drive are
available with a Pro-Tec fully composite box that's
virtually impervious to dents or corrosion. OnStar is
available on newer LT models. Finally, the 6.0-liter V8
that is standard in 2500 models has been given aluminum
heads and more aggressive valve timing, for a nice, round
300 horsepower at 4400 rpm, and 360 pound-feet of torque
at 4000.
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