As this week marks the kickoff of the State Fair of Texas, we’ve had plenty of special edition trucks to cover. Texans buy pickups in quantities other portions of the country could only dream of, so manufacturers typically have something set aside to debut at the festival. We’ve already seen Nissan’s revised Titan, Ford’s new Super Duty, and a couple of blacked-out pickups from Ram.
Chevrolet brought a pair of Silverados this year, focusing similarly on black accenting with its Midnight and Rally Editions. While derivative, we can’t really accuse Fiat Chrysler of aping General Motors or vice versa. The blacked-out trend is everywhere, and pretty much everyone has been taking whacks at it for years.
The goal, according to Chevy, is to deliver pickups that looked heavily customized straight from the factory.
“Customer choice is a competitive advantage for Chevrolet, because no two truck drivers are alike,” Mark Sobczynski, Silverado’s marketing manager, said in a statement. “Whether it’s the sinister Midnight Edition or a sporty Rally Edition – special editions offer our customers a custom look direct from the factory that fits their unique personality.”
While the Silverado Midnight Edition is primarily concerned with seeing how much black trim can be placed on the outside of a vehicle, there are some performance features baked in. Building on the LT Trail Boss and Custom Trail Boss, the package incorporates a 2-inch suspension lift kit and Z71 Off-Road Package. Customers get skid plates, Rancho monotube shocks, an automatic locking rear differential, 18-inch wheels (black, obviously), and Goodyear DuraTrac tires.
Visually, it’s very similar to the Ram 1500 Limited Black Edition — adding pitch-colored grille pieces, badging, side steps, headlamp bezels, bumpers, and exhaust tips. However, you do get a splash of color with the red tow hooks Chevy opted for.
Custom Trail Boss Midnight Editions are available with either a 5.3-liter V8 engine with six-speed automatic transmission or a 6.2-liter V8 with 10-speed automatic transmission. LT Trail Boss Midnight Editions are only available with the latter motor’s 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque.
Meanwhile, the Silverado Rally Edition will be offered via Custom and RST trims. Unlike the Midnight Edition, customers have more color options (black, red, silver, and white) and get a couple of stripes down the hood and tailgate. Other visual enhancements include black badging, black steps, black exhaust tips, body-colored grille and some bolt Chevrolet lettering in the rear.
Custom Rally Editions feature 20-inch wheels (black) and GM’s 2.7-liter turbo four-cylinder mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox. RST Rally Editions receive 22-inch wheels (still black) with a choice of powertrains: the 2.7-liter, 5.3-liter V8, or that big 6.2-liter with the 10-speed.
Pricing has not yet been announced, though Chevrolet says customers can begin placing orders on 2020 Midnight and Rally Editions next month. Deliveries are slated to commence before year’s end.
[Images: General Motors]
No special edition can fix that awful side profile.
One day tires will be squared off at the corners, and those wheel arches will be ready.
6.2L helps a lot IMO.
Agreed Hummer.
I had a 2012 Sierra. When I saw the pics of the redesign of the 2019s, I couldn’t get to the dealer fast enough….to buy a 2018 Silverado.
Hey, look on the bright side. In a matter of just a few days we get to find out how much further the Silverado has fallen behind Ram.
People hate GM trucks too. What a disgrace!
Chevy Silverado & GMC Sierra: Built (mainly) in Mexico (Hecho En Mexico, Si), with nearly 50% foreign parts content (lots of Chinesium Grade parts in these rigs).
USA! USA! USA!
All US cars have no more than 50% US content.
I’ll have to check my 4Runner but I believe Japanese content was 100%.
My SS sedan (I just checked) says 81% Australian content. – One of the smallest auto industries in the world maintained 81% content in its homegrown car.
It’s sad how little American content we get in American made cars
All?
https://www.cars.com/articles/cars-coms-2019-american-made-index-whats-the-most-american-car-404547/
Jeep Cherokee (most US content of any vehicle)
Chevy Corvette
Chevy Colorado
GMC Canyon
Chevy Camaro
Ford F150
Deadweight-
I knew my pickup was made in Mexico. I also didn’t care.
Just FYI.
New jingle: “Futbol, chow mein, arroz con leche, and Chevrolet!”
* – Disclaimer: I love arroz con leche