WYDOT at U.S. Senate on Autonomous Vehicles and Transportation Infrastructure

WYDOT at U.S. Senate on Autonomous Vehicles and Transportation Infrastructure

Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) opens the discussion.

In June 2018, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee held a hearing in Washing D.C. to discuss the future of autonomous vehicle and transportation infrastructure. Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Senator Barrasso’s opening statement included, “New vehicle technologies offer many potential benefits and could transform the way that we view surface transportation all together”. He went on to say that, “Soon, elderly and disabled American’s, as well as those without a car of their own, may be able to travel via vehicle with greater ease and greater independence. Likewise, these innovations have great potential to reduce crashes and fatalities, to improve mobility and to increase the efficiency of the roadway system.”

 

Wyoming transport

Bill Panos, Director, WYDOT
Photo courtesy WYDOT

Wy Dept. of Transport Director William Panos testifies at Senate hearing.

During the discussion that lasted an hour and a half, William Panos opening statement addresses some concerns looking to the future. He questions how autonomous vehicles will handle roadwork zones, and what are the signage and striping requirements. Panos also brings up, that enabling DSRC (Dedicated Short Range Communications) on long rural highways could be costly, so would there be an alternative, such as using cellular networks. He also mentions that the FHWA (Federal Highway Administration) announced a series of meetings to discuss autonomous vehicles and infrastructure and encouraged Congress to move forward with those meetings. WYDOT is currently testing DSRC on I-80.

 

Wyoming testing connected vehicles.

During the entire hearing, Wyoming was mentioned more times than Detroit. Probably because it’s one of only 3 States currently testing connected vehicles. The Wyoming Dept. of Transportation (WYDOT) runs a connected vehicle pilot program that includes Vehicle to Vehicle (V2V) communication, Vehicle to Infrastructure (V2I) communication and Infrastructure to Vehicle (I2V) to communication. The idea behind this is to ultimately improve safety by monitoring I-80 and alerting drivers of road conditions. Panos stated that in 2016, there were more than 1600 crashes on I-80, which resulted in 18 fatalities and 271 injuries. In December of 2016, I-80 was only fully open for 8 days.

“The Wyoming pilot program will test new safety technology, such as advanced forward collision warnings, to let travelers know of crashes ahead,” Panos said. “It will also provide immediate situational awareness warnings about weather alerts, speed restrictions, parking availability, and so forth; detailed and current work zone warnings; specialized spot weather impact warnings for ice, fog, and other hazards; and notifications from disabled vehicles.”

Connected vehicles, aren’t necessarily autonomous vehicles, Panos says, but people are driving cars increasingly equipped to able to receive DRSC data. In fact, over 100,000 DSRC equipped Toyota’s are currently on the road in Japan, according to automotive journalist Aaron Turpen of TorqueNews. Turpen’s article also states that Toyota and Lexus will have the technology in the U.S. by 2021.

The system was initially tested on WYDOT vehicles but has now expanded into fleet and freight vehicles.

 

 

 

Shailen Bhatt, President, and CEO of the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America) also testified at the hearing. “Advances in robotics, artificial intelligence, and wireless communications have inspired a race to make the next generation of mobility a reality. We are on the leading edge of a technology revolution that will define the way people, goods, and information move in the 21st century.”  He also talks about maintenance of existing roads, bridges and other infrastructure is critical to being globally competitive.

Bhatt requests for long-term sustainable funding and that there be a Federal framework in place for consistency. “…so that we don’t have 50 different States (and then along with other cities and jurisdictions) developing their own standards when it comes to the operation of these vehicles.’

New York Commissioner says it should be up to the vehicle’s, not the city’s infrastructure.

New York Commissioner Trottenberg said, “Comments from industry suggest that cities need to get their infrastructure ready for the deployment of HAV’s (Highly Automated Vehicles). I would argue just the opposite.” she said. “New HAV technology should instead be prepared to operate safely and effectively in complex and urban environments, in snow, with traffic control officers managing an intersection when signals are out, and judgment is needed. Or when pavement conditions or lane markings are deteriorated.” Trottenberg says, “It’s simply not realistic or feasible to expect cities to overhaul their existing roadway infrastructure to accommodate a still, somewhat, unproven technology.”

Moving forward

Further discussion brought up points such as; a ‘vehicle eye test’ to make sure the vehicle knows what it is seeing is real, a rating system for cybersecurity of that similar to the NHTSA 5-star safety rating and a roadway classification system (that would determine the difference in roads from dirt roads to highways).  There was also mention of a road usage charge to fund the new technology.

