2015: RETURN OF THE CK! Part one

[KingElvis]

CK = Light Truck.

Silverado/Sierra = Pickup.

New compact “Ten series” and intermediate “Hundred series” put Silverado/Sierra full size cab on lighter duty frames and suspension components with narrower tread width. Now Silverado/Sierra can compete with ‘midsize’ and ‘compact’ pickups from the competition. New, spectrum of CK models, ranging from compact to heavy duty full size, will allow Chevrolet to reclaim best selling pickup mantle from Ford.

New 108” wheelbase 2door, 6 ft box compact “Silverado/Sierra CK-10” built on light duty, C-channel, ladder frame replaces Colorado compact. C-10 comes standard with all new, direct fuel injection ‘Vortec’ 195cid, 3.2 liter OHV V6, which is ¾ of the all new, 260cid V-8. Thrift minded buyers can enjoy a full size cab and true ‘half ton’ payload on an easy handling compact wheelbase. Features narrower, 64” tread, light duty 8.6” ring gear rear axle, 16x7” wheels and sturdy leaf springs. C-10 uses the same six foot cargo box employed on the 4 door “Thousand Series” full size pickup. Optional 260cid and 304cid V8s turn C-10 into a ‘supertruck’ thanks to low curb weight.

Hail the return of the compact, 2 door “Blazer/Jimmy CK-15” on the same 108” wheelbase C- channel ladder frame as C-10. Blazer/Jimmy is a ‘full size’ two door station wagon on a compact wheelbase. Standard five passenger seating uses two bucket seats in front and a full width bench seat in back. Thanks to front seats moved forward, the back seat is now a full width bench, with 60” of hip room. That’s a first for GMC Jimmy. This SUV is a true segment buster. It has a removable roof and rear lift-gate so you can turn it into a ‘convertible’ pickup. You can haul bulky items like refrigerators or thrill to open-air four-wheeling. Easy to park, easy to drive, easy to own Blazer/Jimmy makes more sense than ever!

4wd K-15 Blazer/Jimmy is one of the lowest priced four wheel drive vehicles, but it’s no ‘soft roader.’ “Part time” one speed transfer case has a 1.44:1 reduction ratio – it gives you more pulling power in four wheel drive yet it’s lighter and more compact than a typical two speed transfer case. You can also choose a “Rallye” selectable full time transfer case with an integral differential and a direct drive ratio. It allows you to shift into four wheel drive on paved roads at any speed.

2wd C-15 Blazer/Jimmy is an entry level SUV that undercuts many mid sized sedans in price, and the standard 225hp, 195cid V6 offers car-like fuel economy. Why buy another generic silver sedan when Blazer offers similar price and efficiency with more room and cargo capacity - and the tough image of a real truck?


New intermediate CK “Hundred Series”

119” WB Silverado/Sierra 1500 pickup replaced by new 120” WB intermediate Silverado/Sierra model CK-127 and CK-137.

It uses a one foot longer, 120” wheelbase, version of the C channel ladder frame native to the C-10. Two bucket seats are standard. “Triple bucket” middle seat of the CK 137 model allows three to ride long distances in comfort. Extra leaf spring per side vs. C-10 gives you 1600lb payload rating. Standard seven foot box is 2/3 to ½ foot longer than Dodge, Ford and Toyota; it can hold the larger four wheeler rec-vees that a 6.5ft bed can’t. Lucky seven cargo box also happens to make the C127 one of the prettiest proportioned pickups you’ll ever see. We like to think of our intermediate Silverado/Sierra two door pickup as ‘mama bear’s bed.’ It’s not too long, not too short, not too hard and not too soft. “Pritnear perfect.” All new 250hp 228cid ‘Vortec’ OHV V6 is ¾ of the new 304cid V8. 300hp 260cid V8 is also optional.

Carryall* models CK-128 to CK-164
It puts the “U” back into the SUV.

