The 2003 Chevrolet Silveradoand GMC Sierra include over 40 new features and enhancements designedto reinforce their position as the industry's premier full-sizepickups. The new Silverado and Sierra sport redesigned exteriors, withthe Silverado picking up Chevrolet standard styling (TrailBlazer,Impala) and the Sierra moving to the GMC brand design.
Inside, the center bottom ofthe instrument panel cluster provides a standard new driver informationcenter that is shared by all the pickups/chassis cabs. It reports onthe status of up to 34 vehicle functions (nearly twice as many as theprevious driver message center) -- depending on the truck's equipmentcontent -- and uses an easy-to-read, one-line, 22-character vacuumfluorescent display.
The 2003 Silverado and Sierrafeature a lineup of new HVAC systems. Standard on extended cabs andoptional in regular and crew cab models is a new dual-zone manualcontrol. This system allows the driver and front passenger to adjustthe temperature to their individualized comfort levels, using manualcontrols on the instrument panel. They include a sliding up-and-downcontrol for temperature adjustment.
The 2003 Silverado and Sierrafeature newly available steering wheel controls that provide ninecontrol buttons for calculating trip and fuel data and for programmingvehicle functions. They also include redundant audio controls andcontrols for initiating the voice-recognition system in vehicles withthe OnStar system.
Models with bucket seatsreceive a standard center console that flows up into the instrumentpanel and has a seamlessly integrated, single-piece design. The consoleincludes a storage compartment and a power outlet at the rear. Thepower outlet augments the standard, dash-mounted left-side (cigarettelighter) and right-side power points on all models. On crew cabs andextended cabs, the rear of the console also provides second-rowpassengers with separate airflow direction controls for personalizedcomfort.
Quadrasteeris available on nearly all models. Quadrasteer is an electromechanicalsystem that turns the vehicle's rear wheels (up to 12 degrees) inrelation to the front wheels, resulting in unprecedented low-speedmaneuverability and high-speed stability. At lower speeds, Quadrasteerreduces the 1500 HD models' curb-to-curb turning diameter by up to 21percent, to 39.2 feet, comparable to the 37.1-feet turning radius of aSaturn S-Series compact car. At higher speeds, Quadrasteer reduces thevehicle's "yaw," or rotational motion, for better control during lanechanges and when being passed by a large truck.
Quadrasteer also providessignificant benefits to customers who trailer, enabling drivers tochange lanes with more confidence and with less trailer sway. Duringlow-speed towing maneuvers, such as backing into a boat launch orparking a camper, four-wheel steering greatly improves the trailerresponse to steering input.
All2003 Silverado and Sierra 1500 Series models feature an automaticpassenger-sensing air bag system. It automatically deactivates thepassenger-side air bag, based on the weight and position of thepassenger seat occupant, to help protect children and small adults fromair-bag induced injury.
Silveradoand Sierra also continue to provide a passenger air bag cutoff switchon vehicles that previously offered it. The on/off switch allowsoccupants to manually deactivate (or activate) the passenger-side airbag. An air bag status indicator on the inside rear view mirrorassembly notifies occupants whether the right-side air bag has beendeactivated.
Further enhancing occupant safety and protection are dual-level frontalair bags for the driver and front passenger. The system senses whethera crash has occurred, and its severity, to determine whether the airbags should be deployed. If deployment is called for, the systemfurther calculates whether to deploy at full inflation level (for moresevere crashes) or at a less-than-full level (for more moderatecrashes).
Amajor benefit of the dual-level frontal air bag system may be realizedin lower-speed crashes, where the single-stage inflation will helpminimize the risk of injury to smaller occupants who may be sittingclose to the air bag when it deploys. Dual-level air bags are standardin all GM full-size pickup models for 2003, excluding HD models.
Tohelp drivers avoid collisions, 2003 Sierra and Silverado light-dutypickup and chassis cabs incorporate an improved brake system. The newsystem provides enhanced stopping power for high deceleration stops andimproved antilock brake performance. This enhanced brake systemrequires less maximum pedal force during high deceleration stops.
Should a failure or malfunction in the braking system occur, the systemsounds warning chimes through the radio speakers, alerting drivers ofthe failure and the need to get it repaired. The chimes are activatedwhenever the red BRAKE or amber ABS telltale is illuminated.
The 2003 Silverado and Sierra will offer an unprecedented level ofinfotainment in full-size pickups, including a Bose audio system, RadioData System and XM capability, and a rear-seat entertainment system.
To help keep rear passengers entertained, 2003 Silverado and Sierracrew cab models offer an available rear-seat entertainment system thatincludes a DVD player with flip-down screen and is capable of playinghigh-quality audio and video in both CD-audio and DVD formats.
For private listening pleasure, two standard sets of wireless(infrared) headphones are provided. Each set allows independent programvolume adjustment via a local volume control in the earpiece.Additional jacks also enable two other rear passengers to listen to aprogram through wired headphones. The volume is common between the twowired headphones. The audio may also be heard throughout the vehicle'sentire speaker system.
The DVD player is extremely flexible. It can play all discsmanufactured for wide or standard screen formats, as well as CD audiodiscs, with high-quality images and sound.
Anadvanced new electrical architecture takes the use of multiplexing to anew level. Multiplexing uses a common wire to send information betweenmodules [this feature was first used in the Jeep Grand Cherokee someyears ago]. The new Silverado and Sierra use it to integrate the entireelectrical system. The system is highly integrated -- with distributedcomputing and numerous zone modules all connected by a serial datanetwork. By replacing copper wires with integrated circuit boards atevery opportunity, GM engineers significantly increased processingpower to support the trucks' increased electrical and "smart" content.
Thenew architecture also enables them to greatly reduce wires, splices andconnectors for improved quality. Additional diagnostic capabilitydesigned into the electronic control modules will provide quicker,easier and less costly servicing and reduced warranty costs.
UplevelSilverado and Sierra models offer more safety and convenience with new,standard, power exterior rearview mirrors and newly availablepower-adjustable camper mirrors. Enhancements from the previous modelinclude a power folding feature that facilitates parking in narrowspaces. The mirrors, standard on uplevel models, also feature turnsignals in the mirror glass and an optional memory feature.
For those owners who regularly tow campers, Silverado and Sierra offeruplevel power camper mirrors. These new mirrors are large (60 squareinches), power adjustable and power extendable. As is the case with thestandard uplevel mirrors, the available camper mirrors include aheating element to clear away snow and ice and in-glass turn signals.