Did someone say birthday cake? GMSV is celebrating its third anniversary in Australia.
To mark the occasion, the brand has confirmed MY24 updates for its Silverado pickup models, timing of the highly anticipated Corvette E-Ray hybrid supercar, and the launch of the full-size GMC Yukon Denali SUV.
The announcement coincides with the 8000th remanufactured Chevrolet Silverado rolling down the production line at the company’s Premoso facility in Dandenong, Victoria.
Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray
GMSV has now confirmed the local arrival time of the first hybrid Corvette.
Director of GMSV, Greg Rowe, confirmed “MY24 build of the new model is expected to commence mid-next year”, which tells us a local launch of the hybrid supercar will likely occur shortly in the second half of 2024. Unlike the rest of the GMSV range, the Corvette is produced in right-hand drive from factory, rather than being converted locally.
Pricing is yet to be confirmed for our market, although US models start from US$104,295 ($149,300) for the 1LZ coupe, and US$111,295 ($159,400) for the 1LZ convertible. For reference, the Corvette currently starts from $175,000 for the base 2LT specification, climbing to $336,000 for the Z06.
Launched 70 years after the original Corvette made its debut, the new E-Ray has a LT2 6.2-litre V8 behind the passenger cell rated to produce 369kW at 6450rpm and 637Nm at 5150rpm. It drives the rear wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission.
This is augmented by an electric motor producing 120kW and 165Nm. It is powered by a small 1.9kWh lithium-ion battery, and drives the front wheels.
Boasting a total of 488kW, the E-Ray has a claimed 0-60mph (0-97km/h) time of 2.5 seconds, making it the fastest production Corvette of all time. Chevrolet is anticipating the car can complete the quarter mile (400m) in 10.5 seconds.
Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Both Silverado 1500 variants – the ZR2 and LTZ – score an upgraded exhaust as standard for the 2024 model year.
“The MY24 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 will now be standard with an active performance exhaust system providing customers the flexibility of a ‘standard’ exhaust experience – or dialling up the limiter to hear that traditional V8 rumble,” said Greg Rowe, Director of GMSV.
The 2024 Silverado 1500 ZR2 receives additional equipment, including:
- Rear Camera Mirror
- 15-inch head-Up display
- Power tilt/telescoping steering column
- Adaptive cruise control
- Bose premium sound system
Chevrolet Silverado HD
The larger Silverado HD is set to arrive in Australia ahead of time, with remanufacturing in Dandenong to commence this month ahead of first deliveries as early as December.
Previously, the company anticipated the HD wouldn’t arrive in dealerships until the first quarter of 2024. Pricing is still to be confirmed, however.
Lately, Australians are becoming increasingly obsessed with massive American-sourced full-sized pickup trucks. At the midway point of 2023, no corner of the new vehicle market has grown its sales faster than ‘Pickups Over $100,000’, which is up a whopping 65.4 per cent year-to-date (YTD).
Australians have taken delivery of 5724 of these behemoths so far in 2023, led overwhelmingly by the Ram 1500 range with 3697 units YTD – for context that’s more than the Nissan Navara 4×4 (3474). The Chevrolet Silverado, which has racked up 1015 sales YTD, has more than doubled the haul managed by the Jeep Gladiator (682).
“GMSV has made a real impression in the local market and, thanks to this success, we’ve been able to make a strong business case for additional models, and this latest arrival is testament to these achievements,” said Mr Rowe.
MORE: Everything Chevrolet Corvette | Silverado