Be part of the Wyoming Connected Vehicle Program.

Contact

Ali Ragan, Wyoming Department of Transportation

(307) 777-2985 | [email protected]

Read our article on talking cars.

 

 

 

 

 

Sources:

“Autonomous Vehicles and Transportation Infrastructure .” C-SPAN.org | National Politics | History | Nonfiction Books, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, 13 June 2018, www.c-span.org/video/?446972-1%2Fsenate-committee-examines-infrastructure-autonomous-vehicles.

Inama, Aimee. “WYDOT Director Bill Panos Addresses U.S. Senate Committee about Intelligent Driving Systems.” WYDOT, Wyoming Department of Transportation, 15 June 2018, www.dot.state.wy.us/news/wydot-director-bill-panos-addresses-us-senate-committee-about-intellig.

Turpen, Aaron. “Toyota to Have Connected Vehicle Technologies in the US by 2021.” New Atlas – New Technology & Science News, New Atlas, 19 Apr. 2018, newatlas.com/toyota-connected-vehicle-dsrc/54283/.

 

Read our article on talking cars.

 

Review: 2018 Toyota Camry XSE V6

Review: 2018 Toyota Camry XSE V6

Toyota Camry XSE V6 Review

Camry XSE Review

2018 Toyota Camry XSE V6, Photo: L Baures

The XSE surprised me. Ok, it’s not the most clever rhyme ever, but it does pretty much sum up what my thoughts are on the 2018 Toyota Camry XSE. The Camry, of course, has been a best seller in the U.S. for a long time.

To some, it might be seen as a boring, bland, soulless sedan, but reliable and safe nonetheless. Toyota previously hasn’t been known for making drastic changes to vehicles, but the design of the new Camry might change one’s mind on that.

The sporty edges, defining lines, and angry-looking grill seems like a big step for Toyota. It’s different.

Camry XSE Review

Such a photogenic car! Photo: L Baures

Trim lines

Fist, I want to explain the trim levels because there can be quite a difference between them. The FWD sedan starts at around $23k equipped with a 2.5L 4 cylinder engine and 8-speed automatic transmission in the ‘L’ model.

Following that, comes the LE, SE, XLE, XSE, XLE V6, XSE V6. There are also 3 hybrid options available; Hybrid LE, Hybrid SE and Hybrid XLE. What do the letters mean? L is for the entry-level model, LE is the luxury edition, SE is for sport edition and X means executive.

Camry XSE V6 packs a punch

Camry XSE Review

2018 Toyota Camry XSE V6, Photo: L Baures

I was anticipating another regular run-of-the-mill sedan when I heard I was getting a Camry to test. What I didn’t realize is that the model is the XSE equipped with the 3.5 L V-6 (the bigger engine option) on the sporty trim.  Pleasantly surprised when I entered the on-ramp approaching 80 mph speed limit on I-25. The 301 hp and 267 lb-ft torque gently pushed my head backward as I reached 80 mph in no time at all. “Huh”, I thought, “this car actually has some pep”.

My thoughts then shifted from ‘”practical family sedan” to “ok, is there a SPORT button, can this car do more!?”

Sport button found, mode activated,  “Mwa ha ha ha, ok Camry…let’s see it”, I say.

(Side note: Is it weird that I talk to cars?)

Uh hu, the car can do more. I plant the accelerator, a wee delay followed by an angry purr from the exhaust, good acceleration, and torque steer! Power delivery is smooth and of course, being a naturally aspirated engine, there’s no turbo lag.

That’s right ladies and gents, torque steer from a Camry (torque steer is when the car accelerates so hard it can influence the steering). Entering into corners the Camry feels planted and stable thanks to the sport-tuned suspension that comes as standard.  Handling is superb. The direct shift 8-speed automatic transmission is smooth once it gets going.

As a bonus, the ergonomic paddle shifter’s behind the steering wheel are fun to engage more with the car.

Drive modes

Camry XSE review

There are three drive mode options; ECO, NORMAL and SPORT. I’d tell you how ECO did on fuel consumption, but I was just having way too much in SPORT mode. Sorry.  I did still average 23 mpg though, so not bad at all. EPA estimates are; 32 mpg on the highway, 22 mpg in the city and 26 mpg combined.

