Aluminum bodied Silverado ?

[bandera]

Anyone know if GM plans to build an aluminum bodied Silverado ?

[Bonker]

I doubt it their new TV adds up here in Canada are touting they use aluminum where it's needed and high strength steel everywhere else.

[Spurshot]

I'm guessing the next body style change. I'm not too anxious. It'll cost more to make and more to fix.

[newdude]

Their three truck strategy leads me to think there might not be a full aluminum Silverado, but there may be more usage of it throughout the truck. If they do the full body, it would defeat the Colorado/Canyon (unless they push those past 30mpg) however they could beat Ford's lightweight claims very quick as the GM twins are only 200-600lbs heavier than the aluminum F150 as it is. Might see it on the HD trucks as they are heavy, so there might be more on those than the 1500. Wait and see game for now.

[BigBadSierra]

GM started to use stronger steal and added more body contours AKA bends. This allows them to make it thiner of course thus still reducing weight.

[fondupot]

In 3-4 years when its time for a redesign, I suspect we will see the GM twins receiving substantial amounts of aluminum.

[nards444]

Parts of it already are, like the hood I beleive. At next redesign I think you will see more of it. Whats going to be the driver is a few things, but mainly GM will be looking at ford and their success. Theres lots of money involved into re-tooling, training emloyeess etc. But the nature of the game is to make these vehicle better performers and more efficient, which means the issue of weight will continually be addressed.

 

It may not seem like much but a ford is 500lbs or so lighter in like trimmed vehicles than GM, thats a 10% weight savings, which is a lot. Your not only pushing less weight around, but you are making your power to weight ratio better as well. It remains to be seen if aluminum will be a better product and what is the true cost to the owner with repairs and such. But with immergence of more aluminum body guys will also change and re-tool and beef up their skills.

 

Its probably fair to say the steel used today will probably be changed to something different in most vehicles over the next 5-10 years.

['01LS1]

Parts of it already are, like the hood I beleive. At next redesign I think you will see more of it. Whats going to be the driver is a few things, but mainly GM will be looking at ford and their success. Theres lots of money involved into re-tooling, training emloyeess etc. But the nature of the game is to make these vehicle better performers and more efficient, which means the issue of weight will continually be addressed.

 

It may not seem like much but a ford is 500lbs or so lighter in like trimmed vehicles than GM, thats a 10% weight savings, which is a lot. Your not only pushing less weight around, but you are making your power to weight ratio better as well. It remains to be seen if aluminum will be a better product and what is the true cost to the owner with repairs and such. But with immergence of more aluminum body guys will also change and re-tool and beef up their skills.

 

Its probably fair to say the steel used today will probably be changed to something different in most vehicles over the next 5-10 years.

 

I would bet that it is closer to half or a little more of the 500 lb mark. Ford media was claiming *up to* 700 lb lighter than their previous model. They were 300-400 lbs heavier than like trimmed GM trucks.

 

The funny thing is how effective Ford marketing is. Some public perception of Eco boost is this entirely new thing vs a turbo on a 4 or 6 cylinder. Glanced across an F150 forum & read a post that a guy was OK with skipping the sun roof to save weight. Though was not skimping down to the XL, he was buying a King Ranch or Platinum.

 

But this does scare me on the next gen GM trucks. Not from a gender stand point, but from the "I'm not a traditional truck driver" statement.

 

General Motors’ Chief Full-Size Truck Engineer Looks To Next-Gen Models

 

Read more: http://gmauthority.com/blog/2015/02/general-motors-chief-full-size-truck-engineer-sheri-hickok-looks-to-next-gen-models/#ixzz3RGRaEafK

 

Hickok is smart to watch her tongue, as few segments are as competitive as full-size pickups. She did say she’s taking a trip to a certain state in order to sit in on focus groups and chat with prospective truck buyers, but she wouldn’t specify which one, only saying she’s “buying cowboy boots.”

“I’m not a traditional truck driver, so to me that process will be really powerful,” Hickok told AN in a statement. “The guy who owns the construction business, what does he need out of his truck? It’s probably going to be something very different from what I would want. We need to channel the customer the whole time.”

