General Motors has been concentrating on its sport-utility models lately and will continue to do so for a while, but the company hasn't forgotten the importance of pickups in today's market.
So there'll be alterations and upgrades in all four of the company's brands for 2001-Chevrolet S-10 and GMC Sonoma in the compact segment, and Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra in the full-size segment.
For the Silverado and Sierra lines, the big news has to be the arrival of two powerful new V8s and the move to four doors as standard equipment on all Extended Cab models.
Those V8s are of course the Duramax Diesel 6600 and the Vortec 8100. The former is a direct-injection, turbocharged and intercooled 6.6-litre affair that cranks out 300 horsepower and 520 pound-feet of torque, while the later provides 300 horsepower and 520 pound-feet of torque.
But there is also the composite pickup box due mid-year, which is a first for a segment that traditionally used heavier steel boxes. This box features two-tier loading cargo divider/tie-downs, and comes with stake pockets on the Extended Cab/Short Box 4x4 model.
Medium Pearl Green and Sunset Orange replace Meadow Green and Copper on the Metallic color chart. On the bigger versions of Sierra and Silverado, there are now also 3/4-ton and 1-ton Crew Cab bodies, and increased GVWR ratings all-around.