Camry XSE review

Quad exhausts, spoiler and, diffuser-like rear lower panel give the car an even sportier look. Photo: L Baures

Safety

As with most all-new Toyota’s the Camry XSE V6 sedan comes with the latest safety technology as standard called TSS-P. This includes features such as; Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Automatic High Beams, Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross Traffic Alert, ten airbags, and Brake Assist.

For parents of small children that need car seats, the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers) are easy to access and car seats can be clicked in effortlessly. The NHTSA awards the car with a 5-star overall safety rating.

Camry XSE review

The instrument cluster has various menus. One of which shows the safety feature activation/deactivation.

Technology

Check out the cool camera. Not just a backup camera, but 360 with a birdseye view. This is how it looks as I was sitting in the car wash. This feature is available in the optional, ‘Driver Assistance’ Package which also includes a head-up display.

The Camry XSE V6 also features a Qi wireless charging pad for compatible smartphones. This is a great feature but one of my few complaints I have about this car. Because the car handles so good when cornering your phone can slide off the charging pad. Useful when you’re cruising through.

Entune 3.0 allows smartphone connectivity. The 8″ color touchscreen works well and has dynamic navigation along with  App Suite. Premium JBL audio has 9 speakers and there are several USB ports.  Also available and exclusive to the XSE is a two-tone Midnight Black Metallic roof, Midnight Black Metallic rear spoiler, and exterior mirror housing.

Toyota Camry

LED Daytime Running Lights

The Camry XSE V6 model starts around $35,100 MSRP as per the Toyota website. For more information, you can contact us or your preferred Toyota dealer.

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575 hp Supercharged RAM Rebel TRX is happening

575 hp Supercharged RAM Rebel TRX is happening

RAM Trucks reveals TRX will go into production

 

supercharged off truck

Tweet from FCA confirming production of TRX will happen.

 

Back in the fall of 2016 RAM Trucks introduced a concept truck called the Rebel TRX. As part of the off-road Rebel series, the TRX  (nicknamed the  is set to stomp all over the Ford Raptor. Spec released for the concept TRX suggest it will have the 6.2 L Supercharged HEMI® engine, “the most powerful factory-engineered half-ton pickup ever”. The transmission will be the 8-speed automatic TorqueFlite (8HP70), with paddle shifters and a 4×4 Performance Control System.

Other details suggested in the concept release are;

  • BorgWarner 44-45 transfer case
  • Drives modes; Normal, Wet/Snow, Off-road and Baja
  • Open differential and custom CV half-shafts
  • Aggressive 37-inch tires.
  • Dynatrac Pro 60 axle
  • Electric, selectable locker to 35-spline, 1.5-inch axle shafts
  • High-strength steel frame
  • Custom-built upper and lower A-arms
  • 13 inches of front and rear wheel travel
  • Custom beadlock wheels
  •  Two complete spare tire and wheel packages
  • Lockable storage between the wheels in the bed

” When traversing rough terrain at high speeds, seating is important. The interior design team chose suede with accent mesh cloth inserts to cover the rear bench and front buckets. The suede inserts provide tremendous grip to clothing. The front seats integrate lateral support upper bolsters with embroidered logos. All four seats are strapped with six-point harnesses, further fixing occupants to their proper locations”, said Ram Trucks.

 

supercharged pickup truck

Image: FCA

From the image above, it looks like the Rebel TRX is set for 2022 and will have the mild hybrid (maybe an option, maybe not?). Level 2 autonomy means it will most likely have a full speed range adaptive cruise control along with the other safety technology the new 2019 RAM has.

All New 2019 Volkswagen Jetta

For the 2019 model year Jetta, it’s a new design from Volkswagen.

Now in its eighth generation, the VW Jetta is a compact sedan that has been around since the 70s. Once the most popular selling European cars in the United States. A 1995 Jetta is a feature car in the original Fast and Furious movie.

new vw

1982 and a 2019 Jetta. Photo: VW

Exterior design

The Jetta is now on the MQB platform, so the internal structure and chassis of the car is updated. The car is slightly longer overall, with a longer wheelbase but shorter front overhang. The design is far less boxy than the older model, with a sleek-sloping rear roofline and coupe-like elegance. The front is much curvier giving it a more luxurious and aerodynamic look. VW stepped up the game by adding Chrome and LED lighting to give a premium feel. In a press release, they said the drag coefficient is at 0.27 an improvement on the previous generation Jetta,  “To further optimize airflow, Jetta utilizes aerodynamic wheel designs and underbody panels”.

