All-New Chevy HD Pickup Spotted Testing in the Snow

Stephen Elmer / February 2, 2018

General Motors is in the middle of launching its redesigned lineup of half-ton pickups, though, in the background, testing trudges on for the next generation of Chevy’s heavy duty trucks.

These photos clearly confirm that the grille on the new Chevy HD pickups won’t be shy, growing larger than ever before. This could be because the ram air system on current GM trucks is being done away with, requiring more cooling. There does seem to be two small slots in the camouflage on the hood of this truck that could be feeding the ram air, but it doesn’t seem likely given their small size.

Much like Ford has done with its pickup lineup, we expect the new heavy-duty trucks from GM will share a lot with the half-ton version, so expect the interior to be similar to what we see in the new 2019 Silverado. That likely includes the smart storage solutions like the in-seat bins in the back.

A wider truck bed floor, made possible by a new stamping process, is also another likely addition for the HD.

As for powertrains, we expect the 6.6-liter Duramax diesel will continue on as the most powerful hauling option for the truck, likely with more torque than ever before. Currently, this engine makes 910 lb-ft.

Another interesting possibility is the new 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder diesel going into the Silverado. If it makes enough torque, it could be an option for a budget-minded diesel in a 2500. We reached out to GM to find out if the company would ever consider the new diesel for its HD trucks. As of publication time, we haven’t heard back, but we will update the story when we do.

GM already builds a solid heavy-duty pickup truck with a torque-laden diesel engine and masterfully tuned Allison transmission. Where it needs to focus its efforts are on the interior of its trucks. With the new 12-inch display in the Ram 1500, the technology gauntlet has been thrown down for pickup trucks, and if Chevy wants to respond, its next-generation heavy-duty trucks will be the place to do it.

Driving aid technology, like adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist, will also likely appear when the new HD models are unveiled.

Right now, our best guess is that the new heavy-duty trucks from GM will show up sometime in 2019 as 2020 model year vehicles.