The Bollinger B1 SUV and B2 Truck EVs Are Dead to You*

The first thing to know about the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado electric pickup truck is that it shares next to nothing with its combustion-powered Silverado brethren. Neither does it share any body panels or glass with its GM Ultium platform stablemate, the 2022 GMC Hummer EV pickup. These facts distinguish it from its chief competitor, the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck, which is simply an F-150 crew cab converted to electric power. The more familiar Ford may be an easier sell to conservative old-school truckers, but Chevy's clean-sheet approach allows for better packaging and greater innovation.Chevy Could've Called It the AvalanchE 2.0The GM Ultium platform is rigid—rigid enough to allow Chevy to revive the notion of a unitized cab and box with an open bed that can expand into the truck's interior by folding down a midgate, as popularized on the Chevy Suburban-based 2002-2013 Chevrolet Avalanche and Cadillac Escalade EXT. The bespoke electric architecture allows the front seats to move closer to the front axle and farther away from the rear seats, while still leaving room for a 5-foot-11-inch box. That bests the combustion Silverado's by an inch and the Ford F-150 Lightning's by 4 inches. Fold the midgate down, and you get 9 feet of floor space to the closed tailgate—10 inches more than on a regular-cab, long-box pickup.Open the optional Multi-Flex tailgate and pop up its load limiter, and the floor measures 10-foot-10. As on the original Avalanche, the midgate can fold down, with the rear window and optional tonneau cover sealing the cabin from the elements. Or doff the tonneau, pop the rear glass out, stow it on the lowered midgate, and fully open the cab to the bed. One major difference between the Silverado EV and the Avalanche: The midgate and seat are split 60/40, and everything folds forward into the cab either 60 or 100 percent. The original Avalanche midgate folded backward to stow in the bed floor.Sizing Up the Chevy Silverado Electric TruckThe 2024 Chevrolet Silverado electric truck is roughly the same size outside as its crew-cab/short-box combustion-powered counterpart, but it's considerably larger inside. Substantial differences in width and length between the Silverado electric and the GMC Hummer EV serve to illustrate the GM Ultium platform's range of adjustability. The Silverado EV's 145.7-inch wheelbase is 10.1 inches longer than the Hummer pickup's and 1.7 inches shorter than a comparable crew-cab, short-box Silverado—while sharing the costly-to-develop crash safety structures. Varying the width of the suspension crossmembers and length of the control arms alters the track width affordably.Frunk SpaceThe F-150 Lightning's frunk is way bigger—like V-8 big. Chevy shrunk the Silverado EV's nose and then moved the HVAC componentry out of the dash and into the nose to free up cabin stowage space. Chevy's smaller "eTrunk" does feature tie-down hooks and a 120-volt power outlet, however, and on RST models the lid will open and close electrically. The storage capacity should match the Hummer EV's 9.0 cubic feet, well down from the 14.1 cubes available in the Ford electric truck's frunk.Power, Torque, Battery Range, and ChargingThe top-trim models of the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV will share the Hummer EV pickup's 24-module 200-kWh battery pack. Estimated range is 400 miles for both the RST and the work truck. Chevy will offer smaller battery packs, with the Hummer SUV's 20-module 167-kWh pack seeming like one obvious option. Two permanent-magnet-type motors will power all first-year Silverado EVs via single-speed reduction gearboxes. They're similar to the Hummer motors, and neither can be declutched during low-demand cruising. In First Edition RST models set to Chevy's Wide-Open Watts (WOW) mode, they'll be tuned to produce "up to 664 hp and 780 lb-ft of torque."Relative to the Hummer's Watts to Freedom (WTF) mode, WOW does without the sound-effects fanfare, and it propels the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV to 60 mph in a claimed 4.5 seconds. The more basic AWD commercial-fleet work trucks will produce "up to 510 hp and 615 ft-lb of torque." (Fleet managers are rightfully reluctant to arm employees with 600-plus-horsepower trucks.) Lower-powered and single-motor two-wheel-drive model variants are expected in the coming years.The GM Ultium platform's 800-volt system can accept 350-kW DC fast charging. We're told this will add 100 miles of range in 10 minutes. RST owners will have access to Ultium Charge 360, GM's holistic EV charging plan, which is designed to simplify the overall charging experience, providing access to more than 100,000 publicly available charging points across the U.S. and Canada. WT customers get access to a similar fleet service plan.Plugging Into the Silverado EVIt will be