Volkswagen

2019 VW Jetta SEL Premium

Interior

More interior space can be found in the 2019 model year with more headroom, shoulder and knee room. There are currently 5 trim lines offered, in order from the base model to top of the range, they are; S SE, R-Line, SEL, and SEL Premium. Leatherette interior is standard on the R-Line and SEL trims. Leather seats are standard on the SEL Premium.

Colored interior lighting. An interior ambient lighting system found on the SEL and SEL Premium models offers 10 different colors. Set the color of subtle lights inside the car to suit your mood for the day or maybe just your favorite color. Colors include; white, red, orange, mustard, yellow, turquoise, light blue, blue, purple and pink.

Car-Net Security and Service come standard on all trim levels, with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and MirrorLink allowing easy smart phone integration.

Also starting on the SEL trim is a fully digitized driver information display, the ‘Volkswagen Digital Cockpit’.

cockpit

2019 Jetta Digital Dash

 

Powertrain, transmissions and impressive fuel economy

The new 2019 Jetta comes with a 1.4 L  turbocharged gasoline engine that puts out 147 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy is EPA estimated at 40 mpg on the highway, 30 mpg in the city and a combined rating of 34 mpg.

Manual Transmission

That’s right ladies and gents, the 2019 Jetta comes with an available 6-speed manual transmission. In fact, it comes standard as standard on the entry-level S trim line. An 8-speed automatic is still available on the S as an $800 extra. All other trim lines come equipped with the 8-speed automatic transmission.

“A Start/Stop System is standard on automatic-transmission models. This technology stops the engine during idle when the brake pedal is held (such as when waiting at a red light). When the brake pedal is released, the engine restarts seamlessly”.

VW

Driving mode selections on the 2019 Jetta SEL Premium

Safety

The vehicle has not been rated by the NHTSA.

Driver assistance systems

There are a number of the latest safety and driver assistance systems available on the 2019 Jetta. Those include;

  • Forward Collision Warning
  • Autonomous Emergency Braking (Front Assist)
  • Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Traffic Alert
  • Adaptive Cruise Control
  • Active Lane Keep System (Lane Assist)
  • High Beam Control (Light Assist)

 

Price

The base model S in the 2019 Jetta starts at $18,545 MSRP (as per VW website) with top of line SEL Premium model starting at $26,945 MSRP. Contact your preferred VW dealer for more information, 2019 Jetta’s are now arriving in showrooms.

 

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RAV4 Hybrid Review, WY to SD on Half a Tank.

RAV4 Hybrid Review, WY to SD on Half a Tank.

2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Review

Rav4 Hybrid

Photo: L Baures

It’s Friday evening and I have an invite to go to Deadwood, South Dakota. Looking out the window and seeing my test vehicle for the week, a Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, I think, yes why not. This will be the perfect opportunity to get a good feel for the car.

I decided to bring the family so all of us could test it as a family car. We packed up half the house (traveling with a 2yr old and 4yr old means leaving the house for any period of time is like packing for doomsday).

Would all of the luggage, a 6’4″ husband and 2 children fit in a ‘small’ sport utility vehicle? RAV4’s EPA class is a small SUV. The RAV4 is a traditional hybrid so does not need to be plugged in and also has a regular gasoline engine.  Click to find out more about the different types of hybrids.

Cargo space for 4 people is not a problem for a weekend trip in the 2018 RAV4 Hybrid

suv awd

A pretty big suitcase, with a diaper bag and backpack camera bag, loaded easily in the trunk with more space to spare.

 

It’s an SE Hybrid with AWDi, what does that mean?

First off, it’s a traditional hybrid, which means it has a regular gasoline engine with a hybrid battery that does not need to be plugged in. The hybrid battery is recharged through driving and braking. The engine is a 2.5L 4 cylinder that puts out 194 hp (18 more horsepower than the non-hybrid RAV4). SE is the trim level of the vehicle, and this one is second highest trim level available out of the RAV4 Hybrid line up.  The AWDi part means it’s All Wheel Drive with Intelligence. An AWD system that is partly powered by the hybrid battery. I can tell you that this AWD system works extremely well.

We have been driving for well over an hour now, It’s dark and a kid needed to have the absorbent padding of the derriere changed if you know what I mean. With no rest stop or nearby town in sight (remember it’s Wyoming), we decide to take the next exit and find a quiet spot.

