Does the government get all of the coolest HD trucks and SUVs? We have some more information from GM Defense with these images of the LUV (Light Utility Vehicle) and an HD SUV (which is a new version of a heavy-duty Chevy Suburban). These vehicles are for the military and the government only, not for us private consumers. Would you like a GM heavy-duty pickup truck or SUV like these? Let us know in the comments below. Let’s dig in!
LUV Pickup Truck
We have known about this GM Defense LUV heavy-duty pickup truck for about two years (since July 2022). Back then it looked like a prototype. Now it appears a bit more refined, and we see several different angles of this pickup truck.
We don’t have many details or specifications for this LUV, but it appears to be based on a Chevrolet Silverado HD 2500 ZR2 off-road truck. It’s riding relatively high and it may be rolling on 35-inch off-road tires. The production HD ZR2 truck has a slight lift over a standard Silverado HD 4×4 and uses DSSV dampers by Multimatic.
The military LUV has a unique front end with a tough-looking bumper that allows for steep approach angle. The rear bumper is just as rugged, and there is new barn-style swing out light weight tailgate. We think that the most likely power plant under the hood of this LUV pickup truck is a 6.6L Duramax V8 turbo-diesel.
HD SUV
Now, feast your eyes on this heavy-duty SUV! The last civilian HD Chevy Suburban or GMC Yukon XL were made in 2013. The last HD Suburban SUVs were available for government fleet sales in 2019. GM Defense has developed a new version of the HD SUV. They don’t want us to refer to it as a “Suburban” or as a “Chevrolet SUV”. Although it is wearing a Chevrolet bow-tie logo on the front and Suburban badge on the front door.
It is specifically designed for government use, specifically for the State Department. We covered this HD SUV announcement in December of 2023.
Although this big and armored SUV appears to be riding on a heavy-duty chassis with 8-lug wheels, GM Defense says it will have a choice of “light-duty” but still very good powertrains. It will offer a choice of “a 6.2L gas V8 & 10-speed automatic or a 3.0L Duramax I6 & 10-speed automatic“.
You can see more GM Defense vehicle images and information at their site.
Please join Kase and I in the video below as we discuss these interesting new trucks.
