2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Provides Lesson in Toughnology

SEMA-bound Concept Truck Debuts in Texas

September 26, 2014 By Charles Krome

Call it a pre-emptive PR strike from the team behind the 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500: Introduced just before the launch of the aluminum-intensive new Ford F-150, the Bowtie brand's latest full-size show truck—the "Toughnology" concept—was designed specifically to showcase the benefits of high-strength steel.

The party line from Jeff Luke, a General Motors executive engineer: “The technology of advanced high-strength steel makes the Chevrolet Silverado stronger, lighter, more capable and more efficient—and that’s exactly what the Toughnology concept represents. During the Silverado’s development, we evaluated all materials and chose those that would provide the best strength to support capability while still delivering a strong value to customers.

“High-strength steel had clear advantages and is a contributor to the overall package that made Silverado the 2014 North American Truck of the Year.”

But the real advantage, according to Luke, is that the 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 relies on a variety of materials to best suit customer needs: “We put the best materials to use where they’ll do the most good," according to Luke.

And yes, that includes some aluminum, too. It's used in area like the hood of the 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, where it helps to trim 17 lbs. from the truck's curb weight.

As for the Toughnology concept, it builds on the steel-strong foundation of the 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with unique style cues, including an exclusive "raw steel" exterior finish set off by graphics that show the molecular structure of steel. Other highlights of the truck—which started life as a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 in the upper-grade LTZ trim—are 22-inch Chevrolet Accessory wheels, wrapped in off-road rubber, as well as a soft tonneau cover, grille insert, washable carpet bedliner, fender flares, tinted headlamp lenses and tubular assist steps.

The 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Toughnology concept debuted recently at the State Fair of Texas and next will be part of the Chevrolet exhibit at the SEMA show in Las Vegas, in November.