It's Official: 2014 Silverado and Sierra Deliver Most Power

New Chevrolet, GMC light duty pickups also deliver best towing capacity in class and strong fuel economy

DETROIT – The 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and High Country and the GMC Sierra and Sierra Denali 1500, available this fall, with a 6.2L V-8 produces an SAE-certified 420 horsepower (at 5600 rpm) and 460 lb-ft of torque (at 4100 rpm), the most power of any pickup engine and torque of any light duty pickup truck engine.

The 6.2L V-8 available for Silverado LTZ and High Country and Sierra SLT and Denali models also delivers class-leading maximum available trailering capacity of 12,000 pounds when properly equipped.

Along with power, now comes strong fuel economy as EPA estimates for the 6.2L V-8 EcoTec3 engine technology enable 2WD Sierra and Silverado models to achieve 15 mpg city and 14 mpg city for 4WD. EPA highway estimates are 21 mpg for 2WD versions, and 20 mpg for 4WD models.

"Power and towing capacity are fundamental capabilities for full-size pickups," said Jeff Luke, General Motors Executive Chief Engineer for full- and mid-size trucks. "The 2014 Silverado and Sierra deliver unmatched power and towing capability with a host of ingenious driver aids."

The optional Max Trailering Package is available on 2WD and 4WD V-8 crew cab and double cab models and includes:

-Trailering package with seven-pin and four-pin connector
-Enhanced cooling
-Automatic locking rear differential
-Heavy-duty 9.75-inch rear axle with 3.73 ratio
-Increased-capacity rear leaf springs
-Revised shock tuning for increased control
-Integrated trailer brake controller.

In addition to the 6.2L V8, Silverado 1500 and Sierra 1500 will offer a 4.3L V-6 SAE-certified at 285 horsepower and 305 lb-ft of torque and a 5.3L V-8 certified at 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque.

Silverado and Sierra trucks equipped with the 4.3L V-6 will have available towing ratings of up to 7,600 pounds, the highest for any base V-6 in the segment. Silverado and Sierra trucks equipped with the 5.3L V-8 and the max towing package, available later this year, will have towing ratings of up to 11,500 pounds when properly equipped.

All three engines feature direct fuel injection, Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation) and continuously variable valve timing, a combination not found in competitor vehicles. The engines also use a compact overhead-valve design and weight-saving components such as aluminum blocks and cylinder heads to reduce mass for additional energy savings.

All three provide the proven power, torque and dependability of a large-displacement engine, seamlessly switching to four-cylinder mode to save fuel during light-load driving. The 5.3L V-8 has EPA-estimated fuel economy of up to 23 mpg highway (2WD models), the best of any V-8 pickup, and better than Ford EcoBoost V-6.

The 2015 Silverado HD receives the same updates to the interior, cab structure, and door designs as the new Silverado 1500, which has received positive reviews for its quieter cab and roomier, more comfortable interior.

Looks apocalyptic

Southern Comfort Automotive has released a teaser video for a high-performance Chevrolet Silverado called "Reaper" set to be unveiled later this month.

The Ford F-150 SVT Raptor better watch out as Southern Comfort Automotive (SCA) has prepared a sinister-looking Chevrolet Silverado set on to take the high-performance truck from the Blue Oval. The vehicle will be introduced on January 24 in New Orleans, Louisiana at the NADA Convention Center.

It was developed by SCA in collaboration with Lingenfelter Performance Engineering and Fox Racing so it has all the assets of being a proper hardcore truck. It will be more than just a show-off concept as it will be available through select Chevrolet dealerships which distribute Southern Comfort vehicles.

As a reminder, Chevrolet showed at SEMA last year a Silverado Cheyenne concept with a new 420 bhp V8 6.2-liter engine. Chances are the "Reaper" will match or even go beyond this mark to create a more appealing alternative to Ford's F-150 SVT Raptor.

For the past several years, if you wanted a vehicle capable of rocketing across the desert at freeway speeds, the process was fairly simple - drive to the local Ford dealership and plop down $44,000 for an F-150 SVT Raptor. What if the Ford isn't enough for you, though? Or maybe you're so partisan you'd rather walk across the desert than drive a vehicle from the Blue Oval across it. Your options have been disturbingly limited.

A new project from Lingenfelter and Southern Comfort Automotive could be set to change that, and give fans of the Bowtie a desert-raiding truck of their very own. This is the 2014 Chevrolet Reaper, the result of a conversion kit that takes the average Silverado up to 11.

The body is restyled with a new front fascia and the appropriate skid plates and bumpers, while 20-inch wheels wrapped in 33-inch off-road tires will provide the grip. LED running lights, a Corsa exhaust, a racing suspension from Fox (the same folks that provide the suspension for the Raptor) and a custom gauge pack round out the list of performance upgrades.

Optional goodies include a Raptor-esque rear graphics package, a set of 17-inch, beadlocked wheels with off-road tires and, naturally, a supercharger and engine massaging package from Lingenfelter.

According to the Reaper website, conversion kits for the steroidal pickup will be sold through select Chevy dealers. The Reaper is being unveiled tonight to the National Automotive Dealers Association. We're expecting to have the full set of details on the truck, including additional images, early next week. Until then, we want to hear your take on this big, bad Chevy. Let us know what you think in Comments.