 

Read more: http://gmauthority.com/blog/2015/02/general-motors-chief-full-size-truck-engineer-sheri-hickok-looks-to-next-gen-models/#ixzz3RGRCMC65

[nards444]

 

I would bet that it is closer to half or a little more of the 500 lb mark. Ford media was claiming *up to* 700 lb lighter than their previous model. They were 300-400 lbs heavier than like trimmed GM trucks.

 

The funny thing is how effective Ford marketing is. Some public perception of Eco boost is this entirely new thing vs a turbo on a 4 or 6 cylinder. Glanced across an F150 forum & read a post that a guy was OK with skipping the sun roof to save weight. Though was not skimping down to the XL, he was buying a King Ranch or Platinum.

 

But this does scare me on the next gen GM trucks. Not from a gender stand point, but from the "I'm not a traditional truck driver" statement.

 

General Motors’ Chief Full-Size Truck Engineer Looks To Next-Gen Models

 

Read more: http://gmauthority.com/blog/2015/02/general-motors-chief-full-size-truck-engineer-sheri-hickok-looks-to-next-gen-models/#ixzz3RGRaEafK

 

Hickok is smart to watch her tongue, as few segments are as competitive as full-size pickups. She did say she’s taking a trip to a certain state in order to sit in on focus groups and chat with prospective truck buyers, but she wouldn’t specify which one, only saying she’s “buying cowboy boots.”

“I’m not a traditional truck driver, so to me that process will be really powerful,” Hickok told AN in a statement. “The guy who owns the construction business, what does he need out of his truck? It’s probably going to be something very different from what I would want. We need to channel the customer the whole time.”

Read more: http://gmauthority.com/blog/2015/02/general-motors-chief-full-size-truck-engineer-sheri-hickok-looks-to-next-gen-models/#ixzz3RGRCMC65

If you go to ford.com and chevy .com and compare like models, with like engines, 4x4, body style etc. The weight difference was about 500lbs regardless of how you built it. How Gm and ford are reporting weight on their sites, who knows. and does a sun roof throw off the weight, maybe. Scale tickets would be the only way of knowing. But if you go buy the websites the fords on like vehicles were about 500lbs lighter.

[gone_fishing]

This report is about a year old now: http://www.autonews.com/article/20140219/OEM01/140219837/gm-readying-aluminum-body-trucks-by-late-2018-report-says

 

DETROIT (Reuters) -- General Motors Co. is working towards a largely aluminum-bodied pickup truck by late 2018, under pressure from federal fuel efficiency standards,The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

GM recently locked-in supply contracts with Alcoa Inc. and Novelis Inc. and both suppliers are now working to increase their aluminum sheet production to supply the next-generation GM pickup, according to the Journal.

Aluminum sheet for automotive bodies is in such high demand that companies need to order it years in advance, the newspaper said.

GM has been working to put its full-size pickup trucks on a severe diet to meet future U.S. fuel economy standards and stay competitive with rival Ford Motor Co.

"We are going to continue to improve the fuel efficiency of all of our products," a GM spokesman said today in an e-mail. "For competitive reasons, we are not talking about technical details of future products at this point."

Mark Reuss, GM's product chief, made no secret of his interest in aluminum when he saw Ford's aluminum F-150 pickup at the Detroit auto show last month.

"I want to get my hands on it," Reuss told reporters. "I'm going to be looking at how much aluminum is in it. 'What are the panels? … How are they constructed?' I'm going to look at what they advertise as the weight savings from it. Then I'm going to go back and do some math."

Reuters reported last July that GM will start using more lightweight materials such as aluminum and composites in place of conventional steel.

Ford has already made the switch. The new F-150's latest upgrade's body is 95 percent made of a military grade aluminum alloy used in Humvees and weighs up to 700 pounds lesser than the current truck.

Alcoa and Novelis could not immediately be reached for comment by Reuters outside of regular U.S. business hours.

