2014 Chevrolet Silverado Teased During Final Testing

Spy shots are always fun to look at, but they’re even better when released from an automaker. Trying to drum up a little enthusiasm for its next-generation pickup truck, General Motors released a teaser picture and video of the new Chevrolet Silverado. Chevrolet says that its new Silverado will start production next year – likely as a 2014 model year vehicle – and we would expect to see it unveiled either at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit or the Chicago Auto Show which is usually very truck friendly.

While little is known about the new Chevy Silverado, or the closely related GMC Sierra, the image and video teased by GM shows the new truck clad in camouflage hard at work in Yuma, Ariz. getting ready for production duty. In the video, the Silverado can be seen performing an uphill towing test, and the still image shows the truck in a water test. It isn’t clear whether we’re looking at the light-duty Silverado 1500 or a more robust Silverado HD model, but either way, we expect plenty of new power under the hood to keep GM on pace with its Ram and Ford rivals. Rumored engines for the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado include a new turbocharged V-6 to better compete with the Ford F-150 EcoBoost, a direct-injected V-8 for better fuel economy and performance and a new version of the powerful Duramax diesel V-8.

Like many of the current and upcoming GM vehicles, the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado will almost certainly have a design that focuses on improved aerodynamics while keeping the same rugged Chevy styling. It has also been rumored that the Silverado and GMC Sierra will finally be getting some major styling changes that better differentiates each truck to match the attitude of its parent brand. As evident by the Silverado Crew Cab model displayed in these pictures, the new truck will still deliver Chevy’s bold front grille with a split crossbar (an attribute seen on the current Silverado HD).

In addition to the new Silverado, the 2014 model year is shaping up to be quite busy for Chevrolet. Sharing the same body-on-frame platform as the Silverado, a next-generation Chevrolet Tahoe (and likely the Chevrolet Suburban) will debut soon. For sedan lovers, the 2014 Chevrolet Impala is set to hit the streets early next year, while Chevy’s new face of NASCAR, the Chevrolet SS, will likely go on sale later in the year. Finally, to celebrate the car’s 60th birthday, the Chevrolet Corvette (the highly anticipated C7) is also expected to debut sometime next year.