GM unveiled Thursday the 2022 Chevrolet Silverado, a full-size pickup truck that received a major technology upgrade, including its hands-free Super Cruise advanced driver assistance system and an infotainment system with embedded Google services as an overhauled interior. A new flagship trim, the off-road ZR2 truck with a factory-installed suspension lift, has joined the Silverado lineup. The Silverado refresh comes ahead of GM’s electric vehicle offensive, including Chevrolet and GMC pickup trucks. GM aims to deliver 30 new electric vehicles to the global market by 2025 and transition to zero-emission cars by 2035. GM said the new Silverado trims would arrive at dealerships in spring 2022.
The exterior of the Chevy Silverado also received a refresh, including a new front fascia and daytime running lights that animate when the driver walks up or away from the vehicle. But the real change can be found in the truck’s cabin — and the hardware and software guts. Chevy offers the Silverado in the LT, RST, LT Trail Boss, ZR2, LTZ, and High Country trims, all of which come standard with a 2.7-liter turbocharged engine — now with 420 pound-feet of torque (up 20% over the previous model). GM also made changes to smooth out shifting and give drivers more power on demand. The maximum tow rating on 2WD models is 9,600 pounds.
The automaker also improved its 3.0-liter Duramax turbocharged diesel engine, enabling a max tow rating of 13,300 pounds (2WD models). Two other powertrains, the 5.3-liter V8 and the 6.2-liter V8, are also offered. The interior cabin has been revamped to make it feel more spacious and includes a 13.4-inch touchscreen and a new 12.3-inch configurable digital instrument cluster standard. Owners can also add a rear camera mirror and a head-up display. Finally, the Silverado interior will be offered in new colors, seat designs, and premium materials. The new center console incorporates an electronic shift controller for model trims with bucket seats. Alexandre Scartezini, Chevrolet Truck’s lead interior designer, has described it as more contemporary and refined “with a hint of Corvette influence in its design DNA.”
Everything Google
Moving inside the vehicle, aka the infotainment, users will find Google, or Android Automotive, at the heart of the operating system. This means that Google Assistant, Google Maps, and Google Play are integrated into the infotainment screen. Android Automotive OS shouldn’t be confused with Android Auto, a secondary interface on top of an operating system. Android Auto is an app that runs on the user’s phone and wirelessly communicates with the vehicle’s infotainment system. The new Silverado will offer Android Auto and its Apple CarPlay counterpart. GM said the system also works with Amazon Alexa. Meanwhile, Android Automotive OS is modeled after its open-source mobile operating system on Linux. Google has offered automakers an open-source version of this OS for some time. In recent years, automakers have worked with the tech company to natively build an Android OS embedded with all the Google apps and services. But instead of running smartphones and tablets, Google modified it so automakers could use it in their cars.
Hands-free driving
The Silverado trims come standard with six active safety features: automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, forward collision alerts, a warning if the vehicle leaves its lane, the following distance indicator, automatic high beams, and front pedestrian braking. The significant change is adding the automaker’s Super Cruise hands-free driver-assistance technology, an available option on the High Country trim. Notably, the system can be used even while trailering. Certain features of Super Cruise, like automatic lane changing and lane change on demand, will be restricted if the truck is towing.
Super Cruise uses lidar map data, high-precision GPS, cameras, radar sensors, and a driver attention system, which monitors the person behind the wheel to ensure they’re paying attention. Unlike Tesla’s Autopilot driver assistance system, users of Super Cruise do not need to have their hands on the wheel. However, their eyes must remain directed straight ahead. While GM has steadily improved Super Cruise since its introduction in 2017, it was limited to its luxury Cadillac brand and restricted to certain divided highways for years. That changed in 2019 when GM announced plans to expand it to more models and use cases. The system can be activated on more than 200,000 miles of roads in the United States and Canada. The Silverado will offer other trailer assistance features, including alerting drivers to vehicles in their blind spots.
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