[Silverado-Hareek]

This report is about a year old now: http://www.autonews.com/article/20140219/OEM01/140219837/gm-readying-aluminum-body-trucks-by-late-2018-report-says

 

DETROIT (Reuters) -- General Motors Co. is working towards a largely aluminum-bodied pickup truck by late 2018, under pressure from federal fuel efficiency standards,The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

GM recently locked-in supply contracts with Alcoa Inc. and Novelis Inc. and both suppliers are now working to increase their aluminum sheet production to supply the next-generation GM pickup, according to the Journal.

Aluminum sheet for automotive bodies is in such high demand that companies need to order it years in advance, the newspaper said.

GM has been working to put its full-size pickup trucks on a severe diet to meet future U.S. fuel economy standards and stay competitive with rival Ford Motor Co.

"We are going to continue to improve the fuel efficiency of all of our products," a GM spokesman said today in an e-mail. "For competitive reasons, we are not talking about technical details of future products at this point."

Mark Reuss, GM's product chief, made no secret of his interest in aluminum when he saw Ford's aluminum F-150 pickup at the Detroit auto show last month.

"I want to get my hands on it," Reuss told reporters. "I'm going to be looking at how much aluminum is in it. 'What are the panels? … How are they constructed?' I'm going to look at what they advertise as the weight savings from it. Then I'm going to go back and do some math."

Reuters reported last July that GM will start using more lightweight materials such as aluminum and composites in place of conventional steel.

Ford has already made the switch. The new F-150's latest upgrade's body is 95 percent made of a military grade aluminum alloy used in Humvees and weighs up to 700 pounds lesser than the current truck.

Alcoa and Novelis could not immediately be reached for comment by Reuters outside of regular U.S. business hours.

 

Yep was just about to look this up. They're acting all anti-aluminum now for marketing purposes to sell steel bodied trucks. Meanwhile, they're quietly developing an aluminum bodied truck.

[redwngr]

Yes they will use aluminium. The question is when.

 

As posted by others, I'd expect the next main body restyle (not the 1/2 life refresh).

 

Of course opinions are like ***holes, everybody has one.

[nards444]

Yes they will use aluminium. The question is when.

 

As posted by others, I'd expect the next main body restyle (not the 1/2 life refresh).

 

Of course opinions are like ***holes, everybody has one.

Good question. Depends if GM goes 8 years between new models again, which I hope they dont.

['01LS1]

Good question. Depends if GM goes 8 years between new models again, which I hope they dont.

 

You were correct on the weight difference at the 500 lb mark on the spec sheets.

But was thinking I read a review where the weights were much closer. Cannot find that to link.

 

But 2018 time frame is the ball park they are shooting for with a new Silverado/Sierra.

 

General Motors’ Chief Full-Size Truck Engineer Looks To Next-Gen Models

 

Read more: http://gmauthority.com/blog/2015/02/general-motors-chief-full-size-truck-engineer-sheri-hickok-looks-to-next-gen-models/#ixzz3RHF3D4a5

 

 

Edit: & thinking GM was looking at extensive use of aluminum back in 2008 pre bankruptcy for the K2XX.

But ditched it due to the costs associated. If GM follows Ford using the same grade of panels for the est. 2018 model, it should lower the cost to build.

I mean they are sharing the r & d with the upcoming transmissions. The boys (& girls) at the top are not as far apart brand wise as we the buyers generally are.

[nards444]

 

You were correct on the weight difference at the 500 lb mark on the spec sheets.

But was thinking I read a review where the weights were much closer. Cannot find that to link.

 

But 2018 time frame is the ball park they are shooting for with a new Silverado/Sierra.

 

General Motors’ Chief Full-Size Truck Engineer Looks To Next-Gen Models

 

Read more: http://gmauthority.com/blog/2015/02/general-motors-chief-full-size-truck-engineer-sheri-hickok-looks-to-next-gen-models/#ixzz3RHF3D4a5

Think I know what your talking, about. I read that but they werent necessarily comparing apples to apples either in that article. Which like I said until some scale tickets are presented I have no reason to say ford.com or chevy.com is lying on their weight tables. Nice article.

 

 

http://www.wenzelmetalspinning.com/steel-vs-aluminum.html

 

Article says steel is 2.5 times more dense than aluminum. Which doesnt make fords claim that they dropped 700lbs out of this world or to say its 500lbs lighter than a chevy. Only issue is what are they comparing.