Lo an behold, the next exit (that is not lit up) resembles a corner a rally navigator would refer to as a 2. That means, almost a hairpin! 70 mph to a hairpin exit off the highway resulted in me having to slam the brakes on (right before the corner) into almost an emergency stop to slow down enough.

Anticipating the car to squirm a little, the RAV4 did surprisingly great. It didn’t squirm, or even skid, it never lost traction at all. Not excited about the situation with my kids in my car,  but there you have it, it happened and I can tell you the car did amazing.

How different is it to drive a hybrid?

mpg

It’s really not that different at all, other than these few parts that you’ll notice. It’s super quiet on start-up. You may think to yourself after pushing the start button, “did the car actually start?”. Yes, it did, it’s just so quiet because it starts on the battery, you can’t hear the engine revving.

You’ll see the lights and dash information pop up though which will reassure you, the car is running.

You will hear or feel the transfer when the car decides to switch from battery power to engine or vice versa. It’s not blatantly obvious if you have the radio blasting, but if not, you’ll go from almost silence to the hearing the engine.

It’s not something I found too obtrusive at all, just different. Had my kids not been in the car, the silence would actually be relaxing. When placing the car under load on battery power (accelerating hard) you will hear a slight whine. It’s pretty cool actually, reminded me of how modern and ‘green’ I was being.

It’s easy to forget you’re in a hybrid. You should have seen the look on my face when I was attempting to maneuver out of a parking spot. I thought I had the gear shifter in R for reverse, I’m busy looking around for other cars and looking at the backup camera. Attempting to move, I start pushing down the accelerator pedal, and nothing.

I can’t hear the engine revving, I’m not moving, what in the world is going on? Oh yeh, that would be me in Neutral running on battery power. The car has no rev counter either, momentarily forgetting I was in a hybrid and that revving in neutral on battery power produces no sound or revs (insert *silly me hand-over-face emoji).

Advantages of the Hybrid

fuel economy RAV4 hybrid

An average of 30 mpg in an AWD SUV full of people and luggage

It only took just over half a tank of gas to make it from Casper, WY to Deadwood, SD. After some running around and visiting some tourist spots, like Bear Country, the fuel light came on at 343.4 miles. I might add that the Air Conditioning was constantly running.

Elevation was between approx 4500 ft and 5100ft.

EPA estimated fuel economy ratings for the hybrid RAV4 are;

  • 34 mpg city
  • 30 mpg highway
  • 32 mpg combined

We mainly did highway driving so it seems the EPA estimate is spot on. Notice how the city mpg is much higher. Normally you would expect this number to be the lowest of all the ratings. However, being a hybrid, in the city at slow speeds, the car can run more from the battery and not the engine, thus better fuel economy.

Better fuel economy means less money spent on gas and fewer emissions.

As we rolled through Bear country at less than 20 mph (so all on battery power), admiring the wildlife, the car wasn’t emitting the same amount of greenhouse gases as the one in front, or behind.

According to cars.com, hybrids will hold their value longer. “Autolist looked at data points for more than 95 million vehicles and Toyota models came out ahead, showing particular depreciation resistance over their gas-powered siblings”.

Looking at the Toyota website MSRP listings, there is just over a $3k difference between the SE AWD and SE Hybrid (which only comes in AWD).

Comfort

All 4 of us fitted, including my 6’4″ passenger with 2 kids in the back. With the passenger seat all the way back, legs could be straightened. However, if there was a full-sized adult in the back behind my passenger and the seat had to be moved forward, the shape of the dash would be intrusive. As it was set up for us, it worked.

No one even complained about numbness on the bottom.

The SE has sport suspension tuning, which is noticeable. Handling is a lot stiffer than say a 4Runner. I was making nimble turns through the corners of the Deadwood mountain roads. I was quickly able to find the ‘sport’ mode button which allowed faster accelerator response.

My daughter did, however, spill her drink in the back. Thankfully the RAV4 Hybrid interior is a SofTex® material which is a leatherette, so, comfy and easy to clean.

Technology

If you require charging of lot’s of devices (like say, a phone and 2 tablets) make sure you bring 12v chargers. There are plenty of 12v outlets, but only one usb port. The sound system is great and yes we all did sing along to some Dis….can I say it? songs, through plugging in my smartphone and using the Pandora app.

Safety

Toyota msg

Would you like to take rest?

Yes please, RAV4, I’d like to take a rest, but I’m not sure if you’re familiar with Wyoming? The message really did make me want to stop for coffee though.

