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Chevy Let the Cat Out of the Bag!

Accidents do happen, especially when it comes to the automotive world. Granted, those accidents usually occur on the road, but in this case, the accident took place in Chevy’s own cyber space. Chevy just spilled a secret that the brand wasn’t set to officially reveal for another few days. The plan was to announce news about Chevy’s forthcoming 2017 Silverado 2500HD at the Texas State Fair, which begins this weekend, September 30, and runs through October 23 in Dallas. Of course, Texas. Home of all things huge…

Well the monstrous, proverbial cat is out of the bag, thanks to an accidental posting to an industry website that was picked up by Truck Trend…and shared with the rest of us. You didn’t hear it from me, but the big news about the highly anticipated Silverado has the pickup truck segment buzzing.

So, here’s the scoop…Evidently, the new Silverado will feature an updated 6.6-liter Duramax diesel engine that will be able to generate…wait for it…a ginormous 445 horsepower and 910 lb.-ft. of torque. What?!?!

Bearing in mind that the current Silverado boasts what now looks like a puny 397 horsepower and 765 lb.-ft. of torque, it’s hard not to think of Joe Biden’s own slip at the still-on mike when he said, “This is a big f***ing deal.” Sure is, Joe.

And while these kind of performance numbers seem hard to believe, and oh-too-good-to-be-true when you consider what this measure of muscle will mean to the worksite, actually, given an intentional admission from Chevy, the numbers do make sense. According to Chevy, the power will be provided, in part, by a brand new water separator-equipped hood scoop, which will send extra cool, dry air to the engine, enhancing performance in the process. Makes sense!

While we still don’t know anything else as far as figures – towing, payload, fuel economy – from this powerhouse pickup, we can only imagine they will be just as impressive as its rumored performance rating. To better appreciate what might be on the horizon, regarding the 2017 Silverado 2500HD, it’s helpful to get a glimpse of the current offering.

For the 2016 model year, the much-celebrated Chevy Silverado 2500HD comes in the three primary pickup body styles: regular, double, and crew cab, and offers a maximum tow rating, ranging between 13,000-14,500 pounds. The starting MSRP lists at $32,280, increasing with more fully equipped trim levels.

One of the most awarded Chevy vehicles on the market, the Silverado 2500HD is beloved by consumers and lauded by industry giants, like J.D. Power, which awarded the 2016 Silverado 2500HD its “Most Dependable Large Heavy-Duty Pickup, Two Years in a Row,” not to mention its “Highest Ranked Large Heavy Duty Pickup in Initial Quality.”

Backed by Chevy innovation and accolades from those in the know, it’s easy to imagine this new, ever more powerful, 2017 version of the Silverado stealing the spotlight and similar recognition in the future. Already dubbed Chevy’s “most potent pickup ever” by Fox News, it seems the weekend just can’t quite come fast enough.

Stay tuned and see whether the 2017 Chevy Silverado 2500HD is, in fact, the most powerful pickup of all the bow-tied beasts.