After more than forty years, the “Carryall” makes a welcome return. Based on the “Hundred” series 120” wheelbase, C channel, ladder frame, it comes standard with two bucket seats up front so it can carry 4x8 sheets of plywood flat. In panel wagon form, it makes for a thrifty commercial vehicle that punches far above its weight. You can order it with four wheel drive, side windows and a fixed rear bench seat and still enjoy an ample four foot rear load floor. It's the perfect family camping vehicle. Without the rear bench seat you have space to sleep two people. Carryall comes standard with basic “Custom” vinyl interior, which is easiest to clean. Choice of all trim levels, two V6s and two V8s, part time four wheel drive with 1.44:1 low range one speed transfer case or 1:1 selectable full time four wheel drive transfer case and seating from 2-6 make it our most flexible SUV.
*(both Chevrolet and GMC)







130” WB Avalanche and Escalade pickup replaced by 120” WB
‘intermediate’ four door "Silverado/Sierra models CK-145 to CK-165.”

Avalanche “midgate” is eliminated, but lockable storage in sides of cargo box, similar to Dodge 1500 Ram-Box, are retained. This SUT also takes on Honda Ridgeline and other ‘crew cab’ mid-sized crew cab pickups like Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier. Revolutionary fully boxed semi-perimeter frame provides plenty of room for four to six passengers in a four door cab with an integral five foot bed pickup body. Fifty by sixty inch load floor easily admits largest industrial pallets. New frame design allows for an eight inch deep ‘step-down’ foot-well for rear passengers. Standard rear bucket seats fold into the deep wells on each side of the drive shaft tunnel, creating a low, flat load floor with 60 cubic feet of stowage behind the front seats!

In the passenger oriented CK-145, every seat is a bucket seat. The CK-155 uses a revolutionary new “triple bucket” front bucket seat that makes the middle seat the best seat in the house! Triple bucket slides back 11 inches so that the middle passenger doesn’t have to rub elbows with outboard passengers. Since the front row of seats has a higher floor, the transmission hump is very low so when the seat is pushed back, the floor is nearly flat where the middle passenger rests his legs. Once you try it, you’ll wonder why this hasn’t been done before. When you opt for the triple bucket, you can also choose the optional, full width rear bench seat in place of folding rear buckets for a six passenger, model CK-165.


CK-145-165 models retain all coil suspension from last year's Avalanche. Combined with a narrow tread width and body width, and the wheelbase of a larger car it does stellar duty as the family car, but can still tow and haul like the real pickup that it is. These models retains the essential luxury equipment of last year’s Avalanche. They come standard in “Classic” trim, which includes aluminum wheels, two tone lower body paint, and all power accessories. Standard 228cid, 3.7L V6 delivers 25% better fuel economy than previous 5.3L V8 in the lighter, shorter new chassis. But for prestige minded buyers, ‘Supertruck’ performance is available in the new 425hp “Corvette” 350cid, direct fuel injected V8. 4wd models offer choice of ‘part time’ one speed transfer case with 1.44:1 reduction ratio, or selectable ‘full time’ 1:1 ratio, one speed transfer case. Cadillac Escalade ST offers standard full time 4wd and unique 400cid V8.





“CK-163 to CK-183” Tahoe, Denali and Escalade luxury SUVs get full-sized rear buckets standard.

These luxury-oriented SUVs have gained four inches of wheelbase, from 116” to 120” although length decreases from 202” to 200.” Built on the same ‘semi perimeter’ frame and step-down floor pan chassis as the CK 145, these “Hundred Series” four door models share drive train choices. The class leading, top selling GM SUVs now have second and third row seats with an eight inch lower foot well than last year. Six bucket seats in the three rows are standard; a most commodious six passenger luxury vehicle.

The narrow, third row bench seat has been retired in place of two luxurious, individually adjustable bucket seats. Third row legroom is up from about 25” to 38.” The third row is the ‘kiddie zone’ no more! Middle bucket seats “Drop n Fold” for 75 cubic feet amidships stowage capacity. You can choose the CK-183 model with a fixed full width middle bench seat and ‘triple bucket’ seats up front so you can seat eight adults. Without making it any longer, we made a Tahoe that hauls people - adult people - more like a Suburban!

[OLDSCHOOLGMFAN]

Sigh.

[Skank Boy]

Is this more fantasy never ever gonna get truck stuff?

[73Laguna]

[KingElvis]

I've been pondering this new design for some time. This puts together various ideas I've had going back ten years.