Toyota includes most of its safety features (Toyota Safety Sense™ P) as standard with every trim level, which is not something a lot of manufacturers do. Included in this car is;

  • Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist (which works well and doesn’t grab the steering wheel out of your hands)
  • Automatic High Beams (very quick to respond)
  • Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (Allows you to set your cruise control speed, and a distance gap. This means when you start approaching a slower moving vehicle in front when you get to the distance gap ou set, the vehicle will automatically slow down. If you are on a 2 lane highway and you decide to pass, I noticed, the RAV4 will start to regain the speed you set, right as the middle of the car passes over the line separating lanes).
  • Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection

An overall 5-star safety rating is awarded to the 2018 RAV4 Hybrid by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

 

If you’d like to find out more about the RAV4 Hybrid, feel free to comment below or contact us or your preferred Toyota Dealership.

Further reading;

Toyota RAV4 Sales Reach 10 Million Globally

At least 3 Toyota’s will get Apple CarPlay for 2019

Review: 2018 Toyota Camry XSE V6

All New 2019 Chevrolet Silverado

 

Chevrolet half ton

2019 Chevy Silverado                                                                          Photo :GM

2019 Silverado goes bigger and lighter.

For the 2019 model year, the Chevy Silverado pickup truck will be an all-new design. Also new for new for Chevrolet will be the introduction of a diesel engine option for the 1/2 ton truck.

Mark Reuss, General Motors executive vice president of Global Product Development, Purchasing, and Supply Chain. “It has a longer wheelbase, more passenger and cargo volume, and yet, thanks to our mixed materials strategy and mass reduction expertise, the new truck is 450 pounds lighter than the current model.”

The wheelbase is up to 3.9 “long, making the overall length of the truck 1.6” longer. This, in turn, means more cargo room and more passenger room. The short-box will have 63 cu. ft of cargo volume. Chevrolet says this is, “…up to 20 percent more than a competitor’s short-box”. They go on to mention that this means a 4 x 8 sheet of plywood will fit flat in the cargo floor. Storage bins will be offered to fit over the wheel wheels, for a more organized space.

Chevy says they have managed to shed 450lbs off the weight of the truck (on V-8 Crew cab models). The weight savings, they say, come from using a variety of mixed materials and a different manufacturing process. Doors, the hood, and tailgate are now all aluminum. Steel is used for the fenders roof and bed. The upper control arms on the front suspension will be forged aluminum.

Engine and transmission choices

  • 5.3 liter V-8
  • 6.2 liter V-8 with 10-speed automatic transmission
  • All new Duramax 3.0 liter diesel with 10-speed automatic transmission

Exterior features

  • Power up/down tailgate (activated from key fob, from interior button or by hand)
  • Larger bumper corner step to accommodate steel-toe boots
  • 12 fixed tie downs in the bed (9 of them movable)
  • CHEVROLET stamped on tailgate
  • Duel exhuast
  • 33″ tires
  • Camaro inspired hood

Interior features

half ton

The all-new 2019 Silverado High Country interior.                               Photo: GM

  • Crew cabs have 3″ more rear-seat leg room (up to 43.8″ rear legroom total)
  • 10-liter storage bins in the back
  •  24-liter under seat storage tray
  • Continuing to offer 4G LTE Wi-Fi, Apple Car Play, and Android Auto
  • Wireless phone charging

More trim levels are added to accommodate for various uses and functionality without comprise. Base trim line model will be the Work Truck, followed by Custom then the Custom Trail Boss. The Custom Traill Boss will be the Custom but with added off-road equipment, such as a 2″ lift, Z71 off-road package, locking rear differential, Rancho shocks, skid plates and Duratrac tires.

half ton truck new

The all-new 2019 Silverado Custom Trailboss (new trim for 2019) adds off-road equipment to the Custom, including a 2-inch suspension lift and the Z71 Off-Road Package with a locking rear differential, skid plates, Rancho shocks, 18-inch wheels and Goodyear Duratrac off-road tires. Photo: GM

Middle of line trim levels will be the LT, RST and LT Trail Boss. RST will be the street-performance styled truck and the LT Trail Boss will have the off-road package.

off road chevy

The all-new 2019 LT Trailboss (new trim for 2019) adds off-road equipment to the LT, including a 2-inch suspension lift and the Z71 Off-Road Package, including locking rear differential, skid plates, Rancho shocks, 18-inch wheels and Goodyear Duratrac off-road tires. Photo: GM

Top end trim lines stay with the same names. The LTZ, and High County. 

 

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