possible to plug devices into 10 AC plugs found in the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV electric pickup. There are four 120-volt outlets in the pickup box plus one each in the frunk and center console. There's a single 240-volt outlet in the pickup box, and an accessory "Power Bar" that plugs into the CCS charge port will provide two additional 120-volt outlets and one 240-volt socket. The Power Bar also enables buddy-charging of another EV, with the charging rate approaching that of a Level 2 home charger.In total, the system can export 10.2 kW of electric power, and the driver can specify a minimum remaining state of charge or driving range to stop exporting power to ensure safe return to a charging station. Probably not coincidentally, that just eclipses the 9.6-kW power-export limit of Ford's F-150 Lightning. All of this means it should be just as easy to power your house during an electricity outage with an electric Silverado EV as it is with an F-150 Lightning.Payload and TowingThe 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV RST First Edition models will be rated for 10,000 pounds of towing and 1,300 pounds of payload. For comparison, the F-150 Lightning is rated for 10,000 and 2,000. Commercial work truck variants will initially be rated for 8,000 and 1,200 pounds, respectively. But a special towing-focused fleet model Silverado EV variant arriving for the 2025 model year will be rated to tow a whopping 20,000 pounds. This model will also get four-wheel steering like the GMC Hummer EV's to ease trailer maneuverability. And speaking of towing, initial Silverado EV RST models will feature the latest Super Cruise system, which supports trailer towing.Best-in-Class Drag CoefficientThe super-smooth nose, flush glass, flat underbelly, rear diffuser, an available tonneau cover, sail panels, and roof spoiler combine to give the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV what the manufacturer claims is the lowest drag coefficient of any production full-size pickup truck (with the Tesla Cybertruck an unknown for now). Frontal area should be similar to that of the combustion Silverado, but credit for several of those 400 miles of range surely goes to the wind-tunnel tuning team. The 24-inch wheels that come standard on top RST models are exceptionally smooth and fully closed except for five narrow slots to route cooling air to the brakes (the wheels are not directional). Chevy even claims the fixed running boards that come standard on the RST help manage airflow between the tires.Chassis DetailsThe 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV's basic suspension design is quite similar to the Hummer EV's, featuring upper and lower control arms front and rear, and at least on First Edition RST models, standard rear steering adapted from the Hummer EV. And if you're wondering, Chevy hasn't decided whether the Silverado EV will offer Crab Walk functionality as the Hummer EV does. Automatic adaptive air suspension provides 2 inches of height adjustment up or down (Extract mode lifts the GMC Hummer 5.8 inches), and Continuous Damping Control shocks fine-tune the ride and handling characteristics on a millisecond basis on top RST models. Those versions also get standard 24-inch aluminum wheels, but don't fret about potholes—they'll be wrapped in 275/50-series tires for an overall diameter of 35 inches (top Hummers roll on 37s).Chevy Silverado electric work trucks will make do with steel springs, a passive damping system, and 18-inch steel wheels. Future model variants will likely be tailored more toward off-road capability, sporting more aggressive tires, perhaps greater height adjustability of the air springs, locking differentials, and improved electronic traction aids.Silverado EV Gets a Unique CabThe 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV will only be available in crew-cab configuration, and its interior looks nothing like the combustion Silverado's or the Hummer EV's. Screens are all the rage nowadays, so top RST models get an 11.0-inch reconfigurable instrument cluster with five display theme options. Additionally, it features a 14.0-inch head-up display and a 17.0-inch "free-form" landscape-oriented infotainment screen; a volume knob is glued to the screen as in some Ford and Land Rover products, but this one is positioned at the top left instead of the bottom center. Hard buttons for frequently accessed features promise to make the system easy to master.We're told visibility over the lower cowl and shorter hood is greatly improved. All interior materials are "vegan," with initial RST production featuring handsome high-contrast charcoal and light gray PVC pleather seating surfaces accented with red piping and blue stitching. A completely flat floor leaves room for a deep, two-level front center console with 1 cubic foot of storage space. Moving the speakers up a bit on the doors allows stowage pockets to span