What is GM cooking up for the 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 update and mid-cycle refresh? We have the latest image of a prototype towing a trailer in Michigan. The photographer was able to get several images inside the truck, and it has what appears to be a giant center infotainment screen. This prototype is also using a high definition front camera and a steering wheel with green LED that signify GM’s Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving system. Here is everything we can learn from these images!
2022 Chevy Silverado 1500
The photographer and I agree that this is a Silverado prototype and not a Sierra based on the Chevy RST wheels, wheel wells, and several other style elements. The front and the rear of the truck are camouflaged. The 2022 truck is likely to get minor styling changes on the outside. The interior is a hotly discussed topic. Many have requested that GM upgrade their truck interiors, and it appears that they are listening.
Take a look at the image below. The dash is covered, but the screen is peeking through. On the left side of the screen are icons that link to map, phone, stereo, and home screen functions. Near the bottom right corner of the screen is a “<CH” channel icon. If the screen indeed spans this space, it could be bigger than a 12-inch diagonal. Of course, the current Ram 1500 trucks offer a vertical 12-inch infotainment screen. The newly redesigned 2021 Ford F-150 offers a 12-inch screen in landscape horizontal orientation.
This GM prototype appears to have a screen in the landscape orientation as well. GM already has many camera views and trailer assistance features. It would be great if the cameras provided a higher resolution video on this large center screen. These images make it difficult to tell if the rest of the interior dash design or materials are changing.
Next up is the Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving feature. Take a look at the top of the steering wheel in the image below. Also, take a look at what appears to be a high-resolution video camera that is mounted just below the center rear view mirror. These definitely suggest that the truck is equipped with some sort of semi-autonomous driving features and/or augmented reality display for navigation.
There also appears to be a small camera or sensor on the top of the steering column that may be there to monitor the driver, and check whether the driver is still alert and paying attention. Here are several other images of the prototype truck with the trailer. The 2021 Silverado 1500 is rated to tow up to 13,400 lbs. The updated 2021 Ford F-150 is rated to tow up to 14,000 lbs. The 2021 Ram 1500 has a maximum rating of 12,750 lbs. Will GM boost the maximum towing rating beyond the 13,400 lbs. I think this is unlikely and boosting the maximum towing capacity further than this is mainly unnecessary. It’s more important to have popular crew cab 4×4 versions of the truck with relatively high towing and payload hauling ratings. Towing 14,000 lbs or more is really the territory of a heavy duty truck. However, higher payload capacities are always welcome by all!
Let us know what you think about this prototype and the upcoming features in this ever-healthy pickup truck war. Should GM offer a hybrid powertrain in their full-size trucks? Should they put a supercharged V8 into their halo Silverado ZR2 or ZRX truck?