To come: New nomenclature system for 'full size' pickups and a revolutionary new design for the Suburban.

[Lloyd-TX]

Subscribing . . .

[Dr. Show-Me]

What actually is known about the next gen models?

[Ranger 518]

What actually is known about the next gen models?

They will cost a whole bunch more.

[FamilyTruckster]

Not gonna happen, not even close. Those ideas might be great for you but they'll never work in reality. Full bench.........why? 2 door truck/suv... it wouldn't sell. People don't want these types of vehicles anymore.

[smhss]

They will cost a whole bunch more.

Very true. I'm afraid they are going to cost A LOT more. We need to consider that the prices may likely shoot up in order to artificially squelch demand because of CAFE.

[KingElvis]

Not gonna happen, not even close. Those ideas might be great for you but they'll never work in reality. Full bench.........why? 2 door truck/suv... it wouldn't sell. People don't want these types of vehicles anymore.

Thanks for commenting.

To be clear, the C15 Blazer would have full rear bench *as opposed to* the bench wedged between the wheel houses like the old Blazer. There are still benches out there - this is just full width so you get a real five passenger vehicle.

In the Tahoe, I eliminate the standard bench in favor of two middle row buckets. In fact every seat is a bucket seat in the CK 173 (meaning hundred series, seven passenger, three foot load floor).

This "ten" and "hundred" series are purposely lighter in weight with small V6's standard so that they can continue to be 'mainstream' vehicles and not restricted by CAFE.

[chevythunder]

Not gonna happen, not even close. Those ideas might be great for you but they'll never work in reality. Full bench.........why? 2 door truck/suv... it wouldn't sell. People don't want these types of vehicles anymore.

what do you mean I would never want that new garbage that is out nowadays.

[KingElvis]

what do you mean I would never want that new garbage that is out nowadays.

Interested to see what you think of my "CK Thousand Series" I posted yesterday.

It uses only three wheelbases where current models use six. I put the 119"WB into the 100 series, made the crew and ext cabs the same length and eliminated the 168"WB.

[MalibuMaxxSS]

Thanks for commenting.

To be clear, the C15 Blazer would have full rear bench *as opposed to* the bench wedged between the wheel houses like the old Blazer. There are still benches out there - this is just full width so you get a real five passenger vehicle.

2 DOOR SUVS DO NOT SELL.... AT ALLLL..... reason buy S?UV is for the room and ease of getting in, want a good seller, bring back a reasonable priced VAN, with some quality of hte NOX, THAT WILL SELL.

In the Tahoe, I eliminate the standard bench in favor of two middle row buckets. In fact every seat is a bucket seat in the CK 173 (meaning hundred series, seven passenger, three foot load floor).

again, tahoes, suburbans are people movers, people dont buy gas guzxzling suvs for luxuray so much anymore, and who gives a **** of the 2 year old has nice captains charirs in the center, they just want to lay down anyhow, the more seats in a tahoe and burb the better usually.

This "ten" and "hundred" series are purposely lighter in weight with small V6's standard so that they can continue to be 'mainstream' vehicles and not restricted by CAFE.

mmm sounds like a ridgeline, small useless truck that gets same milage as the v8 these days, 85% of the trucks we sell right now are the 5.3, people dont care for small engines, they want the economy, and something that can tow, maybe in california these are good ideas but thw wont fly here very well..

and if gm brings another 2 doors suv like the old blazer.... blah....

[KingElvis]

Thanks for commenting MalibuMax. I always thought that car was more of a 'crossover' than people gave it credit for.

The popularity of the 5.3L is acknowledged, but you could argue that part of its popularity stems from the fact that it is actually the most efficient engine offered in terms of raw MPG. Better than the V6 and 4.8 V8 - and better than the big 6.2.

I liked the notion of not one, but two all new direct injected V6s that are 3/4 of the 260 and 304 cid ohv V8. These wouldn't be as expensive to build like as a DOHC V6 and the 'compact' series could enjoy an inherent advantage in production cost. Making the 6speed transmission standard solves acceleration and hill climbing issues of a smaller standard engine - e.g. the 2011 F150.

The Tahoe gains wheelbase and interior volume so it is actually larger, not smaller than current one.