cars news 10: Chevrolet Silverado HD Carhartt Revealed Before SEMA

Chevy’s collaboration with 127-year-old workwear outfitter Carhartt on this concept may have longer legs than some of its SEMA-show brethren, as we hear the brand also plans to show it at the mainstream auto shows in L.A. and Detroit. Indeed the association between the work-clothier and a work truck seems so natural we wonder why it hasn’t happened before. And there’s certainly nothing terribly production-unfeasible about the essence of this concept, which is based on a 2017 Silverado HD with the revised Duramax turbodiesel V-8 (now producing 445 hp and 910 lb-ft) and Allison transmission, and a Z71 off-road suspension that gets a 1-inch lift.

The rest of the package revolves around appearance and functionality upgrades that key off of the classic Carhartt gold (officially “duck brown”) fabric, which forms the three-quarter tonneau cover behind the built-in tool box and swing-out tool chest, and accents the interior with inserts in the leather seats and on the door panels and console—all of which are triple-stitched, just like a Carhartt jacket. Logos are laser-etched into the headrests and embossed onto the floor liners inside, and on the doors you’ll find Carhartt C logos with special Silverado badges rendered in the Carhartt font. A Carhartt-gold pinstripe runs around the upper body character line, with matte satin graphite paint above this line and gloss metallic black below. Most brightwork is blacked out or painted over, including the 4-inch assist steps. Special 20-inch wheels get antique nickel accents, which are echoed on the grille, mirror caps, tow rings, and interior door, console, and instrument panel trim. Those wheels wear knobby 35×12.50R20LT Firestone Destination M/T tires with Chevrolet accessory IBP wheel flares to contain the mud they sling.

Functional work-oriented upgrades include beefy front and rear tow hooks and a lower-grille-mounted LED light bar, the aforementioned semi-custom tool box, a spray-in bedliner, electric outlets in the bed, a wireless external trailering camera system, and numerous GearOn cargo system accessories. Watch this space for further announcements about potential production or aftermarket availability of the key components in this concept.