HSV readies Chevrolet Silverado 1500

HOLDEN Special Vehicles (HSV) has taken to social media this week to all but confirm that it will launch the entry-level Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pick-up truck “in early 2020” – a move that should provide its flourishing right-hand-drive conversion program with a massive shot in the arm.

In a post on its Facebook page, HSV published a picture of the Silverado 1500’s distinctive LED headlight assembly, which has upper and lower design elements connected by thin, snaking C-shaped light piping.

With the post, HSV said: “We appreciate your support in what has been an exciting 2019! Whether purchasing a vehicle or simply endorsing our new product portfolio, after 32 years we still relish in producing vehicles that excite and define what it is to be alive.

“We’re looking forward to launching BIG things in early 2020. Stay tuned.”

HSV’s remanufacturing operations at its Clayton South factory east of Melbourne have ramped up significantly this year to meet strong demand for the Ram 1500 pick-up truck, which is converted on behalf of the Ateco Group and has racked up 2339 sales to the end of November.

This vastly overshadows the more expensive 2500/3500 versions of the Ram monster truck – 243 examples of which have been registered this year – so HSV, unsurprisingly, has been busy working on the case to offer the Chevy Silverado 1500 through its own retail network, similarly priced from around $80,000.

This will make it a far more affordable proposition than its heavier-duty Silverado 2500/3500 range, which starts at $114,990 (plus on-road costs) and tops out at $147,990.

For comparison, the Ram 1500 with a 291kW/556Nm 5.7-litre Hemi V8 petrol engine starts at $79,950 for the Express Quad Cab, while the Laramie Crew Cab kicks off at $99,950. A 179kW/569Nm 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel is also available, from $109,950.

In the US, the 2020 Silverado range is available with six powertrains across regular, double and crew cab body styles. HSV will be looking at the 313kW/623Nm 6.2-litre V8 petrol engine and 10-speed automatic combination, or a 265kW/519Nm 5.3-litre V8 that combines with either a 10-speed (4x4) or eight-speed (4x2) auto.

A new 207kW/623Nm 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo-diesel and 10-speed auto is also available.

HSV general manager of product planning and program development Gareth Brown told GoAuto in July that the sales success of the Ram 1500, launched in mid-2018, meant HSV was obviously assessing whether it could import and convert the Silverado 1500 for Australia.

“Yeah, of course we’re evaluating that. We can’t comment on anything, but of course we’re looking at it. We’ve seen what Ram is doing in the market, so of course we’re having a look and assessing opportunities,” he said.