each door's entire length. In back, the seat cushions fold forward to allow the seat backs and midgate to fold down flat, and there are shallow stowage bins beneath the seats.All Chevy Silverado EV RST First Edition models will get a laminated fixed-glass roof; we're promised this weighs about the same as a steel roof and headliner but affords better headroom. There is no sunshade, but Chevy says deep tinting keeps the interior from becoming a solar oven. As in a Tesla, there will be no ignition switch or start button; simply sit down with a registered key (or phone), and the electric Silverado EV readies itself to drive.Pickup Box FeaturesThe composite box will feature four upper and four lower tie-down hooks (missing from the show truck), plus the electrical outlets and tonneau cover (also missing) and Chevy's signature corner bed steps in the bumper. The floor features asymmetric arrow details at the rear that point toward the midgate split. Note that base and work trucks will lack the midgate. Cargo loading height matches the combustion Silverado's.Next-Level UpgradabilityThe Silverado EV will use GM's in-house-developed Linux-based software platform known as Ultifi (which should underpin all Ultium EVs). This platform is said to separate the vehicle's software from its hardware, enabling easier and more rapid software updates and feature upgrades. Described more broadly as a "customer experience (CX) platform," Ultifi gives owners a digital ID number and vehicle profile that eases access to various cloud services in pursuit of a "frictionless EV ecosystem."Availability and How Much Will It Cost?You'll start seeing commercial 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EVs on steelies roaming the streets in the second quarter of 2023. You can't have one of these unless you're a preferred commercial-fleet customer already negotiating with Chevrolet. Orders for civilian 2024 Silverado EVs opened January 5 to reserve an unspecified number of Chevy Silverado EV First Edition RST models priced at $105,000 plus an as-yet unspecified destination charge, which should match the Hummer EV pickup's $1,695. Delivery of these trucks will begin in the fall of 2023. Only after those reservations are filled will the system begin taking orders for other variants, the least expensive of which will start at $41,595 if we've guessed the destination charge correctly. And we probably have because that figure just undercuts the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning's $41,669.2024 Chevrolet Silverado (EV) Specifications BASE PRICE $41,500-$106,500 (est) LAYOUT Front- and rear-motor, AWD, 5-pass, 4-door truck MOTORS 2x 255-332-hp (est)/307-390-lb-ft (est) permanent-magnet-type electric, 510-664 hp/615-780 lb-ft (comb, est) TRANSMISSION 1-speed auto CURB WEIGHT 7,500-8,000 lb (est) WHEELBASE 145.7 in L x W x H 232.0 x 81.2 x 75.5 in (est) 0-60 MPH 4.5-5.0 sec (mfr est) EPA FUEL ECON (CITY/HWY/COMB) Not yet rated EPA RANGE (COMB) 400 miles (est) ON SALE Spring 2023 (commercial), fall 2023 (retail) Show All

Ford set a daring bar when it slapped a $41,669 base price on the new all-electric F-150 Lightning full-size pickup. That MSRP places the least expensive Lightning Pro model weirdly in line, price-wise, with an equivalent gas-fed, base-model, four-wheel-drive F-150 XL pickup. It doubled as a preemptive challenge to other makers of electric pickup trucks. Rivian's stunning R1T, our 2022 MotorTrend Truck of the Year? That starts at $67,500, but it's also smaller and aimed at luxury customers. So what about Chevrolet's new Silverado EV, the Lightning's (most) direct competitor?It looks like Chevy is trying to clear Ford's price hurdle, promising that the 2024 Silverado EV will start at $39,900—in WT trim with a smaller battery pack, with an undetermined amount of range. With destination charges estimated by GM at $1,695—the same as Ford charges to deliver its Lightnings—that price officially lands at $41,595. Do a little math, and that means the least expensive Silverado EV undercuts the least expensive Ford F-150 Lightning by $74. Clever, Chevy, clever.But this isn't the first Silverado EV that'll go on sale. We'll get a 400-mile "Work Truck" (WT) first, and we don't have pricing info on that. Later on down the line, we'll see the RST and First Edition models—ditto, no pricing info on those, either. The last variant to go on sale (for now) will be that smaller-battery WT version at $41,595. Because it's not available at launch, and we don't have pricing information on the trims that will be available first, it's a little hard to determine what sort of value the first run of Silverado EVs will offer potential owners.The cheapest WT model won't be available until the fall of 2023, along with the more mainstream Silverado RST and RST First Edition trims. Pricing for those models, as well as the 400-mile Silverado EV WT beating them all to market, is forthcoming.

