Spy Shots! 2019 Chevy Silverado 1500 and/or GMC Sierra 1500, we think

Our friend, owner of some amazing vehicles, and apparently an amateur automotive spy photographer sent us these pictures from Colorado. This is the disguised all-new 2019 Chevy Silverado and/or GMC Sierra 1500 pickup. Pictures of these test mules, poorly disguised as a Ford pickup, have been seen around the web in other places around the country. Here, they seem to be undergoing high altitude testing. 
We know it’s the 1500 version due to the six-bolt wheel pattern and the fact that the 2500/3500 are usually a year behind in the production cycle. In addition to the two huge transport trucks, with huge sleeper cabs and an inconspicuous “Pilot Transportation” logo on the sides of the trailers, the test mules were joined by a Chevy Tahoe and Ford Expedition support vehicles. 


Automakers go to great lengths to protect their new vehicles from spying eyes and they seem to do a great job of that here. The white taillight covers are in shape of Ford F-150’s lights, which is quite funny. Look closely and you’ll even see a Ford oval badge in the front. The engineers preparing these mules must giggle little toddlers when putting these camos on. 

Obviously facts are almost non-existent on these half-tons at this time, but there are rumors of a diesel engine. This makes sense as there is already a Chevy Colorado available with a 2.8-liter Duramax turbo-diesel engine. Ford has also been denying the existence of a diesel F-150 but we all know it’s coming and it will have a version of Land Rover’s excellent Td6 V6 engine. RAM already has the 3.0 EcoDiesel. More torque and better fuel economy are beautiful things. 

Another rumor is that, like Ford, GM may include more aluminum in this truck. The irony is that current Chevy commercials show Ford F-150’s inability to withstand an 80-pound tool box being casually thrown into it from 50 feet away. We don’t think GM will go as crazy as Ford did with the lightweight metal but there will be a lot more of it. Lighter high-strength steel and possibly magnesium will likely be part of this complex metallic compound. Less weight and increased payload are beautiful things as well. 

Solid rear axle and independent front suspension will remain. We don’t think GM will go with anything exotic or revolutionary here but rather just improve what they have been using for years. Other engines will likely be carried over but possibly matched to a 10-speed automatic transmission that GM co-developed with Ford, interestingly enough. Expect one, or maybe both, of these vehicles to be unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in January of 2018. 
If you find these very images elsewhere, please do not return them to Jalopnik.