Chevrolet’s soft debut of the 2019 Silverado 1500 Trailboss foregoes the big, juicy details, but gives us a great first glimpse at the all-new, next-generation pickup. About the only official specs include the higher strength steel bed floor, a substantial reduction in overall weight, and the presence of that new Trailboss trim. Chevy is withholding the rest until the 2018 Detroit Auto Show in mid-January.

Nevertheless, we’re going over what we know so far and taking a close look at the differences between the outgoing 2014-2018 Silverado and the 2019 model. Don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comments below!

Continue reading for more on the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado.

What We Know

The 2019 Silverado is completely new – that much we fully expect. A new frame made from stronger and lighter steel, updated suspension parts, and lighter body panels are all highly probable. Chevy did say the 2019 Silverado will be substantially lighter than before while its capability will be greater. New engine and transmission combinations are officially happening, though Chevy was mum on the details. Expect updates to the 4.3-liter V-6 and 5.3- and 6.2-liter V-8s. Chevy will certainly include its new 10-speed automatic transmission in the Silverado, too. A possibility of a forced-induction engine – like a turbocharged V-6 – could be happening, as well.

As for the added lightness, Chevy only revealed details of its new cargo bed. The floor is made from a roll-formed, higher-grade steel alloy. Chevy says it’s stronger yet lighter. The rest of the Silverado will use “mixed materials and advanced manufacturing, “ though no word on what that actually means. Rumors suggest the bed could be made of carbon fiber. Since the floor is known to be steel, perhaps it’s the bed walls that get the high-tech material.

More Off-Road Tech

The truck Chevy used to debut the 2019 Silverado is the Trailboss trim – an upgraded Z71 package that includes a two-inch suspension lift and Goodyear DuraTrac tires. Chevy says it’s one of eight trim levels available, which falls in line with the trims currently available on the 2018 Silverado. These include the WT, LS, LT, LT Z71, LTZ, LTZ Z71, and High Country. The Trailboss will be available in the LT trim and likely the LTZ trim. The red one seen here is the LT trim.

It’s clear the Silverado Trailboss isn’t a Ford F-150 Raptor fighter. Rather, this will go head-to-head with the Ram Rebel and Toyota Tundra TRD Pro. Technically, the Ford F-150 FX4 package should be included in the fight, as well, though it’s not as dedicated as the others.

A Visual Comparison

It’s clear from the images the 2019 Silverado shares no exterior parts with the outgoing pickup. Even the A-pillars, roof, and doors are new, confirming the 2019 Silverado’s complete revamp. The windshield is more raked for better aerodynamics and the side mirrors are now perched on the doors rather than mounted by the windows. This will help both reduce wind noise and aerodynamic efficiency.

Up front, the grille is still upright but shares no cues or design features with the outgoing style. Projector beam headlights are stacked atop the amber parking lights with the fender cutting into the grille and housing the LED daytime running lights. The bumper has a familiar design with the fog lights and tow hooks mounted together, a design cue seen on older Silverados. Red tow hooks apparently come on the Trailboss trim, too. Noticeably missing is a big, ugly front air dam, though we expect non-Trailboss models will have one.

Fender Vents

Perhaps the most interesting feature of the 2019 Silverado’s front end is the fender vents. The vertical vents are located between the front bumper and fender. The fender bulges outward, leaving space between itself and the amber parking light and bumper. How this plays into aerodynamics or drivetrain cooling is yet unknown. This feature could also be unique to the Trailboss trim, too. That seems especially plausible considering the body seam between the vent and front fender.

Around the Sides

The 2019 Silverado is far more sculpted and swoopy verses the previous Silverado. Gone are the squared-off fenders, replaced with rounded wheel wells for the first time since the second-generation C/K generation ended in 1972. A strong character line runs from the headlights through the front fender and then dives sharply under the side mirror. The line then runs across the doors and then dissipates within the rear fender bulge. A second character line runs just above the door handles and into the rear taillights before continuing onto the tailgate. A detail worth pointing out is the keyless entry button on all four door handles.

The Silverado Trailboss comes with some handsome and blacked out, double five-spoke wheels. They come wrapped in Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac tires. It is interesting that no side steps or rock sliders come with the Trailboss package, especially considering its off-roading intentions.

Out Back

The 2019 Silverado’s business end is highly stylized yet ready for work. The tailgate features a retro-style CHEVROLET embossing right into the metal, while the Silverado and trim level badges are chrome lettering. The step bumper returns with larger steps for easier access into the bed. The trailer hitch receiver and trailer wiring connection remain almost unchanged, as does the access hole for the hand-crank winch that lowers the spare tire from under the bed. New for 2019 are the chrome-tipped dual exhaust pipes integrated into the bumper’s lower half. This looks similar to the Ram 1500’s dual exhaust treatment, but doesn’t blatantly copy the design detail.

Looking closely, more aerodynamic features are seen back here, too. The trailing edge of the cab has a spoiler integrated into its design. The third brake light seamlessly follows the spoiler and even appears to incorporate a camera for viewing the bed. The tailgate has a slight spoiler, as well, with a thick lip along the top. These two features should help the 2019 Silverado slip through the air more efficiently.

Badge Locations

General Motors’ pickups have had numerous locations for badging over the years. The outgoing Silverado has its main badges on the front doors, while the GMC Sierra places the high on the font fenders. It seems Chevy will follow GMC’s lead for 2019; the Z71 badge seen on the new Silverado is placed predominately ahead of the side mirrors. At face values, this serves two purposes. One, it puts the badge at eye level, making the truck’s trim level easy to spot, and two, it frees up the door space for company logos.

Around back, the Silverado badge and trim level continue to reside on the tailgate, though the embossed CHEVROLET logo hasn’t been seen in several generations. Most recently, the embossed logo was seen on the ill-fated Pro-Tec composite bed offered on the 2001-2003 Silverado.

What We Expect Next

Chevy will divulge all the details at the 2018 Detroit Auto Show come mid-January. Until then, we can only speculate. We expect the interior to have improved fit and better materials, more storage space, and hopefully a completely flat rear load floor in extended and crew cab models. Updated in-dash tech will also be included, along with a 360-degree camera system should be present.

As for powertrains, expect to see the venerable 5.3-liter and 6.2-liter V-8s return, but perhaps with updates for more power and increased fuel economy. The 4.3-liter should be present, too, but perhaps with a turbocharger or two for increased power with added fuel economy. Chevy’s 10-speed automatic transmission is expected on all but the WT trims, which will likely get the existing six-speed or even the eight-speed automatic. The base trucks will likely continue using a manual transfer case, while upper trims will get a push-button system with an Auto mode.

The 2019 Chevy Silverado will make its appearance in dealership showrooms sometime in the third quarter of 2018. Pricing hasn’t been revealed, of course, but expect a slight increase over the outgoing Silverado.

References

Chevrolet Silverado

2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Z71: An Overview

Read our full review on the 2017 Chevrolet Silverado.

Read more Detroit Auto Show news.