Sequoia trees are thought to be the oldest living things on Earth, so it's appropriate that Toyota's full-size SUV is named for them: The soon-to-be-outgoing Sequoia dates from 2008, and over the three thousand years—okay, 13—it's been on sale, we've watched it slip from first to last in comparison to its competitors. Finally, it looks like a new Sequoia sapling is born: Toyota has revealed the 2023 Sequoia, with a few surprises that make it feel like an SUV for the ages.If you think the current Sequoia is a bit too plain—and certainly if you think it's too old—the new one should address your concerns. Up front, the new Sequoia shares its curves and creases with the all-new 2022 Tundra pickup truck. Out back, they've been re-interpreted a bit, with a fenderline crease that starts just ahead of the rear door handles and continues straight back to the taillights. It's less doughy and anonymous than the old model, more aggressive—traits backed up by what's under the hood.So, What's Under the Hood?For those keeping score in the Toyotaverse, the new Sequoia one-ups the (also Land Cruiser-based) Lexus LX600 in the power department. While both large SUVs share a 3.4-liter twin-turbo V-6, the Sequoia's is hybridized, assisted by an electric motor. With 437 hp and 583 lb-ft of torque, it thus bests the Lexus by 28 hp and 104 lb-ft. The hybridized six is an era away from the old Sequoia's 5.7-liter V-8, which made a paltry—by comparison—381 hp and 401 lb-ft. While we have yet to see official efficiency numbers, we can't imagine the Sequoia's hybrid powertrain won't improve on the LX's 19-mpg fuel economy; it's guaranteed to be better than the old Sequoia's mid-teens mpg.And doesn't that meaty hybrid sound like it has boat-towing power? Oh, you betcha. Toyota says the new Sequoia will tow up to 9,000 lbs, a 22% improvement over the outgoing Sequoia despite giving up two cylinders to its V-8. A Tow Tech Package, which (among other things) steers the trailer in reverse, helps alleviate some causes of towing apprehension.Don't Say Land Cruiser... Speaking of the Land Cruiser—which we swear we were just a minute ago—we found a possible explanation to the demise of Toyota's former flagship SUV (other than its relative lack of sales): The Sequoia will be available in a new range-topping Capstone trim, as recently announced for the Tundra pickup, pushing it into the old Land Cruiser's price turf. With 22-inch chrome wheels, two-tone black-and-white semi-aniline leather, and open-pore walnut wood distinguish this model from lesser Sequoias, which include Platinum, Limited and SR5 models.Another quick aside: The Sequoia shares its basic bones with the new Tundra, of course, but also with the newest Land Cruiser sold globally. While it is not a replacement for the iconic Land Cruiser 4x4, which is renowned for its off-road prowess, it is at least related to that SUV.To help fill in the void left in its lineup by the Land Cruiser and to build on the previous-generation Sequoia's off-road offerings, Toyota will once again offer a TRD Pro model, which includes Fox internal bypass shocks, a forward skid plate, multi-terrain drive modes, and Toyota's Crawl Control mode, which maintains a slow, steady speed uphill or down. You'll find plenty of TRD badging inside and out, and this version is only available with four-wheel drive.If the TRD Pro is too, uh, pro for you, SR5 and Limited 4x4 models can be had with a lighter-duty TRD Off-Road package with a locking rear differential, specially-tuned springs and Bilstein shocks, unique 18-inch wheels, as well as the terrain modes and Crawl Control from the TRD Pro package. SR5 models are also offered with an on-road-tuned TRD Sport package with 20-inch wheels, TRD-tuned springs and shocks, and aluminum pedals. Two-wheel drive is standard and part-time four-wheel drive is optional on all on SR5, Limited, Platinum, and—surprisingly—Capstone trim levels. The Sequoia once again utilizes a fully independent suspension, though since 2008 more competitors have added this feature in place of a more traditional (and pickup-truck-like) live rear axle, including the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon.Safely In Modern TerritoryAs with other Toyota models, a full safety and driver-aid package is standard, including collision detection with automatic braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert and correction, automatic high beams, a blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking assistance with automatic braking.Inside, the Sequoia is just as new and fresh-appearing. Also, like before, the dashboard and steering wheel are essentially carryover from the Tundra pickup. There is an available large (14-inch!) central touchscreen, chunky air vents, and an available digital gauge cluster. What's important here is that nothing looks like it was designed in 2007—a key step forward.Toyota will build the Sequoia at the same San Antonio, Texas, plant that assembles the Tundra. We'll have pricing and fuel economy data as we get closer to launch, which will come when the weather gets warm; Sequoias are scheduled to arrive at Toyota dealerships this summer. We're looking forward to seeing how this modernized old tree branches into the full-size SUV space, which is now chock full of relatively new contenders, including the recently redesigned Chevy Tahoe, GMC Yukon, Nissan Armada, and all-new Jeep Wagoneer.